Chapter 192: Spell Suppression and Tactical Maneuvering
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 192: Spell Suppression and Tactical Maneuvering
"If you're just looking for an excuse to leave because of what happened earlier, you really didn't need to challenge me to a duel."
After Tan Han led me into one of the open arenas, she spoke up.
"You think this is just a convenient excuse?" I looked at her with a smile. "Was I that obvious?"
"I've seen plenty of people like you—those who aren't great at handling large crowds. Most of them just end things awkwardly, but you're the first I've met who has real strength yet still struggles with those situations," Tan Han replied with a chuckle. "Of course, I'm not trying to say..."
"Your intuition is almost frightening."
I let out a sigh. Had I been isolated from people for too long? Or was it that, even now, I hadn't fully adapted to these sudden changes?
What kind of beings used to surround me, and what kind of people were around me now? If I still acted the way I used to, I certainly wouldn't fit in.
Just like now—any minor slip in my behavior could be picked apart by others, allowing them to see right through to my simple inner thoughts.
"Reading people is a skill in itself. Perhaps you should try to adapt ahead of time. After all, the circles you'll be moving in from now on won't be as superficial as what you're used to."
"Thanks for the advice."
My gaze drifted. While I could take Tan Han's words to heart, I couldn't guarantee I’d be able to change. I could only use our current environment to shift my focus.
This was a combat space Tan Han had opened at random. The terrain was a desert, and the weather was overcast. In the distance, dark celestial phenomena loomed, looking as if a sandstorm was about to break.
I had never seen such a sight in reality, but here, it was merely a backdrop for a combat space.
"Heh, don't overthink what I said. It was just a suggestion. Some people are destined to be exempt from existing rules." Tan Han turned and walked a few paces. Her shoes sank slightly into the yellow sand, and the footprints she left were quickly swallowed by the shifting grains, leaving only shallow pits.
"The atmosphere here is actually quite nice. Our last duel had a winner, but I don't think it should be considered the final word. How about another round?"
"Fine by me. I'm the one who came up with the excuse, after all." I rubbed my palms together and looked at Tan Han, who had already drawn her magic wand. My lips couldn't help but twitch slightly.
"By the way, where did you get that wand?"
"You didn't know? If you'd looked around, you would've seen there are shops in the Dreamscape. Currently, many items are on a limited-time free trial for us contestants. I can give you a moment to pick a wand you like before we start."
"Well, thank you for that." Reminded of this, I quickly navigated to the shop Tan Han mentioned. Upon opening it, I saw various items marked for free trial—a privilege provided to the contestants of the Exchange Competition.
Without wasting time, I flipped to the wand category and picked the sturdiest one available.
The short wand had some weight to it. After a few experimental swings, I quickly got the hang of it.
"Alright, I'm ready. How do we start? Do we count down together?" I asked curiously.
"No need for that. This is a Dreamscape arena; it has its own countdown. Just confirm the prompt. It's a three-second count."
"That's convenient."
I clicked the combat readiness button that popped up in front of me. Immediately, a booming voice echoed in my ears.
"Three... Two... One... Battle start!"
The moment the start was announced, both Tan Han and I reacted instantly.
Body Strengthening, Perception Enhancement, Energy Shield, Shield Blessing.
Both of us prioritized self-buffs. The opening seconds were the optimal window to cast these types of spells. If you didn't do it now, your opponent wouldn't give you the chance later, and you'd find yourself at a disadvantage from the start.
Of course, one could also use this window to launch a preemptive strike. Tan Han had done exactly that with her wand in our previous encounter, but she didn't choose that path this time. Instead, I was the one who went for the opening gambit.
Illusion Clone. It was a spell perfectly suited for an opening feint or to cause interference.
However, Tan Han clearly wasn't falling for it. She allowed the Illusion Clone's attack to land on her. Although she instinctively flinched to dodge at the moment of impact, her mental fortitude was impressive.
One had to realize that my Modified Illusion Clone was far more flexible than the standard version; it could even mimic the act of "casting spells." Even though those spells had no actual power, they looked incredibly convincing.
"Aren't you afraid it might be the real one?" I taunted with a smile.
