NOVEL NEXT Chapter 166: Delegating Authority Again
Despite being trapped here, Zachary's arrogance knew no bounds. His pride was insufferable, and she was determined to humble him today as payback for his previous extortion.
Though she wasn't some overpowered protagonist, her pride ran just as deep. Since arriving in Galan, Zachary was the first person who dared to raise his fist and threaten to crush her skull.
Luo Wei was not one to forget grudges. While she couldn't always exact immediate revenge, she made sure those who crossed her would eventually pay the price.
From their brief exchange, she had noticed his frequent blinking and delayed reactions - he was clearly at his limit and no longer posed a real threat.
"Patrick, strike!"
At Luo Wei's command, Patrick launched forward like an arrow, the sharp bone fingers beneath his robes gleaming like blades.
Who said mages were limited to ranged combat? The bones of an undead mage were harder than steel.
As Patrick engaged from the front, the other mages moved to flank and encircle.
Zachary's followers had already turned pale with terror - undead mages were the stuff of nightmares in Western folklore. Their legs turned to jelly at the sight of these living nightmares, leaving them helpless to protect their leader despite their intentions.
Dense dark elements coalesced in the air. Black magic manifested invisibly - mages not attuned to dark elements remained oblivious to its presence.
Only when the black magic struck would the disturbed air provide any warning.
But by then, it would be far too late.
With a thunderous "BOOM", the explosive force sent the slave trader flying.
A violent gust struck her face, forcing Luo Wei to shield her eyes. Her jet-black hair whipped wildly in the fierce wind, her scalp tingling from the force.
When the wind subsided, she finally glimpsed the scene before her.
Patrick had Zachary by the throat, but Zachary's entire body was wreathed in orange-red flames.
"Think you can enslave me? Never!" Zachary's laughter turned maniacal. "Hahaha, I've been waiting for this moment!"
In an instant, Patrick's sleeve disintegrated to ash, the fierce flames crawling up his skeletal arm toward his body.
"Patrick, disengage!"
Luo Wei spotted the danger immediately and ordered his retreat.
The orange-red flames likely burned at around 1000 degrees Celsius. The fire enveloping Zachary possessed frightening potency - enough to harm even the undead.
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Patrick withdrew and fell back. His sleeve had burned to the shoulder, revealing a blackened arm beneath the empty robe, dark elements pouring out like water.
"Are you alright?" Luo Wei asked with concern.
Patrick was her only capable commander on the island - she couldn't afford to lose him.
[I'm fine, Master. Merely a surface wound.]
Patrick covered his injured right arm with his remaining sleeve and bowed his head.
Luo Wei's heart clenched at the sight - this was far more than a surface wound, his very bones were damaged.
She fixed her gaze on Zachary, who stood completely engulfed in flames. The seven undead mages maintained their circle but dared not approach.
Luo Wei's lips curled in a sneer, "Mr. Bunian, you continue to surprise. Those flames surrounding you - they're not magical in nature, are they?"
Advanced fire magic could indeed reach such temperatures, but Bunian hadn't uttered any incantations or wielded a wand. Given Galan Star's current magical element density, mages couldn't cast without a medium.
Moreover, even the caster couldn't withstand such magically conjured heat.
Zachary's red beard danced in the flames, his curly red hair floating upward as if gravity-defiant, resembling a dark crimson blaze.
"Correct," Zachary's face glowed with savage triumph, "You venomous witch, bet you didn't expect me to be a Blessed One of the Fire God!"
As he spoke, a flame-shaped mark materialized on his forehead like a badge of divine favor.
Luo Wei's eyes narrowed - a Fire God's blessed one? Weren't Northerners supposedly less religious?
Though perhaps it made sense for a mystical smith to worship the Fire God.
Hephaestus, the God of Fire, commanded dominion over volcanoes, flames, forging and crafts. As one of the seventeen principal deities of the Church, his power was formidable.
This complicated matters, Luo Wei thought.
Those blessed by gods were their cherished followers - their prayers received divine priority and response.
Like her connection with the God of the Dead - they could communicate directly mind-to-mind.
She wasn't certain whether the God of the Dead or Fire God was more powerful. If Zachary managed to summon the Fire God's intervention, would she meet her end here, denied even proper burial?
Though true gods couldn't walk the mortal realm, they could still grant abilities remotely as the God of the Dead did, enough to crush opposition.
Luo Wei felt a wave of dejection. Great God of the Dead, this had escalated beyond mere blessed ones - it was now a clash between divine powers.
It all came down to supernatural backing!
If Zachary prevailed today, it would mean the Fire God's triumph over the God of the Dead - a blow to His divine prestige!
Great God of the Dead, can you hear my plea?
Over ten thousand kilometers away in the Wastes.
A beautiful man with delicate features reclined by a pool amid temple ruins when his little follower's thoughts reached him.
The plaintive prayers overflowed with grievances - about the Fire God's follower's arrogance, about the mighty powers the Fire God had bestowed.
And complaints that the Fire God's blessed one had invaded Demon Island, openly threatening incineration while claiming the God of the Dead was nothing compared to the Fire God.
At those final words, his playful expression frosted over.
Hmph. All flames were born of darkness - who did the Fire God think he was?
Modern followers were so naive. Why fear a mere blessed one of the Fire God?
With a casual wave, he granted her power over flames.
Take it! The next time you face a Fire God's blessed one, you can snuff them out with ease. Extinguish all their flames!
"Bubble bubble..."
The undead mermaid surfaced from the pool's depths.
"What gift did you bestow this time?"
"Nothing significant, just the power to snuff out a few candles," the man replied languidly.
"My Lord, I must remind you that your authority grows thin," Stacy regarded Him with hollow eyes.
"No matter," the man lounged by the poolside, "I am her mother - she will return it twofold in time."
"Then you must wait and see." Stacy remained skeptical. "I believe that child is quite clever - she may not heed your will."
"It matters not if she refuses. As you said, I remain in her debt."
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