"Take my retaliatory strike!" Yann engaged in a certain competitive game from the previous era, always feeling confident in his ability to counter-kill when facing five fully healed enemies behind his low health. And so, he proceeded to retaliate...
Of course, in the end, he handed over a kill to the opponent.
The cloaked figure, upon seeing Yann's preparedness, was greatly surprised inwardly. Yet, relying on the combat instincts honed through long-term training and assassination, the figure instinctively responded without a second thought.
A black dagger was swiftly drawn from the other sleeve of the cloak, and with a flick of the figure's arm, the dagger struck accurately against Yann's half-sword, emitting a crisp sound.
Following the diversion caused by the blocked half-sword, the cloaked figure leaped backward, clearing a distance of seven to eight meters, while simultaneously flinging the dagger towards Yann mid-air.
During its flight, the dagger unexpectedly ignited with blue flames!
This alteration meant Yann could no longer treat it as an ordinary dagger. Ordinary blades posed no threat to him as long as they didn't hit the magical array at the center of his armor.
However, the flames on this dagger posed a genuine threat, not something he could simply endure.
Wind Blades! Yann had inscribed multiple magical arrays on each of his magical equipments. While this increased the workload and complexity, the effectiveness was evident.
With a wave of his gloved hand, several whistling wind blades were directed towards the incoming dagger.
"Now is the time. Let's capture Niya. Once we have the master of the dark pet in our grasp, it'll be easier to deal with this undead warrior and avenge our fallen brothers," the leader quietly gestured to his subordinates, then pointed towards Niya's location.
Though Niya attempted to conceal herself behind a large tree, such crude hiding was futile against these seasoned soldiers.
"Hmm?!" Yann turned his head upon hearing the soldiers' words and hurled a fireball.
If these assailants succeeded in attacking Niya, Yann would truly find himself in a disadvantageous position. His life was intertwined with Niya's—if something happened to her, Yann would suffer as well.
"Flames!" The cloaked figure's voice sounded as if their throat had been slashed with a knife.
A ball of blue flames collided with Yann's dark flames, and the two exploded upon meeting in mid-air.
"Intriguing," Yann stared at the cloaked figure, knowing that unless he dealt with them, he couldn't save Niya. This figure clung to him like a festering sore.
"Then let's deal with you first," Yann raised his half-sword, and the energy output of the dark flame magical array surged suddenly!
A raging flame, two meters in length, adhered to the blade of his half-sword.
"Bang!" Yann held the half-sword in both hands, with the hilt at his waist and the blade trailing behind him. With a backward kick, he shot towards the cloaked figure like a cannonball.
The half-sword trailing behind his waist was swung up by Yann, and the dark flames left a dazzling trail.
"Spears!" The cloaked figure didn't chant, just uttered a syllable, and a five-meter-long lance of blue ice crystal shot towards Yann.
No, not just one!
Every second, three lances formed around the cloaked figure, all aimed at Yann!
The appearance of the five-meter-long ice crystal spear alone was imposing. But when they began to shoot out, the surrounding air twisted violently under their influence.
"So what if there are three? Cut!" Yann, at this moment, cared little about his inability to speak as an undead warrior. He simply roared and swept his sword, and the black flames directly engulfed one of the ice crystal spears.
Incredibly, the seemingly unquenchable dark flames, after extinguishing one of the ice crystal spears, diminished slightly in momentum.
Though it was only a slight decrease, not even a twentieth, one must remember that the cloaked figure could summon three ice crystal spears every second. In just six or seven seconds, Yann's dark flames would be extinguished.
"Gale Steps!" Yann's footsteps suddenly accelerated, doubling his overall speed, easily dodging the ice crystal spears shot towards him.
The cloaked figure hadn't anticipated Yann's sudden acceleration, showing slight surprise but no panic.
In battle, anything could happen. Those who panicked at everything were unsuited for brutal combat!
The cloaked figure suddenly dropped to one knee, one hand pressed against the ground.
At the moment Yann saw the figure kneel, he thought the opponent was bowing to his overwhelming aura of dominance, ready to kneel and submit as a subordinate. But what followed shattered that illusion.
Sharp blue ice crystal spikes, burning with flames, burst from the ground!
Released without the need for chanting, overcoming the interference of Yann's magical equipment on the surrounding air!
The release of magic was limited not only by the caster's own mastery but also by external factors. As mentioned earlier, it was extremely difficult to release magic in a place where magical elements were volatile, such as trying to summon spikes to stop a cavalry charge amidst an enemy formation, a feat even difficult for esteemed-level practitioners.
Tens of thousands of soldiers' frenzied battle intent and trampling on the ground made it incredibly hard to gather earth elements.
And now, it was the same. All of Yann's magical equipment was actively releasing magic to interfere with the ground, but the cloaked figure managed to instantaneously cast magic without even chanting, as if it were nothing.
Something even seventh or eighth-ranked mages couldn't achieve!
"Hmph!" Yann hadn't expected the opponent to have such a trick up their sleeve, and his left arm was solidly pierced by a sharp blue spike.
The protective magic released by the magical array provided minimal protection; Yann's left arm was shattered into scrap metal.
As for Yann's tentacle-like body...
It restored itself after being pierced.
Not exactly restoration, but more like retracting into his body like clay, then blending back into his body.
"Flame Summon!" The cloaked figure's voice sounded somewhat shaky, as if they were physically exhausted.
The blue spikes began to tremble along with the voice, then suddenly ignited fiercely!
Over fifty burning blue spikes, with temperatures high enough to melt pig iron.
Yet Yann stood amidst them, seemingly unaware. He lacked sensation, and his armor was impervious to roasting.
However, the power of Flame Summon wasn't limited to this. All the flames on the spikes suddenly surged and connected, forming a series of interlocking blue flame walls!
Blocking Yann's path.