Kwaaaaaaang!!
A thunderous roar shatters the concrete, causing a torrent of rebar to burst forth from the crumbling wall.
The shattered and rusted metal spikes scatter in all directions, propelled by the force of the collapse.
Lennok, having orchestrated the situation to his liking, immediately unleashes a more potent magical strike.
Huuuuuung…!!
He takes a resolute step forward, extending his hand with determination.
The mana surging between his fingertips follows the path dictated by his unwavering will and vivid visualization, taking shape.
Swiftly, he reforms the remaining mana into a newly conjured cluster of sizzling blue lightning, suspended in mid-air.
[Lightning Bound]
Pazizizizizizik!!!
A sphere, sparkling intensely like dozens of concentrated bolts of magic, hurtles downward.
The sky darkens momentarily, transforming into a brilliant shade of blue as intense light and searing heat explode forth.
Paaaaaaaa!!
The rusted rebar responds vehemently to the electrifying onslaught, as the wave of blue currents illuminates the ground.
It is an expansive attack that is nearly impossible to evade unless one possesses great skill.
While Lennok had exercised restraint against the couple in the old Jeep earlier, these individuals are different.
Lennok harbors no intention of holding back against those directly involved in his mission, and he cannot afford to relax in the presence of those who initiated the assault by launching their car.
"………"
Although it surely hit its mark, nothing but an eerie silence fills the air, masked by the swirling sand dust.
Lennok waits patiently, exhaling a stream of smoke from his lit cigarette.
He doesn't anticipate their deaths from this attack alone, as it would complicate matters if they were to perish.
Without the blueprint, he would need to locate the broker named Madam through them.
And the life signs that reach Lennok's senses do not disappoint his expectations.
Kwaaaaaang!!
Like a mole tunneling through sand, Mount springs forth from beneath Lennok's feet amidst the twisted rebar, swinging his arm mightily.
In his grasp is a sword reminiscent of a sharpened awl.
The blue magical light emanating from the blade cascades like a flowing stream, directly colliding with Lennok's shield.
Woozizizizizik!!
Delivered with tremendous momentum, the strike breaches two layers of Lennok's shield and pierces through.
Its piercing power exceeds its outward appearance.
Sensing this at the moment of impact, Lennok swiftly retreats two steps and releases a shockwave of magic.
Bam bam!!
Simultaneously, he draws his revolver, taking aim at Mount's shoulders and firing a shot with each pull of the trigger.
Ta-tang!!
Yet, Mount effortlessly shrugs off the shockwave magic and evades Lennok's bullets by swaying his body, closing the distance even further.
"………"
Though concise, Mount's movements cause Lennok's gaze to turn cold, appraising the level of his opponent with a single counter.
It is no ordinary feat to deflect an almost imperceptible shock magic.
Moreover, Mount likely avoided the revolver bullets not because they posed a threat, but due to concern about the potential tricks Lennok might have up his sleeve.
The third shield is pierced, and the fourth begins to waver immediately.
The relentless onslaught from Mount's awl-like sword confirms his strength, comparable to the bandit-like man Lennok encountered at the harbor.
It is unlike the past, when Lennok could rely only on stacking five layers of shields to withstand any assault.
He feels the harsh reality of facing opponents of ever-increasing prowess.
Kwazizizizizik!!
The fourth shield is breached. If the fifth shield crumbles, Lennok will be left exposed without any protection, and the outcome becomes a matter of time.
Moreover, he cannot overlook the fact that Trisha has yet to reveal herself.
The crisis stemming from an ostensibly trivial request is extraordinary, but Lennok's expression remains as cold as ice.
Despite facing adversaries whose abilities increase with every mission, Lennok's resolve remains unwavering.
He will not deviate from his initial decision; he will press forward, unwavering.
The days of arduous magical research have also been undertaken with such moments in mind.
Ddak!
As he snaps his fingers, the shield, which had been valiantly resisting Mount's assault, trembles.
Wiiiiing!!
In an instant, it begins rotating around an invisible axis.
Kagagak!!
What initially appeared as mere trembling quickly escalates into a frenzied spin, as if powered by an engine, knocking Mount away in a moment.
The concentrated point of attack is disrupted, causing Mount's blade to lose its penetrating force and become misaligned.
‘I've long prepared a plan for when the shield fails.'
There was simply no opportunity to employ it back at the harbor.
The attack unleashed by the bandit-like man was not only meant to shatter the shield but also to bury Lennok in the ground.
Escaping the spot took precedence over rotating the shield.
Eventually, Mount, unable to break through Lennok's defense, hastily assesses his escape route and moves accordingly.
Only then does Lennok get a clear view of the weapon Mount wields.
It isn't a blade but a long awl resembling a drill.
A bright blue magical light seeps from the slowly rotating drill.
Uuuung..!!
With such a penetrating weapon, it must be capable of piercing the shield in an instant.
Mount's proficiency in handling such an unconventional weapon appears far from insignificant.
However, after the initial surprise attack fails, Lennok has no intention of granting a second opportunity.
"…Tch."
Observing Mount, who can't help but lick his lips and retreat, Lennok diminishes his mana and swings his arm.
Jjeojeojjeok…!!
The ground beneath Mount's feet freezes instantly, transforming into a white ice rink, while a wave of blue electricity washes over it.
Three foxes materialize from Lennok's hand, resounding fiercely in tandem with the electrical web, limiting Mount's range of movement, while auxiliary magic from Lennok's revolver fills in the gaps.
Tatatatang!!
Although firearms hold limited efficacy against superhumans, when each shot accumulates auxiliary magic and inflicts damage, the equation changes.
