The Remorans including Toran Fiore moved to follow the stranger. Because of this, the number of spells that the Remorans could cast was reduced. They were high-level mages, but casting high-level spells was still difficult, especially when moving. If this continued, it would surely create an opening that could be exploited.
But! Was there really no way to avoid such?
Of course, there was! And the Serans have been doing their best to do just that. They upped their tempo, patching up the openings that the Remorans themselves revealed.
They were not completely oblivious about the person's intentions. A lot of them were experienced and knew the fatal weakness in their strategy.
The battle was being dragged longer which was the perfect scenario for Solare Samo.
Not long after, the rings that bound Solare finally lost their glow. With a forceful roar, he broke free. He didn't dally and immediately started catching up. The fight was taking place a bit too far, but he was confident that he would make it in time. Dragon Wings! The burst of flames pushed him forward with great momentum. The Serans in front saw him and quickly adjusted.
Truth be told, all of the mages there had their hearts stuck in their throats ever since the fight began. They just forced themselves to be calm so they could still make rational decisions.
A single person capable of fighting toe to toe against more than 50 high ranking mages?! How scary was that?
Well, it wasn't impossible. Kyrie Maxwell, the famous late bloomer that became an SS-rated mage, was able to do it.
But how come no one knew about the one they were currently fighting? And how come he used magic that no one was familiar with?!
The stranger was insanely terrifying!
Thankfully, General Samo was still there to help. His appearance greatly improved the morale of the mages fighting at the forefront.
"Don't drop your guards!" Solare Samo yelled. He made subtle commands to slightly alter the formation without exposing any openings.
The fact is, the only reason why they could be so brash and fight against the powerful stranger head-on was because he just used two high-level spells in quick succession. One to defend from a large scale attack, and one to destroy their formation. Actually, he used two more, but only Solare knew. He was surely weaker now compared to earlier. So before he recovers, they should seize the opportunity.
The stranger running away was enough proof that their strategy was working. He couldn't even focus enough to cast some minor offensive spells. All he could do was dodge and defend.
Perfect.
It was time for him to get his revenge! Solare enchanted his weapon and charged. His weapon crashed heavily on the buckler of light conjured by the stranger. Again, and again, and again!
The stranger had long since realized that it was the person who first attacked him, though he did not seem to be surprised by his reappearance. He calmly defended, his eyes shifting from one mage to another to rapidly assess the situation. Then, suddenly, his eyes locked onto a single person.
Seeing this, Solare Samo's eyebrows furrowed. Someone had caught the man's attention and was distracted. He instinctively seized the opportunity and attacked with a high-level spell. He started the incantation for Dragon's Retribution!
The flames enchanting Solare's armor left their vessel and formed three dragon heads above him. With a swing of his sword, all three heads rained down on the stranger.
Since Solare was already a hundred percent sure that his attack would land, he gave a glance towards the direction that the man was previously looking at. There, he saw Toran Fiore preparing a spell, and he was immediately enlightened.
Before a spell is released, unless you knew the spell that corresponded to the incantations that a mage was reciting, there was no way of telling what it was and what it would do. However, in the current set up wherein they were up against an enemy that they had to subdue or prevent from moving, it was obvious that the spell Toran was casting was for sealing or binding.
Solare Samo analyzed all of these in a split second. While his flames were burning the enemy.
He was so relieved that he was able to seize that small opening that the stranger revealed. Because, if he wasn't able to do so, for sure, that stranger would do everything he can to stop Toran Fiore from casting such a strong disabling spell like a cornered animal. And dealing with cornered animals was the most problematic.
This should be enough for Toran Fiore to finish his spell, Solare thought. Just to make sure, he still followed up with another attack. A low-level binding spell to buy a little bit more time! Burning Cage!
The flames around him warped to create a massive burning sphere, the stranger locked inside. For a person such as the stranger, it wasn't difficult to break that kind of binding spell. But its main purpose wasn't really to hold him down. It was to obscure his vision.
No one had been using a similar spell earlier because it also hindered them as well. The enemy couldn't see you, but you couldn't see the enemy as well.
This time, however, was different.
It didn't matter if the other mages couldn't see the stranger. The only thing that mattered was for Toran Fiore to see that burning sphere so that he could release the spell he was casting successfully. There wouldn't even be a need to look at the stranger afterward. To be exact, they wouldn't even see the stranger anymore.
Toran Fiore clapped his hands together, signifying the end of his incantation.
