Chapter 249: The Continuing Sniper Kill

The act of dying did not bring him any chance of survival; a gray-black rending ray pierced his relatively weak head, and the headless corpse crashed heavily to the ground. By this time, Shaoke had already reached the warrior he had immobilized with Death Gaze, and the flaming staff slammed heavily into the opponent's head, the lush green flames instantly engulfing the warrior who had no aura to protect him.

After killing two warriors, Shaoke, coordinating with Mage Roman, easily dispatched the other two.

Then, he began to assist Mage Yisier in battling the three distant mages. With the aid of two mages, Yisier's pressure eased considerably; at least the three Fifth Tier Mages could no longer cast spells to attack Shaoke and his companions. Spells rapidly streaked across the sky, colliding with each other, while Shaoke continuously advanced while casting spells.

With the help of various spellcasting techniques, when those Fifth Tier Mages released a single Fifth Tier spell attack, Shaoke had already cast two same-tier spells. Under this rapid spellcasting pace, the mages began to use stored spell structure crystals to advance and started to retreat slowly.

But facing two Sixth Tier military department mages, those Fifth Tier Mages had no chance to escape. Yisier's spell, with Shaoke's coordination, easily blasted one mage to death. The two layers of Fifth Tier defensive spells could not withstand the attack of a Sixth Tier spell at all. After losing one companion, the other two mages tried to flee, but Shaoke's rapid attacks and Roman's seemingly endless scroll attacks blasted them into pulp.

Everything was over. The snow covered all traces on the ground, but the turbulent magical fluctuations in the air would not disappear for a short time.

"It should be the Mist Trade Guild's people," Mage Yisier said uncertainly after examining those bodies, as the attackers bore no marks that could represent their identity. However, based on the recent conflict, she made this speculation.

"I hope it's them," Mage Man said, stroking her magic bag somewhat distressed. Some high-level scrolls she had stored were nearly depleted by almost a third, which made her begin to hate tonight's attackers even more. Coupled with her bad mood that evening, she eventually took out some low-level scrolls and used spells to blast those dead into pulp.

"Let's go back," Shaoke said, rubbing his head somewhat painfully. Regarding this attack, although he had anticipated it, he hadn't expected the opponent to send so many people to assassinate him. If Mage Yisier hadn't been there tonight, his battle would have been much tougher.

After returning to the imperial capital, it was already early morning. The mages found an inn and quickly went to sleep. None of them had the mood for intimacy that night, but to prevent any unexpected incidents, the three mages gathered in one room to sleep.

Just after dawn, Shaoke finished his meditation and briefly engaged in intimacy with the two female mages before deciding to leave the imperial capital and return to his hometown.

After parting from the two female mages, Shaoke took a carriage to head out of the imperial capital. He needed this carriage to take him to another city, where he would change carriages again until he reached his hometown.

Only half a magic hour into the ride, Shaoke felt the sensation of being targeted by an enemy archer on the battlefield. Enemy attack! Though somewhat puzzled, he immediately activated his protective spells. Two layers of Sixth Tier defensive spells quickly shielded him. At that moment, dozens of crossbow bolts pierced the carriage and struck Shaoke precisely.

Three or five consecutive volleys of arrows quickly wore down the two layers of Sixth Tier defensive spells, even breaking the support spell for arrow defense. Despite his confusion over the spells' failure, Shaoke promptly took out another protective scroll—though only a Fifth Tier one—which helped him block the last arrow's attack.

The ordinary carriage was shattered by the powerful arrows. The driver fled frantically as the attack began, and the startled horses bolted through the streets, knocking over many pedestrians. Thrown from the carriage by the arrows, Shaoke was attacked again. Amid the panicked crowd, a black light streaked toward his throat. The Fifth Tier defensive spell was easily torn through, but Death Gaze saved him once more. The assassin's blade, after its owner was immobilized, struck heavily on Shaoke's shoulder.

