Regardless of the threats, we managed to enter Kankaar Society.
The structure of Dragon Empire is as follows.
Dragon Empire is a small galaxy — quite small — with three star systems.
The culmination of five habitable planets in this galaxy forms the Dragon Empire, where Dragolings live.
Until 75 years ago, it was entirely the territory of Gem Society.
However, after the formation and expansion of Kankaar Society, two of those five habitable planets now belong to Kankaar Society.
The third planet is where we are.
Kankaar Society and Gem Society share this planet, and it also serves as the capital for their respective societies.
The habitable zone — the planets where Dragolings live — is also called the Dragon Empire.
Back to our journey, we have already entered Kankaar Society.
We have split into three teams.
Team A (Me, Girishika, Mala)
Team B (Kel and Lila)
Team C (Grimori)
We did this to avoid everyone getting caught at once.
We have deduced that the enemy won't kill us. They may only capture us.
Our mission?
To meet with Germio and have a proper talk.
We need to avoid this war.
Who knows what kind of war they might start.
If this war drags on, it's possible that the Terracoling Empire and the Gretoling Empire, which exist on the circumference of the Milky Way, might get involved too.
If the Terracoling Empire and Gretoling Empire clash, then it will be chaos that even Immortalus Society can't handle.
Grimori has already sent a letter to Gem Society in advance in case the war starts.
The letter contains some internal information about Kankaar Society that Mala collected when she was taken away.
The only obstacle we might face is Wedgermio.
I am damn sure that guy is alive.
The threats that Mala warned us about won't be here.
They are currently residing on another planet for some time.
The other possible threat could be the sorcerer hunters.
I doubt they have much freedom in Kankaar Society compared to Gem Society, so that question still hangs between us.
We can do this...
Well, nope.
Wedgermio was standing in front of Team A.
Why?
This thing always messes things up for us.
Girishika tensed up again.
This is my mistake.
I shouldn't have brought her with us.
Dragging her into this fight is not good.
[Pratik]: Girishika! Focus on your assignment. Don't let your fear get the better of you.
At my words, she looked at me and smirked.
[Girishika]: Thanks for those words, even if they weren't needed.
Finally, she is back in her spirits.
Mala...
She isn't even slightly scared, and that scares me.
[Wedgermio]: You are not allowed to walk further.
[Pratik]: Like I care.
I charged at Wedgermio. Girishika and Mala followed.
He was dodging my attacks effortlessly.
This was expected.
I was like a toddler in front of him.
He dodged my punch.
Girishika jumped at him from above.
He teleported away.
Mala, who anticipated this, tried to use a blade made from Dark Energy Reserves to slice his head, however Wedgermio caught the blade and threw Mala straight at me.
Girishika created a distorted space around Wedgermio.
However, Wedgermio nullified the effect by releasing his sheer Aura.
Seeing this, I activated my Shadow Gutter technique, which started slowing Wedgermio's movements.
Taking advantage of the situation, Mala and Girishika engaged him in hand-to-hand combat.
Their hand-to-hand combat was far better than mine.
Girishika's combat was even more refined than Mala's.
Despite that, their combination was proving quite deadly.
Even Wedgermio started struggling with their combat.
The punches of Wedgermio and Girishika clashed, creating a shockwave that made me lose my balance, and my Shadow Gutter was released.
Wedgermio regained his real speed and blitzed Mala completely, knocking her out of the fight.
Soon, the clash of Range Shiftlings began.
[Wedgermio]: Range Shiftling: High Perception.
[Girishika]: Range Shiftling: Seal.
Range Shiftlings are usually invisible, but when they clash, the reality around their intersecting parts changes.
It is mostly destructive energy that damages the surroundings.
Even though I was at a better distance, the destructive energy blew me away.
The clash was still ongoing.
Girishika was trying to seal Wedgermio away.
However, Wedgermio, who was receiving all information about the seal through his perception technique, kept escaping its bounds.
This is bad...
Girishika is losing.
Well, it looked like that until I heard the mind-blowing words from Girishika.
[Girishika]: Range Shiftling: Pressure.
She was using two Range Shiftlings at once!
This is insane.
Even in the society, only higher-ranked sorcerers can do such a thing.
Before I could comprehend it, I heard a loud sound and it looked like Wedgermio was crushed under some extreme pressure.
After using it, Girishika fell unconscious.
Wedgermio was bleeding badly, however he was still alive.
[Wedgermio]: To think Princess Girishika would use such a technique against me... this sure was unexpected.
He looked at me.
[Wedgermio]: I have changed my mind. I will eliminate everyone here except Princess Girishika.
Heck...
He appeared in front of me and punched me in the gut.
A deep sensation of pain passed through my body and I was thrown away.
My mouth started bleeding.
It was hurting.
It was painful.
I spread Shadow Gutter around myself, however Wedgermio still managed to punch me away.
I created a magic hammer and tried to land a powerful blow, however Wedgermio deflected the attack and punched my face.
I am feeling dizzy.
I am having a bad feeling right now.
Am I going to die?
Wedgermio created a blade using his Dark Energy Reserves and dashed toward me.
I can see my death approaching.
I am going to die.
My whole life flashed before my eyes.
My body was feeling numb.
I can't move.
This is the end.
Blood started dripping on the ground.
My eyes might be looking hollow.
I am feeling uneasy.
Before me was standing Mala.
She had taken the attack on herself while trying to defend me.
She was stabbed while protecting me.
With a huff, she fell to the ground.
[Mala]: Huf... you... are still... a brat...
She gave me a small smile.
Her mouth started bleeding too.
Wedgermio jumped back with a surprised expression.
...
Arghaaaaaa!!!!
Suddenly everything started to feel unreal.
My body started feeling heavy.
My head... it hurts very badly... I can't take it...
Mala...
She can't die!!
[Wedgermio]: Humans are quite complex sometimes.
[Pratik]: Range Shifting...
...
---
EXTRAS: MAXIMISER
Maximiser in the sorcery world is a concept where a sorcerer lifts his limit.
All sorcerers have a certain limit.
However, after facing a powerful foe, they may awaken new powers or even a pseudo transformation — this is called hitting Maximiser.
It increases strength, speed, and other physical stats, as well as the capacity to use Dark Energy Reserves significantly and permanently.
This phenomenon is rare and is mostly observed among prodigy sorcerers.
Almost all of those rare sorcerers hit their Maximiser only once in their lifetime, with exceptions like Krishna, Arun, and Gomo Taka