Global Awakening: Monster Taming Necromancer

The Cold mask is an artifact that can boost Awakener's ability in true, but that's also false– it's an artifact that'll concentrate all the power in the body at once, and the said Awakener will be able to utilize everything without care to the body.

It also blocks pain and mental distraction, the boost it gives in added mana is very small.

No matter who you are, you won't be able to do anything once the duration of using the mask passes; you'll be as powerless as a newborn.

It's also so expensive that not many people bother with it; what's the use of something that'll leave you helpless afterward?

Temur didn't care about all of that; immediately, he put on the mask, and his mind cleared as pain and other distractions he didn't know existed faded away.

The only thing on his mind was what he wanted– to Beat Arkin and get the information he wanted. Everything thing else didn't exist, the spell on him lifted with a small pop.

And do they go at it?

The two of them clashed again in the middle of the room, a blur of black and red, causing a shockwave that ate into the stone and sent pieces flying; their hand smacked into each other with bone-shaking force.

Arkin was no longer laughing. Temur was already an impressive above-average Iron but with the mask? Arkin has to actively fight back, or he might lose his life!

He clawed the air again, and a bolt of black energy blasted out, cutting the air like numerous blades. Temur jumped right, avoiding the attack that slammed into the wall and tore it in jagged lines.

But that was also a trap because Arkin was herding him toward a trap he already set. Temur stepped into a puddle of darkness he hadn't noticed earlier, it was a spell made from the hardened liquid flesh on Arkin's body.

"I've got you now, you bastard!" Arkin shouted with a laugh as roots of darkness sprung up and surrounded Temur, coiling around him like a chain.

Thorns from the roots pierced his body and sent poison into his body. "Ugh!" He grunted. He tried to pull himself free with raw strength alone, but all that did was tighten the roots on his skin.

Arkin began to walk towards him casually. "Do you think you can beat me? You should prepare yourself if you want to fight a wolf as a young pup!"

He gritted his teeth. "But even a pup has fangs, and it will pierce the skin of its bite long enough! Ah!" He sent his mana out in an explosive bust that shattered the roots, and he immediately threw himself away from the puddle.

"Let's end this you bastard," Temur said. His time with the mask and the poison is running out and Arkin seems to know this as well because because he was drawing back from him.

Now they are both on equal power Arkin didn't want to fight him head-on but instead stall until the poison wears off or when his mask's power boost was used up.

Temur understood his plan, so he began to make a move before time ran out. His weapon changed into a thin sword, and he held it out with his left hand; his right one was covered in an aura that spun gently.

"Windless slash!" He spun the blade at the hilt and, at the same time, slammed the rolling aura against it in an explosive bust– a bust of whirlwind aura exploded out with bright red energy that twisted anything in its path.

The force enough threw Temur back and in surprise, and Arkin, who wasn't expecting that much power, was caught by surprise, so much so that he couldn't avoid it, so he guarded against it.

His monster body ripped and the hardened black on him turned to liquid and formed a shield in front of him. Just in time as the twisting energy slammed into his shield with a howling sound.

Arkin's gasps of surprise were lost in the explosion that twisted his shield away and slammed into him in the aftermath, ramming him into the wall.

"I'm...impossibly!" He groaned and tried to pull himself up, but his inside felt as if it had been wring out and his connection to the summon had been lost!

His eyes swung towards the door and he took off without hesitation, driving his stumbling body forward. 'If I can just get out of here and hide! Then, when the poison wears off, I can make a comeback. Just you wait....!!"

Temur was blocking the door with his massive bulk, his mask split in two, but he was still standing even though he was breathing hard and looked as if he'd fallen any minute now. "You won't be passing."

Arkin froze, his dark eyes shifting around like a gutter rat's own. "You look as if you'll fall dead anytime soon, do you think you are in any shape to fight right now?"

It was the truth that the last attack went out with the last of his power and mask boost. Even his hands trembled at the weight of his weapon. "I...."

"And if you did block me then what? You cannot overpower me right now even though I also don't have any magic left to use. I'm physically more powerful than you right now."

Temur managed a smile. "But you are wrong; when I started this fight, it was with the intention to give my life. You schemers always think you are the best and won't see farther than your nose. Even right now....help his coming, I just have to keep you here."

Arkin's eyes darkened. He's a man that has lived his life with almost caution, but right now, he have to take the risk or.....he leaped forward, but he wasn't fast enough.

Temur pushed the very last of his power into his weapon and he was a bit surprised that he was able to mold it. A chain ball swung towards Arkin and slammed into his head.

Temur didn't know if he succeeded before darkness claimed him.