Chapter 27: Fear (1/2)
There was no room for reconciliation. Seeing Kerren's face, Layn understood that only blood could calm the rage that surrounded this place.
His movements were relatively slow. Compared to a two-star expert before him, even after his consecutive breakthroughs, Layn was still way off.
But what Kerren failed to consider, was that cultivation wasn't Layn's greatest strength at all.
”Go.” Compared to other magical constructs, releasing the spell was one of the simplest things one could do. Consisting of only three basic ideas, it was a perfect trigger to all of the formations that Layn created leisurely before the duel with Sitra.
Crack.
In this world devoid of magic conductors, formations were a mage's best friend. Developed thanks to the greater understanding of the nature of magic that modern civilisation achieved, there was actually no reason for them to work any worse in the ancient world at all!
The complex structure of the main formation finally harnessed enough energy. By the time Kerren managed to cut the distance by half, the entire plain that he was dashing through suddenly exploded with light.
Apparently, that was all. Outside of the initial shock to the eyes, this strange illumination didn't appear to cause any harm. Outside of the annoyance factor, one could disregard it completely.
Layn sighed before approaching the girl beside him. For some strange reason, this lengthy action wasn't stopped by Kerran.
”May I?” Stopping right before the girl, Layn looked her deeply in the eyes for a moment. Their noses didn't push against each other only due to the perfect height difference between the two of them. Reaching with his hands down, Layn placed his hands on the exposed sides of Irea's waist.
”Huh?” To say that the girl jumped in a surprise, would be actually an overstatement. Rather than that, she suddenly seemed to melt while a strange mist clouded her eyes.
”Your sword? May I borrow it?” Ostentanouesly flirting with the girl, Layn pushed Irea's chin up with his finger all the while staring at her lips.
”My sword? Huh? Uh, sure…?” Meekly responding in his arms, Irea looked up to Layn's eyes.
”Thanks, dear.” Lowering his hand from the girl's waist to her hip only to push it on the handle of a short sword hanging from her side, Layn pulled the weapon out. For some strange reason, his opponent and all of his lackeys that jumped in to help him when they realised something was going wrong…
Still failed to reach the archmage and the girl who were at the forefront of the group.
”I need to take care of this lousy bunch now, so I hope you will forgive me for a minute.” Sending a wink to the shocked girl, Layn moved away from her. Just as he was to step into the illuminated sphere, the archmage suddenly turned around.
”While I know I'm clearly the reason for this fight, but I can tell they were an eyesore to you guys as well. That's why,” speaking up towards the group, Layn pointed the tip of his sword at Irea, ”I will get the right to make a decision for the entire group, and it won't be challenged by anyone or anything. Don't worry, I won't be unreasonable.”
Putting the most innocent look on his face that he could, Layn smiled. Right now, there was a group of twenty experts fuming to kill everyone. Right behind his back. Even though those people offered him a lot of help, there was no denying that they still were strangers.
And this moment right now would decide whether they will turn into a fleeting memory later on or proper companions for the archmage. Even if the intent behind this request was likely to be insanely different to what the ancients could expect.
”Fine.” After a moment during which the entire group hesitated, Irea suddenly stepped up. Even though her insanely cute and meek behaviour at times, she could still prove that she wasn't deprived of the wits either.
”Oh my…” Taken aback by the girl's readiness to accept his term, Layn lowered and then shook his head while placing his hands on his hips. ”Out of everyone here, you should keep your guard the most around me!”