Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of trees, casting dappled shadows around the cold pool. The branches and leaves formed a vast dome overhead, allowing only a few beams of light to pierce through at noon, which, when reflected on the water's surface, diminished to a level that Fars could easily ignore.
While everything in nature follows the principle of mutual growth and restraint, an overpowering force can still suppress its counters. For instance, water can extinguish fire, but if the flames burn hot enough, even a small amount of water will evaporate instantly. Fars was no longer the fledgling vampire he once was; if he deliberately resisted the sunlight, even its purifying effects wouldn't harm him in the short term. It was akin to bearing a magical shield against attacks. However, magical shields consume mana, and Fars's current resistance wasn't sufficient to withstand the sun's rays, so he had to continuously release dark energy around himself for protection.
Not far away, the sounds of fierce clashes began to echo, indicating that the group of adventurers had arrived and engaged the two magical beasts. It was still unclear where exactly the confrontation was taking place. It was daytime, and Fars wasn't prepared to lurk in the glaring sunlight, even though the dense foliage reduced its intensity. The tattered robe he wore further shielded him, but to effectively guard against the sun, he had to envelop himself in darkness, which would make his presence known to anyone nearby. That would hardly count as stealth; the adventurers would either retreat or focus on self-preservation, making it impossible for them to wade into murky waters.
As long as the battle continued, Fars wasn't worried that the two prepared high-level magical beasts would fall quickly. It was already past noon, and the Qihar Mountain Range, located in the southern part of Aelras, enjoyed longer daylight hours, giving the adventurers ample time to hunt the beasts. Regardless of when the sun set, as soon as signs of battle subsided, Fars would rush over, and whether he exposed himself or not was of little concern. He didn't believe that a high-level swordsman and a few mid-level professionals could keep him at bay, even in daylight. Once night fell, Fars would have plenty of time to hunt down the presumably exhausted adventurers.
While Fars was still cradling the phoenix egg and enjoying himself, the battle on the other side grew increasingly intense.
Having learned that the group that had injured him was returning, the two magical beasts devised a cunning plan. One of them, fully intact, pretended to go hunting, leading the adventurers to believe that only the injured beast was resting in the small valley. After confirming that the hunting beast wouldn't return soon, they alerted Carter and his team, aiming for a quick resolution to eliminate the wounded beast.
To their surprise, things unfolded even better than Carter had anticipated. The limping, one-eyed beast was soon battered and on the verge of death. Just then, the other beast suddenly appeared, severely injuring Hiu, who was on guard. Jessy quickly reacted and saved Hiu, but the situation had shifted to a five-person team facing a fully intact high-level beast and another that had regained its strength. The previously injured beast, while still unable to fight at full capacity, harassed Jessy and Allen, the two troublesome ranged attackers.
It seemed the two magical beasts understood that Fars could only emerge at night; they didn't launch a full-on assault but instead dragged out the battle, displaying a sense of desperation. This made Carter and his team unaware of any tricks, believing the beasts were genuinely prepared to fight to the death. If they had intended to flee, it would have posed a greater challenge for Carter, as pursuing an uninjured high-level beast was an unwise decision. If they focused on surrounding the other one, it might just retaliate with a surprise attack.
The advantage still lay with Carter's team, but their inability to secure a decisive victory after such a long struggle made Carter anxious. He was tied up with the female beast, which attacked fiercely due to the severe injuries Carter had inflicted on its mate last time. This left him unable to deal with the other beast, fearing that the cursed creature might launch a surprise attack on his teammates. Hiu's severe injuries had already fueled Carter's anger, while the battle on the other side remained a stalemate. Although the male beast was heavily injured, its high-level defenses were formidable, making it difficult for Allen, Jessy, and Frosa to inflict significant damage like Carter could. Moza, still recovering from injuries sustained while hunting the thorned rhinoceros, could only occasionally distract it.
Fars, hiding in the cold pool, wasn't fully aware of the specific battle conditions, but the ongoing stalemate was evident from the shifting energies on the battlefield. Everything was proceeding according to his script. It was still early, and jumping to conclusions now would not befit a qualified mage, nor would it reflect the cunning and wisdom of a noble.
Neither side had begun to fight desperately yet. If he acted recklessly, the outcome was uncertain. Fars didn't believe that the two magical beasts he had provoked for so long would cooperate with him against a common enemy. If he were injured and gave them an opportunity, he would certainly find himself bitten instead of playing the tiger. Moreover, he was growing fond of this cold pool; even the phoenix egg seemed to thrive in its depths. It was the perfect opportunity to wait until both sides were sufficiently weakened before making his move.
The ruins were too vast and too exposed, making it likely that adventurers entering the mountains would discover them. Fars estimated he would need to hide here for a while longer; being discovered too early would make him feel insecure. This was undoubtedly a good place, with weak sunlight during the day, and hiding in the water didn't interfere with his training. As for the risk of drowning, that was a joke for a soon-to-be high-level mage.
Legend has it that a long time ago, an old mage encountered a storm while sailing and capsized. The old mage couldn't swim, and by the time he was rescued, he had swallowed a lot of water. Feeling humiliated, he resolved to study water evasion techniques and underwater breathing methods. Eventually, simple and effective underwater breathing techniques became widely known across the continent. The principle behind these tricks was straightforward: controlling the elements in the water to create a membrane that could block water while allowing air to pass through. Even non-water mages or warriors could use their fighting spirit to mimic this membrane. Fars, who had swallowed water while swimming as a child, immediately learned this trick after becoming a mage. Now, he was putting it to good use; the cold pool had become Fars's private retreat, a sanctuary from the light.
