A High-level ice element "Ice Bound Coffin" was flying straight at me right now, its durability boosted by a High-level earth element "Petrification." On top of that, "The Tide" of High-level light element fell on both sides of me, its particles forming a makeshift barrier that locked me on the attack line of my opponents. A very coordinated and well-practiced team—pros, clearly.
When I tried to counter with my own "Ice Bound Coffin" and cover my body in a protective construct, I... just couldn't do it, no matter what. My prepped spells fizzled out upon release, dissipating into ambient mana around the area. On pure reflexes, I activated "Death's Step," infused it with a Servant-level soul, and quickly dodged the line of fire, leaping over the light barrier.
When the massive chunk of petrified ice crashed onto the asphalt road, causing colossal destruction just meters from me, I frantically scanned the surroundings using every method at my disposal. The answer came from where I least expected—from my own body. Under my shirt, I felt a dark rune in an ancient language, trailing a clear stream of curse element mana. Damn it all!
"Heh-heh-heh! How's that? Feel the sincerity of our cardinal yet?! Sure, we can't sneak High-level mages into the city for mass destruction, but artifacts packed with that level of magic? Totally doable," my opponent sneered, hiking up his robe sleeve to reveal a black spiky bracer that, when active, reeked of tons of curse element mana.
And there's the source of my predicament. Damn, who the hell gave these bums an artifact with a first-step High-level curse element "Ten Thousand Indictments"? Now it straight-up banned me from using the ice element!
Stupid question, though. Who else but Salan would go for that now? In canon, she had sky-high rep after the Bo disaster. Now she's just a failure whose plan got wrecked by the Magic Tribunal. Boosting her reputation is crucial, and she's willing to pour resources into it—even handing bums a High-level magic artifact.
To be fair, they're a solid Liquidator team, not bums. Against a single peak High-level mage with a Soul Seed, they could've held out with that artifact's support. They wouldn't kill him, but delay? Easy. Guess that's the plan—keep the problem child away from the main event.
But these smartasses figured that without my pets and main element blocked, I'm no threat, so they switched from their cardinal's recommended defensive tactic against me to offensive... What geniuses... Ahem, more enemies like these, please. With foes like that, who needs friends—they'll die off themselves.
Chatting me up long enough again, the trio repeated their previous maneuver, launching another well-coordinated attack while ditching defense entirely. But when I tried closing in, they activated their mobility artifacts and bolted farther away... Guys, you're supposed to hold me here, not the other way around. Why am I even chasing you?
Figuring the embedded curse had a time limit, I just bolted along the docks toward where the girls went. Eh, I know I left them solid protection, but I still worry. Time to get used to them not being glass vases—or with that attitude, they'll become a burden instead of help down the line.
My trio of opponents froze for a second at my escape, then scurried after me using their artifacts. Man, they came loaded top-tier, gotta admit. Wonder if they got anti-spiritual attack artifacts? Gotta test that casually. They're only second spiritual boundary—they can't resist me on their own. Don't wanna reveal spirit element, but if they corner me, I will.
While they caught up, I cast standard "Summon Horde," releasing a herd of Pack Leader-level Horned Buffaloes from the Summon Gates. The enraged ungulates eyed my foes with red eyes and charged to inflict heavy bodily harm, creating chaos in their fight that let me slip a weak spirit strike at one masked guy. His earring took the hit...
Man, why can't I shake the thought that my opponents look like bums dressed from a Rublyovka dumpster? Their power and skills are too weak for that gear—cognitive dissonance city. Salan must hope to recoup by boosting her rep and multiplying her investment. A successful demo for sponsors could do it. Fat chance on my watch—not in my shift!
Spotting one activate a defensive artifact as he got exposed after his mobility artifact ran out, under a pair of Horned Buffaloes' assault, I materialized and hurled Hades' Touch Dagger at him, charged with three Servant-level souls.
Unlike Gu Daiyu, this guy wasn't a Hulk parody, so the quickly pierced armor that absorbed some damage couldn't block enough—his face turned into a bare skull covered in necrotic flesh chunks. Minus one.
Specializing in defensive elements really screws these guys when they go offensive. If they'd played defense, I'd have had to stall or poke their spiritual shields without tipping my hand—neither would've improved my mood. Good thing announcing no pets provoked them. Combat smarts. Or I just excel at pissing people off—also viable.
The downed one was the light element mage, so after finishing the Horned Bisons, my foes couldn't trap me in a jumpable corridor anymore without exposing themselves. They hastily switched to defense. But I just ran off again, foiling their plans.
"Act like a man! Don't run! One more step, and we switch to civilians!" the remaining Liquidator duo yelled desperately after me, realizing their mobility artifacts wouldn't last.
And so it went. Like their fallen buddy, theirs depleted, forcing shutdown. I exploited that, using my armor's shadow-walking to appear right up close. Now, time to play!
My first punch landed square on the group leader's face—the one with my nuisance artifact. He flew off like a bullet, cracking his armor hard at the impact. Quality stuff—needs a couple more like that. While he recovered, the second fired a Mid-level "Fiery Fist: Nine Palaces" at me, knowing earth wouldn't cut it here. But he forgot magic below High-level doesn't scratch Warlord Commander-level monsters. And I was the humanoid embodiment right now.
Passing through the fire cost me only scorched clothes. And only because I didn't wanna flash spatial barrier or drain my armor's charge. Nothing to be shy about—maybe my foes'll complex out and run crying to mommy. Jokes aside, time to finish them.
Once it went close-range, with no more evasion means against my physicals, it was over. A couple more face punches shattered their armors and turned heads to paste.
Snagging the notable bracer, I finally disabled the ice element ban clinging to me, feeling relief. Now to rush help the girls. Just gotta get dressed first...