The chains lashed out like venomous snakes, shattering rocks as they pursued Drake relentlessly.
"So persistent," Drake muttered.
He wanted to finish this quickly, but the self-proclaimed "second-best" mage was indeed strong. As a sacrifice for Patri's forbidden magic, the Eye of the Midnight Sun members possessed considerable magic power.
This mage's lock magic was impressive in attack, defense, and speed, definitely at the senior Magic Knight level. Crucially, Drake couldn't use powerful techniques like Dragon Blood Mode, needing to conserve his strength for Vetto.
Drake's hesitation emboldened his opponent. "What's wrong? What's wrong? You'll be caught by my chains!"
Drake paused, not because he was angered but because he realized he was wasting time.
Unleashing his full speed, Drake left the chains far behind.
"Dragon Slayer Magic: Fire Dragon's Claw!"
Drake's kick struck the tangled chains. The chains formed a cocoon, defending against his attack.
"Useless! Useless! You can't break through my chains!" the lock magic user taunted.
"Break through? Don't be ridiculous! I have enough magic power. Then…"
Drake took two steps back; a red magic circle appeared.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
A massive fire pillar engulfed the chain cocoon, turning the defense into an oven.
A scream came from within, lasting only a few seconds.
Drake ended the spell, ignoring the charred remains and pursuing Vetto.
He saw the end of the dark passage; he sped up.
The area opened up, revealing the battlefield. Only Vetto and Noelle remained; Noelle pointed her staff at Vetto, preparing a spell.
Her expression was serious and determined; immense magic power formed water around her staff.
"I'll defeat you! Water Creation Magic: Sea Dragon's Roar!"
Immense magic power transformed into a giant water dragon, attacking Vetto.
Drake saw the fallen Asta and the bleeding Kahono; her brother had a severed leg. Luck and Magna were also injured.
Noelle's ability to use an offensive spell was due to the dire situation.
The water dragon bit into Vetto's bear claw, pushing him back. After the water dragon crashed through a rock wall, Vetto was revealed.
"I did it!" Noelle gasped, excited.
Vetto's right arm was gone; part of his body was destroyed. Noelle was elated.
Drake descended, shielding the exhausted Noelle. "Good job. My turn!"
Noelle looked puzzled, but then sensed a terrifying magic power.
The heavily injured Vetto didn't fall; ominous magic power erupted from him.
Vetto raised his head; an eye opened on his forehead! He resembled a destructive demon god, sending chills down Drake's spine.
Grinning, revealing sharp teeth, Vetto said, "You summoned me, humans!"
"Beast Magic: ΛΣΦΠΞΔ!"
Drake didn't understand the ancient magic, but its effect was clear. A magic circle appeared on Vetto's wound; his flesh regenerated rapidly; a new arm appeared.
Healing magic had limits; it could only heal wounds. Vetto's regeneration was unprecedented.
"Ancient curse magic! The magic power is incredible," Drake said, gathering his own magic.
Vetto extended his hand. "This is my gift. Explode! Beast Magic: ΣΞξ!"
A magic circle opened; a beast's head emerged, unleashing a purple beam at them.
Legendary beasts' saliva is poisonous; Drake didn't want to experience that.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
Drake's fire pillar clashed with the purple beam, locked in a stalemate. Both dissipated, shattering nearby rocks.
"Now, the true despair begins!" Vetto roared. "But before that, I'll clean up the trash!"
"Beast Magic: ΣΞξ!"
The beast's head reappeared, unleashing a beam towards Kahono.
Drake didn't move to save her.
"I knew you wouldn't stay down!"
The beam carved a long mark in the ground, but it was severed. Asta, wielding the Demon-slayer Sword, appeared. His right hand hung limply—an injury from the previous fight, but without any curse magic.
"True despair? We… haven't given up! You said not giving up was my weakness, but it's our only weapon!" Asta declared.
Vetto laughed cruelly. "Is that so? I'll show you its uselessness! Beast Magic: ξζηψΘΣ!"
Curse-infused magic formed fangs, shooting down towards everyone. But threads ensnared them, pulling them aside, just avoiding the attack. Even Vetto was entangled.
"Oh my! This fuzzy guy is the amazing guy the Captain mentioned! Should we get drunk?" Vanessa said, approaching.
Drake smiled; Asta had unknowingly influenced many. Magna, Luck, and even Vanessa had become stronger.
Even Finral's magic power had stopped moving; he'd finally accepted himself.
"So incredibly passionate! But I'm fired up too!" Drake smiled.
"Dragon Blood Mode, activate!"
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