While the idea of setting the crystals off was simple, Eldrian did not know how to manage this.


    He had barely managed to take a peek at what they held inside them. His meager magic would not be able to destabilize the crystals. These were not simple mana crystals that he could easily make unstable.


    Heck, the voidstone was still stable even though it was but a fragment from the device that the alicorns had used. Eldrian had even failed to take a nce at what it held.


    To make matters worse, even in the heightened state that Eldrian was thinking and observing things in, he knew he did not have long. He could see the lighting already gathering around Zaphreal''s hand.


    Void of an alternative, Eldrian picked the crystal he had first managed to force his will inside. Assuming it was the least stable.


    He grasped the death crystal in his left hand, sending the others back to his inventory, and he sprang forth. Gathering Crystoi with his right as he charged.


    The audience watched him move faster than ever before, Eldrian getting to his feet and covering half the distance in mere seconds. They held their breath in anticipation. However, he was not fast enough.


    Thunder sounded, and a sh appeared. Briefly blinding everyone watching.


    And in thatst fraction of a second, Eldrian had moved to block. His reaction speed was praiseworthy, but futile. Or so everyone thought. Shockingly, the lighting failed to pierce him through. Instead, it collided with Eldrian''s hand and disappeared.


    While Eldrian was sent flying backwards in the end, the sight was still shocking. Silence settled. Everyone staring at what had transpired, their heads filled with questions. Clearly recalling just minutes before when Eldrian''s ice shield had failed to even slow the lighting strike that had pierced his chest.


    ''It''s breaking.'' Eldrian could feel the natural structure of the crystal he still held the in hand slowly falling apart. Sadly, it appeared that it would not react like a mana crystal upon having its structure destroyed.


    Mana crystals reacted violently, all the mana contained within taking the form of nearby elements and causing a storm of that type to appear. This was why he always apanied breaking it with a spell. As the spell guided the mana to form a certain ''nova''.


    The death crystal contrary appeared to not even be falling apart. While it was leaking some death mana, it was leaking terribly slowly.


    ''His attack did the job, but this isn''t what I expected would happen.'' Eldrian could tell that the crystal would not do what he wanted.


    For a second Eldrian considered blocking another strike, but he doubted Zaphreal would be so careless, nor did he think that would solve his biggest problem.


    Death mana was sopletely different to the natural mana filling his surrounding that the surroundings itself formed a type of magical pressure barrier. Eldrian had failed to consider this when picking the crystal.


    If he couldpletely shatter its structure and force all the death mana out, he might still stand a chance. But Zaphreal would certainly not be so careless. And unless he could manage this, then his surroundings would continue to aid the crystal in maintaining its own structure. The opposite of what happened with mana crystals.


    ''I might manage to block another strike, but I doubt he will be so careless. And even if I do, I can''t be certain it would be enough to allow the inner pressure to ovee the outer,'' Eldrian thought as he observed Zaphreal.


    The man appeared unphased by the fact that Eldrian had blocked his strike. He was calmly regathering his mana, readying his next strike. It would only take a second or two for him to strike again.


    Eldrian''s next thought was to close the distance, however, he dismissed it just as quickly. At most, he would make it back to where he hadst blocked the lighting. Twenty meters still separating him from the redheaded man from Miracle.


    ''The structure is fractured and its mana is leaking. I can already feel it invading my body. Eating at my stamina...'' Eldrian''s eyes shed as he thought of a truly crazy idea.


    He might not be able to destabilize its structure, but with its weakened structure, he might be able to gather and use the mana contained within it. After all, some of the mana was already leaking. All he had to do was hasten it a little and take control of what leaked.


    When the next sh appeared, Eldrian was forced to go with the idea. He had little practice and almost no idea how to use the element, but he had some reference data to rely on thanks to the lich''s soul he had absorbed.


    Luckily, like normal mana, death mana also reacted and followed the will contained within a person''s magic. It could be controlled with mageia, like all other types of mana.


    When the shed arrived, Eldrian envisioned a barrier of darkness surrounding him. Absorbing all things and turning it into its own source of power. The image in his mind was a barrier with the strength of Levana''s spells.


    The next second, his vision turned dark. Complete silence filled Eldrian''s surroundings. It took him a few seconds to realize that he was not in some type of void but rather in a unique type of barrier.


    "It worked?" Eldrian mumbled in disbelief, his voice sounding strange in the small space he found himself in. "What now?"


    The action had given Eldrian some more time, but he had two problems now. He still did not know how to defeat Zaphreal, and he had allowed the mana from the death crystal inside himself. It was now consuming his stamina far quicker than before.


    Eldrian even felt a drain in his mind.


    Naturally, as he was living, the aspect of death was consuming him.


    —


    In the VIP rooms, the observers were impressed with Eldrian thus far. Somehow, he had survived a death strike and formed a barrier of ice and fire to buy himself time. When it had disappeared, Eldrian had beenpletely healed and had jumped to action shockingly fast.


    "The kid has got some grit."


    Thement was one of the few that everyone agreed with. Whether they wanted Eldrian to lose or hoped for him to win, everyone had to agree that Eldrian was holding out surprisingly well.


    "Do you think Eldrian stands a chance?" Qiren asked Constantin.


    She had called for him as soon as Eldrian had interrupted the match. The two were currently standing off to the side to avoid catching anyone''s attention as they brainstormed how they might be able to help Eldrian in the current situation.


    "I honestly have no idea." Constantin replied. He had been following Eldrian''s every move. As he had managed to push himself into the right position, Constantin had even visited Kynigo and talked with some yers. Though he had falsified his information, naturally.


    "He has grown a great deal, but..." Looking towards the stage, the same question kept bothering Constantin.


    What was the entire point of ANW?


    AN: Remember to vote andment if you are enjoying the story.