Narrator POV 

  

  

  

  

  

  

Argent dropped the red crystal. 

The crystal broke and created a magic circle of intricate runes. 

It emerged from where the crystal dropped it and enveloped a wide area around it. 

The magic circle managed to envelop the entirety of the mansion's vicinity. 

From that magic circle, a dome enveloped the area. 

It swallowed everyone within the vicinity of the mansion. 

Everything became a bit dark with a tint of red and everyone was inside the dome. 

Everything seemed fine but the surrounding was within a red dome. 

Everyone caught within the magic circle knew what this was. 

They all knew that they had been transported into an alternate space within the (Isolation Barrier). 

  

  

The red crystal that Argent just dropped is called an Isolation Barrier Crystal. 

The crafter who creates these items are very few and the raw material used to make these item is extremely rare as well. 

Thus acquiring one requires a lot of effort and also, luck. 

This extremely rare item is used to cast an (Isolation Barrier) magic around the user. 

Depending on the quality of the crystal determines how large the Isolation Barrier is. 

This barrier managed to envelop an area of around 50 meters from where the crystal was dropped. 

Having this large area enclosed within the barrier means that the Isolation Barrier Crystal Argent just used is a top-quality item of such kind. 

  

  

Isolation Barrier Crystal is an item that was originally made to trap destructive monsters in a magical space separate from reality. 

It is often used during the subjugation of extremely dangerous monsters that require the monster to be trapped and separated from other monsters during subjugation. 

The (Isolation Barrier), transports every living being within the magic circle inside an alternate space inside that barrier. 

All "beings" such as monsters humans and alike will be transported as they are within the magic circle that appears as the spell is cast. 

(Isolation Barrier) can be cast via using a magic skill or by using an item that can cast the same spell, AKA Isolation Barrier Crystal. 

  

  

Inside the barrier, no one from the outside will be able to enter. 

No one from the inside will be able to get out. 

Anything that will happen within this barrier will not affect the real world. 

No one in the real world would be able to affect anything within the barrier. 

This is how the (Isolation Barrier) worked. 

  

  

Of course, this spell is not perfect. 

It can be dispelled using Items made to dispel barriers. 

There are even skills and magic that can break this barrier. 

Argent was even expecting the enemies to have a countermeasure against this but fortunately, it seems that they did not have one. 

Not many have the countermeasure to dispel this barrier after all. 

He was relieved. 

  

  

  

As the two decided to fight seriously, Argent preemptively used an item that would isolate him as well as the people gathered on the wide lawn of the mansion. 

Thus he used the Isolation Barrier Crystal to trap the assassins and Inquisitors inside the barrier. 

  

  

Argent used this precious rare item for 2 reasons. 

First, Argent knew that once he and Tassilo became serious while fighting each other, they would create devastation in the surroundings. 

He wanted to avoid destroying the surroundings as much as possible. 

This was because the mansion belonged to the young lady of Azurearozi. 

The lady who informed him of an important matter not too long ago. 

A lady to whom he owed some favors. 

Thus he wanted to avoid upsetting the lady as much as possible. 

Second, he wanted to trap all of the assassins inside the barrier so he could keep them occupied. 

By doing this, the enemies would not be able to follow Kazue and the others as they escaped from the enemies. 

  

  

After buying some time for Kazue, Argent used the Isolation Barrier Crystal. 

It has been a while since they left using the secret passageway hidden under the mansion. 

He deduced that it was about time that Kazue and her friend would be far enough to get far away. 

He wanted to make sure that Kazue and the others would not be caught inside the barrier. 

Thus, he held back on going all out and bought them some time. 

Now that he used the item, he can get serious. 

  

  

Trapped inside the barrier were a few guards, assassins, and inquisitors. 

The barrier enveloped an area that was around a hundred meters all around from himself. 

Now, all he has to do is defeat the assassins and Inquisitors within the barrier with the guards of the mansion. 

And their leader, the one who calls himself Tassilo stands before him. 

Defeating Tassilo would not be as easy as it sounds. 

From what he judged earlier, Tassilo must be on the level of an A-ranked adventurer. 

Argent, who is also an A-rank adventurer knew that it would not be easy. 

If he did not go all out, he may not be able to defeat this enemy. 

