Swish!
Just then, a dazzling golden light suddenly shot forth.
Yasi, as before, subconsciously ignored it.
However, the next moment, he abruptly realized that the Black Mist Armor on his body was no longer as solid as before.
But by that time, it was already too late to react.
The fragile balance of the battle changed in an instant.
The Fire Element Giant seized the opportunity and threw its arms around Yasi in an embrace as if hugging the most intimate of lovers, firmly binding him in its grasp.
"No!" Yasi struggled in horror, but in vain, as the Fire Element held him tightly in its embrace.
The black fog and the whitening flames canceled each other out, and even through the Black Mist Armor, Yasi could feel the Fire Element's extreme heat.
The battle seemed to have reached its conclusion.
Lillian, clutching her abdomen, sat up with a complex expression on her face, one of joy, sorrow, and disbelief.
Colin did not relax; he controlled the Fire Element to press the attack, determined to thoroughly annihilate Yasi.
"Field!"
At that moment, the hemispherical dark fog barrier that had always enveloped them suddenly disappeared, and Yasi cried out in horror.
Immediately after, a figure emanating a powerful aura appeared in midair.
"What's going on?"
After seeing the situation clearly, Field showed a moment of astonishment.
But soon, he reacted, intending to come to Yasi's rescue.
Upon seeing Field's figure, Yasi's face lit up with surprise, while Colin and Lillian's expressions turned drastically.
A favorable situation disappeared in the blink of an eye as if it were but a fleeting dream.
Colin kept silent, mobilizing the Fire Element's energy with all his might.
The previously orderly energy gradually became violent, like a powder keg about to explode.
"I advise you against doing that," Field said coldly, rapidly closing in on Colin.
To catch a thief, first catch the king; by dealing with Colin, the summoned Fire Element would naturally dissipate!
He was like a ferocious great white shark, mouth agape, speeding towards his prey.
Colin glanced up at Field, and his Superbrain instantly assessed his chances of escape—zero.
To maintain the presence of the Second Rank Fire Element, he had canceled almost all witchcraft blessings on himself, not even leaving the Steel Temperature Resistance Field.
Without the support of Swift Skill or the Soaring and Flying Technique, relying solely on the strength of a First Rank Knight, he had no way to contend with a Second Rank Wizard as he had just done!
Field's expression was solemn; he hadn't wanted to involve himself in this matter, but Yasi's uncle owed him a favor. If Yasi died here tonight, he would be unable to explain himself.
"I only intend to save Yasi. We can pretend nothing else happened," he said once more.
However, Colin had already made up his mind.
He did not speak, did not utter any harsh words, just looked indifferently at Field.
Then, he poured all his Magic Power into the Fire Element.
If tonight was destined to be an end in defeat, then before his death, he would take someone down with him!
Gradually, a heart-palpitating sensation crept up on everyone—this was the aura of an unstable Fire Element.
"No! You can't do this!" Yasi, being the closest, felt it most acutely.
He felt as though he was standing on the brink of an erupting volcano, his heart seized by fear!
"Brave boy!" A flash of anger passed through Field's eyes, and he decisively turned and flew towards the Fire Element.
Previously, he had planned to resolve the source directly, ending the entire incident, but he had underestimated Colin's mettle.
He would actually choose mutual destruction!
But it didn't matter. It only required one extra step. As a Second Rank Advanced Wizard, he was confident in saving Yasi.
Seeing this, Colin's face changed. If Field managed to rescue Yasi, then everything would be over. Under the joint hands of two Second Rank Wizards, they would all die!
Magic Power surged out, with even the Magic Sea in his chest transmitting a painful sense of dryness.
The Fire Element now stood still, its enormous body pulsating with surging flames.
Phil gave a cold snort, and the snowflakes drifting around him, as if obeying a command, flew towards the Fire Element with a crystal-blue glow.
These ice crystals, filled with chill, were the best material to calm the Fire Element.
As long as they hit their mark, it wouldn't matter how Colin tried to control it; it would be in vain!
Whir—
However, just when the ice crystals were about to touch the Fire Element,
a sheet of emerald light suddenly intercepted them.
Phil's face changed.
The next second.
The over three-meter-tall body of the Fire Element suddenly ballooned, then violently collapsed inward.
"No—!" Yasi let out a piercing scream.
But he was instantly devoured by the merciless orange-white flames.
The extreme heat and pressure gave him no chance to survive.
Hiss—
Under the influence of the intense heat, billowing white vapor rose.
Colin suddenly realized that the first snow of early winter had quietly stopped at some point.
The emerald glow, however, gradually brightened from the twisted ancient tree.
This light, filled with a thin lifeforce, even caused some emerald grass buds to sprout from the surrounding muddy ground.
A moment later, a figure emerged from within the light.
It was he who had just blocked Phil's ice crystals.
"Atbolde, your injuries have healed?!" Phil's expression fluctuated between light and dark, but he already harbored thoughts of retreat.
After all, Yasi was already dead; lingering further would be meaningless.
Moreover, from Atbolde's appearance, he had completely returned to normal, and even appeared to have improved.
However, Atbolde did not respond. He simply walked over to the twisted ancient tree with an icy expression and gently bent down to pick up the towering bald figure.
Colin was silent; it was Marjorie's figure.
The mentor's current reaction... he understood everything.
Apprentice Rank, how could it possibly withstand the attack of a Second Rank Wizard?
Marjorie... was already dead, his blood staining the white snow red.
Now, under the influence of the mysterious power emanating from the mentor, that patch of grassland even started to show signs of greenery, as if a vibrant spring was taking hold.
Lillian struggled to her feet, leaning against the broken wall with grief etched across her face.
Phil gradually backed away, intending to leave.
"Phil, you cannot absolve yourself of tonight's events... Did you think to leave without asking me?" Atbolde held Marjorie's body and turned, his voice calm.
Rustle rustle.
Starting from his feet, grass sprouted from beneath the snow, spreading rapidly in all directions like a tide.
At the same time, the outer circle of tall trees in the nearby flower bed now unfurled their branches, with flowers swaying as they bloomed, and the branches once again grew lush with green leaves.
In almost an instant, the entire courtyard of Atbolde's seemed to transform into a scene of spring, with no trace of winter to be seen.
For Phil, however, this spring-like scenery was nothing but a terrifying cage!
The grass was sharp, the flowers emitted an intoxicating fragrance, and the outer tall trees stood like silent guardians, watching with predatory eyes.
"What in the world is happening here?"
Just as the atmosphere became fraught with tension, a voice came from above.
Bulvo, along with his partner Keith, hovered cautiously mid-air.
They looked at their target—Colin, now pale-faced—then down at the messy scene below, their minds filled with confusion.