Striking
The black-haired acolyte had a silver chain coiled around his waist, and from time to time there were blue lightning sparks igniting between his hands, making a crackling noise.
"Haha… Jayden, I mentioned it before. One day you will land in my hands!"
The black-haired acolyte laughed wildly. With the wave of his hand, a blue streak of lightning faster than supersonic directly landed on Jayden's armour of vines.
* Sssii! *
Jayden was sent flying, as if a train had knocked into him, and crashed onto the ground forming a large hole.
"How is it? Where is the arrogance back then when you stole my piece of lightning core?"
The black-haired acolyte taunted, before casting another spell at Jayden. It opened a gap on Jayden's body.
The green vines had a huge opening now, revealing Jayden's skin. A large patch of his skin was charred, and Leylin could faintly catch a whiff of barbeque smell.
"Don't think a broken magic artifact can save you!"
It seemed like the hatred the black-haired acolyte had for Jayden was not small, as his glee in seeking revenge was shown on his face.
"A.I. Chip! Inspect Jayden!"
Leylin did not dare to scan the black-haired acolyte and chose the severely injured Jayden as his target.
[Beep! Jayden. Strength: 1.9, Agility: 2.7, Vitality: 2.1 (3.5), Spiritual force: 3 (10.8). Status: Mild injury. Paralysis!]
No matter how much the opponent taunted him, Jayden did not speak a single word. He only used an icy gaze to stare at his enemy.
"Not good! Jayden is also a level 3 acolyte now with a magic artifact, but he actually could not beat the opponent!"
Leylin's thoughts quickly surmised.
Leylin was attracted by Jayden's name to this place out of curiosity but did not intend to risk his life for him.
To tell the truth, if Jayden's enemy was not strong, Leylin would have struck as Jayden had disclosed information to him previously. But now the enemy's strength seemed to be extremely strong, and Leylin was somewhat hesitant.
"A.I. Chip! Inspect the target's data and calculate the winning rate in a battle!"
Leylin ordered.
[Beep! Mission establishing, beginning fight simulation….]
The A.I. Chip calculated rapidly and came to a conclusion. [Host's winning rate is 77%. Possible scenario: Death of the target, light damage to the host!]
"This probability is rather low!" Leylin's brows furrowed.
"Look! There are really people there!"
Just was Leylin was hesitant, the voice of a female travelled over. It was extremely familiar, and Leylin even heard the alluring pants of its owner not too long ago.
On the other side of the battlefield, Bicky and another female acolyte came over.
"It's Bicky! Why would she come here?"
Leylin inhaled deeply. He suddenly felt that things were going to be extremely troublesome.
"There is someone fighting. Ah! Senior Jayden!"
The female acolyte with Bicky recognised Jayden, and she seemed to have some affection for him. Once she saw him injured, she hurried over.
"A girl? Your friend?"
The black-haired acolyte's brows furrowed and suddenly clapped. "You brought me shame by stealing my possession. Today I will return it in multiple folds to you. For instance, claiming this woman right before your eyes…."
The black-haired acolyte sniggered lecherously, and his hands moved and fluttered like a butterfly.
* Sssii! *
The blue lightning of snake continuously formed on his hands and transformed into a metal chain.It pierced the fireball casted hurriedly by the female acolyte, and knocked her to the ground.
"Molly!" Bicky was frightened, and she hurried over too.
"This idiot!"
Leylin helplessly shook his hand as he got up.
He still harboured some feelings for Bicky, and would take a risk for her under the circumstances that his life was not threatened.
Of course, his largest assurance was the winning rate that the A.I. Chip provided him!
If the A.I. Chip's calculation did not give him such a winning rate, he might have chosen to leave. After advancing into a rank 1 Magus he would then return and seek revenge for Bicky.
Furthermore, Leylin was completely unwilling to help if he had to pay the price of being critically injured or even death to win.
On the other hand, if it were only some mild injuries, Leylin felt that Bicky deserved his help.
"Actually, deep down I am an extremely rational, not to mention unfeeling and apathetic person!"
Leylin scoffed at himself and hurriedly moved, closing the distance of a dozen metres and held onto Bicky.
"Don't go over!"
"Who… Are you?" Bicky gave a puzzled stare to the guy in front of her.
Leylin's Shapeshifting spell was still in effect and even his voice was altered through potions. Therefore, Bicky did not recognise Leylin at all.
"A person who has come to save you!" Leylin's voice was hoarse, and directly locked gazes with the black-haired acolyte.
"An interesting insect. It was you who was hiding in the corner earlier, huh?"
The black-haired acolyte clenched his fist, as blue lightning coiled around it, emitting sparks every now and then.
A few bolts of electricity were shot into the ground, and each exploded, creating many small holes. The shattered stones and mud flew up beside Leylin, and were blocked by his acolyte's robes and soon fell back to the ground.
"An electric element acolyte and it also seems like his affinity towards it is rather high!"
Leylin gradually withdrew the cross blade hung on his waist, "This will be a tough battle that I never had before!"
To prevent Bicky from recognising him, he could not use some common methods used by Potion Masters. He could only use those that he learnt when he left the academy.
"However, this is also the best chance to test my abilities! Back then in Extreme Night City, Murphy and the rest were all people who had retired, and their battle abilities were rubbish! As for the acolytes in the market, I could not strike, if not I would have become their sworn enemy!"
And this acolyte in front of his was obviously strong in his academy.
Leylin licked his lips and suddenly felt a strong battle desire surging from his chest and spreading to his four limbs. He could even hear the blood which was rapidly coursing, and made his eyes a little bloodshot.
This was a man's hot bloodedness and desire for battle!
"Haha… Look what I found? Merely a level 1 acolyte who dares to draw a sword against me?"
The black-haired acolyte sneered and his expression became colder and more resolute, "Kiddo! I will give you one last chance. Hurry and kneel to the revered Lord Torash and admit your wrongdoing, and beg for my magnanimity! On account of my good mood, I may even pardon your sins…."
* Shing! *
In an instant, a silver arc of light flashed. It crossed the distance of a dozen metres and struck at the black haired Torash.
The silver arc of light materialised into a cross blade which brought on a heavy killing intent. The aura emitted from it even pressed down on the grasses.
The black-haired Torash had a startled expression. Suddenly, several green runes formed by lightning appeared underneath his leather shoes and crept to his thighs.
As if under some stimulation, Torash jumped backed several metres and avoided the attack.
* Bang! * The cross blade landed and slashed a cross shape hole on the ground.
The grey shadow flashed, and Leylin appeared at the original position of the black-haired acolyte. He gripped the cross blade in his hands and put on a regretful expression.
With some lingering fear, Torash touched his face and felt a gash, which was several centimetres deep, on it.
Although Leylin's attack earlier did not strike the opponent directly, the force it brought already caused a gash on his face.
"So fast! If not for the hastening lightning rune my professor gave me, I might have been a corpse already!"
Very soon the fear subsided from Torash's face and it turned into a contorted expression of rage.
"You… You actually dare to harm the mighty Lord Torash, I'm going to kill you!"
However, his rage did not muddle his mind. Although Torash's expression showed that he couldn't wait to kill Leylin, he retrieved a scroll from his waist sack.
"I admit that your speed is extremely fast. You should, at least, have the physical ability of a Knight, right? But so what? Although a Knight's body is stronger than a regular human and is not afraid of steel swords and large axes, it is just meaningless under a magician's spell!"
* Sssii! * Torash pulled the scroll open, and an icy cold spell was activated, covering the whole of the battlefield.
Countless white mist condensed in the air, turning into ice and spread across the land.
The surrounding temperature decreased by dozens of degrees. Bicky pulled the friend on the ground to the back of Leylin. Her body shivered as she looked at Leylin's back, obviously grateful and puzzled at the same time.
Although she had no memory of this person, Bicky had a strong feeling that she knew this strong person who had suddenly appeared in front of her.
"Who exactly, are you?" Bicky looked at Leylin's figure, her expression complicated.
At this moment, Torash's scroll had finished its activation. With him at the heart of it, the domain of several hundred metres was covered by frost. There were even a layer of snow and ice on the trees and plants as if it was the coldest period of winter.
[Beep! Host is affected by frost. Speed is estimated to decrease by 43%] The unfeeling A.I. Chip's voice intoned.
"No matter how fast a Knight is, as long as his speed is rendered useless, then it would just be a sitting duck, waiting on a dining table to be feasted on!"
Looking at Leylin's figure whose hair and brows have already been frozen in ice, Torash smirked. "I can slightly alter this spell. The frost on you is definitely more at a lower temperature than the two girls. How is it?"
"A pity!"
Leylin felt rather regretful in his heart. Looking at the spell formation of this acolyte's shoes and the scroll, he knew that Torash had a high attainment in spell formation. If not, it would mean that his professor was an expert in this area, to be able to customise this spell for Torash.
Leylin really wanted to sit down and discuss alchemy and runes with him, but alas, he was just being delusional.
Activation
Leylin clenched his fist tightly — the hand grasping the sword hilt was clearly somewhat stiff.
His face appeared pale and petrified as if he had gotten frostbite.
One must know that Leylin had a vitality of 3.7. If it was any regular human, they would have long since frozen to death!
