The Genesis Of A Necromancer - Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Tournament V
Jack’s eyes narrowed as he processed the announcement. “Great. Just great! Why the hell did I get paired with someone from the Church?” His fists tightened, and he resisted the urge to curse out loud. ‘It’s like this damn world is actively trying to get me killed… And it’s not just anybody I’m up against; it’s her. The weird girl.’

He inhaled deeply, reigning in his frustration. Maintaining a calm composure had become second nature to him over the years, and he was determined to keep that mask in place now.

The arena buzzed with murmurs as the mysterious pair took their places on the platform. Alisha, the girl from the Church, regarded him with a soft, almost serene expression, though her gaze carried a distinct sharpness.

“Isn’t it quite the coincidence that we get to face each other?” she said, her voice gentle yet with an edge, and she gave him a small smile. Her gown, pure white and spotless, seemed to glow with an otherworldly light. Everything about her—from her calm demeanor to her unblemished appearance—exuded an aura of perfection, calm, and peace.

Jack grimaced. ‘How am I supposed to deal with this? The moment one of her spells touches me, I’m toast… Just what I was trying to avoid.’ He had hoped for a simple fight, maybe with a fellow swordsman or even a beast-man. Anything but this.

Taking a deep breath, he forced a small, dismissive smile. “A coincidence, indeed. Not a good one, though.”

The crowd’s whispers intensified. Jack’s identity was shrouded in mystery, and his mere presence had stirred curiosity. With no noble lineage or known affiliations, he stood out all the more. People in the audience strained to get a better look, wondering who this enigma was.

Alisha’s smile deepened, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Oh, so you can speak,” she teased. “Good. I was worried you might be silent the whole time.” She tilted her head slightly. “Shall we begin? We wouldn’t want to keep the others waiting, now would we?”

Without warning, a bright orb of energy materialized in her hand, swirling with golden light. She didn’t utter a single chant or incantation; her spell seemed to come as naturally as breathing. Jack barely had time to react as she flung it toward him, the searing light barreling down at breakneck speed.

“Damn it!” he cursed, yanking the Shadowfang free from its sheath. He leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the orb. It shot past him, slamming into the arena wall with a resounding crash that echoed throughout the hall, leaving large cracks spidering across the stone.

“Good dodge!” Alisha praised, a glint of satisfaction in her gaze. Her serene smile remained intact, belying the deadly precision of her attacks.

‘This is insane… I need to know what I’m up against,’ Jack thought, glancing at her. He activated his appraisal skill, hoping for some insight.

[Appraisal Skill Activated!]

[Alisha Marie]

[Level: ???]

[Class: Blessed Mortal (Divine Incarnate)]

Jack’s brows furrowed. ‘What the hell is with that title? And her level… completely hidden. Ugh, these damn system skills are useless when I need them most!’ He rolled to avoid a lance of light that shot at him, whizzing past and embedding itself in the platform floor.

Alisha’s eyes gleamed with curiosity as she observed his every movement. ‘So, he’s using Shadowfang, a mere sword rather than magic? Fascinating… It’s as if he’s hiding his true abilities. This will make convincing him to join us so much more intriguing.’

Without warning, she waved her hand again. Circles of light spun around her, forming portals that swirled open to unleash a barrage of glowing spears. They shot toward Jack in a deadly, rapid arc, faster than any arrow.

Jack barely had time to breathe. His eyes widened as the flood of spears closed in on him. In a split second, a memory surfaced in his mind—Alogra, the warrior who had trained him, always moving with a speed that seemed impossible, almost as if he had multiple arms attacking from every angle. Their food battles, initially simple skirmishes over portions, had evolved into something greater. In those chaotic exchanges, Alogra had taught him a vital skill.

[Phase]

With a burst of speed, Jack’s form seemed to blur, darting through the volley of spears, weaving and dodging with uncanny agility. To the spectators, he appeared to be in several places at once, moving so swiftly that he left streaks of motion in his wake.

“Who is this boy?” Ivan muttered from the sidelines, clearly stunned. “Is he from the Avalonian Kingdom?” He directed his question at a large figure who had whispered to Luther earlier. But the figure remained silent.

Alisha’s gaze sharpened, yet her smile remained. “You’re quite nimble, aren’t you?” she remarked, her tone oddly cheerful. “It’s like dancing, don’t you think?”

She waved her hand again, and another portal spun open, but this time, chains of light emerged, shimmering with an ominous glow as they hurtled toward him.

Jack gritted his teeth. He was completely engulfed in an onslaught of attacks, with no end in sight. Frustration simmered within him as he realized the extent of Alisha’s capabilities. ‘Who is this girl? How can she cast so many spells as if it’s nothing? Is there some kind of mana cheat I don’t know about?’

Despite his best efforts to reach her, she remained untouchable, each wave of attacks keeping him at bay. And that smile—that serene, infuriating smile that reminded him so much of Alogra. ‘That innocent facade hiding immense power… Damn it.’

Jack took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. He let his frustration drain away, summoning the lessons Alogra had drilled into him. ‘A true warrior perceives his surroundings without his eyes,’ Alogra had taught. ‘Feel the flow, sense your surroundings.’

He closed his eyes, centering himself. The arena, his opponent, and the flashing chains all became clear in his mind. Even with his eyes shut, he could sense the deadly projectiles closing in, each chain twisting toward him with lethal intent.

With flawless timing, he ducked, letting one chain sweep over his head, and then sidestepped another. A spear of light came at him from the side, but he parried it with Shadowfang, deflecting the energy just inches from his face.

“Is he using sixth sense?” Kurt whispered, awestruck. “There’s no way someone like this could exist without us knowing about him.”

On the other side of the arena, Arin’s face was frozen in shock, his mouth open as he tried to process what he was witnessing. “This… this isn’t possible…”

Alisha, however, watched with delighted fascination, her eyes sparkling as Jack continued to dodge her attacks with skill that defied explanation. ‘Coming here to face him myself was indeed the right choice.’

Jack, meanwhile, was preparing his counter. With each movement, he could feel the buildup of energy within him, coiling tighter and tighter. Finally, he unleashed it in a surge of raw power.

[Thundering Gale]

In one fluid motion, he shot forward, his body a blur as he cut through the chains blocking his path, the momentum clearing the remaining spears that hurtled toward him. He burst through Alisha’s defenses, Shadowfang raised high, his gaze fixed on her.

“You have no idea how much I hate that smile,” he growled, his voice laced with frustration as he brought his weapon down in a decisive arc.

Alisha’s eyes narrowed, her serene smile replaced by a look of mischief. “Slow,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, but brimming with amusement.

With a graceful sidestep, she dodged his attack, her movement so smooth it seemed almost effortless.