Solar Mage

Chapter 40: The Hollow Faced

I need to dodge!

I kick off the ground with my left foot, propelling myself to the right, just as the air and ground where I previously stood is left with deep claw marks, cutting deeper than the width of my Sun Gate, resulting in the deep, pitch-black hole widening further.

"Kgh–"

I dispel my sun gate and quickly regain balance on my legs as I direct my hand at its torso without viewing the state of his hollow face.

"Sunbeam!!"

How do you like that? After reaching the third circle, I no longer need to cast Dawn and transform its structure into a beam in order to use it?

Heightened Senses enhance my instincts, as I twist my head to the right, just barely avoiding another claw attack of its, on my neck.

"Kagghhh!!!"

I scream in pain as I jump backwards from the hollow-faced humanoid while holding my left shoulder in pain, covering the wound.

How can something be so sharp and powerful without the use of aura? It can't be because of training its body muscles either, because it has none! Where could this monster possibly be getting its power from? I've never heard of such a thing!

The monster makes no movements, watching me from its original position. Taking the chance, I move my hand off of my shoulder and take a quick peek at the wound.

Okay– thankfully, it's not that deep of a wound– and it doesn't look like his claws were covered in any kind of poison or venom either so I don't need to avoid every single one of its attacks since they won't be too life-threatening. I still need to dodge them to an extent, but I will be able to counterattack if the attack won't strike too deeply.

After quickly peeking at the wound, I immediately turn back to face the monster; still watching me closely while standing completely still.

What is this monster doing? Is it– looking down on me?

My eyes ignited with flames.

How dare this faceless, nameless, disgusting monster– look down on me?!?!

So what if you have claws? I can have claws as well!

My hands burst into flames that slowly die down, a giant orange hand of flames, the flames resembling a bear's claw, outlines both of my hands.

"Make a move, fucker."

The cut on my shoulder heals as we stare at each other, bearing our claws at each other, waiting deeply in anticipation, the concentration so intense, and the patience so thin, any vibration or movement could cut it.

Come on, make a move already you stupid monster.

Then a loud crashing noise echoes from the large deep hole beside us.

"Crack!!!"

To the naked eye, we both disappear the moment of the echo, as we take our battle into the air.

Heightened Senses, Swift Wind, Enhance Body: Whole!

Where is he? We should both be going at similar speeds, so why can't I see him?!

My heightened senses activate intensely as my instincts detect danger.

Shit– Iron Body!

"Crack– crack– crack..."

It continues to echo in the background, from the inside of the hole.

"KUGHHH!!!"

Its claws dig deep into my skin, almost touching my organs.

God damn, this hurts!! Why is it so flexible?!?!

"AURRRRGHH!!"

Ignoring the pain in my leg and driven by pure rage, I twist my body as fast as I can and try to strike back. I swing my claws at it, a desperate and pathetic attempt, a sharp wave of energy bursts from the slash, cutting through the air. The slash takes the shape of a glowing arc, speeding toward the target with deadly force. But it dodges with ease. In a flash, it brings its attack down on my head, sending me crashing downward in a shameful spiral into the ground.

Flaming slashes linger in the air where my claws cut through, spreading out like burning scars before slowly fading away.

"BOOOOOM!"

Ugh– that barely hurt, but the humiliation– it enrages me even more!! Who cares if I'm not thinking straight? I'm eliminating this monster right here and now!!

I change my body enhancement to only enhance my eyes.

If I can't catch up to it regardless, then it would be useless for me to enhance my legs. If I enhance my eyes, I'll at least be able to see its movements.

The monster now lands back to the ground, elegantly, a distance away from me. I stare at the monster's hollowed face, both mine and the monster's emotions nowhere to be seen.

I can see his movements now! He is making the tiniest of movements super quickly, something that no one would be able to notice unless they could enhance their eyes like me! His hands especially, are shaking much more than the rest of his body. Is it because he's scared, or is there another reason?

I take a look at myself, then at him.

Now that I am able to see his movements, all it will allow me to do is to see where he is. I might be able to dodge his sneak attacks but I won't be able to catch up and attack him myself.

I need to be physically faster, not just mentally– much faster than what my current level of Body Enhancement can do for me. The only skill that I can imagine giving me a boost that's fast enough is Swift Wind, however– it will take me a long time to analyze it– much longer than the time I have.

