23 Questioning (1/2)

He was a powerful 9th Rank Mage, so how could he not know the casting time of these spells?

That Rotten Swamp was already very abnormal. A mere 5 seconds to materialize this 3rd Rank spell, even as a 9th Rank Mage he couldn't do something like this. Not to mention that the following Icicle spell had been cast without any incantation at all. This was definitely Instant Cast or Quickened metamagic.

It was only metamagic, and for Mages that had reached the 5th Rank, who didn't have one or two metamagics? But it was just that they normally couldn't be used casually. Using metamagic with a spell greatly increased the amount of mana consumed, and an ordinary mage couldn't support the cost, so they simply wouldn't be used except at critical moments.

Someone like Mafa Merlin who had used two metamagics so quickly was definitely an inexperienced newbie in the eyes of the 9th Rank Mage. If one used his trump card first and expended all their mana, what could they use to turn the situation around?

Of course, he wasn't going to warn this youngster about his bad habit.

He would just let this youth learn that the consequences of angering a 9th Rank Mage were too much for just anyone to handle.

He began chanting his incantation.

He didn't use any metamagic, and he didn't even further tax his mana whirlpool to hasten the casting speed. He wanted to knock this fellow down a few pegs with a display of strength, making him understand why the magic world was so hierarchical. Just one rank of difference would be a huge factor. It wasn't something that could be bridged with just two metamagics.

The 9th Rank Mage was chanting the incantation for the Thunderstorm spell. It would take twenty seconds and a large amount of mana, making Thunderstorm one of the most powerful spells below the Great Mage realm.

As the 9th Rank Mage chanted, the originally clear sky became covered with black clouds. Lightning started surging amidst the clouds and gathering together, the fierce, fluctuating electricity letting out screeching and crackling sounds.

Thunderstorm's power was that frightening. Even if that spell had yet to be completed, just the scene of it materializing was enough to make people feel numb.

But it all seemed to have no effect on Lin Yun.

Lin Yun was still standing at the side of the Rotten Swamp with a relaxed expression, as if he hadn't noticed the sky being covered in black clouds. He raised his hands and another Icicle flew out, just like before, no incantation, no gesture, and another Archer was nailed to a tree.

'How could he still have mana?' The 9th Rank Mage couldn't help frowning as he continued with his spell.

'Seems like I must hurry…'

The 9th Rank Mage silently urged his mana whirlpool to speed up the completion of the spell.

But as he did so, that young Mage cast another Icicle.

Yet another Archer was pinned to a tree. This was already the third one.

At that time, the 9th Rank Mage was a little regretful. If he had known earlier that this young mage had enough mana to support four uses of his metamagic, he wouldn't have cast his Thunderstorm normally. That way, he could have at least saved the third Archer from his fate.

'No good, have to be faster!'

But Lin Yun was faster than him...

Another Icicle followed...

Followed by one more, and another one, and another one...

The 9th Rank Mage's Thunderstorm was still not ready when a rain of Icicle spells pinned a dozen archers to trees or just the ground. Once they were all immobilized, Lin Yun also cast a Frost spell, and just like when he handled Fario, he froze all the Warriors in the Rotten Swamp.

”...”

He had finished preparing the mighty Thunderstorm, but the 9th Rank Mage was staring at the scene foolishly, a blank expression on his face. Shock could be seen in his eyes, as he stood there in a daze, feeling alarm and dread as he looked at that young mage...

That young Mage let out about a dozen Instant Cast Icicles, incapacitating all those Archers.

What kind of concept was that...

The 9th Rank Mage had considered himself quite powerful, and could even cast a Thunderstorm in just 20 seconds... but Instant Casting a dozen Icicles during that time, he didn't even dare to think about it. This was already something beyond what a Mage could do, whether it was the use of metamagic or normal casting, it was impossible.

The 9th Rank Mage even felt that it was impossible for most Great Mages. Perhaps only those who had advanced to that realm for a long time, or those peak existences preparing to break through to the High Mage realm could Instant Cast a dozen Icicles in 20 seconds.

But now, there was a young, 20-year-old mage that had managed to do so in front of him.

He could feel that he had chosen to fight a battle that he never should have.

For a mage with such powerful abilities, it would be really simple for him to kill a 9th Rank Mage. And let alone himself, the entire Viper Nest might not even be worth his time.

'What should I do…'