Chapter 15: The Facade

Just like how humans could learn and be blessed with Innate Skills, beasts or summons also have their own set of skills that they can use in a battle.

Depending on their grade, level, and the rewards given by the grimoire, a beast would possess more than one skill. Their effectiveness and prowess depend on their level as well. Most beasts or summons' skills were usually the same as their own level.

The Fiery Empress was a Level 1 Gold Grade Summon. She has a total of six skills, each of which was more terrifying than the last. Of course, the more powerful the skill was, the more energy the summon would also consume to cast or use it.

Being a Fire Elemental beast, Fiery Empress, Aaliyah's skills were always accompanied by an incinerating fire produced by her Innate Skill, [Incinerate].

[Innate Skill: Incinerate (Level 1)

Description/Effects: Naturally gifted to fire-attributed skills, you have mastered the hottest fire, Incinerate. Anything that comes into contact with a skill infused with Incinerate will be incinerated instantly.]

The [Fireball] that was as big as a basketball sped towards the unprepared Jonas' at extreme speed.

Upon sensing the oncoming threat, Jonas' expression turned dark as he immediately summoned his grimoire in an instant.

A bronze ball of shield materialized around him at the next moment as the blazing fireball came into contact with it.

When a grimoire user fights, they can choose to erect a shield around their body to protect it from harm while the summons duke it out to decide who will be the winner.

The shield's strength, duration, and defensive capability depend on the rank of the grimoire user.

It was said that even the weakest shield could even withstand an all-out attack from a Level 5 Beast.

Boom!

A resounding explosion soon ensued as the newly erected shield broke apart like fragile glass upon coming into contact with the blazing fireball.

Jonas' body was also blown away by the sudden explosion.

He did not expect that the shield he erected, which was also called the Grimoire Absolute Shield, would be shattered just like that by one attack. They were called absolute shields for a reason, after all. They were unbreakable if attacked by the same grade and level and would only disappear when the ten-minute limit was up.

Right at that moment, Jonas knew that he was facing an expert countless times stronger than him.

His body crashed into a wall as he coughed out a mouthful of blood.

He glared at where the blazing ball of fire came from. Nervousness was apparent on his face as he shouted in a hurry, "Please spare me if I have ever offended you, senior!"

At this moment, the thought of fighting back never crossed Jonas' mind. His heart was already in turmoil the moment the absolute shield was broken like fragile glass. The only thing on his mind right now were thoughts on how to stay alive.

He stood up from the ground as he saw a figure clad in a red, blazing dress emerge from the bushes. His bronze grimoire floated around him; however, the thought of summoning his creature to fight back never crossed his mind, as he knew that it would just be pointless.

At first glance, Jonas knew that she was just a summoned beast. His gaze hovered over her for a second before it shifted to the next person that emerged right next to her.

Jonas was also curious who this expert was who attacked him for no reason. As far as he knew, Marcel was the only Elite Rank in Peach Village. He, the other guardians, and the newly awakened kids were all at Apprentice Rank.

This was also the reason why he accepted the mission to return to this village eighteen years ago.

However, the moment Jonas' eyes landed on the person next to the red-robed summon, his eyes immediately widened in surprise and confusion.

"Y-you! How can it be you?"

Jonas' hands were trembling as he stared at Miguel with visible confusion in his eyes.

The fool Miguel, whom he had always beaten up to vent his frustration, had seemingly appeared in front of him with a powerful summon by his side.

"How can it not be me?" Miguel replied with a smirk on his face. He walked towards Jonas as the Fiery Empress floated by his side.

Hearing that Miguel had responded, Jonas was even more dumbfounded.

"Y-you! Don't come near me!" Jonas shouted in fear as he kept on retreating backwards. His legs were trembling hard in fear. The bronze grimoire was floating beside him, as though waiting for Jonas to use it.

The Jonas, who seemed strong and brave who always beat up Sara and Miguel was nowhere to be found.

It was now replaced by a coward. No, to be more precise, this should be his real personality, and the brave and strong part was just a facade to hide his true colors.

Strong and bully to the weak, but weak and limp when facing the strong.

The Gold Grade Fiery Empress that easily broke the shield became the greatest deterrent and demon in Jonas' mind.

Even Miguel himself could not believe what he was seeing right now.

He shook his head and thought, 'Since you are actually such a coward, the next thing should be easier now.'

Jonas was now backed into a corner. Miguel arrived and squatted right in front of him.

"Let's go straight to the point. If you want to live, answer my question truthfully; do you understand?" Miguel stated with a straight face.

Jonas gulped a mouthful of saliva mixed with blood as he nodded his head fearfully in front of Miguel and the Fiery Empress.

Miguel actually planned to torture Jonas if he was unwilling to answer his questions. However, it seems that there was no need for that now that he was being cooperative.

"First things first, why did you try to kill me with poison the other day?"

This was what puzzled Miguel the most, so he asked this question right away.

Jonas looked at the Fiery Empress, and upon seeing her play with a ball of fire on her two hands, he no longer hesitated as he hastily answered, "B-b-branch leader. I-i-it's b-because of the branch leader's daughter!"

"Huh!?"