Ever Heard of a Boast That Lasts Ten Years?

Mana Burn, just from its name and function, one can see its brutality and overbearing nature.

By infusing chaotic, disordered magic into the target, it ignites the mana within them and utilizes the burning energy to ravage their physical form; pull one hair and the whole body moves.

Setting aside the sheer power of this metamagic technique, the difficulty of using it is equally immense.

Do you see the green glow when Mana Burn is cast? That is proof of energy stability collapsing into chaos, possessing properties infinitely close to fel energy. If an average spellcaster were to rashly learn and cast it, Mana Burn would incinerate all the mana within their body before it could even be successfully unleashed.

How could a mere Arcane Aberration use a metamagic technique of this caliber? Is it because of the Conduit Crystal?

Seeing the two special buffs on the opponent's status bar, Lanlos was basically certain that the Conduit Crystal was on this thing.

The Conduit Crystal is the input port for the Western Temple and the very connection point to the Ley Line; the mana from the Ley Line node enters the displacement device through the Conduit Crystal, and is then transferred to Ban'dinoriel via the output port.

Now that the Conduit Crystal has changed hands, endless energy is pouring from the Ley Line into the Arcane Aberration's body. If it is allowed to grow for a period of time, it will inevitably become a massive threat to the lands of Quel'Thalas.

That Velania, how on earth did she manage to lose something so important?

A flash of doubt crossed his mind. While searching for Vereesa's figure in the dust, Lanlos retreated silently, preparing to cast Invisibility and Speed Dash to withdraw.

Mana Burn and Mana Shield had almost completely cut off any possibility of Lanlos defeating his opponent. Under that near-infinite supply of mana, no spell could possibly break through that shield. As for physical attacks, to an elemental creature, they were nothing more than a tickle.

The 200% spell vulnerability under the Ley Line connection was nothing but a tempting trap.

"Vereesa, where are you? Hurry, we must retreat!" With Speed Dash active, Lanlos rushed into the dust in a blur. Just as he finished giving the order and prepared to cast Invisibility, a voice suppressing pain came from below.

"I, I'm here..."

Looking toward the sound, Lanlos's brows furrowed tightly. The ranger was sprawled on the ground in a sorry state, and the large tree that had just fallen was pinning one of her legs perfectly.

Now is not the time for such jokes.

Lanlos's mood was terrible. He quickly crouched down, attempting to help her push away the tree trunk, which was thick enough for one person to wrap their arms around.

"Hiss~!" As the mage pushed with all his might, a piercing pain made Vereesa cry out, cold sweat streaming down her forehead uncontrollably.

"My leg might be broken." The ranger's trembling hands gripped her thigh, trying to alleviate the intense agony. "I... I'm afraid I can't walk."

"Don't worry about me, just go."

Watching the Arcane Aberration growl and draw closer, the girl's voice carried an irrepressible tremor. Fear made her entire body shake slightly.

This was the second time she had experienced the threat of death; the first was earlier today. She had warned herself over and over not to panic, not to be afraid, but when the fear of death truly approached step by step, she could not help but show terror and panic on her face.

After all, she was still just a student.

Seeing Vereesa stubbornly bury her head in her chest to hide the pallor and fear from his eyes, Lanlos couldn't help but sigh softly.

Leave? Is it really that easy to just walk away? If I go back, those two sisters of yours will probably skin me alive.

"Hold on, I'll buy us some time." Leaving those words behind, Lanlos turned with his Windrunner Blade in hand.

Vereesa remained stunned for a long moment. By the time she reacted and wanted to say something, Lanlos, empowered by Speed Dash, had already drawn the Arcane Aberration's attention and led it far away.

Awoo--!

An ethereal roar echoed far through the woods. Seeing the enemy still active, the Arcane Aberration swung its thick arm, and another Arcane Blast came hurtling toward him.

At the same time, the mana in Lanlos's hands coalesced. Four purple, diamond-shaped missiles appeared out of thin air, whistling toward the incoming arcane energy. Time seemed to slow down in that moment; Lanlos focused intently on the trajectory of the Arcane Blast, and data such as angle, speed, and orbit appeared in his vision.

Simultaneously, under his control, the four Arcane Missiles whistled through the air in a long line, colliding accurately and swiftly with the burning mass of arcane energy.

The continuous sound of collisions made Lanlos break into a cold sweat. Although the number of Arcane Missiles had increased from two to four after reaching the standard for using 2nd-circle spells, they were clearly far inferior to the enhanced Arcane Blast.

Fortunately, the collision of the Arcane Missiles produced the expected effect. One, two, three... until a loud explosion finally rang out, and the arcane energy erupted into brilliant blue-purple fireworks in the sky. His heart finally settled.

Unlike the accident with the Murloc Shaman on the beach, this time he had actively used spells to counter a spell. Relying on his resilient mental strength and the superhuman computational power of the Sargerite, he had succeeded.

However, this kind of gambling approach had terrifying consequences if it failed.

The unexpected miss left the Arcane Aberration stunned as well; with its simple intelligence, it did not understand why its spell had failed.

Taking this opportunity, Lanlos used the movement speed boost from Speed Dash to sprint forward, rapidly closing the distance between them.

