Chapter 228: Collaboration II

"Yes… So he didn't mention anything about me?"

Yui raised her eyebrows as she looked at Rufus… 

If Rufus recalls it correctly this girl should be younger or perhaps at the same age as him. However, since she first became a red-robed Arcanist than him in the tower, he has to call her as his Senior to respect her abilities.

"He? You mean…" The young was a bit confused about who she meant by saying that... However, there's only one person he could think of right now.

"Your Sentient Arcana, Mr. Reiji, right?" Yui continued.

Rufus went silent for a moment as it confirmed his guess.

"Ahh… I see now. Yes, I wasn't informed yet. But it's nice to meet you."

"My pleasure… So, where's the Cursed Mask?"

Yui asked again.

'I can feel it there… It's hiding…'

Odette answered for her.

"Alright, alight… Our job here is done… You can take over from here, right?"

Reiji asked after seeing that Yui and Odette are getting ready to capture the Mask.

"Mhmm… We're fine… But we want to repay you somehow… So please wait for us, this won't take long."

Yui said and looked at the young man…

Rufus didn't know what to answer so he waited for his master's instructions before agreeing to the gorgeous lady in front of him.

"Alright... We will wait here... Take care."

Rufus replied before stepping aside to let Yui do her job. He also wanted to watch her work so he made sure not to stay too far.

Reiji watched Yui wave her Arcana before she gets covered by some kind of Arcane Magic.  After doing this, she rushed to the site where the suspected Mask Arcana was...

It appears that they were also quite lucky as the Cursed Mask actually came out of its hiding spot and was about to devour the blood of the unconscious members of the Crimson Reapers...

The Cursed Mask seems to be very busy consuming the human's blood as Yui managed to stand five meters away from it without raising any suspicion...

Reiji was unsure what Yui cast a moment ago it appears similar to his Traceless ability... Nevertheless, it doesn't seem effective to him...

'Rufus, can you see Yui?'

'Master? No, they somehow disappeared on my sight?' The young man answered his master's sudden question.

'Really?'

'Yes... Oh---There she is...'

He noticed that Yui already appeared near one of the collapsed robbers, or perhaps criminals, that he heavily injured. The young lady waved her wand and created a water sphere and pointed to the object covered by a black miasma that appeared out of nowhere... 

He couldn't see what it was due to the miasma but he could somehow feel that it's not friendly... It is emitting a familiar killing intent and seems to be ready to pounce on Yui...

Whoosh!

As Rufus thought that the black miasma would try to fight it out against Yui, it actually turned away!

Bam!

The target tried to run away but was block by an invisible shield... It was also followed by the ball of water like it was trying to contain it...

Ssak!

The miasma turned into many spikes as it burst the ball of water and tried to destroy the invisible wall as well.

However, Yui cast three more Arcane Magic at the same time!

One of them was a cloud of smoke that formed a human hand to catch the black miasma… It was followed by lifting the ground to control the movement of the target and finally, an Arcane Magic that protected Yui's body from any counterattack…

It was very impressive since all of its power came from a single Arcana that she's holding. 

'As expected of an Awakened Arcana…'

Rufus muttered as he was impressed by her performance… He heard before that Yui failed her first try in awakening…

Unlike him who had his Arcana destroyed after failing once, Yui was lucky that she was still able to fully repair her Wand after spending a few months.

The young man smiled wryly at this as he knows that he couldn't blame anyone but himself for the destruction of his Arcana…

Nevertheless, it might be a blessing in disguise as he still met his current master that made him even stronger now…

"Stop making it difficult!"

Yui suddenly yelled as the black miasma is starting to thicken… It made a burst of killing intent as the nearby birds on the streets and roof started chirping before flying away…

However, due to Yui's interruption on the miasma, Rufus managed to take a glance at the object… It looks like a mask with a blood-curdling design…

'Looks familiar…'

As soon as he thought of this, he heard his master instruct him.

'Take cover… I'll help her a bit…'

'Yes, Master…'

The young man can only say before stepping back…

He then saw his master float and moved away. He thought that the shinai would come to Yui but the sentient Arcana actually moved in a different angle as if he wanted to flank the black miasma.

As he was getting curious about his master's actions, he suddenly felt a change in the surroundings!

'Spiritual Pressure!'

He immediately realized what it was… 

He is not new to this since his master used it as well to help him pass the evaluation of the tower.

This power was supposedly available to powerful objects or creatures… Not even Legendary Rank or Mythical Rank Arcana can possess such power… 

'Amazing… This is definitely not some trick made by Master Reiji… It's a genuine Spiritual Pressure!'

***

Yui was a bit flustered upon seeing the Cursed Mask emit a powerful aura… It appears that it managed to consume a lot more blood than he expected.

'Odette… Can we use a bit more powerful Arcane Magic?'

'If you don't mind these unconscious people dying, then I can do it.'

Yui glanced at the bleeding and unconscious men scattered on the ground… They were not from this city so they really have no idea who are these people whether they are criminals or not…

It was probably the same with Reiji's group who only arrived here for the first time.

'We have no choice… Just do it…'

As Odette was about to unleash more of their strength to capture the Mask without destroying it, they heard Reiji's voice behind them.

'I'll help… Wait for me…'

Yui then saw the sentient arcana move on their opposite side…

Then, without any signs of accumulating his Mystical or Spiritual energy to cast an Arcane Magic, a Pressure that almost made Yui kneeled covered her!

Luckily, it lasted only for a second before disappearing!

'Sorry about that, It's still a bit tough controlling the distance of this power… Don't worry, I'm pressuring the Cursed Mask now… Can  you try capturing it from that position…'

'Oh… Sure! Of course… Wait!'

Yui has some questions in her mind but she quickly communicated with Odette first to store the Cursed Mask in her Spatial Bag…

'I'll go in… Throw me…'

The young Arcanist then let go of her wand to capture the mask…

The wand went straight to the mask and as soon as he touched it, the Mask cursed aloud!

"You hateful Arcana! Execration! Please! Save Me!"

Reiji, Rufus, and perhaps other people around the place heard the Cursed Mask's scream…

The shinai felt that it was quite ironic that it called for the Execration Organization to save him since he can remember how he said that he wouldn't like to return to that place again when they first met in the tower…

'Got it! Thank you Reiji! You're really a huge help!' Odette immediately thanked him after securing the Cursed Mask…

'Master… The patrolling guards are here… We need to hurry…' Rufus used his Sense Link to warn his master…

Reiji then acted quickly and informed Yui and Odette about his plans…

"Alright, let's leave together. We need to repay you. Don't leave us yet."

Yui said as they all moved out of the place.

As they were moving away, Odette and Reiji sensed something approaching the place… They were quickly alarmed and moved away as quickly as possible…

Thud! Thud!

They appeared on a busy street after running away from the crime scene… Rufus and Yui are walking side by side as they acted as if they were looking for something to buy…

On the other hand, Odette and Reiji are having a conversation…

'Did you feel that?' The Wand Arcana asked.

'Yes… But I think they are from the Mind Collection… I'm not that worried. I was just surprised since eight of them are hurrying to the scene…'

'Mhmm… If they are from the Mind Collection, then that's good… I thought that they are from the Execration since the mask called for them…'

'Well… You might also be right.' Reiji replied as he considered the possibilities… 

Nevertheless, since he used his abilities to help the two, he was thinking of asking Yui for some help about their plans here in the northern region.