Chapter 305: That Light

“Everyone, jump off the carriage!”

After less than a few breaths of brief shock, Muen’s expression suddenly twisted. He grabbed Liya in his arms and leapt from the carriage.

The two of them tumbled across the ground locked together, scraping through shrubs and trees, and only with great difficulty did they finally stop.

Though thanks to Muen’s protection they hadn’t suffered any real injuries, Liya’s consciousness was still a bit woozy, at a loss.

But in the next instant, she heard a dull sound.

Like a slab of fresh meat still slick with blood, slammed hard onto a chopping board.

Along with it came the Dragonblood horses’ piercing, agonized screams.

Liya jerked her head up, and blood sprayed before her eyes. The Dragonblood horses, sprinting at high speed, had no time to halt and, without warning, crashed viciously into that invisible wall.

The massive inertia crushed the Dragonblood horses’ tough bodies—but they didn’t even have time to finish a proper wail before the special-magic-reinforced, rock-solid carriage behind them smashed into them squarely.

Then came the second carriage, the third carriage.

In that moment, Liya seemed to see those shoddy workshops in the Lower City—the scenes of processing the lowest-grade “steak” made by padding in other meats.

They say if you hammer it enough times, press it fine enough, you can’t tell what meat it ever was, or even whether it was good meat or bad.

“Ugh...”

The stench of blood stabbed her nose. Liya covered her small mouth as her stomach churned.

“Are you okay?”

Muen stood in front of Liya, blocking the gory sight. After a few soothing words, he looked to the others:

“Everyone all right?”

“All right.”

Senior Fanny and the others rubbed their hips as they crawled out of the shrubs. They too saw that bloody scene, and at the thought of what would have happened had they still been on the carriages, they couldn’t help a shiver. Appalled, they asked:

“What happened?”

“...Looks like we won’t be escaping so easily.”

Muen’s expression grew dark as he looked at that wall outline which, without Holy Light to reveal it, would be utterly undetectable.

Under the violent impacts of the carriages, faint golden runes flickered in and out, yet it still gave off a sense of being indestructible.

“We’ve been sealed by magic.”

Of course.

If the enemy had another formidable mage of unknown strength, why wait until now to use magic?

A mage’s true strength lies in how, with adequate preparation, their threat to the enemy multiplies severalfold.

So that mysterious mage was constructing her spell so brazenly now because, in her eyes, Muen and company had already fallen into a trap. No matter how they struggled, it would be futile.

“This is... a barrier-type spell. With a scope this large, the rank is at least Scintillant-tier or above!”

Vicky, adept at magic, came back to herself and rapidly analyzed the barrier before them—but as the analysis progressed, cold sweat beaded on her brow.

“Can you break it?” Fanny asked.

“...No. I’m not skilled enough.”

Despair crossed everyone’s faces.

A Scintillant-tier spell—Vicky, the most accomplished in magic among them, was two whole tiers lower at the Arcane-tier. If even she couldn’t do it, the others certainly couldn’t.

“What do we do now?”

All eyes fell on Muen again, as if clutching at a lifeline.

“...”

Muen lowered his head, thinking in secret.

He had many methods at present, but which could work in this situation, he wasn’t sure.

The biggest problem was still that time was too tight.

But regardless... they had to try.

Instinctively, Muen drew Elizabeth, the blade he handled most smoothly, and without much hope, slashed at the barrier before him.

“Heh.”

In that moment, Muen faintly heard a mocking chuckle.

From that ethereal silhouette within the cloud-mist.

As if laughing at his overestimation of himself.

But.

In the next instant.

With a hiss, an incomparably smooth sound rang out.

Before their incredulous eyes, the pure-white blade sank into the barrier—easily... like slicing tofu.

“...”

Muen froze.

The others froze.

Even the silhouette in the mist started in shock; the long chant faltered, like she’d suddenly choked on a breath.

Only Liya, staring at the pure-white blade, showed a hint of puzzlement on her small face...

“Right!”

Muen’s eyes lit up.

He’d nearly forgotten.

