Bahyun secretly ventured into the polluted wasteland and Chro Forest for several nights without Almandine noticing. Utilize the collected dark energy, he set up a magic circle on the edge of the Chro Forest, near the town where Earth Dragon was in charge.

After making all the necessary preparations, Bahyun went to the location and activated the magic circle. It emitted a high volume of dark energy, triggering the senses of nearby Mages just as he had expected. Bahyun remained hidden in a tree, cloaked in stealth magic, patiently awaiting the arrival of the Mage while observing how the dark energy polluted the area within the predetermined range of his magic circle.

Before long, his target appeared.

Earth Dragon stood at about Bahyun’s shoulder height, bearing the appearance of the typical pretty boys found in Shojo Manga: linen-colored, short, messy hair, and an adorable baby face (He could easily pass as the main character in a BL manga, a genre based on Bahyun’s previous life experience stumbling upon some BL content). His brow furrowed as he arrived at the scene.

However, just as he was about to step on the trap set by Bahyun, he twisted his hips and leaped backward, landing on a stone pole summoned by his spell. Squinting his eyes, he observed the scene with caution. This surprised Bahyun, as he hadn’t expected the Mage to sense something amiss amidst the spilled dark energy that tinted everything with a black hue.

Earth Dragon surveyed the scene, wondering if the dark beast was too small for him to notice, or if he would have to face a dark beast with stealth abilities. As he contemplated his next move, he sensed a presence behind him that sent a jolt of alertness through his nerves. Reacting instinctively, his body moved before he mind could fully analyzed the situation. He cast a repelling magic and a defensive spell, forming a protective rune at his back in the blink of an eye.

Realizing he couldn’t evade the attack, he gritted his teeth and braced himself. As expected, he felt an impact against the protective rune, yet the force was so powerful that a portion of it penetrated the barrier and struck his back. A shock coursed through his body, accompanied by a wave of nausea.

He was propelled into the air by the sudden attack, unable to locate his assailant before being struck. Reacting swiftly, he summoned numerous blades and shards, surrounding himself with them before launching them toward the unseen attacker. He knew it was unlikely to incapacitate his opponent; an assassin capable of silently striking from behind proved to be formidable. What he hadn’t anticipated, however, was the assassin’s mastery of teleportation.

His blades and shards found no target, and simultaneously, he sensed the same danger looming from his blind point - the assassin had teleported behind him once more.

With a swift turn in mid-air, he maneuvered among the poles of stone he had summoned, unleashing spells and magic in every direction, yet hitting nothing but creating chaos around him. The pressure persisted from his rear, indicating the assassin’s adeptness at concealing themselves.

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His adversary was keenly aware of his reliance on earth elements for power, and since the onset of the battle, his feet had been denied contact with the earth, negating his advantage and hindering his ability to draw strength...

His proficiency in magic involving flight or levitation was lacking, and navigating mid-air while unable to touch the ground only compounded his disadvantage. The inevitable conclusion was his capture by the assassin, ensnared within a cage crafted from ice.

The cage was constructed to restricted his movement, preventing him from turning to face his captor. Now, he could confirm that this wasn’t a random dark beast invasion, but a carefully laid trap tailored specifically for him. Surprisingly, he realize he held some value to his captor despite being a low-profile Mage.

Feeling a cold object against his neck, presumably an ice blade capable of severing it with ease, he shrugged and raised his hands in surrender, “Okay, okay. I guess you lured me here for a reason, though I’m just an unfamous Mage with mediocre magical skills...So, what you need my identity as a Mage for?”

“Simple. Provide an answer, and we can consider today’s events null and void.”

Earth Dragon was momentarily taken aback by the voice, but quickly composed himself. “Well, that depends on the question you’re asking.I can’t provide answers if I’m not even aware of it, right?”

“As a Mage, you should have been aware of it.” replied the voice, now emanating from a closer proximity, as Earth Dragon detected their scent.

Tough it might sound peculiar, Earth Dragon had a heightened sense of smell. He could discern details such as whether a person had just woken up or taken a walk in the forest based on their scent. This unique ability was not widely known since he hadn’t publicly announced it. The scent from the assassin oddly familiar, reminiscent of someone he hadn’t seen in quite a while. He never suspected this person was proficient in magic; he always believed they were merely exploring magic for fun...

He shrugged once more, stating, “Okay, ask away. But I can’t guarantee a answer if it contradicts my principles. I’d rather face death, you know?”

“...easy, just a very simple question.” the slightly shaky voice of the assassin revealed their nervousness, leaving Earth Dragon to ponder what could possibly unsettle someone who usually exuded calmness and confidence. “Where is the halved FayOra stone kept by the Special Mage Armed Force?”

Halved FayOra? This immediately connected Earth Dragon to the recent news shared in their group chat, mentioning an epic battle that occurred almost ten years ago involving a dark replica of the Precaria Gem Squad. One half of the stone was indeed held by the Special Mage Armed Force, while he recalled hearing news of the other half remained unknown...So, was this an attempt to retrieve the other half?

“I’d be happy to provide you with an answer.” Earth Dragon response, as it seemed they shared a common goal, “But first, do you really want to keep pointing at me with the ice blade?”

Bahyun, who stood behind Earth Dragon, was shocked to see him dispel his transformation. His linen hair turned black, the male battle gear reverted to a skirt with flowery patterns, and though the height remained unchanged, the voice sounded very familiar...It resembled someone Bahyun had known since childhood, witnessing her growth from a toddler to a kid, then to a teenage girl.

Now, with a voice of a teenage girl that was a boy just moments ago, she spoke with a teasing note, “Bro, it’s kinda chilly in here. Could you please remove the cage before we continue?”