You want me to help you invade Kuwol? Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no way I would swear fealty to anyone. I decide what to do with my life, not anyone else. I used strengthening magic to accelerate the healing of my stomach wound and slowly got to my feet.
“I’m grateful to you for saving me. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to serve you.”
“If you won’t, then I’ll kill you,” Neptotes said simply.
I didn’t know the true extent of his mana since he was hiding it from me, but he was clearly a Valkaan. And if he was a mage on top of that, he could utilize that vast mana pool far better than Burbelga. I didn’t stand a chance. But even so, I would never kneel to this man. I’d spent most of my past life bowing to superiors who didn’t deserve my respect. I’d die before doing that again in this life.
I swung my hand through the air and said, “If you’re a Valkaan, you can easily break your word, and no one could hold you accountable. There’s no point in negotiating with someone like that. I can’t trust you.”
Those who relied solely on power always found themselves alone. Indeed—the stronger they got, the more isolated they became.
Neptotes’s face contorted into an ugly scowl, and I smelled a hint of fear from him. It seemed my refusal was something he actually feared.
“Fool. If you will not follow me, then perish. Vaz gues erpimanues! Vaz dan!” He chanted in a language I didn’t recognize, then lightning shot from fingertips. If it hit me, I’d die for sure. But the lightning arced away from me and shot up through the hole in the ceiling.
Neptotes stared at me in shock.
“How?!” he gasped.
“Lightning moving through the air follows the trail of ionized particles. You didn’t know?”
I’d swung my hand through the air and cast a spell to deionize everything my fingers touched, creating a barrier against electricity. I wouldn’t have needed the hand motion, but it was a spell I wasn’t too familiar with, and the gesture helped cast it without an incantation.
Way back when we’d conquered Thuvan, Master had used lightning magic to bring the city down. She’d developed a spell to ionize the air back then, and after further research, we’d created a way to do the reverse. While I hadn’t known what Neptotes was chanting, I’d smelled the distinct scent of static in the air around him, so I’d known what kind of attack was coming. As always, my enhanced sense of smell saved my life.
Neptotes stared at me for a few seconds before letting out a long sigh. “I admit you know some interesting spells, but this is a waste of time. If you won’t serve me, then death is all that awaits.”
“We’ll see about that,” I said defiantly.
Truthfully, I was in dire straits. I’d used most of my mana fighting Burbelga, and my wounds hadn’t fully healed either. Neptotes was absorbing the nearby mana, which proved he was a Valkaan. When he’d been hiding the extent of his mana pool from me, the air was still. But now that he was fighting, his concealment spell was gone, and mana was gathering around him.
“If lightning won’t work, then I’ll simply burn you with fire.” Neptotes unleashed a torrent of flame from his hands. However, fire moved slower than electricity, and I could easily leap out of the way using strengthening magic. Furthermore, magical flames didn’t last long, and petered out after a few seconds.
“Grrr...” Neptotes growled with impatience.
Even if I’d been in top shape, I’d only be able to buy seconds against him at best. As I was now, Neptotes could easily kill me. But for some reason, he kept using weak destruction magic instead of a more direct approach. In fact, he’d only used a few kites of mana for both spells. That was still enough to instantly kill a normal person, but any mage worth their salt could deal with attacks like this. Why’s he taking things so slowly?
After a few seconds, I had a sudden realization. There was still hope for me yet.
“You’re afraid of Burbelga finding you, aren’t you?”
“I am not afraid of him,” he grunted. “I am far stronger than that brute. But fighting him would be a waste of time and energy.”
Neptotes started to back away slowly. He seemed worried I might transform and rush him. What a cautious guy. That made it even easier for me to bluff him. Using the last of my strength, I transformed. The pain from my stomach wound hit me tenfold, and I let out a howl.
“Awooo!”
“Hmm?!” Neptotes hurriedly cast another spell. I didn’t recognize it, but it appeared to be some sort of defensive spell. I wasn’t trying to attack him in the first place though.
“Awoooooo!” I let out another howl—one loud enough to shake the castle’s walls. If Burbelga was close enough to hear it, he’d definitely be coming straight here.
Neptotes turned pale and shouted, “S-Stop! That fool will hear you!”
Yeah? That’s what I want, I thought before letting out another howl. “AWOOOOOO!”
Neptotes jumped out of the room and started running. From the looks of it, he couldn’t use teleportation magic. This old abandoned castle had a labyrinthine layout, and I wasn’t sure where exactly he’d gone. I could use my sense of smell to track him down, but right now, I wanted to put more distance between us because there was no chance Burbelga had heard me. I’d cast a sound-dampening spell on the room that absorbed all sound waves heading out. I had absolutely no desire to get caught up in a brawl between two Valkaan.
“Owww...” I’d forced a transformation despite my injuries, and the pain was almost enough to knock me out. But if I lost consciousness here, Neptotes would kill me for sure when he returned.
I canceled my transformation and left the room through a different exit than Neptotes’s. I fumbled my way through the dark hallways, searching for somewhere safe. Unfortunately, Neptotes was in the castle, and Burbelga was up on the surface. There was nowhere I’d be safe with two Valkaan hunting me. Dejected, I leaned against the wall. Even taking another step was a gargantuan effort. My wounds ached, my throat was parched, and I was all out of mana.
“I...might be done for...” I muttered.
I’d already died once, and I’d been prepared to die here the moment I ran off to buy time. But just as I was about to give up, Airia and Friede’s faces flashed through my mind. If I died, my family would be devastated. Likewise, I hated the thought of never seeing them again. I couldn’t afford to die just yet.
“Dammit...” Still leaning against the wall, I took a step forward. Then another. And another. And another.
After walking for what felt like an eternity, I found myself in front of a spiral staircase leading downwards. I started walking down, my whole body so numb I couldn’t tell if I was actually moving or not. To make matters worse, I was beginning to hallucinate from exhaustion.
“You finally made it. Look at how beat up you are!”
Huh? Who’s that? They sound familiar. And reliable.
“Of course I sound familiar, you dolt.”
They say the bonds you forge with those you serve are stronger than anything. I guess that’s why I’m seeing you now, huh?
“I wouldn’t say our relationship was really that of master and servant.”
Is it really you, F—