Endless Evolution As A Skeleton In A Game-Like World

”So you finally decided to come down? I was getting bored waiting all by myself.” Ark said as Cain made his way towards him.

His eyes moved to the cleaner who was now wiping off the blood from the floor, before settling on Ark.

”Was taking his arm really necessary? You vile pig.”

Ark cocked his head to the side. ”What are you talking about? Did you forget that this was a duel to the death? If anything, I showed him mercy.”

The players in the stadium nodded in agreement. In most duels to the death, there was no mercy, only death. This fact only made it clear that Cain had spoken without thought, making him seem foolish and unlearned.

The muscles on Cain’s jaw flexed, but he did not reply.

The association member that had presided over the last duel stepped in between them, then nervously scratched his head.

”How would you like to go about the duel?” He asked.

The last fight had been a sword duel because Ark had agreed to use swords, and he had proven to be quite proficient with it.

”Do you want a sword-only duel or a free-for-all?”

But now that he had shown just how good he was at swordplay, most players likely believed he was the type of player who was attempting a class change.

There was no way to change your class in the system, but it was possible to build your stats to fit another class...

’They all think I am terrible at magic. That was why he had not even suggested the option of a magic duel...’

Ark smiled internally and said, ”A magic duel.”

”A m-magic duel?” The man asked in shock. ”Are you sure that is what you want?”

Ark nodded.

He sighed. ”In that case, Cain, do you agree with the terms of the duel?”

Cain stared at Ark for a few seconds, trying to figure out his intentions. Was it pure folly, or did he have something up his sleeve?

He shook his head and smiled. ”I accept.”

It didn’t matter if he had any tricks. Cain had seen him overpower Francis, who was a knight. There was no way his magic power was anywhere near his own.

And when it came to magic, Cain’s body glowed with dark mana. There was no one above him....!

”The two fighters, Bronze rank Cain and Copper rank Ark, have now agreed to an honour duel with a magic theme!” The officiator screamed.

”We will now commence the battle!”

...Needless to say, the crowd was just as shocked as the officiator had been.

The officiator quickly stepped out of the ring, and then a magical dome was formed around it to prevent stray spells from meeting the audience, after which Ark and Cain moved to a reasonable distance from each other.

Cain summoned his magic staff, a black weapon with a crooked body, ending on a glowing green jewel, just before he summoned his cloak.

Ark, on the other hand, fashioned the hero’s blade into shape in his mind before summoning it in reality.

Now, resting in his hand was a black wand that looked a lot like a bone. Its tip had small skeletal digits that wrapped around a round, crimson gemstone.

He had already summoned his cloak since the first fight, so he was more than ready.

The two of them stared at each other, just before a small explosion, signifying the start of the duel, rang out.

”Your pride will lead to your own undoing.” Cain smiled as he pointed his staff forward. The air behind him darkened, turning a deep shade of grey, just before the air grew unstable.

”Seeking Ash.”

VWOOOOSH!

A colossal wave of searing ash exploded out of the staff, flying right towards Ark’s face.

The parts of the floor that made contact with the ash melted like butter, the air turning toxic as the ash swallowed it.

’A powerful spell right from the beginning? Impressive.’

Ark dashed to the side as the ash rushed back, slamming right into the dome. The dome sparked, but it held.

Meanwhile, Ark was racing towards Cain from the left. Cain redirected his staff to him. ”Soul devouring fire!”

BOOOM!

A gust of green flames poured out of his staff like an endless stream, the fire licking the floor as it curled around like a serpent, chasing after Ark.

But even when Cain increased the intensity of the fire, he could not touch Ark, and he was steadily approaching!

”Is running the only thing you can do? You sorry excuse for a mage!”

”Running won’t save you!” He slammed his staff into the floor.

Ark heard a cracking sound. He stared down only to see veins of green right below his feet.

”Shit!” He laughed in his mind. Just before the entire floor erupted.

