Talent Awakening: Draconic Overlord Of The Apocalypse

Chapter 294: A Challenge In The Dust



THUD!

Anya twisted just in time, deflecting his fist with her elbow and retaliating with a sharp kick aimed at his knee. Alister hopped back, the tip of her boot barely grazing him. Before she could press her advantage, he surged forward with a burst of mana, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.

VOOM!

"You're slow," he said, ducking under her wild hook and delivering a punishing knee to her abdomen.

WHUMP!

Anya gasped as the impact sent her airborne, but she flipped midair, her heels slamming into the side of a rusted bus. She used the vehicle as a springboard, launching herself back at him. BANG!

Her boot connected with his shoulder, forcing him back. She landed gracefully, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she pursued him. Alister, unshaken, twisted his body mid-stumble, driving an elbow toward her face.

THWACK!

She barely blocked it in time, her forearm catching his strike. The force sent her sliding back several feet, her boots gouging deep grooves into the pavement.

"Come now, don't tell me this is all you can do. If this is how you plan to win, then I don't see it happening," she said, her breath coming in sharp bursts as she wiped a trickle of blood from her lip with a grin.

Alister smirked, golden eyes gleaming. "All I can do? That's rich coming from you."

He surged forward again, this time aiming a barrage of punches and kicks that left no room for her to counter.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Anya twisted and weaved, her agility matching his speed. Each strike barely missed, grazing her skin as she ducked and sidestepped. She retaliated with a spinning kick aimed at his head, but Alister ducked, his black hair rustling as her boot passed over him.

He grabbed her ankle mid-spin, yanking her off balance.

WHAM!

She crashed into a dilapidated bench, splinters flying as she rolled back to her feet. Her grin widened despite the growing aches in her body.

"You're not bad, I'll give you that," she said, flexing her fingers before lunging forward.

Their fists collided midair with a resounding BOOM, the force sending shockwaves that toppled the remains of a nearby lamppost. As they exchanged blows at blinding speed, Anya noticed something strange-every time she touched him, even in a block or counter, her mana seemed to weaken slightly.

Her next strike was on purpose, aiming to confirm her suspicion. She landed a punch on his shoulder, and as her fist made contact, she felt it again—a small but noticeable drain on her

mana.

She suddenly gritted her teeth in anger and yelled,

"What the hell are you doing!?" she asked, leaping back to create distance.

Alister stood in the swirling dust, his posture relaxed yet menacing. He flexed his fingers, his smirk growing wider, only for a moment before his signature calm expression returned.

"Oh, whatever do you mean... Guildmaster?"

Anya gritted her teeth as her purple hair began to rise upward with her raging crimson mana. She spoke, "Don't play dumb with me... Alister."

"Every time I make physical contact with you..." She narrowed her crimson gaze, speaking with a touch of anger, "My mana flow goes all whack and weakens!"

Alister chuckled softly and spoke with a small smile.

"Dragon magic," he said simply, his voice as calm as if they were discussing the weather.

Anya's eyes narrowed. "Dragon magic!?"

"That crap again? Are you messing with me?"

Alister narrowed his gaze as he then said, "Now, what would be the point of that?" He began to slowly make his way towards her, each step echoing softly as night began to fall. "You've seen what I'm capable of... What other explanation is there other than the fact these are abilities belonging to my dragons."

He then smiled as he said, "Or is it so hard for you to believe..."

"That perhaps, with the array of abilities I possess... you might actually be the one losing here."

Anya gritted her teeth even further, directing her gaze at him.

"Dragon magic, huh? Guess I'll have to work a little harder to beat you, then."

She clenched her fists, her purple hair glowing faintly as she pushed more mana into her strikes. With a deafening roar, she launched herself at him.

They tore through the ruined cityscape, their clash reducing what little remained of the structures to rubble. Alister slammed Anya into a crumbling building, only for her to kick off the wall and flip over him, landing a solid punch on his back. He stumbled forward but caught himself, spinning around to deliver a sweeping kick that shattered a nearby rusty fire hydrant.

WHOOSH!

Water sprayed into the air as they continued their match. Anya grabbed a rusted metal pole from the debris, swinging it toward Alister with enough force to split the ground beneath

them.

CLANG!

He caught the pole mid-swing, snapping it in half with his bare hands before hurling the pieces aside. "You'll have to do better than that."

"Oh, don't worry," she said, a wicked grin on her face. "I'm just getting started."

Anya darted back, her sharp eyes scanning the battlefield for anything she could weaponize. She refused to give in, even with her mana weakening every time she touched Alister.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Alister, standing amidst a whirlwind of dust and debris, cracked his neck casually. His glowing golden eyes locked onto her. "What's the matter, Guildmaster? Running out of

ideas?"

"Not even close!" Anya yelled back.

She extended her hand toward a pile of twisted steel beams nearby. With a surge of mana, she ripped one free, the metallic groan echoing across the ruined city.

SCREEEEECH!

The beam hurtled toward Alister, spinning like a javelin. He sidestepped effortlessly, the metal slamming into the ground behind him with a deafening THUD, kicking up a plume of

dust and gravel.

Anya didn't stop. Her mana flared as she flung more debris... chunks of concrete, abandoned vehicles, even a mangled lamppost.