Mage Legend
Chapter 85: Episode 23 Drifting Away

Chapter 85: Episode 23 Drifting Away

The Purple Worm was getting closer and closer to the three fleeing figures. The High Priest standing atop the monster’s head let out a manic laugh, "Three little bugs! How dare you come to our Strong Snake People’s place and cause trouble! There’s only one fate for you, and that’s death!!"

He took out the Holy Emblem hanging from his chest and began to murmur incantations. Lynch turned back briefly but couldn’t get a clear look at the Holy Emblem; however, he clearly felt that the priest was gathering a powerful force of Divine Arts.

In no time, a red cloud gathered not far in front of Lynch, curling and rolling, faintly rumbling with thunder as it drifted towards the stone bridge at the end of the passage. Suddenly, a pillar of fire crashed down from the red thundercloud, striking the fragile bridge surface.

The bridge surface, long baked by magma over hundreds of years, had become weak and brittle. The powerful impact of the Flame Strike Technique immediately shattered the bridge, sending pieces tumbling into the lava stream below.

With the destruction of this stone bridge, the final ten-plus-meter-wide lava stream became an almost insurmountable obstacle.

"Lynch, do you have any other ideas?" Nimo asked worriedly, looking at the broken bridge ahead.

"I... I’ve basically run out of spells..." Lynch pondered over the remaining spells he had, a few for attack, yet none that could help them cross that fiery obstacle.

"What’s there to be afraid of! Once we get over there, I’ll have a way!" Deluo glanced back at the pursuing Purple Worm and said, "Don’t worry!!"

They had now reached the penultimate stone bridge, the last intact bridge.

"You won’t be going anywhere!" The High Priest arrogantly said, "I won’t let the Purple Worm swallow you! That would be too merciful. I will give you the most terrifying torment to make you regret ever coming into this world! Ha ha ha ha ha!"

Lynch suddenly stopped, turning to face the encroaching monster. The foul stench of decay from the Purple Worm’s body was already pungently in the air (the Purple Worm being a carrion eater), a smell made sickeningly intense by the surrounding heat, almost forcing him to retch. Yellow-green saliva continuously dripped from the monster’s mouth, flying in all directions as its teeth rotated.

Lynch, facing the approaching enemy, slowly took the "Creation Law" from his backpack. The scorching magma churned beneath his feet; the heat-laden updrafts billowed his mage’s black and purple robe; red light shone up from below, illuminating the mage’s face; the pure black, icy Eye of Insight was fixated on the two pursuers ahead.

"No way!"

The mage spat these words through gritted teeth.

"Lynch! Are you crazy? What are you doing?" Deluo grabbed the mage’s shoulder, trying to pull him back, "You’re no match for that monster, don’t throw your life away here! I have a way out when we get to the next magma stream!"

Nimo also stopped, looking back at the two of them. But he had already drawn his repeating crossbow, ready to shoot as soon as the Purple Worm got closer.

"No!" Lynch sharply swung his left arm, pushing aside the warrior’s vice-like grip, "Don’t talk to me about your plan! I know, you just want to use your brute strength to throw Nimo and me across, right? What about you? Can you jump across?"

Deluo first opened his mouth widely, then slowly bowed his head. Nimo said in surprise, "Deluo, is this true? I don’t want you to leave, I don’t want this."

"Did you hear that! Did you hear what Nimo said? Since the three of us came together, we should leave together!" Lynch patted Deluo on the shoulder, "Don’t have such thoughts again next time..."

"Alright!" Deluo suddenly lifted his head, raising his longsword, pointing it at the quickly approaching Purple Worm, "I’m right here, bring it on if you dare!! Watch how I chop you into pieces!!"

"Ha! You guys are nothing to me," the Snake-man priest clapped his hands together then suddenly pulled them apart, a lightning arc danced between his hands, "Your end is near."

"No way!" Lynch crouched down, holding the "Creation Law" in his left hand, his right hand touching the stone bridge beneath him, as he began chanting a spell. The scroll of the Creation Law emitted a dazzling white light.

"Don’t think your death throes will save you! It’s useless!" The priest’s snake-like pupils contracted rapidly, locking firmly onto the three in front of him, "Lightning Intense Flame Strike!"

"Arcane Secret Technique: Transforming All Things!" Just as the electrical energy shot forth from the Snake-man, Mage Lynch also cast his spell. However, this spell seemed to have drained his strength, as the mage collapsed onto the bridge surface.