BANG!

”This entire stadium is my battlefield!”

Ark raced out of the explosion, darting from floating rock to rock as he locked eyes with Cain.

”The elements are mine to command!” Cain waved his hands down, and Ark felt a heavy force tug at his body, pulling both him and the rocks down to the floor.

’He can use gravity magic?’

”Every ounce of mana in this space is mine!” Cain laughed.

Ark stared up, his skull brightened by the glow of fire. Right above his head was a colossal fireball, one large enough to swallow the entire stage whole.

Ark laughed bitterly. ”Just what did they feed you in Order?!”

His magic power was far above what someone at their level was meant to have, and his command over his mana was exquisite. Was this the power of a Demonic warlock?

”You should have thought twice before crossing me, Ark!” Cain smiled like a man possessed. ”As you are dragged to the pits of hell, remember who sent you there!”

Back on the stage, Soo-min shook her head.

Right from the start of the duel, Cain had dominated Ark in both spell proficiency, mana power and spell release, but not once had he been able to connect.

So to counter Ark’s speed, he sacrificed his mana to use a wide-area spell that was impossible to dodge.

By stretching the spell, he had reduced the firepower behind it, and this would have been bad if it was any other fire spell...

But this was not just any other spell. That green fire was the soul-devouring flames, a warlock’s specialty.

The fire would eat at Ark’s mind, and then from his mind, it would slip into his soul, corroding it with madness.

Ark would be dead before he realised what had hit him.

”It’s over.”

But something was strange....

Most mages at this point would have summoned a shield, or at least tried to repel the attack with a spell of equal measure.

Soo-min was sure he did not have enough mana to summon a spell capable of stopping Cain’s inferno.

But why not a shield?

’Has he resigned himself to his fate?’

Also, she glanced at her sister. Why was Soo-jin so unbothered? It was the same for her aides...

SWOOOOOSH!

The green fire came down with a hiss, followed by a large gust of wind, and then a shockwave that cut across the entire arena.

Dust blew up into the air as the dome was completely covered by green fire, the flames hissing like a caged beast as it clashed against it.

”Do not despair.” Cain said as he stared at the fire. Although it had consumed everything, the fire simply caressed him like a lover, unwilling to burn even a strand of his hair.

”From the moment you picked a magic battle, your defeat was a foregone conclusion—”

”HAHAHAHA HAHA HAHA EHEHEHE!”

The crowd heard a crazed laughter erupt from within the dust.

— He must have been driven mad by the flames.

— He is as good as dead, his soul has been corroded by the fire...

That was the general consensus of everyone present. But as the fire fizzled away, the dust finally settled, revealing a rather disturbing sight.

Ark was standing right where he had been, laughing wildly, all while the green fire ate at his body and clothing, his entire body engulfed by it. But even as the fire burned around him, Ark was completely unharmed.

And then he spoke.

”That was really an amazing spell, Cain. You have been practicing like a good boy, haven’t you?”

Cain stumbled back. ”H-how...” he muttered in a low tone.

”HOW?!”

How had he not been burned by the spell?! How was he not driven mad by the power of the green flames?! How was his soul still intact?!

Soo-min’s expression shifted, Soo-jin had a calm smile on her face, Tristan was laughing, while Ares... Ares was bubbling inside, his face a mask of darkness and disgust.

Step!

Ark took a step forward, his body still burning as he stalked towards him.

Cain took a step back.

Step!

Fire sparkled in one of his hands, while in his other hand, lightning danced around chaotically.

Cain’s fingers balled into a tight fist.

”How did you do it?”

Ark let out a dark chuckle. ”Haven’t you heard? A magician never reveals his secrets...”

He raised the spells on both hands as though presenting them to Cain.

”F-Rank Fireball...” He lifted his right hand. ”Or C-Rank Chain Lightning?” He cocked his head to the side, his blue orbs glowing like pits of fire.

”Which one do you prefer?”