At night, inside an ancient museum.
"The Akamida Spell Grimoire. Its contents record all witchcraft and spells since the fifteenth century…"
An elderly woman, past her sixties and wearing reading glasses, was introducing an ancient book in the display case.
Among the tourists nearby, Gwen confidently stepped forward, speaking in unison about the grimoire's origin, showcasing her knowledge.
"Little girl, why don't you introduce it?"
The old woman adjusted her reading glasses and said to Gwen.
"Ha, it's not like she can't." Ben scoffed from the side. "After all, she's also a little old lady."
"You annoying doofus…"
Gwen grumbled unhappily, then looked at Zack.
At this moment, Zack stood in front of the display case, staring intently at the Akamida Spell Grimoire.
According to the nature of this world, this grimoire could probably really help someone become a mage.
If he remembered correctly, Gwen had the related talent, right?
But if I take the grimoire, Grandpa will definitely scold me if he finds out. And stealing isn't honorable either. Zack sighed helplessly, feeling conflicted.
Just as Zack was thinking about how to achieve both.
Whoosh!!
A blood-red mist suddenly surged into the hall, accompanied by a strong gust of wind!
Including Zack and his group, about twenty people were swept up by the strong wind and pressed against the ceiling!
"What the..?"
"What's going on??"
"Ahhh!!!"
"The mist… the mist turned into a person!"
Amidst the tourists' screams and panic, the blood-red mist condensed into a figure.
It was an old man dressed in blood-red robes, holding a staff.
His skin was pale, and he had skull-like makeup on his face!
This image—an unmistakable villain!
[Img]
Click!
The Carnitrix automatically popped up its screen, displaying the figure of Carnitrix Varient of Feedback, Backlash!
Ding! Your thoughtful Carnitrix, presents you with the best alien to defeat this entity!
"Wow, so thoughtful. Can you be this thoughtful?" Ben looked at the scene, then glanced at the broken watch on his wrist, looking utterly dejected.
Hmph, this broken watch really deserves a slap!
"The Akamida Spell Grimoire is mine!"
Hex raised his staff, and the strange stone embedded in it flickered for a moment.
Bang!!
Energy erupted from the staff, blasting open the display case!
Hex reached out, snatched the Akamida Spell Grimoire, and then swung his staff.
Whoosh!!
The crowd began to fall, everyone screaming uncontrollably…
In mid-air, a red and a green light suddenly flashed!
XLR8's figure landed first, quickly setting up cushioning moves to catch people one by one.
Meanwhile, Backlash leapt out, his terrifying face carrying a hint of intimidation as he pounced toward Hex!
"W-What kind of monster are you?!!"
Hex's eyes widened, and he quickly chanted a spell, hastily waving his staff!
Boom!!
As his staff released a flash of fire, terrifying flames instantly engulfed Zack's figure.
"It's best to leave first!"
Hex then glanced at Ben, raised his staff directly, and transformed into a blood-colored mist.
That mist carried the grimoire, sweeping outward and surging toward the other streets!
The mist moved extremely fast, far faster than ordinary vehicles.
The fierce fire quickly extinguished, and Zack's figure landed on the ground unharmed, with currents crackling around him.
He looked at Hex's receding figure speechlessly and muttered, "No way, why run off at the start? What a pathetic villain…"
"Go after him quickly! If he gets too far, the Akamida Spell Grimoire won't be retrieved!!" The old woman no longer cared about fear, pleading with the terrifying-looking Backlash and XLR8.
"Got it, don't worry!"
Ben rescued the last girl, nodding vigorously.
"Can't retrieve it…"
Zack muttered, his expression turning thoughtful.
I've got a perfect idea.
...…
A cloud of blood mist raged across the street, drifting toward the suburbs, shaking off police cars one by one!
Until the blood mist arrived at an uninhabited area.
The mist condensed into a human figure—Hex.
"This operation was thrilling but not truly dangerous!"
Hex tightly clutched the Akamida Spell Grimoire, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. "But.. What were those two monsters that suddenly appeared… They were strange creatures I've never seen before!"
That tall, thin one wasn't too troublesome.
But that terrifying-looking monster…
It gave him an inexplicable sense of oppression!
That was why he chose to escape quickly and run on the spot.
Fortunately, he had managed to get away in time, leaving those two monsters chasing shadows.
Hex opened the Akamida Spell Grimoire, flipping through it excitedly. "Ok.. Now I can master more spells and unleash greater magic! The world shall bow down to me—"
Boom!!
A blue whirlwind swept in, suddenly rushing past Hex!
The grimoire in his hand instantly vanished!
He looked forward in exasperation.
"Hey." Ben shook the Akamida Spell Grimoire in his hand. "This isn't yours. I'm confiscating it for now!!"
"Damn it! You actually caught up to me!!"
Hex furiously gripped his staff, pointing it at Ben.
Good—only one came.
"Wrong."
A chilling voice sounded from behind Hex!!
He suddenly turned around, and the figure that made him instinctively fearful appeared before his eyes!
"Hello there~"
Zack strode forward, the electricity on his feet completely depleted. "We could have caught up to you much earlier, but fighting in the city would have endangered others!"
This distance…
Losing the grimoire was only natural!
"I'll get rid of you first!!"
Hex glared at Zack in a rage, suddenly raising his staff!
As his body rose into the air, the staff emitted a deep purple magical blast, surging straight toward Zack once again.
Zack's figure remained motionless, allowing the magic to strike directly at him.
Boom!!
As the magic struck him, Zack unhesitatingly thrust his ten fingers into the blast!
Woorl crackle~~
Large amounts of magic instantly scattered, then surged into his body, transforming into waves of electricity!
"Wh-what??"
Hex's eyes bulged as he stared at Zack in disbelief. "You can actually absorb magic!!"
"The electricity I used up during the chase is now fully recovered!!"
"Heeh~ You want it back?" A faint smile curled at Zack's lips, and electricity exploded from his feet in powerful bursts!!
Boom!!
He pushed off the ground, and with the boost of electricity, he shot toward Hex as if taking flight!
"If you can absorb magic, then I'll use fire!"
Hex chanted an incantation through clenched teeth, his expression dark with resentment.
Boom!!
Another charm on his staff flickered, and then the staff unleashed a terrifying wave of flame!!
The flames surged like a giant beast, instantly engulfing Zack's flying figure…
Bang!!
The next moment, the flames abruptly dissipated, as if extinguished out of thin air!
And Zack, now cloaked in even more dazzling electricity, leapt directly in front of Hex!
Rumble!! Crackle!! Rumble!!
His fist, wreathed in crackling currents, smashed into the blood-red mist that Hex had transformed into.
The electricity exploded, scattering the mist and forcing a painful growl from Hex.
His pale face twisted with shock.
Damn it, what kind of monster is this…
He can absorb magic power—and even fire??