Chapter 536 (1) - The Academys Weapon Replicator |
Frondier felt a cold sweat trickle down his back as tension gripped him.
Elodie was as powerful as Aster. No one could match the sheer destructive force of her magic, and she was the closest to an Archmage after Osprey.
In the game, there was no way to recruit her into the party, but that only made her more coveted by players.
Elodie de Inies Rishae.
“...You're going to protect me?” Frondier asked, taking a step back.
Usually, against a mage, it was better to close the distance than to retreat. The farther away he was, the more vulnerable he became to their ranged attacks.
However, that common sense no longer applied to Elodie or Frondier.
Elodie was a mage who could handle close combat without risk, and Frondier was a warrior capable of ranged attacks.
Above all, Frondier couldn't fight without knowing what Elodie was thinking.
"It doesn't matter if you don't know."
Elodie's voice sounded calm, but there was a tremor in it. She extended a hand towards Frondier.
"This area is off-limits, Frondier."
Elodie stood blocking the entrance of the cave, as if she would never let him see what was inside.
‘This is bad.’
Even with all his might, Frondier couldn't guarantee a victory against Elodie. And right now, he couldn't even use his full strength. He had no intention of fighting her.
It was probably the same for Elodie, but either way, this stalemate would only waste time.
Right now, Elodie was more difficult to deal with than Aster. Not only was her motive unknown and he couldn’t fight her seriously, but Frondier was completely unprepared.
Aster was someone Frondier had intentionally pushed to grow. He'd made himself Aster's mental rival, a wall to overcome, stimulating his growth.
To do that, he needed to beat Aster by any means necessary, so Frondier had prepared countermeasures in advance. That was the reason why he had always been able to surpass Aster in actual combat.
But Elodie was different.
She was someone he had never imagined becoming his enemy.
‘First, I need to get Elodie to move from there.’
Frondier used Weaving to create and shoot a thorn.
‘It’d be great if Elodie dodges, but if she defends, I need to figure out the range of her barrier and break through it first…’
Swoosh—
The thorn grazed Elodie’s cheek.
Elodie didn’t budge an inch. A thin line of blood appeared on her cheek, and blood trickled down.
“Elodie!”
Frondier’s hand that had just shot trembled.
What if that attack, that aim had been a little more accurate?
He hadn’t intended to hurt Elodie, but he hadn’t aimed carefully, believing she would naturally dodge.
Would she have dodged an attack coming straight at her face?
…No, Elodie probably…
“Frondier.”
…Elodie wouldn’t have.
“That won’t work.”
“Elodie…”
“You can’t get past me with attacks like that.”
As soon as she finished speaking, sparks crackled around her hand.
The moment he saw it, Frondier rolled away from his spot.
Crackle—!
The bolt of lightning that shot from Elodie’s hand struck the ground, leaving a clear, vertical mark as if it had gouged the earth.
‘Such a powerful spell, and she skipped the entire activation sequence…!’
If he had been hit by that lightning, Frondier wouldn’t have died, but he wouldn’t be able to continue fighting. That must have been Elodie’s intention.
She had unleashed such magic with a flick of her wrist. Even considering Elodie’s proficiency in High-Speed Incantation, it was an uncanny speed. It was even stranger considering her inability to use “Reservation.”
‘Is Rudra assisting Elodie with all his might?’
Elodie had unsealed four Gods. He had anticipated that her magical abilities would be amplified as a result, but this felt like the Gods themselves were guiding her every move.
“You dodged as expected, Frondier.”
Elodie lifted a single finger.
Flame Magic 1st Form
Divine Power Agni
Instantaneous
1-Word Incantation
‘Flames of deep darkness, a light that knows no end.’
Spell Complete
Hellfire
A flame flickered at her fingertip.
The color of the flame was black.
‘Hellfire!’
Whoooosh—!
Right before the black flame shot towards Frondier, he leaped back.
‘What in the world is she thinking, Elodie!’
At the same time, he grabbed the Black Lotus necklace and crushed it.
Obsidian
Full Release
A black wave surged like a lake, enveloping Frondier, dyeing the surrounding ground, and spreading out behind him like wings.
Kaboom—!
Obsidian flew into the Hellfire and collided, the Hellfire greedily devouring Obsidian.
Frondier abandoned the part of Obsidian that was engulfed in Hellfire and flung it away. The discarded Hellfire landed on the ground with a sizzling sound.
‘Do I really have to fight her?!’
Elodie wasn’t even looking at him. She seemed determined to incapacitate him by any means necessary, even if it meant not killing him.
Conversely, if Elodie’s words about saving him were true, then she was convinced that if she couldn’t stop him, he would die.
“Elodie! Explain what’s going on! If we talk, I’m sure…!”
“It’s pointless.”
Elodie’s eyes were cold.
“Even if I explain everything, your choice won’t change.”
“Elodie!”
“Because that’s the kind of person you are.”
This time, Elodie extended both hands. Mana surged around her, a mix of heat and wind.
—The Vermillion Bird’s Ascent is coming.
“Frondier, from the moment I decided to stop you, I put my life on the line.”
Elodie spoke.
“But you can’t do that. Because you have to save your brother.”
“….!”
“That bluff you’re so good at, it won’t work this time.”