Though lately he’d been using Elizabeth to hack thugs, hack heretic believers, hack monsters, hack dried corpses, hack greenhouse flowers, making it seem nothing special—

These two short blades that resonated with his heart were, in truth... genuine top-grade Holy Artifacts!

Moreover, under Teacher Meladomir’s hand and a series of modding, they’d been given absolute “Sharpness” and inscribed with a special alchemical domain—top-grade Holy Artifacts!

So how could a mere magic barrier stop them?

“Sorry, Elizabeth. I’ve neglected you lately.”

“Once we reach the Holy City, I’ll book you the most premium maintenance package.”

“So—open for me!”

The pure-white blade hummed with spirit. Light flashed along the edge, and in an instant it carved a passage through the seemingly unbreakable barrier.

“Go!”

Muen urged them on. Fanny and the rest snapped back to their senses and, without hesitation, used their movement arts to dart through as fast as possible.

“Don’t even think about it!”

Just then, a sharp screech rang out. After that ethereal chanting, a second, utterly different low °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° chant suddenly arose.

Dual magical chanting!

The earth split open. Rock and trees trembled violently, as if some primordial behemoth were turning over underground. The ground before Muen reared up, forming a sky-sundering ridge to bar his advance!

At the same time, that descending spatial spell suddenly accelerated into a frenzy, intent on trapping Muen within.

“That’s transfer magic—we can’t let them succeed!”

“I know!”

Pink Bear, forced back again by Indra King, went mad as well. He thrust his bear paw into his gaping, black-hole-wide maw and quickly yanked out a tattered coronet dripping with blood, cocking it crookedly onto his head.

“Damn it—if the bear doesn’t rage, you really think I’m a herbivore?”

In an instant, blood-light billowed around Pink Bear. The roar of a mighty tide rose; a faint Blood Sea surfaced behind him.

He hefted his spiked club and smashed down.

Indra King’s expression shifted; he actually didn’t dare to meet it head-on. He coughed blood and staggered back in embarrassment.

Adolf seized the chance. The Starseeing Eye finally passed Indra King and fixed on the silhouette beyond the mist.

The stars flickered, dazzling bright.

Pssh.

Pssh.

Pssh.

Several bright flowers of blood blossomed. The mist was stained red.

The descending spatial magic cracked at once and, under the Starseeing Eye’s influence, rapidly collapsed like a sheet of glass smashed to pieces.

Seizing the opportunity, Muen’s back burned hot—time slowdown activated—and he cleaved open the ridge before him, striding toward the outside of the barrier.

“Classmate Muen! Hurry!”

In his sight, the worried faces of the others were reflected; urgent cries rang by his ears.

Just a few steps.

Only a few steps.

“Too bad—you’re late.”

A fierce gleam flashed in Indra King’s eyes; he sneered.

Ignoring the Pink Bear who had gone limp after a single outburst, he surged forward again, blocking Adolf.

Pale-red mist surged.

Chanting rose anew—

Listless, but tinged with malice.

The spatial magic had cracked, but not yet fully dissipated.

And to pin down an ant, you don’t need the whole pane of glass.

Shards will do.

With everything slowed, Muen watched that fragmented knot of warped space zero in on him precisely.

The passage lay right before him.

But there was nowhere to flee.

There was no absolute sense of death, which meant it wasn’t fatal—but that fierce tearing had already begun to sting his skin.

At the very least, it would probably cost him half his life.

“Didn’t expect that even with such caution, I’d still get hit.”

Muen sighed inwardly.

Still, it wasn’t over yet.

He didn’t know the enemy’s intent in using a transfer spell, but since he wasn’t dead yet, it was far from the end.

And, misfortune within misfortune, the layered scheme targeting him hadn’t involved anyone else.

From here on, let him face those unknown enemies alone.

As always.

So... that’s fine.

“Hmm?”

At the edge of his vision, an anxious, pretty face flashed by.

Just as that violent tearing began to burrow into Muen’s flesh, from within the pain he’d long since stopped caring about, Muen suddenly felt a familiar warmth enfold him.

The very same warmth he had held in his arms not long ago.

And... light.

Holy light.

“Holy Light... Protection!”