Chapter 363 : Rid vs Commander Dayne and Vyn

After finding a way to alter the appearance of my ~Light Magic~ so it wouldn't stand out, I pointed my sword toward Senior Vyn and Commander Dayne.

~Light Magic + Fire Magic: Apply Magic Weapon – Light Flame Sword~

The sword I had pointed at them was instantly enveloped in flames. I had combined the two elements using a ratio of 10% light magic to 90% fire magic. Since the fire magic component was dominant, the sword was wreathed in the usual red flames; however, a faint trace of white was visible within the fire, and the flames emitted a soft glow.

"Even though I only used 10% light magic for this combination, the resulting spell still retains some characteristics of light magic. Oh well—the effect is subtle and doesn't really stand out. For now, I’d better defeat the two of them quickly so I can go after Charles and Chloe," I thought.

I slowly closed my eyes, then opened them again a moment later.

"Let's wrap this up," I said.

I then darted rapidly toward Senior Vyn. Upon closing the distance, I swung my sword at his neck. However, before the sword could connect, Commander Dayne—who was standing nearby rushed in to attack me, swinging his own sword at my neck. I dodged the strike by tilting my head sharply backward, narrowly avoiding the sword. As I leaned back, I shifted the trajectory of my own swing from Senior Vyn’s neck to Commander Dayne’s body.

~Flame Sword Art: Great Light Flame Slash~

I unleashed a massive flame slash at Commander Dayne, who was standing nearby. The attack struck him squarely, instantly setting his body ablaze and sending him flying backward until he slammed into a tree-wall some distance away. Having sent Commander Dayne flying, I immediately turned to renew my attack on Senior Vyn—whom I had failed to hit earlier.

However, as I turned to attack, a colossal wolf's maw suddenly erupted from the ground beneath my feet. The maw appeared to be made of black iron; it seemed to be a fusion of iron and darkness magic, much like the two dragons Senior Vyn had conjured earlier. The wolf's jaws snapped shut, quickly swallowing me whole.

"If I count back to the first time I met Senior Vyn, I wonder how many times I've been eaten by the creatures he creates?" I mused.

Shortly after being swallowed, I slashed outward from within the wolf's body using my sword, which was still wreathed in a fusion of fire and light magic. I easily sliced ​​the wolf's body in two. As the creature was severed, it slowly began to dissipate, allowing me to emerge from its remains.

Once I was free, Senior Vyn suddenly appeared right in front of me, attempting a thrusting attack aimed straight at my head. I quickly dodged by arching my head and torso backward. As I leaned back, I could see Senior Vyn’s sword and upper body hovering directly above me.

Then, I delivered a kick that sent Senior Vyn flying upward. I kicked Senior Vyn right in the stomach with my right leg, which was enveloped in Mana. He was instantly sent flying upwards by the impact. Seeing him airborne, I quickly shot upwards to close the distance. Once I was within range, I immediately unleashed a thrusting attack.

~Flame Sword Art: Great Light Flame Thrust~

My thrust struck Senior Vyn squarely in the chest. The attack instantly set his body ablaze and sent him hurtling further upwards. He was propelled with such force that he crashed through the ceiling of the labyrinth—a canopy of leaves formed by the tree walls. Moments later, however, he fell back through the foliage and slammed into the ground below, lying motionless upon impact.

I then turned my gaze toward Senior Vyn as he lay there. Senior Vyn’s body, previously engulfed in flames, was no longer burning after slamming into the ground. The chest section of his armor appeared shattered, revealing the gaping hole in his chest caused by my earlier attack; blood was still seeping from the wound. Additionally, there were burn marks on his chest from the attack I had just unleashed.

"It seems the ~Light Magic~ I used was stronger than the ~Dark Magic~ coating Senior Vyn’s armor, allowing my attack to pierce through it easily. What about Commander Dayne?" I wondered.

I then turned my gaze toward Commander Dayne, who had slammed into a tree trunk. He was sitting there, leaning against the wood. Like Senior Vyn, his body was no longer burning. The chest and stomach sections of his armor were wrecked and shattered, revealing large slash wounds across his torso from which blood flowed freely. Severe burns also marred his chest and abdomen, caused by the attack I had just launched.

"My attack managed to pierce Commander Dayne’s armor as well. Both of them have sustained severe burns from the flame slash combined with light magic that I used to break through their defenses. They aren't moving anymore; have I defeated them both?" I thought.

