Ichiya and Eve dived for cover, taking advantage of the rock formations around them. They were a distance apart, but not too far so they could formulate a counter against this ranged enemy.
"Judging from how they looked…" Ichiya spoke. "It must be magic bullets." He angled his head discreetly, attempting to trace its lingering magical energy towards the source.
"Someone who wields Gun Magic, then?" Eve frowned, recalling their sudden appearance without notice. "But we didn't even hear the sound of a barrel at all, something like that should be echoing in the dead of night."
Ichiya hummed in thought, swiftly lowering head to look at him. "Don't worry too much, there's only one probable reason for that." Rubbing his chin afterwards.
"Usually, Holder Types have all kinds of functions on how they want to incorporate their fighting styles for various scenarios." His hand tapped the remaining vials on his belt.
"Since I'm in that category, I've read other magics similar to mine to gain ideas for my perfumes." He explained. "Especially weapons like staffs or guns, where you can apply a particular feature suited for assassinations…. A built-in Silent Enchantment that masks the sound of a shot."
"How convenient." Eve sighed as he listened. "It's quite embarrassing for me to not really know this, being a former apprentice in training and all."
During his stay in the previous Magic Council, his interest lied in refining his magic to become a genuine Rune Knight. The immense pride he harbored for getting called a genius only made him scour their archives for inspiration, not caring about the complexities of external aid to say the least.
"I don't blame you for that, my capable junior!" Ichiya replied. "Fortunately, there's a glaring weakness for something that seems like a pain to deal with." He reassured his fellow guild mate as he gestured into a clenched fist.
"The Enchantment has a limit on how much magical energy output it could handle, no matter the quality." Ichiya continued. "And once it reaches a certain threshold…"
"The weapon will bypass it's effects." Eve finished his explanation for him.
"Correct." Ichiya nodded and lifted his right index finger. "So we'll bait him into resorting to stronger bullets to pinpoint his location… Aggressiveness will be the key to winning!" Then he smacked his knuckles together, his magic power responding to his emotions as a result.
"Charging relentlessly at the target, eh?" Eve chuckled. "Let's do it, Boss!"
It was a strategy that seemed fine on paper, but it was borderline reckless due to how there was no hint of any glint within the tranquil night. Obviously, they couldn't really tell what weapon the dark wizard was using, however, the bullets' path said otherwise.
They guessed it to be quite the distance, and considering that they were the ones at a disadvantage… Taking risks to turn the odds in their favor was only something wizards of their caliber can do.
Ichiya smiled and positioned himself pointing at the path on his side. "Can you sense the lingering signature of the bullets' source?"
Eve paused for moment, closing his eyes to focus. After a few moments, he managed to detect the traces of Ethernano that remained. "A little bit, but it's there."
"Good! We'll take separate paths to split the dark wizard's focus---!"
Their planning got interrupted as they felt the same magical energy that targeted Eve, both of them evading sideways in time.
BOOM! BOOM!
Instead of the five spheres that were fired previously, replacing them were two bigger, more condensed spheres that pulsed with rippling Ethernano, shooting through the boulders like butter, continuing its flight as it pierced numerous rocks in its wake.
"Eve!" Ichiya signaled to his companion, beginning his sprint towards their intended target. Blue Pegasus' Ace zoomed across the right side of the rocky area, increasing his pace while going over or circling around obstacles.
Those bullets were far more lethal and potent, yet there was still no sound. He solemnly thought. That level of firepower was not enough?
"Yes!" Eve followed suit, choosing the left side as he nimbly weaved across. Snow hovered around him, already preparing himself for the next wave of attacks.
Wrnng! Wrnng!
Familiar sigils manifested on them like expected, as if the one in hiding waited for the moment they exited their cover.
"Looks like this fellow could only cast them if we're within line of sight." Eve remarked, briefly glancing at the sigils before returning his attention to the path in front of him.
However, surprises were but a common occurrence to outwit one's enemy in battle.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The duo heard a series of crashes behind their them, sensing magical energy that was closing in very fast. They glanced back simultaneously to see the same bullets that they dodged just moments ago.
