Leveling up the World

Chapter 762: A Death Banquet

Mage Dallion Darude and novice! A loud voice boomed before Dallion could determine the source of the item.

Damn it! He thought. Of all the times that the archdukes snobbishness could erupt, why did it have to be now?

Four fury guards stood to attention at the halls entrance. Everyones eyes focused on Dallion. The crowd was rather impressive, composed of several hundred people, all dressed in their most illustrious clothes. Fury guards were everywhere, giving the atmosphere a distinctly military vibe. And yet, it was obvious that everything was just a hollow faade. While still important, less than half of the people were nobles. There were no representatives of any other archduke families, even the neighboring ones. Members of high-powered guilds and merchant organizations had taken their place. Most notable of all, there was no imperial presence whatsoever.

With a diplomatically acceptable smile, Dallion made his way along the length of the hall, straight towards the elevated section where the archdukes throne was. Power still emanated from the man, but now the sense of boredom was replaced with tiredness. The man who at one point Dallion thought capable of shattering mountains with a single punch now seemed like a wounded lion struggling to maintain the appearance of his former glory. Even worse, everyone in the hall seemed to know it. They were smart enough to know theyd never survive a direct confrontation, so instead they were patiently waiting for the moment a new archduke would emerge. The emotions of the Linatol family were especially turbulent. Several of the immediate members were considering how soon they could make a go for the position, while the rest were ashamed they had fallen to such a level.

Noble problems, Dallion thought.

A thin elderly mage in a deep blue robe stood a few steps from the throne. Dallion hadnt seen him before, but could tell by the magic emanating from the man that he was powerful and probably important. Dark-skinned with almost entirely purple eyes, he had the Lanitol emblem embroidered on the upper right section of his robe, suggesting that he was related to the family in some fashion.

Everyones here, a whisper said among the crowd.

Dallion fought the urge to combat split in an attempt to find the source. He knew that it was an item, though a different one than that which had warned him moments ago. Also, this one wasnt talking to him, but to someone else. Unless there was another empath right here, right now, that suggested that the item had an ancient guardian.

Stopping ten feet from the throne, Dallion bowed.

Archduke Linatol, he said. The archmage commends you on your victory.

The Lanitol mage snorted. It wasnt that he found the lie amusing, but rather disapproved that Dallion was the one talking in the name of the Academy.

Dallion Darude, the noble said with a semi smile. Better known as the battle apprentice. I heard you were instrumental in dealing with three rogue mages.

That was false. Dallion had taken down six and assisted in the capture of a few more. Of course, no one counted the first three since that occurred before the mage legion was established. Also, two of those three were children.

We learned that you went through Nerosal before joining us here, the archduke continued. Is there a reason for that?

My apologies, archduke. I was eager to try and find more about the one who got away. He paused for a moment. And also to claim my novice.

There were a lot of ways the conversation could have continued from there, most of them bad. Fortunately, the archduke remained blinded by his own ego.

Maybe you can help me as well. Seems that several mages have tried their luck going against me. Some steal from me, others come to my land to hide out, thinking that I wouldnt notice.

This almost sounded like a threat directed at Dallion. Thanks to his music skills, though, he got the impression that it related to someone else.

A rogue had the gall to venture into one of my ruins and proclaim them theirs. I would have gone deal with him myself, but Nerot convinced me this is a matter for the Academy.

We take care of our own. The mage nearby nodded in agreement. Although I dont see any reason the battle apprentice should refuse.

My owner will take out the three by the column, an item said. From what Dallion could make out, it was a knife.

Gritting his teeth, Dallion dashed forward with a series of slash attacks.

Im not trying to harm the archduke, he quickly said, using his music skills to add as much calmness as possible in his words. Im trying to save him.

Sound threads attempted to attach themselves to the mage, yet the moment one made contact, it snapped, rendering the effort pointless. It was at that point that Dallion knew: the mage wasnt attacking him because he feared that Dallion was part of the coup; he was attacking because he had organized it.

Aether barriers emerged as quickly as Dallion could strike. While to an onlooker it might have seemed that he was dealing significant damage to the mage, in reality, the blade was stopping a quarter of an inch shy of its target.

Ruby, attack! he ordered.

Nothing followed. Dallions first reaction was to turn around with one of his instances and see what was going on. However, it was at that point that he noticed: nothing had followed. The attacks, the yells, even the screams of panic had all disappeared. It was as if everyone and everything in the room had frozen in time, leaving him and Nerot to hash it out.

Infusing his sword with spark, Dallion continued on the offensive. His opponent kept casting spells with both hands, each more intricate than the last. The speed at which this was done was passable. The technique, on the other hand, was astounding. Each spell seemed original, with so many false connections and dummy symbols that Dallion had no idea what the effects would be. In situations such as this, it was best not to find out.

Skipping between surviving instances, he consciously targeted the mages hands. The attacks remained inefficient as before, but nine times out of ten Dallion would sever the threads before the spell could fully form, rendering it harmless.

Arrogant, Nerot said once it was clear that the two were at an impasse. This was one case in which Dallion was grateful he was fighting a far older opponent. If the mage had been a decade or two younger, the fight would have long been over. Bad at magic, so focusing on interrupting others.

The rules of the wilderness, mage. Dallion attempted a multi attack in the hopes that one of the strikes would break through the defensive barriers. It didnt.

Only the weak dont follow etiquette.

Using his left hand, Dallion attempted to cast a simple aether projectile spell. The mage wasnt able to stop him. Six bolts darted forward, striking Nerots torso. Similar to all previous attacks, only flashes of light followed.

There has to be a mega spell on the floor, Dallion thought.

That would explain the stillness all around him. Or was it stillness? As far as he knew, the fight between him and the mage might as well be locked within a single second of real time. Chrono-spells werent a popular area, mostly due to their highly impractical nature, but there were still those that dabbled. Such spells were difficult to prepare, almost impossible to execute, and seldom achieved anything. Or maybe this wasnt time magic. There was only one instance in which time dilation occurredwhen within an item, a prison item, to be precise.

You turned the entire room into a prison item? Dallion asked, while still attacking.

Not a complete idiot. The other grunted.

That was why the mage had called Dallion arrogant. It had nothing to do with his fighting style, but the fact that he had remained half an inch above the ground at all times. Unlike everyone else in the room, Dallions feet had never come into contact with the floor, preventing him from getting sucked into the prison items realm.

If you created the trap, why the attackers? Dallion asked.

No longer had he done so, when the answer hit him like a brick. As long as there was only one survivor, the emperor would accept any account he was given.

You arent betraying the empire, Dallion said. You just want to replace the archduke.

No. Im just severing my ties with the so-called archmage, waves of hatred emanated from the man.