Extra's Descent

Brandon had come to realize that without the lightning affinity, his speed was significantly decreased.

With such thoughts, another binding vow occurred.

For this, Aeolus Blessing, and Elemental Manipulation were sacrificed.

He couldn't configure the new skill.

It was then when Elemental Manipulation and Aeolus Blessing disintegrated from his system.

Forming….

[Phantasm]

∟As the skill activates, a thick, ominous fog fills the vicinity, saturated with cursed energy.

∟The user harnesses this energy to move instantaneously through the fog, appearing like a phantom and leaving ghostly afterimages that haunt and disorient their foes.

"Good enough."

This was the exchange that the binding vow had made.

He had no full control of it.

A movement skill that pairs with his zone.

And thankfully, his zone was active.

But this zone….

"...."

It rapidly drains his mana.

For some reason, the zone he has was barrierless.

There was no isolation, and it stretched far wide.

"Not bad."

Then, he whispered coldly.

"Phantasm."

All of a sudden, fog gradually enveloped the vicinity.

The fog became thicker and thicker, permeating the air in each passing second.

Looking ahead, Brandon could see purple blazing dots in his peripheral view.

They were the pathways.

Pathways enshrouded in cursed mana.

And all he had to do was grab them.

He extended his hands forward.

"Huu…"

Took a deep breath.

There, a pathway seemed to be floating in front of Lumian.

And so, he grabbed it.

Swoosh—!

In that instant, Brandon felt his entire being shift, as if he was being pulled towards the pathway.

For a second, his body became ethereal, mixing in with the fog.

Then, he appeared in front of Lumian.

***

"....!"

Clang—!

Instinctively, Lumian brandished his sword forward. But instantly, the sword was repelled by chains that quickly shot from the ground, sparks flying in the air.

Lumian recoiled backwards, taking two steps back.

But immediately recovering, Lumian kicked the ground and swung his blade forward.

Swoosh—!

"...."

Time passed.

His sword continued cutting nothing but air.

It made no sense.

Moriarty was standing there, unguarded. But the moment his sword seemingly swung down at his body, Moriarty disappeared and the fog spreaded, his sword phasing through.

"...."

An afterimage.

Thwack!

"Ukh!"

Another fist swung down on Lumian's back, and he felt the pain course within him.

But throughout the entire fight, Lumian had yet to suffer grave injuries.

No blood, no grazes, no cuts.

Nothing.

As if Moriarty was playing with him.

"No."

Lumian refused to believe it. Despite knowing he was the weakest among his peers, he was not supposed to be this helpless against the people of this continent.

Especially against a no–name like Moriarty.

Who even is he?

The Milis continent had done thorough research on the most powerful figures of the Holy Britannian continent.

This man…

….There was no information about him.

It was like he was a ghost.

If someone as strong as him was around this whole time, then….

"Huh?"

He suddenly recalled.

Moriarty's features were familiar.

Pale–white hair, ice blue eyes…

A certain memory flashed in his mind.

A memory he would rather want to forget.

"You—Akh!"

Another fist swung down on his abdomen. Lumain swung his blade forward, cutting nothing but air.

"Belle Locke?"

But Lumian was able to say the words that were stuck in his tongue.

It was then when he caught sight of Moriarty's figure, paused, a few distance in front of him.

"I knew it. Belle Locke, you're related to her, aren't you?"

"Mayhaps."

Moriarty shrugged. All Lumian could see was his silhouette.

But as Moriarty stepped forward, his features unveiled themselves and Lumian's eyes widened.

Staring deep into his cold ice–blue eyes, Lumian felt the immense pressure boring down on him.

It was as if Moriarty was staring deep into his soul.

Then,

Swoosh—!

His figure disappeared once again. In an instant, a fist appeared in front of Lumian.

Thwack!

With his reflexes, Lumian shielded his face and the fist swung on his arm.

"...."

But he felt nothing. Just slight pain.

It was then when Lumian realized.

This man….

He was holding back.

"You fucker!"

Soul flames wrapped his sword and Lumian kicked the ground, swinging at every silhouette—knowing it was probably an afterimage.

Swoosh—! Swoosh—!

Thwack!

"Kh…!"

And yet again, another fist struck his back. But not forceful enough to make Lumian to injure Lumian enough.

Just slight bruises.

It didn't make any sense.

There was a space around Lumian and the flames around him that allowed him to sense any movement. With his reactions, he could immediately react once he sensed anything touch his flames.

Yet they could never sense Moriarty.

Was it… because of the fog?

Was it somehow tampering with his ability…?

He truly couldn't tell.

"Come out, you fucking pussy! Use your chains! Come on, do it!"

"Alright."

A cold voice suddenly reached his ears from behind.

Lumian immediately swung his blade—clad in soul flame back.

Swoosh—!