"Men~! They didn't dissipate!?" Ichiya remarked loudly, gauging the speeding ball of Ethernano. But before he could properly respond, he felt a new signature of concentrated pressure also trailing behind him.
Ichiya opened a vial on his belt that released a light-green haze. He sniffed it while quickly putting the cork back on, never stopping his run as he fearlessly welcomed the bullets that were threatening to pincer him.
"Defense Perfume!"
He raised both of his arms to guard, tensing all of his muscles as the buff stacked smoothly alongside his Power Perfume spell.
BOOOM!
The two spheres of energy landed on Ichiya with fierce momentum, conjuring a cloud of dust in the process. Cracks appeared on the earth and rock formations within the area, showcasing the force of such an attack.
Whoosh!
"HUP!" The cloud of dust shifted, parting the way for Ichiya whose expression didn't morph into pain at all. Only mild wounds appeared on his back and torso, alongside the outline of sigils slowly disappearing afterwards.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
"White Barrier!"
Eve was also facing a similar predicament, and like Ichiya, sprinted without pause. He manipulated his snow to form a rotating barrier that protected him from all angles, dragging the surroundings' temperature to a prickling coldness as he passed by.
"What a cheeky tactic." Eve groaned in complaint, focusing his magical power into the barrier.
Increasing the density and weight of his snow is an action that could drain his magical reserves if he wasn't careful. But it strengthens the essence of his element and repertoire of spells, so it overwrites his flaw in technique in exchange for gaining an advantage.
BAM!
Both bullets clashed against the barrier at the same time, their force trying to push through the perpetual blockade before them. However, converged magic power was too much for lone spheres, so they simply got shredded into nothingness.
The sigils on Eve disappeared as a result, prompting him to reign in his spell afterwards.
Although the Blue Pegasus duo were caught-off guard, they seamlessly managed to counter the attacks without any injury.
They continued to charge vigorously, switching from cover to cover as they repelled the silent pressure from relentless shots that were trying to overwhelm them.
Each series of attacks had differing outputs of Ethernano meant to confuse a wizard's senses. It could be something as weak as a breeze, to something that was potent enough to clash against magical defense.
Whether it would be only a singular bullet to even multiple numbers of them, Ichiya and Eve did their best to progress across the area, while piles of rubble and destroyed rock formations piled up as a result.
They never wavered, inching closer and closer to the ranged shooter's estimated location.
Gildrid calmly observed them through his crosshair-shaped eyes, gleaming with thought.
"My standard approaches didn't work… It barely scratched their defenses." He whispered. "The average wizard would definitely be riddled with holes."
It was common knowledge that all known magic has their own unique derivatives from the concept of its foundation.
Gun Magic is no different, and could even develop Caster Types on rare occasions. Gilrid belonged in this category, which can bring about envy from his fellow peers with Holder Types.
He wielded a magic that seemed unfair to most marksmen who dedicated their whole lives to train their skills.
Homing Magic.
A wizard will be able to use sigils that could perfectly track their targets, meaning that there was no chance of a missed shot at all. Even an attempt to purposefully aim away from the intended target would just give the option to manipulate the bullet.
Additionally, there was a sort of mutation that acted as a boost for the magic itself. The irises of the wizard permanently transforms into that of crosshairs, granting the ability to improve one's sight towards longer distances, no longer needing the assistance of a scope.
Anything was possible with Ethernano, so phenomena like this wasn't too far-fetched when boundless curiosity is what drives humans to strive for higher limits within the spectrum of magic.
Obviously, something that seemed to be filled with so much advantages for a marksman isn't complete without weaknesses. That was the undeniable balance for the principles of magic.
Firstly, he could only cast the sigils when his targets are within his sight, and once a bullet hits successfully, the sigils themselves will naturally disappear afterwards.
As such, there would be intervals for each shot. This was especially a challenge when he fires at more than one enemy, which is happening right now.
Secondly, when Gilrid creates bullets with his own magic power, his eyes drain his reserves faster than normal. The stronger the spell, the more he feels the effect, so he must be wise in picking the complexity of their functions.