I pondered this while glancing back and forth between Commander Dayne and Senior Vyn. Then, I looked toward another part of the battlefield, specifically where the two dragons created by Senior Vyn were fighting the six dragons I had summoned. They were still locked in combat. Even though I had created six dragons, they still couldn't defeat the two dragons created by Senior Vyn. That was only natural, as Senior Vyn's dragons were born from a fusion of iron and darkness magic, whereas mine were formed from the five basic elements plus ice magic. I hadn't infused them with light magic, which made it difficult for them to overcome Senior Vyn's pair. Seeing those two dragons still battling my six dragons, I became certain of one thing.

"Those two dragons haven't vanished; they're still fighting my six. That means Senior Vyn hasn't been defeated yet," I thought.

I then turned my gaze toward Senior Vyn, who was still lying on the ground.

"I need to defeat him quickly so I can rush off and catch up with Charles and Chloe," I thought.

With that, I darted rapidly toward Senior Vyn, who remained on the ground.

"I'm sorry, Senior. I'm in a hurry, so I'm going to end this quickly and set you free," I said.

Upon reaching Senior Vyn, I immediately swung my sword at him. However, before the sword could strike, sharp black iron pillars suddenly erupted from the ground around where he lay. Pillars also shot up from the ground beneath my feet, aiming to impale me. I quickly dodged them, moving to a safer spot. Yet, wherever I went, the iron pillars kept emerging from the ground right under me. Deciding on a different tactic, I leapt into the air and hovered there to evade the pillars. They stopped attacking once I was airborne.

"Those iron pillars... I know who created them," I thought.

I then intended to turn toward the person who had created that iron pillar. However, as I turned, an elongated sword suddenly shot rapidly toward me, aiming to pierce my head. The sword was wreathed in a black wind. Seeing it about to strike, I quickly dodged by tilting my head; the sword merely grazed the side of my tilted head.

I then grasped the sword with my left hand. It was incredibly sharp, as was the black wind enveloping it; my left hand was instantly covered in numerous cuts from the grip. Yet, I did not let go, maintaining a firm hold. I then yanked the sword toward me with great speed. Commander Dayne, who was wielding the weapon, was instantly jerked forward and hurtled rapidly in my direction. Seeing him rushing toward me, I immediately prepared to launch an attack.

"You're a real nuisance, Commander. Every time I try to strike down Senior Vyn, you get in my way. It looks like I'll have to take you out before I can deal with him," I said.

As Commander Dayne closed the distance between us, I immediately launched a thrusting attack at him.

~Flame Sword Art: Great Light Flame Thrust~

I aimed the thrust straight at his left chest, right at his heart. But just as the attack was about to connect, a massive dragon formed from a fusion of iron and dark magic suddenly erupted from the ground beneath me. It soared upward, intent on devouring me while I was suspended in mid-air.

"Another interruption and this time, it's coming from Senior Vyn," I thought.

Even though the dragon was about to swallow me, I didn't abort my attack to dodge it. Moments later, my strike successfully pierced Commander Dayne’s left chest; my sword drove all the way through to his back. The attack also set his entire body ablaze. Yet, at the very instant I struck him, the massive dragon beneath me succeeded in swallowing me whole.

Now, I found myself inside the dragon's belly alongside Commander Dayne—whom I had just impaled. He lay motionless after the strike to his left chest; it appeared he had died instantly, as I had pierced his heart. I then withdrew my sword from his chest. Once the sword was free, Commander Dayne slumped to the floor of the dragon's stomach, parts of his body still smoldering from my earlier attack.

After retrieving my sword, I looked around at my surroundings. I was currently inside the belly of the dragon that had swallowed me, so logically, my surroundings should have consisted solely of the dragon's stomach walls. However, I was looking around to pinpoint the location of Senior Vyn, who was outside.

Before long, I managed to locate Senior Vyn outside.

"So, that's where he is. Time to put an end to this," I said.

I then raised my sword, gripping it as if preparing to throw a spear. Flames and light magic still enveloped the blade. I readied myself to hurl the weapon.

~Flame Light Ballista~

I hurled the sword with great speed toward the dragon's stomach wall in front of me. It pierced through the wall effortlessly and shot out the other side, continuing its rapid trajectory. Ahead, Senior Vyn stood watching the dragon that had swallowed me. The sword sped toward him and struck instantly; he had no time to react. The sword pierced through his left chest, exiting out his back. The impact of the throw sent him flying backward until he slammed into the trunk of a tree. He slumped against the tree, the sword still embedded in his chest. Blood gushed heavily from the wound, and a significant amount also poured from his mouth. He lay motionless after the sword struck him.

-To be continued