Blade Over Magic

Turning The Tables

In the ravine, one demonic beast successfully broke past the chaos at tye cost of a mangled side and lunged for the corpse of the Void Raptor, jaw open to take a bite out of it. But just when it neared, an arrow descended from above, perfectly slotting through the flesh on the back of its neck, between the bones of its spine, and through its neck.

A few noticed this and looked up, but what met them was a rain of different elemental attacks that blanketed the area around the corpses.

I just a moment, the chaotic battle between beasts was rudely interrupted as a group of 100 humans descended from the sky rapidly.

Just as they were about to hit the ground, one of them cast a wind spell that slowed down their descent, allowing them to land safely.

That same person cast another spell, and wind condensed near the corpse of the Raptor and the Boa, pulling them towards the group. This instantly enraged the surrounding beasts, causing them to forget their previous altercation as charge at the group, attacks of different nature’s also flying at them, and a few at the corpses.

”Barriers!” Xander yelled, and immediately, several Barriers formed and covered the group, defending them from the onslaught of attacks.

Meanwhile, Xander had already made use of his incredible speed to blitz past both of the corpses, his sword accurately slicing through the points of convergence and making them disperse.

Both corpses were soon secured, but now the group was surrounded by thousands of angry beasts.

But they were long prepared for this.

The wind mage along with three fire mages moved to the middle of the group, and one of them took out a plate sized metal sheet with runes prepared on it.

Four of them chanted around it, and the runes quickly lit up with the light green of wind and orange red of flames.

Suddenly, the mana around churned as the wind around the barrier surged.

Then the heat followed.

Orange red dyed the ravine as a massive tornado of flames formed around the group, its height rising above the top of the Ravine and extending high into the sky.

Every creature that had been in the vicinity was incinerate instantly, the sheer heat of the flames so intense that not even bones were left behind, and the ground began to melt into lava.

This was one of the main parts of the plan for their group. That metal sheet contained a special spell inscription of the wind and fire attribute, and once activated, could create a spell with the power nearing that of a high mage.

If a creature at the level of the beast leaders had already been born, the spell was to be used to kill it on the spot. If not, then it was to be used to kill everything else.

Xander stared at the massive tornado of flames surrounding them, the immolating heat killing everything that wasn’t inside, and a part of him couldn’t help but think about how he would defend such an attack if it landed on his head.

’Okay, so Big Neil’s corpse is just gone.’ Aubrey pointed out, indicating that the flames had vaporized what was left of the puppeteering spider. Xander just gave a calm nod.

Slowly, the flames died down, and what met the group was a scene of utter devastation.

For over a hundred meters around the group, the ground and ravine walls had been completely razed and melted.

The barriers came down, and Xander swept his gaze around. No beast that was caught by the flames survived, but there were naturally many that had been out of the attack’s range, so they were relatively unharmed, however, their body language was now unmistakably wary after witnessing the sheer power.

In the middle, the four mages who had created the attack panted heavily. Even though it was through an item, the mana expended was huge. Still, their task had been completed. The corpses had been secured (or destroyed), and there was sufficient distance between the group and the demonic beasts who were too wary to advance, so they could escape with their task having been completed.

At least, that was the belief.

That was until one of the squad leaders suddenly took something out of his pocket.

It was a metal sheet, like the one used before, however, the difference between the two was like night and day.

This one was a bit smaller, about the size of a handheld mirror. It was made of a strange, rough black metal, and in the center were strange runes that looked vastly different from what most people thought of when thinking of runes. So much so that when one looked at them directly, they would feel an uncontrollable sense of vertigo and dread.

When he brought it out, the surroundings visibly changed as everything turned dark and gloomy. This alarmed most of the squads and their leaders. However, ten of them showed no reaction.

It all happened in the span of a moment as the leader activated the sheet, and an invisible wave spread out, covering the entire group, and suddenly, no one could move.

It wasn’t the same as being frozen, or having a pressure descend on you. Rather, it was like someone had pressed one big pause button, and everyone was completely still. Everyone except the ten squad leaders.

”No matter how many times I see it, I’m always baffled.” The squad leader who had activated the item, a stout man with an ugly scar running down his face, sighed.

”Items that directly affect the laws of the world. How miraculous is that? And this is just a fraction of the true power demons possess. How is it? Forget moving, can you lot even think? Heh, this isn’t a simple freeze spell. Rather, the Concept of Movement had been completely removed from this area, so moving is impossible.” Shaking his head, he gestured to a black ring on his finger, one the other traitors wore, then he gestured to the other squad leaders and their squads, who took out small red beads from various places on their persons.

