A Duel to Test A Weapon

(Denzel's POV):

We moved to the other underground junction with everyone and had Gayle hold her new weapon, Mysteria.

"Alright, try some practice swings."

"With everyone looking?!?!" - Gayle

Gayle immediately retorts with embarrassment. Come on! Well, she's kinda shy so it's probably not good for her to do that.

However, she starts making simple swings without much trouble without overexerting effort. It was a bit of a slow swing though.

Gayle turns her gaze to me after she stopping swinging around her Mysteria.

"It's a little heavy, can you make it lighter?" - Gayle

I see, she has a bit of difficulty swinging it, alright then.

"Gravity shaft."

A rift in space opens and sucks out some gravity on the scythe, making it lighter despite it's size. I lowered to around half of it's original weight.

"Try swinging it around again."

Gayle swings the scythe much faster this time, she was able to create some complicated moves which I haven't done before.

"Great, now use this as reference for the spells."

I gave her a piece of paper which had the spell name and the contents which was included in Karl's message. Gayle took and read the contents of the paper before trying it out. She was quite shocked when she saw the contents.

She held her hand out and used one ability.

"Mystic Barrier!" - Gayle

A purple barrier was erected and it had some particles that are shaping like flowers and butterflies. Damn, is that visualization? I never expected anyone outside the Asylum who have low levels to be able to visualize well. I questioned her about it and got a response.

"Well, I often draw as a hobby those days." - Gayle

"I see, so let's get to the main part. Keep the barrier up, Crystal spikes!"

"Ehhh?!?!!" - Gayle

Multiple crystal spikes showed up and immediately moved to pierce the barrier. All spikes were firmly blocked by the purple barrier.

"Alright, it's good enough. Now, try the offensive abilities."

"Rift Cutter!" - Gayle

Gayle performs a few strikes which left some particles behind for a few seconds. I converted Omnitelum into twin blades and struck the floating particles. I didn't hear any clashing sounds but it stopped my blade.

So two defensive abilities in one go huh. Rather, didn't it just suck part of my mana just now?

Mysteria glew as I struck the floating particles, it seems that it sucks mana by defending.

"Ohh, I can feel mana flowing in." - Gayle

So it works that way huh?

"It seems Karl has made it into a defensive manner since it's offensive capabilities are already overpowered. Now, try using the mana share ability."

"Alright, Spread!" - Gayle

From Gayle's single word chant, flower particles started moving in towards everyone and equalizing their mana judging by their reactions.

"I feel a bit lighter." - Thrish

Everyone seems to be pumped up after being shared some mana. Though I noticed that the particles that were floating in place earlier disappeared.

"Hold up... Gayle, use the Rift Cutter again."

Gayle tilts her head in confusion but still activates the rift cutter. She made a few swings before I added further instructions.

"Now use a different ability."

"Ah! Umm... Mystic Barrier!" - Gayle

The floating particles immediately formed a barrier around her. Now I see.

"I get it now, the particles are harmless to allies, but it can hinder attacks made by allies and can be used at will. So the more particles you make with each attack using the rift cutter, you can sustain some of it to share mana with your allies or create a magic shield around you."

"Oooh! That's how it is!" - Gayle

Though I'd like to spare her from overusing mana.

"It'll take some mana from each strike so be careful with using it."

"Mm!" - Gayle

Now, the last ability Karl stuffed into this thing...

"Alright, now try the last ability in the list."

"Okay! Mystic Ward!" - Gayle

The scythe shined brightly with purplish light, and everyone felt lighter and stronger at the same time. Not only that but they start feeling good that exhaustion is being removed. Malech and his group are jumping around and making extreme dash techniques. I turned my gaze to Gayle and she seems pretty fine.

"Test complete, it's a safe weapon overall. But if you need me to make some tweaks, just tell me ok?"

"Sure!" - Gayle

Gayle dispels the mystic ward and held Mysteria as if treasuring it dearly. Now you have your partner in combat.

I checked her class and she is actually a Mystic Assassin. Her abilities are still unknown until I find out directly in action, but she's going to be a good addition to the assassins in the group.

"This scythe uses yours, the enemy's and the atmospheric mana to amplify its abilities. Make sure to take note of that, you'll need it in combat."

"Ah, yes! However, can I try to test it right now?" - Gayle

"In combat? I see..."

Well, combat experience with the weapon is definitely essential so I'll let her go for a bout with hmm.

I turned my gazes around everyone who are talking to each other. I caught sight of Flora and called him in. Again, I just can't believe that this person is a dude, but this is perfect timing to test him for his rights in my palace.

