NOVEL NEXT Chapter 170: Apprentice Mages
The moment the bandit leader's blade descended toward Lena, time seemed to slow.
Lena's eyes widened as she braced for impact.
She had already exhausted her mana. There was no time for another spell. She simply raised her arms instinctively, like a final gesture of resistance…
But steel met steel, not flesh.
CLANG!
Van's blade caught the downward slash just in time, and sparks burst from the clash.
The sheer force of the blow sent him sliding backward as his worn boots dug through the dirt.
"Miss Lena! Fall back!" Van said as his arms were trembling from the sheer strength of the enemy. The strength of the Level 2 Aura Knight was simply too much even for him.
Nonetheless, thanks to his Ocularis Lens, he was able to find a good angle to receive the attack.
Indeed, Van had seen it coming. His Ocularis Lens had flared with a warning from the moment the Aura Knight targeted Lena.
Then, with his interference, the Bandit Leader turned to him without any words. At this point, Van already realized that the Bandits weren't here to earn money or collect fees; they were here aiming to kill or maybe even abduct the Apprentice Mages from the start!
[ Danger Level: Critical ]
[ Strike Trajectory – Cervical Spine ]
[ Recommended Action: Intercept. Timing Window – 1.3 seconds ]
This information appeared and was quickly processed by his mind.
There was no hesitation in his movements as he fought against the Level 2 Aura Knight with movements that seemed as if he was seeing the future as he was able to dodge and counter for a full 20 or so exchanges!
Realizing that he couldn't get an advantage over a mere Trainee Knight, the Bandit Leader took a step back, assessing him with faint curiosity behind the crimson mask.
"You're not just a slave," the man said as he considered whether to kill Van or to bring him as well.
However, realizing that his Poison was still not affecting the Mages, he might have to change his plan… He had to kill this slave!
"You're good. But you will not delay me again."
Van exhaled as he looked at the gray aura spreading throughout his body…
At this time, Julia stepped forward with her staff already glowing with condensed mana.
"Van," she called, firm and calm. "Thank you. But this isn't your fight."
Van turned… "Master—!"
Julia's expression softened. "I know your strength. But this is between us… For our training…."
A moment of hesitation flickered through him as he also liked to fight against this Level 2 Aura Knight… then, with a slight nod, he stepped back.
Before he did, his eyes locked with hers, and he whispered…"
"His left shoulder… It's wounded." Van said.
Apparently, his Ocularis Lens detected muscle fiber tears and a meridian disruption at the Yunmen Point. Furthermore, during their few exchanges, he also noticed that the man favors his right side.
Julia's eyes widened slightly. Then she gave him the faintest nod. She understood.
As Van retreated, the five Apprentice Mages took position.
Gian was the most confident with his Mana Barrier. He slammed his staff into the ground. "Formation… Barrier layer! Lena, support!"
Though still pale, Lena already drank her potion mustered her remaining energy, and joined him.
"Mana Barrier… Dual Layer!"
Although she barely supported, Gian was able to handle the spell.
A soft blue dome shimmered around the group, just as the Aura Knight charged.
BOOM!
The impact was monstrous.
The gray Aura that enveloped his blade ripped through the outer shield like tissue paper.
The inner layer, however, held for now.
"Marcus! Go!" Julia shouted.
Marcus clenched his fists as Mana started to gather around him...
"Mana Chains – Bind this thing!"
From the glowing runes etched along his staff, three snake-like chains of mana shot out, seeking the Aura Knight.
One looped around the man's ankle. Another coiled around his sword arm. The last wrapped around his waist.
The knight frowned seeing that they were still alright… "What is this? Why is the poison not working?!" The knight, or the bandit leader, was already getting frustrated. The Poison he used could affect even against Second-Circle mage!
However, for some reason, these Apprentice Mages were completely unharmed! They weren't even any signs showing that they were affected...
Julia and the others just smiled after hearing this.
