Level Up Legacy



Dorian stood, dazed and overwhelmed by the astonishing display of control and strength. For a moment, he forgot that a lethal spear was hurtling toward him, poised to pierce his heart. In the nick of time, his genius-level intellect kicked in, and he stomped on a loose brick in the ground, using it as a makeshift lever.

The towering spear cleaved through the air, smashing into the makeshift platform and reducing it to rubble. Yet, its trajectory was altered just enough to allow Dorian to dodge with a hair's breadth to spare. Arthur watched in astonishment this time, appreciating the sheer battle instinct required to discern which brick was loose and then use it as a defensive tool. Despite his formidable strength, Arthur couldn't claim such mastery over his environment.

Boom!

"You're not half bad," Dorian admitted, his arrogance still intact as he observed the spear slam into the ground behind him, shattering another brick. The commotion had likely already alerted the castle's guards, limiting their time together. "Though you lack the genius that defines me, I'll concede that you make for a decent sparring partner."

Arthur, unfazed by the ongoing exchange, took a poised stance, his demeanor calm and composed. At that very moment, Lieutenant Hawkins burst back onto the scene, bursting through the elevator's doors.

"Alexie! He is Dorian Stor..." Hawkins began urgently, rushing forward to intervene, but Arthur interrupted him.

"I know who he is, Lieutenant," Arthur responded with a knowing smile as he clenched his hand into a fist. "My sole reason for sparing his life is his identity. Nothing more. I only hope... he doesn't disappoint me by being weaker than I thought."

With that, Arthur delivered a seemingly feeble punch toward Dorian, who remained stationary, scoffing at the apparent weakness of the attack.

"Are you jesting? Do you think such a feeble strike could—" Dorian's words were cut short by a sudden, violent whooshing sound.

Whoosh!

Before he could complete his taunt, an invisible force struck Dorian like a freight train, hurtling him through the air. He tumbled across the ground, coughing up blood and gasping for breath. Despite Hawkins' rush to his side, Dorian refused his assistance.

"...what have you... done..." Dorian muttered, his elbows digging into the ground as he struggled to rise, but his internal injuries sent waves of agony through him. "I sensed... nothing..."

"This is the first time I've used this technique without a blade," Arthur explained, a smile playing on his lips as he examined his own hand. "With a blade, your fate would be sealed in silence. I suppose it doesn't quite have the same impact with just a fist."

"Did you intend to kill me?!" Dorian roared, his body trembling with murderous intent as he made a painstaking effort to rise. His hair disheveled, his eyes burned with newfound ferocity, giving Arthur the impression of facing a ravenous beast.

"If I had intended that, you wouldn't be conscious right now," Arthur replied with a grin, raising his fist to emphasize his point. "This is the disparity in our abilities. You thought no one could challenge you, and I simply corrected that misconception. One more misstep, and you might not be so lucky."

His words carried no malice or threat, only a matter-of-fact tone that drove home the gravity of the situation. Dorian, however, wore a bloody grin as he reached for his spear.

"This fight won't end until I..." Dorian shouted, but before he could finish, he collapsed, unconscious, his eyes rolled back. This time, Hawkins rushed to his aid, calling his name repeatedly.

"He's not dead," Arthur reassured Hawkins with a smile as he approached the unconscious man. "I made sure to deliver a concussion with my strike, enough to knock him out. Remarkably, he held onto consciousness for a few minutes."

Hawkins, still in disbelief, cradled Dorian with both arms, attempting to revive him. "How am I going to explain this to the Lord Marshal? Despite his orders to reform him, this is too extreme! Our lord will never forgive you, Alexie!"

With a heavy sigh, Arthur offered his final words on the matter, "I am who I am, Lieutenant. Restrain yourself, for I do not spare those who attack me once, let alone twice as he did. I've healed his internal injuries; he should be fine now. Take him away."