"I don't have any intention to go against you. As long as you let go of those two girls, I will leave immediately!"
Leylin used the cross blade and pointed at Bicky's direction, in return for her grateful gaze.
"No! Get him to release senior Jayden, if not I'm not leaving!"
The girl beside Bicky, who was saved, still maintained her resolve.
Leylin rolled his eyes, if not for Bicky; did she really think that he would appear in the name of justice? Moreover, looking at the situation again, Jayden had apparently deeply offended the other party previously, so why would he let go of Jayden so easily?
As expected, after listening to the female acolyte, Torash's gaze turned frostier, and immediately he waved his hand. A thick and long lightning streaked across the sky, directly landing onto Jayden.
* Bang! * The vines on Jayden's body fell and he fainted. Moreover, his whole body turned into a black colour, as if like a pile of scorched rubble.
"My apologies, I don't wish to let anyone present go today!"
Torash waved his hands.
According to the A.I. Chip's detection, although Jayden's outer appearance seemed to be terrifying, there was still a life force pulsating in him. Therefore, Leylin did not bother anymore about him. Instead, Leylin was more cautious about this acolyte in front of him.
"A Lightning element is indeed one of the stronger powers. Although Jayden's magic artifact belongs to an attack type with minimal defense, he was still defeated so quickly! No, it could be that the other party had been toying with him the same way a cat would with a mouse!"
"Now, it is my turn!"
Torash, who was on the other side charged directly at him and brandished a short black staff in his hand.
"Hng! Trying to be mystifying!" Leylin snorted and used the cross blade to slash at him.
* Peng! * The two weapons clashed. Under the frost effect, Leylin speed unavoidably took a slower turn. The original mirage effect could now not be used by him, where Torash caught dozens of his sword slashes.
Leylin's strength was obviously higher than his opponent, and his cross blade was of superior quality to his opponent's short metal staff.
After the two weapons clanged, Leylin used the force in both his arms and pressed the sword down on his opponent.
"Hehe… Your strength isn't too bad!"
Although the blade was just centimetres away from his face, there was no fear on Torash face. Looking at Leylin, his gaze held some ridicule and… the savage thrill of retaliation?
Leylin felt something was amiss, and hurriedly let go of the cross blade as he jumped away.
In that very moment when he released his hands, several bolts of lightning extended from Torash's arms and shot at the cross blade, even up to Leylin's hands!
In the moment when the lightning current was about to hit him, Leylin forwent his sword and evaded the attack.
"Too late! Torash looked at Leylin's figure and chanted an incantation.
The current from the staff directly bore through the mud and extended like the root of a tree. In the blink of an eye, it caught up to Leylin.
* Zzzii! "Once the black lightning landed on the ground, it reappeared from the ground right in front of Leylin.
As if a poisonous snake, the blue lightning charged at Leylin.
"Ah!" Bicky who was on the other side involuntarily screamed and she clasped her mouth.
* Ping! * Suddenly, a layer of silver membrane appeared on Leylin's body.
This layer of membrane immediately draped over Leylin's whole body covering every inch, even his orifices were not left out.
On the silvery membrane, there were several pale reflections of flickering red jewels, giving off a mystical lustre.
The blue lightning took on the shape of a python with a crazed leer and opened its jaws. Lightning-made razor-sharp teeth directly bit on the membrane.
* Sssii Sssii! *
A similar sound to metal smashing porcelain was heard, and the ear piercing noise travelled across the whole battlefield. Bicky involuntarily covered her ears, to let her nerves calm down.
The lightning on Leylin's body exploded, and from time to time a few poisonous-snake-like lightning currents converged and let off an explosive noise.
Looking on, Leylin seemed to be a silver statue, who was receiving the blessings of lightning bolts.
The lightning attack lasted for close to thirty seconds before it dissipated.
There was a shocked expression on Leylin's face as he looked at the indication given by the A.I. Chip.
[… Host is subjected to Lightning-based attacks. Degree of power: 9! Fallen Star Pendant has automatically activated, energy consumed: 23.99%. Host has successfully blocked the attack and sustains no injuries!]
"Too careless!" The opponent's lightning could actually pass through normal physical materials. Moreover, it could use the layer of frost on the ground as a conductor to initiate the attacks!
Leylin looked at his hands. Knowing that his opponent excelled in the Lightning element, Leylin had already put on leather gloves before the battle.
However, the hands that gripped the cross blade earlier were still rather numb.
There was also a precursive condition for the Fallen Star Pendant to be activated. Leylin had customised it to activate only when his life was in peril. Otherwise, any raindrop from the sky would activate the Fallen Star Pendant and finish the consumption of energy in the magic artifact.
Previously, because Leylin had let go of his sword early on, the damage from the electric current to his body was extremely little. It was not enough to achieve the criteria to activate the Fallen Star Pendant.
Of course, due to the conductivity, the lightning was too fast, and Leylin still received an attack from it in his hands.
At last, Leylin backed away and under his opponent's chase, he suffered a 9 degree lightning attack. If he did not defend further, his life would be in peril. Hence, the criterion for the activation of Fallen Star Pendant was achieved, where a layer of membrane immediately appeared from his body.
The Fallen Star Pendant's defense could negate attacks up to 15 degrees. This is to say, if Torash attack could not exceed this degree, Leylin's body was like a turtle shell until the energy of the Fallen Star Pendant was depleted.
"How is this possible?" Gazing at Leylin who seemed injured, Torash's mouth was opened widely, enough to fit several duck eggs in it.
"This is an attack my professor has personalised for me. It complements with my affinity and my degree of attack is at least 9! How could you be fine?"
"I understand now! You definitely must have a defensive magic artifact on your body!" Black-haired Torash pondered and quickly understood the truth.
"Although it is only a low-grade defence magic artifact, there will definitely be many official Magi who will be interested in it…."
Torash licked his lips and a fervent greed appeared on his face.
For this bloodbath, both sides signed an agreement not to use any strength that was above an acolyte!
Any person, scroll of magic artifact which exceeded this criterion would be teleported out in a flash and had no chance of getting in the secret plane.
Although Leylin's magic artifact was precious, it still belonged to the low-grade series.
In Leylin's eyes, these low-grade magic artifacts had might below that of official Magi.
Any rank 1 spell's degree of attack was 20 and above. If Leylin used the Fallen Star Pendant to block against them, he would definitely be slain immediately, not leaving a trace behind.
However, amongst the acolytes, the Fallen Star Pendant was a divine item!
Furthermore, even an official Magus would not mind having an extra layer of defense, no matter how small it was. However, the defence from Fallen Star Pendant was activated from the pendant and did not affect the owner in one bit.
The value of a low-grade defence magic artifact was at least 5 times that of Jayden's attack type magic artifact!
Which is to say, right now, besides the A.I. Chip, the most valuable thing that Leylin had was this magic artifact!
"Kill him! Kill him! Then that magic artifact is mine!"
Torash's eyes turned bloodshot, "Even if it is a magic artifact, there is a limitation. Once it's depleted of energy, before the next recharge, it would be a piece of trash! However, could I last until that long?"
"Even if I'm unable to keep him here today, I can gather other students to chase after him… Wait a minute, maybe there is a better idea?"
After seeing the Fallen Star Pendant, Torash did not harbour any hopes of holding Leylin here today. However, the flames of desire slowly invaded his logic.
Suddenly, Torash saw Bicky who was behind Leylin and his eyes flashed as he made a proposition.
"You! You are very concerned with the green-haired girl behind right?" Torash questioned, "Don't deny it; jumping out to save her is the best proof!"
"So what?" Leylin's brows furrowed.
"Give me your magic artifact, and I'll let her go. Not only that, even Jayden and the other girl, I'll let them go too!" Torash licked his lips.
"Haha…." After hearing that unexpected speech, Leylin shook his head.
"Yes! I can't keep you here today as you have the magic artifact. However, I can definitely retain the green haired girl, and even kill her…."
Torash changed his words to a threat.
"Please do!" Leylin stretched his hands and gestured.
"You… Why would you…." This reply made Torash extremely shock.
"I only have some involvement with her, which is why I wanted to rescue her. If the loss is too great, however, then it wouldn't be worth it! Furthermore, after I lose this defensive magic artifact, how can I still be able to haggle with you?"
Leylin looked at Torash with ridicule in his eyes.
He deeply understood that towards people making threats, you must never show that you are extremely mindful of the thing in their hands. If not, you would be baited into more and more demands.
Even if Torash really killed Bicky today, Leylin would only seek revenge for her another day. Therefore, if he wanted to use Bicky to threaten Leylin, there were only two words for it: dream on!
Self-Destruct
"I don't believe you. You must have said it on purpose, didn't you?"
Torash's pair of cunning eyes flitted to the back of Leylin.
"Did you see that, after listening to your words, your little girlfriend is extremely heartbroken!"
"How lame!" Leylin did not even turn back.
"However, it's time to end this!" Leylin looked up the sky, and the light rays were even brighter than dawn.
Magicians were intelligent beings. By threatening Leylin, Torash only harboured a negligible hope. His main purpose was most likely to stall for time until other acolytes could support him.
