"Boom boom boom boom boom…!"
With a burst of explosive sounds, countless wind blades swept through the ranks of the Salamanders, crashing into each of them.
However, these wind blades did little damage to the Salamanders.
Although they were caught off guard, many still managed to raise their shields in time, blocking the incoming blades. Some simply used their bodies, raising their hands to shield themselves and deflect the wind blades.
For instance, the leading warrior did just that.
"Boom!"
Another explosion sounded—not from a wind blade striking its target, but from an armored hand clenched into a fist, dispersing a wind blade in an instant.
The leading warrior stared straight ahead, his expression slightly grim.
Because...
"Appearing in front of us without even stating your name, and using beginner magic to mock us?"
The warrior muttered.
It wasn't just this warrior—all the other Salamanders showed expressions of anger.
The Salamanders present were the elite of their force, around sixty-eight in number.
It wasn't that the Salamanders couldn't deploy more people, but in ALO, with the presence of large-scale attack magic, unless it was for exploration or a major raid, sending too many people would simply make them easy targets. The enemy would just need to cast a high-level aoe spell at the densest part of the group, wiping out any poorly-equipped or less skilled players in an instant.
From a tactical standpoint, having too many numbers makes coordination and maneuvering more difficult. When facing a small enemy force, a squad of a few dozen is optimal for command and efficiency.
Thus, the Salamanders only sent sixty-eight, but these were the best of the best.
They possessed the finest equipment, highest skill proficiency, strongest techniques, and best battle readiness among all Salamanders. Well-trained, each could hold their own against ten or even a hundred opponents.
The fact that such a force was deployed showed the importance they attached to this operation.
For such a skilled group, low-level magic was little more than a tickle.
In this operation, such low-grade magic wasn't expected to appear at all.
Yet now, a sudden interloper had used beginner magic on the elite Salamander unit. Wasn't this just an insult?
The Salamanders thought so… yet they didn't know...
"What can I do? I still can't use high-level magic."
A calm voice echoed as the gusts subsided, revealing the interloper clearly to everyone present.
"Even if it's just beginner magic, it should be enough as a greeting, right?"
Suspended before the Salamander force with wings spread, the boy smiled casually.
Who else could it be but Rozen?
"Ugh…"
Leafa, still held in Rozen's arms, was dazed and seemed to have yet to regain her senses.
Seeing this, the lead warrior narrowed his eyes.
"A Sylph?" The warrior spoke coldly. "So your lord has noticed us."
It was clear they assumed Rozen and Leafa were scouts sent by Sakuya.
But in the Salamanders' eyes, this so-called vanguard was nothing but cannon fodder.
Was it not?
"You noticed our main force approaching, so you sent two pieces of cannon fodder to buy time for your escape?"
The warrior sneered.
"Too bad. Just the two of you won't be able to stop us."
With that, the warrior raised his hand.
In the Salamander ranks, chanting began to resonate immediately.
"――ダ・ミ・ψ・д・ㄗ・ピ・ィ・よ・ζ・つ――"
Instantly, beams of fire streaked out from the Salamander force, vaporizing the air as they headed straight for Rozen.
Rozen immediately flapped his wings, transforming into a whirlwind as he swiftly retreated.
However, the flames pursued him, leaving searing trails, as if they were locked onto him.
"Tracking magic, is it?"
Rozen raised an eyebrow, then smirked.
"――±・∧・∏・∈・⊥――"
Rozen chanted another spell, releasing a flurry of wind blades.
As before, Rozen used beginner magic.
In terms of sheer power and effect, his magic couldn't hold a candle to the Salamander force's spells.
But this time, the beginner magic was effective.
"Boom boom boom boom boom—!"
The wind blades clashed with the oncoming fire beams, detonating them in bursts and sending waves of heat rippling through the air.
"Neutralized?"
The lead warrior's gaze flickered.
Tracking magic has a weakness; it can be detonated early by contact, preventing it from reaching its target.
"How about this?"
The warrior commanded again, and the Salamanders began chanting in unison.
"――∧・∪・〈・≡・÷・×・∵――"
This was a spell often used by Salamanders. Rozen had encountered it before—it was the fireball attack magic used by Salamander mages in the Legrue Corridor.
A barrage of fireballs shot out from the Salamander ranks like a meteor shower, hurtling toward Rozen.
"Interesting."
Still holding Leafa, Rozen retreated while watching the rain of fire descending upon him with a smirk.
Rozen flapped his wings, transforming into a streak of light as he accelerated rapidly.
The firestorm rained down, enveloping the streak of light, but that light kept moving, dodging, flashing, turning, and soaring, tracing incredible paths and evading each and every fireball.
"What?"
Seeing this, the lead warrior was finally surprised.
The other Salamanders grew agitated as well.
"So… so fast!"
"What kind of flight is that?"
"How can someone fly like that?"
The Salamanders were all in shock.
In ALO, where aerial combat ability was everything, any first-rate player would master the skill of Free Flight, and any top-tier player would have honed their flying abilities.
But none of the elite Salamander players had ever seen anyone fly like Rozen.
Such an incredible display of flight seemed like something beyond imagination.
But Rozen had done it.
"Boom—!"
With a sound like shattering air, Rozen, who had been dodging through the meteor firestorm, suddenly turned and soared upward, hurtling toward the lead warrior.
"…!"
The warrior's expression shifted slightly, and without hesitation, he drew his magic sword.
"Whoosh!"
In a flash, Rozen appeared directly in front of him.
"Clang—!"
A fairy sword appeared in Rozen's hand, slicing down with immense force against the warrior's hastily raised magic sword, sending a violent shockwave across the battlefield.