CH129
Malcolm observed Helag's frantic escape and muttered, "He's quite fast."
He then extended his hand, drawing several runes in the air with mana and chanting a few syllables: "Blood Prison."
As Helag ran for his life, he suddenly saw a blood-red wall rise in front of him.
Looking around, he realized the entire area was covered by a blood-red dome.
"Got you, insect," Malcolm said with a cruel smile.
Helag punched the blood-red wall, causing it to shake but not break.
"Such strength," Malcolm remarked, growing more curious about Helag.
The blood hand formed again and reached down for Helag.
Helag focused intently, knowing he couldn't use Blink too early or too late.
If he used it too early, Malcolm could redirect the blood hand, wasting his Blink.
Using Deep Blue to monitor the blood hand's position, Helag waited until the last moment to use Blink, dodging the attack.
The blood hand struck where he had stood, creating a large crater.
"Impressive judgment. Dodging twice perfectly isn't luck," Malcolm mused.
Dodging two attacks in a row was beyond the capability of an average third-level apprentice.
Malcolm conjured a massive Bone Spear, which disappeared the next second.
Seeing the bone spear, Helag felt an immense threat. Deep Blue detected only a rapidly approaching mana fluctuation.
With no time to determine the spear's direction, Helag used Blink to evade.
Boom!
As he blinked away, the bone spear embedded itself in the ground where he had stood.
"You definitely have something special. A normal third-level apprentice would have run out of mana by now, yet you can still use Blink. And you seem to sense attacks beforehand. Is it a talent?" Malcolm speculated.
"Let's see how many more times you can Blink."
Another blood hand formed. Helag's mana could only support one more Blink.
To replenish mana, he needed to drink a potion, but he had no time in such a tense situation.
The blood hand descended again, and Helag used his last bit of mana to Blink away.
He pulled out a Stabilizing Potion, ready to drink it.
But another blood hand shattered his Absolute Defense and slammed him to the ground.
Helag felt several ribs break and spat blood.
Before he could recover, another blood hand struck, breaking more bones and damaging his organs.
Without the enhancement spells boosting his Constitution to 15, he would have died from that blow.
"Still alive!" Malcolm was shocked.
A typical third-level apprentice would have been crushed to a pulp, but Helag was only severely injured.
"Should I keep him alive for study?" Malcolm pondered, considering taking Helag back for research.
Helag lay on the ground, wracked with pain, feeling death was imminent.
Suddenly, the ground shook, and a rumbling sound surrounded him.
He barely lifted his eyelids to see trees rapidly growing around him, breaking through the blood-red walls.
He heard movement underground and felt the ground beneath him tremble.
Deep Blue identified a plant root tunneling towards him.
Unsure of its intent, Helag couldn't move to avoid it.
The root reached him quickly, and a bud at its tip bloomed, enveloping him.
The root retracted, pulling Helag underground.
Surrounded by darkness, Helag felt a sticky substance inside the bud.
The liquid seeped into his wounds, aiding his recovery.
"The liquid seems to have healing properties," Helag realized, feeling his injuries slowly healing.
The entire process happened in a flash. Malcolm tried to grab Helag but was too late. The blood hand grasped at empty air, leaving only a deep hole in the ground.
"Malcolm, do you want to start another war?" Barty's voice rang out. He stood on a giant tree's branch, with Fred beside him.
A branch extended, revealing a flower that opened to release Helag.
Helag, soaked and severely injured, lay on the ground, unable to move.
"Helag," Fred rushed over, applying White Fresh Healing Potion to his wounds.
"He had a hand in my brother's death. Hand him over," Malcolm demanded, his face dark.
Barty sneered, "So what? Even if he did, what can you do? If you want him, come and take him. Let's see if you have the guts to reignite the war."
Barty's defiant stance showed he didn't fear Malcolm.
If Malcolm were at full strength, it might be troublesome, but he hadn't fully recovered from his injuries. Barty wasn't worried.
Moreover, Moonlight Forest had always been tough on Green Cottage, showing no mercy.
No formal wizard of Moonlight Forest would hand over an apprentice to Malcolm. It would be a disgrace.
Malcolm's expression was fierce, but he was wary of Barty, especially since they were on Moonlight Forest's territory.
If he fought Barty, the battle would take time, and reinforcements from Moonlight Forest would arrive quickly, making escape difficult.
He glanced at Helag. "You better stay in Moonlight Forest forever."