A large and a small Stone Armored Bug rumbled forward.
Zat extended his left hand, five jeweled rings flashing brightly, his mouth full of golden teeth reflecting light, even more blinding:
"You're really underestimating us! You wizards from legitimate guilds are truly infuriating!"
Boom! The Ancient Stone Armored Bug seemed to take a heavy hit, staggered back a few steps, then split into two Stone Armored Bugs.
This time, three Stone Armored Bugs charged forward together.
Carter shook his short staff. "Should we strike now, Brother Zat?"
"You're repeating yourself again, Brother Carter!" Zat laughed loudly. "If you want to attack, just do it!"
"Alright—" Carter's rooster-combed head made him sound simple and slow, but when it came to action, there was no hesitation.
He struck his short staff three times—bam, bam, bam—knocking over all three Stone Armored Bugs. One of the bugs had bitten into his armor, but it only left a shallow mark.
The three Stone Armored Bugs clicked as they split into six mini Stone Armored Bugs, each less than a meter tall.
"Oh? One of those types that keeps multiplying, huh? Looks like quite a rare summoned creature." Zat looked confident. "But the biggest weakness of a summoner is always their master... Where's the... master?"
Zat, planning to sneak attack Rhodes, was left confused. Where did their master go?
"Hiding? Well then, let's deal with the other one first!" Zat twitched one finger, and a flash of magical light glimmered on his ring.
"Argh!" Gray took a heavy hit, letting out a pained yell as he was sent flying.
Rhodes stepped out from behind a tree just in time to catch him. "I told you to dodge—why didn't you listen?!"
"Heh heh." Gray wiped the corner of his mouth. Though slightly injured, he smiled. "I get it now. I understand his magic. Let me handle him!"
"You..." Rhodes wanted to swear. Damn, I even had the monsters take the hits so you could observe safely.
Why do you insist on taking a hit yourself? Usually calm, but when it comes to a fight, you're as stubborn as Natsu—and Natsu's actually more persuadable!
"Whatever, do as you want. Don't say I didn't warn you if you get yourself killed." Rhodes raised his right arm, "Take Over: Canyon Swift Crab!"
Despite what he said, Rhodes, always caring, chose the form with the best vision—the Swift Crab—when he activated his Take Over magic.
Meanwhile, the six mini Stone Armored Bugs had already burrowed underground.
Carter scratched the back of his head. "Brother Zat, the stones disappeared."
"I see them, Brother Carter. That guy also knows Take Over magic, so dealing with them will take some effort."
"Should we attack now, Brother Zat?"
"There you go, repeating yourself again, Brother Carter." Zat walked forward with an arrogant swagger. "Let's hurry up and finish them; we still have business to do."
"Alright, Brother Zat." Carter followed with large strides, looking at Rhodes and then back at himself. Suddenly, he said, "His armor looks cool."
"That sort of thing doesn't matter. If you like it, just beat him and ask how he did it."
Zat grinned. "I'll finish off that Ice Wizard first, then I'll help you."
"Alright, Brother Zat." Carter hefted his short staff and charged at Rhodes.
That armor looked better than his; he was going to smash it.
"Ice-Make: Hammer!"
Gray pressed his right fist into his left palm, and an enormous ice hammer, larger than a person, crashed down from above Zat.
Zat raised his right hand, flicked his finger, and the ice hammer shattered instantly. He grinned, revealing a mouth full of golden teeth:
"Ice-Make magic is useless against me. No matter how fast you shape it, it's the same."
"Is that so?" Gray swung his right hand, his shirt flying off.
He wore a confident smile, assuming the posture to use his magic again. "Then let's find out!"
...
"Smash! I'll smash you!" Carter swung his short staff, each strike whistling through the air.
Rhodes moved agilely around him, his speed almost leaving afterimages.
Bang! Rhodes landed a kick on Carter's back, causing him to stagger.
But a short staff was already swinging back, forcing Rhodes to dodge quickly.
This guy's movement speed was average, but his reaction speed was decent.
