Eruption

The magic exploded.

There was no sound.

In a vacuum, there is no sound.

However, in an extremely short time, the air was quickly filled in.

Centered on Lowell, pure blackness expanded and exploded outwards. It was not an attack, but a declaration of existence itself, a manifestation of mass crushing space.

The air solidifies, compresses, and is then forcefully pushed aside.

The pale gold chains shattered inch by inch, turning into shards of light.

Sam and Linié, who were the first to be touched by the darkness, were sent flying backward as if struck by an invisible giant hammer. Sam crashed through two trees before landing, his longsword slipping from his hand. Linié twisted in mid-air, her pink skirt billowing, and slid several meters on one knee as she landed, carving a shallow trench in the ground.

The moment the rock Golem's massive fist touched the expanding darkness, it began to disintegrate from the knuckles. Cracks spread upwards like living things, from the forearm and elbow to the shoulder... With a deafening roar, the Golem's entire right arm exploded into a shower of rubble. Its massive body staggered backward, finally collapsing heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust, looking somewhat aggrieved.

Frieren tapped lightly on the Golem's shoulder, then floated backward, her silver hair billowing in the surging air. Her emerald eyes gazed calmly at the center.

Himmel and Lupa were a little further apart, but the Swirl magical energy still crashed down like a tsunami. Himmel held her sword horizontally in front of her, the blade humming, and her body was pushed backward, leaving deep furrows beneath her feet. Lupa slammed her spear into the ground, her long pink hair whipping back, the spear shaft bending into a dangerous arc.

Fern's magical beam vanished the instant it touched the darkness. She decisively stopped casting the spell, leaped backward, and narrowed her pale purple eyes slightly.

Ruby her tongue in mid-air, manipulating her Flight Magic to rapidly ascend, her fiery red curls whipping wildly. The second binding magic circle she was constructing, only halfway through, flickered a few times in the aftershocks before dissipating.

Swirl has stopped.

Lowell stood still.

The dark magic surrounding him slowly receded, no longer radiating outwards, but becoming more solid, as if a layer of flowing, bottomless dark flames covered his body. The air distorted due to the high temperature, and the ground beneath his feet melted into dark red slag, sizzling loudly.

He raised his head, his face beaming with an undisguised, hearty smile.

"Not bad."

He flicked his wrist and looked at the crowd who had regained their footing.

"You guys are really something, forcing me to unleash my magic to escape."

Before he could finish speaking...

The lava beneath his feet exploded.

The figure vanished.

When he reappeared, he was already in front of Himmel. He didn't use magic, just a simple straight punch aimed at her face.

Himmel parried with her sword.

"Clang--!"

The sword bent violently, Himmel slid backward, sword and all, leaving deep footprints in the ground with each step. His brow was furrowed, and his arm was numb, but his hand holding the sword remained steady.

Almost simultaneously, the silver spear tip thrust in from the side, aiming straight for Lowell's ribs.

Lowell reached back with his left hand and precisely gripped the tip of the gun.

"Too slow."

He clenched his five fingers together.

"Creak--"

A sickening metallic creak echoed as he squeezed the gun tip until it was deformed.

"...!"

Lupa decisively released his grip on the spear and retreated rapidly. Lowell casually tossed the twisted spear aside, its shaft whistling as it sank into a distant tree trunk, disappearing down to the hilt.

"Lupa!"

Himmel gave a low shout and stepped forward again, his sword flashing like a waterfall, enveloping Lowell.

"That's more like it!"

Lowell laughed, neither dodging nor avoiding, his right hand covered in solid, dark magic, and he used his hand as a blade to clash with Himmel's longsword.

"Clang! Clang clang--!"

The clang of metal against metal blended together. With each clash, Himmel felt his arm tremble violently. But he did not retreat an inch, his swordplay becoming increasingly fierce. In the depths of his blue eyes, the shadow of inferiority was gradually dispelled by something purer—the instinct to fight.

On the other side.

Sam gripped his sword again and silently plunged into the fray. His swordplay was unpretentious; every strike aimed straight for vital points, complementing Himmel's offensive and sealing off Lowell's escape routes.

