Mage Manual-Chapter 1425 - 1039: It Doesn’t Matter, I’ll Step In (Part 3)
Ingrid thought the same, so she kept healing herself, ready to dodge the moment the Sword Barrier broke.
Boom!
"Huh?"
"What?"
To everyone’s surprise, the Thunder Shield Axe did not break the Sword Barrier. Instead, the Shield Axe Mage was heavily struck on the torso by the invisible Sword Qi reflected from the barrier, scorching blood dripping onto the cold ground, emitting steam.
"Ingrid is amazing!" Adelle jumped up instantly: "Hurry and take down that loudspeaker!"
Ingrid was also surprised. She recalled that her Sword Barrier wasn’t that strong, so why... But now wasn’t the time to ponder such details. She regained her stance, planted her feet firmly, and swung her sword with fierce Sword Light again!
The Shield Axe Mage almost instantly managed to stop the bleeding, continuing the fight fearlessly. Although he didn’t know how a One-winged Mage managed to injure him, as long as he was cautious of that one move, he would be fine. He could chop down a One-winged Sword Master even with basic attacks!
However, as time passed, Ingrid remained unscathed, while the Shield Axe Mage was left with numerous wounds, his black clothes nearly dyed dark red!
How is that possible?
Was she hiding her strength earlier?
What Technique Spirit effect is this? Why can’t I defeat her?
Not only was the Shield Axe Mage terrified, but Ingrid was also unable to understand what was happening to her. She could only feel the cold wind supporting her body, the light reflecting off her sword, her body as light as if she were about to take flight. Every sword strike hit the enemy’s vital points, every second dodged the enemy’s attacks, as if...
The world was helping her fight.
She vaguely remembered hearing about similar things, like a Water Mage in an ocean environment, or a Fire Mage during a fire, where Mages would be unstoppable when casting in the right environment. But when would a Sword Master have such a casting environment? Could it be that the weather was cold enough for the wind to cut like a knife?
Thinking this, Ingrid casually swung her sword, the tip grazing the surface of the Hexagram Shield, unexpectedly leaving a deep crack. The wind, sharp as a sea of swords, howled through the crack, leaving both dumbfounded.
Ingrid suddenly recalled a past conversation with Sonia.
"Legendary Sword Masters can create a swordsmanship environment, where a casual sword strike could unleash Sword Qi for hundreds of meters, or carry armor-piercing effects of annihilation level..."
*
"Haha, Iris, who do you think will be thrown into East Lake to cool off their brain next?"
The situation on the field was already clear, even though no one knew why Ingrid was overpowering the Two-winged Mage, it didn’t stop Adelle from boasting: "You think having guards means you’re untouchable? Outside school, I might not be able to do anything to you, but back in school, who do you think respects you?"
"Yes, you’re the Earl’s daughter, rich and powerful. No one dares speak ill of you to your face—except me—but do you dare check the school forum? Do you know what others say about you? Everyone knows you benefited from Sonia’s favor, and then were the first to snatch up her possessions!"
"Everyone you know from now on will be cautious, everyone who flatters you will be wary, every compliment you hear will hide mockery, every greeting will carry distance, because you’re an utterly shameless loudspeaker, you are unworthy of trust!"
"Do you think Sonia’s brightness exposed your ugliness? Even without her, you are still a clown, no one will respect you, no one!"
Adelle took the chance to toss a water ball, perfectly landing over the battlefield, hitting the daydreaming Iris. Dripping wet, Iris sneezed, cold spreading through her that even her down jacket couldn’t fend off.
She saw a circle of students nearby, some whispering, some pointing, some recording. Cold water droplets falling from her hair onto her nose, her body started to shiver. She hugged herself tightly, Adelle’s words echoing in her mind: "No one respects you... Everyone despises you... Everyone is mocking you..."
Iris bowed her head, covering her ears, gasping for air, but Adelle’s voice remained crystal clear, piercing like the howling wind: "...your guards are losing, soon we’ll throw you into East Lake, so you can think carefully about what not to do, what not to say!"
Iris looked up to see the Shield Axe Mage bleeding profusely, her breathing becoming more rapid, the cold in her body seemingly reminding her of the upcoming ordeal. Adelle’s voice was so piercing, the students around whispered, and their gazes felt like nails, causing her intense pain...
Don’t mock me... Don’t look down on me... No!
A gleam of defiance flashed in her eyes, she suddenly drew a standard Hand Cannon from her clothes aiming at Ingrid, instantly loading and unlocking the safety, causing the surrounding students to exclaim—such powerful weapons like guns can only be used in duels with a professor present, otherwise they could easily kill, and couldn’t be saved!
I can’t lose!
Iris fiercely pulled the trigger, but it clicked empty.
Startled, she noticed a masked man standing before her, examining a standard Hand Cannon in his hand as if studying its construction.
"You..."
Iris tried to speak, but choked as the gun muzzle was shoved into her mouth. The cold barrel pressed against her throat, the aura of death permeating her entire being, Iris collapsed limply as if her spine had been stripped away, sitting feebly on the ground.
She wanted to reassure herself that he didn’t dare fire, but looking up, she saw only a pair of indifferent eyes. No anger, no joy, no emotion whatsoever, as if taking a life was a trivial part of his routine.
Tears involuntarily slid from her eyes, Iris had never felt so humiliated, with the gun muzzle in her mouth, breaking down in a sobbing cry before the crowd, making whimpering noises.
The battle between Ingrid and the Shield Axe Mage had ceased, Lois cautiously said: "Xiu—"
Bang!
The gunshot startled many to cover their ears and crouch down. The crowd watched as the dark-haired young man withdrew the Hand Cannon, its silver barrel gleaming with an opalescent thread-like liquid.
"Blank round." He chuckled, "I knew the Sword Flower student wouldn’t murder a fellow student."
He squatted down, placing the Hand Cannon back into Iris’s hand, locking the safety. Iris, staring blankly at him, seemed dazed beyond words.
He pulled out a packet of tissues, extending one to Iris: "Wipe your mouth."
Iris obediently accepted, carefully wiping the moisture from around her lips.
"Take care of your mouth, miss." He patted Iris on the shoulder and left with a thermos bag. After notifying the professor and Healing Mage, Lois quickly departed the scene with her roommates, catching up with the dark-haired young man.
Iris remained in a daze, until the Healing Mage arrived to take her aside for an examination, at which point a crumpled bullet rolled out from the gun muzzle, striking the ground with a crisp sound.
The sound seemed to jolt Iris awake, gazing at the bullet that had been fired but inexplicably failed to leave the barrel, she suddenly burst into tears like a child, rubbing her eyes, sobbing uncontrollably.
*
"You were too reckless just now!" Lois rushed over to grab Xiu’s hand: "What if her Hand Cannon hadn’t been a blank? You would have become a murderer!"
