Chapter 282: Fern vs Szaaz ( 1 )

The Orc-Eating Eagle carried the two Sentient Arcana to the mountain where the closed or collapsed cavern is located. 

The deformity of the place is quite visible as it all just happened not too long ago. 

"Master, I detected the Sword Arcana in that location." 

The Trident Arcana pointed to where a battle seems to have occurred. 

"I guess it was really sent here to investigate your disappearance. Anyway, can you use the same skill again?"

"It's still on cooldown, Master… Just 10 more minutes."

"Alright, it's fine. I'll look for it."

Reiji said as he used his own ability to find the Sword who killed his minotaurs. 

He could understand that Szaaz's skill has a long cooldown considering how effective it was and that the range it could cover was also huge. 

Reiji found then found the corpses of the Minotaurs… The Beast Cores weren't taken so it seems that the Sentient Arcana who killed them doesn't have any use for it. 

"I found him… He's underground. I think he's really dedicated to finding any traces of your whereabouts."

"Hmm… I think we have to be careful, Master… It seems that he didn't set up any kind of Arcane Magic to hide his presence. I just used my Arcane Sensitivity and I also found him just as you said…"

"Yeah… That's suspicious."

Reiji agreed with Szaaz since if it was him who was detected by someone and noticed it, he would try to use Traceless or Stealth to hide. 

However, the Sentient Arcana they're facing doesn't think that way as if it was trying to lure them into his location. 

"However… why is this aura so familiar?" Reiji muttered.

With his current skills, he still has to get a bit closer to identify if the Arcana is Blessed or a Cursed one. Nevertheless, he could at least tell that the aura he's feeling is indeed from a Sentient Arcana with the strength of an Epic or above…

Szaaz took a glance at his, Master… He noticed that Reiji was lost in his thoughts so he asked a question.

"Master, should we wait until he comes up or we follow him underground?"

"Well… If he's your enemy, he might've set up traps at the remaining tunnel. Let's just monitor him in some elevated position."

"I understand, Master…"

They then jump off the eagle and went to a nearby hill. Their Arcane Sensitivity was activated as they monitored the presence of the Arcana underground. 

On the other hand, the flying beast left the place to monitor the surrounding area. Since the Beast Wave is coming, they have to ensure that they know what kind of beasts would arrive. 

It would be a problem if another type of beast came to attack them and they weren't prepared for it. Though it may look like a big deal but learning about the beasts beforehand would allow them to prepare proper Magic Weapon, Arcane Magic, Arcane Potions, Hunting Weapons, or even Magic Items.

"Master… I used my skill again. Now that offender is near, I found out that he's really strong. Would you mind if I take care of him for you?"

"Really? Then it's fine. As long as he really wants to harm us, then you can go ahead and deal with it."

Reiji replied since he's also a bit curious to see how Szaaz would fight with his full strength. 

Aside from that, Reiji had also recognized the aura after a while. 

'It's definitely Fern's Aura… Is it his clone or something? Why would he come here anyway?'

Reiji mused as he made sure to hide his presence. Anyway, one of his titles allows him to avoid being spied on easily so aside from his skills, he's sure that the latter hasn't been able to recognize him yet.

He's also not worried whether Szaaz destroys the Sentient Sword underground since it should be just a clone anyway. He knows that the real Fern is still stuck on some stone due to a Cursed Arcana from the Execration.

He felt that this is really a good chance for him to watch a high-level battle between Sentient Arcana.

***

Half an hour had quickly passed and finally, the Sentient Sword has come out of the collapsed cavern.

It seems that it has the skill to just swim through the ground or rocks underneath.

Right now, Szaaz is alone facing the sacred sword Arcana while Reiji is hiding not too far from them.

"Hey, what took you so long underground?" Szaaz asked like he was talking to his friend.

"Haha… Nothing, I'm just making sure that I found the right place. Anyway, I can feel an Ancient Aura around you… Are you the Cursed Arcana imprisoned here?"

Fern answered the Trident Arcana.

"So what if I am?" 

Szaaz replied but he's already accumulating his Mystical Energy to fight the Blessed Arcana.

"Then, you have to be eliminated… Your era is over!"

Fern shouted as a blinding light covered the whole mountain…

"Judgement Light!"

Then, a tower of light covered the Trident Arcana! 

Reiji didn't feel any threat in that light but on the other hand, Szaaz is experiencing immense pain! His durability is slowly trickling down…

"Haha… Are you surprised?! While you're waiting for me here, I completed the array to deal with the likes of you. You're too confident…"

Fern laughed after seeing that the Trident was successfully caught inside the array…

During their initial detection of each other, he already recognized that the Trident is too powerful. It is so strong that he would probably need two more Blessed Arcana helping him to deal with it. 

He could consider hiding and quietly return to his base but the threat of a roaming Curse Arcana is too huge.

Now that he found it, he can only try to outsmart it. 

'That was easy…' 

Normally, a powerful Cursed Arcana tend to think that it could win in any fight with just its brute force and their unique Arcane Magic.

Because of this mindset, he knows that he could lure him to a place where he could trap it again and perhaps, destroy it completely.

The sword then looks around the area.

'It should have a companion but I could barely detect it moments ago… It's probably the one who let this Arcana free… Did it escape after realizing my power?'