The outskirts of Misaki Town are mostly forests.
Although urbanization had been promoted, nature still breathed quietly in the countryside.
Even if ancient trees were felled, and warm humus was cultivated, even if the curious little birds with tilted heads all disappeared, the green with true power still lived on tenaciously.
Unless the light of civilization could truly grow enough to erode the years they had cultivated, they would forever occupy that mysterious domain.
In the winter night at dawn, the cold permeated the entire forest's land, trees, and beasts. Thick fog obscured vision, bringing a damp scent, making it impossible to see what was ahead or underfoot, or what might appear.
In the winter forest, even beasts fell into slumber. The night was the protective color of sinners and specters; what bred in the darkness were bloody and venomous fangs.
There were no beasts here, and even less should there be human presence.
Under the heavy fog in the woods, two shadows, not belonging to this city or this forest, were moving.
Tree shadows and dark figures overlapped, as if weaving a terrifying illusion. An abnormal and dangerous aura diffused from several figures, yet it did not create an illusion, going unnoticed.
At this moment, dozens of figures slowly emerged from the darkness, moving straight towards the urban area of Misaki Town. Most of them carried Magic Crests, exuding an noble aura.
"Misaki Town, we've finally arrived."
The middle-aged man leading the group looked at the faintly visible city in the distance and sighed with emotion, "I wonder what kind of storm will be stirred up there."
The man was from no other force, but the leader of the Magus team dispatched by the Mage's Association to support the Fifth Magus.
Of course, this reason was a bit far-fetched; even someone as simple-minded as Aoko wouldn't believe it. After all, to the Mage's Association, a Magus was the highest spiritual existence, but it didn't need to always be of the aozaki surname.
"I wonder if I can become a Magus."
Although he knew his chances were slim, and it was more likely that even if he obtained a Magic Crest, it would be taken by the higher-ups of the Clock Tower, the Magus still let his imagination run wild.
One must know that, according to the Maguss' intelligence, the Aozaki Family's designated new Magus was a super novice who had only recently started learning magic, and her aptitude was merely average—
If a novice can become a Magus, why can't I?!
In fact, precisely because too many people held such thoughts, at this time, Maguss who knew about the Aozaki Family's news all appeared, especially those with ordinary family influence or lone Maguss, who were even more unable to give up such an opportunity.
Just as the middle-aged Magus leading the team was gazing at the night view of Misaki City, lost in his boundless fantasies, a shadow, like a moonlit spirit cat, silently crept to the top of a giant tree ten meters behind them, hidden by the night sky in the forest.
The figure in the night hung a contemptuous smile, looking down at the group of elegantly dressed noble Maguss, like a group of mice proudly reaching for the cheese on a mousetrap.
"So they came to die, to send a signal to this side."
The leading middle-aged Magus was merely a Priest-rank, and while he could be considered a high-ranking Magus, he was completely insignificant in the turbulent Misaki at this time.
"I thought a few sealing designation would come, but it's just a bunch of cannon fodder. Since they're cannon fodder, then crush them."
The shadow on the giant treetop no longer hid its form, leaping up. The vast and domineering End Magic instantly erupted from its small body!
Just as the Mage's Association's team leader was still immersed in his own fantasies, an irresistible, enormous impact suddenly burst from above. All the gathered Maguss were thrown off balance by the sudden impact, and those at the center were even knocked to the ground, completely unprepared.
The middle-aged Magus, standing at the very front as the leader, was on the outer edge and didn't suffer much impact. He instinctively turned his head to look up. Along with the sudden impact, a cerulean stream of Magic Power, like a meteor, directly smashed into the center of the team!
"Boom!!!"
The Maguss, completely unprepared, were severely wounded by the sudden heavy blow. The enormous Magic Power shockwave and impact force upon landing directly threw the densely positioned Maguss into the air. Several Maguss directly hit in the center were instantly smashed into a bloody pulp, merging with the earth, to nourish the flowers, grass, and trees of this land in the coming year.
Accompanying the meteor's instantaneous landing and explosion, with it as the epicenter, a domain of sword light flashed in the air! Each beam of sword light was aimed at a Magus thrown into the air, precisely cutting each airborne Magus in half at the waist!
The fireworks of flesh and blood, scattered across the sky after the Magic Power burst, bloomed in the unmanned forest outside Misaki City! From where their bodies were severed, blood and internal organs flew everywhere in the air. Those cut in half would not die immediately; their horrifying, shrill screams, combined with the scattered limbs, fresh blood, and still struggling half-human torsos, transformed this night-shrouded forest into a living hell.
By the time the middle-aged Magus leading the team turned around and saw clearly, this was already the scene before him. He recalled how just moments ago he had been full of vigor, fantasizing about how to reclaim the Fifth Magic imprint, and perhaps even having a chance to become the new Fifth Magus, only to find himself in a living hell the very next second!
The creator of this bloody hell stood in the center of the scene: a young girl in a night-colored long trench coat, wielding a light blade, a greatsword nearly two meters long, standing at the center of the meteor's impact. A vast, ocean-like, soul-shaking Magic Power enveloped her. This desperate aura, like facing a mountain collapse and a tsunami alone, he had only felt when some of the top Lords of the Clock Tower made their moves!
This girl is… a high-ranking Color… Dispelling the greatsword formed by concentrated Magic Power in her hand, Rin released the projection of Tsubame Gaeshi. The Maguss thrown into the air were simply perfect targets; the sword light that instantly cut down swallows could kill them all in an instant, eliminating more than half of the Maguss in a flash.
At this moment, there was no need to reach a noble phantasm level of spatial folding; sufficient was enough.
Rin looked at these Maguss, usually pampered, noble, and elegant, now terrified out of their wits, and scoffed disdainfully. Usually, they treated human lives as nothing, believing themselves to be a different species from ordinary people, always looking down on others with the gaze one would give to ants. But now, finally realizing that they too were as insignificant as ants, they finally understood what reverence for life meant.
Within ten steps, I am invincible!
Rin felt no pity for these Maguss, who were scared witless and motionless. Her figure, enveloped in Magic Power flames, was as swift as lightning! She instantly rushed towards two Maguss standing on the periphery, not far apart.
"Rip, rip."
Two tearing sounds. The two Maguss, who only now reacted, stared blankly at their empty left ribcages. Where their hearts should have been, there was only a claw-shaped void, gushing with blood.
Am I… dead?
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