The guild hall was full of people, and everyone's eyes were on the huge crystal ball. The battle between the apprentice and the mentor was clearly displayed in front of everyone through this huge crystal ball.
The battle had reached its climax, and the young apprentice's attacks were getting fiercer and fiercer. The Elemental Shield on Macklin's body was becoming extremely dim, and the time for the few key spells to be exhausted was still indefinite. In the midst of the flying Wind Blades, everyone's hearts were in their throats.
The excitement of this battle had far exceeded everyone's imagination.
When Macklin activated the Warlock's Eyes and reflected the entire arena into the crystal ball, almost everyone thought that this would be a practical lesson.
In their imagination, Macklin might use a few control spells to let the young apprentice understand the power of control, or he might open the Elemental Shield and let the young apprentice bombard him until he ran out of magic power before telling him how to distribute his magic power reasonably …
In short, no one had thought that the battle would be so intense.
The sparks of the battle in the crystal ball were flying everywhere, and everyone was stunned. The entire guild hall was silent. Whether it was the Archmages who had been famous for decades or the mage apprentices who had just come into contact with mysterious knowledge, they were all scared into silence at this moment.
The battle between these two people was too terrifying …
Macklin was indeed a figure who stood at the peak of the Archmage realm. Although his power was suppressed to level-15, the spell-casting skills he showed truly told everyone that he was indeed the most powerful among the Archmages. His near-perfect control of mana and near-extreme casting time made the magic released by him as exquisite as a work of art. Under that kind of near-desperate disadvantage, he could still find time to counterattack. Many times, everyone even felt that his spell-casting skills had subverted their common sense.
Everyone was even somewhat thankful that Macklin had suppressed his power to level-15. Fortunately, he had fallen into a near-desperate disadvantage from the beginning. If not, perhaps they would not be able to see such an exciting battle in their lifetime.
For a figure like Macklin who stood at the peak of the Archmage realm, it was often enough to destroy everything with just his strength alone. Hence, he rarely used all his strength in battle, not to mention using all his skills like now, desperately struggling for a chance to breathe in a desperate situation.
For the hundreds of mages in the guild hall, this was simply a beautiful magic show.
Such an opportunity did not come by often.
Just seeing Macklin use all his strength was enough to make them exclaim.
Moreover …
The one who forced Macklin to use all his strength was a young apprentice who was less than 20 years old.
This young acolyte had given them a true sense of shock.
Compared to Macklin's exquisite spell-casting skills, this young apprentice displayed a different style. He was precise and efficient, like a finely running machine. His control of magic power had reached a terrifying level. It was as if it was not illusory magic power, but the most flexible finger. He had complete and precise control, without a trace of excess or waste.
What made the group of mages' scalps numb was that this young apprentice seemed to have an instinctive sensitivity to time. Since the start of the battle, both sides had released at least dozens of magic spells. The gorgeous magic runes alone were enough to dazzle the eyes, but this young apprentice clearly remembered the order of each magic spell, and accurately grasped their respective cooldown time.
"This is too scary …" The hundreds of mages in the guild hall all had the same thought in their minds.
Just now, Macklin had managed to survive the cooldown time of the Elemental Shield, and was about to counterattack with this Elemental Shield when the young apprentice suddenly released Mana Retroaction.
At that moment, almost everyone saw Macklin's open mouth.
It was a sign that he was about to chant a spell.
However, no one knew what spell he was going to chant, because the young apprentice had already killed it before he could finish the incantation.
That kind of feeling was simply despairing …
The trick was not complicated. Among the hundreds of mages present, those with a little bit of insight could see that it was nothing more than calculating the cooldown time of Macklin's Elemental Shield, and releasing Mana Retroaction at the moment when the cooldown time had just passed. Because only under the protection of the Elemental Shield could Macklin cast spells boldly with confidence, and only then could he leave the opponent a chance to use Mana Retroaction.
But things in this world were always easier said than done.
How could it be easy to calculate the cooldown time of the Elemental Shield?
Not only did they have to remember when Macklin's last Elemental Shield was released, but they also had to remember how many spells they had released during this period, and how much they had weakened the Elemental Shield. In addition, they had to take into account Macklin's mana consumption and the pressure they had caused to him. There were even extremely subtle factors such as psychological analysis.
