Ch.121Past Connections Are Dangerous (8)

“…My strength is gradually returning.”

Ironically, this decisive battle, entangled with numerous powerful individuals, happened to occur just as the side effects of necromancy were wearing off.

I clenched my fist a few times, then sighed tiredly as I looked at the two hunters nearby.

Ryan Bristol of the American Seven Stars, and Julian Chenvitz of the German Seven Stars.

These two alone were formidable forces, but now that information restrictions had been lifted, other S-rank hunters including Xavier and Yesiel would also be gathering here.

‘I didn’t expect things to escalate this much.’

In truth, when I was first captured and dragged away by Ryan, I thought Astride and Henesia would find me again before long.

But Ryan’s side wasn’t so easy to deal with.

Whether they had planned for this from the beginning or not, they had used the same tactics to perfectly throw off the two women’s pursuit.

And today was precisely when that escape method reached its limit.

In many ways, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

“Ryan, do you really think they’ll fall for such an obvious trap?”

“They’ll definitely come. You don’t know them like I do. They’ve been chasing me without rest for two days—how could they not?”

Ryan wasn’t wrong. I also thought the two would come here regardless of whether a trap was set or not.

They had the skills to do so, and they would be furious enough to try.

Sure enough, it was Henesia and Astride who arrived before the hunters from other countries who had offered support.

Henesia, radiating fierce killing intent, spoke in a low voice.

“That was troublesome. I thought you were insignificant, but you’re quite good at running away.”

“I’m sorry, but that opinion will change today.”

Ryan must have been considering countermeasures since their last battle.

Also, if a fight broke out now, hunters from other countries would arrive as reinforcements just when both sides had depleted their stamina.

That was Ryan’s strategy.

“Let’s go all the way this time, no one backs out halfway.”

“Look who’s talking.”

Thoroughly angered, Henesia drew tremendous magical power toward her staff without hesitation.

And then she began mercilessly firing attack spells in rapid succession.

BOOM!

BOOOOM!

WHOOSH!

CRASH!

In response, Julian summoned countless translucent steel spheres about the size of a fist, deploying defensive skills.

The barrier of magical force formed in layers effectively defended against Henesia’s attacks.

CLANG!

CLAAANG!

“…Ryan, you weren’t wrong. Those two are indeed strong. I can’t guarantee we’ll win with just the two of us.”

“That’s what the reinforcements are for. We just need to keep the fight balanced.”

Ryan with his outstanding offensive power, and Julian who could cover Ryan’s lacking defensive abilities.

Even to me, their combination seemed stable and ideally structured.

It also appeared they had worked together several times before.

When her attacks couldn’t easily break through the defense, Henesia clicked her tongue and changed tactics, beginning to draw a massive magic circle.

As she did so, she spoke to Astride beside her.

“I’m going to use grand magic. Cover me.”

“…Okay. Got it.”

Now it was Ryan and Julian who became urgent.

Having witnessed its power in their previous battle, Ryan raised his power hurriedly while signaling to Julian.

“As expected, they’re going that route. We need to block it.”

“Leave it to me.”

RUMBLE!

Ryan instantly summoned dark clouds, darkening the sky, and from among those clouds, massive steel pillars descended and struck the ground.

It seemed to be a skill from Julian’s side.

“Pillar of Breaking Spears. String.”

WOONG—!

When Julian activated his skill, the steel pillars began to resonate and emit tremendous shockwaves.

The targets were naturally Astride and Henesia, while Ryan’s lightning also fell fiercely toward them.

FLASH!

CRASH—!

In response, Astride threw one of her swords into the sky while simultaneously rushing toward Julian.

The sword imbued with magical power surprisingly absorbed the lightning, while Henesia somehow endured the shockwaves with double casting and continued creating her magic circle.

As Astride closed the distance rapidly, Julian activated another skill in response.

“Pillar of Breaking Spears. Combat.”

CRACK.

CRAAACK.

PING!

Spikes separated from the massive pillars and rushed at Astride with bullet-like speed.

However, Astride drew another sword from her waist and cut through all of them at an invisible speed.

And at precisely that moment, Henesia’s grand magic was completed.

WHOOSH.

“…Freeze everything.”

FLASH!

CRACKLE—!

The widely spread magic circle instantly released vast magical power, and with a blinding light, everything within its range began to freeze.

Three seconds later, what appeared before my eyes was a massive ice barrier over 50 meters long on each side.

Ryan and Julian, caught within its range, were nowhere to be seen.

‘……’

It was truly overwhelming power.

To cast a spell of this magnitude with just 40 seconds of incantation—compared to all the magicians I’ve met, this was top-class.

After sealing Ryan and Julian’s movements, the two approached me slowly, sighing as they spoke.

“…Hmm. You don’t seem to be hurt.”

“That took a while. The two days you mentioned have passed. Isn’t it about time you tell us about the teacher?”

To their words, I responded calmly with just one sentence.

“It seems too early to say that when this isn’t over yet.”

Simultaneously, the ice barrier cracked, revealing a steel sphere just large enough to contain two people.

And Ryan and Julian, emerging from it, spoke.

“…They’re far more dangerous than I heard. Ryan, we should definitely deal with these two here.”

“I agree. Well, it seems our expected guests have arrived earlier than anticipated?”

Raising my senses slightly, I could feel several presences that had approached nearby.

All of them were powerful individuals beyond a certain threshold, clearly the S-rank hunters from various countries who had promised support.

As the hunters began to reveal themselves one after another, tension rose on Astride and Henesia’s faces as well.

“Asti, can we handle this?”

“…Those two from earlier are stronger than expected. And one more at the same level. It might be difficult without going all out.”

In the standoff that formed, I, standing a step away, raised the corner of my mouth into a smirk.

‘About 10 seconds more.’

With perfect timing, almost all of my lost power was returning.

“Brother! Don’t stay there, come over here.”

Seoha, who was with Xavier and Yesiel, called out to me, and hearing this, Henesia glanced at me cautiously.

Amid these reactions, I slowly began walking somewhere.

That place was right in the center of the space where everyone was facing off and preparing for battle.

Everyone’s questioning gazes fell on me, and in the midst of those gazes, I first turned my face toward Astride and Henesia.

Then I spoke softly.

“It’s been a while.”

“What?”

“I thought I’d die of frustration. Even if my appearance changed, is it really that hard to tell?”

At my words, Henesia just stared at me with a puzzled, indifferent expression.

As if saying, what nonsense is this little one suddenly spouting?

Unable to hold back, I gave her a light knock on the head.

BONK!

“Ugh! What are you doing suddenly? Are you crazy?”

“Who are you calling crazy? Since when did you become so disrespectful to me…”

My reaction made Henesia increasingly confused, and meanwhile, Astride approached slightly and spoke.

“…I thought it might be possible.”

“Asti? What are you talking about?”

“Could it be… Teacher?”

Unlike Henesia, Astride with her transcendent intuition seemed to have already guessed my identity to some extent.

I nodded slightly, confirming the truth.

“Yes. Due to circumstances, I couldn’t tell you, you fools. As expected, you’re better than her.”

“…What? Asti, is it true? This kid is really the teacher?”

“You’ll see later, seriously.”

Anyway, there was something I needed to resolve first.

I turned around and met the gazes of the hunters, whose expressions had subtly hardened.

The situation had already escalated—perhaps what was about to unfold would be the true beginning of the battle.

But it didn’t matter.

‘My mind feels refreshed after resting instead of playing games.’

After all, I was now confident I could crush anyone who came at me under my feet.