There was only one chance to turn the tide: that 200% spell vulnerability. In this state, even a 1st-circle spell could cause massive damage. But to break through that Mana Shield, one would need the ability to deal damage equivalent to the opponent's entire mana pool—yet among all the spells Lanlos knew, none had that capability.

Unless, he could strike the spell directly through the shield and into the opponent's body!

Blessed by the Sunwell, the method he had discovered recently of triggering Shocking Grasp through the blade of the Windrunner Blade gave him exactly that ability.

The distance between them was not short, and with an 80% reduction in casting time, the Arcane Aberration naturally wouldn't let him approach so easily. Roaring, it swung its arm again, and six shining Arcane Missiles appeared almost instantly, whistling toward the elf.

His brows tightened. Lanlos did not slow down; the curved blade in his hand crackled with electricity as he swung it forward with all his might.

Bang! Bang!

Two loud bangs rang out in succession, the immense force nearly making Lanlos lose his grip on the blade. Without activating Fel Combustion, intercepting two missiles with Shocking Grasp in such a short time was his limit. The remaining four slammed into his Mana Shield, both dissipating.

At the same time, he finally arrived in front of the Arcane Aberration.

The continuous spells had failed to stop the elf's advance, which clearly irritated the Arcane Aberration's manic nerves. It roared, focusing all of its chaotic spirit onto the elf.

A violent sense of crisis washed over him. Lanlos's pupils contracted sharply. Without his Mana Shield, the familiar green glow shot straight toward his chest.

Mana Burn, hit again. The difference was that this time, Lanlos roared in his heart.

Fel Combustion!

Both were chaotic magic; what would happen when they collided? Chaos upon chaos!

His health bar plummeted in an instant as roaring green flames erupted from his skin, searing through his robes and flooding his body with a surge of unbearable agony and immense power.

BANG!

He slammed his feet into the ground, the terrifying force striking the earth like a heavy hammer. With a thunderous boom, the elf launched himself into the air like a cannonball, closing the distance to his enemy in a single breath.

He flicked his wrist—SLASH!

The burning Fel fire was blocked by a shield, but his blade pierced through it with ease, slicing the gelatinous mass from top to bottom. Simultaneously, the grim-faced Lanlos chanted the short, swift incantation for Shocking Grasp.

BOOM!

Lightning? No, incandescent thunderbolts danced wildly through the air like silver serpents, mingling with the Arcane Aberration's shrill, demonic wails as the rolling thunder echoed far across the forest.

He had won.

Narrowing his eyes, Lanlos endured the pain of chaotic energy ravaging his body and flashed a proud smile. But the next second, that smile froze.

The rapidly fading thunder did not bring silence to the howling world; on the contrary, the wind shrieked, and the surrounding light seemed to dim, leaving only the manic energy mass before Lanlos to emit a blinding, intense glare.

Ever since Lanlos had moved away to draw the enemy's attention, Vereesa had been unable to see him from her position. Yet, she did not remain idle; as the sounds of fierce combat reached her ears, she dug frantically at the soil beneath her feet.

Finally, she felt the bindings on her leg loosen. Overjoyed, she pulled her injured right leg free and stood up, enduring the searing pain.

Hurry, while there's still time, I must tell Lanlos to retreat.

BOOM—!

A brilliant purple light flared in the distance, and the deafening roar slammed into Vereesa's eardrums, leaving her dizzy and nearly causing her to collapse again. Immediately after, an uncontrollable terror surged in her heart.

That sound? An explosion of this magnitude? Lanlos!

Fear and panic seized her heart once more. No, this time, it was compounded by guilt. An indescribable self-reproach surrounded and engulfed her like a tidal wave, as if the ground beneath her had crumbled, plunging her into a bottomless, pitch-black abyss.

Ignoring the tearing pain in her calf, she sprinted forward. The intensifying agony caused her to fall repeatedly. She scrambled up, ran, and fell again, eventually crawling forward on her hands and knees.

Finally, she saw the figure half-buried under dust, broken branches, and withered leaves.

"No..." Staring at the disheveled gray hair, Vereesa covered her mouth, refusing to believe the outcome.

The mage's final words to her echoed incessantly in her mind.

Buy her time...

If only she hadn't been so useless, if only she hadn't been pinned by the fallen tree trunk in her panic, if only...

The immense weight of self-reproach was unbearable. What was worse, this man had repeatedly insulted her honor; if he had died, she would naturally have felt a flicker of satisfaction. Yet, he had died because of her—to save her, he had placed himself in mortal danger...

Intertwined, conflicting emotions collided, nearly tearing Vereesa in two. Grief, self-reproach, and guilt, mixed with a shameful sense of relief, piled up in her heart, turning into hot, wet tears that slid slowly down her cheeks.

"You bastard!" Vereesa practically threw herself onto the ground, reaching out with trembling hands toward the bruised, lacerated mage. "I'm begging you, wake up."

Her voice was choked with a mournful sob. She knew that if this were the end for Lanlos, she would spend the rest of her life trapped in a dark, inescapable vortex.

Even in death, you won't let me be at peace, you bastard...

Feeling no breath from him, Vereesa finally snapped under the intense pressure of her conflicting emotions. She threw herself onto the mage's chest and burst into loud, wailing tears.

But just then, that voice—so familiar it was loathsome—suddenly sounded in her ear.

"Ouch! Little sister, you're killing me..."