Edward hovered in the air as lightning streaked through the skies.
Storm clouds gathered and coiled around him, wrapping his figure like a living, breathing cloak. The wind pushed outward from his position, carrying the low rumble of thunder with it.
His piercing blue eyes burned with light. Each flicker of lightning seed to answer to him, reflected in his gaze as if the storm itself was alive within him.
Standing on the main square, Orion raised his head and glanced at Edward's levitating figure with shock.
In this world, Flight was the hallmark of a Mana Core Magus!
Orion didn't think that an enemy Mana Core Magus would venture so deep behind enemy lines. Yes, he already knew that Edward was an enemy Magus, for the bloodthirsty aura around him made it clear.
All the Haynam Magi present in the town looked up in fright. A Mana Core Magus had enough strength to level this entire town with a single spell. They could only take solace in the fact that their side also had a Magus of similar strength.
Not just them, even Ulrich's n were beyond shocked. They had truly thought that they'd be tortured to death after being captured by Orion and his n. They didn't think anyone would show up to help them.
More importantly, they didn't think Edward would have advanced to the Mana Core Rank!
When they had left the Red Wind, the blue-eyed youth had been only at the Mana Vortex Rank. There had been whispers that he'd been on the cusp of forming the core, but they didn't believe he would achieve this legendary station so quickly.
Just how difficult was it to form a mana core? The fact that so few Mana Core Magi existed in the world clearly answered that question.
But even more shockingly... wasn't Edward the sa age as the Dark King?! On the other hand, Ulrich was also montarily stunned. But not because a Mana Core Magus had arrived to their rescue. No, that had always been the plan, which only he had been privy to.
What he was truly surprised about was that Edward had appeared. When, in truth, he had been expecting Blackfire Balthazar to arrive... as planned.
Yes. Ulrich and his n being captured wasn't them falling into the enemy's trap.
Instead, it was about Orion falling into their trap!!
While the Haynam Magi below stood frozen, gaping at the sudden arrival of the Storm King...
A bolt of gray light tore through the town. It moved too fast to follow. One mont, the circle of Magi around Ulrich and his n stood frozen, the next mont, they were struck viciously, their bodies thrown back and thier formation broken before a single spell could be released.
The gray streak didn't stop. It cut straight through the center, passing Ulric and his n in a blur. Steel flashed, and in the sa mont, the bindings around their wrists were severed cleanly.
Then the gray bolt ca to a halt before Ulric and his n, his figure finally visible for all to see.
"Grrrr!"
Valerian, in his cat form, stood on alert, his topaz eyes glaring at Orion. He then retrieved a spherical artifact from his purple amulet and threw it at Ulric. Without wasting even a split second, Ulric infused mana into the artifact. He knew the drill. And the next mont, a spherical do of mana surrounded him, his n, and the gray cat.
Everything had happened too quickly for the enemy to make a move.
Orion, who had the highest chance of intercepting Valerian, was instead retreating in apprehension as he saw Edward, high up in the sky, weaving hand seals as a terrifying amount of mana gathered around him.
And the next instant...
The world was enveloped in brilliant lightning.
THUNDER!!!
The storm clouds above Edward had tightened, drawing inward as if pulled by an unseen force. They had gathered over him, forming a single point in the sky. The air grew tense, and the sound of thunder picked up.
Edward pointed his hands downward, and the next mont, lightning had co down. A single, massive bolt tore through the sky and struck the town below.
It hit exactly where Orion had stood.
When the light faded, a blackened crater scarred the center of the main square. The Haynam Magi who had stood there were gone, reduced to charred remains where they had been caught in the strike.
At the edge of the impact, a translucent mana do cracked and collapsed - the artifact having already served its purpose. Fragnts of light broke apart and vanished, revealing Valerian, Ulric, and his n inside, untouched.
Of course, Ulric and his n were still stunned by the sudden turn of wild events.
Valerian quickly hopped onto Ulric's shoulder and hissed, "We need to retreat! Now!"
Ulric snapped out of his daze, and so did his n. They gulped subconsciously, their gaze shifting between the descending figure of Edward and the figure on the ground in the distance.
Without wasting another mont, they turned and fled. Their work was done.
Across the square, Orion still stood. He had managed to cast a spell from the School of Abjuration and activated his defensive artifacts just in the nick of
ti.
The spell flickered around him, fading slowly. Although he had managed to co out unscathed, his face had turned grim and slightly pale.
He hadn't expected Edward's attack to carry that much force behind it!
Orion cast a brief glance at the retreating Valerian, Ulric, and the rest. That was it. A fleeting glance was all he could afford, for his following battle required all his attention and more.
Edward finally landed on the blackened ground, his white cape fluttering wildly in the strong winds. Lightning crackled in the depths of his blue eyes as he clenched his fists in fury.
"Good that you managed to survive," he spat coldly. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
He was still burning with rage after the Mourning Mountains Incident. He needed an outlet.
On top of that, he had just advanced to the Mana Core Rank. His powers were new and untested. He needed to consolidate his newfound strength and make
it his own.
And what better way than a real fight?
Right before him stood a Mana Core Magus from the vile cult...
A perfect target!
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