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The Spirits moved just like a wave ready to crush Arion into whatever shapes they could do.
Seeing this, Shera decided to use Arion's Soul Essence to cast three Rune Magic spells simultaneously at one point: {Lucent}, {Rectify}, and {Paralyze}.
A white orb materialized in front of Arion, pulsating with energy. Moments later, it exploded, releasing a brilliant light that burned all the surrounding spirits, causing them to fall to the ground, screeching in pain.
The white light spread, creating a giant sphere that illuminated the area.
It resembled the lights from the academy assault that night, though it wasn't quite as large.
Nesa, who was hiding with the other two, noticed that the dark sky suddenly brightened.
A white light shone brightly in the distance, and she quickly deduced that it had come from the direction of their bus.
The others seemed oblivious to the spectacle, but Nesa, the only one who capable of seeing it, felt a surge of awe.
Excitement bubbled within her as she thought that perhaps, the one who had helped the academy that night was here, aiding them once again – like a superhero rush or something.
Meanwhile, the evil spirits found themselves engulfed by the white flame, which clung to their ethereal forms, relentlessly inflicting the pains and suffering of Life Essence that were not meant to exist in the 1st Realm.
The white light also rendered them unable to fly or move from their spots, leaving them all paralyzed and vulnerable.
Arion, on the other hand, felt a strong urge to check on the students who lay unconscious on the ground, much like extras in horror movies.
However, he knew that time was of the essence. Reluctantly, he decided to leave them be, for now, focusing on the immediate threat.
"Do you think I'm strong enough to handle all of these evil spirits and banish them back to the Spirit Realm?" Arion inquired as he approached Nesa and her group swiftly, sensing the chaos of the battle unfolding there.
"It's better if you let the Guard Captain handle it," Nesa replied, her voice steady despite the chaos around them. "If we try to do it ourselves, with my current condition, we need to gather them in the same spot first. Only then can I banish them all using Rune Magic. But that takes too much time, and your body will break from this art by then. Of course, there is another easier way."
"Oh? What is it?" Arion asked, curiosity piqued.
"Kill the one who summoned these evil spirits," Nesa explained, her expression serious.
"The spirits will automatically return to their original realm. But from my experience, the one using this Magic Art is usually an expert at hiding themselves. Often, they don't even let off a slight smell or presence detectable by my senses. There was one time when I lost track of someone using this art. It was the most humiliating event in my whole life as a Priestess of Vysha'ra."
"Hmmm, let's look for the Guard Captain then…" Arion stated, though he was curious about the part about her priestess experience, he decided to set that question aside for now.
The matter at hand was far more urgent.
* * *
Arriving at the battle, Arion found Nesa's group hiding behind a tree, while the guards were busy fighting the villagers.
A few strange guards mixed in with the villagers moved like dolls, their movements unsettling and unnatural.
On the other hand, the normal guards had formed a defensive circle, protecting Nesa, Rhea, and Solome at the middle, while the Guard Captain maneuvered among the enemies, trying to maintain control over the chaotic situation.
"They are possessed," Shera said.
"I see," Arion replied, taking in the scene before him.
The villagers, though possessed, exhibited erratic yet organized movements.
Armed with pitchforks, hoes, sickles, and other farming tools, they attempted to stab the unpossessed guards.
While the guards could handle the villagers easily, the sheer number of them made Arion feel apprehensive, his knees feeling weak.
The villagers seemed to fill the forest, their numbers overwhelming. He suspected that these villagers were not only from the earlier village but had come from other regions too.
Meanwhile, the possessed guards posed a more significant threat.
They moved with more ease and precision, wielding intelligence and magic that made them a real menace in the battle.
Their attacks had already left several injuries among the unpossessed guards, who were reluctant to harm, focusing instead on incapacitating them all.
Suddenly, a black spear flew through the air, creating a sharp whistling sound as it pierced two guards who were caught off guard by the unexpected attack.
"No…" the Guard Captain shouted in grief and anger, witnessing the impalement of two of his subordinates.
Another guard was also pierced by the black spear on her arm, which emerged from behind the pierced guard, adding to the chaos.
Then from the shadows of the forest, a figure in a black cloak emerged, its form obscured.
With slow, deliberate steps, this person revealed him/herself through the grand entrance of a cliché cool villain who was likely the culprit behind the turmoil.
The possessed villagers automatically parted to create a path for the cloaked figure, who was surrounded by a swarm of evil spirits, creating an eerie and foreboding scene.
Silence fell over the battlefield as the summoner stepped into the open.
Shera broke the tension by awkwardly explaining to Arion.