Thousands of thin obsidian spikes emerged from the ground. They were tilted at an angle and were rising at an extreme speed. If they all crossed each other, they would soon create a black pyramid, sealing the stranger inside.
This spell was on the same level as the sealing magic: White Turtle. But because it was used in such a small area, it was very condensed. It would probably lock the stranger up for years!
Everyone eased up. It was over. Something completely unexpected happened. Thankfully, they were able to stabilize it pretty quickly.
Or so they thought.
From a small gap between hundreds of obsidian needles, through the burning flames, a single strand of thin white lightning shot towards Toran Fiore, hitting him accurately on the forehead.
This attack was so subtle that only a single person was able to see it. Everyone else remained oblivious to it.
The sealing spell was completed. The stranger was trapped.
But, Toran Fiore collapsed.
Solare Samo himself was shocked and confused. He immediately looked at the obsidian pyramid to make sure that the spell had been completed. And, for sure, it was!
Did Toran Fiore burn out his magic reservoir? Impossible! Not that quickly!
Solare was still thinking about all the possible explanations as to why the principal suddenly fell unconscious when a huge explosion erupted practically next to him. Millions of black rocks shot through the air, hitting him countless times.
Dust billowed, covering the pyramid.
Then, fifty-some rays of light shot towards the sky from the dust cloud. Based on their tails, they probably originated somewhere near the pyramid.
Near the pyramid?
Solare Samo felt a bad premonition.
The rays of light suddenly curved. Then, they started raining down on the mages all around.
Solare was not an exception.
He immediately jumped towards the side to avoid it. Just when he thought he was already safe, another ray of light shot from the dust cloud. This time, it wasn't aimed towards the sky. It was heading straight towards him at an unimaginable speed.
He was still mid-jump! Moreover, the distance was too close. There wasn't enough time to dodge. Ignite!
Solare used a low-level spell just a few inches above his shoulder. It created a small explosion, altering his direction mid-air. He was obviously hurt by it too. It was an attack spell after all, but at least it saved him from his dilemma.
The ray of light missed Solare. It even bent slightly to try and chase him. But since the tiny explosion pushed him down towards the ground, he was able to regain his footing immediately. He tilted his body, dodging the attack by a hair.
However, that simply wasn't the end of the enemy's assault.
A person flickered into existence right in front of Solare…
"You?!" Solare Samo yelled in disbelief. The stranger with white hair stood calmly in front of General Solare Samo. It turns out, it wasn't reinforcements. It was the same person attacking them.
Solare just dodged an attack. He wasn't in a position to attack, nor to defend. He could only look at the stranger with an expressionless face as he gently placed a hand on Solare's chest. On his heart.
His hand started glowing.
Solare Samo could already feel the shadow of death loom upon him. But the only thing in his mind at the moment was the replay of how the stranger closed in on him.
He just… appeared.
It was definitely Teleportation. But how was such a spell possible? It didn't match a particular element. At that moment, Solare realized something and inwardly chuckled. The man was already using strange magic. What was that? Light? Haha! One more weird one shouldn't be too shocking, no?
Solare Samo closed his eyes and resigned to his fate. He regretted how he wasn't able to protect his men, his people, and most importantly, his family. He could only pray to Hecate for their safety.
The hand gently pressing on Solare Samo's chest started heating up. Strangely though, it was comforting.
Bzzt….
Screeee!
The stranger turned his head towards the right. A glowing white spear whistled through the air and was heading straight towards his face. For the first time, an expression of worry appeared on his face.
There was no time to dodge…
The spear hit.
His hand released a ray of light, destroying Solare Samo's right chest.
Right chest! The spear connected right before the ray was released. The stranger's body shot sideward. Naturally, his hand moved too. Thus, his aim was thrown off.
The ray missed Solare's heart!
"You can't party without me, can you?" a familiar voice entered Solare's ears. He was badly injured, and he could barely hear anything. But that voice… it was too distinct. Maybe because he shouldn't be hearing it at the moment.
A man with a head full of white hair entered Solare's fading vision. The man was thin, but he gave off an aura of danger. On his right hand was a glowing white spear. The man's stance gave off a frightening feeling.
Because he resembled the continent's God of War, Devon Morgan.
It can't be, right? Solare Samo thought as his consciousness was slowly slipping away. That man couldn't stand anymore.
Solare was still having his doubts when he saw that destructive white lightning that surrounded the person.
It was really him.
Devon Morgan.
"Don't kick the bucket just yet," Devon said before leaving Solare's sight.
Solare Samo's ears finally lost their function. So did his eyes.
