Chapter 88: Trap Activated (2)
Below, Garran attacked Robi and forced him back three steps.
Garran’s fire had become darker after using the Blood Ember Stone, but the loss of bloodfire had weakened his first advantage. He was still strong. Very strong. His spells came one after another without pause.
"Velkhur Art. Furnace Wheel."
A large wheel of orange fire spun toward Robi.
Robi lifted his metal hand.
"Silver Ledger Gate."
A rectangular silver barrier opened like a merchant’s book in front of him. The fire wheel struck it, split into two halves, and passed to both sides. The halves exploded behind him and tore apart two old grave stones.
Garran did not stop.
"Velkhur Art. Cinder Serpent."
A snake made of thick red flame rose from the ground and rushed under Robi’s barrier. Robi stepped back and stamped his metal foot. Silver lines spread under him and formed a round seal. The serpent struck the seal and broke apart, but at that moment the hidden Fifth Circle mage below Garran’s side raised his staff.
"Burning Nail Formation."
Five thin fire nails appeared around Robi, each pointed toward his joints. They shot inward together.
Robi blocked three with his metal hand and barrier plates. One nail pierced through his sleeve and burned his left arm. The last one struck his shoulder. His body shook.
Celia saw it from the side and wanted to move toward him, but the Rank Four knight struck at her with both hands. His aura blade came down so hard that the platform cracked under Celia’s feet when she blocked.
"Eyes on me, Lady Marovain," the knight said.
Celia’s silver eyes flashed. "I am looking. That is why you are still standing."
She twisted her sword and used her barrier magic like a step under her heel. In one sharp movement, she jumped above the knight’s blade and kicked him in the face with a silver shield wrapped around her boot. The knight staggered back, blood coming from his nose. Celia landed lightly and pointed her sword at him.
The knight wiped his nose and laughed.
"Good."
Celia did not smile. "Fall already."
On the shrine, Lucard continued dodging the fire mage’s attacks while watching the main battle below.
That was the important part.
The mage above wanted his attention, but Lucard refused to give him all of it. His eyes caught every movement below. Garran’s left shoulder dropped slightly after each large spell. Robi’s metal hand reacted slower when blocking attacks from two directions. The support Fifth Circle mage beside Garran was not as strong as Garran, but his timing was excellent. He attacked only when Robi’s defense shifted. Together, they were wearing Robi down.
Robi was losing.
Not fast, but clearly.
Robi understood it too.
A blast of fire struck his silver plates and forced him to one knee for half a breath. He stood again, but blood ran down from the burn on his shoulder. He looked up toward the ruined shrine and shouted, "Lucard. Buy me time with the trap spell. Otherwise, we all die here."
Garran laughed. "Asking a mudblood rat for help now, Robi?"
Lucard looked down at Robi.
Robi did not look ashamed.
That was good.
Proud fools died because they refused help. Robi could ask when needed. That made him more valuable than most nobles.
Lucard placed his palm on the shrine stone.
The trap below had already tasted death mana, bloodfire, and the edge of Garran’s power. It was restless. It wanted to open fully. Earlier, Lucard had kept it half asleep because a full opening would be too dangerous. Now danger had already come.
Lucard sent his blood into the hidden line.
"Open."
The stone platform shook.
This time, the trap did not open one eye.
It opened its teeth.
Black-red lines burned under the ash and grave soil. The twelve medium mana stones flashed under the ground. The four fire resistant stones locked the outer ring. The bone powder mixed with grave ash rose in a thin dark mist. Death mana surged upward from Black Barrow Hill and wrapped around the center of the platform.
Garran’s laughter stopped.
"What?"
The ground under his feet tightened.
Black chains made of death mana and blood ink shot out from the cracks. They wrapped around his ankles, wrists, and chest before he could move away. Garran released a burst of fire, but the outer fire resistant stones swallowed the first wave and fed the heat back into the trap. The chains became brighter and pulled him downward.
Robi saw the chance instantly.
He did not attack Garran.
He moved toward the other Fifth Circle mage.
That was the correct choice. Garran was trapped, but not dead. The support mage was still free. If Robi wasted time on Garran while the support mage kept interfering, the battle would become ugly again. So Robi crossed the platform with a silver flash and struck the support mage with his metal hand.
"Silver Debt Palm."
The support mage raised a red shield.
Robi’s metal palm hit it.
The shield cracked.
The mage’s eyes widened.
Robi smiled coldly. "Your debt is due."
He struck again.
The mage was forced back.
Garran roared inside the trap.
"Robi."
Robi did not turn. "Wait your turn."
Lucard’s eyes sharpened from above.
Robi was old, but his battle sense was still clean. Once freed from Garran’s direct pressure, he immediately pressed the weaker Fifth Circle mage. That support mage had good timing, but he was not equal to Robi in a direct fight. Robi’s silver mana struck like coins turned into blades, walls, and hammers. Every spell had measured purpose.
Meanwhile, Garran fought the trap.
"Velkhur Art. Flame Breaker."
Fire burst from his body and slammed into the chains. Two chains cracked but did not break. The death mana repaired them instantly.
"Velkhur Art. Burning Crown."
A ring of fire appeared above his head and dropped over his body. It burned the blood ink lines around him. The platform shook. One hidden mana stone broke with a dull pop. The trap pulled more death mana from the hill to replace it.