Linié appeared silently behind Lowell, her longsword, imbued with magic, slashing in a cold arc towards the back of his knee.

Fern's magical beams lit up again. This time, she no longer aimed for a wide-ranging attack, but instead highly compressed her magic, firing only a few beams at a time. Each beam was faster, more concentrated, and aimed precisely at the slightest openings Lowell revealed by his parrying or attacking.

In mid-air, Frieren lightly tapped her staff, not to attack, but to restrict his movement, coordinating with Himmel and Sam's sword techniques to force him to make a choice.

Ruby floated higher, her hands clasped together, and a new magic circle slowly rotated. She didn't rush to attack, but carefully observed, searching for the "opportunity."

Lowell weaved through the siege.

He parried Himmel's slash, dodged Sam's rapier, shattered the incoming stone spikes with his foot, dispersed the beam of light fired by Fern with his left palm, and at the same time forced Linié back with a backhand chop.

The movements were fluid and graceful, as if dancing on the edge of a knife.

But the siege is slowly taking shape.

Himmel's sword became increasingly steady, Sam's teamwork became increasingly seamless, Linié's harassment became increasingly cunning, Fern's interference became increasingly precise, and Frieren's terrain control became increasingly effective.

The pressure is building up.

"Ha... this is getting interesting."

Lowell grinned, his eyes burning with even greater excitement.

He suddenly stopped dodging.

As Himmel's longsword thrust at him, he no longer parried, but instead slightly turned his body, letting the blade graz the magical protective layer beneath his ribs, sending sparks flying. At the same time, his right hand moved with lightning speed, reaching for Himmel's chest, which was slightly tilted forward due to the thrust.

Himmel's pupils contracted slightly; it was too late to sheathe her sword.

A silver-white gunshot arrived at the last moment.

It was Lupa. She had retrieved the twisted spear at some point; though the tip was deformed, the shaft remained straight. This time, the spear wasn't aimed at Lowell, but rather precisely at his outstretched wrist.

"Bang!"

The force wasn't great, but it was enough to deflect Lowell's movement by half a point.

It's just this half.

Himmel managed to sheathe her sword and retreat, but Sam's sword was already piercing Lowell's back, and Linié's slash was also at her side.

Lowell clicked his tongue, and his magical power exploded outwards!

"Boom--!"

The shockwave exploded again, forcing all three of them back.

His outburst this time was clearly less powerful than before, after all, it was done hastily.

The offensive intensifies.

Himmel took a deep breath, his eyes becoming completely calm. Without further hesitation, he stepped forward. His sword light abandoned its flamboyance, leaving only the simplest thrusts, slashes, and parries, but each strike was faster and heavier, carrying an indomitable momentum.

Sam attacked silently, his swordplay sharp and swift, lacking coordination yet forming a coherent pattern.

Although Lupa's spear was damaged, it still created a whistling sound when she wielded it. She no longer sought a fatal blow, but instead roamed the perimeter, using a continuous barrage of spear shadows to disrupt and restrain the opponent.

Linié's figure appeared and disappeared intermittently, each appearance accompanied by a deadly slash.

Fern's magical beams became sparser, but each shot was always fired at the exact moment Lowell's old power was exhausted and new power had not yet been generated.

Frieren hovered in mid-air, her emerald eyes calmly observing the battle, the tip of her staff glowing with an eerie light, as if she were preparing something.

Ruby in mid-air, watched as the magic circle in her hand shone ever brighter.

Pressure.

Like a net that is gradually tightening.

Lowell's smile gradually faded, replaced by an extreme focus and a kind of desperate, mixed excitement and anger.

He leaped backward, temporarily disengaging from the battle.

Bring your hands together in front of your chest.

Click.

A soft sound, like a mechanism clicking.

The dark magic flowing through his body began to fade.

No, it's not fading.

The nature of the substance is changing.

From a deep, all-consuming darkness, it gradually shifted to a more restrained, more solid, almost "nothingness" texture. The magic was compressed to the extreme, flowing slowly on the surface of the body, like a layer of transparent, scorching liquid crystal, on which light was distorted and bent.

"Ha!"

Lowell raised his head, his face once again displaying that maniacal smile, but his eyes were as cold as iron.

