If Tris's suspicion about Life Magic was correct, then this wouldn't be the first time he had faced an opponent using it.
He was quite certain that many of the magics Rose had used before also belonged to this type.
An image of a crimson sea of blood briefly flashed through Tris's mind.
He also remembered how Rose had instantly discovered him hiding inside the 'Berserker' puppet with just a single glance. That memory was one of the main reasons behind his current deduction.
"Life Magic, huh? What a nuisance!" Tris muttered softly.
Though Life was a rare attribute, it wasn't inherently more dangerous than others. In fact, Tris believed no attribute was truly superior to the rest.
What made an attribute powerful always depended on who wielded it and how it was applied.
Thus, what troubled Tris wasn't Life Magic itself, but the enemy before him. She was someone who could draw out the full potential of her tools, turning them into deadly weapons.
After shaking off the frustration of constantly encountering abnormally strong foes, Tris regained his focus.
'If she's using Life Magic to track me, then I have almost no way to escape her sight if I keep trying to approach the tower.'
That was the firm conclusion he reached.
After all, he had no skill that could effectively conceal himself from such a method of observation. His Space Magic was far better at hiding external presence than masking inner vitality like life force.
In theory, Tris could attempt to use Space Magic to conceal more than just his outward presence. But if it was only partial concealment, not absolute, it would be like showing off a clumsy trick before a master craftsman, hardly enough to deceive a Life Magic specialist.
Of course, if he could wield Space Magic at a higher level, that might be a different story. He recalled how Rose had hidden herself within her Domain.
Unfortunately, Tris still had much to learn and was far from mastering such complex magic.
'If I can't escape her sight, then there's no point trying. Instead… maybe I can turn it to my advantage.'
Tris quietly began forming a plan in his mind. A simple plan, but one that required a touch of finesse to execute.
. . .
* * * * * * * * * *
From atop the mage tower, Erya silently drew her bow and fired without pause.
Ordinarily, archery was exhausting, straining muscles and draining stamina. Yet Erya performed it effortlessly, her movements steady and mechanical, repeating with the precision of a soulless machine.
Her face remained calm, showing no sign of being in battle. Not a wrinkle, not a bead of sweat marred her beautiful features.
'Truly a difficult target to deal with.'
Erya silently assessed in her mind, while her face, hand movements, and body motions remained completely unchanged, showing no sign of difference.
Among the group that had stormed the city from above today, Erya had always focused on the one riding atop a black horse-like construct.
She was certain this was the same intruder who had infiltrated the city a few nights earlier, thanks to her unique ability to perceive life forms.
Every living being had a distinct life signature. By observing this, Erya could identify individuals far more accurately than by appearance or face alone.
This was especially true since outward appearances could be disguised, just as Zerathis had aided their group in concealing themselves when they entered the city.
For example, Nyxar concealed his horns and the pair of wings on his back, while Erya hid her unusual skin color, etc.
That night, Erya had clearly seen the life signature of the one hovering in the sky. To her eyes, he had shone like a bright star above.
Even now, though mingled among the crowd under daylight, that star remained vivid and unmistakable.
Believing he may be their greatest threat, she resolved to eliminate him.
She had begun her assault while he was still in the air.
Using the initial explosion, she had managed to destroy the head of the black horse construct. Yet he had landed safely regardless.
Since then, Erya had continued sniping from afar, but with little success beyond killing a few adventurers who had gathered nearby. Her main target remained unscathed.
Through swift, agile movements and remarkable reflexes, he evaded her most lethal shots. As for her wide-area attacks, like the earlier rain of arrows, they failed to penetrate the sturdy defenses he employed.
To Erya's eyes, the childlike figure was like a black cockroach with the shell of a beetle, far too difficult to kill. Worse, that cockroach was steadily advancing toward the mage tower, like watching one scurry straight toward her feet.
Erya drew four arrows at once, holding one in her mouth while setting the other three on her bow.
Pulling the string taut, she released them. The three arrows curved in intricate arcs, homing in on the black cockroach in the distance.
But Erya did not expect them to kill. Their sole purpose was to restrict his movements.
Taking the fourth arrow from her mouth, she unleashed her true strike.
Empowered by the magic circle beneath her and her own magic, the arrow shot forth with terrifying speed and force.
The arrow flew like a broom. It tore through the wind, slicing across the air, then aimed precisely at the target, which at that moment was twisting midair to dodge the three arrows from before.
In Erya's vision, she saw him once again summon a grotesque, hulking humanoid puppet to shield himself.
And then, everything went black. Her sight vanished.
Falling, Erya realized with shock that she herself had been struck.