Warlock of the Magus World – Redux

In the heart of the desert, the sun blazed like a fireball, its intense heat causing mirages to dance and distort the view. Nestled within this harsh landscape was a temporary stone forest, a magical construct conjured by spells. Here, Leylin and his five companions sought refuge from the relentless sun.

The group's burly member, a man of limited wits but great strength, broke the silence. "Do you think the old man can pull it off?" he asked, his voice casual yet filled with anticipation.

Lancey, her brows furrowed in thought, responded, "We must have faith in him. He is, after all, the most seasoned among us." She then turned to the group, "Is the ambush ready?"

Emerging from the shadows of the stone forest, Leylin moved with a grace and silence that belied his powerful abilities. A flash of yellow light marked his presence. "All my preparations are complete," he confirmed.

"Everything's in place over here as well," echoed a voice from the other side of the forest. It belonged to the night shift Magus, a man of few words but unquestionable competence.

The burly man clenched his fist, his knuckles popping with the force of his grip. "Excellent. Once the old man lures the Vulture King here, I'll tear that damned bird to shreds!" he declared, his voice echoing through the stone forest.

Despite his large belly, the burly man was a formidable magician who specialized in physical training and body reinforcement. His muscles bulged with raw power, a testament to his strength and determination.

Leylin, observing the scene, mused about the potential rewards they could reap from the Vulture King. He knew that the old man wouldn't be so eager to act as bait if it weren't for some valuable ingredient the Vulture King possessed.

"They're coming," Leylin announced calmly. He didn't consider this a life-or-death situation. He doubted his companions would be foolish enough to die at the talons of a vulture, even the burly man. But ultimately, he was indifferent to their fates.

Thanks to Aralis' detection perimeter, Leylin was the first to spot the approaching party. On the horizon, a thin layer of black figures began to materialize. Among them was a human figure, a green hurricane swirling around him as he charged forward.

"Everyone, return to your posts and follow your orders! Quickly!" Lancey commanded, her voice tinged with urgency.

In an instant, the Magi vanished, leaving the stone forest seemingly deserted. The old man was approaching rapidly. From his hiding spot, Leylin could see blood trickling from the old man's ears, a clear sign of his exertion. Leylin found it amusing that others were willing to risk their lives without any manipulation on his part.

While the old man stood to gain the most from this encounter, Leylin wasn't particularly interested in the spoils. He could easily purchase whatever the Vulture King could offer with his abundant stash of magic crystals. As a Master Potioneer, his wealth far exceeded that of his companions combined.

As the old man entered the stone forest, he sent a warning to the group. "Beware of the Vulture King's sarcoma, it can launch an incapacitating sonic attack! I've already been hit once!"

Upon seeing the stone forest, the Vulture King hesitated. But the thought of its prey, whose energy signature was similar to its own, and the fact that it had killed its offspring, filled it with rage. With bloodshot eyes, it led its flock into the stone forest.

"The target is in the kill zone. Begin!" The geezer's command, transmitted through a secret imprint, echoed simultaneously in five different locations. The hunt was on.

Upon receiving the transmission, Leylin's hand began to emanate a vivid scarlet glow, reminiscent of a setting sun. With a sense of purpose, he pressed his glowing hands against a stone obelisk that stood majestically before him.

In response, a circular wave of immense magical power erupted with a violent force. The spell, a kaleidoscope of colors, glowed with an ethereal light, ensnaring the Kary Vultures within its confines, much like a cage entrapping its unwilling occupants.

The Kary Vulture King, a formidable creature, let out a furious screech that echoed through the air. The grotesque, tumor-like muscles on its bald head began to pulsate, growing in size and radiating a bright, ominous red. This unsettling transformation culminated in a violent sound explosion, a sonic boom that reverberated through the surroundings.

The resulting cacophony, an ear-piercing sound wave, continued to echo within the confines of the cage. The remaining Kary Vultures, seemingly in sync with their king, began to vibrate their own tumor-like muscles, amplifying the sound wave in a terrifying display of unity.

"This kind of joint attack… Fascinating." Leylin mused, his eyes widening in intrigue as the sound waves pounded against his skull, akin to a relentless hammer. He managed to stave off the ensuing dizziness, but he surmised his teammates might not be as fortunate.

Under the relentless assault of the sound waves, the ring of light that formed the top of the cage began to flicker, its once steady glow starting to fade.

