Chapter 62: Chapter 62: The Tide Turns
Chapter 62: Chapter 62: The Tide Turns
Magical energy trembled in the air as fireballs, wind blades, and other spells rained down on Borus Kendra, leaving the researchers observing from a distance stunned and filled with worry.
Chelse, Ace, and the others rushed forward, their blades and weapons slashing at Borus Kendra. Their strikes tore through his skin, and blood immediately began to flow.
For a brief moment, everyone was elated. After all, it was well known that mages were physically frail. Once a body-refining warrior closed in, it usually spelled certain death for the mage!
But just as Dean Bruce pressed his attack, he suddenly felt a chilling sensation down his spine, as if he had plunged into an icy abyss. Without hesitation, he dispersed the lightning from his fists and, with wind at his feet, quickly retreated while shouting, "Fall back, now!"
His instincts screamed that even Blood for Blood wouldn't be enough to withstand what was coming next!
The group froze, unsure of what Dean Bruce meant.
Weren't they gaining the upper hand? Why retreat?
Only Alita Miller trusted Dean Bruce fully. Even though she didn't understand why, she immediately backed away.
In the blink of an eye, the tide of battle shifted. In that brief moment of hesitation, blood suddenly erupted from Borus Kendra's body, shooting out like arrows aimed at the group.
Screams filled the air as the blood struck its targets. Wherever it touched, the skin instantly ignited, burning fiercely. Their flesh seemed to turn into fuel, feeding the flames. No matter how desperately they pounded at the fire or rolled on the ground, they couldn't extinguish it.
Seeing this, Lina Jones beat her wings, sending blue droplets of light down like rain toward the burning figures.
But before the droplets could reach them, Borus Kendra's eyes snapped open. In the next instant, the flesh of those caught in the flames exploded like bombs.
Blood rained from the sky, mingled with the stench of scorched flesh, leaving the survivors wide-eyed in horror.
"Run! Run for your lives!"
Panic broke out as they scrambled away, fear overriding any thought of attacking Borus Kendra. Their faces were pale with terror as they turned to flee.
Boom!
In the air above, the glowing book in Carol Lane's hands shattered violently. The backlash hit her hard, sending her plummeting to the ground, blood pouring from her nose and mouth in a horrifying spectacle.
Dean Bruce, retreating quickly, managed to catch the falling Carol Lane, putting enough distance between them and Borus Kendra.
"Agh! The pain!"
In the distance, Borus Kendra staggered as he broke free from the controlling spell. Shaking his head, he let out a low, menacing growl. "I never expected a group of lowly mages and grand mages to actually harm me. It's... truly unimaginable!"
"You, in particular," Borus Kendra said, his voice dripping with intrigue. "I can't sense any strong magical energy from you, yet you're able to cast spells instantly, and they're unexpectedly powerful. You managed to paralyze me, make even my insides feel pain!"
"You've piqued my curiosity. I swear, I will spare your life... so I can extract every one of your secrets."
After all their battles together, they had come to trust Dean Bruce completely.
"You seem so confident," Borus Kendra said with a grin instead of anger. "Let's see what kind of power you really have!"
"The fire in my heart will never be extinguished. It will turn into an eternal prison, trapping the guilty within! Prison of Eternal Flames!"
Chanting, Borus Kendra waved his left hand, and blood-red flames surged up from the ground, shooting toward the sky and encircling Dean Bruce and the others in a fiery barrier.
"Oh spirits of flame, turn into meteors, and unleash your blazing fury! Flaming Meteors!"
The moment Borus began chanting again, Dean Bruce instantly understood his plan.
Borus intended to trap them all inside the prison of flames and then wipe out the rest of the group right in front of him using a barrage of flaming meteors!
"Killing them to break me emotionally? Not a bad strategy," Dean Bruce mused with a smile. "But it's a shame—you won't succeed."
If Borus had targeted Dean alone, defending against the attack might have been a challenge. But because he was aiming at the others and casting a large-scale spell, its overall power would be spread out, making the individual damage weaker.
Dean Bruce's mastery, with his tenfold power and heightened understanding, was focused on defensive and support spells. Even with the wide gap in their levels, there was still a chance he could block the attack successfully!
Borus Kendra's expression darkened, his voice turning cold. "Talk is cheap. Let's see how many of these people you can actually save!"
"Flaming Meteors, unleash!"
At Borus's command, the gathered flames transformed into blazing fireballs, streaking through the sky like meteors, tracing graceful arcs as they descended toward Alita Miller, Lina Jones, and the others.
Everyone looked up as the fireballs rapidly grew in size within their pupils, filling them with dread. In their fear, they squeezed their eyes shut, not daring to watch. All they could do was silently pray that Dean Bruce would be able to protect their lives.
Footsteps echoed lightly as Dean Bruce walked forward, as if taking a casual stroll, heading straight toward the incoming flaming meteors.
He cast The Compassion of Heaven and Earth—the ground surged and shifted, transforming into towering earthen walls, enveloping the group in protective barriers.
A warm energy flowed through the air, replenishing their previously drained magical reserves. Even Lina Jones and Carol Lane's injuries began to heal at an astonishing rate.
"Defense... and restoration... a spell that combines both? Now that's intriguing." Borus Kendra narrowed his eyes, sensing the unique energies around him. Rather than interrupt the spell, he allowed himself a moment to study its effects, curious.
He was confident in his own power, so there was no rush and no fear in his mind.
However, at that very moment, a strange ripple of energy suddenly spread through the air.
In an instant, it was as if time itself had frozen. The flaming meteors descending from the sky, the raging flames of the Prison of Eternal Fire—everything came to a halt. Even the sounds of battle faded into eerie silence.
Both Dean Bruce and Borus Kendra's eyes widened in shock.
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