Enforcement Squad

Once Leylin had successfully concluded his business in the Poolfield Kingdom, a thought began to form in his mind, 'Perhaps it's time to leave this place and explore the South Coast?' he pondered.

[That sounds like a good idea.] Aralis agreed.

The Lilytell family was a formidable force, their influence and resources far surpassing Leylin's. Even after advancing to a Rank 1 Warlock, Leylin knew he was no match for them. The Tylers, whom he had previously eradicated, were significantly weaker in comparison.

Furthermore, Leylin was acutely aware that Chairman Siley of the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, a formidable Rank 2 Magus, would eventually take matters into his own hands. Leylin stood no chance against such a powerful adversary. As the representative of the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, Siley's intervention was a certainty, so there was no going around it.

After much contemplation, Leylin concluded that his best course of action was to sever ties with the academy completely.

As for the potential repercussions on his professor and acquaintances? Whether it was Kroft, or even acolytes like Nyssa, they were all part of the academy. The Lilytell family, being one of its three major families, was bound by a code of conduct and rules.

Leylin's own family was not much different. Even if the Lilytell family chose to disregard their reputation and resort to taking hostages, Leylin was confident he wouldn't fall into such a trap.

Even if the Lilytells went to the Chernobyl Islands and threatened him using his own family, the Farliers, as hostages, Leylin would remain unfazed. He would even find amusement in their desperate attempts to lure him in.

With these thoughts in mind, Leylin continued his journey, riding his horse along the road. The rhythmic sound of the horse's hooves against the ground echoed as they passed through a forest. Leylin remained calm, analyzing his options.

However, just as they were about to exit the forest, several arcs of light shot out from the trees. With a thunderous noise, Leylin's horse was torn apart, its blood and entrails spilling onto the ground.

In the instant that the light struck his horse, Leylin reacted swiftly. He pressed his palm against the horse, grabbed his knapsack and saddlebags, and leapt away from the doomed animal.

As his feet touched the ground, he found himself encircled by a sizable group of figures cloaked in black. Each one radiated the energy waves of level 3 acolytes, and a few even had the aura of magic artifacts emanating from them. The figure at the center of the formation was clearly the most powerful, having reached the standard of an official Magus.

The black robes of these figures were adorned with the image of several crows, outlined in gold. Leylin recognized them immediately. 'The Academy's Enforcement Squad... they sure as hell took their time. Oh well, better late than never...' He thought, maintaining a calm demeanor.

"Student Leylin Farlier! You stand accused of murdering your fellow level 3 acolytes from the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy... Bosain, Merlin, Shaya, and Roth. They all met their end at your hands, according to the accusations. You must return with us for your trial!" The leader, a man with a scarred face, made no effort to conceal the murderous intent in his eyes.

Leylin understood that the Lilytell family had finally completed their investigation and were now pinning the deaths of the other level 3 acolytes on him.

"They've dispatched a solitary Rank 1 Magus to capture me… should I laugh at this, or take offense?" Leylin retorted, his voice dripping with a heavy dose of sarcasm. He was far from intimidated. Instead, he was preparing his defense, his fingers gently caressing a stunning silver ring. The ring, a magical artifact of considerable power, was embellished with a vibrant emerald. It was a trophy from his encounter with the elderly Johnson Tyler, a memento of his victory.

"Be that as it may, I categorically refuse to surrender," Leylin declared, his voice resolute and unwavering. His eyes, cold and determined, met those of his adversary. "If you wish to drag me back to that forsaken graveyard, you'll have to best me in combat first." His words echoed in the silence, a clear challenge to his opponent. Leylin was ready, his spirit unbroken, prepared to fight for his freedom.

Surrounded by level 3 acolytes and an official Magus, Leylin would have had no chance of escape before his advancement. But now, he was eager to engage in battle and eliminate these maggots.

"Defiance against the Enforcement Squad warrants the most severe punishment – execution! Let the sentence be carried out without delay!" The scar-faced official Magus, his aura pulsating with lethal intent, issued the command with a dismissive flick of his wrist.

The air was instantly filled with a discordant symphony of incantations, each word amplifying the tension. Energy waves rippled through the atmosphere, their power palpable. A spectacular display of magical attacks took form above Leylin's head - fireballs that blazed like miniature suns, corrosive acid of a jade-green hue that hissed menacingly, and ethereal blades of a haunting purple, all conjured by an assortment of magical artifacts.

The spectacle culminated in a series of blinding flashes, followed by a deafening explosion that echoed with the raw power of arcane magics. When the dust settled, the spot where Leylin had once stood was now a smoldering crater, its edges flickering with residual flames. The aftermath was a grim sight - the surrounding area was littered with the shattered remains and grotesquely disfigured bodies of acolytes who had been unfortunate enough to be caught in the crossfire.

