Hummm—!
The magic circle flared brilliantly.
The moment Levy saw the newly constructed magic array beneath Ur, her eyes widened in shock—this was a formation she had never seen before.
The magic circle appeared directly beneath the beast. A deep yellow circle over five meters wide, with a smaller crimson circle layered atop it, two entirely different elemental energies radiating simultaneously.
"ROAAAR—!!!" The monster roared in panic.
An overwhelming sense of doom surged from beneath its feet. Instinctively, it tried to flee, but the moment it moved, a massive jet-black claw suddenly manifested out of thin air. Savage and overwhelming, it seized the beast's enormous body and lifted it into the air, locking it firmly in place.
The black claw carried both the crushing force of stone and the raging heat of fire. Glowing crimson fissures spread across its surface, as though molten lava flowed beneath hardened rock.
Wherever the claw touched the beast's hide, flames scorched its flesh. Smoke rose in wisps, accompanied by a constant sizzle.
"ROOOAAARGH—!!!" Its massive body thrashed wildly, struggling to break free from the Magma Claw's grip. But against this fusion magic, no matter how desperately it fought, it was utterly powerless. Worse still, every struggle only intensified the pain it suffered.
❖≔﴾═══════ﺤ
"Huff… huff…" Ur's eyes were bloodshot as he gasped for air, his face twisted in pain.
He wasn't in much better shape than the beast.
Fusion magic was among the most difficult techniques a mage could attempt. Beyond raw magical strength, it demanded exceptional talent just to learn, let alone cast successfully.
Ur didn't possess that talent.
The only reason he could cast a dual-element spell was due to a hidden effect of one of his passive abilities, and even then, this was the only elemental combination he could use.
Even so, this was the first time he had successfully cast Magma Claw.
Pushed to the brink, Ur had drained his mental focus to its absolute limit and shattered his magical ceiling through sheer willpower. Only by squeezing out every last drop of strength had he managed to release this spell.
His mental strength and magic power were both nearly exhausted. "Unbearable" didn't even begin to describe it. It felt as though he were drowning at the bottom of the ocean, suffocating. As though trapped in a nightmare, crushed by relentless pain. As though standing atop a mountain of blades and fire, his entire body was enduring torment beyond human tolerance.
Veins bulged across Ur's forehead. Cold sweat streamed down his face as his muscles contorted unnaturally.
"Ur… are you okay?" Levy rushed over, panic written all over her face.
Ur tried to look up and reassure her, then realized he couldn't even move.
Seeing his condition, Levy's eyes blurred, tears threatening to spill. "Ur, thank you…" she said, her voice trembling.
Before she could finish, a loud shout rang out. "Hey! Ur! You alright?! I'm here to help!"
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
The instant he sensed that familiar magic, a terrible feeling struck Ur.
Summoning strength from nowhere, he snapped his head up, and his pupils shrank.
Like an arrow released from the bow, he launched himself forward in a burst of pure instinct.
Bam!
He kicked Natsu clean across the battlefield. Natsu flew straight into a sand pit. Climbing out, he stood there dumbfounded for a moment before exploding with rage.
"UR! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
Ur's face darkened. Just thinking about what almost happened sent a cold sweat down his spine.
I treat you like a brother, and you try to steal my kill?! Are you even human?!
He had nearly died for this fight, burned half his life away to reduce the monster to its last breath. If someone else finished it off now, Ur wasn't sure he wouldn't die of sheer rage.
Ignoring Natsu's shouting, Ur slowly drew his sword from his waist, using the final sliver of magic he had squeezed out during that burst of potential, and swung the blade down toward the beast trapped in Magma Claw.