Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

When the flow of time returned to normal, Bryant had reached the first bas.e.m.e.nt .

There was a tearing sound . It came from the divine time seal in his hand . In an instant, it crumbled into a pile of ash which scattered into the air .

He was taken aback . "How is this possible? Only a tenth of a second has pa.s.sed!"

His targets had resisted the seal's effect . This was to be expected . But he had hoped that the seal's effect would last for at least eight-tenths of a second . Though its duration was not as long as he would have liked, Merna had already planned out his route for him . Eight-tenths of a second was enough time for Bryant to enter the place, rescue Katyusha and immediately teleport out of there .

Only one-tenth of a second had pa.s.sed . As soon as the thought flashed across his mind, he felt an intense magic reverberation surrounding him . A magical barrier was taking shape around him .

He turned around and saw that magical runes had appeared on the walls around him . Level-11 magical barriers surfaced one after another, completely trapping him within and preventing him from destroying the Mage Tower .

A chill ran down Bryant's spine as he saw the barriers forming one after another .

He had thought about destroying the Mage Tower as his last resort . But there was no chance of that happening with this thing around him . The magical barriers were all Level-11 . Though he could still bring the whole place down, he would need time, which was not what he had plenty of at the moment . As soon as Link reached him, he would be done for .

He knew that right now, his only option was to flee . He could not afford to waste another second, or else he would definitely be killed in this Mage Tower . He was the one who had cast the Blazing Sun spell in the outskirts of Scorched City . There was no way he would be able to hide his tracks from his enemy . Knowing Link, if given the chance, he would certainly execute Bryant on the spot .

He needed to escape from this place immediately!

Turning around, he saw a tiny shape running out of the entrance to the Mage Tower's second bas.e.m.e.nt . A shrill voice cried out, "Wait for me, take me with you!"

It was Merna . She had realized something had gone wrong . If they did not flee now, they would both be dead . She did not really know the Naga anyway, and she had no intention of throwing away her life for a complete stranger . Now that their plan had failed, Merna's first reaction was to flee as well .

She also knew that she would not be able to get out of there alive on her own . She was up against four Legendary masters of Ferde and the Mage Tower itself . She needed Bryant's help in this .

Bryant glanced at her, then at the enclosing magical barriers around him . Without any hesitation, he turned around and began to run .

It was every High Elf for himself . It would be a miracle if he managed to escape from the Mage Tower with his body still intact . He could not care any less about a puny little demon like Merna .

His body dissolved into a faint green light . Like lightning, he was able to pa.s.s through a crack under the magic door that was materializing in its door frame and reach the great hall on the first floor .

Layers of magical barriers were taking shape in the great hall . They were all Level-11 . The scale of magic being used here was huge . At that moment, two layers of barriers had already materialized in the hall .

There were even more magical barriers forming near the Mage Tower's great door . His opponent apparently had no intention of letting him leave the place . But thanks to his lightning reaction time, Bryant had chosen to retreat as soon as things went awry . At that moment, there were only two layers of magical barriers around the Mage Tower's great door . He could still break through them .

In his desperation, Nature Power boiled in his body as he raced through the air with lightning speed . He had also channeled his magical energy within his wand . A silver leaf shot out, clearing a path in front of him .

The silver leaf then broke through the barriers . It immediately lost all its momentum and returned to Bryant's wand . Taking the opportunity, Bryant burst through the great door .

Once outside the tower, Bryant's magical energy again rushed into his wand . There were three leaves on it . At that moment, a blinding light shone out from them in unison . One of the leaves expanded into an emerald s.h.i.+eld . The other two danced around him, ready to intercept any incoming attack from any direction .

When he finished casting his spell, there was a sudden palpitation Bryant's heart . The Mage Tower has locked onto me . It's even able to affect time . d.a.m.n it, its attack is above Level-15 . There's no way I can block it!

He turned around swiftly and began doing an erratic dance in the air, trying to dodge the incoming attack .

However, just as he began moving, a streak of dazzling light shot down from the sky . It hit squarely against the emerald s.h.i.+eld that was spinning around him .

However, just as he began moving, a streak of dazzling light shot down from the sky . It hit squarely against the emerald s.h.i.+eld that was spinning around him .

The emerald s.h.i.+eld's magic was Level-12 . Bryant was unharmed, but he could feel the impact of the attack .

While he was still shaken by the impact, the Mage Tower launched a second attack . It was the same unblockable laser as before . He was still slightly dazed . There was no way he could dodge the attack in time .

Is this the end? No, I still have a chance! Subst.i.tution spell!

In an instant, one of the leaves flew forward with blinding speed . In mid-air, the air dissolved into a faint green mist, out of which appeared Bryant . The green mist he had left behind solidified into another leaf with the same shape as the one before .

The newly formed leaf was shot down by the laser . The World Tree's leaf was Level-17, but it was disintegrated immediately by the Mage Tower's attack .

Bryant did not have time to look at what happened behind him . He had just cast a Subst.i.tution spell to propel himself 1000 feet forward . He was now outside Scorched ridge, flying in the air above the outer city .

