When it comes to mage duels, they’re typically a blend of elegance and flair. Two mages stand metres apart, casting spells, blocking, or dodging, their robes gently swaying. Even in defeat, they maintain an air of dignity, not a hair out of place. This is practically common knowledge, especially in big cities.
But… what was this with Green from Ye Chui’s side stepping up with a brick in hand?
Watching Green’s movements and the cyan stone brick he held, the gathered mages and swordsmen, after a moment of stunned silence, burst into uproarious laughter.
“As expected from some backwater place, haha, this is hilarious…”
“Is this guy really a mage?”
“We’ve been taking these people too seriously. A mage fighting with a brick? Today’s antics will keep me laughing for days.”
Hearing the mocking voices, Green’s face flushed instinctively. As a somewhat traditional mage, he knew his current image wasn’t ideal. But recalling old Merlin’s fierce, powerful fighting style, he quickly suppressed his faint sense of shame.
“As long as you defeat the enemy, what else matters? The most important skill for a spatial mage isn’t attack or defence, but the ability to teleport attacks. Sadly, past spatial mages overlooked this.” Those were old Merlin’s teachings.
His gaze hardened as he looked at the blond man.
The blond man, ever since Green pulled out the brick, wore a barely contained smirk, filled with disdain. This guy must be a nobody. He declared loudly, “You should step back and let your guild leader face me. I’m a flame mage. Fighting me, I can’t guarantee your safety.”
Green shook his head, speaking earnestly to the blond man. “You’re no match for our leader. Honestly, I don’t think you’d last a second against him. So fight me instead, it’s better for you.”
Those words clearly enraged the blond man, a flash of coldness crossing his face. His magic book appeared before him instantly. To say I wouldn’t last a second against your leader? With that white-covered magic book of his?
He resolved to make Green fall in the most humiliating way possible.
Intermediate attack spell [Roaring Flames]
The blond man, an intermediate fire mage, unleashed a powerful spell. Flames gathered before him, forming a terrifying beast, its maw open, roaring with a rumbling sound. The fire’s glow illuminated his handsome face, now twisted with a ferocious expression.
The onlookers smirked. The blond man was a standout among the younger generation of the guilds. This spell looked formidable. How would this laughable brick-wielding mage cope?
Then…
Just as the blond man directed the terrifying flame beast to attack Green, a cyan shadow flickered before his eyes. Before he could discern what it was, *smack*, the brick shot out from it, striking him square in the face.
“Ow!” He yelped in pain, stumbling back. The flame beast dissipated.
The cyan shadow was a spatial teleportation spell. Looking at Green, he was withdrawing his brick-holding hand from the cyan shadow in front of him.
Green was still a novice mage, unable to teleport attacks as freely as old Merlin. He hadn’t mastered spells like [Teleport] or [Instant Shift]. His ability to teleport attacks relied solely on the basic spatial spell [Storage Space].
This spell created a pocket of space within the magic book, allowing mages to store or retrieve items freely, even reaching into it.
Green’s attack involved placing his brick-holding hand into his [Storage Space], using it as a conduit, then opening a second portal in front of the blond man to deliver the brick.
This technique, discovered by old Merlin, had strict distance limitations but, with practice, was highly effective. During their days in Stan Town, Green was dragged by Ye Chui and Debbie for picnics and barbecues in the suburbs. Did he think they were bullying him? Of course not. Ye Chui and Debbie were training his teleportation skills, perfecting his technique through food deliveries.
(Ye Chui/Debbie: Let’s just say that’s the reason…)
“You, you’re shameless!” The blond man, blood streaming from his nose and two front teeth missing, shouted in fury. The crowd, after a moment’s pause, realized the brick’s purpose and erupted in accusations. Such despicable tactics were a disgrace to mages!
Only Ye Chui and Debbie cheered. “Great job, Green!” “Looks like you’ve truly inherited Merlin’s teachings.”
Fury consumed the blond man. With a roar, flames engulfed him. This was the intermediate defence spell [Flame Armour]. He wasn’t skilled enough to form true armour, but the flames coating his body offered some defence.
Transformed into a fire-clad figure, the blond man stepped toward Green, sneering. “Come on, hit me with your brick again…”
Green’s hand moved.
A cyan shadow appeared at the blond man’s side, and with a *whoosh*, a handful of red powder was flung out.
The powder hit the flames on the blond man, releasing a pungent, spicy stench. *Achoo! Achoo!* Nearby onlookers sneezed uncontrollably. The blond man fared worse. His flame armour protected most of his body, but not his eyes. He cried out, “My eyes, ahh, achoo… so spicy! Ahh!”
