Eternal Undying Chronicles

Chapter 153 Battle Of Spell Craft

The air was thick with the chilling aura of killing intent, an almost tangible force between the two combatants. Alicarde's violet eyes glowed menacingly from beneath his hood, his gaze steady, his mind focused, keeping the primal urge to kill in check.

Across from him, the warlock Adonis stood, his own magic crackling and flaring around him, brimming with latent power as he glared at Alicarde.

Without warning, Alicarde darted forward, closing the distance between himself and the warlock in a blur of speed. He knew all too well that mage types were vulnerable in close combat, so he pressed this advantage with ruthless precision.

But Adonis was ready. Sensing Alicarde's move, he quickly murmured an incantation, casting a powerful wind spell upon himself.

A gust surged around him, hurling him backward in a controlled retreat and summoning a barrier of razor-sharp wind blades between them. The barrier pulsed with lethal intent, the shimmering air slicing through the space around it like unseen daggers.

Alicarde activated Body Enhancement Magic, his muscles tightening with raw energy. His form became a streak of shadow as he smashed into the wind barrier with all his might. Explore stories at empire

The collision was explosive. Snow and debris erupted into the air as the shockwave shattered nearby trees, sending wooden splinters spiraling into the night like missiles.

Adonis staggered back but quickly muttered a spell under his breath, fortifying his own physique with Body Enhancement. He knew Alicarde's strength was monstrous.

'What a monster…' he thought, as he saw Alicarde advancing, his flesh marred by the wind blades, though not a drop of blood spilled.

Darkness replaced the torn flesh, shifting and mending before his eyes.

Using the momentum from the wind, Adonis began chanting, his voice rising with intensity:

"Whispered breeze, then roaring gale,

Clouds converge, winds prevail.

Lightning strikes, storms assail,

Wreak havoc—Tempest Veil!"

The air around him coiled and swirled, transforming into fierce cyclones that crackled with violent energy, surging toward Alicarde. Massive, destructive funnels tore through the trees, the ground quaking as they advanced with terrifying force.

Alicarde smirked from beneath his hood as the cyclone bore down on him.

'Bad move,' he thought, raising his hand in defiance.

He began his own incantation, his voice unwavering:

"Tinder to spark, ember to glow,

In this place, let fire grow.

With a breath, let flames flow,

Consume all—Inferno."

Columns of fire exploded into existence, roaring upward and merging with the cyclones. The wind and flames entwined in a deadly dance, the fire expanding and spreading like a living entity.

The forest around them ignited, a vast swath consumed by a blazing inferno. Using [Flux Field], Alicarde manipulated the gravity around them, guiding the flames like a conductor wielding his orchestra, directing the torrent of fire toward Adonis.

Adonis' eyes went wide with horror as the flames bore down on him.

"He's insane… he'll get caught in his own flames!" With no time to hesitate, he threw himself backward, chanting frantically:

"From harm's grasp, to dangers near,

Forge a shield, let none appear.

Guarding force, strong and clear,

Protect all—Aegis Shield."

A shimmering, diamond-shaped barrier enveloped him as he was propelled further back by the roaring blaze. The heat intensified, melting the snow in an instant, the fire casting long shadows over the burning landscape.

But Adonis couldn't see Alicarde. Scanning the inferno, his heart raced as he muttered,

"Where… where did he go?" His question was answered when a dark figure leaped from the top of a flaming tree, plunging downward like a shadow with deadly intent.

"W-what…!" Adonis barely had time to react.

Alicarde's strike connected with his barrier, sending him hurtling through the air despite the protection. He landed hard, skidding back as he quickly raised his hand toward Alicarde, beginning a new chant.

"Blade unseen, strike and tear,

Through the flesh, into the air.

Shatter bonds, none can repair,

Break them all—Rend."

Invisible force slashed into Alicarde, driving him back into a burning tree with a brutal impact. His body absorbed the blow, bones cracking, organs rupturing. But with dark tendrils writhing over his wounds, he regenerated swiftly, stepping out from the tree's shadow.

