Gravity Mage with Level-Up System

Chapter 1089: Desperate Situation

From MCʼs Perspective:

Stacieʼs steps were quick but measured, retreating gracefully as her hands wove intricate patterns in the air, drawing on the deep reserves of her magical power.

With a flick of her wrist and a sharp incantation, a massive, ominous black flower materialized before her—itʼs dark petals pulsing with a sinister energy. Without hesitation, she thrust it forward, sending it spiraling toward her attacker with deadly precision.

The Zero Puppet, a construct of eerie perfection, reacted immediately. Its mechanical body jerked to the side, attempting to evade the oncoming attack. But as the black flower reached its peak, it burst open, releasing a thick cloud of inky black fog.

The atmosphere shifted in an instant. The once-clear land was now drenched in darkness, the fog curling and twisting like serpents in the air, seeking anything to devour.

The fog was no ordinary mist—it was corrosive, lethal. Anything it touched sizzled and disintegrated in seconds. The Zero Puppet halted abruptly, its sensors flashing with warnings.

The fog, laced with poison magic, could erode even its resilient mechanical body. Recognizing the imminent danger, it retreated to a safe distance, maintaining its cautious vigilance.

Meanwhile, within the swirling fog, Stacie stood still, her figure concealed by the darkness, but her mind razor-sharp. The brief pause offered by her magical protection gave her the space she needed. She probed the area with her senses, reaching out to detect any trace of the true target.

Her suspicions deepened as her magic traced the figure of the Zero Puppet—it was not the target she sought. No, this puppet was merely a decoy, a shield for someone far more dangerous, likely a wizard pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

Anger sparked in her chest, a growing flame of frustration. She knew her time was running out. If she hesitated any longer, more enemies could arrive, complicating an already precarious situation. Her mission was to eliminate the target—quickly and efficiently. Failure wasnʼt an option.

Her senses sharpened, and then she felt it—a faint presence, hidden beneath the towering shade of giant trees nearby. Her target.

Without a second thought, Stacie moved. With a sudden rush, she vanished from her position, her form becoming a blur. The black fog obeyed her command, following her in a thick, rolling cloud. As she sped toward the target, the fog flowed with her like an extension of her being, an ominous shadow creeping across the battlefield.

To an outsider, it would appear as if the very clouds of death were moving in a single, determined direction, heralding her approach.

...

Meanwhile, I stood at a distance, quietly observing the unfolding chaos. Stacie Sharpe was a formidable opponent, her control over the black fog and dark magic imposing. But as I watched, something shifted. The fog, once erratic and swirling, turned sharply in my direction, as if drawn by some invisible force.

[Ding! Warning]

[Host is advised to leave the place.]

The systemʼs warning echoed in my mind, its urgency cutting through my thoughts. My heart quickened, and my face hardened with realization.

Running away might have been the safe option, but I wasnʼt about to retreat. Not this time. I had more tools at my disposal now—the Zero Puppet, a creation designed for moments exactly like this.

As the dark cloud moved closer, the oppressive energy of the female wizardʼs approach became undeniable. Her presence radiated danger, each step sending a wave of dread through the air. But I was prepared. Summoning the full force of my magic, I initiated my counterattack just as she neared.

”Repulsive Force,” I uttered.

A surge of power erupted from my body, expanding in every direction like a tidal wave. The repulsive energy tore through the air, crackling with destructive intensity. Anything caught within its range disintegrated instantly, as if reality itself was being ripped apart by the sheer force.

Stacie Sharpe, undeterred, felt the power coming toward her but dismissed it with an arrogant glance. As a Level-7 Wizard, she had no reason to fear a mere Level-5 spellcaster—or so she thought.

Her confidence was palpable as she raised her mana to shield against the impact, ready to brush aside what she believed to be an insignificant attack.

But she had gravely underestimated me.

”Boom!””

The repulsive force slammed into her, far more potent than she anticipated. Her defenses buckled under the raw power. Without the proper preparation or any active magic spells to counter it, she took the full brunt of the attack.

”Pfff!”

Blood sprayed from her mouth as the impact crushed her. The black fog, once a near-impenetrable shield, was helpless against the overwhelming force. It dispersed instantly, leaving her exposed.

