In the midnight grove, the battle between Xiliya and the Beastman Priest continued, but as the Beastman Priest’s attacks grew increasingly fierce, Xiliya clearly began to struggle.
The entire grove was littered with scars from the relentless bombardment, and several spots corroded by the Beastman Priest’s magic still emitted wisps of black smoke, releasing a foul, pungent odor.
“How about this—as long as you surrender now, I guarantee I’ll spare your life,” the Beastman Priest rasped. “Lord Samuer would probably want to meet you.”
After clashing, the Beastman Priest had gauged that Xiliya was quite capable, but he was confident he was stronger, which prompted him to make such an offer.
A pale blue magical barrier blocked another of the Priest’s attacks, green slime residue sizzling on its surface.
“Not a chance!”
“Sigh, then don’t blame me for showing no mercy.”
The Beastman Priest sighed, intending to try persuading Xiliya once more, but before he could speak, his beastly instincts alerted him to danger. A deep brown earthen wall rose at his side, barely blocking several flying daggers that whistled through the air.
“Oh?”
The Beastman Priest narrowed his eyes and glanced sideways at Ximo, who had joined the fray. The little maid clicked her tongue and drew three more flying daggers from her skirt hem, holding them at the ready.
“Killer, or assassin?” The Beastman Priest chuckled indifferently. “Didn’t expect you to have hidden talents, but trying to butt into a mage battle at this level is just asking for death.”
In the Beastman Priest’s eyes, Ximo’s failed sneak attack meant she posed no threat. A head-on clash between two intermediate-level mages wasn’t something a minor assassin could interfere with.
“Ximo, it’s dangerous here—get back!”
Xiliya called out anxiously, but the Beastman Priest was already moving. Several deep green orbs laced with corrosive energy coalesced on his Decayed Wooden Staff and hurtled toward Ximo.
Xiliya hurriedly summoned a pale blue magical barrier in front of Ximo for protection, but when the explosion cleared and the smoke dissipated, Ximo was nowhere to be seen behind it.
“Master, I can help.”
Ximo had already flashed to Xiliya’s side. Xiliya couldn’t help but feel surprised… This little maid’s agility was that impressive? Even without her intervention, Ximo clearly could have dodged the Beastman Priest’s attack.
Ximo couldn’t quite explain her current state either. In her focused mindset, she recalled more things—this level of combat… she could handle it!
“That Beastman Priest’s grasp of magic isn’t precise…” Ximo stared at him, flashing the dagger in her hand. “If I can get close, I can take him down.”
Ximo keenly noticed the vast difference in their magic usage. The Beastman Priest’s defenses were primitive Elemental Magic, like summoning an earthen wall. In contrast, Xiliya’s Barrier Magic was far more advanced.
The Beastmen Clan simply hadn’t advanced as far in magical research as humans. The Beastman Priest couldn’t match Xiliya’s speed and precision in deploying barriers in any direction, so Ximo figured that if she closed the distance, he wouldn’t block her strikes in time.
“…Alright, I’ll cover you.”
Perhaps Ximo’s earlier display convinced her, or maybe it was the urgency—either way, their brief exchange wasted no time. Xiliya dove into the next round of magical bombardment, while Ximo slipped out from the Barrier Magic’s protection, vanishing into the surrounding night like a ghost.
Trying a sneak attack, huh… The Beastman Priest wasn’t fooled; he guessed her intent from her movements. But at that moment, Xiliya’s assaults erupted in ferocity, unleashing a barrage of spells like unlimited firepower straight at him.
The sudden onslaught forced the Beastman Priest to focus on defense. He raised several thick earthen walls to withstand Xiliya’s attacks, losing sight of Ximo in the process.
Relying on firepower to create an opening for her partner? The Beastman Priest sneered inwardly. He didn’t think it was a good plan— he’d sensed Xiliya’s mana reserves were low, and this frantic expenditure smacked of a desperate last stand.
In other words, if this combo between Xiliya and Ximo failed, they were done for.
The Beastman chanted rapidly, countering Xiliya with his own attack spells while keeping watch on his flanks and rear… But when the earthen walls crumbled, Ximo charging right up to him bow-backed still flashed surprise in his eyes.
This human girl had actually pierced through that dense magical barrage and closed in from the front? Her agility was that good?
The little maid no longer seemed frail or delicately cute; her gaze was hawk-like, her dagger glinting coldly in the night.
Not good… At this range, the Beastman Priest knew he couldn’t cast Elemental Magic to summon another wall in time.
Indeed, assassins were a mage’s weakness. They couldn’t win head-on, but once in close, their swift, precise strikes could fell even mages with frail bodies who couldn’t cast fast enough.
But that’s assuming the mage has a weak body… A sly glint of triumph flashed in the Beastman Priest’s eyes. The instant Ximo appeared, the curved blade hidden in his left hand slashed viciously toward her back!
His beast-hide cloak flung open with the wide swing, revealing his tensed, muscular arm. He wasn’t some physically frail ordinary mage—he was a Northern Beastman. Even in raw physical strength, few humans could match him!
That was why he feared no close quarters. His curved blade descended faster than Ximo could react, but at that precise moment, a pale blue barrier snapped open above her. The blade scraped across it, sparking wildly.
What?! The Beastman Priest’s pupils contracted. In the next second, a black dagger plunged accurately into his kidney, and Ximo rolled nimbly aside.
“Did you forget you have more than one opponent?”
Xiliya coolly withdrew her hand. They hadn’t discussed any coordination details, yet Ximo had boldly closed in, fully trusting that Xiliya’s Barrier Magic would shield her precisely.
“Heh, what are you so smug about? You’re at the end of your rope!”
The Beastman Priest gritted through the pain in his waist and yanked out the dagger.
His physical toughness kept him in the fight, but Xiliya should be out of mana by now, right?
Aiming his Decayed Wooden Staff at Ximo, the Beastman Priest growled, “You should have gone for my heart!”
