Theia gripped Lin Gui's hand tightly, fine beads of sweat forming in her palm from tension.
She pushed her ranger stealth skills to their absolute limit.
She skillfully cast several low-level spells, 【Breath Concealment】 and 【Light and Shadow Distortion】, onto both of them.
On the Akara Continent, it was normal for warriors to learn some practical auxiliary magic.
Just like how mages would train their bodies and learn close-combat techniques, it was nothing unusual.
Her figure flickered in and out of the shadows of the trees.
Like a phantom, her every step was as light as a feather.
She carefully avoided the dead branches and fallen leaves on the ground that might make a sound.
They drew closer and closer to the sleeping behemoth.
The smell of sulfur lingering in the air and the unique pressure of the demon were almost suffocating.
Theia's heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst from her chest.
The terrifying memories of her last encounter with this demon flooded back like a tide.
That near-death despair made her limbs feel weak.
She knew that one more step forward might cross that invisible boundary and wake this terrifying Legendary Demon.
Just as she was about to be crushed by fear and her footsteps hesitated, a hand firmly grabbed her.
Startled, she turned her head to look at Lin Gui.
To her surprise, there was not a trace of tension on Lin Gui's face, only a near-indifferent calmness.
It was as if what lay ahead was not a Legendary Demon, but merely a stone blocking the path.
“Alright, this is close enough.”
Lin Gui said softly, his voice incredibly steady.
“Next, cast your strongest concealment magic, and then... trust me.”
Theia subconsciously complied, casting her ultimate elven concealment spell on them as well.
At the same time, Lin Gui drew his seemingly simple oak staff.
A low and rapid chanting began to sound.
The incantation was complex and strange, with tongue-twisting syllables.
The magical fluctuations flowing out were obscure and difficult to understand, completely unlike any common magic system.
In the distance, Lyon, who had been staring at them closely, furrowed his brows and asked the Transcendent mage beside him in a low voice.
“What spell is he casting? Can you tell?”
The mage focused his senses for a moment, an extremely strange and puzzled expression appearing on his face.
He opened his mouth, speaking with as much difficulty as if he were constipated.
“This... the fluctuation is very peculiar... It's a bit like the third-ring 【Darkness】.”
“But it's also mixed with the structure of 【Shadow Concealment】, and... I can't say for sure. I've never sensed this kind of magic construction before...”
He ultimately shook his head helplessly, unable to make a judgment.
Just as Lin Gui's chanting reached a sharp climax and suddenly stopped,
he suddenly turned his head, his expression more serious than ever before, and said quickly to the pale-faced Theia:
“Hold on to me tightly!”
“What?”
Theia did not react for a moment.
“Quick! Hold on to me! The tighter, the better!”
Lin Gui's tone carried an unquestionable urgency.
Although she was completely bewildered, out of trust in Lin Gui's strange calmness,
Theia gritted her teeth, wrapped her arms tightly around Lin Gui's waist, and pressed her entire body against him.
Feeling the softness and slight trembling of the delicate body in his arms,
Lin Gui took a deep breath, leaned close to Theia's ear, and said in an extremely low but clear voice:
“Theia, do you trust me?”
Theia buried her face in his shoulder and nodded vigorously, letting out a trembling,
“Mm!”
“Good. Hold on tight, don't resist, and I'll take you out of this hellhole.”
After saying that, Lin Gui suddenly raised his staff.
It was no longer that obscure incantation, but a smooth and rapid recitation of another spell that both Theia and the distant mage were incredibly familiar with.
It was the activation syllables of 【Wind Blade】!
“Gale as a blade, tear—”
In the distance, the Transcendent mage's face instantly turned pale with horror, his soul nearly leaving his body as he screamed.
“Oh no! He's crazy! It's Wind Blade! He wants to attack the demon!!!”
The faces of all the knights instantly turned deathly pale!
Lyon had the fastest reaction. Overcome with shock and anger, he could no longer care about anything else.
Brilliant battle qi instantly gathered on his sword blade.
A wildly violent cross sword energy tore through the air, carrying a destructive aura as it slashed straight toward the backs of Lin Gui and Theia!
