CRITICAL POINT/ THE BLACK KING (MAGIC CHRONICLES #1)

Chapter 15:

Thursday, 9:37 p.m.

Commerce City High School Football Field

            The Baron of Despair was still walking when he noticed that Laura was no longer looking at him. Disbelief was sketched all over her face as she looked at something behind the man. It took the Slayer a moment to realize what it was. By then, he had felt some sort of power surging forth, familiar yet alien. He turned around and saw an unbelievable sight.

            The boy he had just beaten up was standing again. This time, magic was flowing out in torrents out of his gloves, spreading all over his body as he walked towards the older magician. Craven knew exactly what it was and it was bad news.

            “Impossible,” he said in disbelief, “You can’t have reached that. Ignis never helps the losers. He never does.”

            “Yeah, that’s right,” Rick said, “Ignis favors the strong, the powerful. He wouldn’t really take kindly to a loser just like me. But there’s one thing he likes-”

            The Faceless Knight Lance raised his right fist and thumped on his chest.

            “-he likes people who stay constant in their goals. Just like me.”

0o0

“Rick?”

            Laura watched in amazement as the Rick’s body began to glow bright red, starting from his hands and spreading around his body.

            The light formed into red metal plates around Rick’s body, forming around his chest, his back, and his limbs, similar to ancient Greek armor. His head was encased in a Corinthian-style helmet, his eyes obscured by the visor. His chest armor was emblazoned with a glowing flame-shaped symbol.

            In this form, he looked every inch a Spartan warrior.

0o0

            The Faceless Knight knew that The Baron of Despair stood no chance of winning now. Craven may be a veteran, but he was no match against a fully-charged A-rank Classica magician.

            Craven charged at Rick with all his might. Even though the attacks were much more potent than before, none of these affected the younger man anymore. The armor encasing Rick provided ultimate protection against magical attacks. But that was not all.

            Rick had only to expend a little power in his fight. He lightly swung his hand around, shattering the Slayer’s helmet and sent him crashing to the ground.

            “Not bad for a useless endeavor, huh?” Rick threw the words back at Craven

            The Baron of Despair Craven snarled in desperation and attacked him again. Rick countered with only a minimal effort. The force of the blows reduced the former teacher to a broken doll, his formerly imposing armor ruined. The younger man approached him.