The Deceitful One

Detective Watson and Sean simultaneously disappeared from their spots. What followed was a brief moment of silence. And then...

CLASH!

Sparks flew out from one corner of the battlefield, and following that silence ensued once again.

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

Dozens of sparks were produced, what seemed to be out of thin air, at various parts of the battlefield. Meanwhile, Detective Watson and Sean were completely invisible to the naked eye.

More precisely, they were invisible only to a regular human's eye! Both of them were moving at such extreme speeds that they appeared to be not visible at all.

Bryan who was hiding in the shadow of a tree, away from the battlefield, was 'looking' at the battle between his teacher and Sean. It would be more fair to say he was looking at the sparks flying around on the battlefield.

He also found out something new about his shadow-slipping ability. And that was that he was able to use his spiritual sense and have it scout the surroundings without having anyone be aware of it!

While inside the shadows, his spiritual sense perception also gained the quality of being indiscernible. However, to powerhouses like Detective Watson and Sean, he was like a sore thumb sticking out.

He was utterly baffled that his teacher was able to keep up with Sean in terms of speed. He simply couldn't believe it.

For a moment, he felt that there might be hope of him and his teacher getting out of this conundrum.

All of a sudden, Bryan's eyes lit up. He was finally able to catch a glimpse of his teacher! However, the next moment, the figure of Detective Watson dissipated in the air like smoke.

'Afterimage!' Bryan was taken aback. Just how fast would a person have to be to leave behind an afterimage!?

'Is teacher really just a Rank 3 Transcendent?' He thought incredulously.

Meanwhile on the battlefield, as Detective Watson and Sean continued to clash against each other, the latter couldn't help but speak out in admiration, "As expected of you James!"

Detective Watson slammed his black staff down vertically and pummeled Sean's left shoulder and arms. However, the next moment, the blood and flesh connected together and formed a brand new arm!

This was the regeneration ability of a Rank 4 Transcendent of the Blood Path!

Sean's expression didn't change one bit even after having his arm and shoulder destroyed. He simply continued to praise, "Even without your God-Level artifact, you're a formidable opponent!"

Detective Watson didn't reply. He willed his staff to transform into a giant war hammer, and the next moment, with lightning-fast movement, he swung the hammer horizontally and smashed through Sean's stomach.

Before the hammer had touched his body, Sean had already transformed his chest, stomach, and hips into blood! So when the hammer did strike him, it smoothly went through the liquid!

Detective Watson's eyes narrowed as he barely felt any resistance when the hammer smashed through Sean's body. He jumped back a few feet and observed his opponent carefully.

Sean's torso which had turned into blood, was now slowly solidifying! A few moments later, the blood transformed back into his organs, bones, skin, and finally even his clothes!

He looked at Detective Watson with a smirk, "This is the new innate ability I've gained after drinking the Rank 4 potion. It allows me to change my body from a solid state to a liquid state and back at will!"

Detective Watson lowered his weapon and sighed, "I see... No wonder in the divination that I had foreseen, I wasn't your match. What a terrifying innate ability!"

He then turned his head and looked at the black gauntlet that Sean was wearing, "And more importantly, there's that artifact too..."

Sean was visibly taken aback. He wasn't surprised that his long-time rival was able to identify the Rank 4 gauntlet artifact, but what he said earlier.

He narrowed his eyes and inquired, "James, you've foreseen the future yet you dared to come here to die. Since when did Wisdom Path Transcendents become so stupid?"

Sean was utterly perplexed. If one knows that they are about to die, wouldn't they do everything in their power to avoid such an outcome? And here, Detective Watson was doing everything but that. It was as if he wanted to die!

This was completely unlike the Detective Watson that he knew. This was simply incomprehensible to him.

Detective Watson chuckled, "Sean, a self-centered person like you who only cares about his own benefits would never understand my motives. This will be my final battle, fight me with everything you got!"

Sean remained silent for a very long time. He had known Detective Watson for such a long time and had fought with him more times than he could count, that is why he could not understand his motives.

And what Detective Watson had said about him was true. He was indeed a self-centered and benefit-oriented person. He wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice even his own family in order to get what he wanted.

