“Handing over money is impossible. You’d better advise your people to clear the path now, because if we fight, we won’t hold back.” Og stepped forward and stood alongside Moria.

“Then there’s nothing left to say.” The bald man nodded, took a few steps back, then waved his hand.

The battle began.

The distant members of the ‘Turbid Dust Gale’ received the order, raising their arms. The rings on their wrists floated and spun, the inscribed patterns glowing bright. Surging winds poured in from all directions, funneling into the narrow space of those rings.

【Cooperative Magic·Violent Raging Winds】

Then, they aimed the rings above the heads of Sylutia’s group. Countless spiraling air currents converged, and a fierce storm rapidly took shape. The apprentices on the ground were yanked by the airflow.

Like a writhing demonic dragon, a tornado appeared in the abandoned city, its upper layers dragging clouds that darkened the sky. Then, violent currents swept up countless pieces of gravel and debris, crashing down toward its center.

Beside Sylutia, three apprentices joined forces to raise a protective magic array. A pale-golden barrier shielded the eight of them inside, but its edges were constantly battered and scratched by rocks. The members of the ‘Turbid Dust Gale’ surrounding them also conjured hovering golden arrows, aimed at the group within the barrier.

Then, one golden arrow after another shot forth, smashing against the outer layer of the transparent shield. The power conducted through them caused cracks to appear on the barrier—this defense wouldn’t hold for much longer.

Not bad, she thought. Though there were no Fourth Tier mages on the other side, with their coordinated casting, their power was indistinguishable from a Fourth Tier mage’s. Sylutia peered through the raging sandstorm, noticing the distant members of the ‘Turbid Dust Gale.’

She gently shook the blue-orange gradient ring on her wrist, and two new layers of protective spheres expanded, enveloping everyone.

At that moment, Og and Moria seized their chance and charged out. But the moment they left the protection of the barrier, they were swept up by the raging winds into the sky.

Air currents—when you control them, they often feel weak, lacking in both attack and defense. But when an enemy manipulates them, they become a nuisance, interfering with every action, forcing you to divert extra energy and effort to counter them.

The two were blown into the sky, with no foothold, and were about to be carried even higher. Just then, several silver threads tugged at their feet, making them sway like kites.

“Haha, looks like you’re all talk and no bite,” the bald man and his people mocked, seeing their disheveled state. Then, they aimed at the two floating figures as golden arrows materialized beside them.

Inside the barrier below, Marg pulled herself out of the spell sustaining the shield. She raised her palm, light shining in her eyes, and then several radiant stars rose into the air and exploded.

The intense flash blinded the members of the ‘Turbid Dust Gale’ instantly, making them see nothing. The golden arrows they’d fired veered off course, with only a few striking, but those were blocked.

Just then, four silver birds appeared. They flew through the storm, flapping their wings against the changing currents, and hovered beside the two, giving them a foothold.

Then, the threads on Og and Moria’s feet snapped. They seized the opportunity to grab onto the birds, stepping onto another and launching themselves back to the ground.

After landing, they moved swiftly, dodging the fiercest air currents and charging into the enemy’s surrounding ranks.

Moria drew the blade at his waist. Silver light flashed as several opponents were cut down, collapsing with bloody wounds. Meanwhile, Og, fully encased in battle armor, punched a nearby Third Tier mage, sending him flying. Then, he swept his hand, and several bright orange-red flames appeared from his fingertips.

【Spell·Bright Flame Claw Strike】

The claw strike, infused with fire and compressed air blades, tore through the enemy mage’s shield, continuing unabated and leaving three long, bloody gashes on his body, accompanied by the smell of scorched flesh.

After Moria and Og broke through, the encirclement line of the ‘Turbid Dust Gale’ was torn wide open, and the earlier ‘Violent Raging Winds’ spell began to weaken, unable to lift people so easily.

At that moment, the apprentices inside the barrier struck out, launching various attacks against the members of the ‘Turbid Dust Gale.’

Blue rays flashed through the city alleyway, piercing several high-ranking members, who turned into human torches, shrieking and jumping onto the walls.

Seeing his side suffering heavy casualties, the bald leader grew anxious. He let out a roar, and the blue patterns on his body lit up before he charged forward.

Air currents swirled around him, accelerating his movement. Then, he threw a fierce punch. Compressed air gathered into a spiraling tunnel of air, shooting straight toward Sylutia, who remained still in the distance.

In his eyes, this girl seemed the weakest and least mobile. Taking her out first would boost morale and demoralize the enemy.

The surging spiral of air rushed at Sylutia, only to be stopped by a transparent silver film. It splashed and scattered like calm water striking a rock.

【Spell·Quicksilver Wall】(Quicksilver·Thread·Star Attraction·Hardening)

With the impact of the air current, a grid of extremely fine silver threads appeared on the transparent silver film. At the intersections of the grid, tiny points of starlight flickered, allowing the film to constantly recover and repair. Then, a steely glow flashed, and the entire barrier became rock-solid.

Seeing his attack fail, the bald man frowned. He planted his foot, then leaped with all his might, his form like a cannonball as he broke through the air waves, hurtling straight toward Sylutia from above. He planned to bypass the Quicksilver Wall this way and kill the girl beneath.

In response, Sylutia’s expression didn’t change. She simply looked up, watching his meatball-like body twist in the air before plummeting heavily downward.

The bald man raised his right hand. The blue inscriptions on his body shone brightly. Layer after layer of air-wave rings coalesced, compressing into a high-density air sphere on his right fist. Then, he swung it down violently, smashing toward the figure with flowing black hair below.

At the same time, Sylutia raised her drifting black sleeve. Her pale wrist emerged from the rolling cuff, and she pointed a finger at the descending figure. A massive hand formed behind her, rising to meet him head-on.

【Forbidden Secret Art·Steel Shadow Magic Hand】

“Aaaaaaagh—!” Seeing the giant hand appear below, the bald man roared as he clenched his fist, smashing it down.

In the air, his body was enveloped by the outline of the massive hand. Then, his fist struck dead center of the palm.

A shockwave exploded. A deafening sound spread across the scene. The scattered force tore several gashes into the surrounding house walls. Yet the enormous magic hand remained utterly motionless. Then, it closed, clutching the bald man in its grasp.

He struggled fiercely, but the giant, hardened hand was like solid steel. There was no fighting it. He could only watch helplessly as he was trapped, his bones slowly crushed, emitting a creaking sound.

Faced with this horrifying sight, many of those still fighting couldn’t help but pause, watching the bald man held in the giant magic hand, step by step approaching death, fear rising in their hearts.

Fortunately, Sylutia didn’t kill him in the end. She stopped the magic hand.

“Now, can you all stop?” Her voice wasn’t loud, but in this brief silence, it carried across the entire scene.

Soon, the raging winds in this abandoned city gradually ceased. The two opposing sides also pulled back.