Lastly, the maximum distance that his eyes could reach, measuring an exact estimate of two hundred meters. Unfortunately, there was no see-through trait, but the clear-cut vision made up for it.
"Heh." Gilrid lightly hummed in amusement, intently gazing at the two who charged towards his approximate location as they ran across the landscape, only slowing down when taking cover.
"So they're baiting me into firing stronger bullets?" He reloaded his rifle that emitted steam, which came from the lacrima embedded into its barrel. "Predictable, but understandable. That's the only thing you could do in this situation."
His eyes glowed along with his weapon.
"I'll bite."
Gilrid invoked sigils on the duo again.
"Paralysis Shot."
He fired while simultaneously switching his aim at both directions. It was so fast and efficient that even experienced marksmen would sing his praises.
The Silent Enchantment was still in play, so it was within the positive threshold of his offensive output.
Two spheres of Ethernano soared through the air at incredible speeds, quicker than his previous bullets.
This raised alarms in Ichiya and Eve's heads, causing them to circulate more magic power to guard against them.
Ichiya did the same action, putting his arms in front to tank the bullet.
Eve stopped for a moment to hastily summon snow walls that spanned three layers, solidifying each one instantly.
However, the shots unexpectedly phased through everything, including their efforts into blocking them. The two light wizards widened their eyes as they helplessly watched the bullets land without resistance.
There was no wince in pain, or any sort of blast due to contact.
But…
Their movements were forcefully frozen stiff, completely nullified on the spot.
The slight trembling from Ichiya and Eve displayed their attempts to escape the spells' influence.
Gilrid wouldn't give them the chance to overpower it in time. Once the sigils disappeared after the successful hits, he casted the next set on them immediately.
"Impaling Shot."
BANG! BANG!
Consecutive powerful sounds of a rifle emerged and echoed under the peaceful night sky, finally rendering the Enchantment useless.
Blue trails of Ethernano illuminated the paths in their wake, easily piercing through trees and boulders that were in the way. Nothing could stop such rampages until it reached the Blue Pegasus duo.
"I'll welcome it with my entire being!" Ichiya pumped himself up as he stared fearlessly at the incoming beam.
"Oh boy… this is bad." Eve tried to joke around, looking at the bullet that pulverized his snow walls like it was paper.
BOOM!
Ichiya bravely endured the impact as he skidded across the ground, his muscles tensing while his Defense Perfume worked into overdrive. Fortunately, his movement wasn't restricted anymore, so he did his best to soften the blow.
BOOM!
Eve could also move again, instinctively reacting by controlling his snow all around, directing a portion of it to block the pressure that threatened to engulf him. He was sent flying through a few rock formations, cushioning himself with magic to avoid broken bones.
Both shots trailed with immense firepower, landing on them directly and destroying all that was within their general vicinity. Rubble flew everywhere as the aftermath produced more dust clouds and web-like cracks on the ground.
Gildrid didn't even move from his spot, considering that it was the perfect elevation to observe his targets. He was confident that he could push them back without worry, no matter how much distance was covered.
He will simply deny their futile attempts.
But, since this particular spell of his broke the silence of his rifle. Its commotion will inevitably attract those that were near the surrounding area.
"Hurry up, you idiots! That was Gildrid's shot just now, so he must have found some light wizards."
"Lemme at 'em! The guild master issued a reward for every elimination or capture!"
"Step aside! I'll be the one to rise through the ranks, haha!"
Shouts of eagerness and excitement came from all directions, filling the landscape with hustle and bustle.
One group was actually within Gilrid's location as they saw and called out to him.
"Oi, Gilrid! You tryin' to take the prizes for yourself?" A guild member scoffed in annoyance.
"Be quiet, bastard! Don't recklessly provoke him unless you want a bullet on your head!"
Gilrid glanced at the new arrivals, his indifferent expression scanning them wordlessly.
Their rowdiness immediately ceased due to the presence he was emitting, making them stand in attention.