“This is wild pepper from the Elf Plains. One pepper can knock out a cow. When burned, its spiciness doubles. I specially gathered a big batch and ground it into powder. Perfect for barbecues and battles, a must-have for home and adventure,” Green declared loudly, as if boasting about a spell or sword technique.
Under the pepper’s intense sting, the blond man’s armour dissipated. The poor guy, clutching his eyes, wailed in agony.
Green seized the chance. His brick-holding hand swung into a cyan shadow. Another appeared behind the blond man’s head, and *smack*, the brick struck his skull.
“Ah!” The blond man stumbled forward, turning angrily, swinging his fists, but the shadow vanished. Another appeared by his leg, and *thud*, the brick hit his knee.
“Ow!” He collapsed to one knee, screaming.
“Get close and attack, don’t give him a chance to teleport!” Panal, the Coldstone Guild leader, shouted.
Hearing this, the blond man roared, scrambling up to charge at Green.
But would Green let him get close?
A cyan shadow appeared on the ground before the blond man, and a black porcelain jar was tossed out. *Crash!* The jar shattered, spilling a puddle of creamy liquid—lard.
The blond man stepped into it and *splat*, fell flat on his back, wailing again.
Normally dashing, with strong magical talent, he was a renowned heartthrob in Fengyan City, adored by many women. When had he ever been this humiliated?
His rage surged like a river, unstoppable. Ignoring what had tripped him, he conjured a blazing fireball.
“No—” Panal shouted urgently.
Too late.
As the blond man summoned flames, they spread instantly, igniting his body and the floor beneath him. Covered in lard, highly flammable, he froze as the scent of burning oil filled the air. Realizing his mistake, he screamed like a slaughtered pig.
Though a fire mage, he wasn’t immune to all flames, only those conjured by his own magic. Other flames could still harm him.
In moments, he was a human torch, the scene far from merciful.
*Whoosh*—a torrent of water poured from above, dousing the flames.
A nearby mage had intervened, using a water spell to extinguish the fire.
“Are you conceding?” Debbie shouted, seeing their interference.
“You’re too despicable, fighting like this!” Panal yelled, glaring at the pitiful blond man.
“Is there a rule against mages fighting this way?” Ye Chui retorted with a cold smile.
“Well… there’s no rule, but mages are noble. Such low tactics are contemptible!” an elderly mage shouted, glancing at the blond man struggling to rise. “And we haven’t conceded…”
Before he finished, a cyan shadow appeared before the blond man, and a handful of white crystals were flung onto him.
Salt.
Burned, doused with water, then sprinkled with salt… the pain was unimaginable.
“Ah!” A piercing scream erupted from the blond man. Unable to stand, he writhed on the ground. Then, beside his head, a cyan shadow appeared, and with a *thud*, the brick struck his forehead.
This blow knocked out the blond man, whose name hadn’t even been revealed.
Green withdrew his hand from the shadow, holding the brick by his side. He exhaled heavily, thinking, *Teacher Merlin, I didn’t disgrace you…* Then he faced the now-silent crowd. “He’s out. I win, right?”
“Shameless!”
The crowd roared in outrage.
Green, not thick-skinned, felt a bit embarrassed.
But his respected leader and vice-leader encouraged him. Ye Chui clapped his shoulder happily. “Well done, Green. You can hold your own now.”
“Old Merlin would be proud,” Debbie added.
“Thanks…”
Green gained a deeper understanding of their guild’s fighting style.
“Three matches, we’ve won the first, right?” Ye Chui shouted, drowning out the crowd. “So, who’s next?”
Panal had the unconscious blond man carried away for healing by light mages. In this magical world, his severe injuries could be healed, though the psychological scars would linger.
“Next, I’ll go!” A tall man in armour stepped forward, a swordsman with long hair but a bald crown, giving him a comical look.
Yet, the crowd’s excited reactions suggested this bald swordsman had exceptional combat skills.
“I’m Gastin, leader of Fengyan City’s Brightlight Mercenary Group,” he said coldly to Ye Chui’s trio. “Who’s my opponent? Hmph, let me be clear, such dirty tricks are useless against a strong swordsman!”
“Me, me!” Debbie, seeing a swordsman, eagerly stepped forward. “I’ll be your opponent!”
“You?” Gastin’s face twitched with anger, feeling insulted by facing a girl. But for the invitation, he decided to go all out.
Just then, Debbie curiously asked, “I have a question.”
“What?” Gastin sneered.
Debbie stared intently at his shiny bald crown. “Is your group called Brightlight because of your bald head?”