Try this!

He suddenly raised his right hand, fingers spread, pointing towards the sky.

"Buzz--"

A deep, resonant hum, seemingly emanating from the depths of the earth, Swirl from him.

The almost transparent magic that enveloped him suddenly surged!

The next moment.

Countless beams of magical energy, almost transparent yet with distorted air patterns visible upon closer inspection, burst forth from his outstretched fingers and shot into the sky!

It was not an attack on the people below.

It was shot into the sky.

Then, at a certain height, it abruptly changed direction, like a living torrential rain, pouring down on everyone on the ground—

It poured down!

Coverage.

Indistinguishable.

Each beam of magic was condensed to its extreme, moving faster and its trajectory even more difficult to track.

"Everyone, defend."

Frieren's calm voice rang out, instantly reaching everyone's ears.

She waved her staff, and a thick, semi-transparent, honeycomb-shaped Defensive Magic circle quickly unfolded around her, enveloping Himmel, Sam, and Lupa, who were closest to her.

Ruby swooped down almost simultaneously, the magic circle she had been building in her hand shining brightly, transforming into another, smaller but more complex defensive barrier. This barrier overlapped with Frieren's magic circle, protecting Linié and Fern as well.

"Bang! Bang bang--!"

The magical beams bombarded the double-layered Defensive Magic, producing a continuous series of dull, booming sounds. Each strike was as heavy as a hammer, causing the defensive shield to fluctuate violently, its surface crackling with countless tiny ripples.

"His posture is so unguarded, Lady Frieren!"

Ruby her teeth, maintaining the magic circle with both hands, her fiery red curls swaying slightly from the vibrations of the Defensive Magic. Her emerald eyes were fixed on the magical beams pouring down like a torrential rain outside the light barrier, then she glanced at Lowell in the distance, who was raising his right hand and continuously releasing magic.

"Can't I attack? If I attack him now--"

"It's useless."

Frieren interrupted her, her voice still steady, but a faint hint of solemnity could be detected if one listened closely. Her emerald eyes peered through the swaying light barrier at the slowly flowing, almost transparent magic emanating from Lowell's body.

"The principle behind this technique is to integrate Defensive Magic into the body's exterior, creating an effect similar to 'fully activated Defensive Magic.' Before the mage's attack can reach their body, it will be neutralized and neutralized by this external magical barrier."

"As for warriors... if they forcibly break through the magic beams to get close, they will be hit by those magic beams first. Theoretically, it's a very simple attack pattern, but..."

She took a soft breath.

"That kind of exquisite control over magic, which makes these magic beams 'condensed,' 'high-speed,' and 'continuous'... I can't do that."

Ruby's expression changed.

"Tsk! Doesn't that mean we can only wait for his magic to run out? If it were just the two of us, it would be fine; we could just hold out until the effects of the drug wore off..."

She glanced at the solemn-looking crowd inside the light barrier.

"But there are so many people here! Maintaining Defensive Magic over this area consumes too much mana! This density of attacks can't be blocked by ordinary Defensive Magic, our mana... we can't hold out for long!"

Frieren paused for a moment.

There's no way.

The bombardment outside the protective barrier grew increasingly intense. The fluctuations of the Defensive Magic intensified, and even fine, spiderweb-like cracks began to appear at the edges.

Himmel gripped her sword tightly, watching the torrential rain of magical energy outside the protective barrier, then glancing at the ominous figure in the distance. Sam stood silently to the side. Lupa stared at her twisted spear, her lips pressed tightly together. Linié's icy blue eyes reflected the shimmering light of magic. Fern's forehead beaded with cold sweat as she maintained her magical output, stabilizing her Defensive Magic.

The air was heavy and tense.

Just then--

Without warning, a slash tore through the air from the forest outside the battle circle, heading diagonally towards Lowell's back as he raised his right hand and continued to unleash magic.

The strikes were precise, swift, and followed a straight trajectory.

There's nothing fancy about it.

Lowell frowned slightly.

I sensed it.

But he didn't pay attention.

They assumed it was just some reckless soldier who had noticed the commotion and rushed over.

His mind stirred slightly.