"Uhhh, maybe times have changed. Not everyone who learns Shamanism will be a coward hiding in the back."
"Can you save those guards who were impaled, Shera?" Arion asked, his heart rather heavy seeing them.
"I'm sorry. Their breath is already gone. It's too late," Shera replied, her voice tinged with sorrow.
She hated witnessing the loss of life for a righteous cause, especially when it happened right before her eyes, and she felt powerless to intervene.
"So, that person is the one we need to kill, right?" Arion pressed, something unexplainable rising within him.
"Yes. I can feel the threads that bind that person to all the spirits around us right now," Shera confirmed his conjecture.
"Good," Arion said, raising himself from the shrubbery where he had been hiding. "Do we also need a mask now, Shera?"
"Yes," she replied.
As soon as she spoke, a huge piece of bark from a nearby tree broke off and floated toward Arion.
It rapidly molded and shrank into a wooden mask, which then attached itself to his face, concealing his identity.
His entire body and clothes blurred, transforming into a garment of mixed greens, whites, and yellows. A badge adorned his chest, featuring emerald leaves that formed harmonious, beautiful circles around a gem of multiple colors.
"This is an outfit of the Rangers that I, as a priestess, once designed for my followers," Shera explained. "If you can kill that person, it means the original plan can be scrapped without risking your identity. Now, go get them, hero."
"Cool. As you wish, my lady," Arion replied while inspecting the costume with wonder and amazement.
With a swift motion, he vanished from his location, intent on swiftly eliminating the mastermind behind this chaos.
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(A/N: Feel free to skip this)
- Nature's Second Heart, Magic Art; First Transformative Sequences; Verdant Awakening: This is a powerful and perilous magic art that's basically the magical equivalent of trying to start a car with a potato – great in theory, but you might end up with a face full of engine parts.
When invoked, the user forcefully draws upon the raw forces of both tamed and untamed Nature's Element, channeling these energies to fuel and strengthen their Soul Essence.
However, this art comes with significant risks.
Since Nature's Elements aren't inherently Soul Essence, the user experiences severe backlash, akin to an engine malfunctioning when you try to use a low-grade fuel. Imagine Arion trying to channel all that energy and suddenly feeling like he's been hit by a runaway tree – because, spoiler alert, he kind of does!
In Arion's case, this technique has been modified into Four Transformative Sequences by Shera, who clearly has a flair for dramatic flair and a penchant for safety measures. This allows him to harness its power without immediately turning into a magical pancake.
In the first transformative sequence, Arion's physique and Soul Flame are dramatically enhanced, granting him the ability to cast various Runes that his original Soul Flame and body could not handle before.
It's like upgrading from a flip phone to the latest smartphone – suddenly, he's got all these cool features! But upon completion, Arion finds himself riddled with countless wounds, looking like he just lost a fight with a particularly angry hedgehog.
Fortunately, Shera is there to heal him, reducing the duration and severity of the aftereffects. She's like the magical nurse on call, ready to patch him up and remind him that maybe next time, he should stick to simpler spells – like turning water into lemonade instead of trying to summon the forces of nature!
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- {Lucent}: This Rune emits a radiant light that's brighter than a thousand flashlights at a midnight campout, illuminating the surrounding area and dispelling darkness.
It's great for revealing hidden objects or creatures – like that snack you dropped under the couch last week (Ups, sorry there, didn't mean it, buddy). Plus, if you're feeling particularly mischievous, you can use it to temporarily blind your enemies, giving you the perfect chance to sneak away or, you know, steal their lunch.
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- {Rectify}: This Rune is like a cosmic vacuum cleaner for negativity, exorcising all the bad vibes that represent the opposite of Life and Creation. You might remember it from the early chapter (I forgot which chapter, anyway) – where the black orbs floating in the air looked like they were auditioning for a role in a sci-fi movie.
When Arion touched them, they cracked and vanished into thin air, probably wondering why they didn't get a better gig.
It's used to dispel darkness and destructive forces – basically, it's the ultimate mood lifter for the world. If you're in an area tainted by corruption and decay, just whip this baby Rune out, and it'll promote healing and renewal faster than a motivational speaker at a self-help seminar.
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- {Paralyze}: When activated, this Rune immobilizes a target, rendering them unable to move or act for a short duration.
It's like hitting the pause button on your least favorite video game boss. Perfect for catching foes off guard, allowing you and your allies to capitalize on their vulnerability - like killing them while they're frozen in place.
And in Shera's case, she's got a special knack for tweaking the original Rune, making the immobilization last longer than it should. It's like she's got a remote control for 'Time', and she's not afraid to use it – just don't ask her to pause during a dramatic moment; she might forget to unpause!
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