As Fars grew bored waiting, the sun was finally setting. The energies emanating from the distant battle had diminished significantly, indicating that both sides were exhausted. After fighting for an entire afternoon, Fars remained comfortable in the cold pool, but he couldn't shake the concern for the adventurers, which was maddening.
Regardless of the lingering twilight, Fars leaped from the cold pool, quickly donned his clothes, and unfurled his magnificent wings, soaring toward the small valley. As he approached, he prudently retracted his wings and found a vantage point to observe the conflict below, enjoying the spectacle.
The young woman he was most concerned about had yet to sustain any injuries, but the afternoon's battle had left her drenched in sweat, and her rate of fire had decreased significantly, likely due to a dwindling supply of arrows. Jessy even resorted to wielding a short sword to engage in close combat.
The situation for the two magical beasts was dire; the one-eyed beast was exhausted, lying on one side of the valley, while its mate stood guard protectively around it. At this moment, the cunning of the humans became evident, as their attacks focused on the already incapacitated male beast, forcing the female to endure injuries to protect it. If this continued, the inevitable outcome would be the demise of both magical beasts.
It was time for Fars to intervene. He didn't plan to charge in and wreak havoc immediately; instead, he intended to subtly lend them a hand. He was uncertain whether his charm spells would work on humans, and the battlefield was too chaotic for a direct attack, which would undoubtedly expose him. The only viable option was his twisted blood control technique. With Fars's increasingly refined mental energy, he had become adept at using blood control.
The first target of Fars's attack was the rogue Hiu. Although Hiu was already severely injured and temporarily incapacitated, the rogue's true danger lay not only in his stealthy strikes but also in his mastery of throwing knives, poisons, and crossbows. Fars had learned that Hiu possessed wormwood poison, and now that he was wounded, he would be even more cautious in his defenses, perhaps even preparing to poison any hostile creatures.
While wormwood poison couldn't compare to the infamous ten deadliest poisons in Aelras's history—those poisons had become impossible to produce due to the extinction of rare ingredients—wormwood poison was still a relatively high-grade toxin available on the market. Its primary effect was to incapacitate the victim temporarily, making it a lethal tool for hunting and assassination.
Fars wasted no time in dealing with the already injured rogue. Using blood control, he detonated a portion of Hiu's blood, creating a powerful explosion that turned his internal organs to mush. However, Fars managed the power well, ensuring that the explosion only appeared as if Hiu had suffered a critical injury and died from blood loss. Hiu was truly finished; already gravely wounded and caught off guard, he was swiftly dispatched by Fars's maneuver.
Hiu's sudden blood loss immediately caught Jessy's attention. She hurriedly broke away from the fight and rushed toward Hiu. In the brief distance of a few meters, Hiu coughed up several mouthfuls of blood before he could even speak, and he was already dead.
Jessy, realizing something was amiss, cradled the fallen Hiu in her arms. He had no breath left. At that moment, Jessy didn't have time to think; she could only assume it was a sudden complication from his injuries. But there was no time for her to dwell on it. As she pulled away, the previously passive magical beast finally erupted, charging toward Carter recklessly. Carter, caught off guard, was sent flying by the beast's powerful strike. He managed to twist in mid-air, landing safely despite the awkwardness, but he wasn't seriously injured. Seeing the unfavorable situation, Jessy had no choice but to set Hiu down and charge back into the fray, shouting to her still-fighting teammates, "Hiu is dead!"
Those few words, carried by the wind, struck the hearts of the seasoned adventurers like a cold gust. Having faced life and death countless times, they had long grown accustomed to such losses. Hiu was a partner they had fought alongside for years, and his death ignited a furious rage in their eyes. They were unaware that Fars had orchestrated this, believing instead that Hiu's demise was due to his injuries, inflicted by the very beasts they were battling.
Moza, who had been focused solely on containment, could no longer ignore his own injuries. With a furious roar, he grabbed his weapon and charged at the magical beast. However, his attack, though fierce, was easily evaded by the agile creature. Fars was pleased to see the adventurers becoming frantic; this only aided his stealthy assault.
Taking advantage of their distraction, Fars prepared to target the most threatening member of the team, Carter. This high-level swordsman was incredibly powerful; during their last hunt for the thorned rhinoceros, he had likely held back. Fars didn't believe that Carter's current display of strength was all he had. If he could eliminate Carter, even without further intervention, the two high-level magical beasts would be more than capable of finishing off the rest.
Perhaps due to the vast difference in their levels, Carter barely faltered when struck by Fars's blood control technique. However, the blood trickling from his mouth confirmed that Fars's attack had indeed been effective. Despite his strength, Carter forced himself to suppress the effects. The magical beast opposite him continued its assault, taking advantage of Carter's momentary distraction to strike again.
Carter, experienced in battle, sensed something was off. Just as he was about to warn his teammates to be cautious, Fars's attack came once more. Although Carter was prepared this time, he was already weakened from his previous injuries and could not withstand Fars's onslaught.
Fars unleashed his full power, timing his attack perfectly. Just as Carter was struck, he unleashed his blood control technique combined with a blood explosion. Carter coughed up several mouthfuls of blood; even with his high-level swordsman strength, he couldn't endure the damage. While he didn't die instantly like Hiu, he was left incapacitated. However, his teammates fought fiercely to protect him, preventing the magical beasts from landing a direct hit.
Fars had no intention of finishing Carter off just yet; the blood explosion targeted the exquisite blood within Carter's body. After all, that was precisely what Fars had aimed for.