Chapter 235: Links in the Chain
A soft golden glow emanated out of my soul, tracing along the threads of mana and enveloping Dyson. He stiffened as the power flowed into him, and he gazed at me in wonder. As the spell ended, I slumped against him, panting, held up only by his supporting strength.
No sooner had I finished than the five cloaked figure’s spells completed. Acting as one, they raised their hands, summoning magic circles in the air before them. The glowing runes illuminated the entire alley, chasing the shadows to the far corners.
Suddenly the air filled with the stench of ozone, Red lightning blasted out of their hands, filling the entirety of the alley in a massive, electrical cone. Scarcely had the first sparks appeared then Dyson yanked me behind him, a grim expression upon his face, shielding me with his body.
But the gesture made little difference as the storm of lightning washed over us, filling every nook and cranny with crackling arcs. The paving stones blackened and cracked wherever the glowing tendrils struck, the spell glowing so bright it forced me to cover my eyes.
Despite the ferocity of the combined third-circle spells, the lightning dispersed harmlessly the moment it struck my skin, leaving behind only a soft, numbing tingle. Dyson flinched as a particularly large bolt struck him directly in the chest, but the magic failed to so much as singe his clothes. He glanced at me and I nodded.
"They can’t hurt you with magic, but there’s still four of them, and their souls are all third level. If we kill a few of them, the rest might-"
"Hold up," he said, giving me a shocked glance. "Kill? But they’re...people!"
"But they’re trying to enslave me..." I whispered, looking up at him with wet eyes. "And...and..."
He hesitated for a moment and then nodded. "You’re right. This is no time to get squeamish. Don’t worry, no matter what happens, I’ll protect you."
Thinking us stunned, the cloaked figures advanced. "Kill the man, capture the girl!"
"Stay back," Dyson whispered. He gave me a final squeeze and pushed me away, slipping through the flickering blasts of red lightning like a ghost in the fog. His soul glowed as he activated a magical technique and his entire body shimmered, growing dim and blurry. Were it not for the Eyes of Fate, I would have lost sight of him entirely.