Chapter 424

Chapter 424: It’s My Turn

Long before confronting Merleau, Magic Rainbow had used her skill “Identification” to inspect his Attribute Panel, where a status labeled “Mark” appeared in the status section.

It wasn’t a state like “Charm” or “Puppet,” but rather a “Mark.” Could this be why the other person had changed so drastically?

If it was merely a status effect, it could be removed using the skill “Dispel”…

However, achieving this required the target’s cooperation.

Whether it was the originally rational Merleau or his now transformed self, neither would likely surrender willingly.

Thus, subduing him first was the only option…

“Teacher, it’s my turn to attack now.”

Magic Rainbow’s smile faded slightly. To prevent mishaps, she even retrieved her favored magic wand from her Magic Backpack.

The wand was embedded with various high-tier Magic Stones—not only the relatively common wind, fire, water, and earth elements but also rare ice, lightning, and even spatial Magic Stones. It could almost be said that every type of Magic Stone except the non-elemental variety was concentrated on this single wand.

Most of these stones had been mined from the dragon’s lair caves. The high-tier lightning, ice, and spatial Magic Stones were exceptionally scarce; only about a dozen of each had been gathered over three years of excavation.

Yet it was precisely these stones that enabled the creation of this wand—garish due to its kaleidoscope of colors, yet astonishingly potent.

Moreover, to endure the diverse magical energies channeled through these high-tier stones, the wand itself was crafted to exceptional standards.

Its construction had demanded immense effort from the Ant tribe.

They scoured the continent for a craftsman capable of forging such a wand. After an extensive search… they finally commissioned a master artisan from the Dwarf Kingdom in the southern realms.

Thus, the wand named “Rainbow” might well be the mightiest magic wand on this continent.

When Magic Rainbow drew the wand, not only did the observing court mages shield their eyes, but even Merleau opposite her was nearly blinded by the radiant gleam of the high-tier Magic Stones.

Y-you’re attacking with this wand?

What in the world is this wand?!

“W-wait!”

Even Merleau felt panic stirring.

But it was too late. The white-haired woman pointed her wand, and the fire Magic Stone blazed brilliantly. A sphere of searing flames materialized before the wand, then condensed into a white-hot flame spear.

It was identical to the fire magic Merleau had cast earlier. Yet unlike his spell, when Magic Rainbow’s flame spear took shape, no one present sensed the scorching heat or stifling air that had accompanied Merleau’s incantation…

Mages and knights exchanged bewildered glances.

“How can this be… I feel no temperature shift at all?”

“Could Lady Magic Rainbow’s magic be less potent than Merleau’s?”

“But earlier, she effortlessly blocked his fire magic…”

Amidst the confusion, only Princess Silvia—who had witnessed Magic Rainbow’s power—and Merleau grasped the terror of this spell.

“Not a wisp of energy is leaking… Is this… Magic Transform? You can apply the ‘Magic Transform’ trait to offensive magic?!”

Pale-faced Merleau cried out, his wand-hand trembling.

Magic Rainbow’s prowess defied belief.

Not only was she assaulting him with his own signature fire magic, but the scale and form of her flame spear surpassed his… And with the “Magic Transform” trait layered atop it… the destructive potential was unimaginable.

Merleau dared not face it head-on, instinctively sidestepping. Yet to his horror, the spear altered its trajectory mid-flight, tracking his movement.

Disaster!!

His expression contorted. He barely managed to conjure a Magic Shield before him.

The next instant—

*Crack—BOOM!!!*

First, a brittle shatter—Merleau’s hastily raised Magic Shield ruptured like parchment. Then the flame spear tore through his abdomen, impaling him completely!

“Gah—!”

Blood gushed from the elder’s mouth. Flames devoured most of his abdomen and part of his lung; scorched air hissed from his nostrils alongside the crimson flow.

Agony—this alone filled Merleau’s mind, leaving no room for other thoughts.

Only after striking its target did the flame spear unleash its stored heat. Volcanic fury erupted around Merleau, forcing even distanced mages and knights to recoil, faces ashen.

Where Merleau’s magic had made them feel encircled by fire, Magic Rainbow’s spear now seared them like captives bound over raging flames.

If those standing afar suffered so, Merleau—pierced directly—endured far worse.

Still, Magic Rainbow refrained from taking his life. Killing one’s mentor carried infamy, ill-suited to her station as humanity’s Chief Mage.

Yet Merleau’s assassination of the king and royals meant death was inevitable—merely delayed.

Magic Rainbow approached the fallen mage.

As she walked, she dissolved the burning spear. The oppressive heat dwindled instantly, letting court mages and knights exhale in relief as they followed Princess Silvia forward.

Though swiftly canceled, the spear had already reduced Merleau’s Health Value below 10%, and severe burns and trauma kept it plummeting…

While pouring Health Value-restoring potions, burn salves, and coagulants onto his wounds, Magic Rainbow explained to Silvia:

“Master may have been mentally manipulated by Deta Empire agents, causing this transformation. Restoring his original state is the surest way to uncover the truth.”

“What will you do?”

Princess Silvia drew a shuddering breath, clawing down the urge to rend Merleau limb from limb.

Her father had doted deeply on his Third Princess.

With her sire slain and the killer prone before her, Silvia’s restraint itself was remarkable.

Magic Rainbow studied the Third Princess briefly before returning her focus to Merleau.