Black Dragon Miss Refuses to Be a Mount

Ailolin did not stop and continued summoning Elementals of another type.

Dragon Language Magic was just that miraculous. It could produce corresponding effects based on the words she spoke. Over the previous years, Ailolin had studied it very thoroughly.

With the magical boost provided by her staff, the elemental creatures Ailolin summoned finally appeared in their true form.

The Elementals she had previously summoned using the meager magic power within her body had been barely the size of candy beans.

The Earth Elementals floated in midair. They were a type of summon capable of launching attacks of their corresponding attribute.

This seemed to be Ruke's first time seeing Elementals, but after a brief moment of shock, he quickly calmed down and began responding.

In this situation, the first priority was to deal with the summoner.

However, the Elementals could not simply be ignored.

The Earth Elementals began casting binding debuffs on Ruke. Though they did not injure him, they restricted his movement speed.

Immediately afterward, the Fire Elementals launched their real attack. Scorching fireballs struck Ruke's armor one after another, sending ripples spreading across it.

Ailolin understood that the fireballs had not dealt any damage. Those ripples were the defensive magic runes on Ruke's armor taking effect.

While commanding the Elementals to attack, she did not stop moving herself.

"Spread—Fire Element." (Dragon language)

Ailolin directly released fire-element magic into the air, then gathered it around Ruke.

Once those fire elements reached a certain concentration, they began to grow restless.

Then the Fire Elementals' fireballs directly ignited the fire elements, followed by intense burning and explosions.

The entire arena was engulfed in flames and smoke. Ailolin heard Ruke's voice from within the smoke. "Stop. I surrender!"

"Why surrender? With your strength, you wouldn't be hurt at all, would you?"

Ailolin had not had nearly enough fun, and she had not even started getting serious. She had not expected the orc before her to surrender already.

Naturally, Ruke had his reasons for surrendering. He was extremely excited. "What does the match matter? If I wasn't mistaken, those were Elementals you summoned just now, right?"

"Yes."

"So you specialize in elemental summoning?"

"No."

In truth, summoning Elementals was only one branch of the Dragon Language Magic system.

Ruke froze, then continued, "No matter what the truth is, I want to ask you something. Would you be willing to work for me?"

"Sorry, not interested."

Not only was Ailolin uninterested, she did not have the time.

"It would only be a short-term hire. I urgently need a mage proficient in controlling elements."

"Really not interested."

Ailolin did not want to keep talking and headed straight toward the spectator stands where Likaro was.

"Hey! Remember my name. I'm Ruke. Come find me anytime you change your mind." Ruke's voice sounded behind Ailolin. "I'd only hire you for a few days. The payment is negotiable. How about one hundred thousand gold coins?"

"..."

Ailolin stopped, turned around, and said, "If I decide it's possible, I'll come find you."

"Then remember this. I'm temporarily staying at the biggest inn in the southern part of the city."

"Mm."

In truth, one hundred thousand gold coins really tempted Ailolin.

If Ruke truly was a prince of the Orc Kingdom, he might actually be able to produce that much money.

PS: Dragon Language Magic is a system. Many of its spells overlap with those of other systems. For example, a fireball cast through Dragon Language Magic is not all that different from one cast through normal chanting.

Calamity Descends 025 The True Mage

After returning to the spectator stands, Ailolin told Likaro about her conversation with the orc prince.

"One hundred thousand gold coins really isn't a small amount, but we're leaving this city today," Likaro said.

Today was the bearded lord's day of death. After completing the assassination, Ailolin and Likaro would have to leave the city, so there was no need to consider it.

Besides, as long as one possessed strength, gold coins could be earned easily sooner or later.

At that moment, the bearded lord in the arena stands was laughing merrily. Ailolin saw an elegantly dressed young woman standing beside him, smiling as she spoke with him.

"Who is that?" Ailolin asked Likaro.

"The lord's daughter. That guy is scum, but he's very good to his daughter."

"What is his daughter like?"

"Very kind. Completely unlike her father."

"I see."

Ailolin could not help sighing. Even evil people had familial affection. Unfortunately, the bearded lord would not live past today, and neither she nor Likaro would spare him just because his daughter was kind.

After all, blood debts had to be repaid in blood.

The Tournament had finally entered its later stages. Only nine contestants remained, and they would compete for the top three positions.

As long as they secured a top-three spot, they would have an opportunity to stand before the lord. That would make assassinating him much easier.

Unlike before, when humans made up an overwhelming majority, nearly half of the top nine contestants were not human.

Ailolin's luck was excellent. When the drawing ended, she had actually received a bye.

The remaining eight contestants were divided into four groups for one-on-one duels.

Ailolin could finally watch from the stands and see exactly how Likaro fought.

Likaro had already fully mobilized the flow of magic within her body. She had not studied much magic, but she could make up for its lack of power with the enormous amount of magic she possessed.

Xiya had once taught her many types of offensive magic, as well as a bug-level ability that most mages had never even heard of.