Still, he used the Isolation Barrier Crystal. 

  

  

By using an Isolation barrier, none of the guards nor the enemies could leave the dome created by the magic crystal. 

The magic would create a copy of the area within the dome and trap everyone within it inside. 

The barrier transports every being inside the magic circle inside an artificial space separated from reality. 

There are only 2 ways to leave the space within the barrier in normal situations. 

First is when the caster decides to dispel the barrier. 

The second is to kill the caster. 

To kill, Argent... 

  

  

Tassilo watched the surroundings getting enveloped inside the magic circle. 

They were transported into that isolated space. 

Tassilo, Argent, the assassins, the Inquisitors, and the guards who were caught within the magic circle were trapped inside the (Isolation Barrier). 

"Isolation Barrier"  

Tassilo muttered as soon as he realized what just happened. 

With this, Tassilo, the Assassins, the Inquisitors, and the guards are all trapped within the barrier. 

He finds this action from Argent to be unnecessary and bothersome. 

  

  

"What's the meaning of this..."  

Tassilo asked Argent. 

"I just thought that it is about time to end this... I guess."  

"Huh? End this? You will? Are you getting ahead of yourself too much?"  

"That so?"  

"You know what this means right? This action literally tells me to "Kill you" ."  

"Really now...?"  

"Well... even without this, you will die either way..." 

"Aa~... let's just end this shall we?"  

Argent replied in a disinterested tone. 

Tassilo finds this to be annoying. 

"Aa... is that so? Don't get cocky just because you managed to scratch me on the face."  

  

  

Tassilo said as he wiped the small trickle of blood that came out of the wound on his face. 

The wound has already healed under that trickle of blood. 

Tassilo knew that he would not be able to leave this place without making Argent dispel the barrier or kill him with his hands. 

The answer was obvious. 

He decided to do it even without the barrier anyway. 

He was going to kill Argent. 

As if pissed Tassilo roared. 

  

  

His body was covered in a fur-like aura making him look like a white feral creature. 

Streaks of lightning were enveloping his body and those streaks of electricity were burning what they touched. 

His body was being enveloped by an aura that burned bright like flames coming out of his entire body. 

"You seemed to be confident after revealing your Unique skill. Don't think that you are the only one who has a Unique Skill. Let me show you MY unique skill."  

His eye glowed and streaks of sparks came out. 

(Dragonic Mode) 

  

  

This was Tassilo's strongest ability. 

It boosts all of his fighting prows to another height. 

Speed, power, durability, responsiveness, and endurance. 

It also allows him to freely enhance his attack with extreme heat. 

The skill (Dragonic Mode) boosts all of these aspects of Tassilo's fighting prow. 

Using this skill means that Tassilo has decided to go all out to fight Argent. 

  

  

"Well... I also agree, that it's time to end this. I had fun Adventurer."  

Tassilo sprawled on the ground like a beast ready to pounce at his prey. 

In the blink of an eye, Tassilo disappeared. 

  

  

The fight between Argent and Tassilo continued. 

The battle escalated to another level. 

  

  

"Hahaha, I see... an (Isolation Barrier), what a waste of thing to use, don't you think?."  

His foe said. 

"Nope, I don't think so..."  

"Fine... Hahaha, My name is Tassilo, I am one of Ecclesia's Apostle Inquisitor." 

All of a sudden the enemy declared his name all of a sudden. 

Argent was surprised by this action by the villain. 

Every warrior knew what this gesture meant. 

Asking for your enemy's name is a gesture of showing respect and chivalry. 

Respect. 

Chivalry. 

Things that the Ecclesia Inquisitors do not have.  

  

  

"Hee~ I did not expect this from a member of the Ecclesia Inquisitor."  

Argent stated with a sarcastic tone. 

"Hahaha."  

Tassilo laughed with a noticeable hint of anger behind his voice noticing the sarcastic tone behind Argent's voice. 

"Well... I just thought that you are at the very least strong enough to hear the name of the person who will kill you. At least tell the people in hell the name of the person who sent you there."  

This time Tassilo replied with his sarcastic remark. 

"Hahaha... that's funny."  

Then Argent let out a soft laugh. 

"Argent. A-rank Adventurer."  

Argent said. 

