Chapter 317: Cornered

’This is quite something...’

Regis did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Swoosh—

At that moment, one of the abomination’s arms suddenly stretched outward, its claw shooting toward Regis from a bizarre angle that forced him away from Elysia and Wisteria.

His expression darkened.

Left with no choice, Regis leaped in the opposite direction.

The elongated arm, now more akin to a giant serpent than a limb, relentlessly pursued him.

Regis weaved, ducked, and sidestepped time and time again as the claw snapped at his heels.

THUD—!

THUD—!

THUD—!

Each missed strike slammed into the earth with tremendous force, blasting crater after crater into the ground and sending debris flying in all directions.

Yet no matter how ferocious the assault became, the claw remained just a step behind him, unable to catch its target.

’That monster...’

Regis already knew its true goal.

It never really exerted much effort into hitting him.

’It’s driving me away from them.’

Just as this thought popped up in Regis’s mind, the three other arms of the abomination elongated like the first one, as all three shot towards the Elven Queen and her spirit.

"Tsk!"

Regis clicked his tongue as five blue mana stars lit up on his chest, drawing upon every ounce of his mana to cast numerous defensive barriers around them.

Within the brief span it took for the lightning-fast claws to close the distance, he managed to erect a total of twelve barriers, each imbued with a different element.

Earthen barricades, water screens, lightning shields, firewalls, and neutral mana barriers stood in the claws’ path, each successive layer weakening their momentum.

The abomination’s two heads scoffed in unison, their faces twisting into disdainful smiles.

"A human this young becoming a Grand Magician is certainly impressive. Unfortunately, it would appear that defense is not your specialty if High-rank spells are the best you can muster—"

Before the abomination could finish its words, it was cut off by a chant.

[Master Rank Magic: Testudo Aurea]

Soon enough, the three claws broke through the 12 defensive magic spells in only a few seconds.

However, what shocked the abomination was that after breaking through the magic barriers, its claws met something hard.

CLANG—!

A metallic clang echoed throughout the area as the three claws rebounded off the barrier Regis had cast, the precious seconds bought by the twelve preceding barriers allowing him to complete it.

It was a golden dome woven from countless hexagonal runic patterns, overflowing with tremendous magical energy.

The mana it emitted was so concentrated that it seemed almost solid, bathing the area in a gentle golden glow.

After its momentary surprise, the abomination’s disdainful smile grew wider, "I thought it was something, but judging by the mana fluctuations, it seems like it’s only at the level of a Master-rank magic."

BANG— BANG— BANG—

The three claws mercilessly tore at the golden dome, each impact unleashing a thunderous boom.

After only a handful of attacks, cracks had already begun spreading across the Master-rank defensive spell, leaving it on the verge of collapse.

Yet from the moment the abomination had been shocked by its appearance until now, barely ten seconds had passed.

Inside the Master-rank Testudo Aurea, Elysia and Wisteria had collapsed to the floor, their eyes fixed on the abomination as it relentlessly tore apart their sole lifeline piece by piece.

Elysia’s body trembled as she roared inside her mind, ’W-What’s happening to me? Why can’t I control myself?’

"Ely, come back to your senses, please!"

Wisteria floated before Elysia’s face, frantically patting her cheeks as she tried to bring her contractor back to her senses.

Unfortunately, the queen of the elves showed no reaction.

"Hahaha!"

The abomination laughed as it continued its assault, "Is this all you have, boy?"

Three of its claws continuously tore away at the golden dome that protected the queen and her spirit, while its remaining claw unceasingly attacked Regis.

This gave the latter no chance to prepare anything... or so it thought.

Regis’s focus reached its peak as he let his body instinctively dodge the attacks naturally, his mind working in overdrive.

’I need to get Wisteria and her contractor out of danger first. After that, I can deal with this monster...’

The abomination continued to taunt him, eager to see him fall into despair.

"Haha! I must admit, you’re quite talented for a human."

Its grotesque lips curled into a malicious grin.

"How about this? Kneel before me right now, and I’ll consider letting those two leave."

The grin widened.

"All you have to do is agree to become my slave."

The abomination glanced at the golden dome that protected Elysia and Wisteria, "Decide quickly. Once I break this flimsy magic spell of yours, the offer’s off the table!"

’I never expected those to hold up. I only needed more time.’

Regis thought as he continued casting the spell he had begun the moment Testudo Aurea was erected.

This lasted for a few more moments.

And just as Testudo Aurea had completely collapsed and the abomination’s grating laughter reached its peak, a chant echoed in the surroundings.

[Grand Magic: Astrum Sanctuarium]

WOOONG—-!!!

Regis utilized his magic field to its maximum potential as the mana near Elysia and Wisteria churned intensely.

Before the three claws could reach them, it was stopped once again.

This time, instead of just bouncing back, its bone claws were directly cracked.

"!!!"

Both of the abomination’s faces were shocked, "W-What?"

Its four crimson eyes stared at the ethereal starlight surrounding Elysia and Wisteria, unknown emotions flickering within them.

The abomination used one of its hands to directly strike the seemingly fragile starlight.

Clang— Spurt!

As expected, its claws rebounded violently, fractures spreading across them as blood splurted from the torn remnants of flesh.

"Haha! HAHAHA!"

The abomination laughed loudly with its grating voice, "Interesting! Really Interesting!! To think that you’re able to conjure a defensive magic spell of this caliber. I must say, you, as a mere human, are even better than elves in terms of magic talent!"

"However..."

The three claws surrounding Elysia and Wisteria slowly retracted.

A sinister expression flashed onto both of the abomination’s faces as it gazed towards Regis, "Grand Magicians normally only have a magic field of 50 meters. And the percentage at which one could utilize depended on one’s own talent and ability. As for a human like you..."

"You would be truly talented if you could utilize nearly 80% of it..."

The abomination said, its two long, sharp tongues licking across its lips, "So what can you do if I simply drive you away until they can no longer be covered by your magic field?"

At its words, one of its claws shot forward at lightning speed.

Just as it neared Regis, fully expecting him to dodge—

"You? Drive me away?"

A carefree smile appeared on Regis’s lips as he drew his steel sword and slashed in one smooth motion.

In his mind, a chant echoed.

[Weakpoint Creation]

In an instant, the claw was severed from the elongated arm as black blood erupted like a fountain.