In Argo's hand appeared an amulet, adorned with a mesmerizing and intricate design. Upon contact with the air, a boundless aura erupted, enveloping the surroundings in a radiant glow.
"Rank 8!?" Lunaria yelped in sheer disbelief. The aura of suppression washed over her like a suffocating wave, leaving her gasping for breath. Ophelia, on the other hand, felt an overwhelming pressure, as if her very essence was being constricted. She stumbled and finally collapsed to the ground.
Meanwhile, Luke remained perplexed as he miraculously remained unaffected by the terrifying aura. Tilting his head, he struggled to comprehend what was happening. His gaze fixed on the amulet, and he instinctively knew that it was no ordinary artifact.
Argo smirked with satisfaction as he observed their reactions. "Prepare yourselves, peasants, for you are about to witness the might of the holy nation," he taunted mockingly, as though their inferiority to the holy nation was an indisputable truth.
In response, Argo murmured some arcane incantations, and a subtle transformation took place within the amulet. As this unfolded, Alan, who had been arrogantly observing from the corner, couldn't resist a snide and irritating remark, his eyes revealing a cruel intent.
The amulet began to glow with an intensified brilliance, and a boundless aura surged forth. A colossal hand, composed of radiant light attributes, materialized in the air above the amulet, suddenly springing to life.
The immense power of a Rank 8 magic now surged toward Luke at an incredible speed.
Luke's realization hit him like a tidal wave as he scrambled to activate his skills, but the wave of mana was far too swift, closing in on him with relentless speed.
Just as everyone, except for Lunaria, braced for Luke's seemingly inevitable demise, a golden dome enveloped him, forming a formidable barrier. A clash of magical powers erupted, and it became apparent that the colossal hand was unable to breach the protective shield.
Sparks crackled at the center of this intense display, and finally, the gigantic hand shattered, leaving the compact dome unscathed and at its peak strength.
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
The room was filled with collective bewilderment as everyone, including Luke, was left utterly perplexed, struggling to process the astonishing turn of events.
Finally, the realization dawned upon Luke. The Sanctum Charm had indeed worked, and he quickly deduced its purpose. It had activated on its own because the Rank 8 magic posed a genuine threat to his life. In that critical moment, the charm had instinctively sprung into action, protecting him from the deadly magic.
"System! Where are you? I almost died here. Please help!" Worry consumed him as he urgently sought the system's assistance.
[ Negative. The host's life was not in danger. ]
"Then why did the Charm activate?"
[ The Sanctum Charm is designed to be embedded within the host's body for automatic activation, providing protection in life-threatening situations. However, since you placed it in your pocket, it detected that the powerful magic might destroy your clothes. Hence, it activated to safeguard your garments. ]
"The hell does that mean?" Luke exclaimed in frustration, struggling to comprehend the unexpected outcome.
[ In fact, that magic would have only caused minor injuries to you, and your life was not in immediate danger. The activation of the Sanctum Charm was based on an assessment of your current situation. ]
Unbeknownst to Luke, he possessed an incredibly robust physique.
Over the past month, he had been consuming the foods he purchased from the system, oblivious to the remarkable effects they were having on him.
While Lunaria, being of a high rank, received significant benefits from the system foods, the impact on Luke, who had been consuming them for an extended period, was far more profound.
As Luke had no conventional means of ranking up, the divine ingredients in the system foods had a transformative effect on his body. Without realizing it, he had undergone an evolution, and his physical body had surpassed that of even rare metals, becoming an extraordinary force to be reckoned with. However, Luke remained oblivious to this astounding change, still unaware of the true extent of his newfound physique.
At present, the Rank 8 magic had the potential to cause only minor injuries to Luke, not posing any immediate threat to his life. This was due to the remarkable durability of his evolved body. Had he embedded the Sanctum Charm directly into his body, it would not have activated, as the magic would not have been deemed life-threatening.
Meanwhile, as Luke engaged in a conversation with the system, the rest of the room's occupants stood in stunned disbelief, their expressions betraying their foolish shock at witnessing the unprecedented turn of events.
The boundless aura that once enveloped the air vanished completely, leaving no trace of its overwhelming presence. As a result, the two robed men lost their source of arrogance, and their smug expressions quickly turned to sheer foolishness.
Their mouths hung open in disbelief, their former confidence now shattered. They stood frozen like statues, contemplating the profound implications of their defeat, and perhaps questioning their entire beliefs and existence in the face of such overwhelming power. The room fell into an eerie silence, with everyone absorbing the gravity of what had just transpired.
Lunaria's heart swelled with delight as she witnessed the astonishing display of Luke's powers. It confirmed her belief that he was no ordinary individual, but rather a hidden expert from another world. The way he effortlessly repelled the formidable Rank 8 magic with just a simple barrier left her in awe.
As she pondered the extent of her own potential, a glimmer of hope ignited within Lunaria. She contemplated the possibility of surpassing Rank 8 and reaching the elusive Rank 9, a realm that had remained beyond anyone's reach for over a millennium.
However, she quickly realized that this ambitious goal was not her primary focus. Instead, her attention remained fixed on Luke, recognizing that he possessed a strength far beyond the legendary Rank 9.
In the midst of this revelation, Lunaria felt both humbled and determined. She yearned to grow stronger and reach new heights, but she also understood that her journey was unique and separate from Luke's unparalleled path.
With newfound motivation, she resolved to embrace her own destiny and push the boundaries of her power, all while continuing to admire and learn from the enigmatic expert before her.
Meanwhile, Ophelia felt a wave of relief wash over her. The hidden expert, Luke, had proven to be even more formidable than she had initially imagined. While she had hoped to establish a connection with him, she recognized that addressing the current problems at hand took precedence.
Despite his lingering discontent with the system, Luke focused on the immediate situation. His gaze fixed upon the two robed men, their foolish expressions betraying their defeat. The tense atmosphere in the room lingered, awaiting the next move in this captivating display of power and skill.
Amidst the aftermath of the intense magical clash, Luke couldn't help but mutter the words he had heard from the system, "You almost destroyed my clothes." However, to everyone else in the room, it sounded like he was merely boasting about his strength.
Lunaria burst into a hearty laughter upon hearing Luke's remark. Her amusement at the situation was evident, causing Luke to glance at her with a puzzled expression, wondering if the elf had perhaps lost her mind.
Despite the tension that had filled the air just moments ago, Lunaria's laughter seemed to break the ice, infusing the room with a sense of relief. It was a brief respite before they had to address the lingering issues and face the consequences of the encounter with the two robed men.
With a sense of resolution, Ophelia approached Luke and engaged him in conversation about the next steps they should take. Meanwhile, the two robed men, now stripped of their arrogance, appeared quite diminished and vulnerable, like mice cowering in a corner.
As Ophelia and Luke conversed, discussing the fate of the defeated individuals before them, the two robed men remained oblivious to the fact that they were the subjects of their discussion. The tension in the room seemed to simmer down as the attention shifted to the aftermath of the encounter.
Although the room was filled with an air of uncertainty and unease, Ophelia and Luke carried a sense of calm and purpose as they dealt with the situation. The two mice, unaware of their impending fate, remained spectators in the unfolding drama, waiting to learn what their future held in store.