"Is he... is he dead? Did we get him?" A bewildered acolyte behind Scarface queried.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck the acolyte, causing his brains to explode in a gruesome spectacle, with white brain matter and blood splattering on the ground.

"Ted!" His comrades cried out in disbelief.

More bolts of lightning followed, each one finding its mark and causing the heads of the level 3 acolytes behind the official Magus to explode in a similar fashion.

"This is... Rank 1 Lightning element spells!" Scarface exclaimed, immediately beginning to chant an incantation.

The air around him began to ripple, as if waves of lightning were passing through it, accompanied by a series of ear-piercing wails.

The void seemed to tear open like a theater curtain being drawn, as the electricity was forcefully dispersed. Scarface surveyed the scene. The level 3 acolytes lay scattered around him, their bodies bearing the gruesome evidence of their demise. Some were charred, others bisected, and a few were reduced to unrecognizable fragments, as if crushed by an unseen giant.

Yet, in that moment, Scarface's attention was not on the fallen acolytes.

"Your progress… it's astonishing!" Scarface's expression was one of disbelief, "To think that you've achieved the esteemed status of a Magus at the tender age of 18! Such extraordinary prowess…! Regrettably, however, your conflict with the Lilytell family has predetermined your fate!"

Scarface licked his lips, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Clayde, Clayde Lilytell!"

Upon hearing Clayde's declaration, Leylin silently issued a command, reverting to his formidable true form. 'Aralis, scan the target before me.'

Aralis responded, [I'm afraid that's not possible, Doctor. A defensive forcefield surrounds him, preventing me from gathering any data. That's also why I didn't detect him earlier. If you can penetrate the forcefield, I'll be able to scan him.]

Leylin, with a smirk playing on his lips, shrugged nonchalantly. 'Well, can't say I didn't try,' he thought, a glint of blood-thirst in his eyes.

'But it seems our friend here is in for a rough time. He's dead meat.' His gaze was fixed on Clayde, who was standing a few feet away.

With a sudden burst of energy, Leylin propelled himself towards Clayde. His body moved with the speed and precision of a bullet, his focus unwavering. His right hand, now pulsating with raw power, was aimed directly at Clayde's chest.

The impact was immediate and brutal. The sound of his fist connecting with Clayde's chest echoed through the air, reminiscent of a hammer striking leather. A bright spark erupted upon contact, and Clayde was sent hurtling backwards, blood spewing from his mouth.

Leylin stood in the spot previously occupied by Clayde, examining his arm. His skin was singed, but it was healing rapidly. Tiny flames flickered on his skin, which he promptly extinguished with a water spell.

Aralis, his trusted aide, reported the data. [Target's defensive forcefield data obtained. Comparing to database... Clayde's innate spell appears to be a high-temperature forcefield, capable of creating a 24-degree flame to burn nearby objects. It has already sustained 4.6% damage. An estimated 20 more strikes should be sufficient to break his defensive forcefield.]

Clayde, now lying on the ground, slowly rose to his feet, coughing up more blood. His face was smeared with soot and dirt. "Impressive speed and strength," he managed to say, his voice filled with mockery. "But you're a recent advancement, aren't you? How many Rank 1 spells could you possibly know? Two? One? Or is it just your innate forcefield?" He patted his chest, his words echoing in the silence.

It was a common occurrence for Magi who had just advanced to be in their most vulnerable state. The memorization of even a few Rank 1 spells could be a daunting task. More often than not, they would find themselves unable to afford the luxury of a single-use scroll or magic artifact.

Clayde, having finished his taunting speech, immediately began chanting an incantation. The energy particles in the air underwent a visible transformation, emitting a dazzling yellow light. Leylin's expression turned grave. "This power... it's at least 20 degrees," he muttered to himself.

His Kemoyin's Scales resistance was currently at 27 degrees, a respectable level for newly advanced Magi. However, it wasn't enough to ward off all Rank 1 spells. Only by continuously tapping into the strength of his bloodline could the Kemoyin's Scales become stronger. For now, any attack exceeding 27 degrees would penetrate his forcefield.

'I can't allow any of his spells to hit me directly,' Leylin thought, his pupils contracting. A dense black aura enveloped him, and finely articulated scales began to appear on his body, covering even his face. In an instant, Leylin was encased in a layer of snake scales, giving him a completely reptilian appearance.

The black scales, ancient and cold, reflected a glossy light that made Clayde's heart pound. "Such a defensive forcefield... So strong!" he exclaimed.

