Chapter 577: Volume 14: Accumulate Thinly, Erupt Mightily, - 21: Intimidation
Her eyes glimmered with a faint blue otherworldly light as Shatima’s body began to shudder violently. A thin layer of pale blue ice fog formed around her, encircling her like a small Ice Mist Shield. She suddenly crouched down and then, like an arrow, shot up into the sky. The fierce fireballs tightly enveloped Shatima’s body, but the Ice Mist Shield protected her, preventing the fire dragon’s circling flames from penetrating her flesh.
As Shatima soared, Komer knew that the unyielding Dragon Lady was intent on using her formidable strength in close combat with him. Indeed, the constitution of the Dragon Clan was mighty; in just a month or two, Shatima had healed considerably from her internal injuries. Though not fully recovered, Komer dared not face her head-on with her dragon body in that condition.
Figures flickered as her delicate fists, carrying an unstoppable storm, furiously lunged at Komer. His instant movement split his body into three afterimages: one sitting, one lying, and one standing. Shatima unleashed relentless punches and kicks, stirring up fierce gusts, all in vain, which made her bellow in frustration.
"Illusion Magic? A blinding trick? Petty tricks, daring to be flaunted!" The enraged Shatima, provoked by Komer’s intentional teasing, immediately sensed his real location thanks to the Dragon Clan’s innate sharp intuition. Her body leaped up as her hands came together and then abruptly parted, unleashing the powerful Dragon Breath Magic with an overwhelming surge of Dragon Magic Power sucking in the surrounding air elements. A chilling and ethereal cold surrounded the entire sky, causing the very space itself to distort strangely.
"Damn it!" Komer, livid with rage, hadn’t expected this creature to recklessly use Dragon Breath Magic without considering whether her body could withstand the backlash. He couldn’t afford to worry about being injured by the imminent blast. Dark Binding was continuously cast, and at the same time, a Black Crystal Staff appeared in his hands, tracing an eerie oval halo. The halo shone brightly like the sun, bursting forth with golden brilliance, shattering into specks like a river of stars, lanterns scattered from the sky,
"Light Stasis!"
The massive consumption of magic power made Komer dizzy, but it was essential to stop the mad woman’s actions. Should the Dragon Breath Magic be released, at such close range, not only would he be unable to escape, but Shatima herself—forcing dragon magic power through her yet-to-heal body—would suffer severe injury, possibly never returning to her peak condition. This move, rumored to come from the Church of Light’s most secret Time-Space Stasis Spell, could momentarily freeze the actions of its targets. Komer had no choice but to rely on the Black Crystal Staff to cast this unfamiliar high-level Light Magic. If she released the Dragon Breath Magic, it was uncertain if he could escape, but Shatima would definitely be gravely hurt. It would be a tragedy since he had kept her to play a role in the forthcoming adventure at Damarlinsk Castle.
At that moment, the air seemed to solidify. It was as if time and space had halted, and to Shatima’s astonishment, everything in her vision became utterly motionless, even her own body. This was no ordinary petrification magic—her Dragon Breath Magic was ready, and no such spell could stop it. Yet, everything before her eyes was peculiar, as if her body and surroundings were sealed within a Different World Space, with only her thoughts left free to roam.
But why could that person move? Seeing the pale and contorted Komer approaching her, a wave of fear and vulnerability washed over Shatima. Another spell from the Black Crystal Staff enveloped her. She had always thought that his ability to seal her mana was a cowardly act performed while she was unconscious. She would have never imagined that he could reseal her powers in a head-to-head confrontation, especially when she was mostly recovered. A primal fear of the strong made Shatima look at Komer with a mix of respect and dread, clueless about what he might do to her next.
What is he doing? Seeing Komer grit his teeth and thrust Gold needles into his own scalp and chest, Shatima felt her thoughts freezing. Had he gone mad from anger and turned to self-harm? Or did he enjoy inflicting pain on himself? Considering this, she panicked even more, fearing that in his rage, he might turn to torture her.