[The attack from such a seemingly insignificant creature is stronger than anticipated. Moreover, it can be amplified by the rest of the flock. If the rest of the Kary Vultures from the previous encounter were still present, they would have undoubtedly broken free from the cage,] Aralis concluded, her voice echoing in Leylin's mind.

"Plan A has failed, time to initiate Plan B!" Lancey's voice, tinged with exasperation, emitted from the secret imprint, a magical communication method.

"Understood," Leylin responded, his voice barely above a whisper. As he spoke, he cast another magic spell with the same hand, conserving his mana. The truth was, he could have easily faced the entire flock and their King alone, albeit at the cost of expending valuable combat potions and the majority of his mana reserves. However, he preferred to adopt a conservative approach, opting for safety over recklessness.

[Estimated countdown to entrapment detonation: 10 seconds,] Aralis stated, her voice devoid of emotion.

"It's time for these vultures to meet their end," Leylin declared, casting a final glance at the Kary Vultures that were still struggling futilely within the cage before making a swift exit.

Ten seconds later, a violent explosion rocked the artificial stone forest. The deafening sound of the explosion filled the area, and a plume of black smoke shot up into the horizon. Amidst the blaze, colorful and fine potion powders occasionally dispersed, adding to the spectacle.

To amplify the power of the spell, Leylin had strategically placed a plethora of explosive and conflagratory potions around the trap.

"Haha! Beasts are still just beasts!" A burly figure, who was also present at the scene, laughed out loud, his voice filled with condescension as he watched the Kary Vultures struggle in the fiery blaze.

Two streams of blood trickled down from the man's ears, a clear indication that the Kary Vultures' sonic attack had inflicted considerable damage. As for Leylin, he remained unscathed, a testament to his prowess.

"This Kary Vulture King has reached the pinnacle of its racial talents. The tumor-like muscle on its head can emit potent sound wave attacks, and these can be amplified by the flock. The level of danger has increased by at least two levels. When I return, I must demand additional compensation from those despicable merchants!" The old geezer grumbled, his voice filled with resentment.

"Discussions about the price increase can wait. The minions are all dead, but where is their king?" Leylin questioned, pointing towards the heart of the explosion, his eyes scanning the scene for any sign of the elusive creature.

As the fiery inferno began to wane, a large, bird-like figure, cloaked in soot, emerged from the remnants of the once intact forest. The explosion had taken its toll on the Kary Vulture King, scorching half of its vibrant scarlet feathers and smearing the rest with black soot.

A conspicuous blood stain marred its bald head, making it a sight that would have been comical, had this creature not been a formidable Magus-like entity. Leylin and his party dared not underestimate it.

Lancey, her jaw dropping in disbelief, remarked, "The explosion just now… it must have been at least 30 degrees in power. Who would have thought…"

Leylin quickly retorted, "That was the bare minimum we needed to achieve. This is not some frail-bodied Magus we're dealing with, but a high-level species with a formidable physique. Now, enough with the idle chatter. Move forward and surround it! It's about to take flight!"

The old geezer, cursing under his breath, reluctantly turned his gaze towards the Kary Vulture King, which was already preparing for flight. He began to chant an incantation, and as he did so, a faint azure breeze gathered, forming two large wings on his back.

"I was the one who baited and intercepted it, so I deserve a larger share of the spoils!" The old geezer declared, his wings vibrating as he ascended into the air.

He moved swiftly, demonstrating an agility in the air that matched his nimbleness on the ground. It was clear he was no stranger to aerial combat. The Kary Vulture King let out an enraged cry, but its wings, heavily damaged by the explosion, were no match for the old geezer.

After a series of tactical maneuvers in the air, the old geezer seized an opportunity. With a beam of green light, he pierced one of the Kary Vulture King's wings. The bird, now unbalanced, plummeted to the ground, raising a cloud of dust upon impact.

"Advance!" Leylin commanded, and his party immediately rushed forward to surround the fallen Kary Vulture King.

Blood seeped from the numerous wounds on the Kary Vulture King. Surrounded by the Magi and with a human figure looming above, a sense of despair flickered in its eyes.

The big bloke, his body encased in a green-gray stone skin, leapt at the injured Kary Vulture King, laughing coldly, "You're finished, beast!"

The Kary Vulture King let out a high-pitched shriek and flapped its wings. The remaining intact wing slashed through the air like a blade, its feathers sharp as steel. It clashed with the big bloke's fist, resulting in a dull explosion that reverberated through the air and shook the ground below. The big bloke was forced to retreat, his stone skin crackling under the impact.

