The Legendary Mage (Alavin)
Chapter 201

More than a dozen bandits, covered in blood, were flung through the air, landing hard but managing to steady themselves. They looked around in shock and uncertainty at the strength. From a distance, another bandit yelled, "What's all the fuss about? Why does killing a few women make you produce such a racket?"

Out of the dust cloud, a portly little fellow sauntered forward with his hands clasped behind his back. Following him were over two hundred figures clad in black. Their short spears peeked over their shoulders, long swords were in their hand, and belts were coiled with daggers. Their faces were hidden behind masks, and their features were indiscernible, yet pairs of eyes gleamed cold and sharp as blades.

The first hundred drew their swords and advanced, while the second hundred unsheathed their spears, poised and ready. The air was thick with their fierce, wild aura, and the iron-blooded scent was intent. They moved slowly, and with such stability that their footsteps made no sound, yet the icy chill of their murderous intent was palpable.

"Who are you?" the dozen or so bandits stammered as they backed away, fear creeping into their hearts. That was impossible. Were these reinforcements? Who would come to the rescue of the Mallister family?

The bandits from around the manor charged towards the scene, utterly bewildered by the sight of this group.

"And who might you be?" The portly man's eyes were small but sharp as he scanned the bandits with a cold gaze.

"We're bandits."

"Coincidence, so are we," the portly man sneered with a chilling laugh.

"Liars," they thought. One of them spoke, "You don't look like any bandits we know. No matter who you are, you'd best not meddle in the affairs of Azure Mountain." "And what if I insist on meddling?"

"With just that rabble, you won't be able to Azure Mountain alive."

"Isn't it customary for bandits to settle their scores with blades instead of words? Come on, let's have a little practice," the portly man slowly lifted his right hand.

The two hundred black-clad figures halted. Their presence swelled with an intense surge of energy. Each one of them stirred up a wave of force. Their garments billowed, loose stones skittered across the ground, and their eyes narrowed with renewed killing intent.

Oda and the other women gathered nervously at the edge of the ruins, staring blankly at the scene unfolding before them, clueless as to what was happening. Who were these black-clothed people? Were they saviors or another band of villains?

"Helna?"

"Quiet!" Helna pulled her close, equally tense.

"Summon everyone!" one of the men shouted, and several bandits ran off immediately.

"Do you have more people?"

The man snorted coldly. "What kind of bandit group would we be with less than three to five hundred men?"

"Fortunately, I've got quite a few men myself." The portly fellow's raised right hand suddenly swept down. "Enough talk, slaughter them! Leave none alive!"

The line of warriors, dressed in black, leaped into the air, reaching an unbelievable hundred meters high. The sight was simply breathtaking - mesmerizing even. They flipped mid-air with the finesse of a lightning strike, their spears catching the light and flashing brilliantly. Then with a roaring battle cry, they launched their spears down upon the gathered bandits below.

"Watch out! Scatter!" the blood-soaked bandits yelled. The hundred or so behind them felt the impending power and scattered in alarm.

"Attack!!" The front hundred in black rushed forward, swords drawn, charging through the dust cloud and toward their targets just as the spears bombarded their ranks.

"You've messed with the wrong people," the bandits shouted, displaying their potent Combat Magic. A cold wave surged forward, flames soared to the sky, the earth split open, dazzling gold light transformed into skyward flying beasts, and storm-like blades whirled in a powerful onslaught. They were all protégés of the Cobalt Strike Guild, most at the Advanced Mage level, with even a few Master Mages among them. They had been caught unprepared and ambushed before, but this time, they were not to be trifled with.

Almost simultaneously, the black-clothed figures launched assaults at two other locations.

One was where the Mallister family's men were gathered. A hundred black-clothed figures were attacking fifty bandits.

Another group of bandits preparing to sow chaos was now being besieged by two hundred black figures.

By the time Lucan and his men arrived, the manor had become a chaotic battlefield. The bandits' counterattack was ferocious; over a hundred were fighting bitterly. Their mysterious Combat Magic created a spectacular and destructive sea that swept over a kilometer radius. The ground cracked, trees were uprooted, dust filled the air, and wild winds raged.