Chapter 35: The Frozen Battlefield (1)

Aelin’s massive roots quickly wrapped around Vaelcryst’s dragon, but the dragon froze them in an instant. The roots soon shattered, only to grow back again.

Vaelcryst unsheathed his sword, while Aelin could only dodge his attacks since she had no weapon of her own.

Aelin then summoned several smaller roots to restrain Vaelcryst. Once they had successfully bound him, Aelin quickly charged towards him with her bare hands.

However, Vaelcryst’s dragon swiftly severed the roots, allowing Vaelcryst to move freely once again.

Aelin stopped and retreated, maintaining her distance.

’Relying on roots alone isn’t enough.’

Every time she summoned her roots, Vaelcryst would simply cut them apart. Aelin then accidentally noticed an iron statue holding a sword on her left.

Without hesitation, Aelin rushed towards the statue while using her roots as protection. She quickly grabbed the sword held by the statue, although removing it proved rather difficult due to the ice covering it.

"Now, we can finally have a proper sword fight!"

"Hmm, interesting."

The two of them immediately charged at each other, their swords clashing and producing loud metallic sounds that echoed throughout the room.

Meanwhile, Vaelcryst’s dragon took a deep breath and exhaled towards Aelin’s roots. Slowly, the roots began to freeze.

As a result of the dragon’s freezing breath, Aelin’s roots gradually cracked before falling towards the two who were still engaged in their sword fight.

Both of them quickly retreated to make room for the falling roots. The frozen roots eventually crashed onto the ground and shattered, causing the surrounding temperature to drop even further.

"You’re not dead, are you, Aelin?~"

Through the freezing mist, a figure slowly appeared not far from Vaelcryst.

"So you’re still alive. Well, I suppose someone like you wouldn’t die that easily."

Aelin quickly summoned roots around her legs before charging towards Vaelcryst.

Vaelcryst still managed to block her attack, although moving with his legs restrained by the roots proved rather difficult.

The ice dragon then exhaled its freezing breath once again, this time directly towards Aelin. She quickly retreated to maintain her distance and avoid getting caught in its freezing attack.

Vaelcryst then cut the roots wrapped around his ankles with his sword.

’Damn, fighting against him is such a pain.’

’If only I had those three with me.’

"Need some help, Aelin?"

A familiar voice suddenly reached her ears.

She slowly turned around and saw a figure she recognised very well.

It was Lukas, standing there while holding a sword.

"L-Lukas? How did you—"

Lukas then explained that he had awakened when the entire academy was suddenly frozen.

He sensed that the ice contained a magical aura, so he used his Nullification Magic.

The ice gradually cracked before eventually shattering. That was how he managed to escape from the infirmary.

"Don’t take your eyes off your opponent, idiot."

Aelin immediately turned around.

The ice dragon was already preparing to unleash its freezing breath.

Without any warning, the dragon exhaled towards Aelin. However, Lukas quickly moved in front of her and released an aura of Nullification Magic, causing the dragon’s freezing breath to disappear into thin air.

’Oh, right. Azrath mentioned that the person he fought that day was someone who used Nullification Magic.’

"Are you Lukas Kline?"

Lukas turned towards Vaelcryst with a sharp gaze.

"If I am, then what about it?"

Vaelcryst’s previously relaxed expression, which he had worn while fighting Aelin, suddenly turned cold. His gaze also became noticeably sharper.

’What a troublesome opponent this time.’

Vaelcryst glanced at the exposed part of Lukas’s shirt. Seeing Lukas’s body still covered in bandages gave him some relief, as he knew that Lukas had yet to fully recover.

"Are you confident you can fight in that condition?" Vaelcryst asked coldly.

"Why? Are you scared?"

Lukas’s words struck a nerve, making Vaelcryst even more furious.

Vaelcryst immediately charged towards him. However, before he could even swing his sword, it suddenly shattered.

"Damn it."

Vaelcryst quickly retreated while glaring at Lukas.

’His Nullification Magic really is troublesome.’

"What happened? You looked so confident when you were about to attack me."

Lukas mocked him.

Aelin could only remain seated on the floor, silently watching Lukas fight in front of her.

’Telling you to retreat would be pointless anyway.’

’You’re far too stubborn.’

The ice dragon quickly unleashed another freezing breath towards Lukas. Yet, just like before, Lukas’s Nullification Magic caused the dragon’s breath to disappear.

"You really are a tough opponent, especially in your current condition."

"Ah, a compliment? Thanks."

In an instant, Lukas appeared right in front of Vaelcryst.

