Free Web NovelChapter 19: Investment 19 — Even Roses Possess Thorns
The sound of Vena’s feet scrambling upon Edith’s dead body’s face echoed throughout the arena. There was no other sound being made. Vena didn’t care to check if the others were too shocked to cry out for their friend.
"Holy shit! She’s dead!" Renshi raved, clutching his hair in a dramatic manner. He looked towards his side and Taumus wasn’t even showing any sign of sorrow.
"Your friend just di—"
Taumus pointed a finger upwards before he could finish.
"Huh?! What are you pointi—" At the sight of Edith sitting unharmed at the top layer of the arena, he scrambled to his feet and ran to the back of Taumus, gripping him tightly on the shoulder.
"Gho—Gho—Ghost!" He shouted, fidgeting with chattering teeth.
His voice caught the attention of Vena for a moment as she stopped scrambling her feet on Edith’s dead body’s face.
"Ahahaha, don’t tell me you have finally lost it," she grinned. "Don’t worry, you will join her soon enough," she continued to fret in ignorance, not paying attention to her surroundings due to overconfidence.
"Hahhhh!" Edith’s incredibly long yawn echoed through the arena. "Is that the best you could muster?" A wide grin tore across her face. "I agree it was a profound strike. I will rate it three stars at best, still very much boring." She blew dust off her nails.
Vena turned her head backwards mechanically. A devastating look of shock encroached all over her face. "This has to be some kind of silly joke." She clenched her teeth.
Edith’s supposed dead body dissolved and turned into a pile of flowers and grass.
"What is going on?" Renshi asked.
"I know you were too blind to see," Taumus hit him with hurtful words before proceeding to answer his question.
"Well, my dear blind colleague. That was an advanced substitution spell. As simple as it may seem, it depletes mana very quickly." Taumus made a hand gesture signalling Renshi to leave his back. "Also stop holding me so tightly."
Earlier, when Vena had just streaked halfway towards Edith, she made a replica of herself from plants and then teleported to the back of the arena before Vena’s attack hit.
’Substitution then teleportation. Using spells that deplete mana very quickly one after the other and with intense precision. Just superb.’ Elliot praised her for her precise use of spells. Something even so-called high mages find hard to pull off.
"I killed you once," Vena leaped into the air, "I’ll do it again." Purple lightning sprayed across her body and she dove headfirst towards Edith.
She appeared in front of Edith in a blur, palm wide across her face. Just as Vena was about to crush Edith’s skull, an abrupt force held her back. Vines that had emerged from spell circles around them wrapped around Vena’s hands and feet, suspending her midair.
She tried to move her body but she simply couldn’t. The vines restrained her flawlessly. She could barely move a muscle.
Edith slapped a palm on her forehead, spacing her fingers evenly so that her dark green pupils were made visible. A wide grin tore across her face.
"10th tier spell: Straps of Ediku."
This was one of Edith’s strongest spells that restrained her opponents without fail.
"Don’t think a mere 10th tier binding spell would be able to restrain me!" Vena spiraled out of control, twisting her hands and legs amidst the vines, such that blood started to pour from the wounds she caused on her body. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
"I don’t think shouting like a mad dog will change your situation, Vena-chan," Edith muttered.
"Edith don’t forget we need her alive," Elliot stepped out of Seria’s ice wall and shouted.
"Okay, okay. This is no fun at all." She rolled her eyes.
Purple mana burst from Vena’s body, illuminating the whole area with its radiant glow. The vines around her were completely disintegrated.
"Take her alive? How about I take you all down with me this instant!" She thrust herself upwards into the clouds.
The clouds turned dark and thunderous sounds began to rumble. It looked as if a heavy storm was about to descend. An orb of lightning formed in the middle of the sky with Vena at its center. With every passing second it grew bigger.
"13th tier spell—" She continued to charge up her spell.
"Did she just say 13th tier?" Renshi fell flat on his butt. Well, he couldn’t be blamed.
Spells from tier 13 upwards all had the capacity of affecting their immediate environment. And it’s not something that was casually used. Even prodigies would face complete exhaustion after usage.
"Seria, would you be able to freeze that?" Elliot turned towards her.
She didn’t reply immediately. The next instant she slapped a palm on her forehead.
"Elliot-chan. You underestimate the capabilities of Edith," she muttered.
"Yes, Mr. Knight in shining armour-kun. I suggest you sit back and watch your mind get blown away," Deria stated very loudly.
’Aren’t they a bit overconfident? Oh well, it’s not like there was much about her in the novel.’ Due to unforeseen changes like the appearance of the mystery lady, events that were not supposed to happen were currently occurring in the empty time frame before the expedition started.
’A lot of things have changed already because of this impersonator. The Black Ring weren’t supposed to show themselves this early and the framing of Seria was supposed to happen much later. Whoever this mystery lady is, I need to find her.’
Elliot mused. His eyes drifted upwards to the continuously enlarging sphere of lightning in the sky. ’And Vena appearing now is my most pressing concern. What is a Dark Emissary disciple doing here in the academy now?’ More disturbing questions erupted in Elliot’s mind.
"Elliot-chan. Did you hear me?" Seria’s voice brought him to.
"Yes of course, dear," he replied.
"Dear?" she beamed with excitement.
"My, my. I never thought I would see one of the Four Seasons in action today," Taumus let out a pleased chuckle.
"How can he be smiling in this situation?" Renshi grunted.
"Wait a minute. Did he just say she was one of the Four Seasons?" His gaze swept across the arena towards Edith. "You mean one of those monsters are here?" he mused in deep shock.
Edith maintained her composure. She barely felt any tension whatsoever.
"Since this is your last spell I guess I will muster a fraction of my strength." She stood as a burst of mana erupted from her body. The green mana that enshrouded her extended up to the sky.
