Bab 200: Never trust an enemy's promise
Mike's voice echoed, "Alright, come at me!"
At that moment, both Mike and Kaelum made the same move,
"Wind's Reach!"
However, Mike charged forward, while Kaelum retreated to create distance.
Kaelum's Wind Blade struck Mike, dealing 0 damage.
Meanwhile, Mike's Wind Blade caused Kaelum's health to drop significantly.
With Wind Element immunity, neither Wind Element physical nor magical attacks could harm Mike at all.
As Kaelum retreated, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, "I can't drag this out!"
Wind's Reach, as a core skill for wind mages, combined mobility and damage.
And the damage would stack!
Once every 10 seconds meant that as time passed, Mike would only grow stronger!
Glancing at his health, Kaelum calculated, "I can only take two more [Wind's Reach]!"
In other words. The battle had to end within 20 seconds!
As his brain worked furiously, Kaelum's hands didn't idle. He pointed his staff forward, instantly activating a magic rune, "Wind, heed my call, ravage all within sight!"
A gust of wind blew towards Mike, causing him to stagger and his movement speed to plummet.
The entire space instantly became Kaelum's domain. While his movement speed increased, Mike's decreased significantly.
These winds, besides affecting movement speed, also dealt high damage.
However, with Wind Element damage immunity, Mike took no damage.
But Wind Element spells weren't just about damage!
Or rather... before [Wind's Reach], wind mages weren't primarily about damage.
Kaelum excelled at support in battle!
As Mike's figure stalled, Kaelum struck again, "Wind Bind!"
Several green ropes shot out, aiming to bind Mike's limbs. The next second, Kaelum pulled out a specially modified Gatling gun.
"Good thing I had a backup plan, or you'd have beaten me!"
Kaelum mercilessly held down the trigger, the Gatling gun spewing blue flames.
"Rat-a-tat-tat, rat-a-tat-tat!"
Countless bullets hit Mike's figure, shattering it into countless fragments.
Something was wrong!
Kaelum's brow furrowed, and he quickly redirected the gun, sweeping the surroundings.
It was a mirage!
This was a Water Element spell, leaving a visual illusion that looked just like the real body.
"Mike also dabbles in Water Element? Interesting!"
"Where are you looking?"
Mike's voice came from behind Kaelum.
Kaelum spun around instantly, seeing a dark cannon barrel aimed at him.
Wow—
Compared to what Mike was holding, Kaelum's Gatling gun looked like a toy!
Boom—
A loud explosion sounded as Mike's shoulder cannon fired.
Kaelum's lips curled slightly, and he pressed his palm down, "Wind, reverse!"
In an instant, the wind direction completely reversed, turning previous assistance into resistance.
As Kaelum's figure flew backward, Mike would lose balance due to the wind shift, making his cannon miss its mark.
This cannonball couldn't possibly hit Kaelum!
He had chosen the Gatling gun over a cannon because Wind Element could better control smaller targets!
This was the so-called home-field advantage!
With Wind Element area spells affecting the surroundings, Kaelum could fully control the battlefield!
But Kaelum miscalculated again!
After the loud explosion, the expected cannonball didn't head towards Kaelum!
Mike was wielding a double-barreled cannon, or rather, the barrel aimed at Kaelum was a decoy, and the cannonball fired from the other side!
Mike never intended for the cannonball to hit Kaelum.
For a wind mage with high mobility, a cannonball was too cumbersome!
Mike aimed to use the cannon's recoil!
The recoil from firing, combined with Kaelum reversing the wind, boosted Mike's speed, propelling him rapidly towards Kaelum!
His initial goal was to close the distance!
Kaelum had more Wind Element spells than Mike. At a distance, using only Wind and Water Elements, Mike would be at a disadvantage.
Kaelum wanted to end the battle in 20 seconds, and so did Mike!
In a blink, they were less than 10 yards apart,
For a wind mage, that distance took less than 0.5 seconds!
"Windstride Slash!"
Mike swung his staff like a hammer.
Kaelum spun his left hand in the air, "Take off!"
Instantly, a small tornado appeared on the ground.
Mike dodged to the side, but the tornado lifted Kaelum into the air!
"Now you see? Wind mage battles are three-dimensional!" Kaelum's slightly smug voice came from above Mike.
