Extra's Descent

Inside Evelyn's zone.

The Zone was an isolated domain that was clearly tied to the [Celestial] affinity. Stars shone brightly, casting a steady, hollow light.

The air shimmered with celestial energy, and Evelyn felt like she had full control over the entire domain.

It should've been an easy fight.

Evelyn should've been able to overpower them.

Yet it proved to be a more difficult task than Evelyn had initially thought.

They were tricky.

It wasn't a contest of strength at all.

More like who could outsmart the other.

Extending her hand forward, Evelyn clenched her fist. At that moment, a blinding light escaped her palms.

However, as always, her attack was tanked by Rodd—who seemed to greatly specialize in barrier magic.

A defense type mage.

And for Lancelott.

Swoosh—! Swoosh—!

He appeared everywhere.

Golden light left his trail whenever he disappeared and reappeared.

At the moment, he was against Zed.

But seeing the state Zed was in, he wouldn't last for long.

Evelyn had to wrap this up fast.

With such thoughts, she kicked the ground and unsheathed her blade.

SHIIING—!

Her blade shimmered, enshrouded by a hollow glow. The atmosphere around Evelyn was intense, and as she gazed ahead, Rodd seemed to be conjuring his barrier magic.

His barrier magic was impossible to breach through, despite Evelyn clearly being stronger.

It was as if Rodd had sacrificed his growth of strength in exchange for his unparalleled defense.

As if his sole purpose in life was barrier magic.

Was this how the Milis continent soldiers operated?

She found the thought insane.

The entire time, Evelyn had fought like a mage. After all, she was a mage herself.

But seeing how her attacks had yet to work, she decided to change her strategy.

If fighting like a mage wouldn't work, then she needed to think things clearly.

To fight like a duelist.

With such thoughts, Evelyn appeared right in front of Rodd and swung her sword down.

With Pseudo Swordsmanship, her blade moved at an astonishing speed. As if the sword had teleport to finish the attack.

Clank—!

Even the sound of her sword meeting the magic circle was delayed as she was already ready for a followup attack.

Clank—! Clank—!

She could see it.

There was definitely a delay in which the magic circle was conjured to block her attack.

Whenever she swung, Rodd would take a step back. And he in fact was stepping back, trying to distance himself from Evelyn.

Clearly, fighting like a duelist was working.

And though there didn't seem to be a delay when the magic circle conjured, it was visible to Evelyn's line of sight. With her hyper–sensitivity to mana, her observation of change in regards to mana was top notch.

For that reason, she could surmise that there was a 0.1 second delay for each magic circle that was conjured.

Clank—!

A loud metallic sound rang whenever her sword struck the magic circle. At that moment, the magic circle shattered, and she could see Rodd start to panic as his chest heaved up and down.

Swinging horizontally, a magic circle met her blade and Rodd skidded back several meters.

Regardless, Evelyn gave him no time to rest as she quickly kicked the ground and headed towards him.

Clap—!

Rodd clapped his hand and a magic circle appeared right above Evelyn. With her sensitivity, she had also felt a magic circle appear right below her.

"Got you."

Rodd suddenly spoke, and as he twisted his hand the magic circles pulled itself together like magnets. Regardless, Evelyn was fast on her feet as she had quickly dodged his attack.

A fixed distance was set between her and Rodd. For a brief second, Evelyn began to ponder.

'To think barrier magic could be used like that.'

If his attack had succeeded, Evelyn would've been crushed. Although she knew it wouldn't be enough to actually kill her, she would still suffer significant damage.

Mages, after all, were fragile.

Regardless, Evelyn pushed through. Behind her, several hollow spears materialized.

Squeezing her hand, the spears rained down on Rodd. However, pressing his foot on the ground, magic circles appeared and the spears shattered.

Crack!

The same went for the magic circle as it shattered like glass.

Her firepower, and his defense were on par.

It was a contest on who could land the first hit first.

For such a reason, Evelyn reached out. Magic power started coalescing around her palms, shimmering brightly that for a second, Rodd blinked his eyes.

An opportunity presented itself and Evelyn took the opportunity. The trajectory of her hand abruptly shifted, missing the magic circle and nearly touched Rodd's abdomen, when….

Bang!

Due to her extreme focus on her attack, she had neglected her senses and before she knew it, she felt something struck her side as she was sent hurling away.

Supporting her body up, she raised her head and found Lancelott standing next to Rodd.

"...."

Massaging her side, she got up and turned her head. Scanning, she could see Zed who laid on the ground, helping himself up.

"Tsk."

She clicked her tongue.

***

Evangel was strong.

Even stronger than Lancelott. It was quite shocking at first when she unveiled her hood, revealing her hollow golden eyes.

However, seeing her affinity, Lancelott was able to conclude her identity.

Evelyn Cessna.

The only mage with the [Celestial] affinity.

There was no mistaking it. It was her.

An SS level threat.

From reports, everyone started calling her the second coming of Lucian Frost.

It was insane.

To think she had grown this much.

And to think there was another mage besides Lucian Frost that posed a threat to the Milis continent.

Lucian Frost's death was a blessing.

But seeing Evelyn Cessna and experiencing her magic first hand, Lancelott began to doubt his chances of surviving this ordeal.

Retreat?

It was possible.

But that begs the question.

Did he even want to retreat?

"...."

No.

The entire auction was a failure, completely cementing the syndicate's fall.

It was supposed to be his final task.

His twenty long–year mission.

He had been sent to this country since he was eight years old for the sole purpose of infiltration.

He could've lived a new life. To completely cut off the Milis continent, and to fight for Holy Britannia instead. However, he had a sister.

An older sister.

About three years older.

She was used against him the moment she joined the army, and for that reason, Lancelott couldn't refute.

They were both orphans, and his sister had finally found a job.

But the main reason why he was chosen for this mission was because of his rare affinity.

The [Quantum] affinity.

Experimented on and drugged, he was predicted to become a force to be reckoned with.

And up to this point, everything was proceeding well.

He had to do everything he could. Even betraying his only friend, Zed.

He knew.

He knew of Zed's circumstances.

But the lack of human kindness had stunted his emotional growth.

What he didn't expect was for Zed to betray him.

It was his flaw.

Zed was his flaw.

And now that everything has come to this decisive moment….

Spurt!

"Wha–Kh…!"

His hand pierced right through Rodd, grabbing his heart.

"Fuck off."

Spurt—!

Blood gushed out as Lancelott's heart was completely coated with Rodd's blood.

Pulling his hand back, Rodd fell flat face on the ground.

Thump!