I suddenly close my eyes for a minute thinking in silence while releasing all my skills and leaving myself completely vulnerable. Throughout the minute, hundreds of thoughts flowing in and out of my mind every second.

Then, I open my eyes, discharging orange flames once again.

"Time to burn some mana."

Figuratively.

Beast-like flame claws appear on both of my hands. The hollow-faced monster made no movements.

Look at you all relaxed, I'll make sure to fuck up your face even more!

We both disappear at the same time, taking our battle into the air once more. No part of my body is enhanced with mana and my eyes are closed.

I feel him staring at me. Now he's charging at me, haha, Now.

My legs erupt into flames and take the shape of hind claws. My eyes open and I see him right in front of my face, likely to reach me in the next decisecond. My emotionless face turns a sinister smile.

You almost hand me- Almost.

In an instant, my body rockets through the air, already twisting in a sharp 360-degree vertical spin. Flames flare up around my hind claw as it swings down like an axe. With all my force, I drive the burning claw straight into the hollowed creature's face. The hit lands hard, fire instantly setting the body ablaze, igniting everything in its path.

The monster's body heats up fast, the force from the kick sending it hurtling downwards uncontrollably. Its limbs thrash as it struggles, but there's no stopping its fiery descent. The air around it warps from the heat, the creature falling like a blazing meteor, spiraling toward the ground with nothing left but the fire consuming it.

Until,

"BOOOOOOOM!!!"

The impact left a massive crater, on top of the crater formed by me prior. The hollow-faced beast lies unconscious, its motionless body, devoid of life in the crater.

"Haha, serve you right!"

That attack was amazing– these claws are really powerful! Paired with the flame eyes, they make an unstoppable force. Moreover, they look so cool!! I modeled the claws after the legendary adventurer, the Lightning Claw, who was a close combat mage who's most famous attack is the lightning claw! I'm going to call this, the Flame Claw! I know I'm not a fire attribute but it looks similar enough. The third circle really made me a lot stronger.

"Nameless, did you defeat that monster?!?!"

This voice– is that Han?

"Yeah it's not moving anymore– but don't get too close yet, it could just be pretending to be dead!!"

I should get rid of these claws because of how much mana they consume– if I didn't get the mana reserve boost and advanced mana circuits, I would've used as much mana as I did against Blaine.

The flames around my hands and feet dissipate as the flames spewing endlessly out of my eyes follow soon after, as I start falling.

Right– I forgot that I was only able to stay in the air because of those claws on my feet gripping onto the air.

I fall in a straight motion right side up.

This is going to hurt a lot.

I use Body Enhancement, completely concentrated on my legs and Iron Body.

"BOOOOOOOM!"

Aghh– Iron Body makes my body and bones tougher but it just produces so much more noise from the heavier impact!

I try to take a step toward the Hollow-faced monster's body, but my leg gives away, almost causing me to fall.

That was super embarrassing– did anyone see that?

I turn my head around and see no one.

Good, but why does my legs hurt so much? Could it be that the constant strain and force applied on my legs have finally caught up to me? No– that can't be the case because I can feel my Super Regeneration starting to take effect on it already. What could it be then? Lets see, I used Iron Body, Enhance Body, and I already had Heightened Senses activated. Oh– I forgot to use Swift Wind, rightt– I had it deactivated before because it interferes with the usage of Flame Claw.

Well, even if I have trouble moving, I can still check what I dropped down here to check.

I point my hand at his body.

This angle looks about right.

"Sun Beam"

A blinding ray of orange light shoots out of my outstretched right hand, and pierces cleanly through the hollow-faced monster's chest.

Looks like this monster really was all skin and bones. It doesn't even have any blood...

I put most of my weight on my right leg and drag my left leg behind me as I make my way over to the monster's even more hollowed body.

I made it even hollower.

"Pfft–"

I crouch down and carefully examine the creature's hand, running my finger over its claws and poking myself with it.

It's just as I thought, these claws are not sharp at all, an old, rusty, iron sword, made by an amateur blacksmith would be sharper than this. Its sharpness and speed must have had something to do with how heavily its body was shaking and vibrating.

I drop its arm and stand upright before stretching.

Yup, my legs feel usable already.

"Alright Tin– Rachel, it's safe to come out now!"

I plop to the ground afterwards.

Sitting feels better. Ahh– I miss my bed...