After all, Instructor Chavez had already told them secretly about the Mana Scattering Poison Powder that was dispersed…
Thankfully, the Instructor found this a bit too unfair and decided to make her move…
Just like that, the others were unworried about the tricks that the Level 2 Aura Knight planned to pull!
With that, Julia didn't give him time to recover.
"Firebolt!"
Soon, five streaks of fire flew from her palm in rapid succession. Of course, this wasn't easy as she sacrificed the strength of her fire with the number of fires she could release.
However, the Aura Knight didn't know that these fires were incredibly weak!
The Aura Knight just moved and turned his blade to deflect! However, the chains hindered his movement. In a panic, he swiftly waved his sword!
However, he was still too slow as the others' spells reached him as well!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The first two Firebolts hit his blade and shoulder. The third scorched his side. The fourth struck near his previously wounded left shoulder, drawing a grunt. However, for the fifth firebolt, he was able to free himself from the Mana Chains and barely avoided it….
"Now, Harvey!" Julia commanded.
Harvey gritted his teeth and thrust his hands forward.
"Mana Pulse! Disruption Wave!"
A shockwave of energy erupted outward, vibrating the air.
The Aura Knight staggered as his aura started collapsing for a moment before stabilizing again…
But it was enough.
Gian stepped forward, his mana was gathering on his staff as he activated his signature spell.
"Earthen Bind!"
This Spell wasn't really his Spell. It was the Spell of his Staff that he could activate… Unfortunately, it costs a lot of Mana but it didn't matter in this type of situation.
The ground beneath the knight exploded upward!
This wasn't a spell that Apprentice Mages could do!
It means that the Staff was definitely a high-level Magic Item!
The man swiftly leaped back, narrowly avoiding being caught, but his balance was off!
And then, Lena didn't miss this and made her move…
"Mana Spike!"
A sharp blue spear of energy erupted from beneath the knight's right foot—his favored side.
SHINK!
He roared in pain as the spell pierced through his boot and into his ankle. His Gray Aura was completely unable to stop her attack unlike before!
"NOW!" Julia shouted.
She raised both hands as a glowing circle formed above her.
It was her strongest Zero-Circle spell.
"Magic Bullet!"
Soon, a condensed, bullet made of mana materialized and shot toward the knight with explosive force.
The knight crossed his arms to block his gray aura from spreading wildly. Then, it was followed by others' Firebolt, Mana Chains, and their own version of Magic Bullet!
BOOOOOOM!
They all hit their target, and the explosion that followed sent shockwaves through the field.
The ground cracked as the Aura Knight accepted their attack head-on!
For a moment, the five Apprentice Mages were nervous. They do not have a lot of Mana as apprentice mages. During this fight, they were left with 5 to 10% of their current mana. If the man could still fight, they could only use their Mana Barrier to help them retreat and perhaps, ask the servants to join them in the battle in order to win.
However, Julia and the others didn't want to reach that point. After all, they still wanted to show their slaves that even with their level as an Apprentice Mage without any Mana Circle in their heart, they were still stronger than a Level 2 Aura Knight.
"Did we get him?" Marcus asked as he scanned the surroundings….
"No," Gian muttered as the smoke cleared.
The knight still stood. His armor was already scorched. Blood dripped from a wound on his shoulder, and there were even streaks of blood leaking from his facial orifices…
He was already about to die… He couldn't even release his Gray Aura anymore. Though they could still feel a bit of Aura from him, it was already a weaker version of it.
"Children… I will end you."
He already knew that capturing these Apprentice mages was impossible. Now, his only wish was to kill two or three of them before perishing…
He wanted to bring someone with him to his death!
Then, using his damaged sword, he charged once again…
It was without Aura Technique, but he was still quite fast, and he reached Marcus in an instant.
CLANG!
Gian threw up a shield just in time, but it cracked under the force.
Marcus was thrown backward, rolling across the field.
"Marcus!" Lena cried.
Julia intercepted the knight with her final barrage of Magic Bullets, but this time, he charged through them!
He also realized that they were already weakened!