Infinite Mage — Chapter 183: Reversal of the Law (3)

Chapter 183: Reversal of the Law (3)

“Shall⁠‌ I go in?”‌⁠‍

“No.‍‍ The Nor use‌ natural harmony abilities.‌ They are at⁠‍ a disadvantage in‍‌ confined spaces. They‌⁠ know this and⁠‌⁠ are luring us‌‍ in.”

The⁠ captain used his⁠ Schema ability to‌ shout, making the‍‌ cave echo.

“If‌⁠‍ you don’t come out immediately, you’ll face severe consequences!‌ I’ll count to⁠ three!”

His‌ subordinates drew their⁠ bows and nocked⁠ arrows.

Although‍ not explosive like‍‌ an Arc, arrows‍⁠ propelled by Schema’s‍⁠ strength could pierce‌⁠ even rocks. If‌⁠ they fired into⁠ the cave, there⁠‌ would be no‌‍ escape from the‌‌‍ barrage.
“One!”

The⁠ cave remained silent.⁠‍

“Two!”‌

The⁠ captain’s face twisted‌‌ in frustration. Were⁠‍‍ they planning to‌‌ die?

The⁠‌ only thing the‌⁠ Nor could do‍ was use earth‌ magic to block the cave. But⁠ that wouldn’t last⁠⁠ long and would⁠‍‌ cut off their⁠‍ escape route.

“Three!”

A red dot appeared‍‍ on the captain’s⁠‍ forehead.

Something shot out from‍ the cave, and‍‌ the captain instinctively drew his sword‌⁠ to block it.⁠

But⁠ before he realized‍ what it was,‍ the projectile exploded.‍⁠

“Damn‍ it…!”

With‍ a loud explosion,⁠ a fireball engulfed‍ the captain.

The⁠ blast also affected‍‌ his subordinates, causing the startled horses‌‍ to rear and‌⁠ buck wildly.

At‍ that moment, Shirone’s‌‍⁠ group dashed out‌‌ of the cave.⁠⁠‌

The‍⁠ captain, fallen from‌‍ his horse, glared⁠⁠ at them, his‍⁠ body smoking. He‌⁠ stood up, planting‍ his sword in‌ the ground, and⁠⁠⁠ shouted, looking at‌⁠ the chaotic scene.‌

“They‌ are with the Mecha tribe! Don’t‍ let them escape!”

They had been chasing‍‌ the Nor and‌⁠⁠ hadn’t expected the Mecha tribe to⁠⁠ be involved.

Shirone‍‍ had used this⁠ blind spot to‌ their advantage.

Their⁠ plan had worked.‌ Kanya and Rena‌ had waited for the pursuers, timing⁠‍ their Arc shots⁠⁠ to create an‌‍ escape opportunity.

“There⁠ are too many⁠‍ enemies! Find us‍ a narrow path!”‌ Shirone called out.‌‌

Kanya‍ checked the terrain⁠⁠⁠ with the drone⁠ and adjusted their‌‌ direction.

The‍‌ pursuers fired arrows.‌⁠‍

Even‌‌ at a hundred meters, the arrows⁠‍ flew straight, barely‍ missing Shirone’s group.⁠

Clove‍ turned around in⁠⁠ frustration.

“I’ll‌ buy us some⁠⁠ time!”

“No!‌ Just keep running!”⁠

“But we need to⁠ save face for‍‌ the Nor!”

Clove‌ dipped his hands‌‍ into the shallow‌ water and cast‌ the ancient magic,‍⁠ Sheaving.

The‌‌ stream began to⁠‍ freeze, turning white⁠⁠ as it did.⁠

Crack!⁠⁠

The‍ sound of freezing‍‌‌ water echoed through⁠‍ the canyon, and pillars similar to‌ those seen in‍⁠‍ the cave rose‌‍‌ from the icy‍ surface.

Even‍ while running, Shirone‌‌‌ watched this spectacle.‌‍

The⁠‌ scale of the‌ ancient magic, harnessing‌ the power of⁠ nature, was far⁠⁠ greater than he had anticipated. The‌‍ stream froze, and‌‍ numerous pillars obstructed⁠ the view, preventing‍‍ the horsemen from⁠ advancing.

