Overwhelm

'Sword Form : Longsword"

Two swords, with the help of aether energy, were shining under the light of the sun.

A centaur, almost ten feet tall, with Guandao, swung its weapon downward, like splitting a log, and what resisted that attack were two longswords that is black and white in color. The boy then managed to stop the force by planting his feet on the ground, and using Mana Rush to equalize the force.

He then kicked the Guandao aside, and then jumped to a nearby tree, then used the tree to jump towards the Centaur. The opposition made a step back and swung the Guandao towards the boy flying towards him.

The boy then made his mana go onto his feet, made a shockwave, and changed course midflight. He grabbed his white sword, swung it down to double the force of the Guandao and make the giant beast lose its balance.

The Centaur then retracted its weapon, he thrusted it again towards the boy, which in return received it and made a distance. His gaze fell onto the beast's gaze, and was locked in a staring contest.

'Sword Form : Dagger'

Held in his hand reversely, he ran in a zigzag line to avoid being predicted. Sometimes, he will jump left, and then left again to confuse the beast on what will he do.

He used the dagger to ride the winds easier and faster. A moment later, the boy can be seen swinging the dagger to parry the Guandao aimed at him.

Sliding a few meters away, it stopped him from rolling away from the adversary. Had his power been weak, he would've been sent to the end of the forest.

"Inspect."

Wooden Centaur [97%]

"Still?" He blurted out. It has been an hour, and he did not even chipped away its health. It is not questionable though, for the Centaur heals again and again.

Steeling his resolve, running away until they get far from his comrades that are still assimilating the Outbreak. And also, he believes that a trump card will come if he stays tenacious.

Believing this, a bout was once again initiated. Swing here and there, evade, attack, parry, again and again until they come back into a stalemate and distance themselves from each other.

"Inspect."

Wooden Centaur [95%]

With that, he roared and then lock himself into a stalemate again, chipping away the Centaur little by little.

"Inspect."

Wooden Centaur [91%]

Every time the exchange ends, inspect will be used at it so he can be sure that he is making a progress, but it was also taking a toll in his body.

[Core Power : 97%]

"To think that I would waste that much and have low efficiency. This will take forever." Muttered in a low voice, he submitted to the fact that taking this thing down will be a hassle.

And the only thing that keeps him moving? Seeing the bastard's health slowly chipping away. So every moment they exchange blows, and then he go to distance to taunt the Centaur, he will use his Inspect Skill, and then fighting spirit will soar within him.

"Inspect."

[...46%]

"Inspect."

[...43%]

"Inspect."

[...39%]

"Inspect."

It took two hours just to make its health go from a hundred percent to this rate. Panting heavily, he smiled and confidence filled his body.

"I can do it."

[Wooden Centaur Skill has activated]

Wooden Centaur [90%]

"What?" A little later, he saw woods, vines and even roots take place in the damaged areas of the Centaur.

"That bastard, he still won't change the theme?" Vin cursed under his breath. It is true that the theme for this two months is Auxiliary Magic. All of the magic he did is of auxiliary, but Zeke did not prohibit them in physical attacks. He just used Auxiliary Magic in those two months to not defeat the purpose of them being here.

"System, how do I recharge my core?" He asked away, as he is planning to let this drawn out battle a little longer, as he waits for the theme for the next training.

[Solution : Rest.]

"Is there no other way?" He asked again. He then engaged to the battle, but something ticked him off.

As he was trying to find a blind spot to attack the Centaur, he slid down towards its hide, but to his surprise, a root stuck on the ground managed to hit his feet and then he rolled until he saw the blade of the Guandao aimed at him.

Striking the land with the dagger, he managed to stop his roll, and then he jumped up to evade the sweep, used Mana Rush to arrive at the hand of the beast, then changed the daggers to sword, and a strike down to cut off the hands.

Shwing! Shwing!

The thinness of the blade managed to make a sound that proves its worth to be a sword. The sharpness of the blade helped in making that move a success.

Roaaaar!

The hands fell down, and the Centaur took steps back. The one who made those safely landed and looked back at the rampaging Centaur.

"I will rampage too." He said with a smile.

"Mana Wave! Mana Rush!" Making his speed go up, he arrived at the left front foot of the Centaur. Slashing it, he then flew upwards and struck its stomach.

Raaaaaaaaargh!

"Inspect!"

Wooden Centaur [64%]

"That's the way." He smiled then he used Mana Wave and Mana Rush again to target the left back foot. In a split second, he slashed it again, making the Centaur fall leftwards.

"Mana Upgrade!" He used his ability to strike the stomach again, and then he cut off its feet, making the Centaur unable to stand.

Roaaaaaar!

"Inspect!"

Wooden Centaur [22%]

"YES!" He celebrated. Pulling his two sword together, he arrived at the monster's neck, slashed down his sword, but what came after was the least thing he expected.