After a few seconds, he spoke. "Go ahead, there are no rules for something this straightforward." Gesturing towards the others in the distance who picked their target and charged with vigor. "In our world, seizing what we want is the law of the jungle, right?"
The group looked at each other, then nodded back at him. They went past and slid down the slope, their magic glaring up in activity. Once it was the last person, a remark was thrown with caution.
"Those words of yours… make sure to not regret them later, alright? Master Vandis ain't biased when it comes to accomplishments. There better be no complaints if your core spot gets snatched, and I'm sure you know that fairness isn't practiced for the most part."
Gilrid simply laughed and indicated that he understood, letting his fellow guild member catch up with the rest.
He returned to his position, holding his rifle in place. "No fairness? I'd say it could be applied for those two right now…" It pulsed with life, ready to be fired again.
"Weaklings are great distractions."
Cough!
Cough!
Eve took deep breaths as he was still rattled by the explosive bullet, slightly leaning back on a cracked boulder that was somehow intact. The torso portion of his suit was torn to shreds, displaying a fresh wound that wasn't too fatal.
"Too close!" He gritted his teeth to endure the agony. "That shot would've put a hole through me if I wasn't fast enough." His snow crumbled around him as bundles of it were scattered everywhere, indicating the intense struggle that he experienced.
Ichiya's condition was also fine for the most part, but he tanked the shot directly, so it was expected for him to have wounds on his muscular arms. If it were not for his currently active spells, then it would be more than just his upper limbs.
"The plan indeed worked… I guess the fellow is somewhere on top over there." He glanced at a particular elevated spot in the distance, where traces from the bullets' Ethernano signatures were at its strongest.
"Maybe the plan worked too well." Ichiya switched his attention back to the situation at hand as he heard voices and hurried footsteps.
The dust clouds dispersed after a few seconds, revealing their locations in tandem. Any wizard would feel intimidated from seeing and feeling such bloodlust by groups of eager criminals.
Numerous magical pressures converged towards the Blue Pegasus duo, ready to take them down while they were still recovering.
However, this was not the case for the ones in question, and calmly watched themselves getting surrounded.
"MEN~!" Ichiya roared loudly, his sudden shout startling the dark wizards. "That's it? You guys would need a lot more people than this, or else it would be too fast and boring."
Eve on the other side just sighed softly, immediately realizing the discreet intention from Gilrid. "Diversions? Great, now I have to divide my focus to not get caught off-guard."
They never displayed hints of panic in the slightest, as if these dark wizards were simply a minor inconvenience for them.
Unsurprisingly, their nonchalant reactions struck nerves, making the pursuers glare at the pair with sneers and anger.
"Hah! Why the hell are you so confident, light wizard?"
"He's supposedly the Ace for Blue Pegasus."
"Don't fall for his provocation, you idiots! He's probably doing it to hide his fear."
Ichiya raised an eyebrow, flexing his muscles in response. "Fear? That's not the meaning I want to convey." He swiftly charged as soon as he finished, already punching one on the face, effectively knocking out the person afterwards.
"Bastard!" Since they were in a standoff within close quarters, Ichiya took the initiative to make the first move. Bodies were getting smacked into the ground, thrown, and even ragdolled due to the physicality he wielded.
Obviously, Gilrid sneaked in some attacks to disturb his focus, but unless it was his Impaling Shot or other stronger spells in his arsenal, Ichiya wouldn't budge in the slightest.
In fact, Ichiya realized that this fell to his advantage, picking some unlucky ones to be used as human shields. But he noticed a particular detail that startled him a little bit.
The sigils stay on me when they don't hit their mark? The Ace pondered as he punched and blocked, efficiently dividing his magic power to also counter the bullets coming towards him.
It was a one-sided onslaught, forcing the new arrivals to retreat and transition into ranged attacks. Unfortunately for them, his Defense Perfume was refined to the same level of importance as his Power Perfume, so spells of low caliber couldn't scratch him.
"You're quite cocky for a pretty face."
"Well, I've always hated that stupid trio for their popularity."
"Your life would be completely different without that handsome trait, Mr. Trimen."
