Chapter 208 — Mana

Elsewhere—

Kael stood several meters away from the Shadow.

His sword was lowered slightly.

Robert's words echoed in his mind.

It has something to do with mana.

Kael looked around the battlefield.

“Yes…”

His eyes widened slightly.

“Mana is everywhere.”

He closed his eyes, he stopped thinking about the Shadow—Instead, he focused on the battlefield itself.

The air.

The ground.

The space around him.

He tried to feel the mana flowing through everything, At first—

Nothing.

Then, slowly…

Kael began to notice it, a faint current almost like a gentle wind moving through the battlefield.

His breathing became slower.

Mana flow.

He concentrated harder, the sensation became clearer.

It wasn't still.

It was constantly moving.

Then—

WHOOSH!

A fist came straight toward his chest.

CLANG!

Robert's sword intercepted it just in time.

The Shadow's fist collided with the blade.

Robert stepped in front of Kael with an annoyed expression.

“What do you think you're doing?”

Kael didn't answer.

Robert glanced back at him.

“This is a battlefield, not your courtyard. You make breakthroughs in—”

Kael barely heard him.

His mind was still focused on what had just happened.

Just now…

His eyes slowly widened.

There was a sudden disruption in the flow of mana.

He looked toward the Shadow.

That's it.

His grip tightened around his sword.

“Even though he hides himself…” He looked around the battlefield “He still occupies space.”

His eyes sharpened.

“And space is filled with mana.” Kael took a slow breath “So I don't need to sense him.”

He looked at the air around him.

I just need to sense the flow of mana.

Kael looked up at Robert.

“Sorry about that. I was trying something.”

Before Robert could reply—

“Mirage Step.”

WHOOSH!

Kael disappeared.

The Shadow immediately looked to his left, An afterimage of Kael appeared.

But the Shadow didn't move Instead—he turned toward the opposite side.

Kael's real body appeared from the right, His sword flashed toward the Shadow.

The Shadow raised one hand, Metal coated his arm.

CLANG!

He caught the sword with his bare hand.

Kael's eyes widened.

The Shadow looked at the afterimage on his left, then back at Kael.

A mocking smile appeared.

“What do you take me for?”He pushed Kael's sword away.

“Cheap tricks?”

Kael narrowed his eyes.

The Shadow stepped forward “Your useless Mirage doesn't use mana.”

His eyes sharpened.

“I can see the real you from a mile away…”He paused “…with my eyes closed.”

Kael's expression hardened and thought inwardly "So that's the weakness."

He immediately moved.

“Mirage Draw!”

Kael's sword returned to its sheath —Two versions of him appeared.

One charged from the front without a weapon.

The other moved around the Shadow.

The fake Kael attacked first.

The Shadow didn't even look at him, His leg became coated in metal.

“Iron Step.”

BOOM!

The Shadow vanished from his position.

Kael's eyes widened.

The Shadow appeared directly in front of the real Kael.

“Iron Fist.”

Kael barely raised his sword.

BOOM!

The punch smashed into his blade, the force sent Kael flying backward.

He rolled across the ground before stopping himself.

The Shadow stood where he had been.

He slowly lowered his fist.

“You are weak.”