Emerald serpents rose from the ground and stared at Tucker. Currently, Pyron was between him and Alex. If he wanted to assist his mentor, he needed to cut down the mage before him. But was such a thing even possible? Tucker clenched his sword. His heart pounded with each passing second. The Empire’s covert forces were pushing Alex back, driving him into a corner with their perfectly coordinated attacks.

  This wasn’t the time to play out the scenarios in his head. He kicked off the ground and leapt forward. Aura enveloped his body, forming a protective layer over his black iron armor. His figure flickered as he closed the distance with Feather Step.

  “Feather Step… a technique that all watchmen know by heart.” Pyron grinned, his eyes darting to the spots Tucker’s afterimage appeared. “If you’ve seen it once, you’ve seen it all.”

  He pointed his staff at each location, sending the emerald serpents into a frenzy. Each one lunged from the magic circle beneath the Elder’s feet. Right at Tucker’s location as they slithered across the marble tiles. Tucker narrowed his eyes, focusing on the incoming threat. There were too many to cut down at once.

  Mana gathered at the bottom of his boots, propelling his body through the narrow gaps between the snakes. His blade flashed with aura, splitting the emerald scales of those who got too close. The traces of mana swirled in the air before converging towards Pyron.

  It wasn’t like anything Tucker had seen before. After each broken spell, fragments of mana would crawl back towards the Elder. But luckily, Tucker had fought countless mages at this point. He reached for the throwing knife on his waist and hurled it towards the clump of mana manifesting above the mage. Sparks of blue light erupted as the blade struck the center of the magic circle. Yet Pyron only smiled, revealing another spell layered behind the one that had been destroyed.

  “Did you really think such a thing would work on me?” The air tightened around Pyron as magic circles came into existence one after another. “You’ll be sadly mistaken.”

  Pyron glared at Tucker, watching as the watchman maneuvered through the spells. The first concentric circle had finished manifesting with one outer ring to enhance the speed and another to increase the repetitions. Violet magic missiles soared through the slightest openings between the serpents. Yet no matter how many flew towards the watchmen, none landed.

  The air whistled as the magic projectiles tore towards Tucker. With each step, he drew closer using a combination of Swift Stride and Feather Step. He didn’t retreat, but stepped into the opening as if insanity had taken over. A single mistake was all it would take for him to lose his life.

  Tucker twisted his shoulder, violet mana brushing against his shoulder as he slid past it. A second missile drew closer. His boots skidded against the tiles. Blue mana gathered beneath the soles of his boots, propelling him to the side with the wind snapping against his armor. The spell struck the empty ground, shattering the floor as cracks tore apart the tiles.

  He dispersed the mana used to accelerate his body, softly landing while pivoting his heel. Lightning cracked down in a blinding arc. With just barely enough time, Tucker ducked just as the bolt ripped over his back. The floor behind him trembled, and another step was taken.

  The missiles rained down upon him, tearing through the air. The destruction followed with each strike. Tucker rolled through the impact and came up on one knee. He sprinted forward, aura rising like a flame that refused to die. His sword pierced one of the serpents in the head as he ran along its spine, splitting it open while dragging his sword through.

  Pyron was less than four meters away. Tucker focused with every fiber of his being and channeled his aura into his blade. Energy erupted along the surface, and he grabbed onto the hilt with both hands, raising it above his head. With one decisive swing, he brought it down at the lightning and missiles that surged towards him like a wave. Wind coiled around him as a moment of burning anger washed over him.

  “What’s the point of all this meaningless struggle?” Pyron asked. “Are you really doing all this just for a few children?”

  The mocking voice entered his ears. It wasn’t just a few children but all those who came after. If anyone should have to sacrifice their future, it should be the ones who started the war. That was the belief that Tucker held firmly in his heart. He wasn’t a miracle worker. He couldn’t save everyone, and that was a reality of his life. But if he was given the opportunity to take down the bastard who caused all of it. Then, he swore to do so without a shred of hesitation.

  His blade cut down in one swift motion, releasing the aura and essence that fused together on his blade. The fourth aura star radiated within his body. Answering a call as aura poured out like an ocean. The verdant energy swept through the second floor as a wave rippled outward. Spells shattered against the aura slash, breaking into traces of mana that vanished into oblivion.

  Pyron’s brows drew together. The corner of his mouth twisted in irritation. Aura slashes were the manifestation of one’s will and spirit. Something a knight on the verge of creating their domain would be capable of. His expression was sharp, a restricted frown of disgust that was barely held in check.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  He grasped his metal staff with both hands, revealing the amber crystal perched at the top. What was left of the surrounding mana converged onto the crystal, filling the defensive runes with power. A faint hum echoed through the air. In an instant, he drove the end of his staff into the marble tiles, summoning layers of translucent barriers around him.

  Light flared as the two forces met. The surface of the barrier warped as if the air itself had turned to glass. For a moment, it seemed like the two forces were evenly matched. Locked together in a stalemate with the slash desperately pressing forward while grinding against the barrier. A shower of sparks and fractured essence danced along the surface.

  Pyron’s hands clenched around the staff. His palms tore against the strain, with blood dripping onto the fabric of his robes. Cracks formed along the barrier’s surface, spiderwebbing across before shattering. The floor beneath each layer split, dust lifting as the collision forced the power downward.

