Chapter 301 - 296 — Appearance
"Fire."
The wall trembled violently beneath the thunderous boom of the ballistas, and five streaks of light tore across the sky towards Lumi.
However, Lumi moved with the abruptness of lightning and the nimbleness of a cat, weaving through the massive artillery shots with astonishing ease. Still, the shots struck the ground behind her soon after, releasing violent blasts that swallowed her along with hundreds of meters of terrain.
Every eye narrowed, wondering if that had finally taken her down.
A moment later, however, Lumi burst out of the thick haze, her blurring speed completely untouched. Several of the southern cadets immediately cheered at the top of their lungs, releasing breaths they hadn’t even realized they were holding.
Atop the wall, Malach frowned. Then, a moment later, he said,
"Rangers."
The northern cadets atop the wall immediately carved runes into the air, and in the next moment, a barrage of projectiles tore towards Lumi.
However, Lumi weaved through them with fluidity and grace, not a single attack so much as grazing her.
The moment she crossed the two-hundred-meter mark, she lifted her head.
Everything seemed to disappear in that moment as her cold eyes locked directly onto Malach.
Malach’s frown deepened. It was almost as though she had just identified her target.
’Me?’
A mere mute.
His eyes grew icy.
"More. Don’t let her take another step."
But before the rangers could act, Lumi stomped the ground and came to a grinding halt. Her body slowly lowered as she gathered strength, the ground cracking beneath her feet from the sheer pressure.
Then, she exploded upward, flashing into the sky.
A massive spear formed between her hands as she spun through the air. Without the slightest hesitation, she threw it.
The spear became a streak that tore through the air with such speed that gales twisted around it, appearing before Malach almost instantly.
Yet Malach didn’t so much as flinch.
Before the spear could reach him, a barrier flared to life around the fortress. The spear slammed violently into it, but the barrier merely flickered for a moment.
Then, it flared, blasting the spear back.
Malach smiled, staring at the cold-eyed Lumi as she slowly fell from the sky. Another massive spear had already begun forming in her arms, and from the intensity in her eyes, there was no doubt she intended to keep attacking until the barrier finally collapsed.
Unfortunately for her, Malach had other plans.
"Ready?"
"Yes, Prime!"
Malach nodded once.
"Then fire."
The barrels of the ballistas turned towards Lumi, ominous light rapidly gathering within them. Across the battlefield, Kaelion’s eyes widened in horror, along with those of several southern cadets.
At such a close range, with Lumi still falling from the sky, there was no way she could avoid the attacks!
However, amid the sudden quiet of the battlefield, Malach’s rune tab abruptly flared red. A sharp beep followed, then a monotone voice rang out.
"The southern Prime, Zephyrion Calderalth, has left his fortress."
Malach’s eyes narrowed sharply.
But before he could react, the thunderous booms of the ballistas echoed. At such a close distance, the shots might as well have teleported. They barely caught sight of Lumi narrowing her eyes before a thunderous explosion swallowed the sky.
Kaelion and the other southern cadets stared in horror at the smoke-choked sky. Even if Lumi managed to encase herself entirely in metal, not even a Mark Seven could take the full brunt of the ballistas at such close range and emerge unscathed.
And Lumi was only a Mark Six!
Silence swallowed the entire battlefield. Then, as the smoke finally began to clear, everyone stared at the sky with pounding hearts, waiting to see the aftermath.
"What the...?"
Kaelion’s eyes slowly widened. But it wasn’t just him. Every pair of eyes witnessing the same scene widened in disbelief.
Hovering in the sky, cradling Lumi in his arms, was a tall figure, devilishly handsome, with an expression cold enough to freeze oceans.
The southern Prime.
Zephyrion Calderalth.
The fact that he was here at all was shocking enough. None of them had seen him leave the southern fortress, much less cross the entire battlefield.
And yet, somehow, he was here.
The other, though, was the scene before them.
Zephyrion had just blocked the ballistas—attacks that not even a Mark Seven could withstand from a distance—at such close range, yet there wasn’t a single scratch on him.
The metal he’d used to block the attacks was slowly peeling away from his body, shrinking until it returned to a small rod fastened at his waist.
No one could speak.
’Easy.’
Zephyrion’s eyes seemed to say as he met Lumi’s gaze.
Her eyes had turned completely white, and the veins beneath her skin had begun to emit a dim glow. She had been about to unleash that power, just like that night when Vaelor had attacked.
Though the academy and a few others had witnessed it back then, right now, practically the entire empire was watching.
He couldn’t allow her to reveal such a power before an audience like this.
’Not here. Not with everyone watching.’
Gradually, the white faded from Lumi’s eyes, clarity returning to her gaze. This time, surprisingly, she hadn’t fainted. She simply stared at him quietly, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
Zephyrion wasn’t quite sure what had possessed her to suddenly charge the northern fortress alone, but there were more important matters to deal with right now.
Turning his attention forward, he met Malach’s crimson eyes as he slowly descended.
The northern Prime stared back at him with a cold, narrowed gaze.
This was the closest the two Primes had ever been to each other, and there was no mistaking the palpable tension that settled between them.
However, a moment later, Malach smiled.
"Zephyrion Calderalth. The famous Lightning Prince. Finally, we meet."
Zephyrion didn’t respond, landing lightly on the ground. He stared at Malach for a few more seconds before turning away and beginning to trace something into the ground.
Malach frowned.
But he wasn’t the only one confused. Across the battlefield, practically every soul was wondering what the hell the southern Prime was doing.
"Prime, the ballistas are charged. Should we fire?"
Malach shook his head, his curiosity about Zephyrion’s actions getting the better of him.
Soon, though, Zephyrion finished.
A slow frown formed on Malach’s face as he finally saw what he had written. Just one word.
NOON.
Malach narrowed his eyes at Zephyrion, who was now staring directly back at him. The Lightning Prince still held Lumi with one arm, while his free hand slowly drew across his own neck.
Malach’s eyes darkened as the meaning became clear.
’Noon? This bastard is telling me when he plans to defeat me?’
Malach blinked once, almost as though he were trying to make sure he hadn’t misunderstood something so utterly ridiculous. Around him, the northern cadets who had also figured out Zephyrion’s meaning were now staring at the southern Prime with darkened expressions.
However, before Malach could even think of responding, Zephyrion vanished from where he stood.
None had seen the Lightning Prince arrive.
And once again, none had seen him leave.
Soon after, the gong signaling retreat sounded across the battlefield, and both armies, battered from the clash, withdrew to their respective fortresses.