Chapter 148: The Might of Magic

"Damn it!"

Seeing Matt, usually so obedient, actually leave this time, Lu Ya could not help but curse inwardly. He then focused all his attention on the Fire Bear; dealing with the beast on his own was proving extremely difficult.

Roar!

After a long stalemate, seeing that Wang Luo had still not arrived, and hearing the roars of the Fat Pig and Black Monkey, the Fire Bear’s patience finally snapped. With a skyward roar, a scorching beam of red light erupted from its maw.

Scorching Flame Beam!

Seeing this attack, Lu Ya’s expression shifted. His longsword danced rapidly, weaving a web of sword light to envelop the incoming flame.

Crackling sounds filled the air as the sword light clashed with the flames, sending sparks scattering in every direction. Fearing collateral damage, the onlookers scrambled back, giving the man and the bear more room to fight.

Flame Armor! Raging Bear Claws!

With another roar, a phantom suit of fiery red armor materialized over the Fire Bear’s body, while its paws ignited with raging flames. The massive creature lunged at Lu Ya, and the two resumed their fierce combat.

"So powerful! It truly lives up to its reputation as the hardest beast to defeat in the Forest of Trials!"

"Heh, the guys from the Guardian Squad aren't so impressive, are they? They keep bragging about being baptized in blood, but I don't see anything special about them!"

"Exactly!"

Hearing the jeers, Lu Ya’s expression turned icy. He glanced at Matt, who remained standing by with an indifferent, feigned look of concern. Gritting his teeth, Lu Ya reached out with his left hand and struck several points on his own body in rapid succession.

"Urgh!"

He couldn't help but groan as an unnatural flush flooded his face. To the onlookers' surprise, Lu Ya’s aura surged violently, approaching the Seventh Rank.

"Battle Qi Blood Transmutation!"

Watching Lu Ya use a technique to forcibly boost his strength, Matt frowned. After a moment of hesitation, he prepared to step forward to join forces with Lu Ya and quickly finish off the Fire Bear. He knew that with Lu Ya’s twisted personality, if something went wrong and he either killed the bear or was killed by it, the situation would become a massive headache.

*Whoosh!*

Just then, magic fluctuations rippled through the air. Dozens of water arrows appeared out of nowhere, raining down mercilessly on Lu Ya.

*Roar!*

Seeing this, the Fire Bear let out a joyous cry, pinning Lu Ya down relentlessly.

"Get lost!"

With a vicious slash, Lu Ya beat back the bear and turned to face the barrage of arrows. Just as he did, he felt the magical elements gathering once more. His face paled; he tried to retreat, but the arrows pinned him down, and the Fire Bear lunged again.

"Six Fire Serpent Technique!"

Six serpents made entirely of flame surged forward, flying toward the beleaguered Lu Ya. The crowd gasped in shock—the speed of his spellcasting was incredible.

*Whoosh...*

The crowd parted as a youth in a simple white mage’s robe stepped out, holding a staff embedded with a Seventh-Rank water and earth dual-attribute magic crystal. He was still chanting rapidly, and magical elements were converging again.

"Slow!"

"Mud Bog!"

Two earth-type spells were cast in near-succession, drawing further gasps of astonishment. Matt, who had been about to intervene, halted his steps and watched Wang Luo, his eyes flickering with contemplation.

Lu Ya, locked in combat with the bear, felt his movements sluggish, followed by his feet sinking into the ground. Just as he fought off the magical effects, the Fire Bear’s enraged claws, wreathed in surging flames, were already upon him.

*Boom!*

He blocked with his sword in a desperate attempt to minimize the damage, but Lu Ya was still sent flying instantly, spitting a mouthful of blood into the air.

"Earth Tremor!"

Before he could even land, he sensed magical fluctuations beneath him. Lu Ya’s expression shifted again. He gritted his teeth, forced his body to turn in mid-air, and narrowly evaded the spell.

"Rain Arrows!"

"Matt! My share of the medicinal herbs is yours!"

As the sky-filling rain arrows manifested again, feeling the killing intent behind him, Lu Ya—who had survived many life-or-death battles—turned pale and shouted.

"( ⊙ o ⊙ ) Really?!"

With a joyful shout, Matt’s sword flashed as he lunged—not at the rain arrows or Lu Ya, but directly toward Wang Luo.

Capture the leader first!

"Earth Fog!"

A murky fog shrouded the ground. Matt suddenly felt a chilling wind brush past him, and a moment later, he heard a scream from Lu Ya behind him.

Waving his sword to stir up a breeze and clear the dust, Matt turned around and froze in place.

"Who are you? Do you have any idea who I am? I’m with the Guardian Squad! Dare to lay a hand on me and you’re looking for death!"

A sharp earthen spike hovered just inches from Lu Ya’s throat; he could feel its lethal edge. Yet, seeing that Matt had escaped the fog, he immediately put on a fierce front, his body radiating a thick, terrifying aura of malice.

"Ah!"

Another earthen spike materialized instantly, burying itself mercilessly into Lu Ya’s other leg before dissipating. The spike at his throat moved even closer, and a thin trickle of blood began to run down his pale neck.

"Don't kill me!"

Sensing the genuine killing intent from the youth, Lu Ya instantly crumbled. A wise man knows better than to fight when at a disadvantage, though he was already plotting his revenge. Seeing this, Matt, who had been about to step forward, hesitated and frowned.

"Don't kill you? Heh, I can't guarantee that. If my focus slips and my mental energy wavers, the spike might just slip in. There's nothing I can do about that!"

Wang Luo offered a faint smile, his youthful voice ringing in Lu Ya’s ears, causing the man to tremble.

"Wang Luo, we were both students at the Tianxuan Academy. This time, Lu Ya was in the wrong. I apologize on his behalf—please, show mercy!"

"Heh, show mercy? Sure. Leave everything valuable you have on you, and you can get lost!"

Wang Luo said with a cheerful chuckle, his tone unhurried. The earthen spike did not move an inch, ignoring the blood still trickling down Lu Ya’s neck.

"You—"

Lu Ya choked on his words. As he opened his mouth to protest, the deadly spike pressed deeper, and he swallowed his words instantly.

"Do you need me to help you?"

As the spike sank deeper and a chilling aura permeated the air, Lu Ya had no doubt that if he spoke another word, it would pierce his throat. Facing the brink of death, he had no choice but to pay to save his life.

"You're a member of the Guardian Squad, and you think you can dismiss me with just these few magic crystals?!"

Without giving Lu Ya a chance to explain, Wang Luo had the Black Monkey, which had just been rescued by the Big Bear, search Lu Ya from top to bottom. Sure enough, he unearthed quite a few treasures.