The most important thing in a mage's battle was concentration. Just the incomparably complicated recitation of spells was enough to consume all the concentration of most mages. Those who could think in the fierce battle and formulate exquisite tactics for themselves were all rare magic geniuses. As for this young apprentice who could still carry out complex calculations in the face of his mentor, not to mention seeing it, they had never even heard of it. This was not an ability that a human should have at all.
The guild hall was frighteningly quiet; even the drop of a needle could be heard.
Everyone's eyes fell on the crystal ball, staring blankly at the young apprentice who was reciting a spell.
The speed at which he recited the spell was not too fast, and it seemed to be somewhat unhurried. However, the sharp-eyed old mages could tell at a glance that the speed at which this young apprentice recited the spell was not any worse than Macklin's!
"What the hell …" A few of the older mages whispered quietly.
This was really too much …
No matter how much Macklin suppressed his power, no matter how he was only level-15, the spell-casting habits that had been integrated into his bloodline would not change. For a mage of his level, the spell-casting habit had become an instinct. Even if he suppressed his power to level-1, the time of a spell that should be compressed would still be the same. It would not change because of the level.
In the eyes of the people in the hall, Macklin's compression of the recitation time had reached the limit that a human could achieve. They even felt that even if it were a legendary mage, it would be difficult to do better than Macklin.
But now, right under their noses, there was a young apprentice who was less than 20 years old doing something that only Macklin could do.
No one dared to believe that this young apprentice was less than 20 years old.
So much so that everyone began to speculate about the origins of this fellow who looked like an apprentice …
For a moment, whispers rose and fell in the guild hall.
"I remember, this kid seems to be from Jarrosus!" Someone in the crowd said.
As soon as the words left his mouth, there was a burst of objections. An old Magic Shooter with a white beard said agitatedly, "Nonsense, how could a place like Jarrosus Guild of Magic produce such a powerful genius?"
"That's right, it's impossible!" A few colleagues next to him looked at him and nodded in unison.
This was simply a joke. A magic genius who could drive Macklin into a corner was actually from Jarrosus? Who didn't know that place was a magical wasteland? In just a few decades, there was only one Archmage, Gerian. The most ridiculous thing was that it was said that the most powerful magic force in that place was not the Guild of Magic, but more than a dozen messy mage families …
Such a genius came from Jarrosus? It would be more straightforward to say that Macklin was a woman …
"If this kid is really from Jarrosus, I'll eat this crystal ball!" The old Magic Shooter with a white beard pointed at the crystal ball in front of him agitatedly.
"…" The mage who spoke the truth was immediately dumbfounded. If this old man really ate such a big crystal ball, wouldn't he die from it?
Besides …
Although he said that this kid was from Jarrosus, even he himself was not sure. Everyone in Jarrosus knew that a Magic Shooter was enough for them to celebrate for half a year, not to mention an Archmage who was less than 20 years old?
Maybe he had mistaken him for someone else … The only mage who spoke the truth also began to doubt himself.
And just as everyone was discussing and guessing Lin Li's origins, the battle had come to an end.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! " Three Rings of Flame exploded beside Macklin in a row, and the shaky Elemental Shield finally had only a thin layer left.
"Kid, you've got guts!" These three Rings of Flame that had been buried long ago exploded at the most critical moment, and immediately forced Macklin into a desperate situation. The Elemental Shield on his body was only left with a thin layer, and it might only take a Wind Blade to cut it open. Moreover, the spell's cooldown time had just passed by half. Wanting to prop up another Elemental Shield was like letting a rooster lay eggs.
Macklin had lived for a long time, but this was the first time he had been so embarrassed. It was really too aggrieving to be beaten by a kid who was less than 20 years old. Seeing that the Elemental Shield was about to be torn apart, he was directly sentenced to death. Yet, there was nothing he could do. He could only watch as the other party blasted magic after magic at him …
"What a f * cking failure!" Macklin was really regretful now. He should not have underestimated this kid. He thought that he still had the strength he had a month ago, but he did not expect that in such a short time, this kid had already broken through from level-13 to level-15, and become a real Archmage.
But this kid was also a talent. He kept expanding the small advantage, and finally forced him into a desperate situation.
