NOVEL NEXT Chapter 115: Priority Targets
The formation arrays had a total of three effects.
One of them was the disruption of Aura… The other was called Sonic Dampeners.
In this space, screams were swallowed by the air itself, ensuring no alarm would reach beyond the arena.
Lastly, there was Illusionary Fog. With their command, a thick, unnatural mist rolled in, obscuring the vision of the spectators and all other non-magicians.
Nonetheless, as long as you could use Aura and focus it on your eyes, there wouldn't be any problem for Aura Users.
However, it would still make the kidnapping a lot easier since, during the confusion, the guards and the crowd would panic, and it would be chaotic for them!
The arena guards, trained for riots and duels—not magical warfare—were immediately overwhelmed by the ambush.
Chief Mage Guard Torvain shouted orders, but his voice was lost in the chaos… He couldn't control the situation!
"FORM UP! DEFENSIVE—"
Magister Orhan, the third-circle mage silenced him with a gesture, binding his tongue with invisible chains.
Just like that, the veteran two-circle mage felt a chill down his spine… The gap between the two-circle and the three-circle was simply too huge!
The Chief Mage then tried to use his emergency crystal to ask for help but even after activating it, he didn't sense the receiver of the emergency signal.
'Not good… The arena has been sealed!'
***
Sheena floated above the judges and the other Aura Knights as her eyes scanned the panicking crowd.
She couldn't help but smile seeing how they all tried to find their way out of this arena..
However, she didn't like how no one was paying attention on her.
"Kneel," Sheena commanded and her voice was also laced with compulsion magic. "And you will live."
Most of the civilians obeyed as they knew that resisting the Magicians' words could end their lives faster.
However, those who were still panicking and those Aura Knights who heard this, did not.
A group of Aura Knights roared, charging the nearest Phyrexian mages—only for Orhan to flick his wrist.
Although the Aura Knight should be no match against the First-Circle Mages, he didn't want them to push themselves too hard since they had just used a powerful spell in order to trigger those Formation Cores.
The First-Circle Mages shouldn't have a lot of mana to deal with multiple Aura Knights at the moment.
"Foolish." Magister Orhan muttered as a Gravity Well erupted beneath them, crushing the knights into the ground with enough force to crack bones.
Hayden, still in the competitor's gallery, felt his Ocularis Lens overloading from the mana fluctuations.
This isn't a battle.
This is a slaughter.
***
The moment the guards had been taken care of and the arena's main barriers collapsed, the First and Second Circle Mages moved quickly.
Their targets had been marked long before the tournament began—the most promising young warriors of this competition!
One of the priority targets was Claire Solstice.
She held her rapier tightly as she noticed that a mist or fog started to spread throughout the crown.
"Enemy…" Claire muttered as she sensed someone targeting her.
Soon, she felt someone behind her! She knew that it was one of the enemies and planned to attack!
"You—"
However, before she could strike, a Soulbrand Needle pierced the air beside her.
A Second Circle Mage whispered a single word after using it…
"Sleep."
Just like that, Claire's body locked up, and her muscles started relaxing as she felt her mind become cloudy…
'No…'
She wanted to scream for help but in just a moment, she collapsed without being able to do anything at all.
Apparently, the Phyrexian Mages realized that Claire was using a Magic Artifact that protected her from first-level Magic Spells.
Because of that, a second circle mage must act in order to capture her quickly.
On the other hand, Ulysses Montclair, the other target, had already drawn his sword, almost cutting down a First Circle Mage who had arrived to capture him...
Well, the Mages are indeed incredibly strong and almost invincible against Aura Knights but that was only when they were protecting their bodies with Mana.
After all, Aura couldn't easily penetrate a Magician's Mana for some reason…
"What are you planning to do?!" Ulysses roared as he planned to use his Aura Technique. But then—chains made of darkness erupted from the ground, wrapping around his limbs. The first circle mage had released his spell, and Ulysses had no way of resisting.
Ulysses roared in frustration as he was dragged into the mist.
Similar situations happened to other priority targets.
Trina Dainar of Black Sword Academy also fought like a wildcat. Her dual black swords slashed through the mage before a gravity seal slammed her into the ground.
This seal wasn't a spell cast by the first circle mage, instead, it was a fist-sized charm that she triggered in order to paralyze Trina. Well, the mages were also trying to be careful with the products.
They were afraid that if they used strong magic, they might kill these young kids and get punished by the prince. No one wanted that to happen.
In the meantime, Adrian Voss from Verdant Thorn Academy, together with Jethro and Haien were all fighting back-to-back…
The three of them tried to resist with all their might, but a coordinated Mental Pulse spell from three mages shattered their focus.
Their bodies went rigid as aura-suppression cuffs clamped around their wrists.
This continued for some time as almost all the students they were targeting were captured!
However, there was no way that the Professors, Headmasters, and other Aura Users in the town would just allow this to happen.
As soon as the Mage Guards were able to gather themselves and resist the first-circle and second-circle mages, an opportunity for the rest of the Aura Knights occurred.
"Hayden… Follow me, I'll create a path to escape…" Headmaster Mensa said, but as he looked beside him, he realized that Hayden was already gone!
The seat was already empty!
"Ah?"