Eve ignored their taunts, considering he was used to these kinds of remarks within the world of models. Maintaining his wizard life alongside it came with many challenges, yet he overcame such difficulties.
Given that the Former Magic Council disbanded due to the Tower of Heaven incident, a blunder that they couldn't fix for the most part, it prompted him to integrate with his new guild in a faster pace.
In fact, if this was before the Oracion Seis operation, he would've snapped at the very first instance. But when he met Fairy Tail, all may seem trivial to them due to their free-spirited mindset.
He admired and envied their outlook, which actually influenced his perspective on how he saw things. Fairy Tail's values shined even more after the despairing news about Tenrou Island's disappearance.
Eve genuinely respected all of them from the bottom of his heart, especially towards Natsu Dragneel. One could say that you would get a kind of motivation to never stop trying, and to strive for a better tomorrow when being acquainted with a unique bunch.
As a result, he started with increasing his personal training's intensity…
It would be a bit embarrassing to struggle here.
Eve spoke no more and immediately expanded his snow in full force, producing an omnidirectional attack that accounted for every side and angle.
FSSSHHHHH! BAM!
"Ugh!"
"Fall back and don't get caught!"
"This snow is so damn annoying!"
Half of the dark wizards got whipped with a biting chill, flying across the air as they powerlessly landed on the ground, boulders, rubble, or trees.
Unsurprisingly, bullets soared onto him like rain afterwards, yet he made sure to maintain his snow in a cycling manner, accommodating all blind spots if he couldn't react in time.
Eve nimbly broke through the crude pincer formation, blocking, countering, and dodging each strike that attempted to graze him. His eyes darted around, not letting his focus waver for even an instant.
The Blue Pegasus duo dominated their miniature battlefields as their momentum continued to rise. Nobody could stop them, because there was no one who had the strength to match… The dark wizards bit off more than they could chew.
"Tch! A bunch of useless wastes." Gildrid indifferently muttered, assessing the chaos below. "To think they lacked so much combat capability that it's impossible for them to even act as diversions."
The moment Ichiya and Eve stepped within his line of sight, no other person nor cover and all.
He began to move again.
Wrnng! Wrnng!
Gilrid finally invoked his sigils again, making the duo raise their guard while they were still preoccupied with fighting against the groups.
"But they're also stronger than I expected." His rifle condensed another pair of spheres that twirled around the edge of the barrel. "And I need to be careful with my spells… Wearing them down should be the most efficient option."
He could annoy them with ordinary magic bullets, which is what he's doing currently. However, it could be brushed off by just using the basics of empowered defense, so it already seems useless to keep on wasting them
"Paralysis Shot."
Bang! Bang!
Due to the Silent Enchantment getting destroyed, his weapon was now similar to the usual magical rifles that rang loudly. The bullets trailed across the air with unrivaled speed, adjusting their trajectories towards the intended targets.
Ichiya and Eve heard the shots, prompting them to turn at the incoming attacks. They immediately realized by instinct that it was the spell that locked down their movements.
"As if that would hit me again!" Eve ducked another strike, then sprang up to grab the assailants face, putting the poor dark wizard in front of him.
"You---! Gah!" The dark wizard's words were interrupted as the bullet landed squarely, making him pause in disbelief.
Eve glanced at the sigil that didn't disappear, knowing this to be the case. He managed to end up with the same conclusion as Ichiya, so he's also been using human shields to intercept Gilrid's bullets.
He stopped his pondering to intercept a spell gunning towards him using snow, while another followed up with a clenched gauntlet aiming for his neck. Eve twisted himself to direct the captive he was holding to be a human shield for the steel fist.
BAM! CRACK!
A sickening crunch that came from the unconscious person's stomach resounded through the ears of all those still fighting him, giving them goosebumps in the process.
Who could blame them, really? They did not expect someone with such soft and delicate features to be this decisive and ruthless.
Eve took advantage of the attacker's surprise, concentrating his magic power into his left hand.
"White Fury."
BAM!
He sent both of them flying with a beam of snow, then glanced at the remaining dozen afterwards. His face showcased a calm, sharp, and determined expression that screamed of fighting spirit.
