章節 250: Chapter 249 "Demon Piercing Arrow""

After dispatching the enhanced Blast-Ended Skrewt, Skyler rounded a corner and abruptly halted. Sensing the absence of the 25 magical voles that had been ahead, he sneered and pressed on.

However, his advance was interrupted by the slow sliding of the hedge on the left, revealing a gap. From the darkness emerged three soldiers clad in rusty armor.

The foremost pair brandished long swords and towering shields, while the third held a colossal crossbow adorned with ominous, gleaming arrows.

Conjuring animate armor with a revitalizing spell was undoubtedly the handiwork of Professor McGonagall. Yet, a disquieting feeling gnawed at Skyler. While the shield-bearing warriors were expected, the presence of the crossbow-wielding soldier unsettled him deeply.

The sight of the giant crossbow hinted at something more sinister than ordinary arrows, something capable of threatening his very existence.

Trusting his instincts implicitly, Skyler bypassed the usual step of casting the Shield Charm. He sensed that this sharp arrow would likely breach its defenses. Instead, he swiftly invoked a transformation spell, morphing a silver shield before him.

Adorned with an Ouroboros and intricate symbols, the shield began to rotate, drawing up pebbles and sand from the ground, which clung to its surface.

While uncertain why the black arrow evoked such trepidation, Skyler's defense encompassed both magical and physical fortifications. He remained vigilant, his gaze unwavering on the crossbow held by the third armored figure.

With cautious steps, he edged backward, his wand poised between the gap in the towering shields, ready to counter any threat.

With each step Skyler took backward, the trio of armored warriors mirrored his movements with eerie precision, maintaining a calculated distance as though possessing a degree of intelligence, biding their time instead of launching a hasty attack.

They seemed poised to exploit any vulnerability Skyler might reveal.

Time seemed to favor the armored trio. Skyler still had to navigate to the center of the field to vie for the championship, while Harry likely faced less daunting challenges, akin to a novice village mode curated by Moody.

If Harry could decipher a riddle from the Sphinx amidst the golden mist, he'd advance smoothly to the venue's heart.

Suddenly, a distinct click echoed in Skyler's ears. His foot had triggered something, and his expression morphed into one of stark alarm.

The ground beneath Skyler's feet transformed into a quagmire in an instant. Though his reflexes averted an immediate loss of balance, his body began to sink inexorably. Without intervention, the swamp threatened to engulf him entirely.

The swamp, notorious for quicksand-like entrapment that worsens with struggle, threatened to consume Skyler as he sank deeper.

Aware of the swamp's mechanics, he maintained composure, refraining from futile resistance. With his wand aimed at the quagmire, he began the incantation for "Reverse Transformation," intending to counteract the field-type magic.

However, a sharp twang pierced the air—the ominous precursor to the long black arrow's release.

As the arrow vanished from the crossbow's grasp, Skyler shifted focus from dispelling the swamp to defending against the impending projectile.

A slight opening emerged in the lower left corner of his protective silver shield, offering a narrow path for the incoming arrow.

Though the arrow hurtled forward at blinding speed, Skyler's anticipation proved pivotal—a lone gap remained.

"Waiting for you!" Skyler's icy retort echoed.

In a swift response, eight robust tentacles sprouted from his back, reminiscent of a spider's agile limbs. Anchored firmly on the solid ground beyond the swamp, the tentacles braced against the sinking terrain, halting Skyler's descent.

Simultaneously, the silver shield dispersed into shimmering starlight, vanishing from view.

Within a foot of Skyler, the space twinkled with specks of starlight, resembling a swarm of fireflies dancing around him. This spectacle, viewed from afar, painted a magnificent and enchanting scene.

With a subtle movement of his right index finger, Skyler gestured toward the void ahead. Waves of distortion rippled outward from the tip of his finger, creating a mesmerizing display.

This was the essence of space magic—the manipulation of celestial bodies!

Due to him mastering the Dimensional Shift, Skyler could now easily transfigure any of his body parts and let them cast whatever kind of magic he wanted to.

