Chapter 219: Swan Song, Part 3

"So, what are we gonna do against him?" Solomon would ask. The adults all regrouped in the area, having them stay on Construct as they watched Malak fight off against the beasts. Harvard himself doesn't know what to do exactly, given the information. He knows so far that Malak must've gained the same traits as the Nuckelavee, which includes its Muscle Magic, as well as its immortality, practically making it near impossible to kill off. Any attempts of Incapacitation is just as difficult, due to his Spiral Magic being capable to either break out by force, or weave away from the strikes as a whole, as well as applying his own pressure. Having the strength to still fight after three monsters swarmed him was another factor, as well, making him assume most of his monsters wouldn't be able to get a direct kill to him, but just as likely worried that if he does send the select few, they run the risk of dying and removing such options from Harvard's arsenal, considering that would be the moment he strikes at the Magician directly. Unlike the Tyrant, Harvard doesn't have an endless amount of energy to spew out whenever, making his resources limited in the process.

"Here's an idea.." Stolas would state, analyzing the situation just the same. "Harvard, You think your cards can handle him right now?" The Magician was confused at his friend's words, yet he would try to answer it.

"Originally, yeah. Now? Not so much. Not without dealing with whatever this form is.."

"Well that settles it! Just fight him directly and make more cards!"

"Wha- Huh??" At first, Harvard was even further confused, but given a few seconds, he realized what Stolas' idea was. "WAIT WAIT WAIT, YOU THINK I CAN DO THAT!?"

"Duh! It'll just be like us training! More we develop ourselves, more our magic gets stronger, and more spells we can work with! Yours is pretty much the latter amped to eleven! If my guess is right at how your deck works, at least with the whole process, we can still pitch some ideas and make you get new cards to cast!"

"Are you suggesting to TRAIN with that guy!?" Solomon would state as a rebuttal, already finding an obvious flaw in that plan. "THAT JUST MEANS HE'S GONNA GET STRONGER! HE'LL JUST FIND A COUNTER TO OUR COUNTER AND WE'D BE BACK AT SQUARE ONE! ARE YOU NUTS!?" Despite his pleas, Harvard immediately took that idea to heart, throwing himself off of Construct and rushing directly at Malak with no hesitation. Solomon was dumbfounded at such a drastic decision. "YOU'RE GONNA KILL YOURSELF, HARVARD!!! JUST KNOW THAT!!!"

Meanwhile, Malak would be trying to attack Inti and bring it down for good, watching as the beams of light used to incinerate him were beginning to light the ocean ablaze, as if it was made out of Tar. When he was trying to scale up, using Apep's body as a method to climb, he would see the Magician running full force on him. "OH! SO NOW YOU DECIDE TO SHOW UP!!" He'd gloat, shifting his attention to Helsing whilst lunging upwards to attack Inti, the dragon letting out a bellowing cry as it blasted beam after beam, ray after ray, cooking the man alive through such attacks. Even touching Inti would have his skin boiling, third degree burns being made all over him, yet Malak still kept going. He'd channel his energy across his scorched arms directly into Inti, balling his hands into a burnt fist, before pummeling the beast before him, attempting to crack the sun again and have it spill its molten blood. Harvard, hearing the distress, was quick to use a spell, directing Apep to catch it.

"Oh no you don't! FU! SION!!" 

The beasts began to merge into one, the sun fused into the apocalyptic Serpent, letting it take a brand new form. Its scales began to shine like the sun, its jaws catching on fire, its eyes brandishing a draconic pupil, and most importantly, it sprouted wings. Wings of raw, reptilian hide, granting the monster flight, having it soar and strike at the King with no mercy. The boy grabbed ahold of the serpent's tail and scaled upwards, using the wings as a foothold to keep him steady, sprinting to the very embodiment of wrath itself. "So, all I gotta do...is learn from this guy! My cards as my beating heart. My magic as my very soul! THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A HERO!!" The boy shouted, his enthusiasm spiking once more, much to the Tyrant's dismay.

"YOU STILL CLING ONTO THAT LIE YOU CALL A 'MOTIVATION'!?"

"IT AIN'T A LIE IF I BELIEVE IT ENOUGH!!"

"YOU'RE DELUSIONAL!" Despite Malak's truth, Harvard still pushed on. He could feel a warm energy coming from his cards, quickly checking and seeing more copies developing. Cards with a blank template beginning to form, ready to take ahold of his inspiration. A Smile rested on his face as he ran up the serpent, reaching face-to-face with the Tyrant, grabbing ahold of him and tossing him onto the snake's body.

"Prove it to me then! Prove it that I'm delusional! I'm ready for whatever you got!" Harvard decreed, casting Mecha on himself to attain the robotic form again, rushing forward to land a strong knee, followed by a right hook, then a high kick straight across his jaw. Malak would raise his arms to block the attacks, witnessing the newly grown man take such an abrasive risk. Despite such defense, the Magician would switch tactics, grabbing the man's arms and pulling him forward, making his own blind spot in the process, using his arms to strike at the man's ears, as well as a knee straight to the stomach, knocking the wind out of the Tyrant, before opening his arms and delivering a few straights into his face, his middle finger slightly out and twisting his punch a little in order to maximize the damage, having the King bleed from his nose through such trauma. In response, Malak would try to use his Spiral Magic to dodge the next attack and curve his body to aim for Harvard's Ribs, yet the Magician simply directed the newly fused Apep to turn its body and throw off the Tyrant, allowing the boy to strike him straight in the head with a hearty kick. "Well? C'mon!" He'd taunt, sending both of them off the serpent and back into the black miasma, with both participants standing over the ocean like feathers.

"I'm still waiting here! Prove that I'm crazy! I wanna see it!" Helsing's grin was wide when he taunted again. For a brief moment, the King recognized that face. The same face that mocked him when they first met. The same face that took advantage of his pride into competing in a game that made him be exposed as a fraudulent hack of a warrior. A Face that started such hatred deep in his soul.