It was precisely because they were enemies and rivals to each other that they knew one another so well. That is why, he couldn't understand why Detective Watson was doing what he was doing.

'If he knew he is going to die...then why did he come-' It really irked him as he tried to figure it out. All of a sudden, his eyes narrowed and he looked towards a tree in the distance.

This was the same tree where Bryan was hiding. More precisely, it was the tree's shadow within which he was hiding.

"Ah," Sean was struck by realization, "I see..."

He turned to look at Detective Watson with a faint smile, "So you've come to save your student, is that it? You're ready to sacrifice your life so that he lives?"

Detective Watson didn't reply. However, his silence itself was the answer!

Sean glared at Detective Watson and screamed, "This is not the James I know! Where's that cruel and merciless Weapons Master that I looked up to and admired? What has happened to you, James!? Don't fuck with me!"

"As I said, Sean," Detective Watson smiled and replied calmly, "A person like you would never understand."

"Is that so?" Sean lowered his head and began to chuckle. Soon he started to laugh loudly like a madman,

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

He looked at Detective Watson, a maniacal glint gleaming in his red eyes, "Then I'll just kill Bryan first."

The next moment, he spread his arms wide and declared loudly,

"RANK 4 SPELL: SANGUINE WRATH!!"

All types of weapons made of blood formed above Sean's head. Long sword, broad sword, saber, short sword, dagger, knife, mace, spear, staff, axe, hammer, you name it!

Almost all the weapons known in existence were formed! Initially, the numbers were in the tens then in the hundreds. And in but a few moments, there were over a thousand weapons hovering above Sean!

Detective Watson's eyes narrowed as he disappeared from his spot and arrived in front of the shadow Bryan was hiding in. He saw the thousands of blood-colored weapons aiming at him and was once again reminded of the vision he had seen in the divination.

He couldn't help but sigh. He knew that with his God-Level artifact, he would be able to easily parry or block these thousands of weapons. But it was Sean's next move that would effectively hinder him!

He had already seen it! He knew that his time had come. However, there was no regret in his eyes. Only firm determination!

Bryan who 'saw' the thousands of weapons aiming at him, couldn't help but break out in cold sweat. He emerged from the shadow and pulled Detective Watson's hand, "T-teacher! H-Hurry, let's get away from here!"

Detective Watson turned around and smiled warmly, "Bryan, it was my life's greatest decision to have taken you in as my student.

"The time I've spent with you has made me truly happy.

"Thank you for those wonderful memories...

"And thank you for the things that you will do in the future..."

Bryan's body began to tremble and blood started to stream down his face as he began to sob, "T-Teacher why are you talking like that? We still have time to escape..."

The sense of foreboding in his heart continued to intensify as he tried to pull his teacher's arm, "I beg you... Let's get out of here... Please!"

Detective Watson stroked Bryan's head and smiled at him dotingly. He then turned around, removing his arm from Bryan's grasp. He looked at the thousands of weapons aimed towards him and his whole aura changed.

On the other side, Sean brought down his hands and the next moment, the thousands of weapons flew towards Detective Watson and Bryan at lightning speed, "DIE!!!"

Detective Watson's eyes narrowed as he muttered,

"RANK 3 SPELL: MIND OVERDRIVE!"

As the name suggested, Detective Watson's mind went into overdrive as everything around him slowed down to a snail's pace. He was now able to see the weapons coming towards him at an extremely slow speed.

He raised his staff and fiercely swung it around as he shattered the incoming weapons! Not a single weapon was able to reach a radius of five feet around him and Bryan.

Sean wasn't surprised at all. He knew very well just how fierce Detective Watson was. His lips curled up into a vicious grin as he raised his right hand and aimed the black gauntlet at Detective Watson.

And then... He made a grabbing motion!

THEFT!

The next moment, Detective Watson felt his spiritual force disappear, along with his stamina! His entire body felt exhausted and heavy. Following that, his grip loosened and the black staff fell from his hands.

Sean had stolen Detective Watson's spiritual force as well as stamina!

This was the power of the black gauntlet artifact!

This was the power of the Theft Path!

This was the power of Medici!