Belinda was merely the fuse that accelerated Lillian's witchification, and now, it had been lit ahead of schedule.
Did this mean Lillian's fall and her descent into the boss of Act Two was also going to play out early?
He couldn't be sure if she still had another Soul-Shattering Howl on her.
But at the very least, he couldn't give her another chance to use it!
【Contract Spirit: Mordred】
【HP: Uncomfortable (Slowly recovering)】
【MP: 5439/7479 (Steadily increasing)】
【Negative Effect: Mania】
【Mania Duration: 960s】
【Current Status: Cannot summon】
Mordred, whom he had blasted into a critical state yesterday, still hadn't recovered.
He had to rely on himself.
“Kresku! (Enhance!)”
【Tier 2 Magic: Attribute Enhancement】
【Effect: Physical functions increased by 20% + 10% (Proficiency promax)】
Ain leaned forward slightly, kicked off the ground with his right foot, and lunged toward Belinda.
His current mana pool was only enough to cast a few moderately powerful Tier 2 spells. If they engaged in a head-on magical duel, he would be at a severe disadvantage.
He couldn't let her cast Tier 3 magic!
Belinda hadn't expected Ain to act so decisively. She quickly traced a fiery red magic circle with her wand.
“Fajro, ringo! (Flame Ring!)”
A ring of fire suddenly materialized, spinning around Belinda. The intense heat warped the surrounding air.
“Akvo, kuglo! (Water Bullet!)”
【Tier 2 Magic: Water Bullet】
Several high-speed water spheres shot forward. The moment they collided with the flame ring, a massive cloud of steam erupted, enveloping them both.
Seizing the opportunity, Ain threw a punch straight into Belinda's face, making her cry out in pain.
Just as he was about to land a second blow to her abdomen, a powerful gale swept toward him.
The violent impact forced Ain back, compelling him to widen the distance between them once more.
Belinda's expression was furious. At some point, an eagle had appeared by her side.
It was her Contract Spirit.
The gale from earlier was likely a spell cast by that eagle.
“Ain!”
“I've decided. I'm not going to take you to the Prosecution Office's interrogation room to torture you.”
“Right now, I am going to...”
“Cripple you!”
With that, several magic circles began to emerge from Belinda's wand.
She wanted to cast Tier 3 magic!
Ain's gaze grew colder. Several small magic circles of various colors flashed across his hands.
“Fato, gvidas min. (Fate, guide me.)”
A deck of Cards of Canal materialized in the air.
“Fato, elektu min. (Fate, choose me.)”
As the chant concluded, only one of the forty-eight Cards of Canal remained.
Depicted on the card was a demon knight clad in white armor. His face was obscured by a visor, and he was kneeling before a treasure chest overflowing with gold and silver.
【6】Griffin
Spirit Card (White Card)
Upright Meaning: A loyal and vigilant guard protecting the treasure.
Reversed Meaning: A derelict guard, a stolen treasure.
“Looks like my luck is pretty good.”
Ain recalled that Divination Magic wasn't just used for fortune-telling.
It could also summon the entities depicted on the cards.
【Divination Magic: Image Summoning】
【Proficiency: promax】
【Grade: None】
【Description: Consumes the caster's mana to maintain the card's duration. Each card has a fixed strength grade. The amount of mana consumed during the summon determines a portion of the card's power.】
【Required Mana (MP): Undetermined】
Although his total mana pool was only six hundred, as long as his recovery speed was faster than the mana consumption required to maintain the card, it would be fine.
Belinda roared at the eagle beside her, “Evan!”
As if receiving an order, the eagle swooped down toward Ain at high speed.
Just as its sharp claws were about to reach Ain, a massive black magic circle emerged from the card, and a knight twice the size of an ordinary human suddenly materialized.
A strange black mist seeped from the knight's helmet, and the longsword in his hand was stained with filth.
The claws struck the knight's shoulder guard, producing a sound like two swords clashing.
Belinda stared at the knight in front of her in shock.
She had never seen this kind of magic before!
【MP: 23/631 (Rapidly recovering)】
Even though he had poured nearly all his mana into the card, the knight before him was still only at the level of a low-tier Tier 3.
But it was enough.
【MP: 631/631】
“Griffin.”
“Knock her out.”
Receiving the command, Griffin first swatted away the Contract Spirit with the back of his hand, then gripped his longsword tightly and rushed toward Belinda.
Seeing the knight closing in, Belinda was forced to release the fireballs she was gathering ahead of time.
Several fireballs bombarded the knight, the intense heat melting portions of his white armor.
Along with a deafening explosion, half of his helmet was blown away, revealing half of a hideous face.
Yet, his speed did not falter.
“What on earth is this...”
The panic on Belinda's face could no longer be hidden.
Was this really something a Tier 1 Mage could summon?
Just as the flat of the knight's blade was about to strike her, a giant golden sword descended from the heavens, piercing the knight's chest.
Griffin's grip on the hilt slowly loosened. As if completely drained of all strength, he eventually reverted to a Card of Canal and burned to ashes in the air.
“Belinda, is this the dangerous element you claimed was using forbidden magic?”
Seeing the newcomer behind her, Belinda was instantly overjoyed.
“Brother!”
Brother?
Staring at the giant golden sword before him, Ain's heart tightened.
Tier 4 magic, Holy Light Judgment!
Why didn't he remember Belinda having a brother?
And a Tier 4 Mage at that!
Ain frantically searched his memories regarding Belinda, but found no information about the man in front of him.
Ain's brow furrowed slightly, his fists clenching involuntarily.
The man before him had short golden hair, emerald-green eyes, and wore an academy uniform similar to those of the Titan Prosecution Office.
Ain demanded, “Who are you?”
The man put away his wand, and the giant golden sword dissolved into countless particles of light, dispersing into the air.
“My name is Sevis.”
Ain't mind exploded with a bang.
Sevis, a key character who wasn't supposed to appear until Act Five of the game!
Why was he here?!
Wait, Sevis... Sevis Xavier?
Belinda Xavier! And Silas Xavier!
Ain was shocked.
So these three were actually siblings!
Sevis clapped his hands, and several members of the Titan Prosecution Office not far behind walked toward him.
“Based on the Death Knight you just summoned using necromancy, Ain, you have severely crossed the academy's bottom line!”
“Men, take him away and lock him in the Interrogation Hall!”
...
“Ugh...”
Lillian clutched her head and sat up from the bench with great difficulty.
“Ain... Ain?”
The young girl looked around, trying hard to recall the scene from earlier.
The bottle, magic, and so many people from the Titan Prosecution Office...
Ain... had been taken away!
The girl's heart pounded wildly. She subconsciously reached up to touch the top of her head, then felt the mark on her neck.
“It's faded...”
“Was it Ain's magic?”
She recalled the scene of Ain casting healing spells on her.
“After Ain destroyed the contents of that bottle, he fought with Belinda...”
“Did Ain do that... for me?”
A sharp pain forced the girl to clutch her head. She gasped for breath, tears streaming uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes.
It's me again... It's my fault again...
I'm sorry... I'm sorry...
“No, I have to go to Erylin...”
Rate on N.U.
