Chapter 286 - 266: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind, But Who is the Mantis, and Who is the Cicada?

Chapter 286: Chapter 266: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind, But Who is the Mantis, and Who is the Cicada?

"Why such a hurry, Mr. Jon?"

"My master’s invitation is an honor countless people would beg for..."

"Your Power should not be wasted on such a pointless struggle..."

But Jon acted as if he heard nothing, continuing to cast his Magic at his own pace.

After a few rounds of probing attacks confirmed he couldn’t pin his opponent down, he decisively changed his strategy.

TSSSCH—

On the surface of his Golden Rock Crystal armor, the phantom-blue glow of a Dharma Seal suddenly converged inward, blanketing his entire body like flowing mercury!

[Integration Seal: Defense]!

[Integration Seal: Anti-Magic]!

A more condensed, invisible Shield enveloped both him and his warhorse.

At the same time, he lowered Broken Abyss in his right hand and began to chant arcane syllables in a low voice. Visible Arcane Energy started to gather madly around him!

"Arcane Imprisonment?"

Nasir’s ethereal form came to a sudden halt. For the first time, genuine shock and gravity flashed in his deep-set eyes.

It was an area-of-effect control Skill. The Magic Power consumption was terrifying, but its effect was well worth the cost. It required no lock-on; anyone who failed to leave its effective range before the Magic was complete, even many Professionals nearing the Ascension Level, would find themselves imprisoned!

After confirming this, the Mage Consultant’s elegant facade shattered in an instant, replaced by a ruthless viciousness.

’I can’t wait!’

He slammed his withered hands together in front of his chest. His fingers danced rapidly like flitting butterflies, their tips erupting with a piercing purple magical light. He also began uttering a series of short, rapid Spells, clearly intending to interrupt Jon’s casting!

The Magic Power in the air fluctuated violently. A purplish-black ray, filled with immense tearing and disruptive Energy, was rapidly forming at his fingertips, aimed straight at the chanting Jon!

And at that critical moment, just as Nasir was fully focused on dismantling the [Arcane Imprisonment]—

A cold glint, like a Hunter closing his net, flashed deep within Jon’s ice-blue eyes.

His chanting never stopped, but a Power that had long lain dormant inside him erupted like a slumbering volcano!

BZZZZ—!

[Impact Aura]! Activated!

Without any warning, a pale golden flame materialized out of thin air and exploded next to Nasir!

The damage wasn’t great, but the effect was perfect!

Nasir’s Magic, which had reached a critical point of convergence, instantly spun out of control!

The mass of frenzied purplish-black Energy at his fingertips was struck by what felt like an invisible hammer. With a muffled POOF, it exploded right there!

The powerful magical backlash made him grunt. A sharp pain shot through his withered fingers as the concentrated Magic Power instantly dispersed!

The immense Impact from the magical backlash caused his lanky body to sway. He completely lost his elegant posture and staggered back in a wretched state, his carefully maintained composure utterly shattered!

And Jon’s [Arcane Imprisonment] hadn’t even stopped!

But just as the tide of battle was about to turn—

"Hehehe..."

A lazy, bewitching chuckle, like a lover’s whisper, echoed without warning above the ruins.

The laughter seemed to carry some kind of time-freezing magic. The clashing Arcane Energy, Nasir’s ragged breaths, and even the dust drifting through the ruins all froze in an instant!

Jon’s low, rapid Spell was cut short, as if an invisible hand had seized his throat.

The massive Imprisonment Force Field, which had been surging at his fingertips and was just about to take form, silently disintegrated like shattered glass. All that remained were faint golden ripples that spread futilely through the frozen air before vanishing.

An icy pressure, far beyond what any normal person could imagine, descended upon the small battlefield like the deepest arctic sea.

The air grew thick as glue, so heavy that breathing itself became a desperate luxury.

Every muscle in Jon’s body tensed like iron, yet he felt as if he’d been encased in ancient, mystical ice. He couldn’t even move a finger. Only his ice-blue eyes could strain to turn in their sockets, looking toward the source of the laughter.

Between him and the still-staggering Nasir, the air warped and rippled silently, like oil on water.

A stunningly curvaceous figure materialized out of thin air.

A deep violet, almost black, velvet dress clung tightly to her explosive and perfect curves. Its hem billowed without any wind, shimmering with the deep luster of the night.

A thick cascade of curly black hair tumbled down, making her face seem all the more inhumanly exquisite. Beneath her pale, almost translucent skin, an unearthly cold light seemed to flow.

Her eyes—they were by no means human. They were like two perfectly polished glass beads: deep and hollow, yet in their depths flickered an indescribable, soul-devouring dark flame.

She gazed "lovingly" at the immobilized Jon. Her glass-bead eyes shifted slightly, filled with a chilling, cat-and-mouse amusement. The corners of her full lips curved into a smile that could captivate any man.

"Oh, my... what a... gentleman with no sense of fun."

"It took me so much courage to extend a sincere invitation to you..."

She tilted her head slightly, her black hair slithering like a living thing over her bare, elegantly curved shoulders and neck.

"How could you be so rude as to ignore my feelings and attack my poor Envoy?"

"So impolite~"

The woman spoke complainingly, but the terrifying aura and formless pressure radiating from her were immense.

Standing before her was like sinking to the bottom of the ocean; both body and mind were put to an extreme test.

However, there was not a trace of panic in Jon’s eyes.

He stared directly into those bewitching and dangerous glass-bead eyes, as if piercing through the beautiful human skin to gaze upon the writhing, indescribable essence beneath.

The frozen air had also locked his throat, preventing him from speaking. But the mockery and cold scrutiny in his eyes were transmitted with perfect clarity—as if to say: ’What an act.’

The woman seemed to "read" his silent scorn.

The dark flames dancing in her glass-bead eyes flickered slightly with a hint of amusement.

Then, she extended her long, jade-like fingers, their nails painted a dark violet. Her movements were as gentle as a tender lover about to caress her partner’s cheek.

However, where her fingertips touched—

SZZZ...

The near-solid, phantom-blue Light Wall of the Dharma Seal melted away silently like thin frost in the sun. The Golden Rock Crystal also rippled like water, seemingly retreating to either side in fear.

Her pale, almost transparent fingertips passed through Jon’s proud dual Defense without any resistance and rested on his Arm Armor.

"Truly remarkable..."

Carina’s pupils shifted slightly, reflecting the frozen coldness in Jon’s ice-blue eyes. Deep within her inhuman pupils, the dark flames danced, shining with the strange light of someone admiring a peerless treasure.

"To create such Magic at your age... construction, control, Defense, counterattack... all perfectly integrated, a self-contained cycle."

"I doubt that even in more ancient times, there were many who... at your age, were more talented than you..."

As her words reached his ears, her five fingers resting on his Arm Armor slowly tightened. The force was gentle, yet Jon felt an invisible, bone-chilling cold instantly pierce through the thick Rock Crystal armor and sink straight into his marrow!

"So, come with me, my dear..."

"Let me see just what secrets you’re hiding."

Before she finished speaking, her deep violet velvet skirt suddenly billowed like a midnight tide!

A blast of light!

It was not a holy, searing white, nor the phantom-blue of Arcane Magic, but a deep, dark violet so profound it seemed to devour all light!

This light instantly submerged Jon’s vision, swallowing the smoke of the ruins, the still-convulsing Flayed Giant Dog, and the staggering, horrified Nasir Atherton!

Time, space, and even thought itself were utterly twisted and devoured by this bizarre dark violet light!