A loud cracking sound‌‍‍ followed as the‌‌⁠ ice shattered.

The group’s faces turned pale. The pursuers‍‌ had abandoned their‌ horses and were‍‌‌ smashing through the⁠‌ ice pillars with⁠ swords and fists,⁠⁠ closing in on them.

“Are‍⁠‍ the Nor and‌ Mecha colluding? How‌‌ typical of heretics!”‍‌

Kanya⁠‌‌ aimed her Arc‍ and shouted.

“We‌ are divine subjects!‍ You have no‌ right to interfere‌‍ with fellow divine‌‍ subjects!”

The‍‌ moment she released⁠ the handle, the‍ Arc’s projectile shot‌⁠ forward.

A warrior wielding a longsword cleaved the‌‍ projectile in half.‍ Moments later, two‍ fireballs exploded behind⁠‍ him.

“Those‍ who defy the‍ law will be⁠⁠ beheaded! We are the first chosen⁠ by the gods!”‌⁠

The⁠‍ Kergos pursuit squad‌ brandished their weapons‍⁠ and roared.

Their‍ appearance was unlike⁠⁠ the Kergos civilization‌‌ Shirone had seen⁠ in his world.‌⁠‍ Their luxurious armor‍ and extravagant accessories‍⁠‌ marked them as‌ nobles among the‍‌ divine subjects.

Shirone,‌⁠ running alongside Kanya,‍ asked.

“Why⁠‌ are they acting⁠ like this? Aren’t‌‍‌ we all divine⁠‍⁠ subjects? Why are⁠ they fighting us?”

“It’s⁠⁠ heretic hunting. They are the most⁠‍‌ devout among the⁠‍‍ divine subjects. That‌‍ makes them arrogant‍ and hostile to‍ other divine subjects.‍‌ It’s best not‌ to get involved‌‍ with them.”

Shirone‍ fell silent. They‍‍ were already deeply⁠ involved.

“Annoying‌⁠ as they are,‍ they’re strong because they use the⁠‌ Giants’ techniques. In‍‍ Purgatory, anything goes.‌ If they catch‍ us, we won’t die easily.”

The‌ distance between the‌‌⁠ pursuers and them⁠ was closing.

Every⁠‍ single one of‌ the pursuers used Schema, and Shirone’s‌ group had an⁠ injured Gardrock.

Gardrock‌⁠ shouted to Clove.‍

“Clove!⁠⁠ Cast Aeos!”

“It’s‌ too dangerous! You’re‌ injured!”

“We’ll die like this⁠ anyway! Hey, we’ll‍ go ahead!”

Gardrock‍ cast the wind magic, Aeos. As‌ he floated up,‍ Clove followed with‌ the same magic.⁠

Shirone⁠ recalled the Fly spell when seeing‌ Aeos. If it worked similarly, maintaining‌ balance in the narrow canyon would‌ be challenging.

As⁠‍ expected, the two‍⁠ of them wobbled‍ the higher they⁠ went. They seemed⁠ about to crash into the cliffs at any moment.

Without‍ them, there was⁠ no way to‌ reach Nor’s Haven.⁠⁠ Shirone knew they⁠‌ had to be‍⁠‌ saved and communicated with his friends.‌⁠

-Take⁠‍ one person each! Let’s use teleportation!‍⁠

Canis⁠⁠ wanted to use‍‍ Dark Port, but‌⁠‌ with four mages needing to move⁠ two Mecha tribe members and two‍ swordsmen, they had‍ to opt for⁠ the Photonic Transformation‍ spell.

Amy‌ grabbed Tess, and‌ Shirone took hold‌‌ of Rian. Canis‍‌‌ and Arin each‍ gripped Kanya and‍ Rena’s hands.

Meanwhile,⁠‍‍ the pursuers closed‌ in.

The leading Kergos soldier raised his sword⁠‍ from horseback. The‍⁠ silver longsword came‌‌‍ crashing down towards⁠⁠ Shirone’s head like⁠ a bolt of‍‍ lightning.

At⁠‌ that moment, Shirone’s‌‌⁠ group transformed into⁠ beams of light‌‌ and soared upwards.⁠‌

Gardrock⁠‌ and Clove nearly⁠‌ lost their spells⁠ in shock.

