Chapter 169: Reception - Azure Rune Golem
Chapter 169: Reception - Azure Rune Golem
Lagassus swung his wooden flagpole, which, defying all logic, crackled with electricity as it embedded itself into the mountainside.
A sphere of lightning formed in his palm, and with a flick of his wrist, it transformed into a lashing whip that shot toward Rod and Kana.
The two sprang to opposite sides, but the sharp-beaked birds were struck by the lightning and vanished.
Lagassus then slammed both fists into the ground, and two serpentine arcs of lightning raced along the surface, hitting Rod and Kana.
"Ah~"
"Ah~~"
Both of them were enveloped in a brilliant light and let out cries of pain. Rod felt a numbing sensation all over his body and struggled to summon his magic to resist, preventing further injury.
Kana, still on the ground, quickly threw two cards: "Sun's Blaze! Emperor's Wind Blade!"
A fierce wind and flames swept across the ground, mixed with smoke and dust, blowing toward Lagassus.
Lagassus, encased in a cocoon of lightning, emerged from the storm with one arm shielding his face. His purple shirt was slightly torn, but he bore no visible injuries.
Kana didn't pause, jumping backward while firing a barrage of golden-glowing cards from both hands.
Boom! Boom! Boom! The cards either exploded on the ground or detonated in front of Lagassus, slightly slowing his charge.
A few cards remained embedded in the ground, untriggered.
"Reception - Shadow Wolf!"
Rod transformed into a wolf and lunged at Lagassus, his wolf claws slicing downward.
Lagassus grabbed Rod's wrist, and Rod pressed his left hand to his own chest: "Summon - Shadow Wolf!"
Three wolves appeared behind Lagassus. Two ordinary wolves pounced on his right arm and left side, while a two-headed wolf attacked his shoulders.
Seizing the opportunity, Kana sprinted forward, scattering a few cards as she ran toward the flagpole.
"What a joke!" Lagassus unleashed a burst of lightning.
The three wolves were paralyzed, but Rod, gritting his teeth, used his wolf claws to counter-grip Lagassus's wrist and then used his left hand to perform the Black Wolf Heart Rip.
The sharp wolf claws tore a large piece of fabric from Lagassus's chest, revealing a black tattoo and adding a few bloody gashes.
However, Rod was also struck by a punch, golden lightning piercing through his body.
"Ugh~" In wolf form, Rod was forced back a few steps, hunched over and coughing, "Cough... cough..."
Fortunately, he didn't cough up any blood, but the wolf fur on his body stood on end, making him look more comical than fearsome.
Lagassus ignored Rod and turned to pursue Kana, but the cards at his feet exploded again, releasing a thick, gray smoke.
The Fool's Mist.
"What is this...?" Lagassus covered his mouth and nose; the smoke seemed to have a hypnotic effect.
Just as he was about to charge through it, two more cards exploded.
The scene before him shifted, and a grotesque demon opened its mouth to tear at his body.
The Magician's Illusion.
The Demon's Intimidation.
Lagassus's expression remained unchanged. This level of illusion might fool a Mage below S-rank, but it had little effect on him.
However, he knew without a doubt that Kana had filled the smoke with traps.
Lagassus leaped into the air, rising above the smoke. His vision cleared, and he saw Kana already scaling the rock wall.
By this time, Rod had circled around to the other side of the smoke. He raised his hand, and a black wolf-shaped shadow shot upward, clamping down on Lagassus's ankle.
"You bastard!"
"Hey... Wolf Spirit!" Rod's wolf face broke into a grin, and he swung his right hand down, "Come down here!"
Caught off guard, Lagassus was pulled down and landed in a crouch, dispersing the Wolf Spirit with a punch as he did.
As he stood at the edge of the smoke cloud, he aimed a bolt of lightning at Rod.
While Rod was dodging, Lagassus raised his right hand, and a lightning sphere as tall as a man formed, connected by lightning like a yo-yo, slamming into Rod.
"Lightning Press Bomb!"
"Ah~~" Rod felt intense pain; this lightning was far more powerful than before.
Rod's wolf fur was almost completely singed, and he fell backward, landing hard on the ground.
Lagunas raised his hand again, and the lightning yoyo swung toward Cana.
Cana had already pulled out the flagpole and jumped down the cliff, but she turned back at the sound of Rod's scream. "Rod!"
Rod struggled to raise his thumb, his voice hoarse. "Hurry..."
He wasn't sure if she heard him.
Cana ran with the flag, but she couldn't outrun Lagunas's lightning.
"Wall of Strength!"
Without stopping, Cana tossed a card behind her.
The thin defense was quickly shattered. The Stone Beetle emerged from the cliff face, but it was too late. The lightning ball struck Cana's back, enveloping her in a burst of electricity.
"Aaaaaah..." Cana screamed, her eyes nearly rolling back as she fell to the ground.
The flagpole fell beside her, its tip almost touching the edge of the magic circle.
"Just a little more..." She shakily propped herself up with her elbow, her long black hair falling from her ears and mingling with the dust.
"Just a little more..."
Cana struggled to lift her head. Even if she had to crawl, she wanted to make it.
But Lagunas's leg appeared before her.
Without mercy, Lagunas lifted his leg and and kicked Cana out of the narrow passage.
Rod had already reverted from his wolf form and managed to crawl forward a few steps, barely catching Cana before gently placing her down.
"Cana, Cana?" Rod lightly patted her face. "Are you okay?"
Cana's eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes.
She bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes, and with great effort, she grabbed Rod's sleeve with one hand. "Just a little more..."
"It's okay, it's okay, it's not over yet. We still have one last trick." Rod tried to comfort her, relieved that she was still conscious.
"Let's give it one more try." He helped Cana stand, and the two of them supported each other as they walked into the passage.
Lagunas stood at the other end of the passage, guarding the magic circle.
He casually kicked the flagpole to the side and folded his arms, looking at the two approaching figures. "You two should give up by now, shouldn't you?"
"Lagunas, there were many ways to subdue Cana in that situation, right?" Rod met his eyes. "Wasn't that kick a bit too much?"
"Huh? What are you babbling about? Do you think the S-Class Exam is a game of pretend?" Lagunas dismissed him.
"I'm talking to you, Cana. You've taken this exam more than once. Haven't you realized your own limits yet? The weak don't deserve the same title as me!"
Cana stared at him defiantly. "I won't give up so easily!"
"So what? You've used so many spells, set so many traps, and even faced my attacks head-on. You must be exhausted by now. Are you counting on him? That half-baked summoning and magic reception? Don't make me laugh!"
Lagunas didn't take these two struggling figures seriously.
With their current strength, they wouldn't have lasted this long without some clever tricks. They wouldn't have even touched the flag.
Thinking of tricks, Lagunas raised his hand and cast a lightning bolt, splitting the Stone Beetle that had emerged from the cliff to shield Cana in two.
He extended his hand, curling his fingers. "Come on, let me see what else you can do."
"Then I'll show you my final move."
Rod removed Cana's arm from his shoulder and had her stand behind him.
He raised his arm. "Reception: Azure Carved Magic Golem!"
(End of Chapter)
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