Sorry for the delay, just got back home after long day, rn its 11pm here. I didnt even have the time to increase my stock of translate chapter this week. Anyway do tell me if there is mistake or not, probably there is one or so.
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"Elena?"
Li Xiang took a step back and asked, sparing a moment amidst the chaos.
After a brief pause, Elena's voice came through the earpiece, though her tone was slightly fragmented, indicating she was engaged in some sort of action.
"I'm fine. We've encountered a few enemies, so we might not be able to help you for now. Be careful."
"Understood."
Li Xiang refocused his attention on Sapp. Despite his relentless attacks, they hadn't made a dent in the scales covering Sapp's body. If he couldn't figure out a way to break through that defense, the outcome would only end in his defeat.
So far, Li Xiang had been relying on his speed to maintain the upper hand. But his agility didn't come from physical strength—it was all due to magical reinforcement. Sapp, on the other hand, didn't seem like a typical magician. His combat style was closer to that of a knight. Given the age of the ruins, it was plausible that Sapp had no knowledge of magic. But in terms of overall ability, Sapp was clearly superior. With his defense and brute strength, he could simply wait for Li Xiang's magic to run out.
As Li Xiang pondered his options, Sapp made his move. Instead of blocking Li Xiang's spear, he allowed a surge of magic, like flowing water, to emerge from between his scales. In mere moments, the spaces between the scales filled with a thick, black substance, like clay filling cracks in pottery. Sapp, now coated entirely in this tar-like material, stood before Li Xiang like a dark, coal-black figure.
With a squelching sound, Li Xiang's spear finally pierced through the scales. Before he could celebrate, he realized his spear felt like it had been stuck in thick glue. No matter how hard he pulled, it wouldn't budge.
Without hesitation, Li Xiang let go of the spear and retreated.
Sapp didn't pursue him. Instead, he let out a smug, low chuckle, clearly pleased with himself.
"..."
Brother, times have changed.
Li Xiang shook his head, understanding why Sapp felt confident. In the old days, losing one's weapon would mean losing a huge part of one's combat ability. Back then, knights wielded legendary weapons that could turn the tide of battle—like the three famed swords of the Lake: Excalibur, Arondight, and Caliburn.
Li Xiang was ready to dismiss his projected spear when something caught his eye. The tip of the spear, still embedded in the sticky black substance, hadn't been corroded. Despite losing his weapon, part of the spear remained lodged in Sapp's scales.
Taking a deep breath, Li Xiang began to sprint.
His body left a faint yellow trail through the mist as he pushed his speed to the limit. Small, thin cuts appeared on his face as the wind from his rapid movements split his skin. The blood droplets were quickly carried away by the gusts.
The distance between Li Xiang and Sapp was about three meters.
Sapp blinked and, in that split second, felt dozens of spears piercing his body.
By the time he reopened his eyes, he found himself impaled by countless spears, all lodged between his scales. If not for the spears, he might have doubted that Li Xiang had even moved.
Li Xiang raised his hand, snapping his fingers.
A thunderous explosion followed.
It was as if a series of explosives had gone off, engulfing the area in fire and smoke. The powerful blast even caused the thick mist to momentarily disperse.
Li Xiang sprinted forward once again, summoning a new spear into his hand.
The wind from his movement parted the lingering smoke, revealing Sapp's battered figure.
The previous explosion had destroyed much of the outer layer of his scales, leaving the tar-like substance significantly thinner. The scales had started to shed, but the explosion's full force had been absorbed.
Sapp's scales began regenerating, new ones growing to replace those lost. His flesh, too, was rapidly healing, filling in the gaps.
At this rate, Sapp would be back to full strength in less than half a minute.
But at that exact moment, Li Xiang's spear, brimming with condensed magic, struck Sapp's heart, effortlessly piercing through.
Blood gushed from the gaping wound, surprisingly red.
For some reason, Li Xiang's mind wandered to the odd thought that the blood should've been green, considering how the creature looked.
Shaking his head, Li Xiang projected another spear into his hand, his expression remaining cautious.
Monsters often had a way of clinging to life.
He walked over to Sapp's fallen body and, without hesitation, stabbed him twice more—one to destroy the heart and another to smash the head—before finally relaxing.
Without saying anything, worried it might distract Elena during her battle, Li Xiang activated the tracking device in his glasses.
After only a few steps, the deafening sound of explosions filled the air.
Massive, booming explosions echoed through the temple.
Li Xiang paused for a moment, stunned. That couldn't be a simple first-level explosion spell. No, this was a higher-tier ritual magic—[Flame Burst].
Among the twelve who had entered, only Elena and Xavier Boycks, the captain of the Fourth Squad, were at the ritual level. Given that the lizardmen were only at the novice level, Li Xiang had assumed the others would have it easier.
Clearly, the situation was more intense than he had anticipated.
But it made sense. Most magicians preferred not to engage in direct combat. They spent their time in labs, studying how to reach the Root or plotting how to prevent others from doing so. Even within powerful departments like the Enforcers and the Sealing Designation Enforcers, battle-hardened magicians were a rarity.
Sudden encounters like this were a nightmare for traditional magicians.
With that in mind, Li Xiang hurried toward Elena's location.
It didn't take long before he spotted her.
Elena, looking more flustered than usual, was furiously kicking a mangled lizardman corpse.
"How dare you scare me! Take this! And this!"
Li Xiang shivered.
Behind Elena, a spatial rift hung in the air, and Li Xiang could clearly see a room filled with stuffed dolls on the other side.
Suddenly, the earlier explosion made more sense.
Li Xiang remembered seeing similar stuffed dolls during one of Elena's club activities.
"He's dead already," Li Xiang said, amused.
"Li Xiang?" Elena stopped kicking the corpse and immediately resumed her usual elegant demeanor. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. How about you?"
"We're okay, too. No casualties, but six people are injured—two of them pretty badly."
"So, only Sapp got possessed?" Li Xiang mused, frowning. Was it just a coincidence that one of the lizardmen found an available body and took it?
"Sapp is dead," Li Xiang added somberly. He didn't know Sapp well, but it still felt like a waste.
"I understand."
Elena contacted Adashino through her earpiece. "Captain, the battle is over. We've secured eight cursed bodies. These are ancient creatures, long extinct in modern times. Their value is substantial, far exceeding our current losses."
"Excellent!" Adashino's voice betrayed her excitement.
Ancient creatures from the Age of Gods were incredibly valuable. Whether for academic research or as rare magical materials, their worth was immeasurable.
"Sapp is dead, and six others are injured. Two require immediate medical attention."
"Stay where you are. I'll send a team to retrieve Sapp's remains and escort the injured out."