Overwhelming Firepower Chapter 448: Severed Link

A mage from Inevir who was controlling a golem had gone out of the base to join the search for the intruders.

A few seconds ago, he had spotted the intruders and chased them, but this resulted in him straying from his group a little.

Still, he was not that worried; with a golem by his side and his own magical abilities, even if he fought against several fourth-circle mages and fourth mantle knights, he could not only survive but win.

The intruder remained visible between the trees ahead of him.

The man's speed was impressive, but the aura surrounding his body appeared no stronger than the fourth mantle. Whenever the mage began falling behind, the intruder slowed just enough for him to close the distance.

At first, he mistook it for exhaustion, but as he continued a little more, he finally realized what the other party was doing.

The mage stopped, and he positioned the golem in front to protect him from the incoming ambush. Of course, the mage did not just wait for the ambush to be sprung; he started chanting a spell while maintaining a barrier.

'I'll show these intruders never to mess with a mage of Inevir.'

Mana flowed from the mage's staff and sank into the ground around him.

A moment later, stone spikes erupted from the earth in every direction. Trees cracked as they were pierced, while dirt and broken roots scattered through the air.

The intruder ahead leaped over the approaching spikes.

At the same time, a translucent barrier appeared among the trees behind the mage. Several spikes struck its surface and shattered.

The concealment surrounding the hidden assassins flickered. The mage could not help but smile. "I finally found you rats."

That was the moment the mage finally noticed that there was a fifth-circle mage among the intruders.

'Still, it doesn't matter; with a golem by my side, even two fifth-circle mages can be dealt with.'

The mage pointed his staff toward the fifth-circle mage hidden among the trees.

"Crush him."

The golem surged forward. The second it did so, a fifth-mantle aura user appeared from the shadows.

The golem was not Number One's target. Lucen had ordered them to leave it undamaged. The mage controlling it was far more vulnerable.

Number One crossed the distance before the mage could react. His aura-covered dagger struck the barrier and caused its surface to start cracking.

The mage had prepared for an ambush and had already finished his chant. A violent wind erupted from his staff, throwing Number One backward.

As the mage attempted to create some distance, several fourth-mantle aura users appeared from every direction.

Their weapons struck his barrier almost simultaneously. Cracks spread across its surface.

The mage swept his staff around, releasing blades of compressed wind. The Gravebound scattered, but only for a moment. As soon as the spell passed, they closed in again.

The mage then quickly controlled the golem to return to his side. The golem stopped its charge and turned around.

Number Two raised both hands. Several bands of translucent mana wrapped around the golem's legs. They would not damage the golem, but they slowed it as it marched back toward its controller.

The mage strengthened his barrier while sending another burst of wind toward the assassins.

Two were forced back, but a third slid beneath the spell and drove an aura-covered dagger into the already damaged section.

The barrier broke, and the dagger was about to strike the mage's legs. The mage twisted at the last moment. Instead of piercing his knee, the dagger carved across his thigh.

Blood sprayed across the leaves.

His injured leg buckled, but he managed to remain standing. He thrust his staff toward the assassin and used wind blades.

The assassin tried evading the wind blades, but was still hit in a few areas. Still, he was able to defend his vital areas.

The mage understood that if he didn't escape now, he was sure to die. Wind gathered beneath his feet and propelled him backward. His injured leg dragged across the ground, leaving drops of blood upon the fallen leaves.

Two assassins pursued him while the others attacked from the sides. The mage released another wave of wind blades, forcing them to defend themselves, but every spell delayed his retreat.

Behind them, the golem continued struggling against Number Two's restraints. Still, that was not enough to stop a golem.

The restraints were being broken, and Number Two was being drained of his mana very quickly. Still, that was enough time.

Number one had appeared behind the mage and was about to restrain the other party when Number one suddenly felt a presence approaching them.

An arrow the size of a spear came flying towards Number One. He abandoned his attempt to restrain the mage and twisted aside.

