Chapter 153 Post-hunt Interrogation

While running, Shaoke tore open another protective scroll to cast the Web Spell. A fist-sized sticky web exploded behind him, adhering to the houses on both sides of the street. He hoped to temporarily halt the pursuers' advance with this method, thereby stalling for time until reinforcements arrived.

The pursuers did not give up the chase because of Shaoke's resistance; instead, they relentlessly pursued him regardless of their battle aura consumption. The archers in the distance shot arrows again. Fortunately, their rank was too low to infuse their arrows with aura, and there was no Archer among them. Thus, Shaoke managed to escape with his life by relying on the mist swirling around him and his Defensive Spell.

Shaoke quickly cast one Web Spell after another behind him. At this moment, he somewhat regretted not having learned the zero-rank Grease Spell. When the last protective scroll stored on his person was torn open, the enemies caught up with him. Moreover, a warrior frantically pursued him from the rooftops, leaping down from above to attack him.

Flame Jet. Without a second thought, he quickly released this spell—one he'd never used since learning it—from his hands after forming the seals. A flame as thick as a person and dozens of meters long shot from Shaoke's hands toward the warrior charging from above at an angle. The warrior did not panic; instead, he took out a small shield, infused it with aura, and slammed into the flame.

'Thud...' A muffled sound echoed as the flame was completely dispersed by the warrior. Although he no longer had the strength to attack Shaoke after a series of depletions, his action still bought precious time for the warriors behind him. Several warriors quickly caught up. Without a word, they brandished their javelins and lunged at Shaoke.

Reciting a simple activation incantation, Shaoke crushed the last magic crystal storing a spell on his person. Silvery-white powder quickly floated in the air, almost instantly forming a Three-pointed Star Magic Array. A white light sphere the size of a human head violently exploded, its dazzling radiance illuminating most of the street. The warriors never expected their opponent to release a spell similar to Sunburst at this moment. The temporary blindness threw them into slight disarray, but sensing through their battle aura, they still attacked in Shaoke's direction. Two warriors even fiercely threw their javelins, hoping to quickly kill Shaoke with such attacks.

After releasing the Sunburst spell sealed within the magic crystal, Shaoke quickly moved to the side, cast the Third Rank Death Gaze again, and after immobilizing one warrior, swiftly moved toward this gap.

However, the pursuers quickly discovered the mage had left his original position by relying on the thrown javelins and promptly notified their companions. The warrior who fell due to Shaoke's immobilization made a loud crashing sound, allowing the warriors still temporarily blinded to quickly determine the mage's escape route and promptly change direction to launch a new assault.

The battle had reached this point, and Shaoke almost had no strength left to counterattack. To ensure his safety, he quickly activated the last defense on his person. After a few simple syllables, the green crystal at the top of his staff violently shattered, transforming into dozens of Green Flames forming a spell barrier. This was the military's unique Third Rank defensive spell, formed at the cost of sacrificing most of the staff's efficacy.

Fortunately, Shaoke's decision was timely. The moment the defensive spell took shape, a hand-axe infused with silvery-white aura heavily struck him, knocking Shaoke back into the encirclement of the warriors.

Although Shaoke desperately poured mana into the defensive spell to maintain it, the entire barrier still dimmed considerably, with more than half of the dozens of flames vanishing.

With the help of their aura, the warriors also regained their vision and locked onto Shaoke to begin a new attack.

At such close range, Shaoke had no time to cast spells. Moreover, spells below Second Rank had no effect on these warriors who had erupted all their aura for defense. But in desperation, Shaoke still made a frantic move. He desperately curled up his body and began rolling on the ground, hoping this would help him evade the enemy's attacks.

After quickly rolling a distance, Shaoke did not encounter any enemy attacks. He swiftly stood up and chose a direction to run.

"Stop, young Death Mage." A clear female voice sounded in Shaoke's ear. "Stay here. Let's see who dares to hunt mages within the Bloody Fortress."

A seemingly young Female Mage in a sky-blue robe slowly descended from the air, landing in front of Shaoke and blocking his escape. "I think you should look back now. Hmm! Your current appearance doesn't quite fit the image of a mage. I suggest you straighten your robe. Yes, cover yourself with your cloak!"