The Abyssal Bone Forest Academy acolytes in the secret plane were at an extreme disadvantage. Now it was also the second day, and the enemy acolytes would have already gathered. Once Leylin was discovered, a scene of calling and shouting for him to be killed would happen.
At that time, the innumerable spells which could cover the sky and earth would rain upon him. Even if Leylin had the Fallen Star Pendant, its energy was limited.
"What end?"
A few ingredients appeared in Torash's hands, as he stepped several steps backwards.
"Of course, it is to end this silly game!"
Leylin's eyes flashed and chanted an incantation.
* Sssii! * A reddish-green gas spread across upon the icy ground.
When the frost and a thin layer of mist came in contact with the red gas, the temperature of the battlefield rose immediately by a few degrees.
As for the green mist, it continued to spread across the field. The visibility lowered immediately, and one could not see beyond a 3 metres radius.
"This is a spell I specially prepared for you, Flaming Cloud of Afterlife!"
Leylin spoke softly. Earlier when he exchanged senseless sentences with the opponent, he was actually wildly using the A.I. Chip for calculations. Furthermore, he set up the field, planting various types of ingredients in it.
"Just a mere corroding gas!"
Torash disdained it. On his whole body, there raged a blue current. If one described the current on his body as just a thin layer before, now it could be said to have already expanded to be 1 centimetre thick.
"Go!" Torash pointed, and the blue current directly charged into the reddish-green mist.
* Sssii! *
Where the electricity went, the reddish green gas evaporated, revealing the area around it.
However, Torash's smug face was not maintained for more than a moment before it changed.
"This energy wave! You! You are not some level 1 acolyte, but a level 3 acolyte!"
From the centre of the reddish-green gas, energy fluctuations could be blatantly felt. His own electric snake was immediately corroded by the green mist. Furthermore, a trace of green colour continuously extended along the trajectory of the lightning towards Torash.
"No!" Torash gave a profound look to Leylin who was in the midst of clouds and mist and then simply broke into a run.
Leylin swung his arms and a green magic ring entirely enveloped Torash and he slowed down as if he was bound by chains.
*Sssii!!* A red-green smoky cloud spread close to Torash and it wrapped itself around his body.
The smoke grew denser and soon, Leylin could not even see Torash.
* Crackle! * Under the Flaming Cloud of Afterlife came the sounded of lightning and thunder sounds, along with Torash's cries of anguish.
Leylin smiled coldly. This Cloud of Afterlife had been modified by Leylin, and was specially inserted with the most conducive energy particles for the Lightning element. It could be said that it was the bane of all Lightning element acolytes!
After hearing the wails within the Cloud of Afterlife, and the noises of flesh corroding, a disturbed expression appear on Bicky's face.
"Argh! I'm going to kill you!"
A dozen seconds later, Torash charged out of the Cloud of Afterlife at Leylin, bringing a ball of cloud that clung to his body.
"Ah!" After seeing Torash's appearance, Bicky and the other acolyte let out a terrified scream.
At this moment, Torash was half-naked, with his clothing almost dissolved. On his body were many abscesses which were leaking with thick yellow pus.
One of his eyeballs had fallen out of its socket, held hanging there by a few bloody tissues still attached to it.
Along with a few missing pieces of flesh on his face, right now Torash looked like an imitation of Leylin's corpse from the previous world.
"Although acolytes can use energy particles to strengthen their vitality, such a strong life force is still extremely rare!"
Leylin stretched his hands, and a black wrist guard automatically extended its reach, finally turning into a black bow where a sharp arrow with a reverse spike was notched on it.
[Wind speed and humidity in calculation, adjusting trajectory!]
Under the aid of the A.I. Chip, right now Leylin's archery skills were that of a bow master.
* Chi Xiu Xiu!* Four arrows were shot from the bow and like black rays of light, streaked across the sky, directly penetrated through Torash's 4 limbs, nailing him to the ground.
"Urgh Urgh!" Torash struggled. The flesh on his body continuously fell to the ground, and it seemed that even his voice was now affected. Right now, he could not even voice a single word.
"We… Won?" Looking at this scene, Bicky's eyes looked somewhat bewildered.
"En! It's us who won, but there are still some things to do!"
Leylin notched his bow again and pointed to the girl beside Bicky, "What's your name?"
"Mo…Molly! Sir!" Witnessing Leylin using the Cloud of Afterlife to torture Torash in such an unthinkable manner, the female acolyte yielded very quickly.
"Very good! Molly! Go up there and take down the severed head of the enemy who tried to murder your friend!"
"No! You can't do this! Molly is still a kid! I! I will be able to do it for her…."
Bicky stood up.
* Xiu! * At the same time, an arrow shot past the fine hair beside her ears, flying to a distance behind.
"Do not countermand my orders. If not, the next arrow will be through your brain!" Leylin's eye flashed coldly, seemingly fiendish.
"I will go!" That female acolyte called Molly spoke up and Bicky turned silent.
"I like girls who are obedient!" Leylin nodded his head and used an arrow to point at Torash who was thrashing on the ground. "So then! Hurry and do it!"
The female acolyte gritted her teeth. She took out a knife which was embedded in jewels from her robes and walked forward. Looking on at Torash who was pinned to the ground on his four limbs by four arrows, her expression was extremely complicated.
It was this person, who was deemed as a potential Magus, a genius acolyte who possessed a magic artifact. However, right now his four limbs were pinned to the ground as if a dog that was waiting to be slaughtered.
This feeling extended like vines, spreading its reach in her heart. "Is this the taste of power? How great!"
Looking at the female acolyte raising her dagger, Leylin moved quickly and grabbed Bicky, retreating dozens of metres behind.
"Let me go, you sick pervert!" Bicky continuously thrashed.
From her aspect, this acolyte that Leylin shapeshifted into was a stranger to her. Yet he had an unthinkable power and he was extremely emotionless.
Earlier he said that he was rescuing her, yet in the blink of an eye he pointed an arrow at her and even fired it!
In Bicky's heart, right now Leylin was now a somewhat powerful madman.
Moreover, in the Magus World, due to problems occurring from experiment and meditations, it was likely possible that their mental state was affected.
Leylin shrugged his shoulders. After maintaining a distance away, he let go of Bicky.
At this moment, both their eyes were shining bright and staring at the female acolyte who was holding a dagger before Torash.
"Too rash! Too rash! The winning rate that the A.I. Chip provided earlier was not considered high. Moreover, it said that I could only kill this acolyte after paying the price of sustaining light injuries. However, right now he is just a piece of flesh on a chopping board! For me to butcher!"
"Unless… There are some unknown trump cards on his body!" Leylin's intelligent eyes gazed.
After holding the dagger, Molly looked in Leylin's direction again. Right now the arrow notched in his bow was still aimed towards her. She could only despair as she closed her eyes and pierced the dagger downwards!
"What a pity!" At this moment, Torash suddenly opened his eyes, revealing death and unresolved regrets in his eyes.
"I never thought that I would really use this move one day, much less to deal with a mere level 2 acolyte!"
* Boom! *
In his voice, countless lightning appeared from Torash's body. These lightning were extremely violent, and spread through Torash's body in an instant, even converging inward.
After the lightning had reached an extremely small dot, Torash's body suddenly exploded, with the noise of the huge boom reverberating throughout the area.
The sound wave continuously swept past everything, uprooting plants and sending pebbles flying.
"Be careful!" In the moment when the explosion occurred, Leylin immediately pulled Bicky to his side and smashed a potion on the ground – Trevor's Revolving Shield Potion!
At the same time, the Fallen Star Pendant on his neck also emitted a dusky glow.
Under the protection of the potion and the layer of light, the ground under Leylin and Bicky was not touched the slightest. It was even taller than the surrounding area of a certain length.
[Estimated target's degree of power: 16! spell type – Corpse Combustion: 45.7%, Electric Field: 34.5%]
Looking at the data from the A.I. Chip, Leylin finally understood how did the A.I. Chip come up with the winning rate.
Although he had the Fallen Star Pendant, it could only resist spells which were 15 degrees or lower. As for Torash's final self-destruct explosion, it was obviously at 16 degrees, which could break the defence of the Fallen Star Pendant and cause harm to Leylin.
However, the last hit was done by Molly, while Leylin distanced himself dozens of metres behind. Not only did he suffer little collateral damage from the explosion, there was even time to put up his defenses.
"However, a degree of 16 huh? It is already close to that of a Magus value, he is indeed a top acolyte from a large faction!"
Towards his dead enemies, Leylin never spared his praises for them.
"You murderer! Executioner! You knew long ago that the opponent would self-destruct, didn't you?"
Bicky who was in Leylin's embrace pushed him away, her pair of pretty eyes filled with tears.
The ground where Torash self-destructed turned into a large pit now; together with bits and pieces of clothing and charred flesh. In the explosion earlier, Torash and that female acolyte, Molly, naturally had died together. Even the remnants of their corpses were mixed together.
1 Versus 2
Hearing Bicky's accusation, Leylin only rubbed his nose, without saying anything.
Meanwhile, he was rejoicing from the bottom of his heart. He was fortunate that he had altered his appearance beforehand, if not, it would have been hard to face Bicky.
However, he could only do this much.
Leylin came and stood next to the large pit formed by the explosion, and a round badge fell near his foot. The originally bright and beautiful badge was now covered with dust and it also had some residual flesh upon it.