Bam!

He flew backwards as he was hit by something he do not know of. Hitting a tree, the force isnide him went turmoil and made him puke out blood. He slid down from the tree, and coughed up a few more times and then he looked at the beast in front of him.

"Zeke , you dumbass."

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"OHHH I EXPECTED THAT! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Two people are in front of a hologram made by light particles. They are too happy watching something and they feel elated overall.

"Dumbass, what would you do if they even see you this happy?" The other one reprimanded the other.

"Dont be a killjoy. It's been a while since we laughed this hard." He laughed again as he looked at the hologram.

"If they manage to find out, I'm out of here." The other one shook his head.

"Oh, he called me dumbass! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" If Vin was here, he will know that the one laughing at him right now is the one he disses.

Zeke is still laughing hard, while Yano keeps his cool and sighs from time to time. He looked at the hourglass in his left, and he saw that it still has an hour or so to become empty.

"What in the heavens is your theme next time?" Yano asked Zeke, who has his hands in his stomach while still laughing.

"We will see." Zeke said. "It is a bit surprising that he can go toe to toe with a Guardian. The helpers are not here at all. I looked for them but cant find even a single one." He stopped laughing and looked at the hologram.

Yano stood up and grabbed Zeke on his collar. Rage was seen on his face, and he sneered at him.

"Yes, the Labyrinth chose its difficulty level. I placed it at the Medium difficulty. I was also surprised." Zeke, in all seriousness, frowned and sighed.

Yano let him go and sat down. He massaged his temples and looked at Zeke.

"This is one of the Four Ancient Labyrinths. You do not know the dangers in them." Yano sighed.

"We can trust him. You know that he has hazelnut eyes at first, right? His hair was white, but it all changed when he used his law. We saw him change from being a silent child to being a talkative one. We were there, Yano. We saw him grow. We saw him battle it out. I believe in him." Zeke added.

"Then why are you laughing?" Yano looked at him with rage.

"Uhhhhhhhhm." Zeke was speechless.

---------------------------------

Dash right, spin, slash, jump, slash, distance himself then rest.

Dash left, jump up, hack, chop, retreat, rest.

Kiting, dodging, attacking, and speeding up. He was in control, but fatigue is taking its toll. It is true that he can attack the monster physically, but magic cant heal fatigue.

"Is this supposed to be endless?" He agonized over the fact that the Centaur healed thrice, and got an upgrade every time.

At first, he did not notice it, but due time, he saw twigs, branches, roots and even sprouts in his way. Little by little, the place he runs to gets smaller because there are trees in the surrounding.

It is like the Centaur is making its own battlefield wher its strength is fully shown. It is like a trap that encloses in; you know it but you cannot escape because it is done with the purpose of catching you.

"I really have to destroy this trap. System, do you have any solutions?" He asked.

"Try the Fusion talent." A familiar voice was heard inside of him. The old man can be seen behind him, but inside the place where the towers are erected.

"This Plane is so accessible to me." He added and he looked at the middle tower, which the second orbit, after the three energies : mana, aether and hex, has one light lit up, and the fusion talent is there.

"Let's see." Vin said and he looked at the Centaur before him.

"The weakness of Nature is Fire, but it can be suffocated due to lack of air if trees fell down on it. Ice is also its weakness for it can freeze them and wont let them move." Vin analyzed.

"Metal and Earth may help too." He looked at the zone where the Centaur is getting him.

He now dashed and then he jumped up. He poured mana into the sword. He was surprised by its transfromation.

The sword, that are originally black and white in color, lost its blade, but the fuller is still intact. The fuller of the sword has a round shape head, and when his mana flowed through it, two a symbol appeared on each sword.

On the white sword, cyan particles swirled around his arm, towards the round head of the fuller. At the time it arrived there, a snowflake was embedded into it. On the other hand, red particles flowed in his left hand and as it arrives, fire was a symbol on it.

"Scorching Fire, Freezing Ice.

True power soon will rise.

Reveal yourself in front of me.

Grant me power, I ask of thee."

"Fusion : Ice Fire Blade!"

After that incantation, the two handles in his hands flew together, and formed a single handle. The fuller now became sharp, and the symbol of ice - snowflake - and the symbol of fire - fire - went to each side of the fuller.

The handle became gray in color, and it managed to produce a blade, which is also gray in color. After that, two edges appeared out of the sword, one is blue and the other is red.

Particles of red and blue swirled the sword, like a helical form and made it more dazzling. Vin then held it with two hands and pointed it towards the Centaur.

But life will be as hard as hell, and having a strong weapon like that, comes consequences and tests to prove that he is worthy of wielding it.

The Rule of Equal Exchange.

[System : Core Compromised.]

[Output higher than input.]

[Upgrade of core needed.]

"Again?" Then his body fell.