Chapter 49 7th rank
Narin, who clearly wasn't happy to be responsible for the misfortune of someone he'd never met before, shifted uneasily. With an apologetic glance towards the unconscious Cindy, he asked cautiously, "But... she's still breathing, right?"
Oliver's head snapped up, and his tear-streaked face twisted with rage. His red-rimmed eyes blazed with fury as he shouted. "This is all your fault!" The hatred in his voice was raw. "If you hadn't drawn that monster to us, this never would've happened!"
"Relax, man," said Narin, lifting his hands in a placating gesture. "She's only passed out."
But Oliver was too shaken to be soothed. His fear and anxiety fueled his outrage. "How can you say that so casually?" He snapped. "You don't know that! She could be in a coma, or worse, dead but... but still breathing somehow!"
At that, Narin threw a brief, uncertain look toward Robert. Sensing that Narin might've begun to find Oliver's current behavior totally unsuited to him, Robert subtly leaned back and mouthed the words to Narin, "He's not usually like this."
Narin sighed amusedly before saying to Oliver, "Listen, I'm a Necromancer, an Undead wizard," he explained. "And as such, I have quite a bit of mastery over matters of both body and soul. I assure you, the girl is fine; I can still sense her presence of life, she's only just weak and magically exhausted."
"Aha!" Oliver burst out unexpectedly. Carefully, he eased Cindy off his lap and onto the leaf carpet before springing to his feet with newfound energy. His eyes glared accusingly at Narin. "Necromancy! That's how you did it! That's how you found us, even after we relocated!" He snarled bitterly. "You used a Soul Detection spell, didn't you? Traced our life signatures and led that beastly creature straight to us! Oh, it's like they've always said; you people with dead cell affinity seem to bring ruin and death wherever you go!"
Narin grinned sheepishly. "Not quite," he said. "I used an Echolocation spell to find your group, actually. A Soul Detection spell wouldn't have worked—it's range is too short. Look, I know that was a... reckless and selfish move, and I'm sorry, I really am. But I was out of options. It was either that or a horrible death. Believe me, if there had been a better way, I would've taken it."
Echolocation? The thought struck Oliver and Robert almost at the same time while Narin was still speaking. No wonder the thudding, pounding sound had been so loud even from so far away. But then their brows knitted in confusion almost at the same time.
"Hold on," Robert interjected before Oliver could voice the same thought. "Your elemental affinity is with Dead cells. Echolocation is for Sound wizards."
"I used an Inclamine potion to temporarily alter my elemental affinity. Once the potion took effect, I cast the spell and anchored it to the strongest, most consistent sound in my immediate surrounding at that time, which was the wolf's heavy footsteps. I have no doubt your group heard it loud and clear."
Oliver opened his mouth to say something, but Narin continued, cutting him off.
"That said, I think I know how to end this, a way to defeat that Basterath Wolf." He reached into his ragged skin bag and took out a small glass vial filled with a thick, orange liquid. He held it up for them to see. "All that's needed is for the strongest among us to drink this."
Narin uncorked the vial, and a putrid, nose-wrinkling stench was immediately released into the air. "Now, between you, Robert, and the unconscious girl—sorry, scratch that, between you two, who is the stronger wizard? I noticed that the both of you cast Mystic-level Earth and Ice spells despite being only peak second-rank Common wizards according to your auras. I don't care how you manage that, but one of you must have an edge over the other. Who is it?" Narin asked, his eyes fixed intently on the two boys.
Oliver and Robert cast uneasy glances at each other, a silent exchange passing between them—each silently hoping the other would step up. The look in their eyes seemed to say, "You're clearly the tougher one, you do it." It wasn't fear of taking the lead against the Blood wolf that daunted the boys, no, it was that neither was eager to ingest the foul-smelling concoction before them.
"Come on, which of you two is stronger?" Narin urged them. "Time is of the essence; Zack can't keep that beast occupied forever."
"Occupied?" Robert asked. "You're saying Zack's battle machine can't take down that creature?"
Oliver's brows shut up. "Zack has a battle machine?"
