Their auras... all Level Two Wizards.
’Mobilizing so many Level Two Wizards just to ambush me...’
The seven people were positioned sporadically, sealing off all her escape routes, front and back.
Delia’s throat tightened, but the hand gripping her blade was steady as a rock.
She scanned her surroundings and took a deep breath.
"Who else is there? Come on out. You can’t hope to stop me with just this trash."
The moment she spoke, the air at both ends of the alley in front of her distorted, and two figures suddenly walked out.
On the left was a tall, thin man in a dark red Long Robe with gold trim. A Thunder Eagle perched on his shoulder.
The Thunder Eagle tilted its head, its scarlet eyes staring at Delia as a low gurgle rumbled in its throat.
’The captain of Edwin’s "Thunder Eagle Guard," a Level Two Late Stage Wizard.’
On the right was an effeminate man in a dark green Long Robe. His fingers were long, slender, and pale, his nails painted with a dark purple polish.
He was unhurriedly peeling a grape, placing the fruit in his mouth and chewing slowly.
’This is... a close confidant of Adrian, a Level Two Late Stage Cursed Wizard.’
The two men, one on the left and one on the right, blocked both ends of the alley.
Two Crystalized Wizards of the same rank as her, plus seven Initial Stage wizards to assist with setting up an Array for suppression.
Delia’s heart sank.
’They’re planning to... keep me here for good.’
"Lady Delia."
The tall, thin man spoke, his voice as coarse as sandpaper.
"So late, and you’re not by Miss Aidele’s side. Did you run off to buy Potions?"
The Thunder Eagle on his shoulder suddenly spread its wings, which spanned nearly two meters. Tiny arcs of electricity danced between its feathers.
"Young Master Edwin asked me to deliver a message." He grinned, revealing stark white teeth.
"Hand over the Potion, and then... come with us."
"The Young Master wants to have a nice, long chat with you."
Delia said nothing. She held her Short Blade horizontally before her chest with her right hand, while her left hand slipped quietly into her robes.
Her fingers found the Communication Rune and squeezed.
CRACK.
The faint sound of shattering was exceptionally clear in the dead-silent alley.
The Rune shattered. Warm Energy seeped into her body from her fingertips, traveled up through her veins, and finally... lit up a tiny point of light in her Sea of Spirit.
The point of light flickered three times, then quietly went out.
’The message is sent.’
Now... she just had to hold out until reinforcements arrived.
"It seems the lady doesn’t want to talk."
The effeminate man finally finished his grape. He took out a silk handkerchief and leisurely wiped his hands.
He raised his eyes to look at Delia.
Deep within his pupils, dark purple Curse patterns swirled slowly.
"In that case... don’t blame us for being impolite."
The instant his voice fell.
The seven Wizards on the perimeter acted simultaneously.
Dark purple Array patterns lit up beneath their feet. The lights connected, instantly enveloping the entire alley!
The air abruptly grew thick and viscous.
It was as if countless invisible hands were grasping for Delia from all directions!
Each hand carried a chilling Cursed aura that would cause Erosion to flesh and Magic Power upon contact!
Delia snorted coldly, and a faint cyan halo appeared on the surface of her skin.
This was the Wind Protection Witchcraft she had spent years in Cultivation to master.
The halo clashed with the hands of the Curse, creating a sizzling, corrosive sound as the Shield began to dim.
’This Witch Array is powerful. I can’t let myself get trapped!’
She stomped her right foot heavily on the ground.
"Wind Assault: Ring Cut!"
A cyan, ring-shaped Wind Blade erupted from her position.
The Wind Blade spun as it expanded outward, neatly slicing through the air wherever it passed.
The seven Level Two Wizards’ expressions changed slightly, and they retreated at once!
But the power of a fully Elementalized Witchcraft far exceeded their expectations.
PSHH... PSHH...
Two of the men in black, who were slightly slower to dodge, had their Shields sliced open like paper. The Wind Blade grazed their arms.
Sleeves shredded, arms were severed.
The two men grunted, staggered back, and pulled Healing Potions from their robes to down them.
After treating their wounds, their faces were filled with lingering fear.
In that brief opening.
Delia’s figure blurred, transforming into a cyan afterimage as she charged straight for the tall, thin man on the left.
’Break through at one point!’
The tall, thin man sneered, not bothering to dodge.
The Thunder Eagle on his shoulder suddenly spread its wings and opened its sharp beak.
"Thunder Roar!"
A piercing shriek exploded outward, forming a tangible sonic shockwave of thunder.
The air was compressed into visible ripples, and wherever they passed, the bricks of the walls on both sides crumbled and fell.
Delia’s charging figure came to an abrupt halt, as if she had slammed into an invisible wall.
Her eardrums throbbed with pain, her head buzzed, and her vision even doubled for a moment.
The full-force attack of a Level Two Late Stage Magic Beast was far more powerful than she had anticipated!
