The Espada's Efficiency
"You bastard! How dare you kill Monka! Die!"
Seeing their comrade fall, the remaining members of the Phantom Bandit Gang snapped out of their shock and moved as one, enraged.
"Great Flame Bomb!" The Afro-haired Mage roared, unleashing a massive fireball toward Qi Yan.
"Hollow Flash!"
Qi Yan didn't hesitate. His finger glowed emerald-green. Though his attack was launched second, the pure, focused energy beam of the Hollow Flash was faster, tearing through the air and striking the heart of the fireball.
Boom—!
The resulting explosion was directed outward, away from Qi Yan. The Afro-haired Mage, caught by his own rebounding blast, screamed as he was flung backward.
Qi Yan surveyed the fallen. "Eleven more!"
The bandits were now genuinely terrified. In two rapid moves, two powerful mages were out. They realized this youth was no ordinary opponent.
"Wind Blade!" Another mage released a flurry of razor-sharp wind.
"Sonído!"
Qi Yan's figure vanished, reappearing instantly right in front of the wind mage.
Pfft—!
The mage didn't even have time to gasp before Qi Yan's blade sliced across his chest. Blood sprayed, and he crumpled.
"Ten left!"
Qi Yan didn't pause. He pointed his index finger, condensing a new, verdant sphere of energy.
"I'll block it!!" A stocky mage yelled. "Earth Molding: Wall!"
Rumble!! A thick earthen wall erupted from the ground, shielding four bandits.
"Hollow Flash!"
Om~~~! Whoosh—!!
The emerald beam slammed into the earthen defense. It was futile. The wall was instantly shattered into dust.
"Ugh ah ah ah ah!" Four mages were caught in the catastrophic blast of the Hollow Flash, which gouged a deep chasm into the earth.
"Six left!"
The Assassin's Counter
Suddenly, a figure in a tight, dark suit—a ninja-like assassin—soundlessly materialized behind Qi Yan, his blade aimed for the heart.
"Qi Yan, look out!!" Elfman roared from the window.
The blade plunged forward.
Crack—!
The assassin froze. His blade had struck the target, yet instead of piercing flesh, his honed steel had snapped in half.
"What?!" The assassin was stunned by the impregnable defense of the Hierro.
He tried to retreat, but a vice-like hand clamped onto his face. Then came a horrifying, irresistible downward force.
Boom—!!
Qi Yan slammed the assassin's head directly into the ground, burying him in a deep crater. The assassin's eyes rolled back as he was instantly rendered unconscious.
"Five left!"
"Mon... monster!" The remaining few mages felt true, cold panic. Magic didn't kill him, and steel couldn't pierce him.
"Keep attacking!" one screamed, desperation replacing reason. "I refuse to believe we can't kill this monster!"
The five mages spread out and launched a frantic, uncoordinated assault.
"Futile struggle!"
In a series of rapid Sonído bursts, Qi Yan flickered between them. Four more mages fell within seconds, completely overwhelmed by his superior speed and power.
Spatial Distortion
"One person left!"
Clap clap clap!
The clapping was slow and measured. Camille, the leader, stepped forward from the shadows, his silver mask concealing his expression, but his tone rich with admiration.
"Excellent! Truly excellent!" Camille said. "Kid, to have such strength at such a young age, it's truly remarkable."
Qi Yan ignored the flattery. "Your companions have all been taken down. Are you really that happy?"
"Companions? Only the strong can be my companions," Camille sneered. "They weren't my initial companions; they just eliminated my former ones and became my temporary replacements."
He fixed his gaze on Qi Yan. "Kid, you possess such great power, yet you still have to work hard for a living. Don't you think that's a waste?"
"Oh? What should I do then?"
"Join me, of course!" Camille's voice rose with messianic fervor. "We'll overthrow the Magic Council! We'll create a world where only we are the masters! Money, status, fame, power, women! Whatever you want, you'll have it!"
"Enough," Qi Yan cut him off with a gesture of pure disdain.
"What? Have you already decided to join me?"
"Of course... I refuse!"
"What?!"
"I thought you'd say something incredible, but it's just this?" Qi Yan scoffed, his patience worn thin. "You've wasted two minutes of my time. You talk a big game, but you're just a lone commander trying to trick me into joining you? Dominating the world? You truly don't know your place."
Camille's face darkened behind the mask. "Kid, I'm inviting you because I value talent. If you don't agree, then death is your only outcome!"
"Sorry! I'm in a hurry. Please, just die!"
"Sonído!"
Whoosh—!
Qi Yan appeared beside Camille, his blade slashing out in a swift, killing arc.
But just as the blade was about to strike, it bent in the air, the steel edge curving sharply away from Camille. The blade seemed to strike an invisible, convex distortion of space.
Qi Yan instantly recognized the terrifying magic and dodged, but the twisted blade still grazed his shoulder.
Pfft!
Even with his rapid evasion, the steel pierced his flesh.
"Hmm?" Qi Yan was momentarily surprised.
He instantly retreated, placing distance between them, and aimed his finger at the Spatial Mage.
"Hollow Flash!"
Om~~~! Whoosh—!!
The emerald beam shot toward Camille. The assassin stood motionless, confidently waiting.
Just as the Hollow Flash was about to strike, the attack twisted abruptly, reversing its trajectory and shooting back towards Qi Yan's position.
Boom boom boom boom boom!!!
The devastating beam carved a massive chasm down the street where Qi Yan had been standing moments before.
Qi Yan's figure appeared a safe distance away. The moment the attack twisted, he had used Sonído to evade.
Camille's voice was laced with triumphant malice. "What a pity. If your reaction had been a little slower just now, it wouldn't have been your arm that was pierced, but your head."
"Qi Yan, are you alright! You bastard!" Elfman shouted, his arm transforming into a bear's paw, ready to charge.
"Don't come over!" Qi Yan yelled, halting him. "Protect the client. I'm fine."
Camille sneered. "Fine? Kid, your right arm is already useless. I'll give you one more chance: join me, become my subordinate. Otherwise, not only will you die, but your companions will die too."
Qi Yan ignored the threat. He grasped the longsword embedded in his shoulder with both hands and slowly pulled it free. The wound, a deep, bleeding gash, was visible to everyone.
But the moment the blade was removed, the injury began to heal rapidly, the skin knitting back together until the wound vanished completely, as if he had never been injured at all. This was the power of Regeneration—another terrifying gift of the Espada.
Camille's smile faltered. He was facing a monster far more dangerous than he first thought.
Camille's Spatial Magic turns Qi Yan's own power against him, but the Espada's Regeneration gives him a huge advantage. How will Qi Yan overcome a magic that negates his brute force attacks?