After being intercepted by the female mage who descended from the air, Shaoke calmed down somewhat. He tidied himself up as she instructed, then glanced back and, seeing that the enemies were not pursuing, performed a ritual gesture of thanks according to etiquette, expressing his gratitude for the help from the female mage before him.

It turned out the several warriors who had been chasing Shaoke were now lying quietly on the ground, showing no movement. Shaoke extended his mental senses to observe and found their hearts were still beating; they had merely been immobilized by some spell cast by the female mage, though he didn't know which one.

The female mage glanced briefly at Shaoke and said softly, "A bit unexpected. I didn't think you'd survive long enough for our rescue." She then pointed at a warrior lying on the ground and said, "He is a Fourth Tier Warrior. I truly didn't expect you not to be killed by him." After saying this, she carefully examined Shaoke.

Hearing the words of the Blue-robed Female Mage, Shaoke felt somewhat annoyed, but considering she had saved him, he did not retort. He simply recalled the battle scene briefly and said to the Blue-robed Female Mage, "He didn't appear during the initial pursuit. I only noticed him at the very end." After speaking, he realized he still had a defensive spell active on himself. He then nodded to her and dispelled this defensive spell, which had cost him a Third Rank staff.

"You should have released the spells stored in the staff," the Blue-robed Female Mage said, twirling the small staff in her hand. She then continued, "Instead of casting a defensive spell at the last moment. This staff stored three Third Rank single-target attack spells, you know!" As she spoke, she glanced at Shaoke's now bare staff and couldn't help but chuckle slightly.

Shaoke chatted somewhat stiffly with the Blue-robed Female Mage and, following her instructions, waited here for the arrival of other rescue teams.

Not long after, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the distance, heading in their direction. A cavalry unit of over three hundred quickly surrounded the battlefield. Some cavalrymen, following their commander's orders, went into the houses along the street to comfort residents who had been frightened by the battle.

A middle-aged officer, after giving these orders, quickly approached Shaoke and the Blue-robed Female Mage and saluted the female mage. He then stepped forward to suppress the aura circulation of the several attackers lying on the ground and had them bound.

"Honorable Ward mage, it is a pleasure to meet you at this time," a dry, hoarse voice suddenly interrupted Shaoke and the others' conversation. "May I take a look at these poor little fellows? I think they will immediately take a liking to us."

Shaoke looked at the speaking mage. The mage was extremely gaunt; Shaoke felt as if he were merely a skeleton wrapped in skin. If not for the occasional flicker of green flame in his eyes, Shaoke would have almost thought he was a skinny, deceased old man.

The female mage addressed as the Ward mage gently shook her head. "According to the rules, when the attacked mage survives, the attackers first face their prey." She then raised her voice slightly, calling the officer over to bring the several warriors.

"Honorable Mage, your judgment is always correct," a seemingly young physician joined their conversation. The physician said to the male mage who resembled a skeleton, "I think now is not your time. Hmm! Our young Death Mage here needs to vent his anger." He then gestured for Shaoke to step forward and interrogate the captives.

Shaoke thought for a moment, then gently shook his head, declining the suggestion. In the end, it was the gaunt male mage who proposed letting the officer first interrogate the captives for some basic information.

This good suggestion was quickly agreed upon by the mages and the officer. The gaunt male mage then rapidly recited several incantations. A yellow mist drifted from the stark white staff in his hand and, under his command, quickly wrapped around the captives, entering through their nostrils and mouths. After doing this, the male mage nodded to the Blue-robed Female Mage, indicating his work was done.

The physician nearby was quite dissatisfied with the mage's earlier actions. After muttering a few words under his breath, he moved closer to the gaunt mage, seemingly intending to intervene if the mage did anything else not to his liking.

The Blue-robed Female Mage paid no attention to the two of them. Instead, she nodded to Shaoke, her snow-white fingers quickly drawing a pentagram in the air. Several beams of blue light swiftly flew from the magic array and merged into the warriors' bodies.

She then signaled to the officer that part of her restraint had been lifted. The captives could now speak.

Upon receiving the female mage's explanation, the officer immediately ordered the soldiers to proceed with the standard interrogation procedure. Several soldiers grabbed the warriors who had just regained their ability to speak and began slapping their faces fiercely. Deprived of their aura protection, the warriors, though still physically robust, couldn't help but emit pained grunts under the soldiers' frenzied blows.