He wanted to completely pulverize these two madmen before the Wind Blade hit the demon!
However, just an instant before that terrifying sword energy was about to touch them—
Swoosh!
A faint, almost negligible emerald-green wind blade shot out from the tip of Lin Gui's staff.
It flew swiftly toward the sleeping Moragus.
Lin Gui was only a Low-tier High Rank mage. Although his Wind Blade was powerful, it was nothing to a Legendary Demon.
It didn't even touch its body, dissipating several meters away.
But this negligible provocation was already more than enough!
Almost at the exact same instant the wind blade was released, the figures of Lin Gui and Theia vanished without a trace from their spot, as if erased by an eraser!
Lyon's sure-kill terrifying sword energy only slashed through the afterimages they left behind.
It slammed heavily into the ground, blasting up a flurry of dirt and grass!
“ROOOOOAR!!!”
Disturbed by the magical fluctuations, the Legendary Demon woke up!
In the center of the depression, that massive, twisted body shuddered violently.
The countless painful human faces attached to the trunk contorted and deformed at the same time, letting out silent wails.
The largest face suddenly snapped open its green eyes, which were filled with endless malice and rage.
Its massive wooden mouth opened, releasing a piercing shriek that was enough to tear a soul apart!
The terrifying sound waves, mixed with the majestic demonic pressure, swept through the entire forest like a tsunami in an instant!
Trees shook violently, and fallen leaves flew in all directions.
Lyon and all the knights were so shaken by this sudden, terrifying roar that their blood surged, blood seeping from their ears and noses, and they nearly collapsed to the ground!
“No!!!”
Lyon let out a desperate and unwilling roar, but his voice was instantly drowned out by the demon's roar.
...
High in the sky, a biting, cold wind whipped against their cheeks.
Theia held onto Lin Gui for dear life, her heart still pounding wildly.
She hadn't even fully recovered from the thrilling and heart-stopping turn of events just now.
She looked down.
She saw Lin Gui controlling the oak staff, carrying them both as they wobbled through the air, flying toward the northwest.
Which was the direction of the “Ironclad Sovereign” Gorog Ironjaw that the scout had pointed out earlier.
“We... we're flying?”
Theia's voice trembled with disbelief.
Levitation magic? And even carrying another person? This was simply...
“Hold on tight! We're not completely safe yet!”
Lin Gui's voice interrupted her shock.
He maintained 【Levitation】 with all his might.
At the same time, the effect of 【Veil of the Gloomy Night】 covered them once more, making them invisible again.
Before long, a massive ruin of a mine pit came into view below.
A massive figure, like a small mountain, composed of countless dark metals and rocks,
sat quietly in the center of the ruins.
As if existing since ancient times—it was Gorog Ironjaw.
Lin Gui's eyes narrowed. He removed 【Veil of the Gloomy Night】 without hesitation and waved his staff.
Another 【Wind Blade】 shot out, accurately hitting the Ironclad Sovereign's heavy, rocky back.
It made a soft “thud” sound, leaving not even a white mark.
But this was already enough!
“Roar?!”
Disturbed, the Ironclad Sovereign let out a low, muffled roar of confusion, his massive body moving slightly.
Almost at the same time the wind blade was released,
a flying demon that happened to be patrolling nearby spotted Lin Gui and Theia as they revealed themselves in midair, shrieking as it lunged at them!
Lin Gui didn't even look at the flying demon, covering them with 【Veil of the Gloomy Night】 once again.
He controlled the staff to make a rapid dive and change direction, narrowly avoiding the pounce.
Then, he pulled up and climbed in altitude again.
Leaving behind the flying demon that was looking around in confusion and the Ironclad Sovereign who was starting to slowly turn his body.
He adjusted his direction, pushed his speed to the limit, and flew back toward the way they had come without looking back.
Far behind them, in the direction of the forest depression,
the furious roars of Moragus and the desperate cries of Lyon's knight order faintly echoed.
Ultimately, they were gradually swallowed by the howling wind.
Rate on N.U.