"Just from a look, it seems that this acolyte must be a genius in his academy! His badge, at the very least, would be worth 50 contribution points!"
Leylin was still contemplating the badge lying beside his feet, with some hesitation.
Now, this badge was under his foot; if he stooped down, he could then get it into his hand.
With it, Leylin's contribution points would be enough to exchange for one portion of Grine Water when the bloodbath was over.
He heard about the information regarding advancement into an official Magus from the vengeful spirit Roman and was rather hesitant in using such a method to breakthrough. However, the Grine Water was extremely valuable, and even if he did not use it, obtaining it and using the A.I. Chip to research on its composition was also a good idea.
However, the badges of a few extraordinary acolytes from Abyssal Bone Forest Academy and the opposing academies have been specially marked. As long as Leylin handed over the badge, it would be equivalent to admitting that he was the murderer of Torash!
Leylin would never forget that there is a professor standing behind Torash!
"Maybe, giving this badge to Jayden or Merlin is a good idea!"
Leylin stepped on the badge below his feet and smiled.
He had had a quick look earlier; Jayden had been knocked out at the border of the battlefield. Although he seemed to be in a miserable state, he managed to preserve his life, and there did not seem to be any life-threatening injuries.
"However, there are still two worms that I have to deal with!"
Leylin looked at the shrubbery at the side and suddenly flung two fiery red explosive potions at it.
* Boom! * The two test tubes collided in midair, creating a large flame which seemed to blanket over the shrubbery.
* Xiu Xiu! * In the moment when the flame engulfed the shrubbery, two black figures flew out from it, landing on an empty patch of ground.
Silver-Claw Saurun and another blonde acolyte looked at the pit where Torash self-destructed, their expressions grim.
"Torash, that lightning wielder, actually died by this fellow's hands. Oh god, this fellow is a monster!"
Saurun looked at the expressionless Leylin, his heart roaring wildly. Lightning wielder Torash, that was a monster whose reputation was not beneath that of his silver claw! Yet today he actually died by Leylin's hands, so what kind of strength did Leylin wield?
"If I knew he was that powerful, I wouldn't be this foolish to chase after him!"
At this moment, the feeling of regret slowly engulfed Saurun's heart.
"What should be done?" The blonde female acolyte looked at Saurun and cursed him inwardly when she saw that he was already of a mind to retreat.
"What else? We have to see if the opponent will let us go!"
Saurun waved his hands and bowed slightly to Leylin. "Respected acolyte who hails from Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, your strength has convinced me, and I, Saurun, will never hold any ill intents towards you in future…."
Towards Saurun's gesture of succumbing, the female blond acolyte pursed her lips but never spoke a word.
After seeing Leylin's might and brutality, even she was somewhat afraid!
As for the revenge of his fellow acolytes? Although the death rate of Whitewoods Castle and Sage Gotham's Hut was not as high as Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, but there were a few unlucky ones dying each month.
If Saurun and the blonde acolyte were to avenge every dead fellow acolyte, then they would definitely have to first massacre the acolytes within their academy.
The reason for following Leylin before was because they thought of him as a prey, and was prepared to play a good game with him.
But now, Leylin's ability had far exceeded their expectations, and his actions were extremely meticulous, yet brutal, which made them rather fearful of him.
"Is that so?"
Leylin did not agree nor deny, and kept the black bow in his hands. He also picked up the cross blade which he had thrown on the ground earlier.
"A pity! You should not have followed me!"
Leylin growled softly, at the same time chanting an incantation, and gave his cross blade a smear with his hand.
* Sssii! * The temperature suddenly dropped by a few degrees, and the frost continued to spread on the sword. In an instant, Leylin's cross blade turned into a transparent icy greatsword.
He managed to obtain this set of frost alchemy runes from the corpse of the half beastman previously, who was the close associate of Extreme Night City Lord. After storing it into the A.I. Chip, he also did an analysis on it.
At this moment, under the effect of the frost alchemy runes, the effect of the icy greatsword did not pale in comparison to a low-grade magic artifact!
"Light of the fallen!" After brandishing his greatsword in satisfaction, Leylin activated another magic artifact on his body.
* Peng! * A streak of an illusory glow was emitted from the Fallen Star Pendant, which engulfed Leylin's whole body. The silver-grey light slowly transformed into illusory armour, which protected Leylin.
At this moment, Leylin, in his silver armour of light, with a transparent greatsword, looked just like a Knight from the fables!
The A.I. Chip's reminder continuously sounded in Leylin's head, [Under the effect of the frost runes, estimated degree of attack with the cross blade is 3 to 5, also carrying the side effect of an ice attack! The entire defense in the Fallen Star Pendant is activated, energy consumed is depleting, estimated to be fully depleted in 15 minutes!]
"We have no choice but to fight!"
Saurun and the other female acolyte looked at each other in the eye and saw the viciousness reflected in their expressions.
From Leylin's performance, it was clear that he was not inclined to let them go, so no matter how they pleaded it would be meaningless.
Moreover, they were also geniuses with their own pride. They may not fare better in a 1-on-1 fight against Torash, but in a 2 against 1 situation, even Torash would have had a headache from fighting them.
"I'll stall him first; you prepare your formidable spell!"
Saurun said to the female acolyte and immediately reached out with his right hand.
At this moment, the silver skin on his right hand shimmered and transformed into scales. His fingernails extended and curved downwards, the sharpness bringing a cold glint. His whole silvery human palm turned into silvery beast claw!
A bloodthirsty tint emerged in Saurun's eyes as he stepped forward to shield the female blonde acolyte behind him.
As for the female blonde acolyte, she continuously drew out ingredients from her robes as she chanted, from time to time using a dagger to cut her skin, dripping her fresh blood on the magic ingredients.
A strong magical energy wave gradually formed around the female blonde acolyte.
"How interesting. A close combat with a far cast, this is indeed a good combination!"
Leylin laughed manically and charged forward.
* Bang! * With the effect of Leylin's Knight qualities, Saurun only saw a grey blur and could only instinctively reach out with his razor claw.
* Peng! * The frost greatsword and the silver claw clashed. An icy, bone-chilling cold permeated to the silver claw, extending onto Saurun's body.
"So fast!" Saurun retreated several steps and hid the silver claw behind his back.
Borrowing the concealment of his sleeves, there was a layer of frost which slowly climbed up his arm, until the point of his elbow.
"Haha…. Great! Again!"
Leylin roared wildly, once again brandishing the greatsword and charged forward. Sensing the faint aura about him, Saurun couldn't help but close his eyes, with a notion of wanting to submit to Leylin.
"Cross Blade Slash!"
Leylin hollered, the frost greatsword drew a beautiful cross. What was different from the previous energy wave was that the Cross Blade Slash now had formed a layer of ice which was sent chopping towards Saurun.
"Argh!" Saurun's eyes were bloodshot as he gritted his teeth and raised the silver claw before his body. The scales on the silvery claw quickly extended and took on the form of a small shield to block the attack.
* Chi! * The greatsword made a huge dent in Saurun's silver defense. Not only were there white ice forming, the chilliness also permeated the area.
* Pu! * Saurun revoked his silver shield, but now, upon his silvery right hand, there were two deep wounds through which bones could be seen and a sheet of cold ice blocked this wound from bleeding.
An icy-cold sensation continuously spread within his body and Saurun was aghast upon having discovered that already his right hand was feeling numb as if it had lost all sensation and that his body movement had also become more and more restricted.
"Die!"
Leylin unhesitatingly brought the sword to Saurun's neck in order to behead him.
"No!" bellowed Saurun, waving the stub of his left hand. His left hand had by now turned silver and the fingertips had a faint blackish tinge and he aimed a stab at Leylin's abdomen.
Within the academy, all the apprentices knew that Saurun's achievements in Transfiguration far exceeded that of other similar disciples and that his right hand could transform and become a sharp, incomparable killing machine.
However, all of the acolytes were deceived by Saurun. His left hand was the real trump card!
Not only could he use beast transfiguration for his silver-claw attack, it even had a Shadow and Toxic element that Saurun had paid a high price for. As long as the poison were to be smeared onto the opponent's skin, even an official Magus would be in trouble!
On the brink of death, Saurun adopted a fighting method that would result in both parties being severely injured, for the sliver of a chance at survival!
* Peng! *
Leylin's expression was grim as he allowed the razor sharp claw to scratch his body. At the same time, the frost greatsword swung down mercilessly as it severed Saurun's head from his neck.
Slaying The Two Acolytes
* Peng! *
Saurun's head, an unresigned expression upon the face, flew several metres far in the air, and finally fell to the ground. His both eyes were opened wide; he was no longer able to close them.
His headless corpse was still kneeling in front of Leylin and blood poured out from it continuously.
The corpse's left hand was still extended — it was his misfortune that it was blocked by grey radiant armour, a few inches away from Leylin's body.
"With the defense of the Fallen Star Pendant, I don't have to fear most of the acolytes' attacks. Along with the frost runes' enhancement of a greatsword, combined with my Knight's abilities, it is one of the top strengths amongst acolytes!"
Leylin was very satisfied with this battle's outcome.
