Finesse or Brutality?

A buzz of electricity shocked Leon's spine, a warning of danger, making him focus. Raz flung his dagger, shattering the glass bottle above Leon. 

Hiss~

Leon twisted his body and tossed his coat to avoid the bubbling fluid.[Acid?]

His right shoulder stung from the hissing acid burning him. But Ifrit's warning helped Leon escape serious harm. 

"Ugh."

Leon leapt back, removing his shirt and tossing it away, watching them sizzle and melt.

He tried to endure, gritting his teeth from the agonising pain, melting his flesh. Leon's lips trembled. He realised he acted too confident.

[I stopped you from using magic to understand your weaknesses!]

'I see…'

[Master, you relied too hard on brute strength.]

'Does it really matter?'

[Weaker enemies would crumble before you, especially skilled opponents.][Those bastards would pull you apart, step by step, and you wouldn't be able to fight back!]

He doubted her words but understood Ifrit wouldn't betray him because their souls were linked. 

'Am I wrong?'

Leon noticed both former mercenaries preparing to attack him and sought Ifrit's help.'Ifrit, show me how to become stronger.

'[Understood, Master. I'll reduce your attributes one step below these fools.]

'Damn.'

An ember of flames appeared on his forehead before sinking into his body. The flames then spread throughout his body.

Mistress Ifrit has temporarily sealed your physical abilities!

◊ Leonhardt • Dungeon Master (??)

Level: 15

• STR: C → E

• VIT: C → E

• DEF: C → E

• AGI: D → E

• INT: C → E

• CHA: B → E 

Leon's entire body became dull, heavy, and difficult to move. He hated being weaker, but Leon noticed something strange.

His Mana and eyesight didn't change.

'Why?' He asked himself.

[Have you noticed?]

Ifrit's voice sounded delighted, her laughter echoing after her voice faded. She then transferred knowledge into Leon's mind. 

The knowledge was divided into muscle groups, basic martial arts and fighting information.

While this happened, Kev recovered, wiping his bloody nose while holding a single sword. Beside him, Raz held a serrated dagger as they crept towards him.

'Guide me, Ifrit.'

[What's in it for me, Master?]

Her conditions and training method flowed through his mind, causing Leon to smirk.

"Tough woman."

Leonhardt didn't use his greatsword, instead his sharp claws extended, flickering with flames. Ifrit didn't let him use Tyrant Accel, but allowed Claws of Fire.

"This bastard dares to mock us, get him Kev!"

Kev nodded after Raz shouted, and the pair rushed forward, their heavy feet thumping on the ground, as Leon's eyes watched them filled with calm.

Leon used his spider vision and enhanced physical body to train himself. Even with the restrictions, he moved faster than Kev and could see Raz's movements.

'Argh.'

He realised that his slow-motion vision didn't work when he tried.

A stabbing pain filled his head, and Leon noticed his Mana was low.[Did you think such a powerful tool would cost no Mana?]

'No.'

[You might carry the bloodlines of the strongest magical creatures.]

[But you aren't even a hybrid, but a chimaera, a monster created from scraps.]

'Then teach me how Ifrit…' 

[What will you give me in return?]

Clang!

Leon's claws deflected Kev's blade using his flaming claws, flicking the blade away before he sidestepped Raz's dagger, causing the two men to back away.

'How about a date?'

[…]

Shling!

Another attack, with Raz slicing at Leon's throat, while Kev stabbed relentlessly with a flurry of fatal attacks aimed at his chest.

[Do you promise?]

'Huh?'

The next moment, information flowed into his mind.

A small book that guided him on how to limit and control Mana. The book also showed how he could keep a reserve of Mana for critical moments.

"Phew…"

Leon's eyes widened, feeling his Fae heart throbbing before Mana poured through his veins.

Thanks to his Fae blood, his Mana regenerated after not using it for a few moments and using the surrounding forest. 

'Let's train.'