His tone was arrogant, it was as if he gave a big favor to Tassilo for just stating his name. 

"Hmnn?"  

Tassilo was able to notice this tone and as a result, he was a bit annoyed. 

"Tell the devil, Luminos I sent you when you meet him in hell."  

Tassilo snorted. 

  

  

The aura and sparks surrounding his body started to get agitated for a split second. 

Then... 

He disappeared from where he was standing. 

The two moved at incredible speeds that none of the other fighters within the Isolation Barrier could follow their movements. 

In an instant, booming sounds reverberated. 

They were exchanging devastating blows. 

The booms could not be compared to the ones from before. 

  

  

-BOOM- 

"DIE!!!"  

Tassilo ripped the air with the claw-like aura surrounding his palm aimed at Argent. 

Argent skillfully dodges that attack. 

-BOOM- 

  

  

The aftershock created by that attack created massive claw marks on the ground. 

If an average guard had been there, he would have been cut in half. 

Argent countered with his attack. 

A pure silver blade clad in a white aura was swung toward Tassilo. 

A vertical swing. 

Tassilo also dodged the attack. 

The aftermath of the attack left a scar on the floor, its destructive power equals the one Tassilo released. 

It was as if Argent was trying to compete and equal the power Tassilo just released. 

  

  

Tassilo tumbled back and prepared for his next attack. 

His face formed a crazed smile gazing at his foe. 

Resembling a wild beast he attacked with his bare hands and feet. 

He sprawled on the ground, his ferocious aura enveloping his entire body grew large. 

He opened his mouth wide. 

His aura focused on his mouth creating a single point. 

It glowed and created sparks of light. 

And then a pulse, signifying that the attack was ready to be released. 

  

  

Tassilo fired a ray of energy toward Argent. 

Argent tried to dodge but the ray of energy followed him. 

Unable to dodge, Argent blocked the beam. 

A liquid-like substance formed into a circular plane and blocked the attack. 

It acted like a shield protecting Argent, it resisted the attack. 

The beam continued to flow while the liquid shield received the full scale of the attack. 

Moments later, the beam dissipated. 

  

  

"... You managed to block that attack too?"  

Tassilo looked bothered by the fact that Argent managed to block his attack. 

It was a powerful attack. 

Even the most powerful A-rank monster would have suffered severe damage after receiving that attack. 

And yet... this man managed to perfectly block the energy beam with the mysterious liquid he made. 

"That was close... that was some attack you have there."  

Argent leisurely said as if he was bothered by the beam attack from Tassilo. 

Tassilo was not was not happy. 

  

  

"That ability of yours... is a bit annoying."  

Tassilo has yet to discover what the liquid-like metal was. 

It managed to block his attack not once, but twice now. 

Annoyed, he wanted to discover the nature of the mysterious skill that the masked swordsman uses. 

  

  

The surge of energy from Tassilo went up again. 

He moved even faster than before. 

The sudden increase in pace surprised Argent so that he could barely dodge Tassilo's attack. 

No, he failed to completely dodge the attack. 

As a result, he was wounded by a claw-like aura. 

A deep wound that ripped his shirt leaving 5 parallel wounds across his chest. 

It also burned the wound as it was enhanced with flames. 

Thankfully he managed to shift his body away and avoided receiving the full extent of the attack. 

The wound it made was nothing serious. 

Still, he knew that if the attack cleanly reached him, it would cause severe damage to himself. 

  

  

The attack that could easily rip his shirt is not normal. 

His shirt was made out of high-grade material. 

It was more sturdy than most of the bulky hard metal armor most adventurers wear. 

Still, Tassilo's attack made it look as if his shirt was made out of ordinary cloth. 

"Shit..."  

[I got careless.] 

He thought. 

  

  

"I hate your confidence, well... I don't know the nature of that skill of yours but it seems that I don't need to worry about it too much. I only need to avoid that thing and I will be able to defeat you."  

"I agree, I did underestimate you a little bit there."  

Argent said in sincerity. 

"That is your biggest mistake, it's time for you to die, adventurer!"  

"No... you will not be able to touch me again."  

  

  

When Tassilo was about to attack again, he stopped. 

Argent conjured spheres of silver metal in the air. 

It glowed white, and aura was surging out of each sphere in the air. 