Saurun was only an acolyte who was slightly less inferior than Torash. When Leylin, however, used his techniques, he could not withstand even a few rounds before being completely defeated, even with his head being chopped off.
"It's your turn now!" Leylin kicked Saurun's corpse away and charged towards the female blond acolyte.
"It's completed!"
At the same time, the female blond acolyte exhaled, as if shouldering a huge burden.
A bright red flower unfolded its petals and revealed a green rock the size of a fist. It had a dazzling gleam, with the female blond acolyte's fresh blood that was sprayed on it. There was also a broken half of a dagger, which was thrown on the floor.
These 3 items faintly resembled a triangular formation, with many greyish power runes surrounding them.
As Leylin's charged forward fiercely, the female blond acolyte smirked and pointed at Leylin, "By the name of Memphis Rofar Maginent, of the Gigantic Binding Sprite from the abyss, the person that I point to will lose all ability of motion!"
* Weng Weng! *
Light began to shine from the triangular formation, and Leylin suddenly felt a huge binding strength engulfing him, which made him rooted to the spot.
"A spell like this? A human customised spell?"
Leylin continuously writhed and the sounds of shackles sounded from the void.
"There is no cause for you to resist further. These are the chains of the Gigantic Binding Abyss Sprite. No matter how many of them you break, the remaining amount would not only regrow, but the binding power will also be doubled!"
As the female acolyte spoke, Leylin felt the chain getting tighter and tighter around his body.
* Chi! * The silver glow from the Fallen Star Pendant continuously clashed against strength from the void, time to time producing white mist.
"You despicable maggot, the shameless murderer, you dared to killed the acolytes from two of our great academies, so I will grant you death to redeem your sins!"
The thrill of revenge and smugness filled the face of the female acolyte. The muscles on her face contorted, turning the once-beautiful face into an extremely loathsome one.
"You dared to kill Saurun; I will make you pay the price of blood!"
The female acolyte pointed at Leylin, "Strength deprivation!"
As she spoke, Leylin felt the strength in his body dispersing. In an instant, it was as if he changed from a Knight into a regular human infant.
"This feeling, have I been cursed?"
Leylin continuously struggled, "Such a measly curse, how can it make me bow my head!"
"It all has ended!" The female acolyte chanted in an incantation, "Flames of the abyss, cremate this sinner into ashes!"
As soon as the Byron language incantation had been uttered, a black fire suddenly blazed from below Leylin's body.
The flame continuously spread, engulfing Leylin's whole body in an instant.
* Peng! * The frost greatsword on Leylin's hands fell onto the floor. The icy shards shattered and broke into many pieces. Finally, even the refined metal blade of the cross blade melted under the black red flames, turning into a puddle of liquid metal.
* Chi Chi! *
The grey armour on Leylin's body started to give in, and the A.I. Chip wildly flashed its alert in front of Leylin's eyes, [Warning! Warning! The energy from the Fallen Star Pendant is rapidly decreasing. Currently left with: 45%. Estimated to be fully depleted in 34 seconds!]
"Ignore it and release all the energy within the Fallen Star Pendant in one go!" Leylin ordered.
"Weng Weng!" In that moment, the silver-grey light increased its radiance by a dozen times. Behind his back, there was an indistinct huge cross phantom. On the upper area of the phantom cross, a few jewels continuously gave off multi-coloured light as a wave of energy extended to Leylin's limbs.
"Break…for me!"
Leylin struggled with all his might, and suddenly, crackling and rattling sounds could he heard from his body, and the countless black-rune-inscribed chains became visible and broke from all the struggling done by Leylin. They then fell to the ground and vanished.
"It's your turn now, you disgusting whore!"
Leylin's figure flew like a gust of wind and appeared directly in front of the female acolyte.
"Im…Impossible, how did you manage to counter it?" shrieked the female blonde acolyte and she pointed her finger at Leylin. Then several basin- sized fireballs directly struck Leylin's body.
* Boom! * The flames exploded, burning with the previous black fire, as it extinguished very soon.
Behind the silver grey transparent armour, Leylin was unscathed.
"No! No!" The female acolyte fell onto the ground and crawled backwards.
Leylin kicked the green rock and dagger on the ground, breaking the spell formation.
Two streams of red fluid trickled down from the female acolyte's nose, even her tears were falling.
"No! Don't kill me! My mentor is…."
The female acolyte snivelled continuously as she crawled and spoke.
"I don't care who you are!" Leylin's expression appeared indifferent as he embraced this blonde woman.
The Fallen Star Pendant kept defending his body from the abyss black fire that was still burning on his body, but this female acolyte obviously did not have a similar layer of defense. Upon being the barbecued by the flames, she gave an ear-piercing shriek.
* Sssii! * The flesh of the girl dropped, chunk by chunk, onto the floor, turning into a pile of charred mess.
Finally, the originally beautiful female acolyte turned into a blood red skeleton. Moreover, the set of bones slowly melted, turning into a white liquid which dripped onto the floor
Leylin grimaced and with his hand, he swept away the remainder of the white bone liquid that were on him.
After which, as if he were changing his clothes, he 'took off' the grey armour.
As for the black red abyss flame on the grey armour, it was also removed.
"In the legends and tales told by the bards, the abyss fire is something which can burn the void. An existence that all children of the earth cannot resist! This is most likely just a projection of the true abyss fire— it does not have even one zillionth of the original's might. If not, I would have long turned into ashes!"
Leylin thought for a while, before returning to the original place. He then recorded all of the ingredients and the spell formation that the female acolyte used before roaming the battlefield to collect his spoils of war.
* Peng! * The unconscious Jayden was tossed before Bicky.
Although the battle earlier was extremely intense, the time that had passed was extremely short — so much so that Bicky was still in shock.
"Hurry and leave this place. The energy waves from earlier would attract many acolytes over. If you don't wish to die, hurry and leave now!"
Leylin cleared his throat and looked at Bicky who nodded her head before he left the place.
Looking at the back of Leylin, Bicky's expression was extremely complicated.
This person was here to save her. Moreover, the strength that he possessed was far above that which Bicky could imagine.
Lightning Wielder, Silver Claw, they were all impressive and notable acolytes from the opposing academies. However in front of that person earlier, they were as weak as a sponge when they pleaded and was slaughtered mercilessly.
"But. . . exactly who is he?"
Bicky blinked her eyes. Merlin, Leylin, Fayle and the others, all of the acolytes' images flashed past from her memory, yet she felt helpless as there was no such person in all of the acolytes that she recalled that resembled her savior.
However, her instincts told her that she definitely knew this person and that they had an extremely intimate relationship!
"Magi are reputed for their rationality. Such a thing like instinct will lower our judgment. Everything has to be proved beyond refutation…."
The sayings of an elder surfaced in her mind.
Bicky's expression was seemingly vacant as she gritted her teeth and poured a potion on Jayden's face, before she,too, left that place.
Although Jayden was Molly's idol, she was now dead. Naturally Bicky wouldn't risk anymore for Jayden.
Minutes later, Jayden opened his eyes and got up.
"What happened to me? Where is Torash?"
Jayden was at a loss, before the colours on his face changed. Touching his chest, he felt for the magic artifact which was still resting in his arms. Moreover, when he ensured that his sack was present, only then did he heave a sigh of relief.
"This is the aftermath of an intense battle! Who is it that saved me?"
Jayden scratched his forehead, before thinking of a girl's figure who had dashed towards him, "Was it Molly? Such a terrifying battle, I wonder how she is…."
"Here!" Footsteps sounds drew closer and very soon 2 acolytes appeared within Jayden's vision.
"An acolyte from Abyssal Bone Forest Academy! Kill him!"
After seeing Jayden, the two acolytes let off an excited howl and began to prepare their rank 0 spells.
Jayden sighed, before bringing out his magic artifact once again…
Leylin was, by now, dozens of miles away from this battlefield. He was settled in a cave, checking his spoils.
Those 3 acolytes were well known for their strengths. Furthermore, the ingredients and magic crystals that they carried with them were plentiful. They gave Leylin a total of tens of thousands of magic crystals and other valuable resources.
Leylin felt the surface of a black red diary cover, and he exclaimed in glee, "This aura is rather similar to the female acolyte's abyss fire!"
Leylin flipped open the diary and a mysterious rune appeared, "A.I. Chip, compare to database!"
[Beep! Mission establishing, comparison in progress! Similarity level to Abyss script: 98.7%, Purgatory script: 45.3%….]
"Abyss script?" Leylin had a headache. Characters and knowledge from these mysterious planes were top-secrets and the knowledge was not passed around. He only managed to understand a few runes from derelict pages of a book in the library and stored them into the A.I. Chip database.
"No matter what, it is a good spoil!"
Satisfied, Leylin kept the black red diary in his possession.
Conclusion
What followed next was the most valuable loot this time around.
Leylin looked at the pile of items in front of him and muttered irresolutely to himself.
There were a few broken items, a dagger which had been broken into half, the remnant of a silver palm, with an incomplete silver necklace, with lightning flashing time to time.
The 3 acolytes who died under Leylin's hands were the potential Magi of the enemy academies, so how could they not have magic artifacts on them?
