NOVEL WEB Chapter 50 Ruben's Ordeal
As soon as Alaric charged toward the enemy lines, Ruben sprang into action. He knew that his first priority was survival.
A shimmering shield materialized around him—a complex barrier designed not only to block physical force but to repel elemental attacks as well.
The shield completed just as a wave of lightning crashed toward him.
CRAAAACK!
The surge tore into the barrier, cracks spidering across its surface. Ruben hurriedly began constructing a second shield, knowing the first wouldn't hold.
SHATTER!
The shield disintegrated in an instant, but he was ready. A second, stronger shield flared to life just as the next wave of lightning bore down upon him.
BOOM!
This time, the barrier held, though faint cracks formed along its edges. Ruben exhaled in relief. It was stable enough to withstand further assaults for now. But defense alone wouldn't win the battle.
With Alaric engaging the enemy mage, this was his best chance to strike.
He had to act swiftly.
Pulling mana threads from his core, Ruben began constructing a powerful spell: Rain of Flames, designed to engulf a wide area with countless bursts of fire.
He calculated the parameters, defining the spell's range as he meticulously shaped the circle.
Then, something changed.
Lines he hadn't drawn appeared within the spell circle.
Ruben froze. He couldn't immediately discern the impact these foreign lines would have, but he knew this: spellwork was a delicate art.
Even a minor deviation could drastically alter the outcome.
A few misplaced lines could transform his intended spell into something entirely different.
'This doesn't make sense,' he thought, bewildered.
For another mage to tamper with a spell mid-construction from such a distance—it was unheard of.
Yet, here it was, happening before his eyes.
Ruben quickly erased the foreign lines, but new ones appeared the moment he did. He tried again, only to see even more lines materialize in response.
His frustration mounted.
Constructing a spell circle was a process governed by mana perception rather than sight. Identifying and removing intrusions in this abstract plane was no simple task. Now, mana threads were proliferating at an overwhelming rate.
If he attempted to imbue this chaotic structure with intent, the result would be disastrous. Best-case scenario: the spell fizzled out.
Worst-case scenario: the entire area could be reduced to a sea of flames.
He couldn't risk it.
The spell had to be dismantled.
Gritting his teeth, Ruben resolved to start over. He glanced toward Alaric , who was struggling forward against the enemy mage.
His gaze shifted to the mage himself—now fully revealed. The figure stood atop a van, clad in black with a mask obscuring most of his face.
Yet something about his presence was inescapably commanding.
'How... how is this even possible?' Ruben wondered.
Manipulating another mage's spell from a distance while simultaneously holding off a powerhouse like Alaric —it defied reason.
Determined to regain control, Ruben erased the entire circle, including the enigmatic lines. He needed a new plan. Complex magic was vulnerable to interference, so he opted for simplicity: a direct conjuration of flame at the enemy mage's location.
He rapidly constructed the new circle, ensuring every line was precise and essential.
This time, if any outside interference occurred, he would immediately erase the extras without hesitation.
Yet the interference didn't come.
Instead, a chilling realization crept over him.
The lines he had drawn were subtly... different.
The positions were altered, their angles and lengths slightly warped, as if someone had reshaped his work from within.
'What?! Is this even possible?!'
The enemy mage hadn't added new lines.
He had modified Ruben's own mana threads, seamlessly merging his influence with Ruben's magic.
Before Ruben could process the full implications, a deafening explosion shook the battlefield.
BOOM! BOOM!
His eyes snapped to Alaric , who was sent flying through the air by a series of devastating shockwaves. Alaric crashed violently into the ground, his body battered and unmoving.
Panic surged within Ruben, but he forced himself to remain composed. He couldn't afford rash decisions—not with the integrity of his magic compromised.
But the spell circle betrayed him.
Without any input from Ruben, the circle activated.
'What?! Did he imbue intent into my spell too? This is insane!'
The spell erupted beneath Ruben's feet.
FOOOOSH!
Flames surged around him, encasing his body in a blazing inferno.
"Aaaaagh!" Ruben screamed in agony as the fire consumed him. His natural resistance to flame prevented catastrophic injury, but the pain was excruciating.
He wasn't strong enough to endure it without faltering.
The fire sputtered out after a few moments—short-lived due to the simplicity of the spell. Shaking, Ruben formed a series of hand seals to assist in recalculating his next move.
His hands trembled uncontrollably as he worked, sweat streaming down his face.
Mana surged through his core as he cast a spell to drain the heat from his body.
Shhhhhhh...
A cooling wave spread through him, alleviating the worst of his discomfort.
It wasn't enough to fully heal him, but it gave him a moment of reprieve.
'This... This is no ordinary battle.'
His opponent wasn't just a mage—he was a force unlike any Ruben had encountered.
For the first time in his life, Ruben felt the creeping shadow of fear in the depths of his mind.
But fear wouldn't save him. He clenched his teeth, readying himself for the next exchange. The battle was far from over.
With his pain subsiding, Ruben drew mana from his core once more. Though not highly skilled in healing magic, he could at least manage a simple restorative spell. As he completed the formation of the spell circle, an eerie emptiness engulfed him.
"Ugh!" he gasped, clutching his chest. It felt as though his core had vanished, as if his mana had been scattered to the winds. His eyes widened in shock.
'When... when did this happen?!'
His vision wavered, and suddenly, the enemy mage was standing before him—silent, concealed until now. Ruben felt a strange sensation as something pierced into various points across his body. There was no pain, but that almost made it worse.
His mana was draining rapidly, drying up like water under a scorching sun.
With a weak groan, Ruben collapsed to his knees.
Gin stepped back, his work complete.
The confrontation had ended, and despite the number of ability users each side had deployed, the battle had concluded surprisingly quickly.
Gin had wiped out most of the opposition by himself, capturing both Ruben and the formidable warrior Alaric.
Merentil Pharmaceuticals' forces were either captured or dead.
Though many had perished, no one seemed particularly concerned about the losses.
Brayan leaned against a nearby vehicle, his gaze shifting between the subdued Alaric and Ruben.