A Crumbling Society

Part 2-8

Getting my footing behind the tree, the rocks began to hit making pellet sounds as the wood was broken apart. I peered around once and more rocks flew past me, pulling my head back for cover. It was going to take a minute to figure him out, the tree was a good object to use to buy me time. Magic was only going to get him beat quicker and I figured since he was a fan, he might want to fight a little longer. I've seen mages use physical magic to cover their bodies before, but in the end of battles for a last minute one-up. There's a master mage that uses tar when it's liquid it can absorb physical attacks such as punches and objects. If he hardens it, like I've seen, he helps himself last longer in battle when taking casts from other magic. That's what it is, this boy has made his body covered in rocks because he knows his weakness. He's sending projectile rocks to keep me away and unfocused so I can't cast anything at him. Now that I know what he's doing, I threw my left forearm up and drew a shield. I walked out from the tree and as I expected multiple rock missiles blasted at me. The shield was altered this time for purposes because of earlier, my legs were covered now. Blocking another set, he began to get determined to hit me.

"Just a shield?", he asked, forming more rocks.

"Only rock bullets?", I retorted with a smirk, so he didn't think I was being crude.

He looked for a second, "um, yeah"

"Okay, well since you're a fan I figured I'd tell you I know what magic capabilities you have"

It looked like the whole world ended, his jaw slowly gaped, and it looked like his eyes may have rolled inward. "How?", he shrieked.

"You started off the match fully incased in rock sediment, this gave away your ultimate potential. Plus, I've been around; this move has definitely come up a few times."

"Oh!", he said with realization and minor disappointment.

"Don't be upset, it's a good strategy and you're going about it in a decent way. I will say too, your attitude has been the best, so I'd like to offer you something I didn't give the others"

"Which is what?", he asked, pausing the blasts.

"Do you want me to end this quick or drag it out a little so that you can continue fighting your idol?" He looked like an anime character with giant white eyes and an enormous mouth that isn't colored in. Usually when they get called out or experience intense emotions, it was funny.

"I'd definitely like to keep fighting, but what do you mean end it quicker?"

"Your body is covered in rocks; I presume because you can't last long with being casted at. It helps you take the bulk of some blasts".

"Oh my gosh, I don't know if I'm excited or embarrassed you figured that out"

I laughed a little, "you can feel both at the same time, but what do you think? I'll be lessoning the blasts of course so there's not too much magic energy, otherwise it would be over in two seconds".

"I think we've got a fight to start", he said with a grin on his face.

Nodding a little, "alright, I want you to go all out, I'll heal at some point, but really show me what you've got".

"Sounds good!", he said, and he took his stance while the ground wrapped around his ankles to steady him.

This kid was quick, rounds of rocks made their way at me as I dodged and ran around. The hold on his body just turned under him like he was on a platform that spun back and forth. I formed clones of myself that started running around, this should get him to focus on the fakes to make my first hit. Real me kept running getting to his back as he blasted a fake to pieces, I cast while throwing my hand. Still moving, blue sparks produced themselves from my palm and streamed over making contact. A spot on his back lit up and sparked blue as some of the rocks were blown off. He turned to see me, but another fake ran between us. He followed the fake since it looked like we ran from the same spot. I was able to run just a few feet to get back behind him coming up to one of his sides. Throwing several more blasts, pieces of his armor were taken off exposing his school uniform. The sleeves must be rolled up because that's what stuck out when I got his arm. Focusing carefully the boy started aiming for each of the fakes running around him. I attempted casting again, but nothing happened, no magic at all. There was no time to react to this, I tried again, and nothing happened. Staying with the movements running around him I had to keep trying. A little bit later and he managed to destroy the rest of the fakes, but I was already passing in front of him. The rocks around his stomach area flew off in my direction. I stopped to face him, and he was still examining his body to check where I had made contact. Confused but aware that I got him, as he exchanged a look with me, I told him I swiped last second with some Black Magic. Still confused I had to explain that I can control if he felt it or not too, that's why he didn't know. Honestly, I had gotten annoyed my magic didn't work so I figured close range would do something. Why it worked then I have no idea but trying something different helped last second. Nodding his head from thinking it was cool his face turned back to how it was before, ready to fight.