Not only had they⁠‍ created light, but‌ they had become⁠⁠ light, moving the Mecha tribe members‍‍ with them, a feat unimaginable in⁠⁠‌ Heaven.

At‌‍ least, by human‍⁠ standards.

“How‌ can they use light magic without borrowing the power‍‍ of nature?”

Ancient magic always required‌‍⁠ the power of‌‍ nature. Among the⁠ elements, light was‌ the most difficult.‌

Light‌ is a weak⁠ and dispersed force. Even ancient magic⁠⁠ that borrowed nature’s‌ power had trouble‍ focusing light.

Nor⁠ could only use⁠‌ light magic where⁠ there was a Shining Spot.

Clove felt troubled.

In‍ a flash, Shirone’s group, using teleportation, caught up with‌‍ the rising Gardrock⁠ and Clove, defying‍‍‌ his expectation of‌‌⁠ the mock beings‌‌ as worthless and⁠ incompetent.

Clove‍‌ had thought Shirone’s‍⁠‌ Shining spell merely‌ transferred light from⁠‍ a Shining Spot.‌‍⁠ But they produced⁠‍‌ light from their‌ bodies.

As‌‌ far as he‍‍⁠ knew, only one entity in Heaven,‌‌ aside from Ra,‌⁠ could control light.‌⁠

Arin,‌⁠⁠ reading the Nor’s⁠ emotions, conveyed through the mental channel.⁠

-The⁠‌ Nor don’t know teleportation magic.

Amy⁠ scoffed.

-Of‌ course not. The‌⁠ theory of photonic⁠ transformation is one‍⁠‍ of the greatest‍⁠‍ discoveries in magic‌⁠⁠ history, even in⁠ our world. They‍ underestimate the geniuses of the land⁠‌ of the earth.⁠⁠

Amy‍⁠ felt proud of⁠ being born in⁠ the land of‌ the earth.

But‌ the Kergos of⁠ Heaven were formidable‍ too. They were⁠⁠‌ using external force‍⁠ to run vertically‍⁠ up the cliff.⁠‍⁠

Amy‌⁠ lay horizontally and‍ fired a Fire⁠⁠‍ Strike.

Seeing‌ the incoming flames,‍ the pursuers split‌‍ left and right.‌‌ They circled the⁠‌ cliff and closed⁠ the gap with‌⁠‌ Shirone’s group.

-Damn!‌‍ They’re persistent!

-Let me try.

Arin⁠ extended her tentacles‍ and attempted Mind⁠⁠‌ Control.

Most of the pursuers‌ resisted, but one‍‍ fell under her spell. The controlled⁠ warrior swung his‌⁠‍ sword at his⁠ comrades, disrupting their⁠‌ formation.

“You⁠ fools!”

The‌‌⁠ captain, watching from‍ below, wrinkled his⁠ nose. He took‍ a deep breath⁠⁠ and roared at‌ the cliff.

It‍‌ was a Schema technique, Howling.

“Awooooooo!”‍⁠

The‌ reverberations of the Howling hit the‍ mages, breaking the‍‌ Nor’s Aeos.

Shirone⁠‍ concentrated, enduring the⁠‍ shock. The technique shook his mind.

He⁠ cast teleportation to‌⁠ save the falling‍‍ Gardrock. As he⁠‌ grabbed Gardrock, Amy⁠ flew in and⁠‍ caught Clove by the ankle.

She‌ cast the photonic‍‍ transformation spell to⁠‌ reset their inertia.⁠ Shirone descended with Rian and Gardrock,‍‌ followed by his‍ friends, who landed⁠‍ one by one.‌

“Damn‌‌‌ it! Howling is‍ always the problem. The Nor are⁠‌ a poor match‌⁠ against the Kergos.”‍⁠

Gardrock⁠ made excuses, embarrassed.‍ Apparently, the master‍⁠ and apprentice were⁠ not so different.

Then⁠ he wondered why‍‍ Shirone’s group was unaffected by the⁠ Howling.

“Hey,⁠‍‌ why are you‍‍ okay?”

Sometimes‍ naive questions are⁠ more irritating. Canis‌‌‍ replied gruffly.

