The Mysterious Black Magician

Jura's friend, Kage, respawned at the back of the painting with a blank face, to where the magic circle was located. It was the respawn point for the dead participants.

However, instead of greeting him, the legendary welcoming squad had noticed something.

'Where are those people who fell to the ridge?!!!'

'Why didn't they respawn yet?!!!'

Everyone was baffled.

(Wait… Are… They… Still… Alive?)

!

Right at this moment, Crimson and the others came out of the ridge. At their backs were black wings.

(Wreeeng wreeeng wreeeng…)

Cinder and the others were tired of surprises already. Yet, this person pulled off another one again!

Right before their sorry-self crashed to the bottom, each of them felt a bite on their necks. Then a feeling of exhaustion invaded them like their mana was being sucked away.

They were about to resign to their horrible fate when out of a sudden, something grew from their backs.

Then it lifted them to the surface.

Puzzled, everyone peered around them. Then, each of them saw the others being held by a black figure with wings.

It was a Giant Winged-Ant!!!

No need to ask who was the one responsible for it. As only one person could pull such creatures out from his storage.

What puzzled them, 'is when did Crimson put these Enhance Fire Dolls to them?'

Only Cinder knew when. It was when Crimson tapped her shoulder. A small insect came crawling towards her at that time. And she also remembered that after he tapped her, he also tapped the others.

'Did he already guessed that this would happen?' Cinder widened her eyes. This person, for some reason she couldn't define him anymore. He was beyond reasons.

However, how did it grow so big?! It was supposed to be so tiny. What kind of ability does this kind of Enhance Fire Doll hold? Cinder was so curious. But right at this moment she was too exhausted.

Crimson and the others landed 20 meters away from the ridge edge.

(Hah… hah… hah…)

Everyone was breathing heavily. Then they heard an approaching noise.

(Tap tap tap tap tap...)

They glanced to where the steeping noise came from and they saw him walking slowly towards them.

Suddenly, the Black Winged-Ant flew and flocked above him.

"Are you guys okay?" He asked when he came near to them. 

"Aaaah—barely alive…" Ember was the one who answered while pushing his body into a sitting position.

They noticed Crimson forced a chuckle.

"Aaah! I thought I'm a goner," Aegor cried out with his back on the ground, and his arms were stretched wide in opposite directions, forming like 'T'.

He noticed everyone was barely moving. And each of them perspired so much. He glanced at the red-haired girl with wolf ears. She's no good as well.

Cinder twitched then forced her mouth, "T-Thanks f-for saving us again… Crimson…" she said in difficulty that sounds like a whisper.

"Don't sweat it," he replied with a grin.

Tiafel and Taflas said their thanks also.

"By the way, I excuse myself for a minute. For now, rest and try to regain your strength. We will go after those people when I return."

"....."

After saying it, he waved his hand and two of the Mouse-model Enhance Fire Dolls appeared.

He did not wait for their reply and walked a little farther. Seeing his back moving farther, Cinder frowned. She wanted to come but she couldn't lift her body.

The two Mouse-models stood closer, guarding them against any potential harm.

His figure disappeared from their sight when he walked quite a distance.

After he left them, <Partner, you are a wicked one. You intentionally instill those ants> Sistela whispered in his ears.

Being together with him for quite long. She could guess his motive. This whole event was conducted by him. Her partner could sense any bad intent towards him, thanks to the Demon of Possession's passive ability.

"It wasn't like I did it for myself… it's the only thing I could think of. To cure Yana."

For Yman, no matter what, he needed to cure his sister. So whatever comes to his mind that could help him, he won't hesitate to use any means.

<Hm, okay I allow you this time because it was for Sister Yana! Also, you didn't hurt them without a reason, right?>

"I only took a little bit of their mana."

<.....>

Sistela didn't know what to think of it. He said little, but everyone was dried out. They look as pale as a ghost.

Since he couldn't just ask them to give their mana to him. He let themselves fall into someone's scheme.

In this regard, he could collect their mana in the guise of saving them. With this, they have no way to complain and no way to say no.

<Such a wicked person indeed…> Sistela thought.

Yman walked about 200 steps towards the forest. Then he leaped to the big chunk of rocks in the middle of a swamp.

Sistela went silent when he activated his Black Magician mode.

Thump!  After two consecutive leaps, his feet landed on top.

He wondered how this giant chunk of rocks was here. Maybe it fell from the mountain nearby.

After climbing on top, he was overlooking the whole forest. It was enveloped by mist.

Without wasting time, he sat cross-legged. Then closed his eyes. He widened his perception to the full extent, surrounding him.

It reached 150 meters. Thanks to the recent battles, his Sense Attribute grew a lot and it affected his perception.

After closing his eyes, he connected his vision to the scout bird above which he sent to follow the group of Harou and Mus. At this moment, he saw them battling with undead and demons that were guarding the walls.

However, the shared vision didn't last long as the bird went 'poof!' When the mana on it was emptied.

He opened his right palm facing the sky while it was resting on its leg. Then one of the Black Winged-Ant landed on top of it.

This Black Winged-Ant was having an elastic Mana Coating. And it has a Mana-Sucking skill from his Modifying Skill ability. After it sucked a good amount of mana, its body would expand like it was evolving because of the elasticity of its skin.

When the Winged-Ant landed on top of his palm, a second later, (Woosh!) It turned into a sphere as big as a volleyball. It was covered with Black Miasma, and the inside was gleaming in greenish color.

"Fufu," Yman looked satisfied.

He lifted it in the air, but when he retreated his hand the sphere remained in the air. It was floating! Then it orbits around him in slow motion.