The rest unconsciously took a step back, their eagerness for glory and rank ups getting doused pretty quickly.
"Trying to catch us off-guard with the same bullet? Its effects won't be much of help for these so-called reinforcements!"
At the same moment, Ichiya on his side was doing exaggerated poses while weaving around the crowd as he briefly gazed at the trailing spell. He simply ignored the cautious and panting dark wizards that looked at him in anger.
"He's a bit too big to be that slippery! My spells aren't hitting at all!"
"Forget about that! The guy's muscles may as well be an impenetrable shield in itself."
"This ain't the time for bickering! We should look for any type of weakness or somethin'!"
As soon as that was said, Blue Pegasus' Ace suddenly stopped his movement altogether once the bullet landed. There was a period of short awkward silence, before various spells were launched at him without mercy.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A mixed bundle of elements and unique magic blended within the devastated place of Ichiya, forming a huge dust cloud in the process. They waited for everything to clear, already expecting a man filled with fatal wounds.
"HMPH!"
Whoosh!
Unfortunately, what greeted their sight was Ichiya who immediately dashed through the entire thing with minimal scratches. He continued to sprint while a new sigil appeared on his body.
Both him and Eve slowly pushed forward, exerting their best effort to use the rock formations as their advantage. Fortunately, they figured out a fatal flaw in Gilrid's Paralysis Shot.
Getting chased and attacked relentlessly by dark wizards forced them to think of a countermeasure on the spot. Although separated into different paths and with no communication, they managed to reach the same conclusion.
One could circulate Ethernano across the entire body to dispel its effects. So, once it was solved, there was no need to worry about their movements getting denied every single time.
This let them shift their attention towards their pursuers and whatever bullets that would come their way.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Eve ran across numerous rock formations as he evaded the five spheres targeting him, prompting him to respond by hurling layers of snow to block them.
He made them extremely condensed with the assistance of his magic power. It would obviously shave off his reserves in a perpetual manner, but he had the opportunity to do it since he was done dealing with all the dark wizards on his end.
"Men~! Is this fellow really confident enough to simply stay put there? I refuse to believe it to be that easy!"
Ichiya as usual, directly used his muscles to tank the incoming bullets, although his body was gaining more wounds in the process.
His side was also cleared of obstacles, letting him be a bit reckless with his charging. The suppressive fire throughout this entire fight did nothing to say the least, so he maintained the stability of his Defense Perfume was the priority.
"How persistent." Gildrid frowned, seeing the duo zooming towards his location, invoking his sigils on them as he quickly stood up and pointed his rifle at the ground.
"Sentry Shot."
Another sphere appeared and quietly stabilized itself, rotating in a serene manner. It was completely different from his previous bullets, which announced their presences with hostile intent.
Gilrid retreated while looking back from time to time, making sure that he had the appropriate distance to utilize his weapon without problem.
"Boss! I'm glad that you're alright." Eve sighed in relief, looking at his guild's ace with a smile.
"The same can be said for you, Eve." Ichiya nodded and laughed uproariously. "Now that we've regrouped, it would be easier to guard against his bullets."
Ichiya and Eve finally scaled the slope, exiting the rocky landscape. Their paths converging into the greenery above them.
The moment they leaped towards the area that Gilrid was in, only a singular blue sphere remained. As soon as they landed, it brightened up immensely, dyeing the tranquil night with its colors.
Then, it instantly shot out countless bullets everywhere, not sparing any angle or direction.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Crash! Krr! Crash! Krr!
The Blue Pegasus Duo immediately transitioned into blocking as they tried to gain enough space to work with. Everything within the vicinity was getting punctured due to the sheer amount it brought.
"Meastro, I'll deal with this!" Eve sprinted from tree to tree, his snow hovering around him protectively. "It's obvious that this is a spell to delay us, so catching up with the culprit is crucial!"
"Understood!" Ichiya blew steam from his nose, enduring all the bullets as he punched and dodged some. "As your Ace, I won't fail in this endeavor."
