Chapter 1363: Taking off The Mask

The battle raged on, and while the others were preoccupied dealing with the scattered mages, Raze stood quietly, watching.

Magic was unpredictable , layered with complexity and variety, and Raze believed this was the perfect chance for the group to gain real combat experience. It was better they learned how to handle mages now, rather than in a moment that truly mattered.

Just like Pagna warriors, who often relied on formations and synchronized techniques in group combat, mages were no different. In fact, they were even more inclined to fight as coordinated units… unless they were outliers , incredibly powerful individuals, like the Grand Magus himself.

The diversity of magical skills made these mages slippery opponents. They were experts at evasion and maintaining distance, using their magic to stall, distract, and delay. But what made them dangerous now wasn’t just their spells , it was desperation.

The group had to go all out to ensure the safety of the students. If the mages started losing confidence in their power, they’d resort to more reckless, desperate tactics, including taking hostages. That was the nightmare scenario Raze wanted to avoid at all costs.

So, as his allies fought to keep the battlefield under control, Raze turned his full attention to the one leading this magical assault.

The head mage.

Clearly the one coordinating the attacks, his aura was stronger than the rest, and his posture exuded authority. He smirked as he stepped forward.

“For a student, you sure know how to talk big,” the head mage spat.

Then, without warning, he slammed both hands onto the ground. A surge of electric energy exploded from the point of contact, rushing toward Raze like a flash flood.

It was a paralysis spell, a setup for something deadlier to follow.

But Raze didn’t flinch. He calmly lifted his foot and stomped the ground. A pulse of Qi radiated outward from his heel, one of the Descending Steps.

The wave of Qi ripped through the incoming electricity, completely dissipating it into harmless mana particles before it could reach him.

Qi versus mana, two distinct energies. And while mana could shift its form and adapt to elemental affinities, when raw strength and control came into play, the stronger force would always devour the weaker.

Raze’s Qi was overwhelming.

The mage stared, wide-eyed.

“What… what kind of magic can cancel out a spell like that?” he asked.

“You’re a Six-Star Mage,” Raze replied coldly. “But you’re nothing like the others I’ve faced. You thought your magic alone would be enough to beat me… so let me show you something.”

Raze crouched slightly, then mirrored the mage’s earlier move , he pressed his palm against the ground.

From his hand, a surge of lightning burst forth, replicating the exact same paralysis spell the head mage had cast moments before , only stronger. Much stronger.

The mage’s body convulsed as the current engulfed him. His eyes widened in disbelief.

‘What is this power…? Am I imagining things, or is this student’s magic even more powerful than mine? No. That’s impossible. There’s no way… someone like him should exist.’

Using what strength remained, the head mage managed to force mana through his body, electrifying his limbs and forcing the paralyzing spell to break , lightning coursing outward from within him like a human storm.

But as the smoke cleared, Raze had vanished.

“Down,” a voice whispered.

Before the mage could react, a hand gripped his shoulder and shoved him hard into the ground. The impact was brutal , both knees bent in unnatural directions with a sickening crack. He screamed as his body was forced to the ground, unable to fight back.

It was like being slammed by a titan.

Raze stood over him, his eyes calm and deadly.

“Oh,” he said casually, looking at the protruding bone jutting from the mage’s leg, “looks like part of the bone broke through. We don’t want that becoming an issue, do we?”

He held out his hand, fire sparking to life in his palm. Without hesitation, he pressed it against the wound.

The fire hissed as it seared the flesh, cauterizing the injury instantly. The mage let out a piercing scream before collapsing backward, half-conscious from the pain.

“I hope you’re not foolish enough to use your Breakthrough,” Raze said, voice low. “Because this fight… it ended a long time ago.”

Around them, the battlefield had quieted. The fighting was over.

The rest of the mages had been dealt with , either slain or incapacitated, too injured to continue. Beatrix had lowered the platform using her powers, bringing the students safely back to the ground.

The worst of it was over. For now.

But a tension still hung in the air , a dangerous silence between Raze and the battered head mage.

“What have you done?!” the mage suddenly roared. “Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?! Don’t you know who we are?! Aren’t you afraid of what the Dark Guild will do when they find out?!”

His voice echoed across the ruined battlefield.

“They won’t care that you’re part of the Academy,” he continued. “They’ll destroy you, all of you!”

“Afraid of the Dark Guild?” Raze replied with a mocking smirk. “Why would I fear the Dark Guild after what just happened here? If anyone should be retaliating… wouldn’t it be the Cerberus Guild? Or maybe the Grand Magus himself?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the mage growled. “But if you lay another hand on me, the Dark Magus will come for you. You know how terrifying that man is.”

Raze let out a short laugh , quiet, but unsettling.

“You’re right,” he said, slowly walking over. “I do know how terrifying that man can be.”

Then, without warning, Raze placed his hand on the mage’s face.

The mage froze.

What was he doing? Was he about to kill him? No , he’d already said he would keep him alive. So what kind of magic was this?

Moments passed. The glow around Raze’s hand faded.

He pulled his palm away.

“Safa!” Raze called out. “Heal his legs. As I said before , he’s coming with us. He’s our proof of who’s really behind all of this.”

Safa arrived quickly, her Lux Spear glowing at her side. She didn’t hesitate, her healing magic flowing effortlessly as she tended to the man’s shattered legs. She was precise , healing only what was needed. His other injuries remained.

Then Dame stepped in, carefully lifting the mage and hoisting him over his shoulder.

“That’s… that’s Bronto,” Luka whispered from behind, stunned.

Several of the others recognized the name.

And yet, not a single one of them seemed surprised.

****

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