"See, I've said it before. It's not certain who will teach who a lesson …" Lin Li whispered in Macklin's ear as he passed by him.
Macklin was so angry that he almost vomited blood when he heard this.
Unfortunately, vomiting blood was one thing, but he still could not do anything. Just as the two of them passed by, Lin Li's Flaming Hands had already fallen on Macklin's back. The raging flames rose fiercely, and instantly burned a huge hole in the Elemental Shield.
"It's over …" Feeling the scorching heat from the Flaming Hands, Macklin's heart suddenly sank. "My decades of reputation is going to be ruined in the hands of this kid today …"
Thinking of the 12 Warlock's Eyes above his head, Macklin really wanted to die.
At this moment, the whole Guild of Magic was quiet.
Whether it was Aldwin or Darian, or the hundreds of mages in the guild hall, everyone stared nervously at the crystal ball. They watched Lin Li's Flaming Hands fall, and then watched the Elemental Shield on Macklin's body break. At this moment, even time seemed to have stopped …
Then they saw …
The flames that lingered around the young apprentice's hands were suddenly extinguished.
The magic runes flying in the arena dissipated in an instant, and everything seemed to return to the time when the four of them had just entered.
Everyone in the Guild of Magic was stunned. No one had expected such a result in the end. This, this, this … What kind of situation was this?
"Oh no, that kid's mana is exhausted!" Someone in the guild hall shouted.
It was true that his mana was exhausted …
It was not until this time that the group of mages in the guild hall suddenly remembered that in the battle just now, the young apprentice had released at least dozens of magic spells, and at least half of them were at the level of a Magic Shooter.
For a moment, everyone's faces revealed a look of sudden realization at the same time.
No wonder they always felt that something was wrong. So that was what happened.
The reason why this kid looked so fierce was that he had been overdrawing his mana. What did dozens of magic spells mean? It meant an astronomical amount of mana. Even those Archmages who had been famous for a long time might not be able to withstand such consumption, let alone a young man who was not even 20 years old.
Recalling the whole process of the battle carefully, it was indeed so. Ever since he had a slight advantage, the young apprentice had been bombarding Macklin with magic. A large number of instantaneous magic spells and short recitation of spells forced Macklin to be out of breath. At the same time, he was constantly overdrawing his own mana. This almost gambling-like way of fighting finally let him taste the consequences at the last moment. Just when victory was within reach, his mana was completely exhausted …
"What a pity …" There were sighs coming from the crowd from time to time. Even these mages who had nothing to do with it felt sorry for the young apprentice.
It was really just a little bit more. If that Flaming Hands had burned for a second longer, it would have been enough to completely defeat Macklin. Unfortunately, it was this one second that had become a goal that could never be reached. Macklin was a level-18 Archmage. How many times could a mage have the chance to defeat him in his life?
In the President's room, Darian was secretly relieved.
Fortunately, although this Jarrosus country bumpkin was strong, he was not strong enough to be unreasonable. At least in terms of mana, he could not compete with a real Archmage. This more or less made Darian feel gratified, and he secretly noted in his heart that insufficient mana was the other party's biggest flaw.
Aldwin, on the other hand, just smiled. "It seems that Macklin's luck is good …"
"President Aldwin, I'm afraid it's not just luck."
"Oh?" Aldwin glanced at Darian with some doubt in his eyes. "Darian, do you have a different opinion?"
"Yes, President Aldwin." Darian nodded, and then pointed to Lin Li in the crystal ball. "If I'm not mistaken, I'm afraid all this has long been under Mr Macklin's control. He has long determined where the limit of the other party's mana is, so he has been defending. The purpose is to exhaust this young man's mana and let him understand the importance of a reasonable distribution of mana."
"It seems that you still don't quite understand …" Aldwin smiled, and did not go on to say anything more. "Forget it, Darian. If there's nothing else, you can go back first. I want to sit alone."
"Yes." Darian took another look at the picture in the crystal ball, and then respectfully left the President's room. He walked along the corridor towards the research institute. He was in a good mood along the way. A bottle of Psionic Power Potion was about to be in his hands, and he had also figured out the strength of the Jarrosus kid. The other party had exhausted his mana at the last moment, which made Darian completely relieved. As long as he was not a real Archmage, there was still a chance to deal with him.