Narin let out an exaggerated snort at Robert's question. "Please, do you really think that oversized tin can could take down that raging beast? That's a level 17 Roaring Blood Basterath Wolf for heaven's sake, don't be ridiculous!"
Oliver cut in, his usual indifferent and disdainful expression returning to his eyes. "By the way, what exactly did you do to that wolf? It's absolutely furious," he asked, casting a wary glance at the unconscious Cindy.
"Oh, nothing major," Narin replied breezily, "I only just kidnapped its pup. You know how it is— 'Bring Your Magic Beast to School Day' is coming up on Saulday, so I thought—why not show up with a Roaring Blood Basterath Wolf as my bonded beast? Imagine walking up to the stage with a full-blooded Roaring Blood Basterath Wolf! All the eyes.... all the—" He purposefully cut himself off and gave the small glass vial in his hand a purposeful shake, redirecting their attention. "We can talk about the details later, we've got more pressing matters."
Robert exhaled through his nose and, with a deliberately unimpressed shrug, gestured lazily. "Fine. Give the disgusting concoction to Oliver, he'll take it."
Narin grinned. He raised the vial slightly. "This is not a 'disgusting concoction,' my friend! You're looking at a finely brewed Upn'gradd potion, made by none other than myself!"
Oliver stared at the murky liquid with a horrified expression. "You honestly expect us to drink something you whipped up in your attic? That thing looks and smells more like something that came from a pot used to cook expired soup... during a plague."
"You know, if my Potions master ever heard you say that, he'll likely hurl a cauldron at your head without a second thought," Narin said indignantly. "For your information, I happen to be one of the top potioneering students in my year—in fact, my instructor once called me a 'budding potioneer destined to brew miracles.' That practically makes me something of a Potions master already. Potion-making is second nature to me; it's in my blood."
Narin let out a long, dramatic sigh and glanced between Robert and Oliver. "But you know what, since you two can't decide—and you're unfortunately the only ones available—why don't you both take the potion together? Was hoping to save some for later, but... well, desperate times, right?"
"Why don't you just drink it yourself?" Oliver asked with a raised eyebrow. "You're in the fifth rank. You're stronger than both of us put together."
"Already did—two hours ago, when I was kidnapping the wolf's pup," Narin explained. "And it'll be a terrible idea to me to have another dose within twelve hours. Trust me, this potion isn't your everyday tonic—it's insanely potent. Honestly, do you think I could have infiltrated a den filled with nearly thirty Blood Basterath Wolves and escaped unscathed as an ordinary fifth-rank Common wizard? I used this..."
"Wait, wait, hold on a second." Oliver cut him off, raising a hand. Both he and Robert shared the same expression; perplexed disbelief. "Thirty?" Oliver repeated. "But Basterath wolves are solitary creatures—one per den. Why in the world is every living creature in this forest over-numbered?!"
"You guys noticed their crazy numbers too?" Narin asked, blinking with genuine surprise. "Anyway, here's what happened. I used this potion to temporarily slip into the Mystic realm. Then, I cast the Fading Presence spell— you know, that Mystic Necromancy spell that masks your aura and life signature. I followed that up with a Wadhon B —potion for invisibility—to sneak into the den, unseen and undetected. Everything went smoothly until I left the den after snatching the pup."
He paused, grimacing. "I underestimated the strength of the mother's etheric connection with her offspring, which allowed her to sense its absence after I had left and track me down. By the time she caught up, my potions had worn off, and she easily found me. All I could do was run for my life, and as expected, she gave chase... most terrifying moment of my life, by the way. Thankfully, her size worked against her—the trees helped slow her down, and that gave me just enough of an edge to put more distance between us."
He was talking faster now. "While still being pursued, this crazy thought suddenly popped up — what if there was some other wizard, a stronger wizard, somewhere in these woods that could help fight off the beast pursuing me? What if they were not too far away? But how do I contact, or better still, locate them? That brought my mind to the Inclamine potion in my bag. I used it to alter my affinity to Sound, followed it with an Echolocation spell and, well... you know the rest. Thank goodness your group wasn't too far away or surely I'll be Basterath droppings already. Now, if that beast destroys Zack's machine, that could still be our reality, and I'm not keen on being Basterath poop and I don't think any of you are either. So please, for all our sakes, drink this potion before it's too late!" Narin spoke rapidly, his words tumbling out in three urgent breaths.
