*Boom*

A wide hole appeared at the door where the mana ball threw by Blake landed. Alex who was sprawled on the floor looked with eyes at the destructive power.

‘What was that? A freaking mana, ball?’

‘Something like that. So, he’s one of those pure mana manipulating types huh, quite rare. Now Alex, circulate mana in your body as you did in the morning yesterday and get close to him.’

Alex immediately regained his composure as a blade and a hilt popped out from the soul holder. Grabbing it Alex quickly ran towards Blake in a zig zag manner.

‘Is that some kind of an artifact? It still puzzles me as to how he is able to use mana when I can’t sense a single drop from him. Even during the game… doesn’t matter, I’ll get what I want!’  Blake strengthened his resolve as he began to rapidly throw mana balls at Alex.

The latter using his speed evaded most of it but just when he was about to come within 10 meters of Blake, he found it difficult to evade anymore and had to fall back as Blake didn’t let up on the volley of mana balls. Alex lingered slightly beyond the 10-meter mark evading the attacks as they came. He was waiting for an opportunity and it came.

The mana ball attacks suddenly stopped as he noticed Blake’s hands slightly shaking.

‘Now!’ Miracle signalled.

Alex dashed off in Blake’s direction as his sword got covered in black coloured mana. As per Miracle, if one tried to continuously launch such attacks like a machine gun, they were definitely going to experience a slight shock in their body due to continuous release of mana without break. In that moment Blake will be incapacitated for 2 seconds. Alex had to close his distance in that window.

“HAAA!!” Alex screamed as he brought down sword swinging upon his head. But the 2 seconds were up.

“Armour Gauntlet!”

Blake shouted as a mana made gauntlet formed on his right arm. He quickly blocked Alex’s attack with it. The gauntlet completely stopped his attack in place. But Alex didn’t let up as he quickly began swinging his sword wildly trying to hit Blake. Another gauntlet had formed on his left arm also as he used both to block Alex’s attacks.

“Your attacks are- too damn weak!” Blake roared as he deflected a sword attack and punched with left fist in Alex’s stomach blowing his body away.

“Kha… hh... hh…” Alex immediately got off the floor holding his stomach. Although he was in pain, there wasn’t any major damage.

‘Nicely done kid, you properly dispersed your mana around body to absorb the shock of all type of attacks. Just like an invisible shield.’ Miracle complimented as Alex’s improving control of his mana.

‘But don’t blindly swing your sword like that. He’s an experienced fighter so he’ll easily exploit an opening again.’

‘Do I need to again doge through all the mana balls now to get close to him?’

‘I don’t think so. Those type of attacks although not much stronger like a proper spell if used continuously like that is likely to eat away his mana at a faster space. Don’t worry about that and charge. Keep your head calm and aim your attacks carefully!’

With that Alex once again charged at Blake, the glow of mana returning back to his sword. ‘This human… just what is he? He should’ve passed out with that punch… is he using another artifact?’

None of Blake’s questions were answered instead a black glowing sword attacked him. Blake easily dogged the attacks and stepped within Alex’s one arm distance. The next moment he placed a sharp upper cut causing Alex’s body to fly in the air. Alex barely kept his eyes open after taking that blow only to find Blake above him in the air.

“Big bang Fists!”

Blake called out as a large mana made fist surrounded his fist. The next moment Blake swung it down on Alex with all his strength. The latter used his sword to block the blow but the strength behind it was too strong for him to handle as he crashed into the floor cracking it.

Alex groaned in pain. Even the shock absorption by the thin layer of dispersed mana around his body wasn’t enough to take the full strength of the hit. Blake landed on the floor a few steps away from him.

“Tch…” Alex tried to get up but his body failed him.

“I don’t know how you are able to use mana even when I don’t sense a single drop of mana from you, but I don’t care. I want that stone.” Blake said as he lifted Alex up by his collar. Blood was trickling down the side of his head. Not to mention Alex felt even breathing to be difficult.

Blake looked down at his zipper. The stone was emanating a large amount of mana so it was difficult to hide it away from Blake’s senses. It was in the under pocket of his zipper. Blake reached for the zip when suddenly his hand was caught by Alex’s hand surprising him. He tried to free it but it almost felt like a death grip that wouldn’t let go. Alex was simply concentrating all his mana in his wrist, palm and fingers making them extra strong.

“Neither do I care what you want!” Alex shouted as he swung his other fist with all his strength. Just like his left fist, great amount of mana was concentrated in this one.

Blake immediately raised his left hand up in defence. Alex’s punch stopped briefly at the gauntlet but the next moment it broke through it. Blake slid a step back from the blow as he grabbed his left hand in pain. Alex used this opportunity as he landed a punch on his face with all his strength causing Blake’s body to bolt back like a cannon ball and crash into a wall.

“Hah… hah… h…” Breathing heavily Alex looked at his fists in surprise finding it a bit hard to believe that he had generated that much power. Due to his access to large reserves of mana Alex was able to pour mana in his arms freely and ended up making them weapons itself.

‘This is what he meant by having large mana reserves…’ Alex thought while looking Blake lying on the floor.