The Kary Vulture King screeched again, its body turning a gruesome red as it bled profusely. Its wing had been torn apart by the big bloke's powerful punch. It seemed to be pumping all its remaining life force into its head, causing the previously shattered tumor there to swell ominously.

"Watch out, it's preparing to unleash another sonic attack!" Leylin warned urgently. He reached out and grabbed the swelling tumor, shouting, "I'll restrict its movements!"

From the shadow of the Kary Vulture King, countless purple-black tentacles sprang forth, binding the creature tightly, with extra bindings around its skull. Leylin then retreated a few meters as he continued to bind the king with his spell.

"Now, together! Unleash your most powerful attacks!" Leylin ordered, trying to rally his team, who seemed to be waiting for him to finish off the enemy alone. He could do it, of course, but they didn't need to know that.

Leylin found himself questioning his earlier assumption about the collective intelligence of his team. Sure, the large bloke was an idiot, but it appeared as if the rest were not any better in that regard.

In the midst of the battlefield, Lancey, accompanied by the two other Magi, launched a fierce attack on the formidable Kary Vulture King. A barrage of magical spells, pulsating with intense energy, rained down upon the creature. These spells ripped through the Kary Vulture King's chest, causing a gush of blood to erupt from its body.

The large bloke attempted a counterattack but ran out of mana at the last second, his stone skin turning back to its fleshy, vulnerable state. He was met with a swift slash of sharp feathers across his arms, which forced him back.

Meanwhile, the elderly mage, levitating in mid-air, unleashed a horizontal emerald air-blade attack, severing the malignant tumor that bound the creature. The Kary Vulture King let out a series of agonizing screeches as the life in its eyes began to fade, and it collapsed onto the ground with a heavy thud.

The elderly mage descended to the ground, his magical green wings dissipating into thin air. The six Magi gathered around the fallen Kary Vulture King, their faces etched with complex expressions.

"What a grueling task this has been!" exclaimed the burly figure, dousing his wounds with a healing elixir. His injuries were superficial, barely causing any bleeding. For most Magi, those feathers would've severed their arm completely. This was proof of his physique-oriented cultivation.

"If not for the additional compensation from the canyon factions, this would have been a futile endeavor!" One of the antisocial members of the group exclaimed in an unusually passionate voice.

The absence of severe injuries among the party belied the immense challenge they faced in slaying the Kary Vulture King. The preparation of traps and concoction of potions required a significant amount of time and resources. The fact that it took six Magi to accomplish the task underscored the magnitude of the challenge.

As for Leylin, who had assumed the role of the leader towards the end of the battle, was displeased with his companions' utter incompetence. He resolved to part ways with them at the earliest opportunity.

The materials scavenged from the Kary Vulture King's corpse barely covered the expenses incurred by the party. Had there been any fatalities or serious injuries, the endeavor would have resulted in a significant loss.

In affairs like these, Magi were known for their rationality. They were adept at performing cost-benefit analyses under varying circumstances. If the cost outweighed the benefits, they would refrain from undertaking the task.

On this occasion, had the Kary Vulture King not been obstructing their path, the party would have avoided engaging with such a high-level creature. Leylin, too, would not have gone out of his way to hunt it down.

"Regardless of any hardships experienced, the fact that our party has sustained no serious injuries is a silver lining," the elderly mage said, his face breaking into a wide smile. "Now, let's discuss the distribution of the spoils of our efforts…"

As Leylin had anticipated, the elderly mage claimed the majority of the feathers and the pair of large wings, arguing that he had contributed the most to the battle. His jubilant expression suggested that he needed these materials urgently for an experiment or crafting.

The rest of the party followed suit, claiming what they believed was a fair share for their contributions.

Leylin modestly took only a small portion of the blood and flesh from the tumor. His humility earned him praise from the elderly mage and Lancey, while the others paid him little heed. Unbeknownst to him, he had unwittingly forged a reputation as a helpful and selfless individual among the Magi, which would serve him well in the future.

As a Warlock, Leylin had a keen interest in the bloodlines of high-level creatures. Although the benefits of the Kary Vultures' bloodline were not well-documented, Leylin was eager to experiment with the cancer cells in the flesh he had extracted. After all, the vultures' power was believed to originate from it.