Robert accepted the vial of orange liquid from Narin. "So, uhh... this potion can temporarily boost us to the Mystic realm?"
"Not exactly," Narin replied. "What the potion actually does is stretch and expand your magic energy storage chamber by five times it's normal capacity, but one for about an hour... forty-six to fifty-three minutes to be more precise. On top of that, it enhances your cognitive abilities, effectively raising your mental strength and thereby, your spell's power by five ranks. For instance, as a fifth-rank Common wizard, it allowed me to reach first-rank of the Mystic realm. The potion was invented by PtMas. Rattler Terrions, and it took me an entire month to perfect the formula. Keep in mind though, it's only effective for wizards below the Legendary level. Now, drink up quickly before your friend's battle machine falls!"
Oliver was looking at the vial of orange liquid with a bit more than desire now. "If this potion truly makes us five ranks stronger, then that means..."
Before he could complete the sentence, Robert's voice echoed clearly in his mind, "The old men's powers are about to get a serious boost!" They both shared a look, eyes gleaming with exhilaration.
"Seventh-rank Mystic wizards..." Oliver mused, and Robert almost licked his lips at the thought, gently rolling the vial in his palm as if savouring the promise it held.
Narin abruptly broke into their moment. "Uh, hate to interrupt your staring contest, but there's a Roaring Blood Basterath Wolf that urgently needs taking down."
Oliver and Robert snapped back to attention. Robert glanced at the vial and asked, "Oh, and is this potion sweet or... the opposite of sweet?"
"You'll find out once you drink it," Narin replied, urgency clear in his voice. "Go take care of that beast, I'll make sure redhead here is okay."
"Her name is Cyntara."
"Let's go!"
Oliver and Robert turned and rushed back towards the clearing. When they got there, a shocking sight met them: more vegetation had been destroyed, effectively expanding the clearing. Zack's battle machine was now slumped against the gnarled trunk of a large tree. The machine had suffered severe damages. Its right arm had been completely torn off, and the chest plating was violently ripped open, revealing a mess of exposed internal parts and energy conductors hanging loose and sputtering white, purple and red magic particles that sparked chaotically like a dying firework display.
Opposite the wrecked behemoth stood the Roaring Blood Basterath Wolf in its pool of blood. Although the beast bore no visible injuries, it's labored breathing and lowered stance told a different story; the beast was clearly exhausted, worn out from what — judging by the looks of the clearing — was an intense and likely punishing confrontation with Zack's battle machine. Indeed, it was clear that Zack's machine had pushed the creature to it's limits, but it didn't seem to matter eventually... and that was the problem; there was always the blood pool—the pesky rapid healing factor!
From Robert and Oliver's point of view, it seemed the two titans had called a truce—one rejuvenating and catching it's breath while the other clinging to its last vestiges of functionality.
The perfect moment to strike!
"Ready to down this filth?" Robert turned to Oliver.
"After you..."
GULP
With a shared grimace, they swallowed the thick, orange liquid, first Robert, and then Oliver.
"Ugh, tastes like mud from a meteor!" Oliver's face was twisted in absolute disgust.
"Gag, I think I'm gonna throw up."
"No, don't... wait, do you feel that?"
Their eyes snapped wide in sudden alarm. There was a feeling... at first, it was subtle—only a faint pressure building deep inside. Then in an instant, it intensified into a violent, odd, and unbearable sensation, as though something immense and unseen was inflating their very organs, stretching their insides like balloons pumped full by the hand of a giant.
"Aarrggh!" they howled in unison, their cries catching the attention of the Roaring Blood Basterath Wolf. The beast, still lounging languidly in its blood pool, slowly turned it's white, vein-crossed eyes towards them. It didn't rise, didn't growl — just watched them with cold, wary interest.
