NOVEL NEXT 50. Festival of Darkness Final Part 2
Mori stood up and snorted in Margaret's direction. Despite her lazy nature, she managed to move quite quickly.
However, Mori didn't dwell on it any further. He looked in a different direction, channeled his mana, and flew into the air, dramatically folding his arms as he waited for his opponents.
Figures appeared in a flash of light over the rooftops. Among them were Rain, Mylie, and Sadie. However, they weren't alone. Five other strong individuals accompanied them. These were the commanders and representatives of the other Pacifist groups. They all wore identical armor, except for a tall woman with blonde hair, each eye a different color. Her right eye was grey, and her left was green. Her armor, black and gray, contrasted with the others. She carried a large two-handed sword on her back and wore an expression of arrogance.
Mori tapped his finger on his wrist. "It's enough that you showed up. You took your sweet time. Do you know how many people I've already managed to kill? Oh, great Pacifists, how do you explain your incompetence to your superiors?" Mori mocked them.
The woman in black armor removed the large sword she held with one hand from her back and pointed it at Mori. "Shut up, monster! Your decision to stay here was your biggest mistake. We'll destroy you in an instant!"
Mori rolled his eyes. "So dramatic! I suppose I should be honored to have the Pope's right hand fighting against me. The Punisher of the God of Light himself! However, it's a mystery to me how you came to be here."
"... It's none of your business. If you know who I am, it must be clear to you that your days are numbered, Dark Mage," the Punisher replied, nodding to the others, who began to disperse.
Mori shook his head and chuckled. "I really loved your confidence. I'd love to have crushed it!" He raised his hand and wagged a finger at them, beckoning them closer to him.
The Punisher leaned forward and hurled her body toward Mori, while the other male and female Pacifists followed, howling into the air behind her with their weapons ready.
Sadie stayed behind, using her bow to attack from a distance, Mylie moved to the side and raised her staff in the air, while Rain jumped off the roof and advanced forward on the ground.
With a fierce battle cry, the Punisher surged forward, her body surrounded by a golden phoenix-shaped manifestation of mana. The air crackled with energy as she swung her sword downward with immense force. Mori's response was swift and fluid. He shaped his dark mana into a solid barrier, resembling a black shield, which clashed with the Punisher's attack, sending shockwaves through the square.
Meanwhile, Rain, the defensive specialist among the Pacifists, had conjured a series barriers around his allies, providing cover and protection as they advanced. Sadie, her feline eyes focused, notched an arrow and let it loose, the arrow transforming into a shimmering bolt of sharpness-imbued mana that streaked towards Mori. The dark mage countered by solidifying his mana into a whip-like tendril, deflecting the arrow with a contemptuous flick.
Mylie, a battle mage with a staff, chanted prayers under her breath, causing the air to shimmer with magical energy. Beams of energy surged towards Mori, but his dark mana shifted and morphed into forms that deflected and absorbed the attacks. Mori's laughter rang out again. "Is this the extent of your supposed Light's power? How disappointing!"
Rain's face was a mask of determination as he manipulated his iron-like mana barriers into an intricate pattern, creating a maze of defensive structures around Mori. The Punisher unleashed a series of rapid strikes, her golden phoenix mana flaring with each attack. Mori danced through the air, his body enveloped in a cocoon of swirling dark mana that deflected the strikes with eerie grace.
Amidst the chaos, Mori's mocking tone continued to taunt his opponents. "You're all so earnest, so predictable. Do you honestly believe your God of Light cares for your futile efforts?"
Frustration etched across the Punisher's face, her attacks growing more ferocious yet calculated. Her golden phoenix mana soared, leaving streaks of brilliance in its wake. Mori's dark mana formed into an immense clawed hand, clashing with the golden phoenix head-on. The clash created a blinding explosion of contrasting energies that sent shockwaves throughout the square, shattering windows and throwing debris into the air.
Mori's form wavered, his liquid-like mana rippling as if to mock the Pacifists' efforts. Sadie, her feline eyes focused and unyielding, notched an arrow and drew her bowstring taut. Her mana surged through the arrow, granting it a razor-sharp edge. With a swift release, the arrow streaked toward Mori, a glinting harbinger of danger.
Mori's mirthful expression twisted into one of genuine amusement as he swiftly sidestepped the arrow's trajectory. The arrow grazed his side, leaving a shallow gash that oozed dark mana. He chuckled, reveling in the futile attempt to harm him.
Rain's defenses held firm, his mana barriers bending and flexing like steel under immense pressure. His eyes flickered to the Punisher, her golden phoenix mana blazing with an intensity that matched the sun. She surged forward once more, her sword cleaving through the air with a blinding brilliance. Mori's dark mana rippled, forming a colossal fist that met the Punisher's strike head-on. The clash created a shockwave that shattered windows and sent debris soaring.
Amidst the chaos, Rain's voice rang out in a commanding tone. "Mylie, focus your magic on weakening his defenses! Sadie, find an opening and strike!"
Mylie nodded, her staff glowing brighter as she channeled her mana into a concentrated beam of light. The beam lanced through the air, striking Mori's shield with explosive force. The shield quivered, its dark surface cracking under the pressure. Mori's laughter turned into a furious snarl, his eyes fixed on Mylie with a dangerous intensity.
Sadie, her feline instincts honed to perfection, waited for the opportune moment. She tracked Mori's movements, her sharp eyes never leaving his form. As Mori's attention shifted to Mylie's assault, Sadie's arrow found its mark. The arrow streaked toward Mori with unparalleled speed, its edge shimmering with razor-sharp mana.