"You made a mistake coming here alone," Leylin said, his voice calm and steady. "You should've brought at least three more Rank 1 Magi. Now, you'll pay for killing my mount and standing in my way." With these words, Leylin moved with a speed that surpassed his previous Grand Knight speed, charging towards Clayde with renewed determination.

Clayde snorted defiantly, a layer of green light materializing around his body. The light morphed into thorns, forming a barrier between him and his opponent. Leylin, however, remained unfazed. He swung his fists with unyielding determination, and within two punches, the thorny barrier shattered into oblivion.

With the Kemoyin's Scales enveloping him and his strength surging, Leylin resembled an ancient beast, his aura radiating an unstoppable force. Clayde's face paled at the sight of Leylin tearing through his defenses as if they were mere wild grass.

"Is that all you've got, monkey?!" Leylin roared, his blood boiling with anticipation. "Show me what you've got! Give me a good show before I slaughter you!" His thirst for battle was insatiable, each word he spoke fueling his desire to fight.

"Damn it! He's too fast!" Clayde cursed under his breath. As he chanted, he constantly shifted his position, activating several magic artifacts in an attempt to halt Leylin's advance. These low-grade magic artifacts, while not particularly powerful and mostly used for restraint, still required some effort to break through.

Fire, stone, light, water. Regardless of the obstacles in his path of destruction, Leylin would annihilate them all. With each act, his countenance grew increasingly deranged, reflecting his insatiable bloodlust.

After Leylin shattered a giant wall of ice, Clayde finally completed his incantation of a Rank 1 spell. A massive blue fireball hurtled towards Leylin. "Fire? Then I'll raise you this!" Leylin retorted with a smirk, preparing an enormous purple sigil. "Negative Energy Inflame!"

A colossal wave of purple fire erupted from the point of origin of Clayde's spell, unleashing a heat wave of catastrophic proportions. The surrounding area was decimated, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. All life forms and objects outside Leylin's personal field were obliterated.

Once the heat wave subsided, the scorched earth had melted into a vast pit, roughly the size of a football stadium.

Clayde, despite the severe burns marring his body and the absence of hair on his head, laughed heartily. "No one could survive my corrosive fireball! Not even with that counter spell!" His joy at the prospect of eliminating a budding genius was palpable.

However, his laughter soon died in his throat, replaced by a look of disbelief. He stumbled backwards, as if he had seen something unimaginable. "How... How is this possible? He's still alive?"

From the midst of the blue and purple inferno, a figure emerged. Leylin, his clothes and armor reduced to ashes, revealed his scaly body. 

Aralis's voice echoed in his ear, [You've consumed 34% of your Mana Energy and Spiritual Force. Thanks to your Kemoyin Scales, no harm was dealt directly to you. But if not for your counter-spell, your shielding would've broken apart.]

'I have it under control,' Leylin responded coldly in his mind.

"How?! You dissipated my spell with one of your own! Impossible!" Clayde yelled in disbelief.

Leylin's voice was icy as he replied, "I am severely disappointed. It seems like the Lilytells don't take me very seriously if they sent a weakling such as yourself to hunt me down." His killing intent intensified, as his blackish aura became visible.

In a blink of an eye, Leylin's figure flickered, appearing directly in front of Clayde. His fist, covered in scales, struck Clayde's chest with a force that was nothing short of tremendous.

A bright red flame erupted from Clayde's chest, engulfing Leylin's fist. Clayde's face turned a shade of crimson as he was sent hurtling backwards.

Unfazed by the flames licking his body, Leylin advanced, his grip tightening around Clayde's throat. "Go ahead, try to escape! It doesn't matter! I'll catch up to you and crush your skull under my boot!" Leylin's expression was one of pure malevolence as he unleashed a barrage of punches onto Clayde's body.

The sound of massive explosions echoed continuously, the earth trembling as if in the throes of an earthquake.

After what seemed like an eternity, Clayde let out an anguished cry, and the flames consuming his body vanished. Aralis's voice echoed, [Target's defensive forcefield broken, acquiring data…] The words brought Leylin, who had been lost in his frenzy, back to his senses.

A sense of dread washed over him. 'I was reckless... against an official Magus...?' The thought of how he had blindly attacked his opponent's defensive forcefield without any attempt to dodge or block sent a chill down his spine.

Under normal circumstances, he would have never acted in such a manner. Yes, he enjoyed the thrill of the kill, and sometimes, he did get a bit carried away. But this was not just any enemy. This was a Magus. Regardless of their strength, it was perilous to let his guard down.