As soon as they did, the surrounding demonic beasts, which had initially been hesitant to move, suddenly became restless, their eyes locking onto the beads with crazed madness.

”It didn’t have to be this way, you know. If this place had been left alone, you still had the chance to escape when the true thing began, but alas, things had to develop this way.” He turned towards Xander, whose blade had already been drawn and was being swung in his direction, but he had been a step too slow, having been frozen half-way through the motion.

The guy clicked his tongue and walked towards him.

”There are no hard feelings, truly. It sucks having to kill such a talented lad.” He aimed his wand at Xander’s head.

”Blame your competence.” At the same time, he gestured to his comrades as well, and they threw the beads towards the excited demonic beasts while he got ready to cast his spell. But just as this process began.

SCREEEE!

A bird’s cry sounded following a powerful gust of wind that swept up the beads before they reached the demonic beasts.

At the same time, black flames descended from above. But they didn’t touch anyone in the group, rather, and shockingly, they ’engulfed’ the area where the Concept of Movement had been denied, and incredibly, ’Motion’ began to return to the affected area!

The pupils of the man constricted, and his first thought was that the thing that had killed the beast leaders had arrived, but even then, he was already moving, his spell just about to get fired.

But then a powerful gust of wind slammed into him, throwing him to the side and making his spell be fired off into the distance, away from anyone.

Looking up, he and the rest of his comrades paled.

Floating down, a magnificent green eagle was reflected in their ears, its presence so powerful that they wanted to do nothing more but kneel.

’E-Elemental Spirit...’ He instantly gave up all thoughts of resistance.

At the same time, the demonic beasts that had been charging forward to meet the beads recoiled back in terror upon the arrival of the green eagle, all of them turning tail and running.

It was at this point that the flames completed their actions, and the frozen members of the group regained their mobility. Most of them were startled, furious, and terrified. Torn between the close call and the very mystical creature floating above them.

’Phew, that could have been bad.’ Xander thought, calmly flicking his sword to the side.

In truth, while he’d indeed been frozen, he wasn’t once concerned. After all, Mary and Keir had been sent out for something like this.

There was no doubt that the traitors would have something on them to ensure their actions would be easier. Xander just didn’t know what that was, so he had Mary watch constantly at a distance, while he had Keir fly off his shoulder upwards when they descended into the ravine, unseen by anyone.

Granted, if they were truly in danger, Mia had never extricated herself from his back, so she would have dealt with any issues out of their control.

Speaking of, the baby dragon descended onto his shoulder, and Xander gave his head a small pat, much to his satisfaction.

’An item that directly affects the laws of the world, huh?’ Falael mused through the bond, everyone sharing their sentiment.

Xander said nothing, though, as he walked towards the scarred man who had been talking shit while they were frozen.

”Well, if it isn’t the consequences of our actions?” Xander smiled ’pleasantly’ as he stabbed his sword near the leg of the kneeling man and crouched to his level.

”We have a few questions for you, if that’s okay?” He said in a conversational tone, which was somehow more terrifying than if he had been threatening.

The squad leader’s eyes darted around towards the other squads, and he realized that, while they were undeniably wary of Mary, and now the small lizard on Xander’s shoulder, none of them seemed super surprised, at least, not by the betrayal part, which made his heart sink

’They knew.’ That thought hit him like a bolt of thunder. He thought that this operation would be a setup, and it was, but it wasn’t for the group and Landor, but for them!

’No... no this can’t be...!’ His eyes went red as panic filled his eyes, however, an eerie calm suddenly washed over him, and he revealed an eerie smile.

”Ah, how unfortunate.” When he said that, a malevolent aura suddenly came from his body. Not just his, but the other traitors.

Xander felt the hairs on his arms stand on end.

’They’re gonna self destruct!’ Aubrey yelled through the link. But just as the auras reached a crescendo, and Mary was about to protect everyone...

”No they won’t.” The calm, almost bored voice came from Xander’s back, and just like that, the auras disappeared, leaving everyone confused.

Xander blinked and glanced back at Mia who was still on his back, arms around his neck.

’... Thanks.’ He said simply, choosing not to ask how or what she did.

He turned back to the stunned traitors, his smile returning.

”Now, where were we.” At that moment, a chill ran down all their spies as they realized, the boy before them was far, far more terrifying than they could even begin the guess.