The arrow passed within inches of his chest before piercing a tree behind him. The trunk exploded into splinters, and the force of the impact sent the upper half crashing to the ground.

Number One looked toward where the projectile had come from. Another golem stood between the trees, and a second Inevirian mage stood beside it.

The battle was now heavily against them. Since they weren't allowed to cause damage to the golems the battle was all about surviving until Lucen and his group arrives.

'Tsk. We truly are Gravebound, aren't we?' Number One thought as he released the full strength of his aura.

The pressure swept through the forest, tearing leaves from the surrounding branches.

Number One rushed toward the injured mage again, but the second golem stepped forward and drew another enormous arrow from the quiver on its back.

The arrow was released. Number One changed direction and narrowly avoided it. The projectile struck the ground, creating a crater where he had been standing.

Meanwhile, the first golem broke another of Number Two's restraints. Maintaining the restraints while also keeping up his barrier to protect himself from unexpected attacks was draining his mana considerably.

Number Two no longer had a choice but to stop casting a barrier spell on himself. He needed to trust his teammates to protect him while he restrained the other golem.

The two mages noticed the mana barrier from the fifth circle mage had dispersed. Seeing this was their opportunity to take out one of the enemies; they cast quick offensive spells. A fireball and a wind blade.

The two spells crossed the clearing toward Number Two from different directions. Before either could reach him, two gunshots echoed through the forest.

The first bullet struck the fireball and caused it to explode prematurely. The second collided with the wind blade, scattering it into harmless currents.

Number One glanced toward the source. Lucen stepped from between the trees with his two revolvers raised. Robert followed close behind him, carrying a case filled with several glass canisters.

"Heh, you guys did a good job. I guess today you won't be going to your graves." Lucen joked as he walked towards them.

"You finally arrived." Number One spoke while retreating, and so did the other assassins; they quickly moved behind Lucen.

"Well, it's your fault for not being at the agreed location." Lucen shrugged his shoulders. "Also you guys have no right to complain about any of this."

The second Lucen said those words, the assassins who wanted to say more shut their mouths tight.

Fighting the two golems might result in death, but challenging Lucen would practically guarantee it.

The two mages of Inevir looked at the two newcomers and felt their bodies tremble. One of the two was a man wearing a bird mask. That would be the mad alchemist Robert Duskwell.

If it was just Robert Duskwell, they might have been able to do something while waiting for reinforcements, but the one standing beside him was the real problem. Silver hair and Ruby-red eyes, holding two revolvers, carrying a crimson blade and a rifle.

There was only one person who held that description in this war: the Ruby-Eyed Monster, the scourge of the battlefield, Lucen Thornehart.

Even though Lucen Thornehart was not looking at them or even showing any signs of attacking, the two mages were having a difficult time.

In this war that had only lasted for a few months, Lucen, who had only been seen on the battlefield twice, had left quite an impression on the surviving soldiers.

Just hearing the rumors would make one doubt that this young man was only at the Third Circle and Third Mantle.

The injured mage recovered first.

"Run!"

Both controllers turned, but Lucen's revolvers fired before they took a second step. Four bullets struck their barriers in the same places, shattering them with precise, repeated impacts.

The mages tried casting again. Two rubber rounds struck their wrists, knocking their staves away, while another pair hit their chests and sent them sprawling.

At the same time, Robert opened his case.

"Keep them still!" He threw two glass canisters. They shattered against the golems, releasing silver vapor that crawled across the glowing runes.

The mana linking the golems to the mages had dispersed. Both the golems stopped moving. No longer sensing their connection to the golems, the two mages were shocked.

The mages stared in horror as the Gravebound rushed forward and restrained them.

Robert approached the motionless constructs with trembling hands. After examining the undamaged runes, he let out a delighted laugh.

"Hahaha! It worked! Now these golems are mine!"

Lucen dismissed his two revolvers and looked at the happy Robert touching the golems, and sighed as he shook his head.

Lucen then shifted his attention to the members of Gravebound and said. "I guess this mission was successful. You lot get to live another day."