He immediately launched his first attack, sending Vaelcryst flying backwards until he crashed into the academy wall.

Blood began to flow from Vaelcryst’s head, but he slowly got back to his feet and stared at Lukas with an intense killing intent.

"You’ve made me angry now."

"So? Like I care."

Vaelcryst took out something small and round.

He quickly opened his mouth and swallowed it.

Aelin and Lukas could only stare at him in confusion.

Vaelcryst then recreated his ice sword, while his dragon became increasingly aggressive.

’What’s going on? I’m sensing a different aura coming from this guy.’

Lukas’s Nullification Magic suddenly stopped working.

When he tried to activate it again, his magic simply refused to respond.

Vaelcryst then explained that the object he had swallowed was an anti-magic pill that suppressed the magic of anyone within its vicinity.

However, the effect did not apply to the person who swallowed it. Instead of losing their magic, the user would actually gain a boost in their magical abilities.

Lukas was somewhat surprised after hearing the pill’s effects, but he remained calm, knowing that Aelin was behind him.

"Are you afraid, Lukas Kline?!"

"Why would I be afraid of someone like you, idiot? I’m more afraid of being unable to protect someone."

He slowly turned his head towards Aelin, who was still sitting on the floor.

Without hesitation, Lukas charged towards Vaelcryst to attack him.

However, Vaelcryst quickly appeared behind Lukas.

"Too slow."

Vaelcryst whispered softly into Lukas’s ear.

Fortunately, Aelin summoned her roots to attack Vaelcryst from behind.

Although Vaelcryst easily dodged the attack, Aelin’s intervention still served its purpose. Vaelcryst, who had initially intended to strike Lukas, was forced to abandon his attack.

Vaelcryst clicked his tongue before turning towards his dragon.

"Do your job."

The dragon slowly moved towards Aelin.

Aelin attempted to attack it with her roots, but they were immediately frozen by the dragon.

The roots began to shatter, leaving Aelin with no idea what to do next.

Lukas tried to approach her, but Vaelcryst immediately blocked his path.

"Don’t take your eyes off me, Lukas Kline!"

Every time Lukas blocked Vaelcryst’s attacks, the pain throughout his body grew increasingly unbearable. Slowly, the white bandages wrapped around his body began to turn slightly red.

’Damn it. This hurts.’

"What’s wrong, Lukas?~ Can’t hold on any longer?"

The ice dragon then unleashed its freezing breath towards Aelin.

Instinctively, Aelin closed her eyes.

However, she didn’t feel anything.

"Honestly, how embarrassing, Teacher Aelin."

Aelin slowly opened her eyes and saw Philip standing in front of her, using his Rift Distortion Magic.

The dragon’s freezing breath had been swallowed by a small Rift portal.

"P-Philip?"

Aelin couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw Philip standing before her.

"Yo."

Vaelcryst clicked his tongue in annoyance at Philip’s sudden appearance. To him, Philip was another threat he couldn’t afford to ignore.

"Looks like Teacher Lukas is here too. I thought you were still lying in bed."

’That damn kid.’

Aelin then asked Philip about the current situation in the city.

However, Philip simply answered in his usual carefree manner.

"Don’t worry. There are still people willing to fight for this kingdom."

Throughout the city, the citizens had gathered in large numbers to fight against the Frostval army.

It turned out that the citizens hadn’t simply been hiding all this time. They had also been preparing weapons to launch a counterattack.

Furthermore, the students of Arcane Academy were actually helping the citizens eliminate the remaining invading soldiers.

"B-But how?"

"Because I was the one who ordered it," Lukas answered.

What had actually happened before all of this was that Lukas had already regained the ability to stand ever since Aelin brought Haruki, Philip, and Magnus to their nighttime training session.

Lukas then informed all the teachers that remaining inside the academy might put them at risk, especially since the academy’s magical defenses were gradually weakening.

Therefore, Lukas instructed them to split into groups and prepare their respective weapons to eliminate the remaining enemy soldiers scattered throughout the city.

Vila was also involved, as her healing magic was desperately needed.

"You people never cease to surprise me..." Aelin remarked.

"Surely you weren’t planning to just sit there?" Philip replied.

"Hmm, you do have a point, Philip."

Vaelcryst grew increasingly irritated by Philip’s presence.

He suddenly launched a powerful and swift attack towards Lukas, hoping to eliminate him as quickly as possible before dealing with Philip.

"I know you don’t like him, but I’m your opponent right now."

Lukas said with a mocking smile.