And yet again, there was nothing.

"....!"

But as Lumian looked down, chains had snaked around his leg.

All of a sudden, his right leg was suddenly hurled back, and Lumian lay face flat on the ground.

Striking his blade on the chains, the chain broke with ease and Lumian was able to recover.

But as he tried to get up….

Thwack!

"Conditions met."

Moriarty's cold voice.

***

Another binding vow.

'If I can survive for twenty minutes without spilling a single blood, then his mana gets sealed for five minutes.'

If Brandon somehow spills even a single drop of blood...

'Then I shall offer my life.'

The vow was given, even before the fight started.

Since Lumian was way stronger than him, in both the physical and magic aspect, then the deal had a certain balance to it.

It was approved.

Feeling the chains wrapped inside his heart, with a pointed tip of the blade against it, Brandon clenched his chest.

"Conditions met."

At that moment, the chains inside his heart shattered and he looked down on Lumian—who was down on the ground beneath him.

At that moment, a chain—with the tip pointed like a sharp blade shot up from the ground and pierced through Lumian's palm.

"Akh…!"

And another one for his other palm.

"Fuck…!"

"How many bones does a human body have again…?"

Brandon asked.

"206? 207? 205?"

Of course, he knew.

But…

He wanted to toy with the bastard.

"Guess we'll have to find out."

"Fuck did you do to me? I can't feel my mana…!"

"Starting from the arm."

Brandon crouched down, paying no heed to Lumian, extending his hand towards Lumian's wrist.

Lumian was immobilized, the chains piercing right through his palms as his entire figure was stuck on the ground.

This was especially so as his mana was sealed.

"Five minutes is all I need to find out."

"What are you—Akh!"

Crack—!

Brandon twisted Lumian's forearm, and a cracking sound rang.

"There's one bone called the humerus in the upper arm."

Crack—!

"The forearm is composed of two bones."

Crack—!

"Ukhh!"

"The bone I broke just now on the pinkie finger side is called the ulna."

Crack—!

"Ughk…!"

"This one on the thumb side is called the radius."

Crack—!

"Kahh! Lord Ezekiel, I give y—Nmmh."

Chains shot up from the ground and completely wrapped around Lumian's mouth, his teeth shattering in the process, and his words—halted.

"Shh…"

Brandon placed a finger on his mouth.

"I haven't finished my lesson yet…. Anyway, the hand bones are split into three different parts."

Crack—!

"The carpus."

Crack—!

"The metacarpus."

Crack—!

"And the phalanges."

"Nnnmh…!"

Crack—!

"There are eight bones making up the carpal group. But these bones are all clustered together, so they can all be broken together too."

CRACK——!

"The metacarpals are five bones numbered from one to five."

CRACK——!

"Nmmmh...!"

"There are three kinds of bones making up the phalanges. The thumb is the only bone without a distal bone."

Crack—!

"So there are 14 bones making up the phalanges in one hand."

CRACK——!

"Nmmh…!"

"If we finish breaking the humerus…."

CRACK——!

"....Then we have gotten all 30 bones of the arm."

Each bone that broke, Lumian's body twitched spontaneously and Brandon could see sweat and tears trickle down Lumian's face.

"Oh. Compared to my arm you took, this is nothing. Just a little light–play."

Brandon shrugged.

"Next one, let's do the leg."

"Nmmh!"

Crack—!

"If we count the femur, then there are 30 bones just like with the arm. But if we include the sesamoid bones, then there are 32 bones."

CRACK——!

"Nmmh...! Nmh...!"

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack—!

Unable to bear the pain any longer, Lumian started banging the back of his head on the ground.

"Up to you."

Brandon shrugged his shoulders again.

.

.

"There are 24 rib bones in total. The maxilla and mandible are made with two bones."

CRACK——!

"Now that we're done with that, let's proceed with the skull."

"Nmmh...!"

Thwack! Thwack!

"Doing it yourself, huh? Let me help you out."

Crack—!

"The ethmoid bone."

Crack—!

"Then, the sphenoid bone."

Crack—!

.

.

Time passed.

CRACK——!

"And that makes a total of 206 bones. Thanks for your cooperation."

5 minutes, and 26 seconds.

That's how long it took for Brandon to fully break all of Lumian's bones.

In the middle of it, Lumian had long passed out.

Looking down indifferently, Lumian seemed to have passed out already. His eyes were shot wide open and there were no visible pupils.

Blood seeped from his mouth as his mouth hung agape.

"Did it hurt…? I think it didn't amount to the pain you've put Belle through."

Waving his hand up and clenching his fist, a chain shot from the ground and pierced right through Lumian's heart.

Spurt!

Brandon turned around without batting an eye. The zone was lifted, and the fog had already faded.

"How does it feel to be so helpless in front of death itself, you fucking bastard?"