âThis pillar is still the problem!â As soon as Jero thought of this, he saw Saul charging toward him from the opposite side.
He found it amusing and thought that Saul had been hiding his strength, not realizing that Saulâs lack of action was actually to conceal his abilities.
Moreover, Saulâs lightning element had a certain restraining effect on him. With a relaxed heart, Jero wasnât the slightest bit afraid.
However, upon seeing Saul advancing, Jero immediately understood that the battle in the small garden had ultimately been won by Gorsa.
That meant he would have to prepare to escape.
Jero didnât want to end up like the other mentors who boasted about being true wizards but were no different from some large machines in the laboratory.
So, in his hurry to escape, Jero immediately cast his most powerful spell.
However, to his surprise, Saul managed to redirect it using the black iron pillar and the Soul-Devouring Mire!
âHmph!â Jero raised his chin, and in an instant, several bolts of lightning were unleashed from his body.
These bolts of lightning were incredibly fast. The air groaned with the strain, and several spherical lightning bolts began to form in the air, moving erratically within the room.
These bolts of lightning appeared quiet and harmless, but Saul could sense the immense energy contained within them from the magical fluctuations they emitted.
If they exploded, the resulting force would likely be tremendous.
But as Saul tried to dodge with Lokai in tow, he suddenly felt something binding his body, as if his joints had developed a mind of their own, pulling him toward one of the spherical lightning bolts.
Out of the corner of his eye, Saul saw that his limbs had been bound by Lokaiâs transparent threads without him realizing it.
He could only see the threads when he moved, reflecting light at certain angles.
Saul tried to struggle, but the threads controlled the joints in such a way that it made it difficult for him to exert any strength.
He couldnât break free in a short time, and he was being pulled along like a puppet.
Then, Saul saw Jero manipulating the previously erratic spherical lightning bolts, now coming at him from all directions.
If all these lightning bolts exploded on Saul, he would surely lose his skin!
In a critical moment, Saulâs palm suddenly extended a golden coin, which spun rapidly in the air.
The instant Lokai saw the golden reflection, he immediately recognized the coin.
âFateâs Twins?â he exclaimed in surprise, but the next second, he found himself surrounded by several spherical lightning bolts.
Meanwhile, Saul stood calmly outside the circle, watching quietly.
Even Jeroâs face changed. The spherical lightning was difficult to control. He had already accelerated all the spheres toward the center, and it was too late to stop them now.
If he tried to stop them forcefully, it would likely cause these lightning bolts to go berserk and explode unpredictably!
âSorry about this, Lokai,â Jero clicked his tongue, thinking to himself, âIâll take care of your corpse~â
Lokai, trapped in the center of the spherical lightning bolts, saw that there was no gap to escape. When he looked directly at Jero, whose face showed only a regretful expression, he knew exactly what the other was thinking.
He twitched his lips, âWell, thereâs nothing I can do. Too bad, I still prefer little Saul more.â
âJero!â Lokai suddenly looked up at Jero, who was in the air.
The latter knew that Lokai wasnât simple either, so he immediately attempted to fly back. But in an instant, an idea flashed through his mind: âI absolutely must not harm Lokai!â
Before Jero could even wonder why such a thought had entered his mind, he found himself instinctively shaking his spiritual energy, even if it meant severely injuring himself, to dispel all the spherical lightning bolts!
âPoof!â The wild backlash of magic immediately caused Jero to lose control of his flight spell, and he fell from midair.
Halfway down, he spat out several mouthfuls of blood.
By the time he hit the ground with a loud thud, his face was as pale as a corpseâjust like Saul.
âYouâ! Poofââ Jero tried to ask Lokai something, but after saying a single word, he spat out blood again.
The spherical lightning bolts hadnât fully dissipated, but the remaining energy wasnât enough to kill Lokai.
Lokaiâs body was charred black, and it was clear that he wasnât in good shape either.
He didnât look at Jero; instead, he turned to Saul, his voice hoarse as if his windpipe was clogged with a lump of flesh.
âIt seems you never believed I was really under your control.â
Saul, at the same time, fixed his gaze on both Lokai and Jero. âThe president of the Mutual Aid Society really isnât an ordinary Second Rank apprentice. Could it be that Jero is the parasitic insect you raised?â
Lokai smiled, a streak of blood running from the corner of his mouth. âI donât know what you mean by âparasitic insect,â but there is indeed a parasite on Jero that I planted.â
He glanced at Jero, whose face was full of disbelief. âI didnât want to expose it so early. Now youâll be cautious, and thereâs no way youâll ever be turned into my puppet again. Heh heh hehâŠâ
âCan you even control a true wizard?â Saulâs alarm bells went off in his mind. âNo, even if a Second Rank apprentice is powerful, itâs impossible. Unless⊠unless youâve been nurturing Jero as the host of your parasite for a long time!â
Jero clearly realized this as well. He thought back on all the years he had spent most of his time interacting with Lokai. He had originally thought he was using Lokai, but he never imagined that he had already been used by him!