Mori's grin never wavered as he twisted his form with almost liquid agility, the arrow grazing his side and leaving a trail of dark mana in its wake. He laughed, a sound that resonated with manic glee. "Is this all you have? How have you even managed to survive this long when your abilities are so poor? Try harder!"
The Punisher's attacks intensified, her golden phoenix mana flaring with an incandescent brilliance. Rain's defenses held, but the strain was evident on his face. Mylie's assaults continued, the air crackling with ethereal energy as her magic clashed against Mori's dark shield. Sadie, undeterred, notched another arrow and drew her bowstring taut.
Mori's form became a swirling vortex of darkness, his laughter echoing through the square like a chilling melody. The Punisher's strikes grew more desperate, her attacks bordering on reckless abandon. She summoned the golden phoenix with an almost primal fury, her mana blazing with the intensity of a supernova.
Suddenly, with a flourish of his hand, Mori's dark mana erupted outward, forming an all-encompassing wave that sent shockwaves through the square. The Punisher's golden phoenix was consumed by the darkness, its brilliance dimming as if swallowed by an insatiable void.
Rain's defenses shattered, his mana barriers crumbling under the force of Mori's assault. Mylie's incantations faltered, her concentration broken by the wave of darkness. Only Sadie remained untouched, her feline reflexes allowing her to evade the oncoming onslaught.
Mori's laughter swelled to a triumphant crescendo as the darkness receded, leaving destruction in its wake. The Punisher lay on the ground, her armor cracked and battered, her golden phoenix mana extinguished. Rain struggled to rise, his iron-like mana shattered, his body battered and bruised.
Sadie, her heart pounding, notched an arrow imbued with the last shreds of her determination. Her mana surged through the arrow, granting it a potency that bordered on desperation. With a swift release, the arrow streaked toward Mori, its trajectory unwavering.
Mori's gaze met Sadie's, his eyes burning with manic intensity. But instead of evading, he stood his ground, his body enveloped in a shroud of swirling dark mana. The arrow struck him, embedding itself in his chest, a glinting shard of defiance.
Mori's laughter transformed into a guttural roar, his form quivering as if struck by an otherworldly force. The dark mana around him writhed and contorted, as if in agony. Yet, slowly, the wound began to heal, the dark mana knitting itself back together with eerie determination.
Sadie's eyes widened in disbelief, her arrow's defiance seemingly in vain. Mori's voice, laced with a triumphant madness, echoed through the square. "You amuse me, little cat. Maybe I could take you home to keep my feet warm."
But as Mori raised his hand, a rumble echoed through the square. The air shimmered, and suddenly, the invisible barrier of Sun Alley shattered into fragments. A procession of armored soldiers poured into the square, led by a figure in regal attire.
The Royal Army had arrived.
Mori looked back in annoyance when he saw the reinforcements arriving. "Is it time? Seriously, do heroes always have to come in at the last minute to save the day? Tsk." He clicked his tongue in displeasure.
Even though Mori appeared confident, he was still expending a fair amount of his energy. Pacifists and Punisher were not easy opponents, but he had achieved what he wanted. The thrill of fighting and crushing the righteous bastards had driven him to the brink of ecstasy.
Mori couldn't take on an entire army just yet. "Hm. I guess the king found out about his son. No wonder he decided to move," Mori said with an entertained expression.
He turned around and surveyed the destroyed square and the defeated enemies. He noted with satisfaction that he had managed to kill two of them. He wondered when it had happened, but he was having too much fun to really care about the kills. "Thanks for the entertainment. That alone made this whole trip worth it. Toodles!" He waved them off before his figure blurred and disappeared.
Only the defeated silence and the distant marching of the incoming army filled the square.
Once the battle had died down, the Duke and Duchess of Roseblood were joined by Pacifist Gillen and Gray. They had actually arrived while the battle was still ongoing, but it was beyond the abilities of Gray and the Rosebloods to intervene. While Gillen was quite capable, his sudden appearance had the potential to disrupt his comrades' concentration, so he waited. Just as he was about to rush to the aid of his fallen colleagues, the barrier was destroyed and the Royal Army arrived.
With the dangerous Dark Mage gone, both Gray and Gillen rushed to their commander, leaving the Duke and Duchess behind.
"This Dark Mage was on a whole different level. What was wrong with him? He could fight the Pacifists and deal with the Punisher easily. He had to be at least Rank 6. Disturbing," Duke Roseblood said, looking at his wife. To his surprise, she was pale and pressing her lips tightly together.
He placed his hand on her shoulder to reassure her. "Take it easy, darling. It's all over now."
The Duchess frowned and gazed at her husband. "That's not why I'm upset, you silly whale!"
The Duke looked offended for a moment but then pulled his wife close, wrapping one arm around her shoulders. "What's bothering you, then?"
"That was Mori Kaskanov," the Duchess said softly, causing the Duke to pale as well.
"Kaskanov? Are you absolutely sure?" He lowered his voice, confirming the information.
"I'm sure. His resemblance is unmistakable," the Duchess replied.
The Duke's gaze darkened. "How... no... he couldn't have escaped the Chasm. No?"
They both paused and observed the newcomers as the royal army tended to the wounded and assessed the aftermath of the battle. Additional troops were dispatched to investigate the entirety of Sun Alley.
The Duke and Duchess stepped aside, engaging in a hushed conversation before eventually turning and making their way back to their daughter.