Blood spurts from Mount's thighs as the electrified web dulls and strikes him on the slippery ice rink.
A crack appears in his consistently calm expression for a brief moment.
Kwaang!!
A white object materializes out of thin air, shattering the ice rink crafted by Lennok and landing on the ground.
Lennok, poised to respond immediately and gathering mana, halts his movement upon witnessing it.
The appearance of the white object upon which Trisha is mounted is eerily hard to discern.
Resembling a deer, it consists of nothing but bones, devoid of any flesh or skin.
Trisha, atop this creature that defies conventional classification, emanates a mana infused with murderous intent as she glares down at Lennok.
"Do you think the blueprint will come easily when asked? Fuck that! Let's see who falls first!!"
Threads extend from Trisha's hands, attaching to the skeletal body of the deer, and it charges towards Lennok without delay.
Dudududu!!
The sheer weight felt from a distance, not to mention the speed, is extraordinary.
Despite being smaller than the old car he encountered earlier, the overwhelming aura of oppression emanating from its approach is even more intense.
Lennok harbors no intention of standing idly by.
He casts [Gravity Bind] and attaches it to the deer's front hoof, yanking it downward.
Whoosh!!
As expected, the deer's weight is significantly heavy, causing its movements to visibly slow as soon as gravity takes hold.
Perhaps Trisha hadn't anticipated her actions being hindered by a single spell, but regardless, the situation remains unchanged.
Lennok senses the deer's struggle to exert its energy, to break free and charge at him.
He has a good idea as to why Trisha is behaving so defiantly.
Manipulation-type magic often requires precise control, and even the slightest change in the external environment can disrupt the spell.
By directly pressuring Lennok, Trisha aims to break his magic altogether and bring an end to the fight.
However, that strategy can only work under the assumption that Lennok is also a Manipulation-type wizard like herself.
And in the opposite scenario, the same rule can easily be applied to Trisha.
There's no need to wait any longer at this distance.
Lennok extends his mana, as if seizing hold of space itself, gripping and contorting all of Trisha's extended mana.
Interfering with the mana when dealing with a wizard.
Creak!!
Interfering with Manipulation-type magic, which relies on delicate control and directly affects the execution of spells, proves less challenging than anticipated.
Crash!!
With the Manipulation magic disrupted, the body of the white bone deer disintegrates, as if its joints have vanished.
Among the myriad fragments of bone raining down, even Trisha appears astonished, unable to believe her eyes.
Once mobility is lost, there can be no battle.
Lennok thrusts his mana upwards, infusing it with three lightning strikes, and vigorously swings his five fingers.
Sparks of magic dance between his knuckles, illuminating the night air. Simultaneously, Trisha's car, pushed back by the initial collision, charges forward, headlights flickering, aiming for its fallen owner.
Crash!!
"Ugh…!!"
A pained groan is heard, but despite the impact from a car weighing over a ton, Trisha's composure remains intact.
The moment the bone deer disintegrates, she swiftly employs Manipulation-type magic, transforming the bone fragments into a large bone shield, mitigating the blow.
Lennok's eyebrows twitch upon witnessing her swift and precise mana control abilities.
For the first time, he fails to land a follow-up attack despite interfering with mana.
It is evidence of Trisha's exceptional mana control and adaptability in response to the situation.
With his guard raised high, Lennok quickly draws his revolver from his waist and pulls the trigger.
[Aiming Correction]
[Fire Acceleration]
[Rapid Fire Enhancement]
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!!
Six bullets are discharged in rapid succession, emptying the chamber of the revolver.
But in that brief time, Mount swiftly positions himself in front of Trisha, intercepting half of the bullets, while the remainder lose their potency, seeking refuge behind the crumbling bone shield to avoid damage.
"………."
Even as an observer, one can discern their flawless coordination.
These skilled individuals are rare among freelancers, true veterans.
As Lennok calmly reloads the bullets into the cylinder, his gaze remains fixed on his adversaries.
The two individuals who have realized that Lennok is no ordinary wizard stare back at him with piercing eyes.
"Trisha, focus," Mount says, exhaling slowly.
"That guy, he's a monster."
"Damn it… I know," Trisha responds, wiping the cold sweat trickling down her forehead, her voice trembling.
"We have to kill him here. We can't escape a second time."
"……Right."
Mount's reply is curt as he begins to advance cautiously.
Meanwhile, Trisha, having widely deployed her mana, instinctively begins reconstructing the fallen bone fragments behind her, creating something.
Vroooo!!!
In response, Lennok subtly manipulates his mana once again.
‘…It reminds me of the time at the pharmaceutical company warehouse.'
It's another 2-on-1 scenario, facing both the vanguard and rearguard forces.
Although the situation is familiar, the gap in skill level between the opponents is evident.
However, Lennok's mind remains cool and calculating.
‘Having used mana interference once, they won't fall for it so easily a second time. But that doesn't mean there's no way.'
His widely spread mana rapidly surveys the surroundings, searching for the most efficient and lethal tactic in this predicament.
‘Kill one, capture the other. Timing is crucial.'
Just as he completes his thought, the duo makes their move.
Mount charges forward, while Trisha's hand moves swiftly.
In an instant, a colossal bone spear rises from behind her and hurtles toward Lennok.
Creak!!
Before Lennok can react, it unfurls like an umbrella, transforming into a lattice of bone that pins his body to the ground, impeding his movement.
Simultaneously, Mount's mana, accurately aimed, begins to fluctuate violently as the awl-like blade he wields spins wildly.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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