Clearly, Kaelum had used the wind to lift himself, dodging Mike's sure-hit strike.
Kaelum felt he finally had the upper hand in this battle.
Before Kaelum could finish his sentence, blood suddenly spurted from his mouth!
Mike, wielding two large machetes, slashed while saying, "Thanks!"
After achieving an SS rating in his class change, Cain had created a Wind Element Warrior skill. As a good friend, he had imprinted a skill book and given it to Mike.
Spending a bit of money at the [Mystic Market] to remove the job restriction, Mike had learned the skill.
The skill's name wasn't worth mentioning, but its effect was excellent, allowing instant movement behind a knocked-back enemy and dealing continuous minor damage with a weapon!
Kaelum's move had inadvertently helped Mike greatly!
Kaelum, who had backfired, lost a significant amount of health,
"Wind Shield!"
"Wind Howl Cannon!"
High-frequency wind cannons blasted out, Kaelum's figure constantly moving in the air. Mike relentlessly pursued, not letting this rare opportunity slip.
Except for binding skills, Mike chose to tank all other damage.
Without [Wind Element Immunity], Mike's health would have been gone long ago!
But he had it!
This was called making the most of one's advantages.
Both sides exchanged blows fiercely.
However, Mike's health was barely affected, while Kaelum's health had dropped by half.
"Wind's Reach!"
The second Wind's Reach slashed out, and Mike had completely gained the upper hand.
With the next [Wind's Reach], he could deplete Kaelum's health!
Mike didn't let his guard down; he had a feeling Kaelum wouldn't be defeated so easily!
During the fight, Kaelum seized an opportunity, his fingers gripping near Mike's ear, "Rapid Wind Burst!"
Using the explosion of a tiny whirlwind, it dealt damage while causing dizziness and stiffness to the enemy.
Mike remained unaffected, countering with a slash at Kaelum's hand.
Kaelum tried to create distance again, still having the leisure to chat with Mike, "Mike, I must admit, your tenacity exceeds my expectations..."
Mike removed an earplug from his ear, looking puzzled, "What did you say? I didn't hear."
Kaelum was stunned.
No wonder [Rapid Wind Burst] had no effect!
Who fights with earplugs in their ears?!
Mike casually threw the earplug at Kaelum, and it exploded.
[Rapid Wind Burst]!
This damned thing could replicate the damage it received!
Kaelum's body stiffened momentarily, and Mike seized the chance to close the distance.
Now!
"Mike, this is the first lesson I'll teach you!"
Kaelum grinned, venting all his frustration from the battle in this moment, nearly shouting, "Never trust an enemy's promise!"
"Ultimate Skill, [Final Tempest]!"
In an instant, all the winds Kaelum had summoned ignited, exploding and dealing massive Wind, Fire, Nature, and Space Element damage!
Kaelum revealed his true colors; he wasn't playing fair!
The summer camp's purpose for this sparring match was to teach juniors that the demon race was deceitful. To survive the abyss, one had to be more cunning than the demon race!
Kaelum promised to use only Wind Element?
If Mike believed even that much, he was too naive!
Kaelum had been performing all this time, just for this final move.
To give Mike a proper lesson!
For the best teaching effect, Kaelum had painstakingly waited until the last moment to reveal his hand!
Compressed air, igniting the winds, causing indiscriminate massive damage...
This move left Mike no escape!
Kaelum watched Mike intently, as if already seeing him engulfed by the fiery winds.
Mike raised his weapon and swung it forward.
"Wind's Reach!"
Kaelum's pupils contracted slightly. How did the cooldown end so quickly?!
It should have at least 2 seconds left!
Mike could reduce skill cooldowns but had been fighting Kaelum with [Wind's Reach]'s 10-second cooldown!
This was a battle of acting skills.
Kaelum wasn't the only one performing!
Mike didn't attack but... retreated rapidly!
Kaelum was unleashing his ultimate move; charging in now would be suicide.
Creating distance to avoid Final Tempest's damage was the right move!
Boom—
After the explosion, the smoke cleared.
Kaelum, covered in black soot, stood in place, his health nearly depleted.
Mike, having retreated to a safe distance, didn't move in for the kill. Instead, he pulled out a matching Gatling gun.
Kaelum grinned, giving up his final struggle.
If Mike approached, he still had a chance for a desperate counterattack.
But it was over; he had been defeated.