Slake didn't reply. He continued staring into the raging flames, his eyes sharp and unblinking.
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed from within the fire.
Slake's gaze hardened instantly.
"…Impossible," he muttered.
"How could he have survived our attacks head-on?"
Slake's younger brother clenched his fists, shock written all over his face.
"This isn't normal. We can't drag this out," Slake said grimly.
"Ivar, distract him. Cover me while I prepare [Sky Ablaze]."
"Understood, brother."
Ivar vanished from his position, reappearing to Blake's left. Without hesitation, he unleashed a barrage of fire spells, one after another.
In this world, mages did not chant endlessly. There was no need.
Once a mage cultivated a sutra, a mana circulation path was engraved into their body. That path regulated mana and allowed spells to be cast instantly.
A mage sutra didn't only define the path—it also contained spells compatible with it.
Those who cultivated the same elemental sutra could use each other's spells freely.
But if a mage of another element tried to force a spell outside their path, crippling backlash—or death—was the result.
Of course… exceptions existed.
Those with cheats.
Boom! Boom!
Blake was struck by the full barrage.
He didn't even flinch.
Phew…
I really thought I was done for a second.
If not for the suit's indestructible trait, he would've died on the spot.
This confirms it, Blake thought calmly.
They're both 4th rank or below. Otherwise, the suit would've taken damage.
A smile spread across his face beneath the armor.
Good. Then I don't need to fear them.
"Now, Ivar!"
"Sky Ablaze!"
Slake roared, firing a blazing arrow straight at Blake.
Swoosh!
The arrow streaked through the air and latched onto Blake's suit.
What kind of spell is th—
Whoosh!
BOOM!
Before Blake could finish his thought, the arrow slammed into the ground and expanded into a massive magic circle. From it erupted a pillar of fire so intense that the earth melted instantly, lava spreading as a towering inferno shot more than a hundred meters into the sky.
Far away—
"…That fire…"
"Isn't that Slake's Sky Ablaze?"
An old man muttered softly, staring toward the Rodrick family's direction while sitting atop a massive bear.
"Fufu… how interesting," a woman in a black dress whispered from her room, a veil hiding her face.
"To witness Sky Ablaze in this lifetime… how fortunate."
Her eyes gleamed.
"So the old monster is still alive. But for him to use that spell… something serious must've happened."
The pillar of fire illuminated the night sky.
People kilometers away stopped what they were doing.
Some were shocked.
Some were afraid.
Some were silent.
But all shared the same thought:
The Rodrick family's old monster… is still alive.
Inside the inferno, Blake stared at the message floating before his eyes.
"5 attacks blocked. 95 remaining."
"…What?"
"You're telling me this pillar counts as a 5th-rank attack?"
"That is correct, host," the system replied.
"The attack has reached mid-grade 5th rank and could easily kill an early-grade 5th-rank being. Five charges were consumed to block it."
Blake exhaled slowly.
"…Alright. First, let's get out of this pillar."
He began walking forward.
"This should've killed him," Ivar said, shielding Slake from the heat.
"After all, it's your strongest spell."
"In battle," Slake replied coldly, his face pale as his mana nearly ran dry,
"never assume victory until the enemy is confirmed dead."
"Yes, but no one has ever survived Sky Ablaze—"
"Is that so?"
The voice came from ahead.
Ivar froze.
He turned—and his blood ran cold.
A dark figure stepped out of the flames, completely unharmed.
"…It's time to settle the score," Blake said calmly.
Then—he vanished.
Blake activated the suit's camouflage and appeared silently behind Slake.
"Peek-a-boo."
"Huh—"
BAM!
Blake deactivated the camouflage and struck.
Slake was sent flying, smashing into a tree that snapped under the impact. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he crashed to the ground.
Holy hell…
That was just one punch.
"System," Blake asked mentally, "why did he spit that much blood?"
"Because he is effectively no different from a normal human right now," the system replied.
"That spell drained not only his mana but also most of his physical strength. In battle, this is fatal."
"…And I'm a high-grade 2nd-rank warrior," Blake muttered.
"That explains it."
He walked toward Slake, completely ignoring the frozen, terrified Ivar.
"Ugh…!"
Slake tried to rise—only to collapse, coughing up another mouthful of blood.
Blake stopped in front of him.
"Any last words?"
Just then—
"Senior… please wait!"
A voice rang out from behind them.