  The barrier was buckling. Just enough to break with one shockwave following after another. But Pyron wouldn’t let Tucker have his way. The mana stored within him rushed out like knights leading one final assault, strengthening the shield before rebounding with a force that blasted the aura slash apart. Fragments of emerald energy lingered in the air. The remnants scattered like embers in the wind, leaving the last barrier barely intact.

  Pyron scanned through the dust clouds. The emerald serpents he had sent out were circling back to his side, even if it seemed like the battle was in his favor. He knew better than to underestimate his foe.

  “I thought you watchmen were better than this,” he said. “How utterly disappointing to see the Order reduced to such a state where they have to send a no-good runt to infiltrate the city.”

  His eyes swept through the clouds once. Magic circles formed above him as he turned around. “Do you think hiding will make a difference?”

  Something was wrong.

  Pyron could feel it in his bones. The silence that drowned out the clash of iron and steel. It was like he was isolated from his personal guards, even though they should have been mere meters away from him. The sound of wings brushing against the wind roared in his ears. Pyron’s gaze shifted to the center of the tower. In the clouds of dust was a figure cutting through like a blazing comet.

  The emerald energy coiling around its body tore through the remaining serpents, leaving behind gaping holes in their scales. Pyron released the rest of his spells, unloading a barrage of magic missiles. Yet the figure evaded each one, defying the odds as it struck the last shield protecting him.

  Pyron gritted his teeth while shielding his head with his staff. The talons of the spirit met the amber crystal, shattering it into countless pieces. He held the staff, barely protecting himself while taking a step back to regain his balance, but soon the rustle of metallic plates drew his attention. From the side came Tucker, eyes burning with rage as a green trail of light followed his gaze.

  There was no dodging this attack. The watchman had gotten too close. Pyron furiously glared at Tucker, the man who had driven him into a corner. There was no other choice. The mage held out his arm, shielding his body while leaping back. Pain coursed through his entire body as the lumenite blade tore through his flesh. The burning sensation and blood that sprayed out from the wound made him groan in pain, but he had greater ambitions than to just die here.

  The severed left arm spun in the air, with blood splattering onto the floor. Tucker’s body skidded past Pyron. He took a heavy gasp, sweat dripping profusely down his chin. Their eyes locked onto each other.

  “Are you running away from this runt?” Tucker asked, swinging his blade to remove the blood. “I thought you were disappointed with what the Order had sent, but it seems like I’m enough to deal with the likes of you.”

  Pyron scoffed with his back against the stone wall. He grabbed onto the bleeding stub with an expression filled with agony. The covert forces that were dealing with Alex rushed back to his side, raising their weapons at Tucker.

  “Don’t think so highly of yourself, Golem Slayer,” Pyron said. “Losing an arm is an adequate price to pay if it means I can keep my life.”

  Tucker glared at him while pointing his blade at Pyron’s throat. “Don’t worry, I’ll take your head next.”

  Alex stood beside Tucker, with deep ragged breaths. The black iron armor on the veteran’s body was etched with countless blade marks. He had cut down several of the Empire’s covert forces, but once he did, they launched a suicide attack and drove their weapons towards his vitals.

  “The Empire’s covert forces hold no regard for their lives. It’ll be difficult to deal with both of them at the same time,” Alex said. “Don’t let them grab onto you, or else they’ll drag you down with them.”

  Tucker nodded. Magic circles were forming once more above Pyron at a rate far slower than before. Yet as the spells shot out, a grin surfaced on the mage’s face. Twenty magic missiles rained down upon them with the Empire’s covert forces sprinting beneath the covering fire. However, Pyron wasn’t joining the fight. The wall behind him exploded outwards as stone bricks rained down on the streets.

  “Even I know when I’ve reached my limits,” Pyron said. “The next time we meet won’t end like today.”

  He raised his bloody hand above his head with a magic circle flaring to life. Tucker’s eyes shot open. He recognized the gesture and the single magic circle hidden behind Pyron.

  “You coward!” Tucker roared, rushing forward before getting pulled back by Alex.

  It was already too late to intercept him. Pyron’s figure flickered, and a burst of golden light erupted through the second floor. With a snap of the mage’s fingers, Pyron vanished from their sight. Tucker cursed at the helpless situation, watching once again as a mage slipped through his grasp, but Alex simply shook his head.

  “We need to go now,” the veteran said, grabbing Pyron’s severed arm. He glanced at the violet projectiles and pulled Tucker with him.

  Even though Tucker didn’t want to, Alex was right. It was impossible to catch Pyron now that all the guards on the first floor had reached the upper levels. He bit his lower lip, blood trickling down the corner. Pyron had gotten away today, but the next time, he wouldn’t be so lucky. And with that, Tucker leapt over the stone rails of the second floor, leaving the tremors that spread like wildfire behind him.

  Alright, so... I mean, we all knew Pyron wasn't going to die here, right?

  He's the big bad, but if he did... oh boy, would that be a problem.

  For me, that is!

  Why did Alex take Pyron's arm? I wonder... well, we'll have to see.

  Now my schedule is back to normal, and I have some exciting news!

  I commissioned a new cover for book one. So I'm excited to share that with you guys, hopefully this month.

  It does cost a pretty penny, though, which is... damaging to my wallet.

  See ya in the next one, and thanks for reading!

  120 Ratings Goal - Bonus Chapter (Owed Chapters -> 0)

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