Using fire steps, Enrico moved around Vergel. Gripping his sword, black flames erupted from Vergel's blade, extending all the way to its tip.
"Black Blade and Shadow Magic: Eternal Shadow Forge."
Fusing his magic with the blade, Vergel increased its size, turning it into a massive sword of black fire. An explosion burst from the weapon, sending Enrico flying as his afterimages vanished.
'As I thought—if I can't defeat him in this form, imagine when he transforms.'
Vergel was the fifth most powerful boss in the dungeon, but that was only among the Nartheis here, since in truth he was the hidden boss who concealed his power for amusement.
'If I want to survive, I'd better activate everything I have.'
There was only one way to kill Vergel—by killing him before he transformed. So Enrico would use everything he had in his best condition.
'Total concentration.'
In Enrico's vision, everything around him seemed to vanish—only Vergel existed before him. Of course, even if he couldn't see anything else, his body and mind remembered everything around him, so it wasn't a problem.
Magic surged from his body, transforming into flames. Everything around the corridor trembled with fury, the darkening parts illuminated once more. Ahead of him, Vergel smiled, releasing his own magic just like Enrico did, as if refusing to let that darkness be dispelled.
"How fun—to challenge me in a contest of power."
"I told you that you'd have fun, didn't I? And just so you know, this is only the beginning."
"Then show me."
Without a smile, Enrico poured vast amounts of magic into enhancing his body, his total concentration boosting his physical form while his contract with Lunaris pulsed through his veins.
'What do you think of my level now, System?'
[Considering the combination of everything you have, your percentage is around ninety percent now. Even so, it won't be enough.]
'I know.'
Disappearing from sight, Enrico's spear clashed against the black metal blade, sparks flashing red as his fire tried to consume Vergel's sword. Vergel twisted his blade, releasing black fire that burned away Enrico's flames.
Enrico responded by firing a jet of water from the tip of his spear with tremendous force, cutting through the shadow flames.
"You have a second magic? What a lovely surprise."
Vergel slashed the air, splitting and burning the water into two waves that evaporated immediately. Then the prince vanished, reappearing through the shadow of a pillar. Forming a fiery bow, Enrico fired several blazing arrows, illuminating the area and forcing Vergel out of the shadows. Their clash followed—sword against sword—Enrico's blade already cracking.
"Looks like this sword won't last much longer."
With a vertical swing, Vergel's blade devoured all of Enrico's flames, forcing him to leap back and abandon his weapon as it turned to ashes.
"High-Temperature Blade."
Gripping his spear with both hands, Enrico infused it with fire magic, fusing the glowing embers of his palms into the metal and creating a red-orange edge.
'This won't work—I need a plan.'
He stomped hard and charged forward in a fierce sequence of movements, three cracks sounding alongside an explosion. Vergel dodged the first strike, blocked the second, but the third pierced through his armor, tracing the air with a red flash.
"What—?"
At first, Vergel couldn't even comprehend what had happened. The instant he sensed danger, fire and shadow intertwined, creating a crimson glare as his body released power in a violent explosion to push Enrico away.
'Huff… huff… just as I thought—it's not enough. If I use my best attack now, it's the same as asking to die.'
[This guy's tougher than I expected.]
"Huff… whose fault do you think that is?"
Both opponents stared at each other, breathing heavily as they pulled back. The corridor they fought in no longer existed, which, for some reason, made Vergel smile as he wiped the black blood from his mouth.
"Excellent… show me more power so we can burn through the night."
"Sorry, but if I had to choose a type of man, mine's more feminine."
"Really? If you want, I can turn into a woman so we can continue."
"Interesting. Tell me more."
The one behind the system seemed to spit out whatever they were drinking, sounding irritated.
[Enrico, stop fooling around and finish the fight already.]
"Sorry, Prince, but a killjoy just showed up, so we can't continue."
"That's a shame… Burn my damage."
Vergel's black fire covered the wound on his chest where the deep slash had struck. The wound closed as he gave that order to his dark flames flowing from the sword.
'Damn, I really want that sword—but only those with black fire magic can use it.'
[I'm very sad about that.]
A wave of magical pressure burst from Vergel's body, surprising Enrico with the power level of the coming attack. Shielding himself with mana, he retreated strategically—he loved fighting and growing stronger, but if he died, he couldn't do either ever again.
"Where do you think you're going? I know you've got much more to show."
To his surprise, Vergel was already behind him with his sword raised. From the blade, a massive explosion erupted in a single strike, obliterating that entire section of the corridor and widening the already huge hole.
"Obliteration Slash."
That power was absurd for anyone other than the strongest in this dungeon to withstand, so when one of Vergel's subordinates nearby saw it he thought it was all over—at least until his neck was wrapped while the whole place filled with smoke. He couldn't help being terrified to see Enrico, with many wounds on his body, begin to change appearance and transform exactly into him.
"Sorry, but I'll borrow your appearance."