Chapter 156 Proving Herself

Cygnus went to the seat that the major would usually use and looked at it for a while. He then sat down since the major had no complaints. Linius also sat on the seat adjacent to the one the master used.

"Wouldn't they notice that you are not in the tower?" Linius asked after they sat down.

"No need to worry. My double is already there and besides Astro wouldn't let anyone discover that I left." Cygnus waved his hands and several square projections appeared in the air.

"Double?" Linius looked at him with his brows furrowed. Sometimes the master would use words that were a bit confusing.

"Double, meaning someone who looks and acts exactly like me but he isn't me. I use it whenever I have to be in two different places at the same time," Cygnus answered while he adjusted the projection he materialized.

"Is it magic?" The major asked. He was genuinely interested when he heard that something like that was possible.

"Yes, it's a trick I've learned long ago," was his simple answer. "I can even do it for other people." This time his head moved a little bit to the right as he grinned at the major.

Linius closed his eyes and sighed. He was really at a loss whenever the master suddenly showed them new magic that the tower didn't have. Everything was for convenience while the tower's magic was focused on power and more power.

Just like now, Linius could see each of the laboratories and the movements of each team. He didn't know how the master could have a projection of that level without sending magic users on site to record what had happened. They could watch it in real time which was helpful and they can even observe the surroundings while at it.

During this time, the door to the study opened and the butler entered with tea and snacks. He silently served the two of them and after that he stood on the side. Looking at the snacks and tea, the major shook his head and forced himself to focus on the task at hand.

Linius was now also focused on the projection. This time each team was making their way towards their target. There were guards around the place so each team approached with caution. Despite all this, one group went against the conventional and attacked the place head on.

Nina did not hide her presence nor her power once the building was on sight. Without asking her group, she flew in the air and grinned. Purple mana surrounded her body as several purple magic circles appeared around her. The alarm was triggered when she used her magic and several guards came out, armed and ready to fight.

At first, they didn't notice her but when she fired the first shot, all eyes were already on her. One of her bombs imbued with speed hit the building followed by a barrage that had no actual target. These attacks caused the enemy to fall into disarray as the rest of Nina's group entered the fray.

They were like assassins killing their enemies from the dark. One by one the guards fell on the ground and a few only remained. Nina took care of them though with the chains that was summoned by her magic.

Before they could utterly destroy the building, Nina heard her master's voice. "Don't destroy it yet. Something is underground."

Nina stopped the others from releasing their magic and instructed them to enter. The inside of the lab was pretty much destroyed because of Nina and it looked like an ordinary place. They couldn't see anything unusual.

Following the master's instruction, Nina found a secret door that leads down below. She entered casually while the other members remained cautious. The stairs were dimly lit but the lower they went, the lights became brighter.

They came to a long hallway that seemed to have no end. Some of them frowned at what they saw. It was only an empty hall but why did the woman want to go in there?

"Master, can you help us a bit?" Nina spoke loudly which startled the others.

Cygnus, who was watching what was happening, chuckled. He was not about to intervene in such a small matter. He would let the woman do whatever she wanted.

"Do it yourself, don't be such a spoiled brat." A voice echoed inside the hall and it sounded young which made the other people wonder who was speaking.

"How mean," Nina glared at nothing in particular but she readied herself.

She shook her hands and loosened her body before she took a step forward and took a deep breath. Her eyes narrowed towards the front then she raised both of her hands. She stretched out her arms so that both of her palms were touching the walls on both sides.

Her audience watched with bated breaths on what she would be doing next. Cygnus and the other two men with him also paid close attention to the woman's next move. The silence on both sides made the atmosphere tenser.

Nina took a deep breath and let her mana circulate. The same purple mana surrounded her again but this time it was brighter and purer. Purple lines resembling the roots of a tree started to spread from her palm through the wall.

It only took a minute before the lines fully covered both walls and when she was satisfied, a smirk slowly appeared on her face. "Watch me."

The purple lines started to glow brighter as small magic circles started to appear on the ends of the branches of the lines that were formed. After the circles were formed, her grin did not disappear.

"Explode!" She whispered.

The ground, the ceiling and the walls shook after she said 'explode'. The magic circles on the wall acted as the bombs and her word detonated those bombs. Dust fell down from the ceiling and the lights flickered until the whole place turned dark.

The glow from her magic slowly dissipated and before any of them could conjure light, a snap sounded inside the place. A bright light followed the snap which momentarily blinded them before everything returned to normal.

The long hall that was supposed to be in front of them disappeared and in its place was an ordinary looking hallway. Their surrounding was dirty and full of mold, a proof that the place was not well maintained. That white and spotless hallway was only an illusion to deceive any intruders.

Cygnus's loud laughter filled the room after what the woman did. He didn't expect the woman to surpass his expectations. To discover a new way to use her magic was something he would never imagine that the woman could do. Impressive, he was impressed with Nina's growth.

The woman looked smug after the true appearance of the hallway was revealed. "What can you say?" She asked no one in particular but Cygnus knew that she was talking to him.

"Not bad," the voice had a hint of laughter to it which strangely pleased the woman. "Now don't stop and show me that place."

Nina nodded as she walked forward followed by the other magic users with her. The look of awe and respect didn't leave their faces even after they entered the room behind the rusty door. The door creaked as she pushed it back after she pulled down the door's handle to unlock the door.

There was nothing behind the door. Despite their caution the place was only an empty circular space with a high ceiling. The walls were also starting to rust and there was already green moss growing on the floor.

"This place looked abandoned," Nina looked around with a frown and disgust. The place was neglected and there were no guards around.

"To your left," Cygnus instructed.