He tensed his legs for a second, followed by a full-blown run, letting half of the bullets chase after him due to the sigil.
"You've gotta be kidding me… What's your body made of, light wizard?" Gilrid still wasn't too far when he left the spot, seeing the muscular man completely ignoring his spell.
He aimed his rifle at Ichiya who finally found him, circulating his magic power to the fullest. Gilrid skidded to a halt to focus on taking down the unbearably durable human being before him.
"Oh? Are you giving up after being so annoying this entire time?" Ichiya yanked out a tree due to his momentum, then threw it with great force towards Gilrid.
"Don't the wrong idea." Gilrid scoffed as he was unfazed by the object closing in, his weapon somehow producing sparks of electricity across the surface. "I never fail in my hunts."
It hummed.
"Blitz Shot."
BANG! RUMBLE! BANG! RUMBLE!
A pair of shots echoed under the moonlit sky, resounding powerfully like roaring thunder. It was so loud that it reached the populated districts, making the locals look up to check if it was gonna rain.
Blue trails of energy with streaks of lightning tore everything within their paths, one easily vaporized the tree into oblivion, while the other mercilessly went for Eve who was preoccupied by his Sentry Shot, dropping layers upon layers of snow to suppress it completely.
The two light wizards widened their eyes at the strongest bullet they now witnessed from Gilrid, trying their best to react and defend before it hits them.
BOOOOM! BOOOOM!
Explosions followed afterwards, disturbing the peaceful atmosphere of the rural forest. Only devastated ruins could be seen at Ichiya and Eve's vicinity, displaying numerous splinters, barks, and rubble dropping continuously.
Huge dust clouds covered Gilrid's vision as he panted. That took a huge chunk of my reserves... But there's no point in holding back anymore. The strain on his eyes were a good indication, since they were connected to the output and essence of his spells.
Gilrid slowly walked towards Ichiya's location first, his intention to confirm the successful defeat and impending imprisonment of the targets. Once he got closer, the haze cleared out in tandem, presenting the scene to him.
Ichiya's twitching and unconscious state were shown as he observed the blood and wounds that he inflicted, waiting for some type of movement to make sure he's not pretending.
After a while, he used his inherent gift of sight to look at Eve's condition from this position. The snow wizard was also in a similar condition, so he mildly relaxed his guard.
"I should contact---!"
Gildrid felt a sudden shift in the wind, instinctively using his weapon to block horizontally.
BAMM!
"MEN~!"
Ichiya, who was supposed to be out of commission, quickly got up as he struck Gilrid with a right hook. "Us losing here will disappoint all of the innocents you've killed, dark wizard!"
"Kghk!"
Crash! Crash! Crash!
The latter groaned in pain, getting launched through at least three trees in the process. Gildrid coughed as he landed on his back, attempting to recover his rattle senses due to the immense blunt force he received.
Ichiya wobbled, the injuries he has stopped him from going along with his current momentum. He exhaled deeply, then hammered down on his legs to work, exerting past his limits to move.
Blue Pegasus' Ace miraculously did, which prompted him to leap in the air. He clasped his hands to together, aiming for a overhead smash on Gildrid who was below him.
"What the hell!" Gilrid cursed. "Why can't you just stay down!?" He shakily lifted his weapon, hastily channeling his magic power.
Unfortunately for him, Ichiya descended far too quickly.
"It's simply my sparkling will!"
BOOM!
Ichiya's strike directly landed on Gilrid's face, pushing him towards ground. Web-like cracks appeared thanks to the force, followed by a small crater forming as the S-Class got caved in.
Hah!
Hah!
Ichiya removed his hands, showcasing a knocked out Gilrid with a broken nose and teeth.
He did his absolute hardest to maintain his consciousness, so he could carry Eve and escape this place.
"I'd consider this a great parfum!"
But he didn't forget to soak in the victory at the moment.
-------------------------
(Timeline: Two Months after Tenrou's disappearance.)
AN: I had to rewrite this chapter a few times, and it finally came out fine in the end. 200k view milestone for this fanfic once this releases, hooray!