In the instant Delia was stalled.
The effeminate man raised his right hand and tapped his index finger lightly in the air.
At his fingertip, a spot of dark purple light appeared.
The light spun and expanded, instantly transforming into seven twisting Curse chains.
The chains shot out like living creatures, winding toward Delia from seven different angles.
Extremely fast!
Delia’s pupils contracted. She brandished her Short Blade in front of her, creating an ice-blue Light Curtain.
CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!
The chains clashed against the blade, producing a dense ringing of metal on metal.
With each clash, a surge of cold Curse Energy crept up the body of her blade.
Delia’s hand holding the blade began to tremble as the Curse Energy started to cause Erosion to the meridians in her arm.
Dark purple patterns appeared on the surface of her skin, climbing up her arm like venomous snakes.
’I can’t... get tied down!’
She bit the tip of her tongue. The sharp pain cleared her mind for an instant.
Her left hand formed a Sealing Technique as the Magic Power in her body surged wildly.
"Wind’s Wings!"
Behind her, two cyan Light Wings suddenly unfurled.
They had a ten-meter wingspan, and every feather was condensed from pure Wind Element!
WHOOSH...
With a single beat of her Light Wings, Delia’s figure shot into the sky!
Almost simultaneously, two Witchcraft spells radiating terrifying auras flew rapidly toward her airborne figure.
From the rooftops on both sides of the alley, the seven Level Two Wizards unhesitatingly unleashed the Witchcraft they had been preparing, blasting it toward Delia.
Lightning, Shadow Arrows, Fireballs, Poisonous Fog...
Nine Witchcraft spells wove into a net, sealing off all escape routes in the sky.
Every single spell was the full-force attack of a Level Two Wizard!
A chill seized Delia’s heart, and a look of grim determination flashed in her eyes.
Her Light Wings suddenly retracted, enveloping her entire body.
BOOM!!!
The nine Witchcraft spells struck at the same time. The terrifying Energy impact lit up the night sky over half the district.
The shockwave spread in all directions. The walls on both sides collapsed with a roar, and rubble rained down!
Dust and smoke rose, obscuring the entire alley.
The tall, thin man narrowed his eyes. The Thunder Eagle on his shoulder turned its head to look.
The effeminate man flicked his finger, and a gentle breeze blew past, slowly dispelling the dust and smoke.
In the center of the ruins.
Delia was kneeling on one knee. The Light Wings on her back had shattered, dissolving into specks of cyan light that scattered in the air.
Her dark gray cloak was mostly torn, revealing the form-fitting Leather Armor underneath.
The surface of the Leather Armor was charred black. Her left shoulder had even been pierced through, revealing a bloody, mangled wound beneath.
Blood flowed down her arm and dripped onto the ground, blossoming into dark red flowers.
She raised her head. A trickle of blood escaped the corner of her mouth, but her gaze... was still as cold as a blade.
"It’s... not... over."
She said softly, her voice terrifyingly hoarse.
Bracing herself with her right hand on the ground, she slowly stood up.
Her movements were slow. With every motion, blood seeped from her wounds.
But her back was ramrod straight, like a spear that would rather break than bend.
A trace of surprise flashed in the tall, thin man’s eyes, quickly replaced by even more intense killing intent.
"Her strength isn’t bad."
He himself wouldn’t have dared to take that last attack head-on.
He slowly raised his hand, and a pulsing Thunder Ball appeared in his palm.
Inside the Thunder Ball, arcs of lightning crackled wildly, making popping and snapping noises.
"In that case... I’ll send you on your way."
The Thunder Ball left his hand, transforming into a blinding bolt of lightning that shot straight at Delia.
It was so fast it nearly surpassed the limits of visual perception.
Delia’s pupils dilated. She knew she couldn’t dodge this.
She had already used seventy percent of her Magic Power to withstand the nine Witchcraft spells, and her injuries were so severe that even the slightest movement sent searing pain through her.
But...
A very faint smile suddenly touched her lips.
Every Late Stage of Crystalized Wizard had their own trump card.
Most came at a great cost, but they were extremely effective and second-to-none for survival.
Defeating an opponent of the same rank was easy, but killing them was nearly impossible.
Just as she was about to activate her Secret Technique.
BMMMMM...
A low, deep hum emanated from the end of the alley.
It wasn’t a sound, but a kind of... resonance of a Rule.
The air abruptly grew heavy.
It was as if countless invisible mountains had descended from the sky, pressing down on everyone’s shoulders!
The bolt of lightning released by the tall, thin man... came to a sudden halt ten meters away from Delia.
It wasn’t blocked.
It was as if it had been plunged into an unseen swamp, its speed slowing to an almost complete standstill.
The wildly dancing arcs of lightning within the bolt were now like frozen ice flowers, solidified in mid-air.
"What?!"
The tall, thin man’s expression changed drastically.
The effeminate man whipped his head around to look toward the end of the alley.