Theron unleashed one combination attack after another, attacking twice as fast as the cyclops just to keep up with its two clubs. And when he was too slow, he settled for combat tactics only the greatest of experts could execute.

He used attack in place of defense, he deviated the path of one club to obstruct the other, he struck at weak points, forcing the cyclops to recover in windows it could have otherwise countered.

By the second dozen of exchanges, Theron had completely comprehended the attack pattern of the cyclops, his eyes shining brighter and brighter as he began to walk it down.

One step after another, he pressured the creature, his blade moving faster and faster.

Arcs of black and blue filled the air, so sharp the wind separated and howled all at once.

BOOM.

The cyclops took a heavy step back.

BOOM.

And another.

BOOM.

And yet another.

Chi. Chi. Chi.

One line of damage appeared on its cheek, then on its thigh, then across its hip. They were random, unpredictable, targeting one weakness after another in a suffocating, endless barrage.

The sound of Theron's heart practically echoed, matching the Resonance of his Mana and forcing a domain of obedience around him.

The more his blood boiled, the more obedient his Mana seemed to become, and the less Ice Mana the cyclops could seem to gather around itself.

Chi. Chi. Chi.

Another line across its neck, barely missing a shot to kill it. Then another that cut into the side of its knee so deeply it buckled. And then yet another that severed the left of its three heads completely off.

Theron kicked out at its injured knee, a violent and sudden action that was completely unexpected.

Since when did Mancers attack with their bodies? But… Theron was no normal human Mancer.

He was a Mancer with the body of a Celestial Beast.

BANG.

The cyclops fell to a knee and yet still towered well over Theron. Unfortunately, that didn't stop it from losing its rightmost head, its body trying an effort of futility to dodge.

In desperation, its last and middle head roared, lunging at Theron with an open maw to bite his head off. Even ifTheron's spear thrust through it, it would crush this little bastard to death if it had to.

Another futile effort.

Theron used [Shadow Step], phasing out in three different directions at once.

Seeing one right before it, the cyclops continued to lunge, hoping against hope that it would get Theron nonetheless.

Predictable.

Theron appeared behind the cyclops with another flash, his projections vanished as he swiped his spear out.

A head rolled out and came to a stop.

Theron exhaled a breath in the middle of the battle, streams of steam forming tendrils of Water and Dark Mana pooling out from the sides of his mouth.

He was his Mana as much as he controlled it.

There was a feeling in his body that was quickly loosening up. He could feel himself becoming more accustomed to his true power. He still had about 10% to eke out.

Then he could truly go all out.

Theron looked off into the distance, and his eyes sharpened. With a step, he had already begun another rampage. This wasn't nearly enough.

That Humanoid Ice Spirit Beast had been worth 100 points.

He wanted more.

—

[Rankings]

[1. Theron Galethunder - 287]

[2. Orin Zimone - 222]

[3. Rose Milone - 197]

[4. Ailon Trum - 188]

[5. Lilac - 173]

[6. Violet -173]

—

**

There was quite the silence amidst the spectators. In fact, it could be said from the moment Theron started using his Water Mana, there had been this silence.

In truth, the only ones who had known Theron was a Water Mancer as well as a Dark Mancer were the people of the Nightingale Sect. This wasn't common knowledge, and why would it be?

All this time, Theron had only been using his Dark Mana and doing quite well with it.

When he randomly decided to increase his killing pace by using his Water Mana, it was like feeling the world flip on its head.

Dual Resonance Mancers were far too rare. None of them knew a single one, and even legends of them were vague retellings no one had any real confirmation of.

But this… this was right in front of them. This was tangible. This was real.

Even Lyrah had had no idea, and it took everything in her power not to let it be readily apparent on her face.

Instead, she calmly turned to First Elder Bertrum.

"A Dual Resonance Mancer who needs to hide his age just to get an edge on children, is it? Are you sure that's the story you want to go with?"

Bertrum's jaw clenched, his gaze becoming extremely gloomy.

"Dual Resonances are rare, but that has nothing to do with strength. He could very well have two impure, weak Resonances. Maybe that's precisely what made him such a good candidate for this farce."

"A person who doesn't cry until they see the coffin."

Lyrah's words had only just fallen when the battle with the cyclops began. There was a reason they gave 10x points for Humanoid Ice Spirit Beasts—they were extremely difficult to handle and manage.

And that was precisely why silence fell again.

There were no more than ten disciples in their entire Hall that could defeat that creature. And there were fewer than five that could do it in such dominating fashion.

"He didn't use his Echo," someone whispered.

In the quiet, it was all too easy to hear, and that was when it hit them all. They still didn't know what the limit of Theron's strength was.

"Neither of his Echoes, you mean."

Their lips twitched.

That was when it sank in—the reason Dual Resonance Mancers were such a fearsome legend. It wasn't just controlling two Manas, it was having two Cores, twice the Mana reserves, twice the Mandates, twice the Echoes, twice the Resonances in just a single battle.

If Bertrum was incorrect about Theron's faulty backstory, he was backing himself into a corner he wouldn't be able to peel himself out of.

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