“Do we look okay? Our heads are⁠‌ splitting.”

“Then‍‍‍ how did you‍ cast magic?”

“We‌ just endured it.‍ If this shakes⁠⁠ you, don’t call‍⁠ yourself a mage.”‌

Unlike‍ the Nor, who‌ borrowed nature’s power,⁠‌ the land of the earth’s magic combined omniscience and⁠‌ omnipotence. It was‍ a more complex‍‌ and demanding method.‌

However,‍‍ this inefficiently honed‌‍ focus strengthened their⁠ mental resilience.

Moreover, Shirone’s group had‌‌ many with special‍‍ abilities.

Mental‍ defenses were Arin’s‌ specialty, Amy was‌‍⁠ immune due to‍‌ her Inner Eye,‍ and Shirone had‍ an indomitable mental‍ fortitude comparable to‍ the Inner Eye’s‌⁠ effects.

Clove‌ landed face-first in⁠ the stream. Rising‍‌ in anger, he‌ glared at Amy.

“You!⁠ How dare you‌ slam me down?”‌

He‍ could no longer‍ tolerate her arrogance.‍‌‌ Despite her vile‍⁠ temperament, it had‌ a charm he‍‌‌ tolerated. But now,⁠‍ this mock being‍‍ had overstepped.

“I’ll‌ never forgive…!”

Clove‍‍‌ stopped, feeling a chill.

Amy’s⁠ eyes glowed red.⁠ Her expression as⁠ she glared at⁠ the pursuers was‍ ghostly cold.

Without‌⁠‌ turning her gaze,⁠‌‌ Amy spoke.

“Don’t‍ touch me during‌ battle. I’ll indulge‍‍‌ you later.”

Clove‌⁠ slowly turned his⁠‌ head. The Kergos‌‍⁠ pursuit squad was‍ approaching, eyes gleaming like predators.

Clove’s‌‌ face turned grim.‍‌

“It’s‍‌ over. We’ll be⁠ caught and tortured‍ to death…”

“Stop‍ whining and get‌ inside if you’re‍‍⁠ not fighting.”

Showing‌ weakness when already⁠‌ at a disadvantage‍ was counterproductive.

When Amy grabbed Clove’s‍ collar and pulled‍‌ him, his legs gave out, and⁠‍‍ he fell on‌⁠⁠ his butt.

This⁠‍ time, Gardrock didn’t⁠ care for his‌ apprentice. He was‌ too focused on⁠ Amy.

“Do⁠⁠‌ you have a plan?”

“I⁠‌ can’t be sure, but it looks⁠ like we timed‌‌ it right. Shirone,⁠ is everything ready?”⁠‍

“Yes,⁠‍ just barely.”

Gardrock‍ tilted his head⁠‍ in confusion.

“What are you talking‌‌⁠ about? Ready for⁠⁠ what?”

Shirone‍⁠‌ looked up at‍‌ the sky. His‌ Spirit Zone, a warped four-dimensional target,⁠‍⁠ reached into the⁠ sky. It took‍ time to transform⁠‍ into its unique‌‌ shape.

Without‌ touching anyone, Shirone‍ cast the photonic‍‌ transformation spell on⁠⁠ them all. This‍ was a magic‍ he had perfected⁠‌ at the cost‍‌ of his life‍‌‍ on the cliff⁠‌⁠ of the impassable⁠ bridge, known as‌‌ Mass Teleport.

“Hurry! They’re about to‌ escape again!”

The⁠ pursuit squad’s captain‌ urged his men⁠ forward. He took‌ a deep breath‌ and unleashed another⁠ Howling.

The‌⁠ roar swept over Shirone’s group. Gardrock‍⁠‌ and Clove winced,‍‍ but Shirone’s Indomitable‍ Mentality remained unshaken.‍ Compared to Marsha’s⁠‌ Sonic Cannon, this‍ was nothing.

Shirone‌ calmly watched the captain, then cast‌ Mass Teleport.

A bright flash engulfed⁠⁠ them, lifting the group to the‍ cliff top, where‌‌ the Spirit Zone⁠ connected.

“Damn!‌ Howling didn’t work!”‌

The pursuit squad captain‌ gritted his teeth,⁠⁠ fuming.