Chapter 164: Can't Escape
Alvin and the others were taken aback. Not even ten 10%? Zuzei was already connected to his Familiar, so there was no doubt Linfel was talking about their total amount of Magic Energy. What about Alvin? He was full! Milia still had around 60 to 70% left.
Zandel and Kefin were the only ones in a similar state to Zuzei, having around 10% of their magic Energy left. However, let's not forget that Zandel and Kefin were only at Level Four. For them to have a similar amount of Spiritual Energy to Zuzei after all this long pursuit already shows Linfel's training results.
Zuzei obviously heard those words, and his expression became even worse than when he lost his arm. He didn't know how that Familiar found out about his Magic Energy reserves. Even worse, the Familiar left, saying that this group of Levels Three and Four could deal with him because of that. "You seem to be underestimating me quite a bit, no? Is that because you took one arm? Hmph! Let's see how this is going to end after I finish with you all."
Fire Element immediately gathered as his Magic Energy spread and circulated in his body. Without holding back, he shot forward, this time aiming to take Alvin down in a single strike. Even if he had just one arm left, there was no way a Level Three Magus could resist his strike. He was also confident he was faster than Milia and Zandel.
Alvin wasn't any slower, though. His Earth Element gathered, and Magic Energy circulated. He crossed his arms, which became covered in an armor of rocks filled with Magic Energy, ready to receive the strike.
Milia and Zandel also acted, attacking Zuzei from behind, but he wasn't wrong when he thought he was faster than these Maguses and Familiar. He indeed was... or so he thought.
Suddenly, a faint smile appeared on Alvin's face as he stomped his fot on the ground. Who said that Alvin intended to defend? If anything, Alvin understood that he had the best attack opportunity at that moment. Zuzei would be focusing on Milia, Zandel, and their Familiars, afraid of their attacks.
*Zash!*
As soon as Zuzei was about to land his strike on Alvin, an earth pillar shot from the ground, aiming straight at his face. Zuzei could barely believe that. It wasn't like he didn't think Alvin could attack him. Instead, seeing that Alvin was only at Level Three and was an Earth Element user, he simply thought nothing Alvin did could be faster than himself. Little did Zuzei think Alvin could use his Magic Energy with such speed and precision. That went completely against what he knew about experts at Level Three.
Zuzei was still experienced, though. In that last split second, he turned his face to the side, and the earth pillar missed a point-blank hit. However, Alvin didn't completely miss it. The Earth Pillar opened a huge wound on Zuzei's face right side.
It didn't all end there, though. Because Zuzei was forced to give up the attack to not plunge his face into the Earth Pillar, he didn't have time to think about anything else. He simply drained as much Magic Energy as possible from his core and once again created the Magic Energy barrier on his back, expecting Milia and Zandel's attack to arrive right after.
Too bad, though. Milia and Zandel positioned themselves a few meters away, seemingly waiting for something. That Magic Energy barrier turned out to be useless.
'Not good!'
Only then did he understand. Yes! Since he didn't land his strike against Alvin, that meant Alvin didn't go anywhere else. In fact, Alvin wasn't truly intending to defend himself from the very start. When he summoned the Earth Pillar, he already uncrossed his arms, actually revealing his usual Earth Fist Spikes that he was so used to fighting with.
*Bang!*
*Pft!!*
Alvin bellowed as his Earth Spike Fists landed against Zuzei's chest, opening two big holes before Alvin used the attack strength to send Zuzei flying.
Zandel and Milia were waiting for exactly that. Well, truth be told, only Milia was. Zandel just followed Milia to see what she was planning to do when she didn't attack Zuzei. Seeing Zuzei flying straight at them and with big injuries, everything became clear to him.
Milia's Flame Sword and Zandel's Wood Element immediately acted. Both of them landed another two attacks on the now unprotected Zuzei. Milia aimed her sword strike at Zuzei's Familiar, who had the shape of a belt, while Zandel aimed at Zuzei's other arm, pulling it apart!
*Arrrrrghhhh!!!*
The Belt was easily cut while Zuzei's last arm separated from him. His body fell right in between Milia and Zandel, who were ready to give the final strike.
"Stop!"
However, Alvin quickly arrived, blocking the two. "If you kill him, we are going to become killers. We won't be able to return to the city anytime soon."
Only then did Milia and Zandel stop. Indeed, it wouldn't be the end of the world to become a killer, but that would severely limit their movements.
"Understood," Milia nodded. "Now, get out of the way. I know what to do."
Alvin sighed in relief and pulled his Earth Fist Spikes back.
Then, Milia's Flame Sword moved.
*Swish!*
Experience tales at m v|l e'm,p| y r
*Arrrghhh!*
Zuzei screamed even more, taking Zandel and Alvin aback. However, they immediately understood. When Zandel used his Vines to pull Zuzei's arm away from his body, part of it still remained. Milia used her Flame Sword to cut that off as well. She wasn't trying to kill Zuzei, nor was she torturing him. Instead, Nori was a Flame Sword, and those flames instantly cauterized the injury, stopping the bleeding. If she hadn't done that, Zuzei would eventually bleed to death.
Zuzei's belt then began to change shape, returning to his Core Form. He was very feeble, and a crack could be seen on the core. When Linfel said Zuzei didn't have much Magic Energy remained, he wasn't kidding. Zuzei had even used all of his Familiar Magic Energy, so he couldn't keep his belt form anymore. Even if he did, when Milia cut it, she already limited the Familiar's strength while connected to Zuzei.
*Shin!*
Milia thrust her sword right beside Zuzei's ear, not giving him time to focus on his pain. "You have two choices. One, we will pin you to the wall and make sure you can't move. Even if there are pretty much no Magic Beasts in this place, one is bound to appear sooner or later. As long as it kills you, that won't count as our kill."
"Two," Milia continued, "give us your cards. We know you have your own. Do that, and we will just leave. At least, you will have the chance to crawl back to the surface on your own. Simply put, your life, or your cards. Choose!"
Zandel and Alvin looked at that and felt a chill on their back. The woman was savage!
---
Meanwhile, Linfel found what he was looking for. "Hehe! As if I would let my beloved cards escape that easily." Linfel had now caught up to those three Level Four Maguses who were initially pursuing his group!