Full of anticipation, meticulously planned preparations, expected and unexpected personnel sacrifices...
After investing a significant portion of his resources, Sade's gains were far from equivalent to his expectations or standards, not even counting as loose change.
Silent deadly poison and an unknown special metal with the ability to change shape while retaining sharpness and toughness were indeed things Sade had never heard of before, meeting his expectations. However, due to their transcending understanding, he was unable to comprehend the principles behind these phenomena, leaving him unable to grasp their secrets and even less able to learn or replicate them.
[This can be categorized as the product of alchemy, but the characteristics of this metal are too bizarre.]
Displayed on the retina was a young man showing speed and agility among rock spikes, while the view shifted to the assistant, whose face was becoming increasingly difficult to conform to the common aesthetic standards due to the constant change in skin color. The once ironclad serious expression finally began to ripple with discontent.
[The plan has completely failed...]
Dieri launched a concentrated attack to drain the target's physical and mental endurance, forcing the opponent to use various secret techniques in retaliation. Sade, who was watching from the side, analyzed the principles and weaknesses of these techniques and devised specific countermeasures. In the end, the triangle mages, who had expended little energy, would deliver the final lethal blow to the exhausted young man.
The conservative strategy developed before the battle left no room for criticism, and from Sade's perspective, it was the most prudent approach he could think of. However, the once-flawless script had completely deviated by now, and the pace of the battle was beginning to dance to the opponent's tune. The young man, who gracefully dodged Dieri's fierce attacks, had no mark on his whole body that could be called a [wound]. In Sade's sharp, bird-like eyes, the constantly jumping and swaying figure showed no signs of fatigue, and not even a drop of sweat fell from the slightly childish face. In contrast, Dieri, who had been dominating the whole time, was looking worse for wear, and the onslaught of attacks was still continuing relentlessly. Despite this, there was an indisputable decline in the rate and potency of the attacks.
It was surprising that the Earth Attribute Mage with Transformation Abilities, who was known for his endurance, was the first to show signs of exhaustion. Even if they made excuses about Dieri being a cross-level strategist, the unreasonable scene before them still caused Sade to waver slightly. The black-haired young man's mental and physical qualifications were simply too terrifying, and the gap between their predictions and reality was indeed too huge.
"Flame Wing, add definition [Magic Bullet]!"
Rapid and clear two-part chanting (Note) condensed the brilliance of Mana, and the firebird with a simulated shape assembled in groups of five as the basic unit. According to the added definition of [Automatic Target Tracking], they swooped down on the young man who was manipulating the steel wings in the chaotic battlefield sky following four different attack trajectories.
Two groups obscured the line of sight, one group attacked the flank, and one group cut off the retreat.
The seasoned mage's first attack blocked off all possible exits for the young man to escape from the rock spikes pursuit, and the calm elves outside the battlefield couldn't help but cry out in surprise.
No matter who, the dynamic elves, doubted their own vision as they saw Li Lin about to intersect with multiple trajectories of Flame Magic Bullets, dragging his Blade Wings and about to withstand the impact of twenty fiery projectiles.
—That was by no means a situation where one could walk away unscathed; no one could survive the seamless double Magic Bullet barrage.
Everyone thought so, everyone predicted it.
[How can he still smile in this situation?]
Staring intently at the young man who was about to be burned to ashes, the faint, leisurely smile at the corner of his mouth was also imprinted in Sade's eyes. It stimulated the middle-aged mage's nerves, causing him to feel a hint of surprise and... humiliation.
Disregarding the deadly fire net about to sever his lifeline and even the mage who launched the spell, sweeping everything away from his sight and not even deigning to glance at the enemy.
[Fools...!]
Biting his lower lip, the killing intent in his heart hissed as it infused the magic circuit controlling the firebirds, overlapping the flaming feathers and their final collision trajectory.
"Not bad."
Li Lin chuckled lightly as he stepped on a slanting rock pillar below him. The huge reaction force from crushing the rock opened a path in the air.
"But it's too green. "
Shaking his head helplessly about the immature work, the firebird dance reached its conclusion.
Mana quickly gathered around him and began to emit a faint phosphorescent glow, akin to twilight. The faint phosphorescent light wrapped around the young man's body, and the swift Guren birds collided with the constantly changing colorful curtain, which could appear as green, yellow, blue, or even red. The flame birds, capable of burning human bodies to charred lumps, disappeared without a trace in an instant, like water droplets splashed into hot sand, leaving no mark, and making it almost impossible for the onlookers to accept.
"How is it possible?!!"
Dieri was the first to groan in disbelief at the extraordinary phenomenon, fearing and revering it. In the brief moment of his lament, another five bird-shaped Flame Magic Bullets were shattered into sparks and disappeared before the unpredictable curtain of light.