Chapter 49
The Cloud Cave was pitch black.
There wasn’t a hint of light.
Stepping inside, Linda found herself in a long, narrow hallway.
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As soon as Matthew stepped inside, he was hot on Linda’s heels. Quick as a flash, he grabbed her shoulder, trying to slow her down.
But Linda slipped away with a swift sidestep, like she’d predicted his move. In a blink, she spun around, and the two of them clashed right there in the narrow hallway.
The thud of blows filled the air, neither giving an inch.
Punches and kicks flew, and their footwork was so evenly matched it was hard to tell who had the upper hand.
Matthew couldn’t help but think, ‘Damn, she’s fast.‘
But Matthew was two levels above Linda. With just a touch of his power, he easily took control, his elbow digging into her shoulder.
He locked
in a hold and slammed her hard against the stone wall.
Bits of stone crumbled and fell.
Linda let out a muffled grunt as her shoulder crashed into the wall. She broke the stone with sheer body. There was not a hint of mana shielding her.
Matthew was momentarily stunned.
But seeing that defiant spark in her eyes, refusing to back down, Matthew’s temper flared.
He snapped coldly, “I’ve been going easy on you because you’re young, but you sure don’t hold back, do you?”
Matthew thought, ‘She just waltzes in like she owns the place and throws punches the second she feels like it.’
Linda let out a low, mocking laugh, her eyes full of scorn. “As Azure Spire’s top student, you are breaking your word. Do you still call yourself a gentleman?”
Matthew shot back, irritation in his voice, “I never said I wouldn’t give you the Wood–Fire Spirit.”
Linda met his gaze, her tone icy. “Then get the hell out.”
Matthew’s grip tightened. Her eyes were clear and bright, and her features were pure. She was the spitting image of Linda.
As long as he moved his finger, he could rip off her veil and know who she really was.
‘But she just used water spells. Linda has a Fire Affinity. There’s no way it’s her, he thought.
Linda watched his every expression, reading the struggle in his eyes as clear as day.
She didn’t flinch, just biding her time, waiting for her chance.
Matthew snapped, “Such a big attitude for someone your age. Didn’t your teachers ever teach you any respect? Seniority
comes first.”
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Chapter 49
Linda scoffed.
Matthew raised his voice, “Fine, I’ll stand in for your teachers and show you what real disgrace looks like.”
“Dumbass, Linda shot back.
Matthew stared. “What?”
Linda shrugged him off with ease, slipping out of his grasp and putting several steps between them.
Matthew’s eyes narrowed dangerously, and a blaze ignited in his palm.
Linda couldn’t help but laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Matthew demanded.
Before Matthew could finish, he sensed something was seriously wrong.
It felt like the air itself was sticking to him. He tried to push forward, but pain shot through his veins.
Even moving made him shake uncontrollably.
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His face drained of color as he watched the flames in his palm get choked out by thin, shimmering threads, then snuffed out completely.
“Mana–Binding Threads,” Craig muttered.
He glanced around the hallway. “You can’t use your powers here
‘No wonder she didn’t bother using any mana to shield herself when she crashed into the wall earlier, Matthew thought.
Linda sneered, “As Azure Spire’s top student, you couldn’t even spot a trap like this? You’re even more arrogant than I thought.”
“How did you notice it?” Matthew demanded.
They’d entered together. He wondered how Linda caught on before he did.
Linda turned on her heel and walked away.
‘Why should I tell him?‘ Linda thought.
She dashed deeper into the hallway, chatting with Emmett inside the Amethyst Band.
Emmett said, “There are two more restrictions inside this Hermit’s Sanctum. The first one’s the ManaSpirit–Binding ward.
“Don’t use any mana, and don’t activate any spells.
“The stronger you are, the tougher the restriction gets.
“Just keep heading forward, and you’ll walk right out of the Mana–Binding field.”
Linda followed Emmett’s instructions and rushed down the corridor. Soon enough, she broke free from the Mana–Binding field.
But up ahead, she found herself facing three branching paths.
“Which way?” Linda asked Emmett.
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Chapter 49
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Emmett was perched on a branch inside the Amethyst Band, glancing at the three–way fork ahead. “Just pick whichever.
“The old man who built this Veil loved turning everything into a treasure hunt. Every path’s got some loot at the end.
“Even if you don’t find the Wood–Fire Spirit you’re after, there’ll be something else to grab.”
Linda grinned, “But I want everything.”
Emmett rolled his eyes. “Greedy.”
Linda picked a path and grinned, “Everyone’s greedy by nature. Since I’m already here, why should I let someone else walk away with the prize?”
With limited time, Linda wasn’t about to waste a second hesitating. Even as she was talking to Emmett, she’d already dashed off down the first path.
She reached the end of the path without a hitch.
It was a stone chamber.
The door was protected by a ward.
Emmett said, “Same old thing. This is a tier 4 ward. If you try to break it, it’ll take you an hour or two. By then, that the hallway will have caught up to you.”
Linda replied, “I won’t need that long.”
She fished a charm out of her Infinite–Expansion Satchel.
Emmett was speechless.
He didn’t know much about charms, but he recognized the word “explode” written on it.
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from
Linda pressed the charm onto the door, channeled her mana into it, and watched as it began to glow. Then she spun around and dashed away.
Emmett’s voice shook, “You’re using an Explosion Charm against a tier 4 ward? That won’t do anything.
“This ward isn’t something a simple blast can break. All you’ll do is trigger its strongest defenses.”
Linda replied, “I know.”
Emmett was baffled.
“Then why are you doing it?‘ Emmett thought.
The explosion rocked the first fork, shaking the whole Cloud Cave and even the cliff outside. Everyone was left gaping in shock, and Matthew’s face twisted in disbelief.
“What the hell is she doing?” Matthew shouted.
Emmett just stared, dumbfounded, as Linda slipped out from her hiding spot in the stone wall.
She strolled over, checking out the door she’d just blown open. The shimmering ward was still snaking across its surface.
The door was open, but the ward was still active.
Linda flashed a sly grin. “I can’t get in, but you can.”
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Chapter 49
Emmett’s eyes went wide. ‘Wait, what?‘
Linda gestured at the doorway. “It’s open. Go on.”
Emmett squawked, “Who said I could pull that off? I never said could.”
Linda picked up a rock and teased, “If a tree can run, why not a rock?”
Emmett clammed up.
Linda gave him a playful smile. “Ready?”
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The palm–sized black rock suddenly grew a pair of stubby legs, oking both indignant and a little put out. “I am a proud denizen of the Veil…”
Linda pointed at the stone door. “Hurry up.”
Emmett got to his feet, resigned. “Just toss me in, and make it quick.”
“Alright,” Linda replied.
Linda held the rock in her palm and tossed it inside. The ward only reacted to living beings.
Linda honestly had no clue whether it would trigger a lethal response against Emmett, who was a denizen of the Veil.
Of course, it was way safer to let Emmett take the risk than to put herself on the line.
Linda aimed carefully and lobbed the rock straight through the opening, sending it into the stone chamber.
“Did you get in?” Linda called out.
Emmett’s voice came back, bubbling with excitement. “I’m in. This is the treasure chamber that the old man built. You found the jackpot.”
‘I actually picked the treasure chamber on my first try!‘ Linda thought.
Linda lowered her voice. “Is the Wood–Fire Spirit in there?”
Emmett mumbled, “The Wood–Fire Spirit isn’t even that valuable. Why do you even want this thing?”
Linda didn’t take no for an answer. “Just find it.”
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