It was a pity, however, that the broken dagger from the female blonde acolyte was only used to summon the aura of the abyss, and Leylin was still unable to figure out how the other items were meant to be used.
As for Silver-Claw Saurun, he was totally a pervert, who actually infused the magic artifact into his own palm.
Leylin could only chop the whole palm down, to try to separate the various properties in the magic artifact.
As for Torash, the magic artifact on him had also destroyed itself, which was the reason why he could unleash an attack of 16 degrees at the end.
The probing of magic artifacts was an extremely dangerous task. Before further information, Leylin did not dare to risk and use these items.
Moreover, who knows if there were some booby trap laid within the magic artifacts by the enemy, thus Leylin felt that he should be more cautious.
If he discovered that they might cause trouble to him, no matter how much Leylin was reluctant to part with them he would still toss them away within this secret plane.
After all, he did not wish for an official Magus to notice him.
"Actually, there is still a magic artifact that can be easily obtained! That is the green vine badge on Jayden's body!"
Leylin saw Jayden use this magic artifact on the dirigible before, back when he used it to suppress Kaliweir, leaving a strong impression on Leylin's memory.
However, this badge was given to him by Professor Dorotte.
As for Dorotte, he was an official Magus in Abyssal Bone Forest Academy. If Leylin snatched an enemy's magic artifact and hid in the academy, he might be safe. However if he took Jayden's, then Leylin wouldn't be able to stay in the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy anymore.
During the academy's critical moments, if the news that he was still causing harm to fellow acolytes got out, then Leylin's name would be equivalent to the despised street rat, in the Magus World.
He would not lose his rationality for just this little benefit.
"There is this also!"
Leylin flicked his hands, and two differently shaped badges appeared in his hands.
This were the badges of Saurun and the female blonde acolyte. Although they were weaker than Torash by a little, but it was still worth at least 20 to 30 contribution points.
"At first, I'll just hold onto these. If I'm able to find other badges in future then I won't exchange these!"
These two badges were Leylin's insurance. If he was able to collect other badges in the secret plane to accumulate 50 contribution points, then he wouldn't use these.
However, if the contribution points were not enough, then Leylin had no choice, and could only hand over one of them or both.
As for Torash, Leylin felt that his strength was of great importance to his academy and the person backing Torash would have spent enormous efforts in nurturing him and so it was better to not provoke him.
...
Two days passed.
The wilderness found outside the secret plane was lit up with a bright yellow color. From time to time, there were gusts of wind blowing granules of sand, and the living organisms on the ground avoided this place at all cost — even the moles and ants were not an exception.
The entrance to the secret plane was slowly shrinking as if it were a live animal.
Outside of the entrance, the 3 chairmen and all the professors looked at the entrance that was constantly glowing with varying colours and had different expressions on their faces.
Siley looked at the silver hourglass floating in midair. On the upper half of the hourglass, beads of golden sand trickled downwards, finally leaving behind a thin layer.
* Di! * With the passing of time, the final golden bead of sand trickled downward.
"The time is up, let us receive our acolytes!" Siley opened his mouth and spoke in a low tone.
"Are you extremely anxious?" Guru who was at the side smirked, "Every minute more that passes, one acolyte in Abyssal Bone Forest Academy will be slain. Their heads will become the glory of my Sage Gotham's Hut, and hung on the large gates…."
"At this moment, the secret plane might no longer have anymore Abyssal Bone Forest Academy acolytes. We all know that once the acolytes from the two academies have gathered, Abyssal Bone Forest Academy's acolytes would be meat on a chopping board for us to slice, and is not even equivalent to a lamb.
The other blonde women smiled — but her smiled seemed somewhat malicious.
"Nicola, you still can't let it go?" Finally, a trace of expression surfaced on Siley's face, and it seemed to be – regret?
"I have long since forgotten the matters from the past!" The female blonde woman Nicola said with a frosty expression.
"You can seek revenge for the matters previously, but once you are bent on destroying this academy that I succeeded as a professor, then you will be my eternal nemesis!"
Siley's face too gradually hardened.
"Haha…Haha… You are still as arrogant as before, thinking that you are the main character of some novel, which the earth would revolve around you indefinitely!"
"However such an expression makes me want to puke!" Said the blonde woman as her eyes appeared to emit flames.
"I want to destroy your life's work, destroy the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, even if there is the Lighthouse of the Night mediating, this time, there is still the next time…."
"Enough!" Guru at the side interrupted Nicola.
"Earlier you stopped me and Siley from fighting, but why is it that you can't endure it now?"
"My reason for stopping you was because I want to take action myself!" Nicola's maniacal look grew even stronger.
"Enough!" A dense black colour descended, and covered the sky in an instant.
Amidst the darkness, there was a bright yellow light that came from within, revealing a figure that was wrapped in black robes.
"Sir!" The three chairmen bowed.
They were only rank 2 Magus, yet this person in front of them was a true rank 3 Magus! Every level in the Magus World had an obvious difference like that between the sky and earth.
Previously, it was this Sir that suppressed the 3 of them to mediate the war.
"Since my Lighthouse of the Night has already stepped in, any conflicts that arise after is deemed as a provocation to us, as the contract and date are still effective."
The black-robed man had a pair of dark green eyes. No matter if it was Siley or the other 2 chairman, if these eyes landed on them, they would shudder as if being trapped by some magical beast.
This feeling of imminent death finally brought Nicola out from her madness.
"From now, activate the spell formation, and receive the acolytes within the secret plane!"
"Yes, Sir!"
* Peng! *
A fiery explosion erupted, and set the acolytes behind Leylin on fire, turning them into ashes.
Leylin's footsteps did not stop as he continued to escape.
"It's him who killed Seet, Kroc, and Old Eagle, don't let him escape!"
Behind him, parties of Sage Gotham's Hut and Whitewoods Castle acolytes were formed, a standard party of seven, which continuously gave chase.
Leylin's pursuers gradually drew closer.
* Peng! * Leylin flung another two explosive potions again, where flames continuously extended behind him.
The acolytes yelled and Leylin drew a longer distance from them.
"Damn it!" Leylin's face was downcast.
After killing the 3 acolytes previously, Leylin began his hunting movement all alone again.
At first, it was rather smooth sailing, where he collected another level 3 acolyte's badge. This time, he specifically chose those who were rather old or those with no powerful items on them. They were those who seemed not able to advance further and had no strong backing behind them.
During the later half of the second day, all of the enemy camp acolytes had already gathered and formed group spell formations!
All of them were performed by level 2 or 3 acolyte groups. If their numbers were sufficient, even a rank 1 Magus had to seek retreat temporarily.
Leylin had no choice, so he could only conceal himself and stop his hunt.
With the detection of the A.I. Chip, he managed to successfully hide until this day.
Things went according to how he had predicted: after the acolytes had gathered, they formed smaller squadrons and made a thorough search of the secret plane. They maintained a wanting-to-kill-every-last-enemy posture.
Many Abyssal Bone Forest Academy acolytes were immediately killed, and under the opponent's immense pressure, they could not even resist.
Leylin even saw a level 3 acolyte who carried a magic artifact, but that acolyte could only survive for a few more minutes under the spell formation. Afterward, he was ripped to shreds by the countless rank 0 spells that befell on him. Even the magic artifact became the trophy prize for his opponents.
Leylin could only extend his sympathisation to this fellow acolyte, and covered his tracks even more covertly.
Fortunately, the methods of magicians were extremely strange, and the opponents were only two academies who could not completely be harmonious amongst themselves. This gave the acolytes of Abyssal Bone Forest Academy a chance for survival!
After Leylin estimated that time was almost up, he immediately ambushed a small party, since he was one badge short of his goal.
According to his estimation, once he kills the opponents, then the time would be up, where he would even be teleported out and not need to face the group's counterattack.
"F*ck! This lack of punctuality will have people killed!"
Of course, Leylin wouldn't expect that the time would be delayed due to the enmity of the chairmen, which resulted in an error to his calculations.
After killing one of the level 3 acolyte, he was immediately surrounded and attacked.
"The Fallen Star Pendant's energy was fully consumed the last time and I have not recharged it. If not I could have escaped long ago!"
Leylin gritted his teeth and gave an order, "A.I. Chip! Detect the geographical area and calculation the best retreat route!"
[Beep! Mission establishing!]
Along with the A.I. Chip's indication, Leylin began to make various unexpected ducking movements amidst the dense forest, slowly pulling the distance further away from the pursuing acolytes.
"I have finally escaped!"
After running for over a dozen miles and shaking off his pursuers, suddenly he felt dizzy, and the badge pinned to his chest glowed resplendently.
"F*ck, the teleportation is finally here!"
Murderer Identified
The badge on Leylin's chest emitted a fluorescent light.
Leylin's entire body was then engulfed by a layer of this light and was lifted off the ground as he began to involuntarily rise into the sky.
Floating at a distance within the light bubble, Leylin saw other acolytes in distant regions also floating in the same manner; they looked like stars strewn across the sky.
"This is really a beautiful scene!"
Leylin couldn't help sighing in appreciation. His hand touched a badge and holding it he said, "There is no force felt from this badge, it seems that the pulling force of the badge only works on those acolytes who are still alive. If that's the case!"