He took a steadying breath, realizing he couldn't rely on his familiar or his mysterious sword, he secretly left Wrath behind to protect Malefica.

"And I also left her my sword," he muttered, watching Adonis through narrowed eyes.

Suddenly, the temperature plummeted, and Alicarde tensed. A cold voice reached his ears.

"You must be hot in there… allow me to cool you down."

"Breath of cold, crystal clear,

Bitter chill, draw winter near.

Freeze the ground, let ice come here,

Silent frost, instill their fear.

Still the blood, shatter, sear,

Banish warmth, make all sheer,

Freeze all—Crystal Frost."

The forest was transformed into a frozen wasteland as ice crystals bloomed over the fiery destruction, consuming the blaze. The once-roaring flames were extinguished as frost crept over everything, encasing Alicarde's arms and chest in solid ice.

Alicarde clicked his tongue, grimacing as he looked down at his frozen arm. With a surge of effort, he shattered it, the icy fragments scattering into the air as his bones knitted and reformed, a new arm growing in its place.

Adonis chuckled, though his breathing was heavy from the strain of casting.

"Regeneration… it seems you're not going to be easy to kill."

Alicarde met his gaze, noting the warlock's labored breaths.

"I could say the same about you… though I'm not actually trying to kill you."

Adonis scoffed, moving to circle around Alicarde.

"Is that so... then take my ice spell."

"Steel to flame, ignite and burn,

From cold iron, let fire churn.

Let embers spurn, flames burn

Pierce the night, make darkness turn.

In burning light, shadows torn,

Wrath of fire, none shall spurn,

Scorch all—Blazing Edge."

Alicarde narrowed his eyes. Adonis had said "ice spell" but had instead begun a chant for the Blazing Edge—a fire spell Alicarde was all too familiar with, thanks to Malefica's relentless training. Flames ignited, coalescing into dozens of fiery swords that appeared mid-air, poised to strike.

In a flash, the swords plummeted down like a hailstorm of fire. Alicarde's reflexes sharpened; he sidestepped one, twisting his torso just as another blade descended toward him, grazing past his hood and leaving a faint scorch mark.

Two swords converged, forcing him to punch through their flaming edges with his gauntlets, the impact ringing out as sparks showered.

Each missed strike singed the frozen ground around him, melting patches of snow and ice into steaming puddles. The once-quiet, frozen forest was now alive with the clash of fire and frost, rumbling and quaking as Alicarde darted forward, refusing to give Adonis a moment's reprieve.

As he closed in, Alicarde began murmuring his own spell with calm, focused intensity.

"Ray of dawn, pierce the night,

Burning through with blinding light.

Smite my foes, end the fight,

Strike true—Searing Lance."

Instantly, beams of radiant light erupted from Alicarde, shooting towards Adonis with lethal precision. Adonis, caught off guard, raised his hand, conjuring a shimmering barrier.

But the power behind the beams cracked the barrier's surface, tiny fractures webbing out before the whole shield shattered in a burst of energy.

The shockwave blasted Adonis backward, slamming him against a frozen tree, which splintered under the force, sending sharp ice shards cutting into his flesh, leaving deep, crimson-streaked lacerations.

Gritting his teeth, Adonis struggled to his feet, rolling to the side just as Alicarde landed from above, aiming to crush him into the ground. Adonis felt the earth shudder as Alicarde's boots landed inches from him, the force enough to crack the icy ground. Desperately, Adonis cast a wind spell, hoping to push Alicarde back.

But Alicarde stood rooted, anchoring himself to the ground with sheer force and pressing his advantage.

He lunged forward, driving a hard punch into Adonis' gut, the impact forcing the warlock to double over, gasping for breath.

In a last-ditch effort, Adonis muttered a spell: [Blink]. His form shimmered before vanishing, reappearing several feet away, just enough to create the precious distance he needed to regroup and cast another spell.