He fell unconscious.
….
Solare Samo touched his right chest. It was there. It was already healed. Subconsciously, he sighed.
Montis Leroux saw this and remained silent. He could tell that the general was recalling something unpleasant. He turned his face away. If only he was able to join that battle… that battle three months ago. He might have been able to do something. The outcome might have been different.
"Don't worry too much about it," Montis comforted Solare, "the principal will recover soon."
"I hope," Solare replied.
Montis left the room.
Solare continued staring out the window.
….
Five months later.
"Thrain, remember, don't get too close! We need to avoid being seen at all cost," a muscular man in his late twenties warned as he ran beside another person.
The man named Thrain scoffed and harshly replied, "You're too scared, aren't you, Jax? If you are, just go back. This mission isn't for pussies."
Jax was annoyed, but he didn't answer back. He was clear-headed, unlike a certain someone. He was not scared. He was simply following orders!
Based on the two's attire, they were obviously mages. However, their short cloaks were quite unusual. Their cloaks had no insignia that represented their family.
It wasn't really illegal to wear such cloaks, but it was usually misinterpreted as the mage being ashamed of the family he belonged to. So, it was considered a bad practice. Not wearing a cloak at all, although you were missing out on a material you could potentially enchant, was way more acceptable in their society.
The two were focusing ahead of them when the earth slightly trembled. The activity was faint to the point of being undetectable. Normally, it would've been. Thankfully, the pair had an earth mage with them.
"I detected an activity. Two o'clock! The earth shifted," Jax reported.
"Copy," Thrain replied.
The mages immediately adjusted their direction. They weren't quite sure what's there, but it was a part of their job to know, so they went to find out.
Not even two seconds passed by when Jax detected another activity. He was about to report it to Thrain when he saw a huge boulder streaking through the air. The report became unnecessary.
"What the fuck?" Thrain said as he looked at the boulder snap dozens of trees.
Thrain and Jax were put on high alert. They eyed the direction from whence the boulder came from. The two soundlessly concealed themselves behind a bush.
Their movements were subtle. It was obvious that they underwent strict training! And it was naturally so.
For they were spies.
One minute passed...
Then two…
But there was nothing.
Thrain and Jax looked at each other and shared a conclusion. The "thing" that pushed that boulder was probably gone. It wasn't able to detect them.
Good, then they should just...
"Hey, guys! Do you know which direction I should take to get to Sera City?"
…
…
Thrain and Jax didn't move an inch. A voice suddenly came from behind them.
Fuck!
The two knew that they were screwed.
It was their first time being deployed as spies, and they already fucked up!
But, they could not accept what just happened! They didn't hear anyone creep up behind them. Jax didn't even notice any footsteps, and he was quite sensitive to it! How come someone was able to sneak up on them?
They looked at each other once more and communicated. It wasn't the time to argue. Instead, they needed a plan. In flash, they came up with one.
They would move at the same time!
It was a solid plan. Jax waited for Thrain to blink, the signal for their attack.
"Don't worry, I'm a friend!" the voice said gently. Though his voice was a little hoarse.
Friend my ass!
Thrain blinked.
The ground shook.
The temperature dropped.
Each casted their own defensive spell.
An earth wall and an ice wall emerged from the ground. The spies chose the fastest spell they could cast in such a situation. It was a good move.
When they felt that the walls they erected had finally cut their enemy's vision on them, they turned around to face the walls and jumped back. Without a second to lose, the two started preparing for another spell.
Unexpectedly though, two hands suddenly popped out from the walls they just put up. The walls crumbled and the figure of the stranger was revealed.
It was a man. The man had long black hair poorly tied in a ponytail. A scar ran across his left cheek, giving him a terrifying vibe. And… his eyes…
His eyes looked like that of a killer.
In a split second, the two spies found themselves choking, their spells canceled. The man's hands were firmly latched onto their necks. They struggled! They thrashed and kicked, but they couldn't escape from his grasp. They couldn't cast any spell either because they were literally dying!
Struggling, Thrain voiced out in between coughs, "Who... are… you?!"
"Bold of you to ask that without introducing yourself first," the man surprisingly replied.
Thrain wanted to cough out a mouthful of blood. How would he be able to introduce himself?! He was choking! While being choked, should he just randomly introduce himself?
Hi, killer, I'm Thrain.
Bullshit!
"Well, since you asked," the man suddenly said, smiling. He didn't even look the slightest bit guilty about what he was doing…
"I'm Aeon Morgan."
….