Chapter 21: Chapter 21 : Red Thread!!
"Ward!"
Reed completely ignored it, leaving the cover of the stones and rushing towards Everit.
Although he hadn't acted before, now his magic surged forth as if unleashed without restraint.
However, Reed's magnetic field magic wasn't as inherently powerful as gravity magic or crush magic; it was more auxiliary in nature.
And Everit wasn't like Natsu, who boldly unleashed his magic.
Deception magic, by its very nature, focused more on the precise control and condensation of magical power.
So, while Reed's magnetic field magic presented some obstacles to Everit, it wasn't insurmountable.
If it had been gravity magic, with Everit's physical condition, he'd have been on his knees in seconds.
Of course, that assumes the other party could find Everit first.
"Hahaha! Die! Liar Mage!"
At that moment, Ward couldn't hear Reed's words at all.
In his sight, sound, and feeling, Ward drove one claw into "Everit's" abdomen!
The pungent, sticky blood sprayed all over his face.
"Ward, you're amazing! I want to treat you to ice cream!"
"Ward, you're so strong! I'm not even close to you!"
Ward heard his brother's cheers and Gavin's praise.
He looked at "Reed" and said, "Brother, I want to eat him."
"Reed" replied happily, "Of course, my dear brother."
Ward then turned to "Everit," grinning proudly. "Big liar, you're going to be my meal."
He sank his teeth into "Everit's" palm, eliciting a scream!
"Da!"
Everit swooped down in front of Ward.
Haven was swung down.
They were caught up!
Reed felt he had reached a sufficient sensing distance. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing a black strap around his wrist.
With a hard tug, he tore the straps.
"Dang!"
Ward raised his hand, blocking Everit's sword with the iron collar on his wrist.
"Click."
The collar around Ward's limbs and neck came undone and fell off.
Danger!
Everit didn't hesitate, using jet wind to retreat.
"Whoa!"
Ward delivered a backhand claw, nearly toppling Everit.
Damn! This guy isn't ordinary!
Is it over now?
What path is he on?
With so many trump cards, is he the protagonist of some villainous saga?
Everit felt a bit helpless.
At this moment, Reed finally rushed towards Ward.
Everit attempted to intervene, but the magical power of Reed and Ward surged unexpectedly. Reed utilized all his magic power to create a chaotic magnetic field, preventing Everit from reuniting them in the short term. They were enveloped within the sphere of influence of Deception magic.
It appeared that the opposing party had resorted to a desperate tactic.
Bang!
After all, Gavin was already dead.
"Brother, I require your strength." After removing the iron collar, Ward no longer appeared as erratic. He seemed composed and cold.
Perhaps, the iron collar served as a seal for him.
As for why it wasn't removed initially, Everit speculated there were either significant restrictions or the cost was as high as risking one's life.
He preferred the latter.
"There's no other choice." Reed sank his teeth into Ward's shoulder. Compared to the hefty price, defeating this formidable enemy was his only chance at survival!
"That's where the bite marks on my body came from." Ward calmly remarked to Everit.
'Poof'
Reed's body slumped to the ground. All signs of life vanished—he was dead.
Ward approached Gavin, extended his foot, and uttered disdainfully, "Bite me before you die."
Gavin was indeed still clinging to life. Even after being severed in half, he could endure for a short while, especially considering he was a formidable mage.
Gavin struggled to open his mouth, sank his teeth into Ward's toes, and then shut his eyes.
"This is my magic."
Ward's physique expanded and matured rapidly.
He transitioned from a boy to a grown man.
Standing at two meters tall with well-defined muscles, he exuded immense pressure, akin to Jura, one of the top ten wizards Everit had encountered!
"I can allow others to bite me, thus entrapping and harvesting their souls and magic."
"Though the cost for them is returning to the factory and being rebuilt."
"For me, the more I use this magic, the more it regresses my body and intellect."
"But you've driven us to dire straits, forcing me to employ this method against you."
"Observe—"
Ward spoke slowly.
"Every bite mark on my body signifies that I've dispatched a formidable foe with this technique."
"Liar Mage, consider it an honor that I've vanquished you in this manner."
"The toll on me is that I've shaved off five years from my lifespan."
Ward raised his chin slightly and shut his eyes, "Here it comes, I sense my brother's power."
"But, I still require some time to comprehend."
"Then, let us engage in battle like this. I hope you can endure until I'm able to perceive you."
Ward shut his eyes and instinctively threw a punch.
Everit swiftly retreated, but the enemy had already located him!
Boom!
A six-meter-wide pillar of fire struck where Everit had stood moments ago.
"I possess innate super intuition. Your illusion magic holds no sway over me now."
Ward materialized in front of Everit in an instant.
"He's too fast!"
Everit couldn't evade!
"It seems you won't last until then. What a shame. Without that illusion magic working, you've grown so weak."
Ward thrust his fist forward.
'Boom'
The ground trembled, giving rise to a mushroom cloud!
"Huh?"
Ward uttered in surprise, then exhaled a powerful gust of wind.
The smoke dissipated.
A red thread ball intercepted his punch.
The ball unfurled, revealing Everit standing within.
At this moment, Everit wore a somewhat grim expression.
He raised his left hand, shielding his chest with the back of it facing outward.
The origin of the red thread lay in his ring finger.
Here, wearing a ring symbolized marriage.
The red thread was tied to the ring finger of his left hand.
"What's this? I can't even break it." Ward was thoroughly astonished.
Everit stood firm, and the red thread instantly transformed into a surging wave, crashing into Ward and sending him flying dozens of meters away.
"I initially didn't intend to resort to this." Everit's expression soured. "Each time it's used, the thread tightens by a notch."
"Indeed? So it's the red thread." Ward charged forth and unleashed another punch, only to have it thwarted once again by the barrier formed by the red thread.
He sought to disrupt it with magnetic field magic, rendering this external magic ineffective, but it was akin to punching a fortified wall. This seemingly fragile shield composed of soft red threads proved indestructible!
"I've heard the red thread symbolizes marriage, right?" Ward's curiosity deepened.
Everit's fingers trembled slightly. He remained silent. Grasping a long sword woven with red thread in his right hand, he swung it downward. Ward sensed danger and swiftly retracted his hand, yet it was still sliced halfway.
"What an exceptionally sharp red thread."
"Indestructible and exceedingly sharp."
"Is this your trump card?"
"It's quite terrifying," Ward remarked with a faint smile.
Even with half his palm missing and facing the overwhelming red thread, he didn't betray even a hint of fear; his demeanor remained relaxed.
With a quick tip of his toe, he darted out of the red thread's stranglehold range with incredible speed.
Everit glanced at the red thread in the sky, his brow furrowing in dissatisfaction as he muttered to himself, "Why are you pushing yourself so hard? Are you trying to get yourself killed, you idiot!"
"Alright, I take back what I said earlier. You're the most unique and formidable opponent I've ever faced! But it ends here," Ward declared, pausing his assault from a hundred meters away.
"I've completely grasped my brother's magic."
"Even with such powerful red thread magic..."
"But, alas, it's all over."
Ward scratched his forehead with his nails, drawing blood, as he conjured something out of thin air: a third eye on his forehead.
"Let me see your true form, you liar!"
"And where is your accomplice hiding!"
"I've combined the magical strength of three people now, and my sight is far superior to my brother's!"
"All the concealed truths in the world will be unveiled before me—hidden no longer!"
"If indeed everything can be laid bare," Everit adjusted his glasses, his expression conflicted, "then I strongly advise against it."
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