Chapter Forty-Three: The Collapse (1)
First, let me share a rather tragic event: my computer broke down these past two days, and I had no choice but to take it for repairs. I only got it back today, and the chapters were interrupted for two days. But I promise I will make up for the missing chapters! — Jan Jay
Upon hearing Rogers’s words, East immediately darted forward to intercept the three soul masters. But to his surprise, Rogers was the first to block East’s path, his snake-shaped spear bursting forth with a fierce and domineering emerald aura, sweeping across directly towards him.
“Damn it!”
East cursed inwardly, watching helplessly as the three soul masters vanished before his eyes. Yet there was nothing he could do—the soul master before him was far stronger, and it was impossible to bypass him and pursue the others. Left with no choice, East pushed his own aura to the limit and braced himself to face Rogers head-on.
-------
Will ran frantically with the group. Because magicians possessed frail physiques, even though they exerted themselves to the fullest, their speed was far from impressive, especially with the addition of the overweight and cumbersome Charlesburg.
In the dense underbrush and darkness, the soul masters moved like phantoms. It was only a brief moment before the three soul masters behind them caught up.
“Damn it!”
Claire, trailing at the end, was the first to face trouble. To evade the soul masters’ attacks, he swiftly drew his wand and muttered an incantation, “Raise a swirling haze of dust, obscure the enemy’s sight! — Mirage Sand!”
The earth elements around him surged violently at Claire’s chant. A whirlwind of yellow sand swept forth, blocking everyone’s vision. Yet this hazy sand barely hindered the three soul masters; they continued their chase at incredible speed.
“Huh?”
Seeing his sand magic had no effect whatsoever, Claire was momentarily stunned. He quickly waved his wand and chanted another spell, unleashing an earth spike spell. From the ground, half-meter-long sharp earthen spikes shot up, completely blocking the soul masters’ path. He thought this would bring some relief, but to his shock, the spikes proved utterly useless. The three soul masters simultaneously revealed their soul beasts—a giant bear, a crimson-armed green lizard, and a pseudo-serpent—each unleashing a surge of aura in different colors. Their fierce and domineering energies shattered Claire’s prized earth spikes in an instant.
“How can this be?!”
Stunned by the situation before him, Claire was consumed by confusion. At that moment, the bear soul master appeared before him, his hand transformed by aura into a massive bear paw, grabbing Claire and with a “crack,” twisting his neck.
“Claire!”
Semily watched as the soul master casually tossed Claire’s corpse aside, then shook his hand in disgust to rid himself of the blood. Instantly, rage flooded Semily’s body. His eyes bloodshot, he let out a furious roar and unleashed a barrage of wind blade magic at the bear soul master. Though wind blade required little mana, such reckless casting would quickly exhaust one’s reserves. Normally, Lis and the others would have stopped Semily from overexerting himself, but Claire’s death had stripped everyone of their composure. Even West now raised his wand, unhesitatingly casting a wide-area Ice Shield Blade spell at the three soul masters.
West’s Ice Shield Blade magic, Semily’s Waveblade Wind magic, along with Bobby, Roger, and Lis’s Blazing Fire magic—all unleashed their most potent spells without regard for mana depletion. Eyes blazing, they sought only to kill the three soul masters! Yet faced with such dense magical assaults, the soul masters’ astonishing strength left everyone in shock.
The bear soul master released his aura to the utmost, his entire body seemingly enveloped by an aura-formed giant bear, blocking every attack. The crimson-armed green lizard soul master became a streak of green light, weaving through the barrage of spells like a phantom, not only unscathed but closing in on the group at incredible speed. The pseudo-serpent master created a giant energy bow, aided by the bear soul master’s cover, nocking an emerald energy arrow that pierced through the fiery onslaught. With a “whizz,” it shot through Roger’s arm and struck Bobby standing behind him.
“Damn it! Are you all insane? Those three are soul masters! How could mere magicians possibly defeat them?!”
At this moment, Charlesburg shouted, grabbing Will’s collar and shaking him in agitation, only to be kicked to the ground by Will standing beside him.
“Shut up!” Will snarled viciously, ignoring the fat man. Feigning a chant, he cast a dual wind-fire Explosive Flame spell directly at the crimson-armed green lizard soul master attempting to break through their magical barrage.
With a muffled boom, the scarlet explosion didn’t target the soul master himself, but struck the ground, wind magic scattering a rain of fiery embers. The crimson-armed green lizard soul master, startled by the unexpected attack, quickly abandoned his offensive and retreated.
Though he managed to drive back one soul master, Will’s brow furrowed. As Charlesburg had said, they were mere magicians, vastly outmatched by several eighth-rank soul masters. Continuing such a battle would only end in their total annihilation. Thinking this, Will gritted his teeth, cast another Explosive Flame spell, and then grabbed the newly risen Charlesburg, dragging him into the deeper woods. As he ran, he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Semily! Hold these assassins off here—I’m taking the Count to find General Standar, stationed outside the small forest!”