He narrowed his eyes, aiming to use the least effort when dodging, learning the method to control every muscle. 

If he attacked, he would kill.

Should he defend, he would survive.

When he dodged, he wouldn't get hit.

Leon followed Ifrit's guidance. He used a small amount of his Mana to slow time for a fraction, only when he sensed danger. Instead of flooding his eyes with Mana, the book taught him to form a metaphorical valve in his mind.

A valve that when tightened it would slow the flow of Mana to his eyes and body. 

From the moment he started following Ifrit's guidance, the battle changed.

"Hah!" 

Leonhardt avoided Kev's lunging attack. He used his fiery claws to gouge his exposed back and sent him stumbling forward. With a smile, Leon stepped on his side before launching a kick which struck Raz, knocking the wind out of him as he crashed into Kev.

"Guha!"

The sudden turn of events shocked the mercenaries.

"What the fuck's going on!" Raz struggled to his feet, one hand broken and useless, while the other clenched his dagger, "Fucker."

While they got to their feet, Leon understood what Ifrit said. By slowing time for a few milliseconds, he saved himself from harm countless times using a fraction of the Mana cost.

With each clash, he toyed with them, truly like an Arachne waiting for their prey to become exhausted, a thin, glistening web forming in the grass, ready to trap them if they tried to escape.

"R-Raz, we cannot win… Ack?"

Before Kev could finish, Leon suddenly appeared beside his face, pushing his fiery claws into the mercenary's throat. "You can't leave."

Ifrit didn't answer this time because she was pleased with Leon's growth.

It was a lie to think he could hold himself back, his lust for battle growing with each passing minute 

He loved training this way because it showed his progress happening so quickly.

After the wound, Raz realised Kev couldn't help him. He planned to escape alone. Kev clawed at his throat, unable to breathe, while drowning in his own blood.

"Bastard."

They traded blows again, but Leon felt his Mana remain stable, even when using his slowing ability for longer.

The next moment, after slowing time, Raz's attacks appeared slower than usual.

'Strange…'

In Leon's eyes, he noticed a blue sheen coating his enemy, something he never noticed before.

His newly evolved Arachne vision seemed to have fused with his Djinn and Fae pupils, allowing him to see Mana in the air, allowing him to see the blue glow around Raz.

'Is he about to use a battle technique?'

Leon watched the blue light gather at Raz's feet before a smile grew on his lips.

The mercenary must have believed he could escape because he turned around and started dashing towards the village.

[That's it. You've done well, what a wonderful trap.]

Although he made them appear weak, Leon placed an almost invisible tripwire on the ground in case Raz or Kev tried to escape. The webs dripped with a slimy substance. Though it didn't appear that sticky, Leon lifted his left hand, grasping the dozens of threads.

"Damn it, was there a spider?" Raz shouted.

After his explosive burst of speed gained him over a hundred yards, he found his legs tangled in fine, silky strands of spider silk.

He fell to the ground, unable to stand, struggling while trying to rip apart the web. A sound came from behind as Raz's neck twisted back before fear entered his eyes.

Leonhardt stepped closed, gathering more threads that grew from his fingertip, wrapping tighter around the male's body, the scars, and wounds from the acid on Leon's body now forming inflamed scars.

"M-Monster…" Raz whispered.

The scent of acid lingered in the air from earlier.

The sight of Leon terrified him, as Raz looked upon the handsome monster, staring at him with blood-red eyes.

Leon chuckled at this with an evil smile on his face.

"An eye for an eye, now you trying burning."

Snap!

The fire of Leon's claws travelled down the webbing in his hand and rushed towards Raz.

Within seconds, his entire body was engulfed in a searing heat, and his screams of agony and terror echoed through the forest's entrance.

Leon watched Raz die slowly, but his lips and face remained emotionless, a cruel and empty gaze, waiting for the announcement of his death.

Suddenly, an excited voice came from the forest, catching Leonhard off guard.

"A wonderful Execution, Master."