Could such a formidable opponent be merely a witch hunter? And one sent to capture an apprentice as feeble as myself?
Lynn found it difficult to believe, yet reality was not a battlefield where opponents are evenly matched. Begging for mercy and surrendering held no meaning in this life-or-death struggle.
**Ice Blade.**
Lynn raised his left hand, aiming at Blaney. His mastery over the Water Condensation spell had grown increasingly adept. In an instant, another ice blade materialized in the air.
But as his mental energy reached out into the atmosphere, he realized that the already scarce hydrogen atoms were now depleted. The ice blade he conjured could no longer pose a significant threat.
Lynn was acutely aware of this, but there was nothing he could do to change it. A powerful longing surged within him—he needed more hydrogen and oxygen...
The moment this thought surfaced, it felt as though his brain was struck by a heavy blow, a piercing pain as if countless silver needles had been driven into his skull. His mana was swiftly drained, converting into a torrent of hydrogen and oxygen elements.
At that very moment, a strange rune branded itself deep into his consciousness.
A higher-tier first-ring spell—**Multiple Ice Blades**.
In the span of a second, several razor-sharp ice blades emerged, raining down like a storm of arrows.
Lynn's sudden outburst caught Blaney off guard. In his haste, he shifted from offense to defense, but despite his swift reaction, one of the **Ice Blades** slipped past his sword's guard and pierced his abdomen.
Blaney immediately felt a bone-chilling cold as crystalline frost began to spread rapidly from the wound.
Well aware of the insidious nature of magic, Blaney dared not be careless. Gripping the ice blade with his right hand, he yanked it out with great effort.
Due to the unique barbed structure of the **Ice Blade**, it was deeply embedded in his flesh, and pulling it out caused a gush of crimson blood to spray forth.
The intense pain made Blaney's body tremble uncontrollably. His abdomen was now a bloody mess, and the spreading cold quickly numbed the wound.
However, Blaney's ruthlessness took Lynn by surprise. Realizing that the wound would hinder him in the upcoming battle, Blaney grabbed a flaming cabinet door handle and pressed it directly against his abdomen.
"Ahhhh!" The searing flames mingled with the torn flesh, and Blaney's veins bulged as he let out a roar of agony.
Wisps of smoke rose from the contact point, and the mangled flesh was nearly cooked. No more blood flowed from the wound, and the biting cold dissipated under the heat of the fire...
The horrifying sight sent a shiver down Lynn's spine. Whether it was Blaney's cold-blooded use of his comrade's corpse as a shield or his brutal cauterization of his wound, Lynn understood that this was not an adversary to be taken lightly.
Taking advantage of Blaney's distraction, Lynn didn't hesitate to burst through the door and flee. Without his protective short sword, he had no chance of winning in the cramped room.
Blaney glanced at Andre's charred corpse, then gripped his sword tightly and gave chase.
...
Dusk settled over the slums beyond Nordland, where two figures, one in pursuit and one fleeing, darted through the narrow, decaying streets.
The sky was growing darker, and one **Ice Blade** after another whistled through the air, striking the ground and walls without aim.
Each spell cast sent a sharp pain through Lynn's skull, but he could no longer afford to care. If he stopped casting, his pursuer would close in and drive a sword through his head.
In contrast, Blaney pursued with ease, his sharp eyes tracking the ice blades as they flew toward him. He dodged with quick, agile movements, maintaining a steady distance behind Lynn.
Blaney was cautious, knowing all too well how cunning this apprentice was. The misleading notes left in the room, the sudden burst of ice blades and fireballs that had injured him, and the strange spell that killed Andre had all left a deep impression.
So even though Lynn appeared exhausted, Blaney dared not strike recklessly. Like the most patient of hunters, he would wear down his prey, bit by bit, until it collapsed in death.
As the chase continued, the two of them ventured further from the city. A foul stench filled the air as Blaney realized they had entered the long-abandoned lower district.
The entire Nordland territory sloped downward from north to south, with the main city built on the banks of the Yinne River to the north.
Over a decade ago, upon returning from the Holy City, the Duke of Nordland had been displeased with the chaotic, foul-smelling state of the main city. He had ordered his craftsmen to dig a channel, diverting all the city's waste to the lower reaches of the Yinne River.
This had been a disaster for the poor who lived downstream, relying on the river for water. But the Duke cared little for the lives of the lowly, and over time, the lower district became desolate, with only a few scavengers lingering in the area.
Blaney began to worry that there might be other apprentice witches hiding here. Just as he resolved to end the fight quickly, Lynn, who had been fleeing, suddenly stopped in an uneven alleyway.
The concentration should be sufficient...
Lynn confirmed one last time. The strange rune in his mind activated instantly, and no less than seven **Ice Blades** materialized out of thin air, gleaming in the fading light of the sunset...
Forcing a massive amount of mana to convert into hydrogen and oxygen, the resulting backlash was becoming increasingly severe. Lynn felt as if his brain might explode at any moment.
His mana was depleted to its limit—this was his final spell!
In the next moment, the ice blades split into two groups, shooting out in random patterns, cutting off all of Blaney's escape routes.
Blaney's expression grew tense as his eyes locked onto the attack.
With so many blades, even he couldn't block them all. But if he were to risk injury...
Fortunately, most of the blades seemed to veer off course, merely grazing past him, with only three aimed directly at him...
A desperate struggle?
A mocking smile appeared on Blaney's face. During the chase, he had noticed that Lynn's spellcasting wasn't truly spontaneous; it took a significant toll on his mental strength...
Clearly, Lynn was nearing his limit.
Blaney's lips curled into a slight smirk as he deftly slashed through the incoming **Ice Blades**. But he failed to notice a small red sphere hidden among them, speeding toward him.
Clang!
The sword collided with the sphere, sending a cascade of brilliant sparks flying.
The unusual impact made Blaney hesitate, and then he realized he had struck a piece of firestone...