"I watched you modify that Illusion Clone bit by bit. How could I possibly mistake it?"
Tan Han didn't hesitate to use a transformation spell. It wasn't the Ancient Remnant Ice King spell—she couldn't use that yet, as her Mana Source wasn't large enough.
She used Beast Transformation, a comprehensive spell that boosted all physical attributes.
"But you still dodged at the last second," I continued my verbal pressure. With a wave of my hand, five Evocation spells forced Tan Han back.
Tan Han's transformation was a Tiger-kin Transformation. I had noticed that Tiger-kin was a popular choice among transformation spells; many Prototype Spellbooks featured it. However, Tan Han's version wasn't a simple Tiger-kin spell.
Lightning crackled across her body as she directly tanked my fastest Lightning Strike. That single spell, which would have been enough to trap a Vampire in a death loop, was shrugged off by her transformation even without a shield. It was clear her defensive capabilities were immense, likely including a high resistance to lightning elements.
However, when a subsequent Wind Blade managed to nick her tiger claw, Tan Han gained a rough understanding of my power and her own durability. She used her superior physical stats and reflexes to dodge the following spells. The price of dodging, however, was that the distance between us widened.
For a transformation spell that relied on physical prowess, distance was the most insurmountable defense.
Unless, of course, the opponent transformed into a caster race capable of long-range attacks.
"Your Evocation spells are surprisingly powerful."
Tan Han deactivated her transformation. Perhaps out of caution, she didn't lead with her strongest spells like she had in our first fight. She knew that would be useless; if she exhausted herself after a few big moves, the duel would be over without suspense.
Having realized this, Tan Han now understood the importance of Basic Consumption Spellbooks. They might not be finishers, but they were the guarantee of tactical maneuvering during a fight.
She needed a different way to break the stalemate.
"You know why they're powerful, Tan Han. Where are those big spells of yours? Don't tell me you're getting cold feet in our second match," I said, maintaining a steady rhythm of spells to harass her.
Tan Han was under immense pressure. It wasn't just the constant barrage of Evocation spells she had to dodge; these spells weren't "one and done" once avoided. Take the Wind Blades and Fireballs, for instance—their curved trajectories and flanking maneuvers were enough to give her a massive headache. She couldn't just dodge them; she either had to block them with a shield or cancel them out with her own spells.
On top of that, there was the interference from the Illusion Clones. And there wasn't just one. She had to constantly discern which was real. Sometimes, even the spell effects were fakes generated by the clones, designed specifically to accelerate her mana consumption.
After just this initial exchange, Tan Han understood the meaning of magical fire suppression. To break through, she would need a powerful spell, but casting one required time—meaning she would have to tank several hits.
The problem was that my spells were far more potent than standard basic consumption spells.
Her equivalent-level protection spells had become one-time use items, insufficient to let her break the suppression unscathed.
As I engaged in this battle, I felt a sensation entirely different from the "noob-stomping" in the challenge rooms.
Even though I was casting the same spells, this didn't feel like a harvest. It felt like a game of chess, a tactical gamble where I currently held the upper hand.
"Heh... you really do love your summoning and transformation spells."
In the next moment, Tan Han shifted her strategy. she unleashed a flurry of summoning spells, using the creatures as cannon fodder to buy herself time.
Her aura shifted. Under the protection of her spells, she took a direct hit from one of my Fireball Spells, but in exchange, she successfully triggered a High-consumption Spellbook.
Once the transformation spell took hold, her terrifying aura surged to an extreme level.
"Taste this!"
Cloaked in fearsome flames, Tan Han effectively "blinked" in front of me in an instant. What greeted me was her massive fist.
"Eh?"
I was stunned by Tan Han's "teleportation" method. I had almost forgotten the move she used to close the gap when she taught that Vampire a lesson!
You didn't use this while I was suppressing you, but you pull it out the moment I relax?
Does a teleportation spell like this really have no casting tell?
I had no time to think. My only active defenses were an Energy Shield and a Shield Blessing—one for energy, one for physical. They certainly wouldn't hold for long against this strike.
