kscans

Chapter 145 - The Living Weapon Stands at the Magic Furnace

Ariel stood at the entrance of the Magic Furnace. The mana authentication system, the security cameras, the patrolling mages, all of it crumbled the moment they saw her.

The patrolling mages fled all at once. It was only natural. The "living weapon," formerly the strongest in the Mage Order. The very people who had been draining her blood on command until just a few days ago were now afraid of retribution.

Ariel didn’t give them a second glance, looking instead for an intercom on the main door. Of course, there wasn’t one. The next moment, the mana authentication system shattered into pieces.

An alarm blared.

"Is my brother here?" As Ariel strode into the Magic Furnace, Darius and Adrian followed, casting defensive magic on themselves.

Ariel kicked open the doors on the first floor one by one.

"Where is my brother!" She circled the round hallway and headed for the stairs. Just then, a cold gaze fell upon her from above.

"Albert." Both Adrian and Darius held their breath.

"Just like a commoner. No manners or anything."

"Hmph, looking down on a woman from above shows you don’t know the first thing about being a gentleman, you fake noble!"

A flame lit in Ariel’s eyes. When Darius stepped forward to stop her, she smiled sweetly and said.

"Darius. You’re in the way. Shut up and watch."

A battlefield smile. In that instant, the sheer pressure she emitted was enough to render both Darius and Adrian immobile.

"What business does a living weapon have here?"

"I’ve come to challenge my brother to a duel."

"I am not your brother."

"I don’t know your name. And I don’t want to be called a ‘living weapon’ either. Is there any magician here now who is stronger than my brother?"

"I have not seen one, but…"

"Then this is simple. Try attacking me until your mana runs out."

Ariel grinned. Albert frowned, but in the next instant, he unleashed an overwhelming magical power around him, so immense it was all he could do to remain standing. However, it had no effect on Ariel.

"Now, what is your… intention?"

"Just what I said. Even if you attack, I won’t lift a finger. I will just keep taking it. If I don’t fall, I win. If I fall, I lose."

"And if you win?"

"I’ll make my brother my magic disciple and retrain you. I won’t let you create another magician like Rainer."

"And if you lose?"

"I’ll do whatever you say. You can drain my blood and turn it into mana."

"Ariel, are you serious?" Adrian and Darius tried to stand between them, but Ariel countered by releasing her own pressure, and the sheer force of their conflicting auras brought them to their knees. Darius’s defensive magic was now useless.

"Darius… trust me one more time."

Silence enveloped the area. With her overwhelming presence, Ariel dominated the atmosphere of the Magic Furnace. Even Albert seemed on the verge of being swallowed by it for a moment.

"Third floor." Albert turned on his heel.

"Understood." And so, Ariel also walked without hesitation toward the third-floor Magic Furnace where her life had once been chipped away.


"Let me add one more thing for if I win."

"What is it?"

"I have a cute son. We’re not related by blood, but he’s the biological son of your hated enemy, the former king. We were living happily. If it weren’t for you! If I win, you will give me my son back. Darius, promise me!"

"That has nothing to do with you, Ariel! Why don’t you understand?"

"If this woman hadn’t met Darius, everyone would have been happy. You’re the one who doesn’t understand."

Ariel snorted.

"I’ll teach you that your son would have been much happier if you weren’t Darius’s brother and his guardian. I’m going to beat that twisted nature out of you. Unfortunately for you, Darius is so happy to have met me he could die."

This was not the same Ariel who would have been hurt by such words before.

"Since we’re at it, I’ll add something for my win, too. My alchemist disciple recently became independent, and I’ve been lonely. If that son of yours has a decent amount of mana, I’ll make him my alchemy disciple. If I win, both of you, father and son, will be my disciples!"

Albert’s expression twisted with hatred.

"Here I come."

Albert’s attack magic formed into a swarm of countless projectiles, a beehive of energy that he launched mercilessly toward Ariel.

At the sheer power of it, both Darius and Adrian could only scream.

"Ariel!"