"Flora, you mind entering combat now?"

"Huh? Uh no, I don't?" - Flora

Flora comes closer to me and Gayle to discuss the things to do.

"So for now, you Flora, are gonna take a disadvantageous combat as a test. Since I have not fully accepted you into the palace and just let you be for now. Today should be the day you prove yourself."

"I see, then I guess it's fine, am I fighting you?" - Flora

"Nope, you're fighting Gayle."

I pat Gayle's head while looking at Flora.

"I see, is she an assassin type class?" - Flora

"Yep, do your best, both of you."

I moved away from them since I'll officiate this for them. I then returned back immediately towards the two of them who started talking.

"Alright, both of you take your sides."

Gayle and Flora moved to their respective sides as I announce the rules of dueling in this palace.

"Each sides will have a duplicate amount of health in a one by one proportion to your maximum health, that is called 'Duel Health'. For sure you understand that since the beginning of the game."

Gayle and Flora nodded their heads in agreement.

"Now, the length of the entire duel will be ten minutes. Any more than that will be decided by how much duel health you have left in percentage."

This would mean that even you have more in numbers, you'll lose if your health got shaved constantly while the other skillfully dodged most strikes.

"There is no need to worry about passing out after the duels, I have some duel health potions in the public storage. Ashley, if you please?"

"Alright~" - Ashley

Ashley leaves the junction and goes to the public storage room in the 8th floor. Honestly, I feel bad for a person to go from the basement all the way to the eighth floor and back, and it's Ashley at that. I'll pass her some refreshments later.

"As for the rules in the dueling."

Both Gayle and Flora trickled down some sweat who seemed to be nervous with what kind of rules will be imposed. As much as I want to allow everything, spare me from cleaning up the dojo if you guys use pinnacle level skills.

"Pinnacle level skills or destructive magic are forbidden."

Flora gulped down his saliva the moment he heard that.

"Support magic that's more effective with more people will not be used with maximum efficiency."

Gayle gulps down her saliva from the harsh restriction. Mystic type classes are mainly support after all so she'll regain more mana if she uses her support abilities with more people around.

"A time notification will pop up every minute, and the last one will be a ten second countdown. Be aware of your time! That's all! Now ready yourselves."

"Duel health, activate!" - Gayle and Flora

Both of them activated their duel health and formed different stances. Flora takes a defensive and Gayle forms a light momentum based gap closing technique.

"Duel begins in!"

I pressed a button that will set the timer to ten minutes and five seconds.

"Five, four, three, two, one, begin!"

Gayle instantly closed the gap between the two of them and raises her scythe like a predator hunting for prey.

"Kh?!!?!" - Flora

Flora blocks the scythe with his own staff in a panic. Oh boy, this is really disadvantageous for him.

However, he immediately generated an green orb from his right hand and aimed it at Gayle. Gayle then pushed herself up to move behind Flora and tried to swipe him from behind.

"Nature Shield!" - Flora

A wooden shield was formed to block Gayle scythe, but it started decaying from mana absorption. He moved his staff to his right arm and generated purple light. While dashing backwards and being chased by Gayle, his left hand formed a dark orb and merged it with the purple essence the staff was emitting.

Gayle swung Mysteria from the side to slice Flora in half. He dashed back but received some damage on his stomach, but he raised his staff and activated some kind of area spell.

"Kuh! Element Null!" - Flora

Gayle's glow on her scythe immediately dissipated. Ooh, anti-element abilities done by opponents.

Gayle's speed pulled back to a certain extent but it didn't stop her from attack forward. She used the momentum with her scythe and spun around two times. Flora received more damage but it's time for her to counterattack.

"Water blade!" - Flora

Gayle noticed the water blades and dodged most of them in hair's breadth. However, she received some cuts that are effective enough to cause Bleeding I. After stepping back, Gayle poured some mana into Mysteria which started glowing faintly.

"Rift Cutter!" - Gayle

Each movement of Mysteria now leaves particles that are shaped like flowers and butterflies. She then continued her pursuit to him. Flora in the other hand, used his staff as foothold and is now floating in the air.

I guess Element Null only makes the effectivity of an element useless. It can't seem to completely stop the enemy from using their element magic for utility purposes. It's a good thing that I made this place large.

Flora merged a white and blue orb and summoned a powerful piece of magic.

"Water Dragon!" - Flora

A dragon-shaped magic was formed entirely out of water and dove toward Gayle.

"Gayle!" - Rika

It's getting quite interesting there...