At the same time, thin swords appeared in each of Argent's hands. 

Tassilo held himself from initiating an attack. 

He wanted to be careful and observed Argent's actions. 

  

  

Taking advantage of Tassilo's hesitation, Argent was the one who charged at Tassilo. 

Conscious of the floating spheres that followed behind Argent, Tassilo remained vigilant. 

Argent moved forward and assaulted Tassilo with the two swords. 

His attack was rapid and more aggressive than before. 

Tassilo finds it a bit tougher to dodge Argent's offensive. 

Compared to when he was using one sword, his attacks were harder to predict. 

Still, he managed to counterattack with some punches and kicks. 

  

  

It was clear, that the difference this time was that Argent was more aggressive. 

All this time, Argent had been defensive. 

Now he was on that attack. 

His attacks became more frequent, rather than blocking he now meets Tassilo's attack heads on. 

  

  

Dodge, counters, clash of blows, blocks. 

The two exchanged a flurry of melee attacks. 

Both are using buffs and skills to escalate the intensity of the fight. 

  

  

Then. 

Argent slashed using both swords in each hand like scissors aiming at Tassilo's neck. 

Tassilo dodged by ducking and was ready to counter with an uppercut-like skill. 

The next moment the spheres behind Argent, started shooting balls of energy at Tassilo. 

It struck Tassilo's back. 

It was strong enough to break his stance for a brief moment. 

However, his sturdy armor-like skin was able to gobble up the attack. 

Then Argent swung his two swords downward at Tassilo. 

  

  

Sensing danger, Tassilo let out a scream creating a burst of wave all around him. 

-Roar- 

(Power Scream) 

It forcefully pushed Argent a few meters back, preventing his downward slash. 

Tassilo predicted Argent to charge toward him once again once he recovered from the knockback of his scream. 

Instead, Argent stayed at a distance away from Tassilo. 

He points the sword in his right hand at Tassilo, and with that, the spheres continuously shoot balls of light at Tassilo. 

He ran circling Tassilo as the spheres continuously bombarded Tassilo with balls of light. 

He was bombarded by a powerful ball of energy. 

Each energy ball was powerful enough to stagger and hurt Tassilo. 

  

  

In anger, Tassilo attacked one of the spheres in an attempt to make it stop. 

He clawed one of the flying spheres shooting balls of energy at him. 

Once his claw reached the sphere, it burst like a bubble and exploded as it was destroyed. 

-BOOM- 

"Arghhhaah."  

He cried in pain. 

Even with the natural armor he had his hands still accumulated damage from that explosion. 

It caused quite a significant amount of damage. 

It made Argent smile, as he predicted this happening just as he planned. 

  

  

He swung his sword down, and this time all of the spheres flew at Tassilo. 

Just as the one Tassilo destroyed, each sphere exploded in contact. 

-BOOM- -BOOM- -BOOM- -BOOM- 

"Gahhhh!!"  

Multiple explosions in succession. 

  

  

-Roar- 

Tassilo screamed again, blowing away the smoke surrounding him from all of the explosion the silver liquid sphere caused. 

Blood was flowing from his nose and mouth. 

It was clear that it had a massive effect on him. 

His tanky body and layers of defensive skills were not enough to completely protect him. 

Patches of skin from where the sphere made contact and exploded were torn away. 

  

  

"You!!! I'm going to kill you!"  

Tassilo raged as he charged at Argent in a zigzag manner. 

His speed impressed Argent as he barely could follow him even with his (Concentration) skill being active. 

Still, Argent observed his opponent closely, not missing a thing. 

At the last moment just when Argent thought Tassilo was about to attack, he jumped in the air. 

He realized that it was a skill. 

(Quick Dodge) 

Argent used a skill. 

His body moved to dodge the attack. 

  

  

(Meteor Dive) 

High up in the air, Tassilo dived down toward Argent at incredible speed. 

Like a meteor diving down into the ground, it created a large explosion leaving a void of half sphere in the ground. 

The land around it was vaporized with a flash of light. 

  

  

The attack caused devastating damage to the ground. 

It shook the ground. 

A direct hit from that attack would be fatal. 

Argeny was not confident enough to directly clash with that attack. 

"What a monstrous reserve of Mana."

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