Chapter 99: Forest Thorns vs. Blood Thorns (2)

The assassin pointed his palm toward the elf, and the gigantic sphere of blood floating above his head began to churn, as if something alive were twisting inside it. The red surface vibrated with increasing violence.

Reddish crystal thorns began to grow from the sphere, first a few and then many more, expanding at a sickening speed. Each one gleamed with a dark, razor-sharp edge that made it clear they would pierce stone, flesh, or wood without stopping.

Lucian began running, trying to avoid each impact, moving with all the speed his legs and still-aching body allowed. He had no room to hesitate, because every thorn fell as if trying to pin him to the ground.

The elf was fast, and after circling around he managed to close the distance to his enemy, slipping through the smallest gaps between volleys. For a moment it seemed he would reach striking range before that bastard prepared something else.

But the assassin raised his other hand and spoke another spell, shifting the rhythm of the fight just as Lucian approached. His voice sounded calm, almost amused, as if all of this were nothing more than a simple test.

“Weave.”

{{Blood Magic: Summoning: Crimson Weaver}}

Inside the massive bubble of blood, a creature formed in haste—a white spider with glowing crimson markings. Its body took shape within the blood as if it had always been there, waiting to be released.

The spider, the size of a tiger, emerged from the bubble to defend its master, spinning threads of blood-silk filled with magic that connected to the floating mass of blood in the sky. Each strand pulsed like a living vein.

Lucian, just inches from crashing into the trap, veered off his path to avoid touching the threads, but the spider—just as fast as he was—began weaving more strands around its master. The space in front of the assassin became an impossible nest.

Seeing there was no way to attack his enemy head-on, Lucian sprinted toward a small grove in the garden. He needed cover, time, and somewhere that those damned crystals wouldn’t rain down directly on him.

The crystal thorns never stopped falling, and when he took shelter behind a trunk they began piling into the wood until it finally split apart. The tree creaked, cracked open, and collapsed as if it were dry straw.

With no other choice, Lucian retreated deeper among the trees, but one by one they were being cut down by the dozens of projectiles. The entire grove began to vanish before him, shredded by that red storm.

“(This is insane… Those thorns are so hard they’re breaking the trees. I’d like to stall until he runs out of blood, but he clearly has more than enough to keep this up for a long time… And my stamina still sucks…)”

“Hide all you want, idiot, you’re going to die anyway!” the assassin shouted while bringing his hands together and chanting, “Coagulate and grow!” His tone sounded thrilled, as if he were already savoring the moment he crushed him.

{{Blood Magic: Grand Crimson Thorn}}

From the floating mass of blood, a crystal spike the size of a carriage began to form, prepared to obliterate the small grove. It grew rapidly, thick and monstrous, making it clear this was no ordinary shot.

Swallowing hard, the elf moved his mouth and regurgitated a seed. Once in his hands, he focused to release the seed’s power. He held it carefully, knowing he could not waste something like this.

Slowly the seed crumbled apart, forming a sphere of dense, pure spiritual energy. Then, with a whistle, it shot toward the tree behind him and merged into its core, and a magic circle shone beneath the trunk.

{{Forest Magic: Summoning: Guardian’s Squire}}

The crystal projectile shot forward at incredible speed and slammed into the trees, triggering a massive explosion. Dirt, wood, and dust blasted everywhere, swallowing Lucian and the entire garden from view for a moment.

When the dust cloud settled, a figure stood between the massive projectile and the green-haired elf. It was a tree shaped like a human, holding the crystal in its oak hands. It had stopped the attack just before it could destroy everything.

With no branches or leaves, it was only twisted oak shaped like a man, with two holes in its head where bright yellow magical fire burned like eyes. Its body looked ancient, solid, and absurdly sturdy.

“That was close. Thanks for showing up so fast, Shin!” the elf said with relief, finally letting out the breath he had been holding.

“It’s been a long time since you summoned me… What the hell is going on here, Luci?” the living trunk replied, before slamming the projectile into the ground and shattering the crystal into thousands of fragments.

“Well, I didn’t really have a reason to summon you… Besides, preparing your seed takes at least two days of work, it’s not something I can use often,” the elf said, regaining some composure.

The assassin, seeing his rival’s summon, began scratching his chin, and with a whistle his ash-colored spider returned to the blood cluster above. He didn’t look afraid, only curious, as if the fight had just become more interesting.

“Interesting… So you’re a summoner elf. I’d always heard about their Forest Magic, capable of bringing entire forests to life…” the assassin said, stopping his attacks and cracking his neck.

Lucian stepped out of what little remained of the grove alongside Shin. The oak rolled its arm as if it hadn’t gone for a walk in years.

“I see my people’s reputation reaches even the most diseased ears of this continent,” Lucian said with a serious look.

“You have no idea… When I was a child, my mother used to tell me stories about the land of the elves—how their Tree Mothers were born at the beginning of time, and how elves were born from their fruits… Of course, some of those trees aren’t in your country anymore, right, green hair?”

The assassin, fully aware of Lucian’s situation, began to laugh, because pure-blooded elves were blond with sapphire-blue eyes, while half-breeds ended up with hair of many colors.

“Heh… I suppose even assassins deserve to know the history of this world… It’s a shame you never learned the most important part of that history,” the elf replied, his gaze sharpening.

“And what would that be?”

“That no matter how tall the tree grows, or how hard its trunk becomes… it can still fall.”

Lucian gave a faint smile and let out a whistle. Beside him, Shin responded instantly, as if he had been waiting for that signal.

Shin struck his fists together, a magic circle shining beneath his feet before he slammed his hands into the ground. The earth answered with a deep cracking sound.

{{Forest Magic: Squire Shin: Living Roots}}

Suddenly, beneath the assassin’s feet, multiple roots burst from the ground and wrapped around him. Thick and fast, they coiled around his legs, arms, and torso.

“I’ve always wanted to kill an elf… Since you’ll be my first elven kill, I’ll give you my name… I’m Sifhon… Sifhon Krom.”

After saying that, the assassin whistled.

Inside the sphere of blood, the spider began to writhe, and a magic circle glowed on its thorax.

{{Blood Magic: Crimson Weaver: Grand Egg Crate}}

From the creature’s abdomen, hundreds of eggs the size of a human head began pouring out, slowly filling the entire blood sphere as the white eggs absorbed the surrounding blood.

“Let’s see then, elf, which of us has the better summon!” the assassin shouted in exhilaration.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep