Chapter 64: Stage Four

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Stage Four

Daniel stared at the man. At his broken body. At his crazed eyes. At his overwhelming power.

"What do you mean by stage this and that?" Daniel asked.

Paul was breathing hard. His wind was flickering. His mana was low. But he answered.

"Stages of mana cultivation," he said. "Stage one is basic. You can sense mana. Feel it. But you can’t use it."

Daniel nodded. He remembered. Before he got his class, he couldn’t use mana at all.

"Stage two," Paul continued, "is when you can channel mana into objects you’re holding. Weapons. Tools. Anything you touch. It makes them stronger. Sharper. More durable."

Daniel nodded again. He had seen the stage two warrior do that. Channeling mana into his sword.

"Stage three," Paul said, "is when you can surround your body with mana. It makes you faster. Stronger. Tougher. But it’s different for everyone. It depends on your talent."

"Talent?"

"Everyone has a talent. An element. Fire. Water. Lightning. Wind. Mine is wind." Paul gestured at the green energy swirling around him. "When I reached stage three, I became lighter. Faster. More resistant to physical attacks. The wind carries me. Protects me."

Daniel looked at the man. At his blue aura. At his cracked ground.

"What about him?"

Paul’s face darkened. "His talent is teleportation. When he reached stage three, he could teleport himself. Short distances. Quick movements. But now..."

"Now?"

"Stage four." Paul swallowed. "At stage four, the user gets way stronger. Their abilities evolve. They can use their talent on things they’re not touching."

Daniel’s eyes widened. "So he can teleport us?"

Paul nodded. "He can teleport us close to himself. Then punch us. We can’t escape. We can’t dodge. He controls the distance."

Daniel stared at the man. At his bloody smile. At his glowing eyes.

"That’s really bad," Daniel said.

"Yeah," Paul agreed. "It is."

The man laughed. A loud, crazed laugh that echoed through the ruined dining hall.

"Hahaha!" he shouted. "I finally reached it! Stage four! My love for female feelings has made me stronger!"

Daniel’s eye twitched. "Your love for female feelings?"

"Yes!" The man spread his arms wide. "My devotion! My dedication! My unwavering commitment to protecting women! It has pushed me beyond my limits!"

Paul leaned toward Daniel. "We should run."

Daniel shook his head. "No."

Paul stared at him. "What?"

"I want his apology."

Paul’s mouth fell open. "Are you insane? He’s stage four! We can’t beat him!"

"I don’t care." Daniel’s voice was cold. "He hurt Fluffy. He hurt Lyra. He called them useless. He called them property. I want him to apologize."

Paul looked at him. At his determined eyes. At his clenched fists. At his unyielding posture.

"You’re crazy," Paul said.

Daniel smiled. "I know."

Paul sighed. He straightened up. His wind swirled around him. Green energy mixed with blue mana.

"Fine," he said. "I’ll help. But if we die, I’m haunting you."

"Deal."

Paul looked at the man. At his crazed smile. At his overwhelming aura.

"You know," Paul said, "this guy is dumb."

Daniel glanced at him. "What?"

"He talks about female feelings like they’re the only thing that matters. Like women are these fragile, precious things that need to be protected at all costs. But that’s not respect. That’s condescension."

The man’s smile faltered. "What did you say?"

"Women aren’t weak," Paul said. "They’re not fragile. They’re not precious little flowers that need to be sheltered from the world. They’re people. Just like us. They can fight. They can lead. They can make their own choices."

The man’s face twisted with rage. "You dare—"

"And beast kin?" Paul continued. "Elves? Dwarves? They’re not trash. They’re not property. They’re not slaves. They’re people. With feelings. With dreams. With lives."

The man was shaking now. His aura flared. His eyes burned.

"You’re wrong!" he shouted. "You’re all wrong! Female feelings are sacred! They must be protected!"

Daniel stepped forward. "You don’t protect anyone. You just want an excuse to hurt people."

The man screamed. He charged.

Daniel charged too.

They met in the center of the room. Daniel threw a punch. The man teleported. He switched places with Paul.

Daniel’s fist connected with Paul’s face.

Paul flew backward. He crashed into a pile of rubble. He groaned.

Daniel’s eyes widened. "Paul!"

"I’m okay," Paul mumbled. "I’m okay. That was my face. You punched my face."

Daniel turned. The man was standing where Paul had been. He was laughing.

"See?" the man said. "You can’t touch me. I control the battlefield."

Daniel charged again. He threw another punch. The man teleported. He switched with Paul again.

Daniel’s fist connected with Paul’s stomach.

Paul doubled over. He gasped. He collapsed.

"Sorry!" Daniel shouted.

"I... could have... stopped at the first punch," Paul wheezed.

The man laughed. He stood over Paul’s crumpled form. His aura was blazing.

"You see?" he said. "You see why you should respect female feelings? This is what happens when you don’t. You hurt each other. You hurt the ones you care about."

Daniel stared at him. His fists were clenched. His body was trembling.

"You’re insane," Daniel said.

"I’m righteous!" the man shouted. "I’m a protector! A guardian! A defender of women!"

"You’re a monster."

The man’s smile widened. "Maybe. But I’m a monster who’s going to win."