"How very rude. Did your teacher never instruct you on the proper etiquette of social interaction?"
At the exact microsecond before Denken's spell could connect, a defensive barrier shimmered into existence around Zaras, negating the entire onslaught.
Maintaining a full-body shield indefinitely would be taxing even for a Great Demon with a massive mana reservoir. This method of instantaneous deployment not only conserved mana but also significantly increased the defensive density at the point of impact.
Under the demon's masterful control, Denken's torrential barrage was dismantled without effort. Zaras remained rooted to the spot, elegant and poised, looking for all the world like a nobleman attending a lavish court ball in his finest attire. To him, the lethal spells hurtling his way weren't threats; they were merely celebratory fireworks marking his grand arrival.
What a monster...
Both Garlan and Reed, watching from their respective positions, cursed under their breath. Had either of them stood in that spot, Denken's all-out offensive would have forced them into a desperate retreat, if not a humiliating defeat. Yet this demon treated it as one might treat a bothersome fly—with a casual wave of the hand.
"When dealing with demons, I find this direct approach to be far more appropriate. After all, you aren't exactly creatures capable of meaningful communication," Denken retorted. He ceased his casting but kept his staff raised, his eyes locked onto the figure before him with unwavering focus.
He had tested the waters with a flurry of magic, hoping to find a chink in the armor or force the demon to reveal its specific magical specialty. Instead, he had only gained a deeper, more chilling understanding of the gap between them.
"Ha! Well, Denken, looks like we might be checking out early today," Reed said. Having recovered slightly under Denken's cover, he moved to stand beside him, facing down the demon. Even with death staring him in the face, not a trace of terror touched his expression. It took a staggering amount of pride to laugh heartily while standing at the edge of the abyss.
Is there really no way to break this stalemate...?
Wait! A spark of light flickered in Denken's cold eyes. Reflecting on the exchange, he realized Zaras did have one weakness: he was too strong. He was so powerful that he didn't view Denken or Reed as threats at all. He could have ended their lives in the first heartbeat, but he chose not to. He wanted to savor the process, to toy with them until they broke.
It was a twisted hobby—but it was also the only reason the "mouse" still had a chance to win this game.
"How strange," Zaras mused, stroking his chin as a mountain of terrifying mana surged around him. "Previous humans usually understood the disparity the moment they saw me. Is there something wrong with your mana perception? Do you not realize you have zero chance of victory?"
By comparison, while Denken and Reed were elite human mages, their combined mana didn't even equal a quarter of Zaras's total.
"Mana growth requires years of dedicated cultivation. I have lived for nearly four hundred and fifty years. I have reached a realm that your short lives can never hope to touch. Knowing this, do you still refuse to surrender? If you drop your weapons and let me study you, I might even let you live."
"Do you say that to everyone before you kill them?" Reed asked, looking as though his ears were growing calluses from the boredom. If demons were capable of living without killing, the bloodshed would have stopped a thousand years ago. Every "human" word they spoke was originally learned for the sole purpose of deceiving and slaughtering mankind.
Seeing their undiminished fighting spirit, Zaras let out another eerie, hollow smile.
"I haven't met such peculiar humans in a long time. The three of you are truly fascinating. I want to understand you even more now."
"Three?" Reed blinked, confused.
Damn it.
Garlan realized that in his brief moment of shock, his focus had wavered, allowing a sliver of his presence to leak out. It was only for an instant, but this demon had caught it.
Reed looked around, wondering where this third person was, while Denken cast a subtle, silent glance toward the thicket. He had felt a pair of eyes on him since the start; now he knew for sure someone was there.
Garlan pushed aside the branches and stepped out into the clearing. He had considered running multiple times. He didn't think he could take on a Great Demon—a being likely capable of trading blows with the Seven Sages of Destruction. But he couldn't bring himself to walk away.
In the original timeline, Denken would be a major player in the Empire for decades to come. If he died here, what would happen to the world? The "City of Gold" arc might never happen; Denken's lifelong wish would go unfulfilled. Garlan couldn't predict the butterfly effect, and he didn't want to find out.
He stopped beside the two mages. He had been terrified moments ago, but now that he was standing in the open, a strange calm settled over him. His racing heart slowed. He was ready.
"Oh ho! It's getting crowded today," Reed whistled.
Garlan couldn't tell if the man was incredibly brave or just simple-minded. His nonchalance made Garlan feel like he had just joined a high-stakes poker game where the three of them were gamblers about to lose everything. But the currency on this table wasn't gold—it was their souls.
"Go."
Denken didn't waste words. Once again, he struck without warning. A violent wind erupted, forming a towering cyclone that trapped Zaras in its center. Sharp blades of air sliced through the space, shredding the terrain into a jagged mess of dust and debris.
This was an elemental spell Denken had unearthed from ancient Imperial records—a new direction of research favored by the "stodgy old men" at the magic academy. Human advancement in magic was relentless. Perhaps in a thousand years, everyone would be able to use it.
It was the era Flamme had once dreamed of.
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There's a few advance chapters on my P@treon
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