Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Their opponents were in outfits that made them look like regular travelers, but their true identities were clearly something else.

Travelers wouldnt be out and about so late at night, not to mention they were in the middle of an empty road, blocking the entourage from passing.

Their cloaks hid most of their faces, but their ferocious eyes could still be seen.

One of the workers raised his voice and shouted in a rough manner.

This is your final warning! Identify yourselves!

Met with nothing but silence, the workers pull the trigger to their crossbows.

As a result, several crossbow bolts ripped through the air.

Ttuk!

The bolts, however, failed to penetrate the enemies and were instead blocked by something hard.

Nevertheless, the workers were not discouraged and swiftly recharged their crossbows.

Though they were grunts and carriers, workers employed by magic academies were not your average Joe.

Not only did they have their backgrounds checked, they had to know how to fight so that they could protect the goods when conflicts arose.

As such, these workers were either adventurers, mercenaries, or soldiers of the Empire!

Hence, they didnt falter or panic.

With skillful movement, they jumped off from their carriages and aimed their crossbows at the enemies.

Fire!

Fools. Do you have any idea who you are siding with?

!

One of the cloaked individuals began speaking.

His voice was thick and rough, and due to the dark, it sounded even more somber than it shouldve been.

You are siding with the wicked mages that are corrupting the Empire. Extricate yourselves before you fall for their evil magic!

Bloody beard of ancestors! Theyre anti-magic extremists! a dwarven worker hollered at the top of his lung.

Anti-magic extremists referred to a certain group of criminals infamous even within the vast Empire, and unsurprisingly, they despised anything that had to do with magic.

Magic breeds chaos, destroys nature, and corrupts man!

They didnt express their hatred of magic with words alone. From time to time, they would ambush mages and lay siege to magic academies.

It went without saying that these violent brutes were waiting here today with a clear goal in mind.

In the name of !

In the name of !

And with that, they charged. Their weapons shone under the moonlight, making the workers unconsciously gulp.

Veil of Order!

There was a strong fluctuation in the air, and in the next moment, a huge barrier made of mana was formed around the carriages.

The enemies that ran into the barrier were bounced off while throwing up blood.

Professor Garcia had made a move.

Ohhhh!

As expected of a professor!

The workers were all in awe of the majestic scene. However, Garcias expression was dark.

Due to her appearance, people often assumed she was skilled in combat, but in reality, she wasnt proficient at fighting.

Being a highly-ranked mage had nothing to do with being good a master at combat.

At the end of the day, magic and combat were totally different fields.

Mages that researched magic and remained seated in front of their desks all day long would have a difficult time adjusting to the chaotic atmosphere of a battlefield.

Very few would be able to cast spells properly, and if they lost focus or made a mistake, it could bring about a catastrophe.

In a sense, magic was a double-edged sword, and mages that specialized in combat were aptly awarded the title of combat mage.

Lets focus on buying time.

Professor Garcia waved her staff, forming several balls of light that took the shape of birds and shot up into the air.

These birds would inform the other professors in the academy of her current predicament.

Decay Bones! Shrivel Muscles!

The assailants near the barrier wailed in pain.

Garcia had transformed her mana into a curse that weakened their bodies.

Activate it!

However, her opponents didnt take this lying down.

Mages werent an easy bunch to fight against. Nevertheless, the anti-magic extremists had ambushed them time and time again.

By now, they had several tricks up their sleeves.

Woooong-

A low-pitched vibration shook everyones eardrums, and the mana in the air began to shake violently.

Then, the mana began gathering at a single spot.

!!!

Like snow in summer, Professor Garcias began to fade, something which came as a great shock to her.

An ancient relic!

There were several ways to counter magic.

For example, some ores found within the Empire could absorb mana or push them away, and there were spells that could get rid of others magic.

Pshoo, pshoo-

The workers continued to shower the enemies with crossbow bolts.

At first glance, it seemed as if they had the upper hand, but Yi-han quickly realized how fierce and precise the enemies were.

Theyre all expert swordsmen!

Although crossbows were powerful, it took a while for them to reload after firing once.

The assailants were taking advantage of that timeframe and gradually drawing near them.

The workers cant hold on for much longer! Professor, please use one of your spells!

The mana around us iswait.

Professor Garcia was puzzled to see Yi-han invisible.

How did he-

Oh, right!

It didnt take long for her to figure out the secret behind his invisibility magic.

It was being backed by a seemingly endless amount of mana!

Yi-han, Ill be borrowing your mana for a bit!

Yi-han grabbed the hand that the professor had extended. Immediately, he could sense his mana being drawn away.

As he had already experienced this with Professor Bolady, he wasnt as shocked this time around.

Petras Adamantite Spear!

Without hesitation, Professor Garcia launched a spell at the relic.

Her initial plan had been to defend and draw out the fight, but it was a different story now that the enemies had taken out a relic with an absurd power.

She had to destroy the relic at all costs!

!

A spear made of adamantite materialized in the air, amazing Yi-han.

It had literally appeared from thin air!!

Dodge!!

Avoid it!

The assailants sensed danger and quickly moved out of its way.

The relic kept whittling away their mana and decreased the power behind their spell, but the adamantite spear refused to disappear and continued on its path.

Crack!

With a roar, the adamantite spear collided with the relic, and the mana in the surrounding soon returned to normal.

Come Forth, Flesh-biting Lightning Wolf!

The air crackled, and a wolf made of lightning appeared, spreading in all directions and ripping to shreds all the enemies in the immediate vicinity.

!

Yi-han shuddered as he witnessed the wolf killing the assailants and burning them to a crisp.

It was a bloody sight to behold, and one that made him respect Professor Garcia more than ever before.

Woooong-

!?

An ominous sound jerked him awake from his reverie.

The familiar sound had come from the relic that had been half-destroyed.

Kill that mage at all cost!

Dozens had died, but the few remaining assailants braced themselves and rushed toward the professor.

Yi-han engaged them with the sword that he had stolen earlier on.

Pshkk!

Invisibility spell! Theres someone using an invisibility spell! Bastard!

The anti-magic extremist that had been stabbed with the sword coughed up blood and splashed it in Yi-hans general direction.

Yi-hans skin crawled when he saw this.

Their battle sense is no joke!

They were facing an enemy that they couldnt see, yet they didnt panic and quickly thought of a solution.

It felt like he was fighting Arlong.

The assailants leader that had been giving orders was also getting close to him. Just his posture was enough to tell Yi-han that he was an expert.

His chance of winning while protecting the professor seemed slim.

I reveal myself in the morning.

!

In the end, Yi-han cancelled the spell and revealed himself.

The assailants were surprised when they saw him. They didnt expect their opponent to be such a young boy.

I dont know what youre playing at, but this is the end of the road for you and that mage.

Whatever.

?

Imma go destroy the relic.

After saying that, he began sprinting toward the relic which was wide open without anyone guarding it.

The assailants were terrified, to say the least.

NO! STOP HIM!!