Chapter 314 Chapter313-Desperation, Element Fusion
While Saphir's strategy was sound, his intentions were transparent, allowing the three AGHHO assassin masters to discern his goal.
56 stood between Saphir and 54, faced with the lightning-fast thrust of the fire greatsword.
It wasn't that he couldn't dodge in time, but doing so would leave 54 exposed to the incoming fiery blade.
With a piercing scream, 56's body transformed into a smoky mist, absorbing the sword's fiery impact.
The flames were gradually dimmed and consumed by the encompassing fog.
Having only observed from the sidelines earlier, 56 was in his prime state.
In contrast, Saphir had already expended vast amounts of mana battling 54.
It became clear that Saphir couldn't outlast 56 in an extended fight.
A hint of regret flashed across Saphir's face, realizing that his long-prepared attack had been in vain.
Yet, he had no time to dwell on the thwarted fire greatsword, for 63, like a shadow, stealthily approached from behind.
His dark dagger, reminiscent of a snake lurking at a cave's entrance, struck from an eerie angle towards Saphir's back.
Saphir's only recourse was to enhance his agility, narrowly dodging 63's assault.
But before he could catch his breath, 56, having dealt with the fire greatsword, reformed from the mist and attacked from another direction.
Facing the combined ambush of two assassin masters, Saphir, shocked and angered, fought with every ounce of his strength.
Individually, both were somewhat inferior to 54.
But together, their impact was more than the sum of its parts, a testament to the years spent executing assassination quests in tandem.
Their synergy was flawless; often, just a glance was enough to communicate their strategy, bypassing the need for words.
The battlefield echoed with Saphir's enraged roars.
Even as the luminescence of his fire elemental magic dazzled, it was evident that injuries began to mar his form.
The harmonious assault of 56 and 63, unpredictable and ferocious, swiftly put Saphir on the back foot.
Saphir understood the urgent need to eliminate at least one of them to turn the tide.
Especially with 54, still bound but watchful nearby.
Should he break free from the fire chain and rejoin the fray, facing all three would undoubtedly spell Saphir's doom.
"Saphir... I remember you, the fire Grand Archmage of the Northern Myst Empire. Over the years, we've carried out countless assassination quests, yet you've always been the most tenacious of our marks," 56 taunted as he coordinated his strikes with 63, all the while attempting to unnerve Saphir.
"Such a fool," he sneered. "Did you truly believe that finding us would guarantee vengeance for your wife and child? We may have failed to finish you off back then, but concluding that unfinished business now seems like a fitting choice."
Mention of his innocently slain family pushed Saphir to the brink.
He roared in fury, his wand dancing in his hand.
The flames, under his command, grew even more scorching.
Intense surges of fire continuously charged towards 56 and 63.
With all his might, he tried to reclaim control of the battle.
Yet, against the raging flames, 56 and 63 remained undeterred.
They dodged the fiery onslaught with fluid grace, stealthily closing the distance to Saphir.
56's silhouette flickered in the forefront, his dagger lashing out with the venomous precision of a snake, while 63 exploited openings, aiming for Saphir's vital points.
Saphir's expression grew increasingly grave. He fended off their relentless attacks, but defense, no matter how strong, always had its cracks.
Soon, Saphir bore numerous slender cuts.
Blood stained his mage robes, soaking the fabric rapidly.
A chilling realization settled in Saphir's heart: if the battle continued in this vein, his end might very well be imminent.
To make matters worse, a loud "crack" echoed from the battlefield's edge.
54 had successfully shattered the fire chain binding him, letting its fiery remnants disintegrate into the most basic fire elements, dissipating into the ether.
Following that, a chilling chuckle from 54 pierced the air as he, dagger in hand, plunged directly into the fray.
With 54 joining the ranks, it undoubtedly became the straw that broke the camel's back.
Besieged by the coordinated assault of the three, Saphir was forced into a relentless retreat, lacking even the slightest strength to retaliate.