Just as he was about to let out a sigh, there was the same palpitation in his heart again . The Mage Tower was still targeting him . It seemed as if there was no end to its attacks .

Thank G.o.d I've put some distance behind me . I can still dodge its attack . Bryant was about to dodge to the side . But before he could even move, another laser shot down from the sky . This time, the attack blocked off his trajectory .

Bryant was stunned for a moment . Under such circ.u.mstances, his reaction speed was slowed down . Before he could even react, there was a tearing sound in the air . A transparent laser had pierced through his green light form .

Before the laser's energy exploded within Bryant's body, a searing pain bore through his head . Bryant immediately reacted to this by activating his wand's special effect .

Death Subst.i.tute!

Death Subst.i.tute

The World Tree's divine spell

The World Tree's divine spell

Description: After activation, the World Tree wand will absorb all the damage its user has sustained and die in his or her place .

(Note: Try not to get yourself killed, as you can only use this once . )

When Bryant activated the spell, the World Tree wand in his hand began to splinter . Before long, it was completely shattered into pieces .

The wand had been by Bryant's side for 300 hundred years, and now, it was shattered beyond repair . Still, there was no time for him to mourn as the danger had not yet pa.s.sed .

Without the World Tree wand's protection, he had lost his ability to disturb the flow of time . On the other hand, Link's Mage Tower seemed capable of freezing time itself, and Celine never missed her mark with that magic rifle of hers . At that moment, Bryant had no chance of dodging either one of their attacks . He would be dead for sure when the next wave of attacks reached him .

Bryant felt a growing dread in him as he realized that he was doomed . He returned to his physical form and amplified his voice magically as he shouted at the Mage Tower behind him, "I surrender! I surrender! Don't kill me!"

He was floating motionlessly in the air .

Surrendering himself was his only way out of this alive .

Celine was about to take her next shot at him but soon stopped as she saw Bryant giving himself up . At the magic core area, Link was also stunned . The Mage Tower's offensive magic formation was already charged up and poised to fire another shot at Bryant .

Around Link, Eliard and the three High Elves looked at Bryant . None of them said a word as they waited for Link to make a decision .

Fearing that Link had no intention of sparing his life, Bryant shouted again, "I know all of the High Elves' secrets, including the World Tree . I knew the High Elf Queen herself, as well as all of the core members of the Royal High Elf family . If you promise to spare me, I'll tell you everything you need to know . I'll even defect to Ferde and devote all my talents to you . "

Bryant had said all this in earnest . His voice amplification spell was one-directional . Only Link and the rest of the core Magicians heard what he said, while everyone else in the city could not hear him . This way, he would not spark outrage among the people of Ferde, and Link would not have Bryant answer for the resulting chaos in the city .

One's crime usually tended to fade away from people's memory if hidden away from scrutiny for a long enough time .

Hearing this, Evelina said, "My lord, we should subdue him immediately . He's more useful to us alive . "

One's crime usually tended to fade away from people's memory if hidden away from scrutiny for a long enough time .

Hearing this, Evelina said, "My lord, we should subdue him immediately . He's more useful to us alive . "

Eliard knew that the Blazing Sun spell that exploded in the south of the city was Bryant's doing . Seeing him surrendering himself in order to live a little bit longer, Eliard's contempt for Bryant intensified even more . But from a logical point of view, it was indeed better to keep Bryant alive . Eliard did not say a word, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Evelina .

Though the other two High Elves were Legendary masters, they were not exactly core Magicians of the Mage Tower . As such, they were not in any position to voice their opinions . Milose's mouth twitched as if he wanted to say something, but Elovan pulled his arm back, stopping Milose immediately .

Link thought about this for half a minute . Then, he said to Celine, "Shoot him down from the sky . Nullify his powers, but don't kill him . "

Though Bryant's life was spared, his actions could not be pardoned so easily . The High Elf's extensive knowledge of the Isle of Dawn was the only thing Link needed from him . His powers, on the other hand, was of no use to Ferde . It might even bring more harm than good, and so there was no need for him to keep them . He might even decide to turn on Ferde again in the future .

Celine knew what Link had in mind . Without any hesitation, she fired her rifle .

Bang! A streak of light raced out across the sky and tore through Bryant's legs .

There was another bang . Another streak of light took out one of Bryant's arms . Bryant could not keep himself afloat in the air any longer after taking those two hits . Like a bird whose wings had been injured, he began to fall from the sky

A third streak of light arched across the sky and hit Bryant's other arm, slowing his descent through the air .

A moment later, there was a dull thud . Bryant had landed on the road, breaking G.o.d knew how many bones in his body . Due to the last bullet that slowed his fall, he managed to survive the impact .

Bryant lay on the ground, pain paralyzing his arms and legs . Due to his indomitable spirit, he was still conscious enough to feel the indescribable pain gripping his body after his fall .

He sighed . Who would have thought this glorious life I have led until now would all come cras.h.i.+ng down?