Translator: CinderTL “Gray!” Marcus called out, glancing over in alarm.
Faster…
faster!
Zellier thought frantically.
Although casting a fireball spell only took five seconds, in such a perilous situation where the battlefield shifted in an instant, every moment could mean the difference between life and death.
From the mist demon’s appearance to its repelling Marcus and Gray, only three or four seconds had passed.
Moreover, the mist demon wasn’t some mindless brute.
Sensing Zellier gathering magic, it chose to end its current assault and bide its time for another strike.
Thick mist surged upward, concealing the demon’s form once more.
By then, Zellier’s fireball spell had only just begun to take shape.
“Zellier, where the hell is your magic?!” Vales snapped, glaring at Zellier.
“There wasn’t enough time!
I couldn’t finish it!” Zellier’s mind raced.
“Couldn’t you have started charging it earlier?” “I’m not skilled enough for that yet!” spell preparation—a high-level casting technique—allowed mages to pre-charge spells for immediate release.
It’s possible to pre-construct a formula structure and keep it in a dormant state for extended periods, allowing for immediate activation in response to sudden threats.
But Zellier clearly lacked this capability.
“Tch…!” Vales’s expression was visibly frustrated.
Marcus bent over, his hands on his knees, gasping for breath.
The damaged surface of his round shield sent a shiver down his spine.
“What did you learn from that exchange?” Marcus asked in a low voice.
“We got lucky…
It must be a juvenile mist demon.
Its chimera components are all low-level beasts, and its physical strength hasn’t fully developed yet.” Vales glanced at Gray, who lay nearby.
“If it were an adult, your shield wouldn’t have stopped it, and Gray would be dead.” A juvenile mist demon posed a significantly reduced threat—no longer a Challenging level threat, at most a Difficult one.
However, its energy barrier still made it extremely troublesome to deal with.
“This fucking thing is a juvenile?” Gray struggled to his feet, wiping blood from his lips with a grimace.
“It felt like I just got hit head-on by a siege ram.” The deep, guttural roars continued to echo around them, sometimes near, sometimes distant, laced with a savage bloodlust that sent a chill deep into their hearts.
“It seems this mist demon has no intention of letting us go,” Marcus said grimly.
“Next time the mist demon appears, no matter how ferocious its attack, we must hold it down!
If we let it slip away again, and this drags on, we’ll be doomed for sure,” Zellier said gravely.
“I’ll find a way to cast my magic as quickly as possible!” Marcus and Gray exchanged glances and nodded firmly.
The mist demon’s first attack had already wounded Gray.
With such destructive power, it could easily cause casualties in their ranks at any moment.
They couldn’t afford a prolonged battle; they needed to end this swiftly!
Suddenly, a new progress bar appeared beneath the formulaic evolution display: Mist Veil Embrace, Analysis Progress—1% Zellier froze.
Mist Veil Embrace…
Is that the magic it uses to block physical attacks?
But the analysis progress was far too slow…
It would be completely useless in this battle.
Zellier frantically strategized.
Since spell preparation was impossible, his only option was to detect the mist demon’s presence as early as possible and begin constructing the formula structure before it attacked.
But timing was crucial.
If the magic charged before the mist demon appeared, the fireball spell would dissipate from his palm, leaving him in a brief vulnerable state where he couldn’t immediately recast.
Zellier steeled his mind.
With a perception attribute of only 30—the standard average—his chances of detecting the enemy in this dense fog were slim.
Where are you…?
Where are you hiding…?
Suddenly, Zellier felt a strange sensation stir within him.
By sheer luck, he had caught a faint, threadlike connection through the thick fog.
It was the magical resonance of Mist Veil Embrace!
Through this link between identical spells, Zellier could vaguely sense the mist demon’s current state: Bloodthirsty cruelty, the thrill of the hunt…
and an overwhelming battle lust!
It was moving!
Zellier didn’t dare waste a moment.
He immediately began channeling mana to construct the formula structure.
Sure enough, just two seconds later, the mist demon’s putrid stench surged back!
This time, it targeted Gray.
The mage was too well-protected to kill immediately…
Then I’ll slaughter this wounded human first!
Then I’ll vanish into the mist before the mage finishes charging his spell.
Reducing their numbers will sow panic, and this hunt will be a success!
Already wounded, Gray stood no chance against the mist demon’s direct assault.
The searing pain in his chest further slowed his movements.
“Gray!” Marcus roared.
The shadow of death descended as the mist demon closed in with terrifying speed.
Gray jerked his head up, his pupils dilating in horror.
Caught between life and death, with no escape, he could only rely on his primal survival instinct to raise his longsword weakly before him.
The demon’s gnarled, bony claws crashed down mercilessly.
With a sharp crack, the blade shattered!
Metal shards scattered like shrapnel, many piercing Gray’s body.
A crimson spray erupted before him.
But at that very moment, Zellier’s pre-charged fireball spell completed its accumulation!
This was a scenario the mist demon hadn’t anticipated.
It had only materialized less than three seconds ago.
During its first attack, the mage hadn’t demonstrated such rapid charging speed.
The searing heat dispelled the mist as a brilliant fireball surged forward, striking the mist demon directly!
Bang!
Zellier’s eyes widened, his expression tense.
Just as the Adventurer’s Association Universal Monster Compendium had predicted, the mist demon’s energy barrier was vulnerable to magic and martial qi!
The mana contained within the fireball spell clashed with the energy barrier, producing a sizzling sound.
The barrier’s luminous glow visibly dimmed, though it didn’t completely dissipate.
It was working!
“Get out of here!!!” Marcus’s support arrived just in time.
His eyes bloodshot, he roared furiously and charged forward, slamming his shield with all his might!
Weakened by the magical assault, the energy barrier could no longer completely block physical attacks.
Even the mist demon’s massive form staggered from the impact.
“You won’t escape…!” Vales’s gaze crackled with electric intensity.
He had been waiting for this moment.
Having held back his shot until now, he released the bowstring, sending an arrow hurtling through the air.
Vales carried elven blood within him, and every arrow he loosed was blessed by the wind itself!
Relying on muscle memory, Vales rapidly fired four consecutive shots.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Two of the four arrows pierced the mist demon’s kneecaps.
This was exactly what Vales had wanted.
He couldn’t allow this creature to retreat into the mist again!
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