Cornered, a profound defiance surged in Saphir's heart.
Clenching his teeth, his eyes shimmered with a blend of indignation and determination.
As the three assassin masters closed in with murderous intent, without hesitation, Saphir unleashed an arcane spell— "Element Fusion".
Element Fusion was an intricate spell crafted by Saphir, a fusion of elemental power and self, aiming to achieve a combat strength beyond the ordinary.
However, despite its short-term augmentation of one's combat prowess, the spell came with grave repercussions.
Even though the 'magus' class inherently boasted a strong affinity to elements, recklessly infusing oneself with the raw elemental energy was akin to injecting potent venom into one's bloodstream.
Such a fusion could induce irreversible harm.
Yet, having finally confronted these three adversaries he'd sought for so long, Saphir was resolute in exacting his vengeance, regardless of the cost.
Especially now, cornered as he was, there were no other options left for him.
Eyes closed, he focused, channeling his mana, guiding the ambient fire elements into his being.
Saphir felt the power of the fire element steadily integrating into him.
His mana surged, becoming vast and potent, as his form gradually became enveloped in flames.
In the blink of an eye, Saphir underwent a profound transformation.
His hair transformed into roaring flames, and his eyes took on a fervent scarlet hue, as if a fire deity had descended upon the mortal realm.
Surprise registered simultaneously on the faces of the three assassin masters.
They hadn't anticipated such overpowering strength from Saphir.
With a sudden intensity, Saphir's eyes flared open, fixating on the trio who were his sworn enemies.
A blazing light erupted from his gaze, his entire form seemingly merging with the flames. His aura soared to unprecedented heights.
Having unleashed Element Fusion, Saphir appeared as if he had become an embodiment of raging fire. Raising his wand high, it radiated a captivating incandescent glow.
Witnessing this, 56, 63, and 54 were instinctively taken aback by the terrifying aura emanating from Saphir.
However, as master assassins, they were well-aware of the peril that came with harboring fear in battle.
Such trepidation could sap their will to resist, leading to an inevitable rout.
Years of combat experience allowed them to quickly regain composure, resolved to jointly challenge a Saphir amplified by his Arcane Skill.
56 transformed into a shadow, darting towards Saphir's left side.
Dagger in hand, he skillfully navigated the gaps between the flames, seeking his opponent's vulnerabilities.
63, with ghostly silence, maneuvered to Saphir's right, lurking in the shadows, poised to strike.
54, leveraging his agility, took the frontal approach to divert Saphir's attention.
Yet, he remained defensively postured rather than initiating an attack.
A peculiar gleam danced in 54's eyes, a signature probing skill unique to the AGHHO, enabling assassin classes to swiftly pinpoint their target's weaknesses.
However, to 54's discerning gaze, the current form of Saphir displayed no discernible vulnerabilities.
The imposing figure of the fire Grand Archmage had wholly metamorphosed into a searing flame, his physique taking on a form akin to an elemental being.
54's expression was grave.
While Saphir's power instilled fear in him, it also piqued his curiosity.
He yearned to witness firsthand the terrifying might Saphir could muster after invoking Element Fusion.
Swiftly pinpointing the locations of 56 and 63, Saphir manipulated the flames, launching a robust assault toward them.
Even before the attack reached its targets, the scorching heat singed their skin, causing them discomfort.
Yet, neither 56 nor 63 chose to recoil in fear; instead, they charged headlong into the surging inferno.
54, with agile maneuvers, resembled a phoenix dancing amidst the flames.
Seizing an opportunity, 63 launched a surprise attack, his black dagger slithering serpent-like towards Saphir.
However, Saphir had anticipated this ambush.
In an instant, he conjured a barrier of protective flame, effectively parrying 63's offensive.
The power of the flames ran rampant on the battlefield, with the temperature soaring dramatically. The entire arena was ensnared by a searing embrace.
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