"You're underestimating me too much."
I grinned.
In a split second, I scrutinized him.
It was indeed different to see him up close rather than being described by the texts.
One of his distinct traits was that he was covered with green color with dark green clouds painted as a design.
On his face, only his eyes were left uncovered, but even then, his pupils were viridescent green.
His iris was narrow and green like a viper, indeed.
That was one of the traits I described to the author.
Looking up close, as usual, he wore the assassin attire.
A dark green cloak, a light green robe with many designs of dark green clouds, and dark green lower pants and shoes.
Compared to mine, they were not passive artifacts.
However, the fact he wore no defensive artifacts means that was his flaw.
First, you need to land an attack on him.
With his speed backed by the wind element, he was as agile as a snake, making it pretty impossible to counterattack.
That's why I denied Sophie's idea of counterattacking and focused on our survival, first.
"I guess, I expect no less than from the Arcane Mage and the Archduke's son."
My eyes and voice turned cold.
"Since you are already aware of my background, why did you still attack me?"
"Do I have a choice?"
His mask moved, obviously smiling.
He twisted his body in mid-air as he retracted his right hand with the hooded Vijayanagara katar, a weapon I specially designed for him, filled with poison.
He swung his left hand, and a spark appeared on the barrier.
I rubbed my ring, and the Emberforge ring activated.
I only have one use of the Emberforge ring left, but I don't care anymore.
While I'm at it, my other artifacts, such as the Ring of Firecannon and the Ring of Inferno Ward.
[Activating other artifacts… Current status:
Ring of Firecannon (Tier 2) low-grade, (6/9)
It allows the owner to conjure a level three spell, Firecannon, up to nine times. It has been crafted by the Grandmaster Yin of the Emberheart kingdom with the core of a fiend witch, a dark-elemental creature from the dark forces.
Ring of Inferno Ward (Tier 2) middle-grade 1/3,
It provides the owner with an amplification enhancement of the fire spell up to three times. A high possibility of leveling the spell, depending on the owner's desire. It has been crafted by the Grandmaster Yin of the Emberheart kingdom with the core of a fiend gnome, a dark-elemental creature from the dark forces.]
The system just appeared in my mind in a millisecond and processed it in a span of a second.
'I get it, I only have six offensive spells. I can't use it to kill him, but only for a distraction.'
I grimaced.
I don't have a choice.
Thankfully, the Necklace of Uriel's Protection and the Ring of Inferno Ward wasn't static, for it follows the wearer.
As I activated the Ring of Inferno Ward, I conjured a single Firecannon spell.
With the aid of the Inferno Ward, the spell amplified, as I ordered the Inferno Ward to strengthen the spell, resulting in it altering to a level four spell, Fire Beam.
Level four spell is a high-level spell, so it must pose some threat to a High-Mage Rank like Viper.
"A high-level spell? Fire Beam?"
He was startled as he was still in mid-air.
On this point-blank range, he would surely receive the offensive spell.
However, I knew it wouldn't be that easy.
"Too bad. I'm not an ordinary High-Mage Rank anymore."
Despite the mask, I could perceive him grinning.
As the Firebeam finished its appearance, I ordered it to attack Viper with the aid of an Emberforge Ring, bolting towards Viper in the blink of an eye.
However, it passed through his body as camouflage remained.
I wasn't surprised.
The camouflage wasn't a spell but just an image distortion because of how fast he was.
He even only utilized a level 2 spell, Wind Platform, aiding him to run in mid-air.
It was practically impossible to touch him.
However, I never intended to harm him anyway. I just need a chance to finally leave this carriage.
"Sophie, carry me outside."
Although embarrassing, I can't afford now to save my face in times of peril.
Sophie was startled, but having his sanity still intact, she quickly followed my order and carried me on her shoulder with no problem.
"Excuse me, Young Highness."
Sophie was born with a great physique, as expected of an individual blessed by the God of Earth.
Hence, without hesitation, just like how she was trained to utilize his strength by the knights of the House of Emberheart, she intently gazed at the carriage wall and charged at it.
At this moment, Sophie motioned her left shoulder forward, intending to break the carriage wall with it.
However, she neglected something.
"There's no need. The barrier of my artifact will break through it."
The Necklace of Uriel's Protection wasn't only defending against spells but any physical matter.
The round sphere wasn't really round since it bent below before the sphere touched the ground.
It was intentional because if it would also slice through the ground, I couldn't bear to imagine the consequence.
It might restrict our movements.
There was a slight pause in Sophie's movement, but she continued to dash towards the royal carriage.
If only the royal carriage wasn't large, it would have taken only a single step with a wide stride, but it needed three steps.
Hence, by the first step, Viper attacks again.
"Where are you going?"
"Ignore him!" I shouted in a composed manner.
By the second step, he attacked again.
And by the third step, I felt strange.
He wasn't attacking with his spells yet.
He should have known a physical attack would be futile.
Only through spells, the barrier's durability would drain.
And I've finally found out the reason.
The barrier collided with the carriage wall, and the latter was quickly broken.
I've finally looked outside.
However, it wasn't as bright as the clear sky or crowded as it should have been outside the castle.
Instead, it was silent, and the atmosphere was colored green.
My heart skipped a beat.
"Space Distortion? How could that be?" My voice trembled as we landed on the ground outside of the royal carriage.
As if amused by my question, the God of Death answered with a playful tone.
"What's not possible? Even you, an unblessed individual, could conjure High-Level Spells."