Leylin waved his hands, and 2 badges that belonged to two level 3 acolytes was tossed out of the light bubble.
These two badges had, at one time, belonged to Silver-Claw Saurun and the female blonde acolyte. Since Leylin had already collected sufficient badges, he would no longer keep these two with him.
"I also have this thing with me!" said Leylin, as he withdrew an iron chain that had an electrical current and also threw that away.
After a thorough examination by the A.I. Chip on this destroyed magic artifact, there was a hidden spiritual force within it which kept pulsating — it seemed that this force had a tracking ability. If Leylin were to bring this item with him, then the professors of the enemy academy would know immediately that he was the one who had killed Torash.
As for the other items taken from the acolytes — the half dagger and the shattered palm — there were no problems if he brought them back with him. They were carefully placed within his rucksack.
"The final procedure!"
Leylin smiled heartily, and removed the Shapeshifting spell.
The muscles on his face contorted, as his height continuously grew. Very soon, Leylin resumed the state of his original appearance.
"I have been acting inside the secret plane with this disguise, where no one had seen my true appearance!"
"I'm afraid after I exit, the enemy academy would wildly search for an acolyte that doesn't exist?" After thinking of the probable scene in the future, he could not help but smile.
"Right now, I am Leylin Farlier, an ordinary Potioneering acolyte!"
...
Looking at the dazzling rainbow coloured exit, Leylin's smile widened yet even more….
With much effort, Leylin managed to suppress the dizziness that came abruptly and did not vomit.
"The feeling of crossing planes is not a great one!"
"Hurry up and move, don't block the way!" A cold voice sounded right beside Leylin's ear.
Leylin hurriedly bowed and left the place.
Only then, did he take a look at the surroundings.
Outside the exit of the secret plane, it looked the same as before. The 3 academies were divided into a triangular formation where they faced each other. Sage Gotham's Hut and Whitewoods Castle members stood closer together, and faced the common enemy, Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, in unison.
As for now, acolytes continuously swarmed out from the exit, returning back to their respective professor's side.
"Who is that person?"
Leylin saw a black robed man ahead of the 3 chairmen. He couldn't help guessing the person's identity.
*Shua!* But now, because the black-robed man felt Leylin's unwavering sight upon him, he turned his head around and looked back.
He immediately glanced upon a pair of dark green eyes.
The surrounding world was as if it had been suspended in time; everywhere one could see only green.
The acolytes and professors around Leylin seemed to turned into jade statues where no signs of life could be observed.
Leylin strove to open his mouth, but he found no words coming out of his mouth.
"Leylin! Leylin! Leylin!"
The surrounding statues suddenly opened their mouths, chanting Leylin's name.
"What is happening?" Leylin roared within his heart, but not a single word could be spoken.
* Peng! Peng * The dark green sculptures began to move and green dust constantly fell off of them. Their eyes had become red-colored, as if the sockets had been embedded with rubies.
...
Countless green statues swarmed around Leylin, drowning him….
"Argh!" Leylin suddenly regained consciousness and panted heavily.
"What happened earlier?" The surrounding acolytes now seemed to be doing fine, yet Leylin did not dare to look in the direction of those chairmen again.
"Relax, son!" A pair of hands with a medicinal scent covered Leylin's head, emitting a white glowing light.
"Professor Kroft!" Leylin bowed deeply. Under the white light, he felt much better.
"Was it you who saved me?"
"I did not exactly 'save' you, only a small favour." Professor Kroft smiled and led Leylin back towards their academy's gathering area.
"Official Magi always have a defensive force field surrounding them. Moreover, most of it are instantly activated or have a permanent effect. As for higher ranking Magi, they have an even stronger force field encircling them at all times. An ordinary acolyte cannot even get close to them!"
Kroft explained for Leylin.
"Just now, that Magus from the Lighthouse of the Night did not do it intentionally; he just looked over this side and immediately many apprentices got caught in a hallucination. If a professor wasn't here, then I would have been. . . "
Kroft's expression slowly turned stern, "Leylin, before you turn into an official Magus, remember to steer clear of any high ranking Magus! If not, I would not even be able to imagine your end…."
"I'll keep that in mind!" Leylin's expression was extremely solemn as he nodded his head.
Only a slight glance had almost cost Leylin his life, which left him a lingering fear. Moreover it had resolved his determination to climb up in the ranks of the food chain.
"I don't wish for my soul to crumble immediately in the future just because a high ranking Magus crosses my path in the future. This would really be a grievance!"
Although higher ranking Magus could exercise restraint on their forcefields, it would mean that they were showing their softer side. Leylin could not imagine anyone doing that for him.
"Alright now! Welcome back son!"
After healing Leylin, Kroft revealed a sincere smile.
"Being able to see you again is really great!" Leylin also smiled as he hugged his professor.
At this moment, only then he had time to view the casualties in his own academy.
Due to the teaming up of the other two academies, a huge number of Abyssal Bone Forest Academy's acolytes had perished previously in the war. Right now it seems that Abyssal Bone Forest Academy suffered an even more severe casualty count.
At this moment, behind the professors, there was only a few scattered acolytes standing behind him. Most of them carried injuries with a gloomy expression.
"Leylin!" A pleasantly surprised voiced sounded in his ear.
"Bicky!" Leylin smiled warmly and hugged the curvaceous and beautiful Bicky.
"Very good. I still believed in you…." Tears welled up in Bicky's eyes.
It seemed like she was worried about Leylin but that she did not know he was the mysterious man who had saved her before.
Leylin took another look at Bicky and was rather surprised when she was actually not injured the slightest, only that her mental state did not seem to to be in the best condition. He could not help but feel so as even if it was a level 3 acolyte from Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, under the oppression in numbers from their enemy, they may not be able to protect their lives.
As if seeing Leylin's bewilderment, Bicky spoke on her own accord, "I met Molly right after entering. Also, I met with an extremely powerful enemy acolyte, but a stranger saved me. After that, I met Fayle and it was him who kept me by his side, so I was able to live up till now.
Bicky pointed at an acolyte behind a professor.
Leylin looked over, and it was indeed Fayle who he saw before. After a span of 3 years, he seemed to be even more mature and had more charisma.
With a level 3 acolyte protecting her coupled with some luck, it was probable that she could survive. Leylin nodded his head and did not ask further.
After casually exchanging a few sentences with Bicky, Leylin looked at the secret plane's exit. Most of them were enemy acolytes streaming out, where very few Abyssal Bone Forest Academy acolytes came out. Leylin sighed inwardly, "It seems that this time Abyssal Bone Forest Academy suffered a great loss. I'm afraid that there will be a scenario where Abyssal Bone Forest Academy would have more professors than acolytes period of time.
* Peng! * At this moment, another acolyte walked out from the exit.
This acolyte wore the grey robes of Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, and had several holes in them. Injuries seemed to riddle his body and there was even traces of blood. Moreover, an arm was missing.
"It's Jayden!" Leylin's pupils contracted.
Towards magicians, missing a limb was no big issue. There were various and mysterious spells which could regrow their limbs.
Jayden braced himself and walked several steps forward. After seeing his professor from Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, he smiled and fainted immediately.
* Shua! * A white figure immediately appeared in front of Jayden and caught him.
After the white flash stopped, Leylin saw the appearance of the Magus within – It was a skeleton with an underworld flame in its eyes!
"Professor Dorotte!" Leylin called out the name of this set of bones.
Previously, it was Dorotte who led Leylin into Abyssal Bone Forest Academy. Moreover, he was Jayden's mentor and even gave Jayden a magic artifact. It seemed like he doted on Jayden rather much.
"Alright! After my detection, there are no more surviving acolytes inside the secret plane. Seal the exit!'
The black robed figure standing before the 3 chairmen spoke.
Once he spoke, the 2 camps sank into deep silence, before the murmuring and sighing noises sounded incessantly.
"No! Where is my Torash? He is definitely still inside!"
"Silver-Claw Saurun? Hurry and come out! He is a genius acolyte, how could the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy manage to defeat him?"
...
"Morphis! Morphis, where are you?"
Constant cries were heard from the enemy camp.
And the Abyssal bone Forest Academy's party seemed to have already expected this. Although the numbers of dead acolytes were many, the reactions of all professors were much lower than what Leylin had expected.
Even for the Potioneering talent Merlin, his responsible Professor (Kroft) only let out a soft dismal gasp upon receiving news of his death.
"Torash! Torash! I left spiritual force coordinates on his body; he should be present amongst us here!"
On the opposite side, a blue bearded old guy yelled madly, following which he chanted an incantation.
* Bang! *
A bright blue beam of light drifted floated above Jayden who had fainted. Within this light an indistinct badge of an acolyte could be seen .
"Argh! No! My Torash! I will kill you!"
The expression on the face of the blue bearded old guy contorted, where a massive thunderstorm appeared midair above him.
"Torash's power, when compared to this, is absolutely rubbish." Leylin gulped, and suddenly felt extremely lucky.
Grine Water
"Inside the secret plane, one must take responsibility for themselves in the bloodbath; do you wish to violate the agreement?"
Under the massive thunderstorm, Dorotte stood up with many faint silver beast claws on his back.
"Enough!"
The black-robed figure standing in front of the 3 chairmen spoke, and a gigantic dark green hand grabbed at the sky. * Weng Weng! * The massive lightning was immediately scattered by the giant hand.
