Is a character like this just a witch hunter?
Are they really used to capture weak wizard apprentices like me?
Lynn found it hard to believe, but in reality, now isn't the time to think about this. Surrendering or begging for mercy held no meaning.
It was a fight for survival.
[Icy Blade]
Lynn raised his left hand, aiming it at Blaine. His mastery of Water Conjuring had become increasingly adept, and in an instant, another Ice blade materialized in the air.
However, his mental energy had reached its limit, and the nearby "water element" had been almost depleted. The ice blades he created were no longer a significant threat to his opponent.
Lynn was acutely aware of this, but he had a strong desire to survive.
He needed more water...
The moment this thought crossed his mind, Lynn felt as if his brain had been struck hard, as though countless silver needles had pierced him, followed by rapid consumption of his magical power, which was converted into a large amount of hydrogen and oxygen elements and "combined" into a stream of water.
At the same time, a strange rune was deeply imprinted in his mind.
[Multiple Icy Blades]
In just a second, several sharp ice blades appeared in front of Blaine, raining down like arrows.
Lynn's sudden burst of power exceeded Blaine's expectations. In haste, Blaine switched from offense to defense, but even with a rapid response, one [Icy Blade] managed to bypass the sword's protection and pierced his abdomen.
Blaine immediately felt a piercing coldness, and the crystalline ice rapidly spread along his abdomen.
Fully aware of the mysterious nature of magic, Blaine did not dare to be negligent. He clenched the ice blade and forcefully pulled it out. Due to the unique structure of the [Icy Blade], its barbs were embedded deeply in his flesh. As he removed it, crimson blood gushed out.
The intense pain made Blaine shiver uncontrollably, and the wound in his abdomen became a gruesome mess. More dangerously, the cold spread so rapidly that the area around the wound lost all sensation.
However, Blaine's ruthlessness took Lynn by surprise. Realizing that the wound in his abdomen would affect the upcoming battle, Blaine grabbed the burning cabinet doorknob and pressed it directly against his abdomen.
"Ah! Ah!" The scorching flames intertwined with the blurred flesh and blood. Veins popped on Blaine's forehead, and he let out a series of angry roars.
Thin wisps of smoke emanated from the contact point, and the muddled flesh and blood had become partially cauterized. There was no more bleeding, and the bone-chilling cold had disappeared under the searing heat.
This horrific sight left Lynn profoundly shocked. Whether it was Blaine's merciless use of a companion's corpse as a shield or his use of fire to cauterize the wound, it made Lynn realize that this was not an opponent to be underestimated.
Taking advantage of Blaine's distraction, Lynn wasted no time and burst through the room's door, leaving behind his short sword. In the confined space of the room, he had no chance of winning.
Blaine glanced at Andrew's charred body, clenched his sword tightly, and pursued Lynn.
***
Evening fell over the slums outside of Nordland's borders, where two figures chased and fled through the narrow, dilapidated streets.
As the day grew darker, one after another, [Icy Blades] whizzed through the air, striking the ground and walls without any pattern.
Every time Lynn cast a spell, his brain would throb with pain. But at this point, he couldn't afford to think about it. If he stopped casting, his pursuer would strike him down with a sword through his head.
On the other hand, Blaine, who was chasing behind, seemed to handle the situation with ease. His sharp eyes tracked the flying ice blades, and he skillfully dodged them, maintaining a calculated distance behind Lynn.
Blaine was cautious. After all, this apprentice wizard had displayed an unusual level of cunning, using deceptive notes within the room, the sudden burst of ice blades and fireballs, and the mysterious magic that killed Andrew. Blaine was deeply impressed by Lynn's abilities.
So, even though Lynn appeared exhausted, Blaine didn't dare to act recklessly. He was like the most patient of hunters, slowly wearing down Lynn's strength until his prey fell.
During this chase, the two had moved farther and farther from the city, and a foul stench filled the area. Blaine realized that Lynn had inadvertently led him to the long-abandoned Lower City.
Nordland's region sloped from the south to the north, with the main city built along the banks of the Yen River to the north.
Over a decade ago, the Duke of Nordland, who had returned from the Holy City, was dissatisfied with the chaotic, foul-smelling appearance of the main city. He ordered craftsmen to dig a small canal to divert all the city's waste downstream into the Yen River.
This, however, proved to be a great inconvenience for the impoverished people living in the Lower City, who relied on the Yen River for water.
But the Duke of Nordland cared little for the lives of these commoners, and over time, the entire Lower City fell into disuse, with only a very small number of scavengers choosing to linger in the area.
Blaine couldn't help but worry that other apprentice wizards might be hiding here. Just as he was determined to resolve the situation quickly, Lynn, who had been fleeing all along, suddenly stopped in a maze of alleys.
The concentration should be enough...
Lynn double-checked one last time, and the strange rune in his mind was activated in an instant. Seven [Icy Blades] materialized out of thin air, glittering in the twilight...
Forcing the conversion of a large amount of magical power into hydrogen and oxygen, the side effects became increasingly severe. Lynn felt like his brain was about to explode.
His magical power had been squeezed to its limit. This was his final magic.
In the next moment, the ice blades automatically split into two groups, shooting in random directions, and sealing off all of Blaine's escape routes.
Blaine's expression turned serious as he stared ahead.
Even if he couldn't completely block such a large number of attacks, he had to endure some injuries...
Fortunately, these ice blades seemed to lose their accuracy, mostly passing by him. Only three were aimed directly at him...
Is this a desperate struggle?
A hint of mockery appeared on Blaine's face. During their earlier pursuit, he had noticed that Lynn's spellcasting wasn't conjuring something out of thin air. There was a significant mental toll...
Clearly, Lynn was nearing his limit.
A slight smile curled on Blaine's lips as he precisely parried each incoming [Icy Blade] with his longsword. However, he failed to notice a red sphere mixed in with the ice blades.
Clang.
The blade and the sphere collided, creating a dazzling burst of sparks.
The peculiar sensation of the impact made Blaine pause for a moment, and then he realized that he had struck a piece of flint.
TL/n -
Flint is a type of sedimentary rock that is composed primarily of microcrystalline quartz (a form of silica). It's known for its hardness and ability to produce sparks when struck against steel.
This property made it a valuable tool for starting fires in the past.
Flint is often found in sedimentary rock formations, particularly those that were once at the bottom of ancient seas. It's also used in the production of tools, such as arrowheads and knives, as well as in the creation of decorative objects.