“Bang!”
Ye Chui staggered back a few steps, glancing at the screen of his iPad-like magic book. In the title bar, where battery life was once displayed, it now showed remaining magic power: 89% left.
[Safety Guardian] was a passive spell, activating only when attacked, consuming magic power based on the attack’s strength. For instance, when Ye Chui first summoned his iPad, it withstood Riken’s [Flame Snake], which drained 99% of his magic power instantly. Kemith’s attack wasn’t comparable to [Flame Snake], but each hit still consumed a tenth of Ye Chui’s magic power.
“I can only block him ten times at most. Without offensive spells, I’ll have to rely on my fists…” Ye Chui thought, watching the water snake coil not far away, its head raised, ready to strike again.
“Here goes!” Ye Chui gritted his teeth, deciding to act. He sprinted forward, charging straight at the water snake.
“Bang!”
The water snake attacked, slamming into the glowing shield that appeared before Ye Chui. This time, he wasn’t pushed back by the force. In the onlookers’ view, the ferocious snake’s head shattered into a spray of water upon impact. Ye Chui tumbled to the ground, rolled, then sprang up, charging at Kemith with his fist raised.
Kemith’s expression faltered. He had targeted Ye Chui, assuming he was a novice mage, easy to bully. He hadn’t expected such boldness. Most new mages would only defend or dodge his water snake, not counterattack.
But courage alone wasn’t enough.
Kemith swiftly gestured with one hand, and the water snake’s body suddenly collapsed into a pool, flowing across the ground toward him. As Ye Chui closed within two metres, the water slid between them.
With a splash, the snake reformed, this time surging upward, striking Ye Chui’s stomach.
[Safety Guardian] activated again, the glowing shield flashing. Amid the splashing water, Ye Chui was thrown backward, crashing to the ground. He scrambled up, but the snake’s attack followed relentlessly, its head, though made of water, radiating a menacing aura.
“Bang!”
This time, the snake struck the ground as Ye Chui rolled aside. His magic power was down to 61%. He couldn’t keep taking these hits; he needed to reach Kemith.
The mercenary guild hall fell silent.
The blonde maid, who had intended to stop the duel, was now speechless. Though Kemith wasn’t a powerful mage, he had been one for four years. Still a junior mage, he was experienced, and his water snake spell was decent. Yet Ye Chui, only three days into awakening, was holding his own. This shocked her.
Debbie had pulled out a key. Though she mocked Ye Chui’s strength, he had helped her, and she was ready to summon her battle spirit if he was in danger, despite the high cost. She wasn’t someone who’d abandon a companion, even if she only tentatively considered Ye Chui one.
But now, she saw he wasn’t as weak as she thought. His magic book was pathetic, yet he didn’t cower, earning her respect.
Still, Ye Chui was no match for Kemith. The gap in magic skill and combat experience was clear.
The guild’s onlookers shared this view. Ye Chui lasting this long was surprising, but they doubted he could hold out much longer.
“Bang!”
Kemith kept directing the water snake at Ye Chui, who dodged repeatedly. Another hit landed, costing another block, and the distance between him and Kemith grew. Kemith was now wary of letting Ye Chui get close. But Kemith was tiring too, panting slightly. The [Dance of the Water Snake] spell seemed taxing.
“An attack spell, I need an attack spell…” Ye Chui’s urgency grew. His fingers slid across the iPad’s screen, opening the app store. It was an unconscious move, but then he noticed something astonishing.
“My points increased? I have 12 now!”
Ye Chui had been tracking his points. When he and Debbie left for the guild, he had 5. Now, suddenly, it was 12.
“Could it be… the points increase through combat?” A spark of realisation hit him.
Normal magic books revealed new spells as a mage’s power grew, a process called comprehension, achieved through training and fighting. Ye Chui’s iPad magic book was different; new spells were downloaded, but the points needed carried the same meaning as training and combat.
The 5 points he started with were likely earned blocking Riken’s attack.
“With 12 points, I can download basic attack spells…” Ye Chui dodged another snake attack, quickly browsing the app store’s spells. He made his choice.
Basic elemental spell [Lightning].
“Confirm spending 10 points to download this spell?”
Confirm!
[Download starting…]
“I admit you’ve got some skill, lasting this long against my [Dance of the Water Snake]. But you’re done. Let me show you my new attack,” Kemith said, panting. He had been keeping his distance, but now stepped closer, making strange gestures. The water snake collapsed into a pool, then reformed. When it coalesced again, two smaller, more dangerous snakes appeared before Ye Chui, poised to strike from both sides.
“Your defensive spell can only block one direction, right?” Kemith taunted. “How will you defend now?”
[Download complete!]
[Installation starting…]
Whoosh!
Both snakes lunged at Ye Chui.
“Bang!”
The left snake was blocked by the glowing shield, consuming only 6% of his magic power, likely due to the split attack.
But the other snake bit into Ye Chui’s right arm. Sharp pain shot through him, forcing a cry. The snake’s teeth, though made of water, felt solid, sinking into his arm as blood seeped into the water.
Debbie sighed, a phantom door appearing before her, four times larger than the one that summoned Xiululu. Onlookers gasped, shocked that Debbie was a summoner.
Holding her green key, Debbie muttered, “I really don’t want to see that smug face…”
“You’ve lost!” Kemith sneered, standing two or three metres away. “My snake’s bite is nearly as strong as a real one. I could cripple your arm if I wanted!”
He tightened the snake’s grip.
Ye Chui groaned, the pain intensifying, but a smile spread across his face. “No, you’re the one who’s lost.”
[Installation complete!]
Blue lightning burst from Ye Chui’s magic book, surging along the water snake biting his arm, straight to Kemith.
“Aaahhh!”
The scream of someone being electrocuted echoed through the hall.
