The battle centered around a massive stone pillar.
Two fire-resistant boats rocked in the aftershocks of the clash, looking as if they might be overturned at any moment by the impact of the fighting.
Eomer gripped his iron staff tightly, his eyes fixed on the opposing fire-resistant boat.
Two magic projectiles shot out from both sides, slamming into the barriers of the opposing vessels.
In this lava-filled environment, the only way for the two boats to strike at each other was through long-range magical attacks.
Or rather, through magic that manipulated the lava itself.
"Fire!"
Following Caiman's command at the bow of his boat, two mages within the Caiman Knight Order, who had been chanting continuously, raised their wands simultaneously.
Two orange-red magic circles, the color of flickering flames, unfolded in the air, stacking one on top of the other.
The magical runes within the two circles were different, but as they were cast together, they complemented and resonated with one another.
This was a composite magic performed through superimposed magic circles!
"Second-rank magic: Lava Surge!"
"Second-rank magic: Lava Collapse!"
The two fire-attribute lava spells synchronized. In an instant, they conjured a massive wave of molten rock within the environment, swatting toward the elven boat like someone crushing a fly.
Eomer tightened his grip on his iron staff.
As an elf of the life-plant attribute who worshipped the World Tree, it seemed there was little he could do in this Lava Stratum.
However, that only applied to shallow, mediocre talents.
Plant life and the power of the World Tree were not things that could be restricted by a mere environment.
There was no environment a plant could not adapt to.
When Eomer had first entered the Lava Stratum, he had undoubtedly been at his weakest.
But now, his plant-based power had fully completed its adaptation to the lava.
Third-rank holy art: Fire-Warding Vine.
As the holy art was cast, vines that looked like flickering flames grew out of the lava, quickly hoisting the fire-resistant boat upward.
The elven mages took the opportunity to cast their own spell.
"Second-rank magic: Composite Wind Barrier!"
Wind magic unfolded in the air as an invisible barrier, forming a long slide that caught the fire-resistant boat as it was lifted by the vines.
Behind the vessel, the entire fire-resistant boat seemed to accelerate along the wind barrier slide, crashing toward Caiman's boat.
At the same time, fire-warding vines sprouted from the lava, firmly entangling Caiman's boat and pinning it in place.
Caiman gripped his sword hilt and stepped forward, his Sword Qi shooting out in all directions from the blade.
The vines wrapping the boat were instantly sliced into countless fragments.
His mages seized the chance to cast wind magic, maneuvering the fire-resistant boat to accelerate and dodge.
The elven boat’s ramming attempt struck nothing but air, and it crashed back onto the lava lake, sending up massive sprays of molten rock.
An opening!
Seeing the elven boat miss its mark, Caiman’s eyes lit up. He took the opportunity to swing his magic sword, Forgotten Hero, unleashing a crescent moon Sword Qi toward the vessel!
The Sword Qi parted the lava, flying straight toward Eomer on the boat.
In Caiman's mind, the leader of these elves, the priest Eomer, was undoubtedly the most dangerous of them all.
Moreover, it was a bitter reality that, in terms of individual strength, the members of the knight order Caiman had gathered were no match for these elves.
These elves were incredibly proficient, and their combat experience far surpassed that of human extraordinary beings of the same rank.
Whether in a duel or a group battle, Caiman's knight order was simply not on their level.
As expected, the Sword Qi he unleashed failed to seize the moment.
Or rather, the elves gave Caiman no opportunity to exploit a weakness.
The flying Sword Qi was intercepted by another sharp burst of energy.
Immediately after, a thin mist began to spread from the elven boat.
Masterpiece grade magical artifact: Mist Forest Box. Special Effect 3: Thin Mist.
Once activated, it summoned a veil of mist to hide forms and block sensing.
That magic item again!
Caiman grew wary and immediately issued orders to maneuver the fire-resistant boat away from the mist.
"Wind magic!"
The moment the mist expanded, Caiman swung his arm, making a decisive call.
The two mages on his boat quickly began to chant.
Another composite magic!
Second-rank wind magic: Great Wind!
Second-rank wind magic: Fixed Wind Direction!
Composite magic: Great Wind Rises!
In an instant, the two superimposed magic circles glowed with a blinding light, summoning a massive, visible wave of wind.
This gale swept across the lava lake like an invisible brush, clearing away the thick smoke and mist.
The mist summoned by the Mist Forest Box was blown away along with it.
"Eomer, I won't fall for the same trick twice!" Caiman shouted at the elven boat, which was struggling to stay stable in the hurricane-force winds.
However, his body honestly followed his own command to stay far away from Eomer.
He couldn't win a direct confrontation; he had to retreat.
Continuing the fight would only be a waste of mana and stamina.
Eomer said nothing, but the Mist Forest Box in his hand remained open, continuously releasing mist.
Something’s wrong.
Caiman's pupils contracted as he instinctively raised his sword.
It was the intuition honed by a third-rank swordsman—an instinct etched into his Sword Qi, his muscles, and even his soul.
Suddenly, a patch of mist appeared in the air directly in front of him.
A sharp rapier flashed through like a venomous snake, aiming for Eomer—no, aiming for Caiman's throat.
Looking up from the rapier, one could see the exquisitely beautiful face of its owner.
It was the elf Nephalian!
Mist Forest Box. Special Effect 2: Thick Mist.
Locks onto a target and conceals the user's form for three seconds. Can be used twice before requiring a three-day recharge.
Sharp Sword Qi clung tightly to the rapier's blade, and the strength of her entire body's musculature was pressed into the strike.
The Immovable Fortress barrier deployed by the heavy warriors on the boat was instantly pierced by this sharp thrust.
Sparks flew as Caiman, relying on his instinct, managed to bring his sword up just in time to block the attack.
At the same time, his body reacted first, flashing backward as Sword Qi erupted from his blade in an attempt to parry the blow.
However, the rapier's piercing power was peerless.
Though the rapier was forced off course, it broke through the barrier of Sword Qi and pierced Caiman's left eye!
Nephalian gripped the hilt tightly, desperately trying to turn this lethal strike into a killing blow by driving it into Caiman's brain and shredding it with Sword Qi.
But the sneak attack had already reached its limit.
Once a third-rank swordsman reacted, the combat power they unleashed was no longer something Nephalian could suppress with combat experience alone.
Caiman's Sword Qi, shaped like the gaping maw of a wolf, snapped toward Nephalian.
Nephalian could only withdraw her rapier to barely block the counterattack.
But her thin layer of Sword Qi was instantly shredded by his power.
Caiman did not let the pain of his ruptured eye hinder him for even a second; his blade followed up immediately.
The second strike.
Clang!
The broadsword and rapier clashed, sending sparks flying once more. This strike completely broke Nephalian's stance, her Sword Qi scattering uncontrollably like falling petals.
The third strike.
A horizontal slash, aimed directly for Nephalian's neck!
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