Jero was furious beyond reason. Taking advantage of Lokaiâs momentary lack of attention, he pushed himself with his legs, enduring the pain from his internal injuries, and rushed toward Lokai.
But Lokai only raised a hand slightly, and Jero saw his kneecap explode with a loud âbang.â
âUgh!â He was a tough man, managing to bite down on his lip and not shout out in pain.
However, Jeroâs balance was already unstable. He lunged forward a meter, then collapsed back onto the ground.
âJero is done for, but he can still be used, just barely.â Lokai shrugged, not sparing Jero a glance, but looked at Saul with a hint of regret. âSuch a cute little Saul. Looks like I have to run now. Not being able to plant a parasite inside you will be my lifelong regret.â
Lokai tilted his head, dragging Jero as he started retreating.
At some point, Jeroâs body had also become entangled in the transparent threads, and now he was being dragged like a dead fish by Lokai.
âDonât follow me, or Iâll have Jero explode with all his lightning-element magic power!â Lokai winked at Saul.
Saul narrowed his eyes. âSo, what youâre saying is that Jero is completely under your control now, right?â
Lokai, retreating toward the rooftop, nodded in agreement when he heard this. âThatâs right.â
âThen, if you donât give him orders, he wonât attack, right?â
âRight, thatâs how it is⊠what do you mean?â Lokai had been answering cheerfully, but suddenly became alert.
âItâs nothing, just joking with you,â Saul suddenly flashed a bright smile and stuck his tongue out at Lokai.
But Lokai grew even more tense, ready to control Jero to charge at Saul.
If Saul truly had some way to keep him here, he would immediately have Jero self-destruct to buy time.
Although it was a bit of a pity, Lokai was truly starting to fear Saul now!
But what Lokai didnât expect was that the moment he saw Saul stick out his tongue, the world changed!
Boomââ
The stone tiles beneath their feet suddenly cracked, and below them was an endless abyss of darkness. Both Lokai and Jero began to fall.
The wind howled as it blew up from the depths below, growing stronger and colder, slicing through their skin like knives.
But Lokai quickly realized that the word âlikeâ was soon to be removed.
There really was something cutting through their skin, just like a knife.
As he fell, he watched helplessly as his skin, muscles, fat, bones, and internal organs⊠were sliced away piece by piece by an invisible knife.
Excruciating pain wracked his entire body, and soon, even his eyes were split in two. Darkness descended, but the pain never faded!
Lokai felt as if his brain and heart were also being sliced.
But at this moment, someone enduring such torment should have already died!
Why had the pain not yet receded?
Why hadnât death arrived?
At that moment, a voice rang out in the consciousness that no longer had ears.
âThis is the punishment of Slow Slicing, for Senior Byron, and for all those apprentices who died from being controlled by your parasites.â
A young girlâs face appeared in Saulâs mind. Was it Jeni, or Jenna?
He couldnât quite remember.
All he remembered was that the girl, after realizing she had been parasitized, had panicked and come to him for help. But when she appeared before Saul, her head immediately exploded, and her remains were devoured by the parasite.
At the time, Saul had no idea who had used the parasite and had thought it was his first enemy, Sid.
Now that he thought about it, it was probably Lokaiâs doing.
When Lokaiâs spiritual body finally shattered into three thousand pieces, a beam of black light entered the diary.
Where is this place? Itâs so dark!
âŠ
Saul opened his eyes and saw Jero looking at Lokaiâs lifeless body, which had fallen stiff and motionless. When he looked back at Saul, the arrogant light in his eyes had completely vanished.
âYou⊠What did you do?â Jero, still kneeling on the ground, craned his neck to its limit, his eyes wide in fear, trembling as he asked Saul.
Saul didnât answer immediately. He lowered his head and stared at Jero, but his mind was focused on the fifth black page of the diary.
âIs there any way I can control Jero?â
Youâre not the master of the parasite, so you canât control him as powerfully as I can. But there are a few spells that can make him suffer terribly and force him to obey you. Eh? Who are you? Why am I telling you this?
Saul nodded, âThat will do.â
âWh-what will do?â Jero felt his strength slowly returning, maintaining an appearance of fear, but actually gathering his power.
However, the next second, he suddenly spasmed and collapsed, his brain aching as if a bug was crawling inside it!
The intense pain vanished in the blink of an eye, as if everything had been nothing but an illusion, but Jero knew it hadnât been a hallucination.
Just now, he had been controlled by Lokai, and now his life was once again in Saulâs hands.
A son of heaven, in just a few minutes, had completely fallen into the dust!
âIâd like to ask you for a favor. Is that alright?â Saul crouched down, smiling as he asked.
âY-yes,â Jero sighed dejectedly, closing his eyes and resignedly speaking.
(End of Chapter)
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