Ian Was Framed?

Ian Had Been Set Up?

Under Ian's conscious guidance, the nature of this battle quietly began to change.

From a simple magical confrontation, it gradually evolved into a difficult dialogue with three "Hearts of the Earth" that had been polluted, tormented, and altered over thousands of years.

"Purifying Rain!"

By combining Transfiguration with the Summoning Charm, Ian created an area of gentle quicksand around the sandstorm ancient spirit, trying to make it feel the "flow" and "tolerance" that a sea of sand ought to possess, rather than its current "violence" and "plunder." At the same time, he summoned a fine rain infused with faint life magic.

It fell upon the heart of the sandstorm.

This rain was not meant to put out a fire. It symbolized the occasional rain that descended upon the desert, rain that would inevitably bring life. He was trying to awaken the desire buried deep within the natural spirit's heart.

Its yearning for "nourishment," rather than "destruction."

The results were fairly good.

Though not spectacularly effective, it was at least not completely ineffective.

The sandstorm ancient spirit's movements visibly slowed and grew confused once more. The skeletal phantom even swayed faintly, as though two consciousnesses within it were fiercely struggling against one another. Its shriek was no longer one of pure rage, but was mixed with pain, confusion, and even a trace of... an almost imperceptible emotion.

As though it yearned for that "rain"?

On the other side, the swamp worm's dark breath grew thicker, its color deepening like ink. The soul-binding power contained within it nearly became tangible.

The dark power formed countless pitch-black magical tentacles lined with barbs, once again winding toward Ian from every direction. They sought not only to corrode the legendary wizard's body!

They also sought to drag his soul into