I Know the Secret to Surpass Level 100

Elliot coughed blood from the impact. He crashed into a tower, destroying it the moment his body made contact with the brick walls.

"What was that power?!" Elliot growled, standing back up to see Malice grinning at him. She knew that the boy could not overpower her with brute strength alone. She was ten times bigger than he was.

"Are you okay?" Lance asked when he arrived beside Elliot. The latter fixed his composure before gripping his sword again, this time he was more prepared to take on Malice.

"Let's do this a second time," Elliot said as he wielded his sword with both hands. His body gently lit up with a dark green aura, a color that Lance had never seen before. "This color is new to me too. I just learned this skill just a few hours ago. Now that I'm having trouble against her, I decided to use it."

"Do you have a plan?" Lance asked, smirking as he realized that it was no use trying to change Elliot's mind. The boy has set his mind on defeating Malice with whatever means he has. "Because I do not. I don't even know if we can defeat her."

"My plan?" Elliot smirked as he took one glimpse at Lance. "Not dying. Winning. That's all!"

'Arcane Surge activated. You have three minutes until the effects wear off.'

"Three minutes of all stats raised to fifty is all I need," Elliot grinned as he glided in the air with movements that were too quick to be seen by a normal human.

"So you're back for more, huh?" Malice grinned. She raised her hand, conjuring a burst of dark mist from her arms that traveled to the tip of her index finger. "You can expect death if you come for me in this form!"

Malice fired her attack at Elliot, the boy only smirking when he saw the attack look like it was in slow motion from his speed. He easily stepped on the side, allowing the attack to pass through him as he continued to approach the Black Queen.

"You are one hell of an enemy," Malice laughed. "You really are from my blood."

When Elliot was about to reach Malice, the woman suddenly shrunk. Her body which was ten times larger than that of Elliot was now the same as him, but her aura and power remained the same.

"You compressed yourself?" Elliot chuckled. "Afraid of losing?"

"No," Malice said. She waved her hand, conjuring a blade that was made of pure dark energy. "I just want to see your face up close when I kill you."

The two circled the skies, blades sparked with various colors of light as they greeted each other in the fight. The people from the city could see the battle ongoing, all in awe as the two showcased powers that were unseen before.

'Two minutes until Arcane Surge wears off.'

The voice of the system reminded Elliot that he didn't have all the time in the world. What he needed was a quick and fast battle, one that he was sure to emerge victorious.

But with what he had at the moment, he could not do it.

Malice was far stronger than he was in terms of battle experience. The woman fought more wars than his age, and those wars lasted for years on end. It was virtually impossible for him to slay her and put an end to it all.

"Why are you getting sloppy?" Malice grinned, seeing that she was having the upper hand in their battle.

As the two distanced themselves from each other to catch their breaths, the tide of the battle was clearly leaning toward the Black Queen. Malice, a Demon that was forged with centuries of battles started to exploit all the weaknesses in Elliot's forms.

Elliot, with only a few years of experience, was starting to show. He lacked a lot of things that Malice has and it was evident in his performance. The boy was losing his resolve.

He was losing his will.

When Malice saw an opportunity for an attack, she launched herself from the ground and raised her sword above her. With a grunt, the woman coated her sword with darkness, grinning as she swung her blade with extreme rage. "Antagonist's Fury!"

"Black and White Edging Strike!"

Malice growled and redirected her attack at Lance instead. She had to block him before the attack could hit her. He was too swift that her slash would never land at Elliot if she did not switch priorities.

"What are you doing, Elliot?!" Lance grabbed Elliot by the collar, his face red in anger. "You almost died and you did nothing!"

Elliot was shaken by his friend's voice. He never once heard Lance raise his voice at him before. It was like Lance was angry and scared, his eyes trembling in different mixed emotions.

"W-What?" was all Elliot could muster, lost in his thoughts. "Lance. She's too strong. I can't do it."

"And why the hell did you think I'm here with you?" Lance asked, eyebrows raised. The older boy was now relaxed, seeing his friend's face that was filled with fear and confusion. "You really are an idiot. This battle was not to be determined by you alone. You don't have to carry this weight on just your shoulders.

"Connor, Ed, Hope, everyone else. They are doing their best to ease your burden. They are at their last strength trying to hold on to you, push you to settle this once and for all," Lance continued. "We're here for you to become your strength too, Elliot. So don't you dare carry all of this luggage alone. Because you are never alone."

Elliot was silent. His chest tightened after his friend's words sunk in. The conviction in Lance's voice, his sincerity, and his concern ate all the fears that he had.

"After all that you have been through- all that we've been through. You still think that you have to do all of everything alone?" Lance narrowed his eyes playfully. "You hurt me, Elliot. Ouch."

"Idiot," Elliot laughed, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He felt a new sense of resolve welling up inside him, something that he had forgotten but was always there.

'Arcane Surged has expired.'

Elliot laughed after he heard the system. The dark green aura that emitted from his body has disappeared, along with the boost in his powers.

The time for him to be alone was gone. His friends are fighting with him to defeat this darkness that would soon consume them all. Everyone was portraying their parts in order for them to succeed.

Elliot didn't need a skill that greatly enhanced his strength just so he could defeat Malice. That was helpful, but it wasn't what he needed. Because what he needed most was at his fingertips.

It was his companions. All of his friends are risking their lives just so they will win.

"Are you ready, Elliot?" Lance asked, raising his sword with a burning will of hope in his eyes.

"I was always ready," Elliot said, tightly gripping his sword. "I just forgot that my friends are always with me. With them, with all of you, I can handle anything that blocks my way."