A violent numbness spread through Shaoke's body. Poison! The mage tore open two more protective scrolls and, ignoring his surroundings, instantly cast the Zero-level Spell to remove poison—a spell every mage must learn. Though low in tier, it was effective at dispelling toxins; at least Shaoke no longer felt the numbness in his shoulder.

Pain then surged into Shaoke's mind.

The flames on his staff flared up, and Shaoke swung it heavily at the immobilized assassin's head. Green flames quickly wrapped around the opponent, fueled by the mage's mana, and burned fiercely. Shaoke did not dispel the immobilization on the Infiltrator, leaving him standing rigidly as he was scorched.

Shaoke quickly released his mental energy to scan the surroundings, wary of further attacks. But at that moment, a throwing axe infused with aura flew at him from behind. One layer of his defensive spells shattered, and the axe knocked him forward. Fortunately, relying on his battlefield experience, he quickly cast a blurring spell and hid in the mist, reapplying various protective spells.

After quickly replacing the broken magic cores on his robe and cloak, Shaoke reactivated his Sixth Tier defensive spells. The thick shield of light made him feel safer, and only then could he release enough mental energy for detailed detection and counterattack.

The green flames burst violently, surging into the sky. Under the mage's incantations and gestures, they quickly transformed into several flames floating around him. At that moment, arrows attacked him again, but under the defense of the green flames, even the densest volleys were burned to ash before reaching him.

Shaoke quickly pinpointed the direction of the attack: a tavern, a seemingly luxurious one. Seven or eight figures stood at the tavern's windows, aiming large crossbows at him. As for the other enemy who had thrown the axe, Shaoke didn't detect him, but he had no time to think about that now. He only knew he had to kill the enemies in that tavern quickly. With that thought, the mage began frantically preparing spell attacks.

He instantly unleashed one Lava Ray after another. Some archers failed to dodge in time and were shattered by the spells. After furiously releasing three or five single-target spells, he frantically prepared a few area-of-effect spells. He hurled Rending Vortex and Flame Stone—two spells he could cast instantly—at the tavern. Whether ordinary people inside would be harmed or killed by his attack was not his concern. He only wanted to kill all the assassins.

Faced with such frenzied spellcasting, the attackers had no chance to strike again. The luxurious tavern crumbled and burned under the assault of four or five area-of-effect spells. At that moment, under Shaoke's command, two of the green flames floating around him flew into the tavern, further intensifying the blaze.

Some guests fled the tavern under their guards' protection, while others, angered by Shaoke's reckless attack, planned to teach him a lesson so he would face sufficient punishment.

Just as Shaoke cast a Death Vortex and watched the last archer be torn to pieces, he laughed wildly, swinging his staff in the air. Flames occasionally fell, burning the thick stone-paved street.

People fleeing past the mage kept their distance. But as Shaoke laughed maniacally, seven or eight warriors suddenly burst out from the fleeing crowd, their auras flaring. The highest among them was Sixth Rank, the lowest Fifth Rank. At such close range, any mage below Seventh Rank would have no chance to defend or dodge, but the laughing mage didn't care. His staff suddenly exploded, enveloping him in a layer of pale golden light. A Seventh Tier defensive spell—Shaoke's external mental energy had already sensed another powerful presence preparing to attack him. But before that, he had to deal with the seven or eight warriors.

The ancient command spell Snow Vortex had an effect similar to what Mage Roman had used years ago, but its power was far greater. The power of such ancient command spells varied with the spellcaster. Back then, Roman was only a Third Tier mage, while Shaoke had been a Sixth Tier Mage for three to five years.

After Shaoke finished the four ancient magical syllables, a massive vortex appeared around him. White and over ten meters in size, it instantly entangled the warriors and some nearby ordinary people. The violent snow vortex tore everything apart, even the two Sixth-rank Warriors were no exception. No matter how thick their aura, they were reduced to fragments, with no chance of survival.