Chapter 81 - Impasse
In an instant, magical elements rose from the square. Magic runes were scattered among the brilliant lights and shadows and various magic spells collided with one another, sparking off dazzling sparks in the Daylight Square.
“President Gerian, the situation doesn’t seem good. Do you think Felic would have…” The Mannes Family was the first to swing to the Guild of Magic. The battle in the middle of the square was heart-wrenching to watch for Ysera. There was worry in the young patriarch’s voice as he watched the various spells released by Cromwell raging on wildly while Lin Li could only struggle for survival with an Elemental Shield.
“What would have? Open your eyes wide and watch. In less than a minute, Felic will kill that idiot Cromwell!” Gerian glared at Ysera, but his heart was in flames. Coming to tell me something doesn’t look good in this critical moment. You’re a f*cking crow, aren’t you?
“Gerian, what’s the use of losing your temper here? The situation now is clear even to a blind man. Your mage, Felic, won’t be able to hold out for long.”
Old Merlin’s lukewarm voice fell into Gerian’s ears and immediately angered him. “Matthew, you fool. I don’t want to argue with you, but you’d better keep your mouth shut. Don’t make me angry, or your tortoise shells may not be able to protect you.”
Aaron Matsis, who was sitting below them, felt chills on his back when he heard the words “tortoise shells”…
“Gerian, there’s no point in shouting here. Strength is strength. There’s no use getting angry.”
In the middle of Daylight Square, Cromwell had taken the absolute advantage. A large number of low-level spells formed an elemental storm, devouring the faint halo of the Elemental Shield. After a long period of forbearance, they were finally yielding some good results today. Old Merlin was in high spirits, such that he could not even care about the insults between Gerian’s words.
Cromwell’s advantage was simply too great. The continuous magic strikes had shaken the Elemental Shield that Lin Li had just erected. If it hadn’t been for the previous Mana Retroaction to delay time, he would have been hit directly by Cromwell’s spells.
Cromwell laughed wildly in the blaze of magical light. The endless elemental storm seemed to have served as an outlet for him to vent all the humiliation he had gotten in the past month. The feeling was simply delightful. He even hoped for his opponent’s Elemental Shield to collapse slower so that he could enjoy the destruction process to his heart’s content…
Looking only at the current situation of the duel, perhaps even Gerian had to admit that Lin Li had sunken into an impasse.
It was an overwhelming dominance, with no strength to fight back at all.
At the beginning, he could use auxiliary magic spells to fight back. But after Cromwell had set up a mental protection field and unexpectedly consumed two scrolls, Lin Li had no chance to deliver his strikes anymore. The only thing he could do now was to constantly switch between Ice Armor and Elemental Shield, and occasionally delay time with the Mana Retroaction of the previous spell. Otherwise, he could only watch Cromwell unleash the spells one by one, letting them shine brilliantly upon contact with the Elemental Shield.
“Boom!” Another fireball exploded on the Elemental Shield. The impact of the huge force sent Lin Li a dozen steps back.
The flames were burning all around, and the light on the Elemental Shield was dim. In the midst of the burning flames, Lin Li seemed to hear a shrill piercing sound tearing through the air.
The collapse of the Elemental Shield and the Mana Retroaction of the Ice Armor Spell all happened within the cooldown time. Lin Li could only watch helplessly as the wind blade cut through his leg…
“Tchh!” There was only a slight sniffle, and then Lin Li felt a tingle in his leg, followed by a sharp pain. His right leg seemed to lose its strength suddenly, and he knelt down weakly on the square…
Cromwell emerged from the flames and stared at Lin Li, who was kneeling on the ground. His face was filled with the satisfaction of successful revenge. The smile on his face was distorted and ferocious in the light of the fire, like a venomous snake eyeing its prey.
“Long time no see, Mage Felic. Hahahaha…” In the midst of his frenzied laughter, Cromwell shot out another wind blade. And this time, the target was Lin Li’s left leg.
Then there was only a splatter of blood and Lin Li lost the support of his left leg. He was like a wooden stake, falling to the ground with a plop.
There were gasps of surprise from above the stands. It was obvious to everyone, including Castellan Isaac and the host of rich businessmen and celebrities, that the outcome of the duel had been decided. Many of them had expected the young pharmacist from the Guild of Magic to win instead of Cromwell.
At this point, the chips were down. Old Merlin stood up proudly, applauding towards the middle of the square where Cromwell stood. Out of the corner of his eyes, he glanced—unintentionally or intentionally—at Gerian. “I’ve already said, there’s no use getting angry. Strength is strength!”
Hearing Old Merlin’s annoying applause, Gerian’s face was already livid as he was trying to hold his emotions in.
But even Gerian, who had infinite confidence in Lin Li, had to admit at this point that the outcome of the duel in the square had been decided. The gap between the two levels was irreparable. The reason why Cromwell had yet to kill Lin Li was just so that he could enjoy the fun of a cat catching a mouse.
“Castellan Isaac, if the Guild of Magic admits defeat, will it end this duel?”
Almost everyone thought they had misheard it when Gerian uttered the sentence. Is this really Gerian from the Guild of Magic? That Gerian, who never bowed down to any force even in the most desperate days of the Guild of Magic?
Gerian could only smile bitterly in face of the surprised looks from everyone.
How could he not see with his vision that the chips had been down for duel in the square? The only difference was Felic’s life and death. There might still be a chance if he admitted defeat; if he did not, then Felic would no doubt die.
They had been together for more than a month. Even though they made no difference between the senior and junior when they talked to each other, in Gerian’s heart, he had regarded this young mage as his own nephew. He couldn’t just watch him die.
In order to save him, Gerian even lay down his dignity and bowed down to the Merlin Family for the first time.
However, Isaac’s reply was exceptionally cruel. “I’m very sorry, President Gerian. I have to uphold the fairness of the duel. A request to end the duel must be agreed upon by both sides. Which means… If Chief Matthew agrees…”
“Gerian. If you kneel before me, I might consider your request…” Old Merlin roared with laughter, relishing the fun of teasing Gerian. He had not enjoyed the pleasure of Gerian bowing down in front of him for a long time. Ever since the battle outside the Emerald Tower, the Guild of Magic had been above the Merlin Family. From then on, Gerian had been taking the initiative in the confrontation between the two of them.
“You…” Gerian stared fixedly at Old Merlin, who was laughing away. It almost seemed that flames were about to burst from his eyes. He had even released a trace of mana a moment ago, wanting to blast a fireball at Old Merlin’s repugnant smiling face.
But at the next moment, he saw Lin Li’s bloody legs, and Cromwell who was closing in on him. The trace of mana that Gerian released vanished without a trace and the furious expression on his face gradually turned to hesitation…
Cromwell’s face was full of satisfied smile. “Mage Felic, can you still stand?”
“Come over and see for yourself…” Lin Li tried to squeeze out a smile on his face, but it accidentally touched a wound, making the smile look unusually unsightly.
At the same time, a trace of mana was directed into the Torrent of Elements Ring. Lin Li only needed to magnify this mana and the ring would create a channel in an instant, guiding the impending magical elements into the ring.