Air Lock Sorcery

Five apprentice sorcerers and an intermediate sorcerer all clad in black sorcerer robes with masks that covered their faces were standing out of the gates of Toledo Fort. They were a small rogue sorcerer organization known as Black Hands. They were composed of wandering sorcerers that came together to conduct raids on resource sites of major and small clans in the region. They also carried out mercenary missions on behalf of clans against other clans.

They disliked the gradual accumulation of points style of development in the various clans and preferred to raid and loot resource sites so that they could quickly improve their strength. It was dangerous but a highly profitable venture.

Apart from their interests, they reached an agreement with the Cadogan clan to attack the Brander clan's resource mine so that they could share the gains among themselves.

Their leader known as Black Hands had a greedy look on his face as he eyed a brown-haired curvaceous apprentice sorcerer standing on the walls of the fort. He made up his mind to include her as part of the share of his 'loot'. He didn't think for a moment that the apprentice sorcerers in the fort could pose a threat to him. After all in the last battle, with the help of the two intermediate Cadogan clan sorcerers, they outnumbered and killed the intermediate sorcerers of the Brander clan. Compared to him, his co–conspirators suffered somewhat heavy injuries and they did not come with him as they were still recovering.

"Heeeheehee!If you don't call your leader out to agree to our terms then all of you except that woman there will die." The Black Hands leader pointed to the apprentice sorcerers on the wall with an expression of greed and mockery on his face while his subordinates burst into laughter as well. The brown-haired lady's face was cold but she felt helpless at thought of falling into the hands of this rogue sorcerer who would most definitely ravage her body.

He was just about to continue his actions when he saw a grey-robed sorcerer with shoulder-length blond hair and golden eyes and a dashing appearance appear on the walls of the tower. He felt fluctuations of spirit energy that had reached the level of an intermediate sorcerer.

"Here are the terms I will agree to. Leave one of your limbs here and leave or face death." The grey-robed sorcerer said with a cold look on his face that radiated killing intent. Black Hands was surprised at seeing another intermediate sorcerer at the fort but did not bother hiding his disdain and fury. "I see. You they reinforcement the Brander clan sent. Didn't you hear about what happened with those two sorcerers of the Brander clan? With just you alone…you are insufficient! I will make you pay for your words just now. " He sneered.

"Rhea, I'll be relying on your battle support as always," August spoke to Rhea in his mind.

"Don't worry, Master August, you don't have to ask!"

Wind Sorcery: Wind Blade!

August said nothing more as he raised his right hand, wind elemental energy gathering around him to form a wind blade and launching it towards Black Hands below. "Hmmph! Just a wind blade!" Black Hands sneered as a dark glow gradually covered his entire arm, making his arm transform into an arm that resembled the hand of a devil in books as he met with the swiftly approaching wind blade head-on.

Darkness Sorcery: Black Devil's Hand!

Boom!!!

The resulting clash of the green and black energy created a shockwave that pushed all non-combatants away. This was a clash between intermediate sorcerers and even apprentices could lose their lives if they were not careful, hence everyone kept their distance. From what the outsiders could see, the two attacks cancelled each other but those with more discerning eyes could see that the was a nasty-looking gash on Black Hands' right arm, which was healing at a rather slow pace.

Black Hands stared at the grey-robed sorcerer standing on the wall with a solemn look on his face. He stumbled across an underground cave and discovered this dark sorcery. Luckily for him, he had a dark affinity and this sorcery complemented him greatly, allowing him to rise the ranks quickly and create a small force of his own. It was powerful and not many sorcerers could withstand its power.

"You are pretty strong. I did not expect my sorcery to lose in a direct clash against your wind blade. What is your name?"

"My comrades refer to me with the title 'Storm'," August cooly replied.

I underestimated you earlier you will still die here today, Storm!" Black Hands covered his right arm with dark elemental power and leapt towards August.

Darkness Sorcery: Black Devil Encompassing Hand!

The area around the two opponents suddenly became darker as a huge, black hand, condensed out of darkness elemental energy enveloped Black Hands' right arm and was about to smack August, like a tiger's paw about to land on a mouse.

August did not make any attempt to dodge. He simply stretched his right arm forward and performed a gripping motion and muttered.

Wind Sorcery: Air Lock!

All of a sudden, Black Hands' motion halted midway through the air as the air around him suddenly felt heavy as if he was wrapped in chains and his attack dissipated into thin air. He was beginning to panic as his signature attacks were again nullified by this Storm guy. "What?? What did you do just now? What sort of sorcery is this!!!?" Black Hands felt fear at the youth with golden eyes who were staring at him as if he was looking at a dead person.

August had a faint smile on his face. After reading books the books in the library and brainstorming some ideas with Rhea, analyzing the composition of the available spells in his database, and understanding the benefits of having a higher level of elemental affinity than the average sorcerer, he was able to develop new sorcery which was simple but effective with Rhea's assistance. This sorcery was able to manipulate the wind elemental energy in the air to place a bind on an opponent's movements.

"You still underestimated me when you still thought you could kill me. You can continue to reflect on your shortcomings during your free time in the afterlife, Black Hands. Die." August finally responded and while speaking, he had already cast three wind blades in continuous succession.

"I can't die like this!!! Storm spare me! I promise to leave! NOOO!!"

Swish, swish, swish!!

Dark energy began surging around Black Hands tried to break free of the airlock sorcery but it was too late as his body was slashed apart in the air by the wind blades and fell to the ground with a thud and lost his life.

After confirming the lack of vital signs on the body August then looked in the direction of the five remaining apprentice sorcerers, who were subordinates of Black Hands. When they felt his gaze upon them, they started trembling in dread as in their eyes, August was a cold-blooded executioner from hell contrary to his radiant appearance.

"Please spare us, Senior Storm! We were forced to follow Black Hands have mercy!" They pleaded.