That was Overload Magic.

Simply put, it used several times more magic power to multiply a spell's strength severalfold. This meant that even if Likaro cast the simplest fireball spell, she could turn an ordinary fireball several times larger than normal.

Likaro's opponent was a male elf with pointed ears. He held a short bow, and his sturdy build and muscles made it clear that he was an exceptionally skilled archer.

Since her opponent also used ranged attacks, Likaro began improving her own ranged defenses.

She layered three magic shields over herself in quick succession, then began chanting a spell.

The elf was surprised that the mage opposite him had not brought a staff, but there was no time for hesitation now. Watching the magical attack rush toward him, he nimbly dodged it.

Once Likaro realized her opponent was highly agile, she began casting a tracking spell that required a longer chant.

The elf did not let that opening pass. He fired three arrows in succession, their shafts trailing blue Gleaming Light as they struck Likaro's magic shields and shattered them outright.

Likaro was startled. Her three layers of shields had all been destroyed in one strike.

She hurriedly stopped chanting and continued placing magic shields around herself.

Fortunately, magic shields were instant-cast. Just as she finished shielding herself, several more arrows flew toward her.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Likaro's shields shattered again.

Only then did she understand. The elf was firing magic-breaking arrows.

The magic shields had become practically useless, so Likaro enhanced her legs with wind elements and began moving as well, dodging the elf's arrows.

At the same time, she did not forget to keep magic shields around herself just in case.

The elf was beginning to feel tired. Why did this mage have so much magic power? She clearly was not carrying a staff...

While dodging, Likaro was actually deliberately closing in on her opponent. Her opponent seemed to believe that, as a mage, she lacked close-combat ability, so he had not paid attention to maintaining distance.

Once Likaro felt the distance was about right, she began putting her plan into action.

She could not keep dragging this out. Although she had enough magic inside her to cast spells continuously, if this went on, someone knowledgeable might discover her Magic Spring Constitution.

Back in the Edafalon Forest, Xiya had taught her another way for mages to fight. Moreover, as someone whose main class was knight, Likaro was especially suited to it.

[Flash Spell!]

Likaro raised her hand, and a dazzling light immediately appeared.

The elf reacted quickly and turned his head in time, avoiding the intense light.

But that brief opening was enough for Likaro.

[Fire Element Sword!]

Likaro raised both hands, and a longsword formed from fire elements materialized in her grasp.

She then gathered wind elements around her legs and made them erupt in an instant, propelling her forward more than ten meters and bringing her before the elf.

The elf had no time to react. He hurriedly raised his short bow to block, but the Fire Element Sword easily cleaved through the wooden bow.

Yet just as the Fire Element Sword was about to touch the elf's body, it suddenly vanished from Likaro's hand.

"You win, mage miss who doesn't fight by the book." The elf shrugged.

"Sorry for ruining your bow."

"It's fine." The elf picked up the broken bow from the ground. The place where its body had been split was already charred by fire. "This bow wasn't expensive. Congratulations on advancing."

"Thank you."

After politely expressing her thanks, Likaro returned to the spectator stands.

"That was incredible. You actually did what I wanted to do too," Ailolin said with feeling.

"What?"

"Close combat. A mage suddenly pulling out a weapon and charging in for a brawl would definitely catch the enemy off guard."

"..."

Likaro felt that only she and Ailolin would probably use such a fighting style.

After the other matches ended, only five contestants remained in the arena.

"Did you notice? That bearded lord has started paying attention to the matches."

Ailolin told Likaro about what she had observed of the lord earlier.

The Tournament was nearing its end. The remaining battles were basically battles between strong opponents, making them highly entertaining.

When the draw once again gave Ailolin a bye, she realized she had practically coasted to victory.

They weren't going to set up some kind of losers' bracket? Out of the matches among nine contestants, she had received two byes?

Even if Ailolin voluntarily withdrew now, she was guaranteed third place.

However, although the draw had already been completed, the match did not begin for a long time. Ailolin watched the lord in the stands and found that he seemed to be saying something to his subordinates.

The guards in the arena began gathering. Ailolin sensed that something was wrong. Why did they seem to be forming an encirclement around where she and Likaro were?

PS: I've decided. Starting tomorrow, updates will be at 9 PM. OVO

Calamity Descends 026 The Joy of Revenge

The guards' assembly made Ailolin wary. She told Likaro what she had noticed, then rapidly considered how to respond.

If they had already been exposed, there was no need to continue competing. They might as well charge directly into the stands and kill the bearded lord.

A distant soldier rang the alarm bell, and several gates of the arena were swiftly sealed shut.

Ailolin and Likaro made their decision in a short time.

"Hurry! You must find my daughter!"

The bearded lord paced back and forth anxiously. His daughter had said she was going to look around the spectator stands, but she had yet to return. Even the soldiers assigned to protect her had disappeared.

"Who are you?!"

The surrounding guards raised their halberds. They noticed two people dressed like mages charging toward the stands.