Scáthach, Cú Chulainn's mentor and the Queen of the Land of Shadows, gazed at the man who called himself a magician. She adopted the demeanor of a teacher facing a student.
Perhaps it was his youth... too young to seem a mature man. His age and life experience paled compared to hers.
Maybe that's why, despite gripping her spear, she waited for him to make the first move, like a teacher.
Morpheus didn't tap into the Angel Necklace's power, saving it for later. Symbols of the four elements... earth, wind, water, fire... materialized around him, and he grasped his staff.
He spoke calmly, "Hanged."
Scáthach's instincts, honed through countless battles, kicked in. She dodged left as a sharp stone spike shot from the ground where she'd stood, piercing upward as if to impale everything!
"Earth manipulation magecraft? Almost no tell. If I weren't so experienced, that could've hit me. But piercing my defenses isn't that easy," Scáthach assessed silently, her feet springing into action. She charged at blinding speed.
"If that's all you've got, defeating me won't be so simple!"
She closed the distance in an instant, but Morpheus, unfazed, raised his hand.
His wooden staff blocked her spear, and their clash sparked at the point of contact.
"Winged," Morpheus said with a smile.
The spark expanded into an orange glow, erupting into flames that coiled like a serpent, scorching the air and enveloping Scáthach!
She swiftly swung her spear, deflecting the flames, and leapt upward through a gap not yet closed.
But the flames didn't dissipate. Like a living snake, they pursued her!
Though not overwhelming, their relentless persistence couldn't be easily scattered.
Surprised, Scáthach channeled mana into her spear, striking with force.
Boom!
The flames finally dispersed, no longer chasing her.
"Not just earth manipulation. Your magecraft is based on the four elements, isn't it?" Scáthach asked, pausing her attack.
"As expected of the Queen of the Land of Shadows, spotting my foundation so quickly," Morpheus grinned, chanting again, "Winged Wet."
The air compressed into transparent blades, slicing through everything at high speed toward Scáthach!
She dodged, and the wind blades grazed past, carving deep gashes into the ground!
"Your four tools are your Mystic Codes, aren't they? The staff for fire, the dagger for wind, the green disk for earth, and the blue cup for water?" Scáthach deduced.
"Correct," Morpheus didn't deny. "Now that you know my magic's foundation, shall we get serious?"
"You're not hiding your techniques?"
"No need. They're basic. Anyone with knowledge can see through them," Morpheus said, his spells enhancing his physical strength. He assumed a combat stance. "Let's get serious!"
"Serious?" Scáthach laughed. "Bring it!"
She was stunned as Morpheus broke the sound barrier, charging with a shockwave!
Boom!
In a clash of raw power, Scáthach's spear blocked Morpheus's staff strike. Feeling the force and the ground's groan beneath her, her shock grew.
A human displaying such physical strength, even with mana enhancement, was extraordinary.
Compared to heroes renowned for strength in the Age of Gods, this power held its own!
And this opponent wasn't just a warrior but a Magus wielding magic!
Bang!
Flames erupted again from the clash of staff and spear, forming a blazing orb that incinerated the surrounding grass and trees!
Runes appeared around Scáthach, blocking the attack. She countered, her spear striking like a dragon, a red meteor aimed at Morpheus!
Morpheus dodged, summoning wind blades that surged toward Scáthach!
This time, she couldn't evade. Three wind blades hit, her runes blocking them but forcing her back a few steps.
As she retreated, the ground rumbled, and stone spikes shot toward her!
Scáthach leapt to avoid them, but the spikes launched like missiles, targeting her in midair!
Unable to maneuver midair, she struck swiftly, deflecting the stone spikes. But water blades followed, mixed with the stones!
The barrage of water and stone overwhelmed her. A warning flared in her mind, but she couldn't dodge. Something struck her back, shattering her defenses. An orange light flared, exploding into flames!
Boom!
Engulfed by scorching heat and violent impact, Scáthach was blasted from the sky, crashing to the ground, disheveled.
Looking at Morpheus, who had paused, she asked, "Did you deliberately force me into the air with those stone spikes?"
