"Unfortunately I can't kill you or your grimoire will disappear . But It doesn't mean that you have to be in perfect condition . Now scream in pain and let me enjoy you agony " he said by taking out the locket hanging around his neck and breaking it .
[ poison magic : poison confinement ]
Countless snakes of poison shot from the ground binding Julian and biting him all over the body and each bite melted his skin at that place . Poison entered his blood from the wound making his skin turn violet .
While he was expecting for a pained expression ,Julian smiled .
'Target Locked : Fire ' The bird that Julian sent earlier had accurately detected the place of sniper and shot towards him at an unimaginable speed . The sniper's eyes widened but it was too late as the bird had already made a hole in his chest and burst creating an explosion of red flames .
Face of Marcus twisted " Why are you smiling , your skin in melting you have no chance to escape , why aren't you grieving . Did loosing all hope made you insane ? Ne answer me " he shouted coughing again . But his expression changed once again when the place his ally was supposed to be exploded. There were two black lines drawn in his wrist but one of them got erased .
Julian widened his smile at his outbreak . Based on his condition , the power behind his spells come with a price . Every time his opponent used a strong move Julian could feel that that guy's body was getting weaker along with two types of magic in his body getting stronger . Most probably that guy was using a magic enhancer that he was not compatible or incomplete .
Julian wanted him to stand in one place and let his guard down , as he cant hit him as he kept switching places with his poison clones .
This should be enough , Julian thought to himself .
[Flame magic : Delayed flair ]
Everything around them burst with red flames and started incarnating everything including the poisons gas . This spell worked similar to remote control bomb with the control in the hands of Julian . When he realized that Marcus had set up a poison field he started setting up a spell too . He could burn the forest with wide range spells like [ great fire annihilation ] but that would worsen the condition of his lungs due to effect of poison .
Dense red mana burst out of Julian destroying all the snakes and illuminating the surrounding and removing all the poison gas around him . Due to the large amount of inflammable poison gas the entire was enveloped in a blaze of fire but Julian had now got resistance to his own flames .
Julian created dark red claws and lunged towards Marcus . He was still dazed by the light and wasn't able to react . The advantage he had due to poison domain was now gone completely so he was not vulnerable .
Julian made two large slashes on his chest , held him by his head and smashed him on the ground again and again . Julian reinforced my legs with mana and shattered both of his hands .
" Im….po..ible ..you …should have lost….control over. ….your body …" he said with a broken voice . It was true if Julian didn't knew how to circulate mana inside his body he would be the same as Marcus said .
" If I can't even burn some poison it would be shame to call myself a fire mage " Julian said mockingly as he gave a last kick .
Julian POV :
Few moments back when I realized my mana path ways were getting blocked and my muscles were getting paralyzed . I purposely slowed my movements even more. So started to block the poison from creating more mess gathering mana from the mana core . After the poison was blocked , I concentrated and emptied half of my mana core at once creating a burst of mana which seeped though my body destroying all the poison and retuning full control to me .
After the man fainted I searched all over his body for hidden mechanism so that he doesn't kill himself . I had already applied phoenix robe which started healing my injuries at a rapid rate .
I found an id and a the broken locket from earlier . I found a red gem on his chest that most likely was an artifact .I released my mana pressure and as predicted the pressure was automatically directed towards the gem and disappeared but cracks started forming the more pressure I applied . So the combination of this artifact and his strong mind was able to counter my mana pressure . It was possible as there were a lot of methods being developed to counter mana pressure . When I tried to take the gem , I felt that an invisible field was blocking me from taking it .
While I was figuring out what it was . I felt danger and moved away from him . As soon as I moved a dark portal emerged below him and the cage .
This is bad ! , I used an overwhelming amount of magic on the portal below the cage and managed to destroy the portal but Marcus was already gone.
Damn! I messed up , this locket was a signal for support . I let him escape how foolish of me . I forgot that taking so many people to the black market without spatial magic was impossible .
Dejected by my carelessness I woke up Leopold . He panicked after walking up but after seeing my condition se freaked out more . I explained to him what happened and he was ashamed to be useless the entire time again . The slap of reality he got in the last few days must be too hard for him .
We decided to move the people outside along with all the loot after a short rest .
While resting I saw the improvements in my grimoire .
My move mastery increased in this fight . My reinforcement magic is near to reach advanced level and just needs a push . My control over law of flames is also increasing .
I didn't wake up the children as this was not the right time . After waiting for a while I sensed mana signatures and two of them were familiar .
" Are you fine Leopold-sama , are you hurt somewhere " said one concerned Crimson Lion member.
" I am fine , my friend solved all the problems by himself . " Said Leopold in a low voice.
A curly haired middle aged man with a scar on his forehead approached me and said " Thank you for keeping him safe " .
"Its my responsibility as a friend and Knight" I replied .
He was vice captain of Crimson Lions Randall , seems like Fuegoelon was worried .
"You look like shit kid " said a Yami . It was true , all my cloths were either marked with dirt or torn on various places .
"For the first time I am relieved to see you Captain Yami " . Sometimes seeing someone close elevates your mood .
He grabbed me by my head and said in a pissed voice " What do you mean by first time ! am I that repulsive huh!?"
I stopped arguing with him so he stopped after a shot tantrum . I heard from him that there was another emergency signal from a village because of bandit attack .
Finral who was with Yami created a portal to the base while I told the Crimson lion members that detailed report will be submitted latter . The corpse of the Sniper would be taken care by them .
In the base I described everything from our visit to the village to my first fill to the escape of Marcus.
" Do you regret killing them ?" Yami said while holding a cigarette .
"No , people like them don't deserve to live " I said
" Good , take some time , fist kill often gives some trauma . If you need help ask me "
"yes we all are here for you " said all the squad members in unison . This made me forget everything and enjoy the moment .
I took a bath and decided to rest while leaving everything for tomorrow .