Chapter 97: An Offer
Just like his previous opponent, Reinhardt, the mage fighting against Novus right now deploys his proudest creation, his original spell, a relentless beam of flame raining down on his opponent without mercy, hence the reason why he so confidently thought that his opponent wouldn’t be able to do anything but block.
And this mistake nearly cost him his entire life.
Seeing that azure corporeal blade coming for his head, the mage couldn’t help but raise his staff to defend himself, all while gathering mana to do a basic reinforcement on the staff in an attempt to raise his defenses even more.
And the result speaks for itself: despite the suddenness of this close-quarter attack, the mage still managed to block Novus’ slash, at the expense of his original spell completely collapsing as it took his all just to make sure that he would be capable of blocking the attack clearly aimed at claiming his own life.
"You... what are you?" As the crimson magic circles above him shatter like glass clashing with harder objects, the mage asks, his eyes no longer showing contempt towards the young man, but rather both vigilance and hostility, as if he just met someone that shouldn’t exist, someone that he shouldn’t be facing right now.
"Not really anyone important. Although if you insist on getting an answer..." Novus replies dismissively with a shrug of his shoulders, his words pausing a bit as he disappears from his spot, only for his figure to appear once again, this time right in front of his opponent.
"...well, I’m the companion of that lady over there." he points to Medea, who had already revealed herself during this moment, causing his opponent to get even just a tiny bit distracted enough for him to swing his mana blade once more.
This time, it hits, properly, and with no layer of spell or even just a rudimentary mana barrier to defend himself with, the mage took quite the damage from the attack.
’My staff...’ Looking at the trusted weapon, which had been enhancing his spell’s speed and power for a long time, now cut into two halves with that single slash, the mage couldn’t help but gnash his teeth in anger, his eyes reddish as he stared at the perpetrator of such a crime.
However, Novus was no longer on the spot he was once standing on, now moving right beside the fire elemental mage as he mutters with a bit of guilt in his tone.
Guilt that the fire mage heard as nothing but sheer mocking and provocation.
"Sorry for the staff." Novus mutters with a hint of guilt; however, that manic smile on his face works against his tone’s favor, as his opponent has heard otherwise.
It is no longer of concern to him; however, as he swung his arm once again, the Mana Blade’s sharp edges threatened to cut his opponent’s body into pieces should they take no action to defend themselves.
And defend himself, the fire elemental mage did as a magic circle appeared in front of his hand, his hand meeting the mana blade without anything protecting it.
Through Sensory Expansion, Novus detected it before it was too late, allowing him to react in time and pull himself back, tearing some muscles in the process as he observed what the new spell did to his attacking arm.
"Why did you pull back?" Almost as if responding to the previous ’provocation’, the mage asks while revealing a proud grin, the crimson magic circle in front of his palm now fading into nothing as it had already achieved its purpose for being created.
Novus’ arm twitched; the tear-inducing stink of burnt flesh partnered with the stinging pain of his nerves being set on fire hit him all at the same time. That small period of contact with that unfamiliar spell alone tore through his flesh and revealed his bones, clearly showing how effective this spell is against him.
’No time to think over it...’ he thought to himself as his damaged arm began recovering in no time, all while expending some resources to increase his regeneration speed.
[Immortal Energy: 1156/1166]
Accelerating his recovery so that he can return to his top form while fighting against this fire elemental mage, Novus decided to begin utilizing Immortal Energy, knowing that he couldn’t allow himself to be tied down to just one opponent when there are clearly a lot more traitors compared to the remaining loyal field operatives defending the students.
"Hoh? Healing Magic? Impressive..." eyes lighting up in curiosity as he watches Novus’ damaged part recovering in such a rapid manner, the fire elemental mage remarked, his eyes glowing with interest once more as if he had already forgotten what the young student did to his very own magic staff.
"The name’s Gallad, say kid, rather than doing this rewardless job of fighting us, why don’t you work as my subordinate instead?" and as if to drive the point that his interest on him goes way further than the anger he is, or rather, was feeling, the mage offered, reaching out his hand towards the young man with such greed in his eyes.
Seeing the silence of his opponent, this mage, Gallad, felt like his words were hitting the young man in the right spots, making his smile a little bit wider as he began speaking of promises that he could grant should Novus accept working under him.
"You see, the organization I am working for has a lot of use for talent such as yours; there are a lot of benefits given to mages who have the ability over Healing-type magics- huge funding, power, influence- all can be yours, so why don’t you—"
"—Sir, no, Gallad, just Gallad, you’re naïve for someone already quite advanced in age, no?"
Before his opponent could even finish his words, Novus already cut him short, pointing at the lady now fighting against the triple elemental mage with a faint, entertained smile slipping through her lips.
She grips the blade tight, her hands turning red because of how firm her grip is, yet even then, each of her motions is sublime and precise, like a talented stage actress performing an elegant dance instead of a combatant ruthlessly swinging her blade.
"That right there is the eldest daughter of the Heavenblade Great Clan... do you think any of your offers can meet what she is capable of giving?"
Novus reveals a mocking smile on his face as he looks at the frustrated expression on his opponent’s face, this mage, Gallad’s hands clenched into a tight fist while locking gaze at him.
And as if the two of them form a tacit understanding, they merely stare at each other for a while before they slow down the rhythm of their fight, as if both of them now are paying attention to something, to someone else.
"You will regret this, student." Gallad threatened as a crimson magic circle appeared on each of his hands, the great amount of mana being converted no longer into fire, but rather, into heat, heat that is bending and twisting the light around it.
"Will I now?" Despite the threat in front of him, Novus merely smiles as he retorts, Mana Blade forming around his arms as he disappears from his position once more.