//

Name: Clayde Lilytell || Gender: Male || Estimated age: 30-35 || Rank 1 Magus || Strength: 4.5, Agility: 3.7, Vitality: 5.6, Spiritual Force: 31, Mana Energy: 31. Elemental Essence Conversion: Fire / Progress: 30%

//

Clayde, who was sprawled on the ground, had his vital data meticulously extracted and transmitted to Leylin. A sudden understanding dawned upon Leylin's face as he muttered, "Elemental Essence Conversion? That explains the formidable power of his acidic fireball."

Upon reaching the status of a Rank 1 Magus, the next step towards advancement necessitates the completion of the Elemental Essence Conversion. This is a pivotal stage where the significance of elemental affinity comes to the fore. It is crucial to select the element with the highest affinity for cultivation. Failing to do so would result in an Elemental Essence Conversion progress of less than 80%, effectively barring the path to becoming a Rank 2 Magus.

The Elemental Essence Conversion not only acted as a gateway to advancement but also enhanced the potency of spells corresponding to the chosen element. For instance, Clayde's acidic fireball, which initially had a power degree of 20, soared to 28 degrees following a 30% Elemental Essence Conversion. This near breach of Leylin's defenses was only thwarted by his timely casting of the Negative Energy Inflame spell.

However, this multiplier effect was exclusive to the chosen elemental affinity. While Clayde's fire-based spell benefited from a 30% boost, spells of other elements remained unaffected. In fact, for elements like Water or Ice, the power might even experience a reduction. This underlined the importance of strategic selection of elemental affinity in the journey of a Magus.

At first glance, it may seem counter-intuitive for a Magus, particularly one with a strong affinity for the Fire element, to delve into the realm of Water and Ice spells. The elemental opposition could potentially lead to a conflict of magical energies or a dilution of the Magus's arcane power. However, this was not the case for Leylin.

Leylin was not your average Magus. His magical prowess extended beyond the norm, transcending the boundaries of elemental affinities. This extraordinary capability stemmed from his profound understanding of each spell model.

The analysis and imprinted knowledge provided by Aralis did not merely involve the rote learning of spells. Instead, they encompassed a deep, philosophical comprehension of the underlying principles of each element. This knowledge allowed Leylin to manipulate each element with a finesse that few could match, let alone surpass.

Thus, despite his inherent affinity for Fire, Leylin could wield Water and Ice spells with equal proficiency. His mastery over these contrasting elements was not a hindrance but a testament to his exceptional skill and understanding. It demonstrated his ability to harmonize opposing forces, to find balance amidst chaos, and to adapt to any situation, no matter how challenging.

This matter was banished from Leylin's mind as a red light flickered incessantly in his eyes. The data he had just obtained from Clayde, a Rank 1 Magus, was invaluable. It could potentially enhance his self-understanding, enrich his database, and even provide a comparative analysis with a Warlock's stats.

Clayde, on the brink of death, gasped out a warning, "Leylin… If you kill me now, my family will never let you off..." The breaking of a Magus's innate defensive forcefield often resulted in damage to their arcane core, leaving Clayde in a precarious state.

Leylin, observing Clayde's defiant demeanor, was amused. He responded in a seemingly friendly manner, "Good. Perhaps next time they'll send someone more capable. For now, I'll take you captive. We can have some fun later when I torture you to death. How does that sound?" His warm smile, akin to someone caring for an injured puppy, belied his sinister intentions.

Without further ado, Leylin forced a potion down Clayde's throat. Clayde's eyes rolled back, and he promptly fainted. Forbidden runes appeared on his body, isolating the spell formation branding on his body. After swiftly cleaning up the area and gathering his spoils, Leylin hoisted Clayde onto his shoulder and left the scene.

Leylin's experiments had endowed him with exceptional Vitality, allowing him to run for an entire day without exhaustion. His previous choice to ride a horse was merely for convenience.

After covering several kilometers, Leylin decided to check his body status. The loss of control during the earlier battle had left him concerned. He managed to calm down only after sitting under a refreshing stream of crystalline water and cooling off. 'Aralis. Bring out the data monitored earlier and investigate the cause of me losing control...' Leylin instructed.

Aralis dutifully complied, [Task established. Bringing out monitored data.] The report revealed abnormal activities within Leylin's body during the fight, including a 45% increase in blood flow and a significant increase in the Giant Kemoyin Serpent blood essence.

Through a comparison, Leylin discovered that the Giant Kemoyin Serpent's bloodline had released a strange stimulant during the battle, similar to doping. This stimulation had caused Leylin to lose his rationality.

Leylin pondered, 'Is this the origin of the Warlocks' emotional aftereffects?' He immediately asked Aralis to present the best solutions to this issue.

Aralis promptly provided several possible solutions, [Method 1: Forsake the Giant Kemoyin Serpent Bloodline. Method 2: Use the Serenity Potion. Method 3: …]

Leylin carefully considered each option, ready to make his next move.