Chapter 196: Sixty-Second Stand

A few minutes earlier, outside the North Gate...

Larkson, Eldrin, Killian, and Pandora ran as fast as they could towards Bakurad Fortress.

More specifically, Larkson and Killian were running, while Eldrin and Pandora were flying half a meter from the ground.

’She’s really something...’ The old mage thought to himself as he glanced at the black-haired girl beside him.

Compared to warriors, swordsmen, and the like, mages lacked stamina and running speed.

He originally wanted to use Teleport, but chose to conserve his mana.

Therefore, he decided to use Flight, a high rank magic spell.

However, since Pandora was only of the Early Stage Two Star Realm, she could only cast mid rank magic spells without exerting herself too much.

Thus, Eldrin demonstrated two magic spells earlier for her to copy.

One was the mid rank magic spell, Levitate.

While the other was the low rank magic spell, Wind Surge.

The former was for her to be able to float, while the latter would serve as her way to propel herself forward.

Together, though it required more effort than simply using Flight, it was able to mimic the high rank magic spell despite her only being a mid rank mage.

At this moment, they had entered the fortress and were on their way to the temporary infirmary.

"This..."

Larkson had a grave expression on his face as he sensed an overwhelming presence.

"It seems like we’re in trouble..." Eldrin added.

Although Killian and Pandora’s senses were inferior to the previous two, it did not take long for them to feel the pressure they were bearing.

"Just what the hell is Boss fighting..."

"Please be safe, Brother."

...

The two of them muttered, forcing themselves to keep going despite the pressure.

Before long, the group’s movement inevitably slowed down.

Larkson, while staring ahead, asked out loud, "Elder, what do you think the Star Realm of that monster is?"

"It undoubtedly is at the Five Star Realm." Eldrin responded, his face serious.

Hearing his words, the expressions of the other three visibly hardened.

They kept silent until they reached the temporary infirmary.

CLINK— CLANG— CLANK—

...

The sounds of weapons colliding with each other resounded.

Soon, they saw Aurelia weakly lying on the ground, while Regis desperately grabbed random weapons to defend against the attacks of the demonic worshipper and two other dark figures.

Just as Larkson and Killian were about to rush forward, Eldrin raised his hand.

"Wait."

"What do you mean, wait?! Can’t you see—Regis is about to die out there!"

Killian shouted, his face filled with impatience.

"Calm down, kid. If you charge in like this, you’ll only end up being a burden to him." Larkson placed his hand on his shoulder.

Pandora also chimed in, "That monster is on another level than the ones we’ve fought before. If we’re not careful, we might end up putting Regis in even more danger."

"Unlike before, Regis is completely out of mana and aura—he won’t be able to save us without..."

...him relying on demonification.

Although she did not continue, Killian knew well what she meant.

"I’m sorry for my outburst..." He said, glancing at the old mage and the fortress commander.

He then looked towards Pandora, "Thank yo—"

However, he never got to finish his words, as he saw something he had never seen before.

Pandora, who always wore a calm, unreadable expression, now had pure rage etched across her face.

She was biting her lip so hard it had begun to bleed, which made him all the more speechless.

At this moment, Eldrin spoke once again, "The enemy is a demonic worshipper of the elf race."

"What!?" Larkson immediately looked at the figure Regis was fighting, "Are you sure, Elder?"

"I can’t be mistaken. The way he uses both aura arts and magic spells with mana is enough proof. Aside from elves, only spirits and dragons are capable of this."

"Then, shouldn’t we launch a surprise attack as soon as possible?"

"Not yet, we have plenty of time."

"What do you mean?"

"Elves are a race known for being prideful. As you know, they treat every other race with scorn, especially us humans."

"What does that have to do with this?"

"That elf is a demonic worshipper who surely has a high position, which makes him all the more prideful. So, if I’m not wrong, he would want to destroy Regis without overpowering him, since he would feel that it’s beneath him to use anything other than pure swordsmanship and magic."

"Still, we need to take Regis’s condition into account and come up with a plan, so we can act as soon as possible."