No matter the swiftness of his adversary, once they entered his distorted space, Skyler wielded absolute control, akin to a deity.

In an instant, a resounding clang reverberated as the crossbow-wielding warrior was forcefully propelled backward, soaring into the air before crashing violently to the ground.

The armor shattered upon impact, its steel components strewn across the earth. Amidst the wreckage, the breastplate remained intact, albeit marred by cracks, with a long black arrow embedded at its center.

Through the mastery of space magic, Skyler had reversed the trajectory of the long black arrow, circumventing the shield-wielding warrior's defense and directing it straight toward the crossbow-bearing adversary.

Skyler, with his godlike surveillance, had all directions under his vigilant watch. How could he possibly succumb to such a rudimentary trap as the quagmire transformation technique?

His intention was to lure the armored warriors into attacking first by creating a vulnerability. After all, the looming threat of the long arrow left him no choice. It may require further elaboration here.

Arrows unleashed from their bowstrings often lack the same deterrent effect as those held in readiness, as anyone targeted by a life-threatening weapon is compelled to focus on defending themselves.

This renders the assailant vulnerable, inhibiting their true prowess. Skyler needed to neutralize the most significant threat—the crossbow—before additional adversaries and monsters emerged.

With the destruction of the crossbow-bearing warrior, the primary menace had been vanquished. Skyler retracted the tentacles sprouting from his back and gracefully leaped, conjuring a gentle whirlwind beneath his feet to cushion his landing.

Simultaneously, the two remaining armored warriors discarded their shields, unsheathed their swords, and charged toward Skyler with determined strides.

In silence, Skyler cast a spell, conjuring water from the ground.

The tip of Skyler's wand emitted a stream of liquid, forming a foamy substance that coated the grass, rendering it slippery. One of the armored adversaries lost their footing, causing a collision between the two and resulting in a resounding clatter as they crashed to the ground.

Swiftly, Skyler gestured with his wand, causing the earth beneath the armor to upheave, generating a massive wave of mud that pulverized the two suits of armor into fragments.

Observing the outcome with an impassive gaze, Skyler harbored no sense of triumph. Even the most valiant warrior stands no chance against a wizard without the ability to engage from a distance.

Lacking the cognitive faculties of humans, the armored adversaries relied solely on instinct. While their armor provided resilience against magical assaults, they failed to anticipate environmental manipulation as a tactic for victory.

Uninterested in the damaged armors strewn about, Skyler made his way to the remains of the crossbow-bearing adversary, retrieving the long black arrow with intrigue.

Crafted with ancient finesse, the arrow exhibited materials unfamiliar to contemporary metallurgy.

The arrow possessed an enigmatic quality, appearing completely black and transparent while emanating an icy chill upon contact—a stark contrast to its appearance resembling a popsicle.

Despite its frigid exterior, Skyler discerned traces of goblin metal forging techniques upon closer inspection. It likely comprised the secretive metal of goblins or ancient skills lost to time.

Several thin, archaic characters adorned the arrow's surface, prompting Skyler to devote several minutes to deciphering their meaning. Eventually, comprehension dawned upon him—

"The arrow to pierce the demon."

Evidently, this weapon was crafted specifically for countering wizards.

A look of epiphany crossed Skyler's features. This arrow likely served as a goblin-made tool designed to combat wizards, its alchemical properties capable of circumventing various magical defenses, including the formidable Shield Charm.

Throughout history, goblins, devoid of wands, had instigated numerous rebellions against wizards, leveraging such weaponry. For reasons unknown, this particular arrow had found its way into the possession of a wizard.

Due to its reliance on the unique metal forging techniques of the elfin race, wizards lacked the capability to replicate or manufacture such weaponry.

In essence, each use of this arrow marks its irreplaceable loss, making it a coveted possession typically only attainable by pure-blood families occupying the upper echelons of power.

Therefore...

Skyler likely harbored suspicions regarding the identity of the individual aiming to confront him.

[Obtain the "Demon-Piercing Arrow"!]