Chapter 336

Chapter 336

Purple energy surged from the surroundings like a tidal wave, converging toward the end of the altar.

“Holy sh!t, what is this…”

I couldn’t help but curse at the surreal scene unfolding before me.

Hundreds of nobles attended the ceremony, their bodies emanating purple magic energy like tree trunks. It was a sight beyond belief.

At the altar’s end, Exchetra’s face briefly came into view. Her lips formed a deceptively elegant smile of victory.

“Checkmate.”

I started to yell at her for speaking prematurely but then thought better of it.

Despite the veil obscuring her face and the considerable distance between us, her voice resonated as though she whispered directly into my ear, confirming that I was already ensnared in her spell.

The silver lining was that the purple tendrils couldn’t reach me.

A nauseating feeling settled in my stomach as they wriggled menacingly nearby; they reminded me of tentacles from an alien movie.

It dawned on me that the nobles’ silence wasn’t merely out of respect for the sacred ritual—they were under Exchetra’s spell.

I realized with horror that she was draining their life force into her magic through those purple stems.

‘That woman is truly… insane.’

How could a mere mortal wield power comparable to Kaichen, the golden dragon incarnate, even if she delved into black magic?

It was a cruel practice, a taboo even among wizards. Exchetra disregarded taboos with impunity; she wouldn’t stop her relentless pursuit of forbidden magic just for that.

I couldn’t help but wonder how many lives she had consumed to achieve such power.

Even ordinary humans without magical abilities possessed mana; depriving them of it was akin to stealing their lives.

Human magical potential stemmed from vitality, and depleting mana without cause endangered their existence.

According to mythology, the golden-scaled dragon sacrificed itself to bestow magical powers upon humans. This power, given to humans born from the blue dragon’s sacrifice, resided in their life force, known as mana.

Exchetra recognized that tapping into such life force would exponentially amplify her magic, regardless of the consequences.

It was a ruthless method, devoid of concern for the lives she drained.

My teeth clenched in disgust. The nobles surrounding us were likely already in her control, like a horde of mindless zombies.

I had hoped last night’s ball had gone normally, but judging by the nobles’ condition, something had transpired.

Those like myself who arrived today found themselves bewildered by the sudden strangeness, unable to escape the grasp of the writhing tentacles.

‘I need to escape.’

It felt like being ensnared by hundreds of zombies!

A young nobleman, confined to minimal movement, stumbled toward her, his eyes rolling back in his head.

“AHH! I hate horror movies!”

I bolted forward without a backward glance at the ghastly figure. Although my instinct urged me towards the exit, I knew it was likely blocked.

Sure enough, a group of black-clad, sword-wielding men approached with an ominous air. No need for closer inspection—I recognized Asta leading them, confirming they were the Momalhaut.

Digging in, I sprinted toward where the tentacles hadn’t extended yet.

Asta’s eyes flashed, his sword drawn as he lunged towards me. Unarmed and facing an armed adversary, the odds were hardly fair.

“Ah! What have I done?”

Dodging the nobles, who suddenly lunged at me with wide eyes, and evading Asta’s sword thrusts was challenging.

This is what happens when you’re wicked—karma returned to me like a boomerang. Wait, no! Weren’t they the ones who kidnapped me in the first place?

My parting gift to him was justified.

Frustration surged, but I frantically chanted a magic spell to preserve my life.

There was no room for other thoughts. Red alarms blared in my mind, urging me to flee first and foremost.

Asta swung his sword with ruthless determination, the blade perilously close.

Fortunately, I completed my spell just as his sword descended.

Riiip!

Asta’s sword sliced through the edge of my fluttering robes as I propelled myself forward and spun around. Rising to my feet, the pain barely registered as I sprinted with all my might.

My magic wouldn’t falter. It never had.

“Ugh…… ack!”

I heard Asta’s brief groan behind me.

No remorse stirred within me. It was a pity he hadn’t perished.

A resilient foe. Even wounded, how could he wield such a formidable sword against a feeble, cowardly creature like me?

I was at a disadvantage!

The spell I used unleashed mid-level magic, creating moisture explosions in the air. While not a water spell, its efficacy depended on a humid environment. But I didn’t expect much in a region known for its temperate climate.

I gathered sweat from my brow and palms, then snapped my fingers. Though sweat comprised mostly salt, it still possessed liquid properties.

The result was insufficient for lethal impact, yet enough to cause discomfort. Asta can’t easily shrug it off.