"So you have a plan?" Fanzell asked with an unbelieving expression.
"Yes, but before that—"
"You actually have a plan that can get me my clue and save all the imprisoned people?!"
Fanzell was freaking out.
"That's the whole point of the plan."
"Before that, which kingdom did you come from? You said you didn't know this kingdom's terrain well," Marcus asked, staring directly at Fanzell's still-shocked face.
"Well, from Diamond Kingdom. Now tell me the plan—I want to know it."
Fanzell eagerly urged him.
Marcus leaned closer to Fanzell and whispered something in a low voice.
"Um... that might work, but it's risky," Fanzell nodded at the plan.
"But you should do something before implementing the plan," Fanzell added, scanning Marcus up and down.
"What is it?"
"You're emitting a large amount of mana uncontrollably. These are low-level mana goblins, including the captain of this party."
"But in the hideout, there may be strong mana users. They can instantly recognize your magic strength and use magic cuffs to render you powerless."
Marcus shook at the words.
"Either you recently obtained a grimoire, which boosted your magic with a huge surge of mana, or this large amount of mana appeared suddenly."
Fanzell's words hit the mark.
Yes, he had experienced a sudden magic boost, but he couldn't tell him that.
"Something like that," Marcus simply nodded.
"Well, controlling mana is simple. You grasp it, guide it, and adjust the release."
It was a very quick lesson. It might not have been a proper lesson, but for Marcus, it was enough.
I need to grasp it.
Marcus closed his eyes and slowly began to feel the mana around him, much like how one can sense the air moving in and out of the body while breathing.
It didn't take long. He sensed the mana flowing chaotically around him.
Can I control it?
He tried. It didn't work. Then he tried again, this time focusing on the mana as though it were a part of his body—and it worked.
The mana slowly stabilized, swirling around him calmly and peacefully.
Once he did that, his body felt freer, as if a huge burden had been lifted.
Wow, so this is what it feels like to be in control of mana.
On the other side, Fanzell watched Marcus intently from a distance.
He grasped it quickly. He understood it—I thought he might ask deeper questions, but he got it right away.
The amount of mana... this talent. He must be royal or noble, but his clothes and appearance suggest he's just a commoner.
Well, as long as he can save the people and I get the clue, I'll have to follow his plan.
Fanzell's entire body shuddered with goosebumps.
Damn, I'm following a kid's plan.
He rubbed his shoulders.
"And kid, remember—goblins are known for using combination magic spells. They're strong, and some spells even drain life force. You should take note of that."
Marcus nodded at Fanzell.
The party slowly walked toward a secret path in the forest. A large hill loomed ahead, with a gigantic cave at its base.
Another goblin party, also bringing human prisoners, met Marcus's party leader.
They muttered to each other.
"Now," Marcus coughed slowly.
Immediately, Fanzell used his wind power to snap the goblins' flimsy bindings and went berserk with magic.
His diamond-covered grimoire glowed as the wind magic created chaos around them.
The two goblin captains stepped forward and unleashed offensive spells.
"Goblin Magic: Terra Wall!"
"Goblin Magic: Terra Rocks!"
The earth beneath them rose like a wall, and rocks formed, blasting toward Fanzell.
In response, Fanzell turned his wind magic into a sword and sliced through the incoming rocks.
Sensing the commotion, several party leaders emerged from inside the cave. Fanzell observed them, then leapt high, using his wind magic to propel him. With a quick burst, he left the field.
The field was now in a disastrous state. Many of the goblins were dead, and the two captains had sustained deadly injuries.
Oh my, that red pervert is way stronger than I imagined.
The goblin captains who emerged from the cave roared something at the remaining goblins in the field. It could only mean one thing: Get all of them inside, quickly, idiots!
With swift action, the goblins herded all the human prisoners inside and locked each group in a cell.
The cave was dark. The cells resembled human prisons, with a corridor lined with similar cell doors. The floor inside was covered in dry yellow grass.
Goblins hated sunlight but had poor eyesight, so they had arranged torches along the corridors to provide light.
One goblin threw Marcus into the cell. Inside, there were five people: a one-armed man, a timid young woman, an elderly lady, and a bearded man and a little girl.
The timid woman was hugging the one-armed man, as if they were husband and wife.
"Another lamb in the pot... ha... ha!" the bearded man laughed.
"Stop it, Oli. We're not in a position to laugh," the old woman, Granny Emi, said with a wrinkled face.
"Then what is it, Granny Emi? We've been trapped by these damn goblins for days. Today or tomorrow, we'll get those magic cuffs, and then we'll all be slaves to those bastards!" Oli said furiously, struggling to control his screams.
"There are magic knights out there. They'll save us if we wait longer, right, dear?" The timid woman looked to her one-armed husband while hugging a child.
The husband remained silent. Then Marcus spoke, his voice low. "No, they won't come."
Everyone turned their heads toward Marcus.
"They're part of this. They won't come," Marcus said sternly.
"What? No, you're lying! They will come. They're our only hope! How can this...?" The woman started crying, and her husband hugged her with his one remaining arm.
"Honey, if they were going to come, they would've already saved us. We've been abandoned," the husband said, speaking the harsh truth.
"We're on our own," the old woman said quietly.
" Fuck those magic knights!" Oli screamed, his shout even alerting the goblin guards.
"So, I won't make it home. I won't see my friends again..."
"I want to see my mom... sniff..."
"I... sniff sniff... I'm a bad girl... bad things always happen to... me…"
"Please, anyone... help me... please," the little girl cried, her stomach growling.
Everyone watched, helpless to do anything but pity her.
Marcus slowly bent down on one knee and moved closer to her. He opened his hand.
In his mind, he had only one thought: Give the girl something.
He had only ever used icy wind—wind in its natural state, not solid ice.
But now, he wanted to give her solid ice, like an ice cream. His will and thoughts aligned, and a new spell took shape.
His grimoire glowed in midair.
"Necro Magic: Frost-Solid Ice."
He opened his hands, and an ice cone formed.
The cone was covered in a layer of wind-chilled ice to hold it, while the core inside was solid, crystalline ice as small sprinkles and ice paste.
"What's your name?"
"Katty."
"I'm Marcus. Katty, take this as a gift from me."
The girl hesitated, then reluctantly took it and bit into it. It was sweet. Unlike cream ice, it didn't taste the same, but it was comforting and sweet enough to stop her crying.
A goblin, who had heard the earlier scream, approached the cell, muttering to itself and pointing its spear at Marcus from the gaps of the cell door.
Marcus patted the little girl's head. "You'll see your mother. I guarantee it. And I will come back to save you all."
Before the little girl or anyone else could react, Marcus moved with lightning speed. He approached the goblin and placed his hand on its head.
"Necro Magic: Frost-Bite."
The goblin's entire head was encased in ice. With a quick punch, Marcus shattered it.
He then turned to the cell doors, freezing them with a wave of his hand, before blasting them apart. He swiftly grabbed the bearded man Oli and pulled him outside.
The guards were fewer now, as most had been called away for an important matter by the goblin chief.
It didn't take long for Marcus to finish them off.
Marcus left the building just as reinforcements arrived at the cells, summoned by the fallen goblins' calls for help.
Pulling the bearded man, Marcus slid along the corridor by making the ground below ice, making his way out of the cell area.
He glanced back.
"Now the next step of the plan will proceed."