With just that one hit, cracks spiderwebbed across my defenses. They shattered completely a moment later. Even rapidly stacking Energy Shields felt like trying to put out a forest fire with a cup of water.
"Blindness."
I chose to use a flashbang effect to retreat. My Energy Shields couldn't stop this deliberate, charged blow, but they bought me just enough time.
"You can't escape!" Tan Han, who had buffed herself with Perception Enhancement, wasn't about to lose her target just because of a Blindness spell. She had maneuvered into close quarters specifically for this—a one-hit kill!
"Protection of the Fire Elemental Spirit!"
A high-pitched shout erupted in front of Tan Han, instantly triggering her instincts. A wave of intense heat swept toward her.
As the blindness wore off, she found herself facing not a suppressed flame, but the Protection of the Fire Elemental Spirit. This was the effect of another High-consumption Spellbook, providing massive fire damage reduction and ensuring I wouldn't be defeated even in close combat.
"A High-consumption spell cast that quickly? Wait..."
The moment Tan Han asked that internal question, she found the answer. The source of that terrifying heat wave slammed into her. It was a Fireball Spell—but against her fire-resistant transformation, the damage was negligible.
"Of course I can't cast it that fast."
My voice came from the side. Then, I felt the tip of my wand press against her, only to plunge directly into her ribs in the next heartbeat.
I had only discovered this after using the wand: its "sturdy" trait wasn't its only benefit. Being sturdy wasn't particularly useful on its own; the wand's true purpose was to host the solidified Transcendent properties of "Sharpness" and "Armor-Piercing." It needed to be that sturdy just to carry those enchantments.
"Modified Fireball Spell—"
A powerful, Modified Fireball Spell was about to detonate inside Tan Han's body.
"Heh... fooled by an Illusion Clone again."
Realizing what had happened, Tan Han calmly accepted her defeat. Combat was like that—unless it was a war of attrition, victory and defeat were decided in the blink of an eye.
Even though her hidden trump card, the teleportation, had caused me significant trouble, the Illusion Clone she had grown accustomed to became the finishing blow.
It felt somewhat ironic.
In the next instant, the horrific internal explosion caused her unbearable pain and injury. Even the enhanced physique of her transformation couldn't withstand it. The blast had occurred right at the core of her transformation spell, triggering a spell backlash that caused the transformation to dissipate instantly.
The fading of the transformation spell took away most of the internal damage, but what remained was enough to ensure her fragile body couldn't hold on. The wand remained lodged in her side until her death was confirmed. After Tan Han confirmed her resurrection, the wand finally clattered to the ground.
At that moment, Tan Han recalled the online rumor that Xiao Han was a "Transformation Spell Killer"... Looking at it now, that wasn't an exaggeration at all.
She had been defeated while transformed yet again. But this time, there were no spectators—only endless sand and the two combatants.
No third party would ever know the outcome of this match.
"That was a brilliant fight. Let's go again."
After resurrecting, Tan Han instinctively touched her side. It seemed the phantom pain hadn't vanished with her rebirth; her brain likely hadn't adapted yet. She could still feel the lingering effects of the spell backlash, but that didn't stop her from calling for another round.
"Sure. The way victory can be decided in an instant always makes people feel like they were just one step away," I said with a smile.
The racing heart I felt from the shock of Tan Han's teleportation was real. It made me realize that in a true life-or-death moment, there are no "clutch" turnarounds—there is only the instinct to win.
Turning actions into instinct required constant repetition through actual combat.
If I hadn't pre-planned the synergy between Blindness and my Illusion Clone, could I have set that trap in such a short time?
Impossible.
It was just like the spellbooks—without a thorough understanding of them, how could one spark new inspiration in the heat of the moment?
In that moment, I felt... no, I experienced a new direction for Modified spells.
Before, I had always thought about inspiration striking during combat. Now, I was personally attempting to force that inspiration to strike!
If I used "Practical Learning Spells" during combat, wouldn't the process be even more effective?
That was the primary reason I agreed to Tan Han's rematch.
Having Tan Han as a sparring partner was an opportunity anyone would dream of. Besides, she seemed to be enjoying herself just as much, didn't she?