As Darian walked into the research institute, the battle that was far beyond everyone's imagination came to an end. The picture on the crystal ball gradually blurred, and finally returned to its previous appearance.
At this time, Macklin was flipping out.
The old fellow chanted a spell with a livid face, and turned off the 12 Warlock's Eyes above. When he turned back, his expression was so fierce as if he wanted to eat someone. "Damn it, you dare to say that your mana is exhausted?"
"Why …?" Lin Li was still unhurried. "Why can't I exhaust my mana …?"
"Don't give me that. Others may not know you, but do you think I don't know you?" At the sight of Lin Li's half-dead appearance, Macklin couldn't help but want to kick him. "Damn it, a monster like you should be dragged into the slaughterhouse. Exhaust your mana? Exhaust my ass. Why didn't you exhaust your mana when you were dealing with the Three-eyed Blood Wolf in the Nightmare Mountains? Why didn't you exhaust your mana in the Shadowglen? Damn it, you exhausted your mana when you fought me. Is there such a coincidence?"
"This …" Lin Li scratched his head, and answered shamelessly, "There are always times when people are unlucky. I was unlucky this time, and my mana was consumed too quickly. Can't I?"
"…" Lin Li almost spat out a mouthful of blood. The consumption of mana depended on luck. Was this your theory?
"Forget it, I'm not going to talk nonsense with you." Macklin realized that if they were to compare their ability to lie through their teeth, he would never be able to catch up to this kid. It wasn't that he didn't know how to lie, but he wasn't as thick-skinned as him. This kid was completely shameless. He lied without hesitation and didn't care whether it was reasonable or not.
"Tell me honestly, why did you let me!?"
"When did I let you …?"
"Damn it, you still dare to deny it?" Macklin was enraged. For someone like him who was already standing at the peak of his profession, he had long been indifferent to winning and losing. It was worth being happy to win, but it was no big deal to lose. Even if he lost in front of the whole guild, it was just an embarrassment. After the embarrassment, he would still do what he wanted to do.
What really made him angry was that he had to rely on his opponent to deliberately let him win this battle, which seemed to have a huge disparity in strength. Thinking of this, Macklin was so angry that he wanted to vomit blood. This kid was simply slapping his face. He could have exhausted his mana at any time, but he had to exhaust it when the Flaming Hands were about to fall. Wasn't this telling him clearly, "Old man, don't be happy too early. I was letting you win."
Damn it, this is simply unbearable!
Moreover, others might not know his background, but how could he not know it?
Ever since this kid came to Alanna, he had been his trial mentor. From the Magical Shadow Leopard to the Three-eyed Blood Wolf, he had been paying attention to these two battles. From the beginning to the end, he did not find any problems with this kid's mana.
In those two battles, Lin Li's performance was like a perpetual motion machine with unlimited mana. One magic spell after another came out of his mouth, and he had never been seen worrying about mana. No matter when, he gave off the feeling that he was full of mana, so much so that Macklin had some doubts about whether Lin Li had a potion with him to restore mana.
Although the battle today was exciting, it was far less intense than when the three of them encountered the Three-eyed Blood Wolf pack in the Nightmare Mountains. It had to be known that there were hundreds of Three-eyed Blood Wolves. Killing ten of them with one magic spell would be enough to make one weak, not to mention that there was a high and mighty king of the wolves.
How could his mana be exhausted just now if he could not even exhaust it in that situation?
"Alright, alright …" Seeing that Macklin was really angry, Lin Li did not dare to continue talking nonsense. He only nodded and answered vaguely, "I do have a little mana left …"
As for how much was a little, Lin Li did not bother to explain. Anyway, to him, a little and a lot of points meant infinity.
Although he had already guessed the truth, Macklin was still so angry that his face turned pale when he heard Lin Li admit it. The roar that came out of his mouth almost lifted the roof of the entire Guild of Magic. "Damn it, tell me honestly. Why did you go easy on me? Do you think that I am not worthy to be your opponent?"
Macklin's words were a little serious, and Lin Li did not dare to be negligent. He quickly shook his head and denied it. "No, no, no. Please don't misunderstand. The reason why I held back at the last moment has nothing to do with you."
"Then why?"
Lin Li looked at the 12 Warlock's Eyes above his head. "Because I wanted to lie."
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