I Own the Evolution Domain

’Who??’

It appears that it is not only the beasts who felt the threat of the intense intent coming out of Novus’ being, but a couple of veteran elites turned their head around as they saw the reaction of the beasts, and through rich experience brought by the life they lived longer than the rest of their allies, their minds concluded something all too clear.

Unlike the confusion felt by most of the younger rogue mages guarding and working on this operation, those experienced few had their attention caught not by the beasts’ actions, but rather by the source of such a violent response from the beasts.

’For our control of them to weaken like that...’

There is not a single trace of confusion on their face.

Only dread.

"Keep your guards up!! Someone entered without permission!!"

One of the experienced mages announced with a loud, clear shout as she tried her best to regain her own composure, meanwhile, the other mage, who appeared to have more understanding of the current situation, began casting a spell, a grayish magic circle appearing on his palm before it expanded its range.

The magic circle appears to reinforce their reign over the beasts guarding this place, along with them, as some weaker ones gradually began falling under their control, calming down once more, while the stronger ones continue to struggle, moving away from that specific spot as if they just met a natural predator capable of ending their lives.

Hearing the shout from one of the more experienced people in their midst, the rogue mages pulled their attention away from the stampeding beasts and focused their gazes towards the direction said beasts were running away from instead, magic circles forming as they armed themselves, prepared to attack whatever it was that might come out of those dark, shadowy areas.

’Tsk...’ hearing all of this and watching the flow of mana surging towards the mages’ magic circle aimed towards his location, Novus couldn’t help but click his tongue, the consequences of dealing with one of the problems, the beasts, brought him yet another one, as several dozens of spells were aimed right where he stood.

’This is an enclosed space; are they that dumb? Do they want to bury themselves here?’ feeling the numerous spells each and every single rogue academy staffs are preparing to cast, Novus couldn’t help but think in frustration as he wondered how they could even forget something this basic.

Unbeknownst to him, it is exactly he himself who is the reason for these mages’ minds not sitting in the right place, as the shock from the realization of the strongest among their group, Gallad, being taken down by an unknown individual drives their cautiousness to the extreme.

Said extremes even go to the point that they might not hesitate to risk the chance of burying themselves here so long as they can eliminate such a dangerous enemy aiming for them.

"Earth Elemental Mages!!"

There was no need to elaborate things anymore; the experienced mages only called out to a specific group among their midst, causing said mages to let their spells lose as amber light came out of the magic circles around their palms, the dome’s wall around that area seemingly tightening as it pressed forward with the intention of forcing out whoever it is that is hiding within the shadows.

Seeing the approaching wall of earth aimed at him, Novus finally came into terms with the fact that he could not continue operating in stealth any longer, forcing him to grit his teeth in preparation for meeting this attack head-on.

"There!!" as soon as they saw a body being brought into light by the wall of earth pushing towards them, other mages immediately took action, letting their spells loose with the sole intent of eliminating the danger that slipped past the beasts guarding the perimeter, the two mages guarding outside, and even the numerous eyes watching the sole entrance to this place.

And to their credit, these mages possess far more knowledge and experience in battle than what Novus initially expected them to possess, each spell aimed at him being spells focused on targeted lethality rather than wide-area ones that might compromise the structure of the place they are fighting inside of right now.

Watching the spell approaching their seemingly unconscious opponent’s body, the rogue mages couldn’t help but feel a bit excited, some of them even thinking of something that might benefit them amidst the danger they are in right now.

’Maybe we can get a sample of this individual’s blood... that stealth that went past us is quite an interesting magic after all; it must fall under our possession...’ both of the more experienced mages thought to themselves while watching what they assumed to be the demise of this target.

An assumption, a demise that never came into being.

Mana surged, dancing and raging as the one who willed it began making his move.

’Sensory Expansion.’

Novus’ vision blurred a bit as his head felt the constant sting of near-endless information flowing inside, his vision’s clarity gradually returning as he witnessed the path of each attack aimed directly at him.

He pushes his senses even further, the paths overlaying on top of each other, making his head ache all the more. They pay for such a thing, arriving not even a moment later, as the paths disappear, and in their place, robust structures reveal themselves.

Lattices connect, revealing not only the interaction of ambient mana with each spell but also the interaction of the spells with each other as well.

Serving as a foundation for the connections of these lattices are nodes that beat as it reveals a natural glow, mana surging from each of those nodes, powering, supporting the lattice structure, keeping it intact.

Mana began wrapping itself around his arms as an azure, corporeal blade formed, the process once taking him a couple of seconds, now seamless and smooth, as if it no longer took much effort on his part.

He took another step, and then he slashed down.

Caught within that singular slash are numerous nodes of spells being torn into oblivion, the spells disappearing like it was never there at all, as the very thing that anchors its existence to reality completely collapses.

Raging streams of water, torrents of flames, sharp blades of winds, and all other sorts of spells disappear with that single slash, and in the wake of that attack, rushes within the minds of the mages who cast those spells are thoughts of utter confusion that made them to freeze.

It is only reasonable, as not a single one of them expected that they would encounter such an absurd thing in this place- their spells, no, the concept of magic itself being canceled with a single attack each of them deemed barbaric, something that their heads couldn’t quite wrap around right now.

"H-he’s coming!! Don’t stop the attacks!!" snapping one of the veterans out of their shocked daze, the sound of footsteps approaching their location began echoing across the battlefield, prompting them to turn their attention to the source, the blade of pure mana illuminating the current source of the panic, the confusion they are feeling.

Another step, and Novus disappears from their sight.