Plus, that armor was annoyingly tough.
Was Gray going to be alright? Rhodes glanced over at Gray's fight with Zat—it seemed like he was no longer at a disadvantage.
And the Stone Armored Bugs? Good, they were busy moving the injured members of the Special Enforcement Unit.
Rhodes had given them orders to move the wounded to avoid any potential poison and accidental harm to allies.
Swish! Carter's staff swung down. Rhodes leaned back, dodging it, then kicked Carter in the ribs, pushing himself away.
He placed his right hand on his chest, around the pendant. "Answer my call, Shadow Wolves!"
Why duel one-on-one when you can gang up? Six Shadow Wolves appeared.
Two two-headed wolves ran a few steps, then spun into a forward rush. "Double Fang Wolf!"
Four regular wolves split to either side, preparing to bite at Carter's limbs.
Clang!
The two-headed wolves' fangs and claw tips grated against Carter's armor, producing a piercing sound.
"Bad dogs shouldn't bite people," Carter swung his staff, knocking away one two-headed wolf just before it bit his neck.
The other two-headed wolf leaped on him, claws pressing against Carter's body, teeth biting into his shoulder armor.
Carter raised his arm to strike, but two regular wolves lunged at him—one took a hit to the head while the other bit his wrist.
He kept swinging his staff, dragging the wolf along, aiming for the two-headed wolf.
The staff missed as the two-headed wolf leaped back, tearing off the left shoulder guard.
"Answer my call, Crimson Beakbirds!"
Rhodes didn't stay idle. As soon as the Shadow Wolves created an opening, he summoned a new set of Beakbirds.
Feather blades shot out, piercing Carter's left arm, now without its shoulder guard.
The Beakbirds swooped down to attack, while Carter continued to swing wildly, dragging along the wolf.
Three small Beakbirds were knocked down, but the remaining large one and two small ones managed to pierce Carter's chest armor on the right side, the bracer on his left arm, and—an unexpected bonus—the Shadow Wolf still hanging on.
Fighting in real combat with enemies interfering always led to unexpected outcomes.
But it didn't matter—Carter's armor was now broken, and he was bleeding. He could no longer fend off the onslaught from the summoned beasts.
Rhodes liked enemies who didn't know large-area magic attacks.
Directing the beasts to subdue Carter, he dismantled all the pieces of his armor.
Just to be sure, he called on a Stone Armored Bug to use its pillar-like leg to give Carter a few heavy hits on the head, sending him to sleep.
Rhodes originally intended to go help Gray right away, but it turned out there was no need.
"So your magic basically uses rings to create shockwaves, right?"
Gray positioned himself to cast his shaping magic, his surging magic power blowing through his bangs.
"To make up for the flaw of a single magic tool needing time for the magic crystal to recharge after being used, you've prepared ten rings."
"Once the ten pre-stored attacks are used, you have to switch and use them in batches, relying on the magic crystals to recharge naturally or actively, giving the illusion of an unlimited, seamless magic attack."
Hearing his unique combat style being completely exposed, Zat grew visibly flustered. "No one can do that! I'm the strongest Requip Wizard!"
"The strongest Requip?" Gray chuckled. "Don't make me laugh! Ice-Make: Scimitar! Lance! Broad Sword! Halberd! Battle Axe..."
One after another, massive ice weapons appeared as Gray made them, flying toward Zat from all angles.
Zat's rings flashed continuously, shattering each weapon as it came.
But eventually, unable to keep up with the defenses, Zat was forced to dodge. Gray lunged forward, ice blades extending from both of his elbows:
"Ice Blade: Sevenfold Dance!"
Gray moved with a dance-like grace, spinning, slashing Zat seven times with the ice blades.
Zat let out a scream, blood spraying from his wounds, then froze into ice crystals before crashing to the ground.
Gray ended his attack, half kneeling on the ground, the two ice blades shattering and scattering like light snow.
Rhodes ruined the atmosphere by throwing Gray's shirt over his head.
Damn, that guy was really damn cool.