Victoria jumped between houses trying to find the Nartheis that attacked her when she was testing, fighting some weaker ones. It was a surprise attack from a slim Nartheis that sent her to the center of the city, so she really wanted to strike back, even though a strange feeling had taken over when she felt that attack.
'I don't know what this feeling is, and it was also the first time someone hurt me... and to be honest, I don't think it's just from a type like that rank 2.'
Reaching the top of a house, she saw almost the entire city of Vesparello destroyed. Even being the third largest city on the continent, it was simply astonishing the level of destruction that fourth-circle mages could cause.
"Found it."
Seeing the Nartheis she was looking for, Victoria stopped on the roof of the next house, her eyes analyzing the place with a certain feeling as she noticed there were more Nartheis that seemed to be at the same level as the one that attacked her.
"Wait, is that Deymon? Why is he on the side of the Nartheis?"
Seeing Deymon draining the magic from Velka's body, she turned invisible with one of her spells, observing. She noticed that if she faced those Nartheis, she could die, so she preferred to wait for the right moment.
'Besides, that Nartheis also attacked me by surprise, so I'm just returning the favor.'
Watching the battle more closely, her hand trembled a little when she saw the power Deymon had shown to the four below.
'This guy has reached a new level... I want to defeat that slim Nartheis, but with Deymon there, it'll be impossible, so I'd better leave.'
Before leaving, she saw that the four still had a certain determination in their eyes even while weakened, as if they still had a small chance of defeating Deymon, even if it was minimal and they were afraid.
'These people want to die?'
To her, that was a foolish thing to do, but then she realized that even if they ran, they would be hunted, so the only thing she could do was wait. Thinking about whether she should join that fight even though it was dangerous, she saw Enrico arriving and telling his companions to leave.
'Is this guy crazy? He's thinking of facing those Nartheis alone?'
Clenching her fists, she remembered how well Enrico was praised by Hao, so she had thought he was at least smart enough to deserve all those compliments.
'He's just an idiot—'
Suddenly Victoria felt something different in Enrico when she saw his empty eyes; that wasn't just anger or foolishness—he really believed he could win that fight.
'That confidence... I'll just watch a bit to see how far he goes.'
Enrico stared at the four monsters in front of him without a single thought or plan—he simply radiated an absolute confidence that he could win that fight, which made Deymon's eyes burn with anger.
"Why do you look as if you could defeat a fourth-circle being while being only a third circle? Do you think you're so much better than me?"
"Yes, I am better than you—and I can give it back to you."
'At least with the pact active... but honestly, I don't care.'
Deymon raised his arm, creating a black slash toward Enrico that destroyed everything in its path. With an arrogant smile, he watched the destruction.
"You're no longer at my level, you piece of trash, and—"
While he was speaking, Enrico appeared behind him, placing his hand on the face of the Nartheis with blades on its body. The speed was so great that the two other Nartheis barely saw the movement.
"You're about to understand the difference now."
Hearing the sound of something being slammed violently to the ground, Deymon turned and was pushed back by the force of the wind produced—as if it were a shockwave.
"What was that? What kind of speed was that?"
"Lord Deymon, this boy really is one of your humans' third circle."
"Yes, he should be."
Speaking to the slim Nartheis, Deymon focused on Enrico, who was holding the face of the blade Nartheis like a rag while the monster below tried to break free somehow.
'How strange, I didn't feel this human channel any magic through his body to gain that speed.'
The wide-mouthed Nartheis appeared behind Enrico, biting his body and trying to tear him in half. The blade Nartheis started making several cuts on Enrico's leg.
Name: Silver Blade – Rank Faizes Level 2 High
Magic: Blades
Unique Ability: Poisoned Slash – When it hits someone, a venom enters their veins, causing a chance of death in 30 seconds if the target is weaker than the user.
Name: Mana Devourer – Rank Faizes Level 2 High
Magic: Absorption
Unique Ability: Can use its magic to enhance itself, being able to devour up to 200 mana at Faizes level.
While the Devourer bit Enrico, it felt something grabbing its teeth, forcing its mouth open—it realized this was happening with just one of Enrico's hands.
"Eat mana."
Trying to absorb Enrico's mana, the Nartheis activated its magic, but for some strange reason, it couldn't drain anything. Using his hand to open the mouth while another part of it tried to resist closing, Enrico crushed the upper teeth of the Nartheis with a single motion.
"Zero Impact."
Releasing both of them, his body barely seemed to move before the two Nartheis exploded under a barrage of blows made purely with his physical power. Their parts scattered everywhere while Enrico prepared to move again.
"Human, place the mana stone in one of the defeated parts and grow stronger—you'll need it."
"So this bastard still outdoes me? Hurry and make him waste time while I do this, you Nartheis!"
The slim Nartheis broke the sound barrier, creating a shockwave as it appeared in front of Enrico, who easily blocked the punch while the ground around them cracked.
Name: Nivren – Rank Faizes Level 2 Maximum
Magic: Sound
Unique Ability: Sound King – Constantly deals damage with every sound spell used, regardless of whether the opponent is near or far, up to 50 meters.
"You're not an ordinary human, just as the master said."
Enrico stood still for a moment, ignoring Nivren, watching Deymon absorb the remaining magic from the air of the two destroyed Nartheis. Laughing a bit as he felt the power, Deymon turned, pointing his hand at Enrico and releasing a concentrated corrupt spell.
"What trash."
To everyone's surprise, Enrico raised his hand and held Deymon's spell with just one hand.
"You absorbed so much mana and betrayed the humans just to reach this level? Pathetic."