Stacieʼs body crumpled slightly, the repulsive force compressing her organs with a brutal efficiency. The look on her face was priceless—a mixture of disbelief and pain, her once assured demeanor shattered in an instant.

Her lips moved, barely audible, but I caught the words.

”Heʼs not a Level-5 Wizard…” she muttered, wiping the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand. Her eyes burned with newfound wariness. For the first time, she understood the truth—Vincent Carey was no ordinary target.

By now, the battlefield had cleared of the oppressive black fog, swept away by the destructive wake of my magic. Stacie Sharpe, though battered and bruised, remained standing. But the confidence she had just moments ago had been replaced by a cautious respect.

The game had changed.

Before Stacie Sharpe could process her thoughts, she sensed a sinister presence creeping up behind her. The air grew unnervingly still, and in a flash, she felt the cold, merciless edge of a dagger thrust deep into her back. The Zero Puppet had moved with eerie silence, striking with deadly precision.

The attack was so sudden, it nearly caught her off guard. She barely had time to register the danger before the cold blade pierced through her chest, the sharp metal sliding effortlessly into her flesh as if cutting through butter. The pain was immediate, searing, and undeniable.

Pfff!

A mouthful of blood spilled from Stacieʼs lips as her body staggered. Her eyes flared with a mix of agony and shock—she hadnʼt been injured this badly in what felt like an eternity. Her breathing became labored, her mind racing as she tried to fight the rising tide of pain.

On the other side of the battlefield, I watched her movements closely, analyzing every step. The Zero Puppet, now fully reactivated, moved with cold precision, each strike guided by lethal programming.

Though it was nothing more than an automaton, it wielded the power of a Level-7 Strength entity. I sighed inwardly, knowing full well how formidable such an opponent could be, even against someone of Stacieʼs caliber.

As the moments passed, the puppetʼs relentless attacks continued. The dagger glinted under the dull light, finding its mark again and again, each strike driving deeper into Stacieʼs defenses. Blood trickled from her wounds, staining her clothes crimson. Despite her attempts to dodge, the puppetʼs blade found its target with unnerving consistency.

In a desperate bid to escape, Stacie unleashed her poison magic, a wave of noxious fumes spreading between her and the puppet, forcing it back and creating much-needed distance. But even with her magic, she couldnʼt avoid being wounded—every moment, the puppetʼs blade seemed to reach her, cutting through her defenses, tearing at her stamina.

At that moment, Stacie made a crucial decision. Abandoning her original mission to target the main objective, she refocused her energy. Her mind sharpened with a single, burning intent: to survive. To defeat the relentless foe in front of her.

The battle was no longer about strategy or tactics. It was about survival, pure and simple.

...

About 30 minutes into the intense battle, Stacie Sharpe could feel the strain on her body. Her mana reserves were dangerously low, each spell costing her more than the last. If the fight dragged on much longer, she knew she would completely deplete her mana.

The thought of being left defenseless gnawed at her, but she kept her face calm, betraying none of her growing concern. She couldnʼt afford to show weakness—not now, not when so much was at stake.

What Stacie didnʼt realize, however, was that her enemy had its own limitations. The Zero Puppet, though tireless and mechanical in nature, faced a similar problem. Its energy core was also nearing depletion, the constant barrage of attacks steadily draining its power.

Despite its emotionless facade, the puppet was programmed with one clear directive: end the fight before its energy ran out. And so, its movements became more erratic, its attacks more aggressive, as it pushed itself toward its final objective—ending Stacieʼs life.

The air around them was thick with tension, poisoned gas still swirling from Stacieʼs earlier spell. The toxic fumes clung to the battlefield, slowly corroding the puppetʼs outer layers, but it didnʼt care.

It ignored the damage, fixated solely on finishing the fight before its core failed. With every passing second, its strikes grew wilder, faster, more desperate. The dagger gleamed wickedly, cutting through the air with deadly precision, forcing Stacie onto the defensive.

She was being pushed to the edge, both literally and figuratively. The toll of the fight was becoming unbearable. Each spell, each defensive maneuver drained what little mana she had left.