A thick, semi-transparent magical barrier instantly unfolded behind him. The barrier's dense structure was enough to easily block most physical attacks.

The strike landed.

The barrier was reached.

There was no loud noise.

There was only one extremely faint sound, like a sharp blade slicing through thin paper—

"Laugh."

The thick magical barrier cracked open.

A smooth cross-section.

The slash continued unabated, easily cutting through the enemy lines.

Then--

It sliced through Lowell's raised right hand, which was radiating countless beams of magic.

Wrist.

Forearm.

Elbow.

Shoulder.

Like a hot knife slicing through cream.

There was no obstruction.

The right arm was severed at the shoulder.

The fracture surface is smooth.

Then, the attack flew far into the sky.

"What...?"

Lowell's maniacal laughter froze instantly.

He slowly, somewhat stiffly, turned his head.

Look in the direction from which the attack came.

The raised right arm detached from the body, tumbling in the air before dissipating into pure black and red magic before even hitting the ground. There was no bleeding from the severed arm, only surging, pitch-black magic attempting to heal the wound.

The torrent of magical energy that had been pouring down from the sky came to an abrupt halt.

Inside the defensive light shield, everyone froze, looking towards the forest.

A figure slowly walked out.

Her green ponytail swayed gently in the wind.

Ubel.

The usual, enigmatic smile was absent from her face.

His expression was calm.

It was almost too calm.

Only in those purple eyes did a faint... dark red, icy light flicker.

She held a staff in her hand, on which a faint, almost transparent, twisted mark remained.

Lowell looked at Ubel, the surging magic at the severed arm gradually subsiding. The astonishment on his face quickly faded, replaced by a smile that mixed with excitement and cruelty.

"It's you..."

He grinned, his voice hoarse with pain and excitement.

"Then..."

He raised his left hand, pointing it towards Ubel, his five fingers spread.

In his palm, pitch-black magic rapidly condensed and compressed, transforming into a dark sphere of light no larger than a fist, a sight that sent shivers down one's spine. Inside the sphere, faint arcs of crimson electricity crackled.

The ball of light left his hand, transforming into a straight, destructive beam of black light that tore through the air and shot towards Ubel!

The speed is extremely fast.

Ubel stood there, seemingly not having reacted.

Or rather, there wasn't enough time to react.

Just before the beam of light touched her—

The blue figure appeared beside her as if by teleportation.

It was Himmel.

The instant Lowell lost his arm and his attack ceased, he had already broken through the defensive light barrier.

At that moment, he put one arm around Ubel's waist, pushed off with his feet, and pulled her back quickly to the side!

"Call out--!"

The jet-black beam grazed the hem of their clothes and struck a giant tree behind them.

There was no explosion.

The part of the giant tree that was struck silently vanished, leaving a perfectly round cylindrical cavity. The cross-section was as smooth as a mirror, with wisps of black smoke remaining at the edges, rapidly spreading outwards. The tree withered, carbonized, and disintegrated at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Himmel landed some distance away with Ubel, let go of her hand, took half a step forward, and shielded her behind him.

He looked up at Lowell.

Her short blue hair was a little messy, and her face was covered in dust and signs of battle.

But those sapphire-blue eyes were clear, calm, and resolute.

There was no trace of inferiority or hesitation left inside.

Only the steadfast brilliance honed through countless battles belongs to the brave.

He slowly raised his sword, the tip pointing at Lowell, his voice steady and clear, reaching the ears of everyone present:

Lowell.

"It's time to end this."

Lowell looked at Himmel, at his eyes that had regained their clarity, and his lips twitched as if he wanted to laugh:

"What should end now...?"

His voice faltered for a moment.

The wild smile on his face suddenly froze.

The turbulent, cold, and destructive fighting spirit in his eyes receded quickly like a tide.

Instead, there's a familiar feeling, tinged with a sense of languor and resignation...

Feeling lost.

He blinked, looked down at his empty right shoulder, then looked up at Himmel, who was standing ready, then at Frieren and the others who were gathering in the distance, and finally, his gaze fell on his intact but dusty and leaf-covered left hand.

"Well..."

He uttered a short, confused syllable.

Then, his body swayed.

Fall forward.