"I have said before to abide by the agreement!" The black-robed figure growled.
At the same time, the blue-bearded geezer spurted a huge mouthful of blood. Anger was quickly replaced with fear as he knelt down, "Sir, please forgive an old man, who has just lost his nephew, with your magnanimity!"
"Just this once! If not, I will extract your soul and roast it in the abyss for ten thousand years!"
The black-robed figure spoke again.
The blue-bearded geezer then went back to his academy's camp, before giving Jayden a vicious look.
This hatred and determination of killing Jayden gave Dorotte a headache. Crackling and rattling noises could be heard from the skeletal figure.
"Although this time nothing has happened, Jayden will definitely be pursued by Blue-Beard unless he keeps hiding inside the academy!"
Leylin's eyes turned cold.
Earlier, the A.I. Chip picked up several traces of energy waves from spells.
Obviously, it was the search for the enemy who had killed their genius acolyte! If Leylin were to still keep those items that carried their traces, his outcome would now be the same as Jayden.
Those professors who had had their personal apprentices or successors killed by the other party — who was also their sworn enemy — swore they would make the killer pay with their blood!
As for the casualties of the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy,they were not considered because the other two academies were facing many more losses.
Although they were bound by the agreement and vigilance of the Lighthouse of the Night, as far as Magi were concerned, if they were to pay the price, they could indirectly find a way to exact their revenge!
For example, not taking action themselves, but suggesting to Magi outside of the agreement to act on their behalf. The black market was also an option worth considering.
...
Late in the night, Leylin returned to his resting area and laid down on his bed. In his hands was a faint yellow test tube that he kept on toying with.
The test tube was made of faint yellow crystals, and its density was extremely high. Holding it in his hands, he sensed a rather heavy feeling.
These crystals were made from a precious ingredient – Nitrogen Crystals. Any spell that was 20 degrees or lesser would not be able to damage it.
Using these Nitrogen Crystals to make a test tube — this was often used to store potions which were more valuable.
According to the olden texts, test tube made from Nitrogen Crystals were known to have preserved the contents even after a thousand years.
Within the faint yellow test tube, there was a ball of translucent liquid.
Leylin casually swirled the test tube. Under the refraction of the light, the liquid within gave off a rainbow-coloured glow, as it continuously whirled, seemingly beautiful.
"This is the Grine Water of the myths which could aid acolytes to breakthrough into an official Magus!" Leylin looked at the test tube and muttered.
Earlier, under the suppression of the Magus from Lighthouse of the Night, the chairmen of Sage Gotham's Hut and Whitewoods Castle had had no choice but to bow their heads, then leading their acolytes away.
Even Torash's professor was not that stupid to offend the high ranking Magus for the second time.
As for Leylin and the rest, they were led back to Abyssal Bone Forest Academy by their professors.
Leylin intentionally glanced and saw that at this moment the acolytes in Abyssal Bone Forest Academy did not amount to over 50.
As for any regular academy, they would have thousands of acolytes!
One can say that Sage Gotham's Hut and Whitewoods Castle had accomplished their mission by almost swallowing the entire batch of successors in Abyssal Bone Forest Academy; if it were not for the fact that a few of their genius acolytes had perished inside the secret plane!
Even so, they originally had 200 acolytes enter the secret plane. Yet in the end only about a hundred came out from it.
Compared to Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, this was considered a great victory.
"However… All these have nothing to do with me!" Leylin looked at the potion in his hands that seemed like an illusion.
"What matters is that I got the Grine Water! Moreover, the academy has an anonymous exchange policy, which is extremely thoughtful for its acolytes!"
On the way back to the academy, Leylin and the fortunate surviving acolytes were told about the contribution points they obtained and the details of it, where they can undergo the exchange privately.
Furthermore, the person that was in charge of the exchange was an alchemy beast created by the chairman with no human feelings whatsoever, so it wouldn't reveal the acolytes' exchanges.
One can say that although Abyssal Bone Forest Academy was extremely bloodthirsty, where there was a strong culture of the strong eats the weak, towards the protection of acolytes with true strength and abilities, they still did a rather good job.
Leylin only barely managed to scrape 50 contribution points, exchanging for a standard amount of Grine Water.
As for the catalogue on the contribution points exchange list, there were various precious ingredients, rank 1 spell models, and even spiritual force Potions. Looking on, Leylin felt overwhelmed by it.
At that time, deep down Leylin had some regret over not taking the few genius acolytes' badges along with him.
However, after seeing Jayden with a gloomy expression, Leylin very soon buried this tinge of regret deep inside his heart.
Although Torash's badge was worth at least 50 contribution points, which could be exchanged with many resources, the look that other acolytes had when they saw Jayden was full of pity.
Incurring the wrath of an official Magus for these resources, was it really worth it?
Moreover, the other professors did not know of their apprentices' scores, yet Dorotte knew Jayden's amount of contribution points like the back of his hand. Before anything else, at the very least, half of Torash's contribution points would be taken by Dorotte.
After all, he defended an opposing rank 1 Magus for Jayden!
"Before becoming an official Magus, it is best to maintain a low profile. There won't be anything wrong with that!" Seeing Jayden's outcome, Leylin steeled his heart with this resolve.
His senior Merlin was a great example of this.
Merlin's achievements and talent in Potioneering could be said to be extraordinary. If not for Leylin cheating by using the A.I. Chip, he would definitely be left far behind in this aspect.
But so what?
It was due to Merlin's reputation that made his enemies concentrate their attacks on him, finally causing him to die during the secret plane's bloodbath.
No matter how genius an acolyte was before they manage to grow strong, they weren't even comparable to a pebble on the road.
As for Leylin, he always created the false image of being inferior to Merlin, allowing Merlin to attract the attention off from him. He successfully managed to divert his enemy's attention, so there were very few that bothered about him inside the secret plane.
"However, this trick will not work for the time being!"
Leylin toyed with the Grine Water in his hands, his face gradually turning solemn.
The surviving acolytes after the bloodbath amounted to less than 50, which was even less than the number of professors.
Moreover, all survivors will be deemed as elites!
Under these circumstances, greater attention will be paid to any acolytes!
Leylin did not have any confidence whatsoever to try anything funny for the fear of being discovered.
"Perhaps, I should make a trip outside. Previously, Roman spoke of the high-grade meditation technique. If I found it, it would definitely be much better than the Grine Water…"
Previously, before the Fallen Star Pendant was completed, Leylin had managed to swindle much information from that vengeful spirit, Roman, regarding the information of high-grade meditation technique left behind by the Great Magus Serholm.
According to Roman, the inheritance of Great Magus Serholm was located inside the Dylan Gardens of the Zither Moon Mountain Plains.
Magi who used high-grade meditation techniques were definitely stronger than Magi who used the Grine Water to breakthrough! Moreover, more potential would be realised, revealing more possibilities for future development.
Leylin wanted to climb to the apex of the Magus World. If he wished to have the potential for future advancements, using the Grine Water to breakthrough would be his last resort.
Thinking of the Fallen Star Pendant, Leylin removed the silvery grey cross from his neck.
On the surface of the cross was embedded with various colours of gemstones, which looked to be an impeccable art piece.
However, right now the gemstones on the Fallen Star Pendant seemed to glow dimly, as it had undergone a huge consumption.
[Fallen Star Pendant: Low-grade magic artifact. Effect: Instantly cast a defence. Current condition: All energy consumed, 0%]
The A.I. Chip showed the stats of the Fallen Star Pendant to Leylin.
Fallen Star Pendant — it was the item that attributed the most to Leylin's survival and killing the geniuses of the enemy this time.
The instantaneous layer of defense that the silvery cross radiated, no matter if it was physical of magical resistance, had reached a very high degree. Few below the ranks of an official Magus could penetrate its defenses.
However, in any world, the law of conservation of energy must be fulfilled. Every time the Fallen Star Pendant was activated, it required a consumption of energy. Once the energy was fully consumed, it wouldn't be anything more than a pretty necklace!
"The Fallen Star Pendant's defence is rather good, only that the energy is not enough!"
Leylin felt somewhat regretful, "A.I. Chip! Establish mission. Apart from the calculation ability for the Host, use all remaining computation abilities to find out ways to conserve the energy of the Fallen Star Pendant!"
[Beep! Mission establishing! Beginning to use idle processes to calculate, time is unknown!] The A.I. Chip's voice intoned.
Leylin nodded his head and came to the experiment at the side. He placed the Fallen Star Pendant in the centre of a mysterious spell formation. Around it, were many blue glittering stones.
"Activating process of recharging!"
* Weng Weng! * With the command of Leylin, faint blue light beams shone from the formation. Starlight was extracted from these stones and placed into the Fallen Star Pendant.
[Fallen Star Pendant recharging in process, current state: 1%….] The A.I. Chip's voice intoned.
The recharge of the Fallen Star Pendant actually only required for starlight to be shone on it. As long as it was bathed in starlight when the energy was fully consumed, the Fallen Star Pendant would automatically complete the recharging process.
However, in the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, wanting to bathe it in starlight was an impossible task. Thus, Leylin could only use other methods to conduct the recharging process.