Mage Battle

"Boss, crush him!"

"Let the poor devils of Blackwater District know who's boss!"

Two lackeys, acting as cheerleaders, retreated to the garbage heap to spectate.

Within the basketball court-sized clearing, as a flash of emerald light flickered over both participants, the next moment, in Rosaline's astonished gaze, the two teenagers, both already novice mages, immediately began brawling. They were kicking each other in the stomach and hitting each other on the head, looking nothing like anything related to magic.

Rosaline was stunned. This was nothing like the mage battle she'd anticipated, bearing no resemblance to a fight between ordinary brats!

The only potential difference was that during the fight, rune circles occasionally appeared on their skin, indicating that both had likely used some form of physical enhancement magic, either to improve their physique, increase stamina, or boost recovery.

How am I supposed to learn from this? ... But they're both elite students from Black Tower Middle School. Is this the actual skill level of people their age? I was taught by my teacher, and my teacher is a reclusive master, so it's normal for me to be better than them...

Thinking this, Rosaline suddenly realized a very important point she had previously overlooked: in this world, the concept of paying for knowledge was taken to its absolute extreme. Any magic spell had to be purchased through legitimate channels, or one risked jail time if reported.

As such, regardless of whether it was Hans or Briel, the number of spells they could use as novice mages wouldn't be many.

But it was different for her. Her teacher was unfathomably powerful, a top-tier master even in dreams, who would freely bestow upon her many "S" class super spells. In this way, wasn't it natural for her to be powerful?

Essentially, it wasn't that she was exceptionally gifted, but rather that her teacher's spells were too amazing! Even if it weren't her, anyone else would become stronger after obtaining these spells!

With this thought, Rosaline curbed her pride a little and continued to observe. Meanwhile, the battle in the arena was nearing its conclusion. Hans, having learned some grappling techniques from who-knew-where, had Briel in a tight headlock, his arm bulging with veins, looking like he was giving it his all.

"Good job, brother!"

Mary cheered, waving her fist.

But at that moment, the entire garbage mountain began to shake violently. A pillar of fire rising two hundred meters away dyed half the sky orange-red, and the impact wave sent metal fragments raining down around them.

"What's going on?" Hans asked, without loosening his grip.

Briel also became alert and said to his two followers, "Go see what happened!"

One minute later, the two followers, riding on flying boards, returned. Their faces were filled with terror. "Boss, it's gangsters! Gangsters are having a shootout here! We need to leave!"

"Gangsters?!" Hearing this, Hans immediately let go, allowing Briel to escape his hold. Briel didn't press his advantage either. After catching his breath, he said, "This one doesn't count... Let's get out of here quickly!"

"It doesn't count? You were about to lose," Mary's focus remained on the wager, believing Briel was just trying to wriggle out of crawling and barking like a dog.

Briel ignored Mary's taunt and stepped onto his flying board, preparing to leave with his lackeys and bodyguard automaton.

However, the next second, with a strange noise, a searing flame spell bullet landed directly in front of Briel and his two companions, causing them to brake suddenly and collide into each other.

Rosaline and the others looked up, seeing a bare-chested gangster emerge from the dust, grinning at the teenagers below. He held a rune-etched firearm, and while they didn't know its level, no one doubted that it could instantly kill all the children present with a single shot.

"I was just planning to ambush the Gutter Gang, but I didn't expect this bonus, hahahaha." The gangster chuckled. He was unremarkable in appearance, but his attire was peculiar; his jacket was covered in a layer of dark, bone-like material, as if he were wearing demonic armor.

Rosaline stared at his battle armor for a moment. Based on the knowledge she'd absorbed during her time here, this was likely a symbiotic prosthesis from a Scale Shedding Organism or the Spirit Vine Company. They were essentially magical creatures that could co-habit with a host, surviving on nutrients and magic power provided by the host, while in turn offering various forms of protection, such as external armor or enhanced strength.

"We... we're just passing by! You guys do your thing, just don't involve us!"

As a local, Hans remained much calmer. "My father is Doctor Hoffman from Acid Street! He's treated you before!"

"Acid Street? That's Skeleton Brotherhood territory! What does that have to do with us, the Vicious Dog Gang!" The gangster spat.

"...So it wasn't you guys." Hans felt a bit awkward.

"Tin Can, what are you doing? The Gutter Gang people have all fled! Aren't you coming to help!" Soon, another gangster appeared.

Unlike the one he called "Tin Can," this gangster's right arm was covered in a thin, green skin resembling plant veins. Between the emerald green, white light flowed, outlining countless fine rune circles that flickered like breathing lights, appearing very much like some kind of plant-based symbiotic prosthesis.

"What is the Gutter Gang? Luville, look at these kids. They have flying boards and bodyguard automatons, they look rich. Isn't that more important than the Gutter Gang?" Tin Can said with a grin. "Have their parents send money, we can get at least 1 million each! We'll be set!"

"Oh! You're right!" As he said this, Tin Can and Luville, the two gangsters, immediately began calling for reinforcements on their comms, preparing for a kidnapping.

Hans, Mary, and Briel, however, looked utterly panicked. Getting caught in a gang war was something they had never anticipated, and resistance was utterly impossible.

"My father is the operations manager at Black Tower Pharmaceuticals. You, you can't do this to me..." As more and more gangsters approached, Briel shouted, his face pale.

But...

"Damn it, Black Tower Pharmaceuticals? I hate corporate dogs the most, especially pharma company dogs!"

Upon hearing Briel's declaration, Tin Can's grin grew even more sinister. He said fiercely, "Do you know how much it cost me to call Black Tower for medical services back then? I just consulted online about a stomachache, and in just three minutes, they charged me eight thousand yuan!"

He then raised his gun, pointing the muzzle of the rune-etched firearm at Briel, who was on the verge of fainting, and said, "You dare to threaten me with Black Tower now? I'll kill you right now!"

"Ah—" Briel screamed instinctively, as if he could already see his body melting from a flame spell bullet.

But at that moment, a furious gust of wind swept through the junkyard! This strong wind came without warning, yet it carried metal debris, forming an intercepting barrier that obscured vision and sent many ordinary gang members stumbling.

Then, taking advantage of the opportunity, Rosaline grabbed Hans and Mary, and with a "Go!" to the stunned Briel and his two companions, she picked up Briel's flying board and prepared to flee with them.

The gangsters, who had recovered from their surprise, were naturally unwilling to let them go. But as soon as the strong wind subsided, they were intercepted by the bodyguard automaton, and at the same time, two crimson rune circles appeared in the air, spewing flames towards the gangsters.

—As a youthful version of Flame Dance, its power was worlds apart from what Ivette herself could unleash, but for Rosaline, the primary objective at this moment was to cover their retreat, and even just as a visual obstruction, it was effective enough.

Simultaneously, Rosaline continued to maintain her Wind Control spell, redirecting the strong wind to boost the flying board. In an instant, it achieved an acceleration that even the spell bullets fired from the rune-etched firearm couldn't match. With Briel and his two companions still stunned but fleeing desperately behind her, she transformed into a streak of green light and vanished behind another garbage mountain.