...

Killian and Pandora listened attentively as Larkson and Eldrin planned their next course of action.

A few minutes passed before the scene unfolded before their eyes—Regis, impaled by jagged spikes of shadowy darkness.

"Go!" Eldrin immediately ordered, "Just remember what I said earlier! I’ll take Regis and help him recover, just buy us a minute!!"

Larkson nodded as he rushed towards Marzak along with Killian.

***

Back to the present...

In one of the ruined buildings, two magic circles manifested just before Eldrin, carrying the weakened Regis, appeared.

He laid the boy down on the ground and knelt beside him as he checked his pulse.

"You... you’re not injured, are you?"

The old mage stiffened in shock, his eyes widening as he observed the boy’s situation.

’To think that despite killing those hordes of monsters and beasts and immediately fighting that demonic worshipper, who was a grand magic swordsman, he did not sustain even a tiny injury...’

Regis sat on the ground, "I’m just tired, really. We should go back, the others might die."

"Relax, it’s only been a few seconds since we got here. I have something to ask you."

"What is it?"

"I won’t pry into how you were able to awaken both mana and aura despite having one heart, but..."

At his words, Regis’s eyes emitted wariness.

It was his first time meeting the old master magician, but since he had seen him with the others earlier, he didn’t feel the need to be hostile.

However, he reminded himself to stay cautious of his seemingly sharp senses.

Unaware of what he was thinking, Eldrin continued, "Listen, I know you have the means to kill those monsters and beasts on your own, but I just want to make sure; do you think you can kill that demonic worshipper?"

’I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’m not capable of casting a strong magic spell that’s capable of killing that demonic worshipper. I’m even more ashamed to ask a kid to do it for me...’

The old mage felt guilt and worry, in contrast to his earlier demeanor.

However, such was needed since he was the one with the highest Star Realm among the group, making him feel the pressure of being the figure that they could depend on.

Now that he was in the presence of someone much stronger, he felt relieved.

Something he was even more ashamed of, considering the other party was just a child.

But to his surprise, Regis replied calmly, "If I just regained aura, killing him should be doable."

His confidence was not unfounded.

After all, he had already beheaded Marzak once, he was confident he could do it again.

Still, just his response alone surprised Eldrin, "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Just as he was about to feel relieved, he realized something, "Unfortunately, I don’t have anything on me that can quickly replenish aura. I can, however, transfer all my remaining mana to you."

"Really?" Regis was pleasantly surprised, "It’s the first time I’ve heard of something like that."

"Of course, it’s a complex and very inefficient master rank magic spell." Eldrin then took a few seconds to organize his thoughts.

But before he could speak, Regis interrupted him, "We don’t have enough time for explanation, so let’s get on with it."

"This kid..." The old mage could not help but smirk in amusement.

As he prepared the magic spell, Regis asked him, "However, I noticed that the demonic elf can use mana for his aura arts. Can you teach me how to do that too? I don’t have any strong magic spells and I can’t just copy them like Pandora."

Eldrin glanced at him for a moment before speaking.

"Elves aren’t like us humans. They are closer to the world than us. This means that their life force can harmonize with mana."

"It was one of the racial abilities they were born with. In short, they do not need to develop their life force into aura since the mana already supplements them."

Regis analyzed his words before replying, "So there’s really no other way, huh?"

"There might be, but I don’t suggest you do it."

"There’s no harm in knowing, right?"

"If you say so... The elves’ biological structure is inherently attuned to mana. Meanwhile, humans need to develop their aura."

"Even if a human were to forcefully circulate mana into their body, they would need to create new vessels that can contain mana, which would take years."

"And that’s only if they don’t die from the contamination of mana."

"But what if..."

"Don’t speak for now, I just finished the magic spell."

Eldrin spoke as he raised his staff, a complex magic circle materializing on the ground where Regis lay.

He could feel his mana draining from his body, circulating through the circle, and ultimately stimulating the mana stars within the latter.

[Master Rank Magic: Fluxus Arcanum]