Fortunately, this attack was not aimed at Fars; its target was Master Perugino, who was tirelessly casting spells to dispel the vengeful spirits. However, to reach him, the attackers first had to break through the defensive array. The destruction of the array left Fars, even with Danis's help, lightly injured.
On the other hand, Master Perugino, the one truly enduring the attack, was momentarily enveloped in a flash of purple light, effortlessly dissipating the blow. Yet, this seemingly simple act came at the cost of a high-tier protective talisman he had activated. Unlike scrolls, talismans are more convenient; they can be triggered with a mere thought, making them more efficient. Some talismans can even activate automatically in response to incoming attacks, providing self-protection. Although the attack was neutralized, Master Perugino could not suppress a mouthful of blood, a consequence of having his spell interrupted and suffering backlash. Clearly, the talisman he had just used was activated through his own mental control, which meant his previous spellcasting had been abruptly halted.
With the failure of the initial strike, the hidden vengeful spirit revealed its presence. Among the many spirits surrounding them, this was the only one visible to the naked eye. Floating in the air, its surrounding dark energy was thickening, almost taking form. Though it lacked a true shape, its inky blackness indicated that this spirit was beyond the capabilities of ordinary individuals to handle.
It possessed intelligence—undoubtedly a high level of it. Perhaps it had orchestrated a plan, summoning numerous low-tier vengeful spirits to draw attention, continuously draining the mages' magical energy, and seizing the opportunity to launch a surprise attack. This series of actions demonstrated that it had developed a form of sentience or intelligence. Vengeful spirits are classified based on the strength of their mental fluctuations; low-tier spirits lack direct offensive capabilities and typically target those with weaker mental fortitude or those suffering from illness and fatigue. In contrast, the spirits that had just attacked the array were of a higher tier, capable of utilizing some offensive means. If they retained any of their abilities from life or had gained new talents, they would be even more formidable. Such spirits, evolving further and gathering dark energy, could manifest before the living, possessing strength comparable to that of a mage. Other professions could infuse their attacks with fighting spirit or add holy or magical damage to eliminate vengeful spirits. However, when facing spirits that could rival mages, it was best for those unsuited to confront them to flee. The more advanced spirits could even take on specific appearances, reflecting their memories and preferences from life. Such spirits could no longer be considered mere vengeful spirits; they were masters of souls, possessing cognitive abilities on par with the wisest of humans.
The presence of this vengeful spirit placed unprecedented pressure on the team. Although the great knight Durl knew he wouldn't be of much use against it, as a responsible knight, he felt compelled to stand in front of those he was meant to protect. He unleashed his powerful fighting spirit, forming a shield around Master Perugino. With the strongest mage in their party injured, even though the other young nobles were precious, if the mage fell, they would all face the threat of death. Besides, they were not entirely defenseless. Their self-protection capabilities might not be inferior to Durl's full-strength shield. The three of them huddled together, and Joanna produced a milky-white scroll that shimmered with a crystalline glow. Upon unfolding it, a shield of divine light enveloped the three of them.
Of course, Fars was excluded from this protection. The divine shield was not only small but, as a member of the blood clan, he was naturally unwilling to undergo the purification of holy light. Perhaps the shield was meant not only to defend against the powerful vengeful spirit but also to guard against Fars, the cunning vampire. They had all seen their fair share of opportunistic betrayals.
Fars kept a close watch on everyone's movements. Tonight was a prime opportunity; if he missed it or was stopped, he could either be killed on the spot or never find another chance to escape, leaving his life in their hands.
However, he could not place all his hopes on the vengeful spirit across from him, as his Danis seemed to attract even more attention than Master Perugino. This was not a good sign, which might explain why the spirit that had successfully ambushed them hesitated to continue its assault; it likely harbored an innate fear of Danis.
What the spirit was contemplating was unknown to Master Perugino. Since it was waiting there, he could not relinquish the initiative. After a long time without facing such a formidable enemy, Master Perugino felt his fighting spirit surge. Once he stabilized his injuries, he disregarded Durl's objections and insisted on confronting the powerful foe before him, instructing Durl to assist the young nobles in fending off the other vengeful spirits. Durl found it difficult to defy this order; after all, they all needed protection, and it was his responsibility. Regardless of who fell here, it would be hard for him to remain in the Medici family afterward. Since Master Perugino had confidence in his ability to defeat the powerful spirit, Durl, though stubborn, was not unreasonable. The seemingly solid divine shield could not hold out indefinitely, and he indeed needed to take action.