The agonizing sensation held the two boys captive for twenty excruciating seconds, before, as abruptly as it had come, the sensation vanished.
Gasping for breath and drenched in sweat, Robert and Oliver collapsed to their knees, bodies hunched and trembling under the weight of what they had just endured. Gradually, as their chests heaved and their breathing steadied, they peeled their eyes open. Almost at the same time, they felt a refreshing, cooling wave begin to course through their bodies, easing their weary souls. In a matter of moments, renewed strength filled their limbs, and it kept surging in rapidly as they pushed themselves upright.
"How... do you feel?" Oliver asked Robert, his breath still ragged from exertion and a glint of anticipation in his eyes.
Robert's own eyes were gleaming with a fresh surge of excitement. The immense strength he was feeling at that moment was eerily intoxicating. "I feel... like I could devour an entire Basterath Wolf in one sitting!" he roared, and immediately followed up with a ridiculous, barbaric, war cry and hurled himself forward, charging towards the beast with reckless abandon. Oliver laughed softly and quickly closed the distance, matching Robert's pace.
They both could feel an extraordinary wave of energy coursing through every limb and muscle in their body with almost surreal strength—so intense, it felt as though they could hoist the entire planet without strain. Their magic energy storage chambers had just undergone a significant expansion by five full ranks. This meant that, currently, the duo were both as powerful as seventh-rank Common wizards and proportionally, could now use the seventh-rank Mystic power of their Ancestor souls... for less than an hour, of course.
Fueled by this boost of power and resolve, they stormed headlong towards the Blood Basterath Wolf—with Robert leading the charge and howling like a savage warrior.
Hearing the sound of their howls, Zack stirred from within the battered shell of his battle machine. He pulled off his helmet and leaned towards the jagged hole torn through the chest platings—damage had crept so dangerously close to the control chamber. Squinting through the wreckage, he caught sight of Robert and Oliver charging confidently towards the Blood Wolf. He scowled in disbelief, a puzzled smirk tugging at his lips. Something about them had changed; they seemed fearless, more energetic...
Then something caught his attention—their auras. It was different than before, more pronounced, more fierce, with an intensity and vitality he'd never perceived from them.
Zack immediately secured the helmet back on. "Initiate the aura analysis runic-code on those two," he ordered the machine. He was well aware that, from where he was, it was impossible for him to get a precise perception of their auras, using the usual complex mix of mental imagery and the subtle tingling sensation at the tips of body hairs triggered by aura detection. As an ordinary person, Zack lacked the inherent magical sensitivity of a wizard. However, he had spent a lot of time in a magic school—surrounded constantly by wizards, and spells, long enough to develop some passive skills, such as the ability to sense magical aura, roughly guage a wizard's strength, and even identify and estimate the power and level of magic beasts based on their physical characteristics, aura, as well as the frequency of the magic waves they emitted.
Now, his eyes were fixed on the charging forms of Robert and Oliver being displayed on the visor. The sight was nothing short of remarkable—every step they took toward the monstrous creature radiated utter conviction, without a trace of hesitation or fear, and with a confidence that could either win a fight or get someone killed. More than that, their auras were radiating with a new sharpness. Zack could sense it in the air—their presence had deepened, their auras had shifted, grown denser, and more defined.
He needed confirmation.
A notification appeared in a corner of the visor display. Zack's eyes scanned it immediately.
"Aura analysis complete. Both life forms are currently at Level 7, equivalent to seventh-rank Common Wizards under standardized wizarding metrics." As the text appeared, a synthetic voice echoed quietly through the control chamber—an audio assistant—programmed with an oddly gentle, almost childlike tone. The voice the delivered the information like a toddler reading a storybook.
Zack's eyes widened behind the visor. "Seventh rank?" He muttered in astonishment. "How's that even remotely possible? They were only at the peak of second-rank last time I checked!" He was still struggling to wrap his head around this sudden and drastic increase magical strength—an advancement that usually takes months—when Robert's lively and energetic voice crackled through the comms system, resounding in the control chamber.
"Hey, Zack! Think it's about time we made that thing regret ever crawling out of it's lair this morning!"