"Then, let's keep this matter under wraps for the time being," Arthur suggested with a sly grin as he rose from the ground. "We'll toss this young man into our carriage and bury the issue. When we return to Xeloria, you'll see a changed man."

Hawkins hesitated, uncertain about Arthur's unorthodox approach. "How can you be so sure?"

"I'll make sure of it," Arthur replied confidently as he turned to leave. "This man's talent shouldn't go to waste. When I'm through with him, he'll be a prime candidate to rule the entire second floor."

Hawkins remained rooted in place, torn between duty and his trust in Arthur's judgment. Meanwhile, Arthur couldn't leave Xeloria without checking on his loyal companion, Whisker. Of all the people he'd met inside the tower, Whisker was the one closest to him, their bond forged through countless trials and adventures. He'd sent Whisker on a mission, and a full day had passed with no sign of his return.

Sarohan, the tall Waiga, was busy hammering planks of wood into a residential hut when Arthur approached. Concern etched across his face, Arthur inquired about Whisker's whereabouts.

"Whisky Boy?" Sarohan repeated, confusion marring his features. "I last saw him before he took on that mercenary job about a day ago. He didn't mention where he was headed. Is there trouble?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out," Arthur admitted with a furrowed brow. "I assigned him to scout a location that shouldn't have posed any danger. I have a battle of my own to attend to, and I'm worried about him."

Sarohan tried to offer reassurance, saying, "Even if something happened, he would revive. How about I go and look for him?"

"It might be dangerous, and I can't afford any harm to befall either of you," Arthur replied with genuine concern. "The only option left is for me to use my detection abilities, but it might alert the city."

Sarohan suggested a plan to conceal their actions. He produced a shimmering blue mana stone from his bag, explaining that they could destroy it to release a surge of energy waves while using the detection ability simultaneously, making it appear as a mere explosion.

"The words 'simple' and 'explosion' usually don't go hand in hand," Arthur remarked, his disbelief evident. "How do we carry out such a plan without being discovered?"

"I'll handle the explosion, and you just need to give me the signal," Sarohan assured him, tossing aside his hammer. "Choose a location for the explosion, and I'll take care of the rest. The explosion will happen a minute after I acknowledge your signal."

Arthur was pleasantly surprised by Sarohan's reliability. "I didn't realize you could be so dependable. I'll find a suitable building in the city center for our base. Do you know of a nearby spot for the explosion?"

Sarohan's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "I've got the perfect spot—a former gang base that I cleared out. It also offers a fantastic view of the city, so I can see your signal from anywhere."

"You sound like a real estate agent," Arthur remarked with an amused smile. "Then I'll trust you with this, Sarohan."

Their plan was set in motion. Arthur selected a building in the city center as their base, conveniently close to the building Sarohan intended to demolish. Arthur prepared the detection rune and simplified it for his mana channels before sending the signal to Sarohan.

Sarohan acknowledged the signal with a wave of his hand before hurrying into the designated building. A few minutes later, he reappeared and returned the signal before making a swift escape. Arthur knew he had precisely one minute to time the detection spell with the explosion.

As mana surged through the rune etched on his palm, Arthur focused his energy, preparing to release it. His eyes locked onto the distant building as lights began to shimmer within its windows. Suddenly, torrents of energy erupted from the structure, followed by a thunderous explosion that rocked the city.

In perfect synchronization, Arthur unleashed his detection spell, the waves of mana rippling outward in search of any trace of Whisker.  His mana erupted as well, golden hue covering it. It sent a pulse that spread throughout the entire city alongside the mana explosion.

Arthur could visualize the entire city of Xeloria in his mind, making him close his eyes to search for his friend. His detection yielded nothing as it traveled far and wide, spreading to the nearby wilderness. He could see the forests, rivers, and mountains and everything in them.

There were no signs of the feline, even after Arthur was cover in sweat. His mana was like a river, pushing the boundaries of his perception. As his mana began running low, he finally found a wounded Whisker rushing through the woods. 

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