In truth, sending Durl away served another purpose: to prevent Fars from betraying them. It could hardly be called betrayal; their relationship was already strained, with their lives held in the balance. Fars had only served these people out of necessity. Now, with an opportunity at hand, it would be foolish not to seize it.
The confrontation began as Master Perugino unleashed a massive fireball, provoking the cautious spirit king to unleash its ferocity and engage in battle with him. The combat style of this spirit king bore some resemblance to Fars's; it was equally adept at both ranged and melee attacks, and its close combat and ranged capabilities far surpassed Fars's. In contrast, as a pure mage, Master Perugino found himself somewhat suppressed. If they were to exchange spells back and forth, the mage would undoubtedly have the upper hand. However, the spirit king continually sought to close the distance, forcing Master Perugino to keep shifting, maintaining a particularly mana-draining shield.
Meanwhile, the other vengeful spirits, having lost the barrier of the array, regrouped and surrounded the group. In an instant, the dark energy surged, and the spirit king took full advantage of the environment, pressing Master Perugino even harder. The individuals within the divine shield were unable to assist. Without divine or magical support, the shield was like water without roots; once its energy was depleted, it would dissipate. The surrounding spirits continued to drain the shield's energy just as they had with the array.
The lower-tier spirits, commanded by the higher-tier ones, relentlessly attacked the shield. Unable to see the ongoing struggle, the group could only prepare another scroll, ready to replace the shield once it faded. Fortunately, with a great knight standing guard, the smaller spirits could not breach Durl's defenses.
As both sides engaged in battle, Fars cleverly used Danis's presence to keep the spirits at bay. Wherever he moved, he faced little to no attack, which brought him a sense of satisfaction.
Fars refrained from taking advantage of the situation; it was still unclear how things would unfold. If his involvement led to the spirit king's premature defeat, he would have to face the multitude of spirits that would be freed. He did not believe that the young Danis could withstand a spirit of such power, one that could contend with a mage.
With a gentlemanly bow to the group, Fars spread his wings and prepared to take flight. The other nobles, equally noble, returned the gesture, albeit reluctantly. Indeed, not taking advantage of their misfortune was commendable; it would be unwise to threaten or insult him, or to try to detain him, forcing Fars to fight at such a critical moment. Durl also returned a knightly salute, appearing remarkably composed. Joanna, while participating in the nobles' facade, still managed to send Fars a curse.
Fars had already decided where to fly: the Misty Forest. Tonight, he anticipated that the outcome of the battle with the spirit king would be determined. Fars held little confidence in the spirits; while they could delay Master Perugino and his group, could a well-equipped party with an array of rare treasures really be wiped out overnight by a spirit equivalent to a mage? Once dawn broke, they would be free to act.
If he flew far from the Gonsago Ruins, Fars could cover several hundred miles in half a night. But what then? During the day, Fars would struggle to escape quickly. If they pursued him, could he truly evade them? This was also why Fars refrained from taking advantage of their plight; the risks were too great. If Durl decided to stop him at all costs, Fars would find it difficult to escape, perhaps even impossible.
After flying a circuit, Fars cunningly veered into the Misty Forest. After all, he hadn't returned the crystal chip, and even if he got lost inside, he could still find his way out. If he arrived before them, he might find something valuable or, at the very least, set up some traps to hinder them, seeking a better opportunity to strike. To say that Fars was magnanimous and broad-minded would be a mistake. After enduring so much over the past few days, it was impossible for him to simply let it go. Fortune favors the bold; if he could find a good opportunity to eliminate them, the rewards would be immense. After all, he had already offended the nobility of the Duchy of Macas, so he had nothing to lose with the Medici family.
Now that his strength was considerable, he had a parchment in his ring detailing the high-tier spell "Death's Finger," waiting for him to learn it. If he could eliminate Master Perugino, he would undoubtedly gain access to spellbooks containing high-tier magic. What did he lack the most? Not money—what use was that in the beast-infested Qihar? Not food—most top-tier magical beasts were food, but nothing compared to the taste of human blood! Strength could not be achieved overnight; it required time to accumulate, especially for a vampire. Unfortunately, while Fars's power was substantial, he could not fully unleash the capabilities of a high-tier mage. However, combined with his skills as a vampire noble, his strength was not necessarily inferior to that of a pure high-tier mage. Ultimately, what Fars desired most was simply more high-tier spells.