Gravity Mage with Level-Up System

From MC's Perspective:

I realized what was happening. The poison was moving quickly, and if I didn't act, it would engulf me. Without hesitation, I canceled my gravity spell and leapt backward, my feet lifting off the ground as I used magic to propel myself away, creating as much distance as I could.

Tud!

The moment the gravity spell lifted, Stacie collapsed to her knees, her body trembling from the strain. She had spent nearly all of her energy holding out against my attack.

The pressure had been immense, and now that it was gone, her body screamed for rest. Her chest heaved as she gasped for breath, her muscles aching. But even in this weakened state, she wasn't defeated.

Shakily, she reached into her robe and pulled out several vials of shimmering liquid—healing potions. Without wasting a second, she uncorked them and drank greedily, the healing magic soothing her broken body, though it would take time to fully recover.

But even as she tended to her wounds, her sharp eyes remained locked on me, watching my retreat.

Despite her exhaustion, a smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. She had found him, and she wasn't about to let him go. The poison was still spreading, creeping closer and closer. She had set her trap, and now, she was ready to strike.

She may have been brought to her knees, but this battle was far from over.

I landed in a safe spot, my chest heaving as I caught my breath. The air here was clean—no trace of the poison that had nearly consumed me. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to relax, but the reprieve was short-lived.

My mind churned with hesitation, weighing my options. I could retreat, take refuge in the ""Gregor Mansion"", a fortified place where I'd be untouchable for the time being. But as tempting as that was, I knew it wasn't the best course of action.

If I stayed, more enemies would come. The enemy wizards weren't known for working alone, and I had no doubt that Stacie Sharpe's presence here meant others could follow. If I waited too long, I could be overwhelmed. No, I couldn't afford to get stuck in this place. The more time I lingered, the more dangerous it became.

I exhaled slowly, my resolve hardening. There was only one solution: I had to kill her. As long as she was alive, she would continue to be a threat, and I couldn't risk her calling for reinforcements or using her poison magic again. My decision made, I reached into my spatial ring and pulled out the ""Zero Puppet"".

The puppet's lifeless body was as cold and unfeeling as always. Its hollow eyes stared blankly at me as I placed a mana stone into its core. With a hum of energy, the puppet jerked to life. Its stiff movements smoothed out as it reactivated, and after a moment, it stood before me, awaiting orders. This puppet, designed for silent and efficient killing, had never failed me before.

Its blank face turned toward me, awaiting my command. "Kill the enemy," I said, my voice calm but filled with the weight of what had to be done.
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The ""Zero Puppet"" didn't hesitate. It acknowledged the order with a slight bow before turning and vanishing into the shadows, its movements eerily silent. In its hand, it gripped a ""knife artifact"", enchanted to slice through both physical and magical barriers alike. It was a deadly tool, and in the hands of the puppet, it was even more lethal.

I watched it disappear into the distance, my mind already preparing for the next steps. If the puppet succeeded, I could escape this place with one less enemy to worry about.

...

Meanwhile, Stacie Sharpe had gathered enough strength to move again. She had stopped the bleeding from her more critical injuries, using quick spells and potions to stabilize herself. Her body was still aching, but her sharp mind remained focused.

She could sense the target's presence not far away. If he had made any real attempt to escape, she wouldn't have wasted time tending to her wounds. But he hadn't fled—at least not yet.

As she rose from the ground, her instincts flared. Something was wrong. A chill ran down her spine, and before she could fully process the sensation, she felt a presence closing in on her from behind.

Without hesitation, she whirled around, her reflexes sharp despite her exhaustion. Just as she turned, a flash of cold steel met her eyes—a black dagger, its blade shimmering with a dark, unnatural gleam, was inches from her. The weapon sliced through the air with lethal precision, aimed directly at her heart.

Stacie barely had time to react. With a sharp intake of breath, she raised her arm to block the strike, summoning a quick protective barrier. But the force behind the attack was immense—more than she had expected.

The dagger clanged against her defense, sending a powerful shockwave through her arm and forcing her to stumble back a few steps.

""Tud!"""

The impact was so strong it left her momentarily stunned. She looked up to see the figure now standing before her, its movements eerily smooth and robotic. It wasn't human, though it had the form of one—a puppet.

A ""Zero Puppet"", designed for one purpose: to kill. Its soulless eyes glinted in the dim light, and its entire body radiated a cold, calculated menace. The knife in its hand wasn't ordinary either—it was a ""dagger artifact"", likely enchanted to break through most magical defenses.

Stacie's heart raced as she realized what she was up against. This puppet wasn't weak. Its strength was on par with hers, perhaps slightly lower, but still enough to pose a serious threat in her current state. Each of its strikes was precise, fueled by a relentless, inhuman determination. There was no hesitation in its movements, no sign of fatigue.

The brute force behind its attacks took her by surprise. She had faced many enemies before, but this puppet didn't fight like a wizard or a warrior. It fought like a machine—cold, relentless, and with no fear of death. Stacie gritted her teeth as she was forced back, her feet dragging slightly as the puppet advanced, its dagger ready to strike again.

Shock registered in her mind.