"No. Whatever you did, I'd have countered," Morpheus replied. "Your choice to jump shaped my attacks."
"You used water and stone to overwhelm me, then snuck wind blades from behind to break my defenses, finishing with a fire spell to injure me."
Morpheus stayed silent, letting her analyze.
Scáthach continued, "Why not press the attack? Your spells are versatile, but they can't deal enough damage to me. With only this strength, you can't face Cú Chulainn.
"After breaking my defenses, you could've used the explosion's opening to attack with your physical strength, which is far stronger than your spells."
"I'm revealing my power bit by bit. That was just the basics. How about this?" Morpheus grinned, drawing a sword... not Durandal, but the Sword of Ares.
Scáthach's eyes widened at the weapon. "That's a formidable Noble Phantasm!"
"A gift from Ares. I like it," Morpheus said, giving the shortsword a light swing. "Round two!"
This time, he forwent elemental magic, relying on spells to enhance his body. He charged Scáthach at blinding speed, and she responded in kind.
Spear met sword, their clash rupturing the air, creating a momentary vacuum!
Morpheus displayed his skill in close combat, fearlessly engaging the Queen of the Land of Shadows.
The air roared with explosions, the ground scarred with craters, their rapid movements leaving afterimages!
Scáthach felt exhilaration. Each clash thrilled her. This young man, Morpheus, wielded power far greater than before, matching her own!
Unleashing her strength and skill, her spear danced with his sword, carving cold glints through the ravaged landscape, green and red lights twisting and clashing!
Finally, with a soft chime, her red spear was pinned to the ground by his foot, his cyan shortsword at her throat. Morpheus smiled at the queen. "I win."
Her defenses were pierced. One move, and the sword could cut her skin, muscle, and bone.
Feeling its chilling intent, Scáthach didn't fear but laughed.
"You're impressive. But if this is your limit, facing Cú Chulainn will be tough," she said. "Still, you're qualified to challenge him."
"Don't worry. This isn't my full strength. I could probably multiply it a few times... or dozens."
Scáthach's mouth fell open slightly, then she smiled. "Really?"
"I was the main force against Typhon. That should suffice."
Knowing Typhon's might, Scáthach conceded. This man could challenge Cú Chulainn and save this era.
She stowed her weapon. "Cú Chulainn is a king now but has lost everything else."
"What do you mean?"
"He was summoned by the Holy Grail, by Medb," Scáthach said with a hint of resignation. "Medb used the Grail to interfere with him, making him a king with greater power but stripping away his true self."
She added, "Need my help?"
Morpheus shook his head. "No. I sensed your reluctance when you spoke of destroying this era, like you were forcing yourself. If it feels forced, don't act. I'm here.
"Besides, I'm human. Saving humanity is fitting."
Scáthach was stunned, her inner conflict seen through. She shook her head. "It's not unwillingness. I no longer belong to this world. The Land of Shadows and I are detached, like gods. If I act, wouldn't I rob you of your chance to save yourselves?"
Morpheus laughed. "Ever the teacher. Since it's Cú Chulainn and Medb, I won't waste time. See you later!"
"Later?"
Click! Morpheus waved his camera. "I'll try summoning you."
As he left, Scáthach smiled.
"A powerful human. If anyone could kill me in battle, fulfilling my wish, it might be him!"
After parting with Scáthach, Morpheus pressed forward.
He mulled over her words, her intel.
"Medb, queen of Connacht in Irish myth. She led armies against Ulster, even fighting on the battlefield herself.
"She's notorious for cycling through husbands, demanding they be fearless, generous, and free of jealousy. The first two are fine, but the last? Tough… Her end was being killed by her nephew with a piece of cheese in a pool.
"Is Nasuverse's Medb the same as the one I know?"
Morpheus sank into thought. His biggest issue in the Nasuverse wasn't ignorance of ancient lore but the discrepancies between his knowledge and this world's wild reinterpretations.
These differences, born from the creators' self-indulgent tweaks, forced him to consider more variables, taxing his mind.
Finally, he gave up thinking.
"Forget it. I'll just fight through. My supreme wisdom says it's time for supreme force!"
***
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