Trap

The morning at Swan Lake always carried a poetic tranquility.

As the most famous dating spot in Servia, the scenery here truly lived up to its name.

The lake water was clear as a mirror, reflecting the azure sky and white clouds.

Pairs of white swans elegantly cut through the water, stirring up ripples and letting out soft calls.

Sunlight filtered through the dense branches of the locust trees along the shore, casting mottled shadows on the ground.

The weather was warm, neither dry nor hot.

The lake breeze was gentle, brushing against their cheeks with the fresh scent of grass.

Time seemed to slow down here.

Black stood by the lake, gazing into the distance. He had arrived a quarter of an hour before the appointed time.

There were far fewer visitors today than usual.

He figured it was because last night’s Sacred Rite ceremony had lasted until late, and most people were probably still deep in sleep.

Black’s gaze swept over the few couples strolling by the lake, finally settling on the largest locust tree.

That was the agreed meeting spot. It was currently empty. Kristine must still be on her way.

He walked towards the locust tree.

The shade it cast was large. The canopy spread out like a magnificent parasol, casting a cool shadow.

It was a perfect spot for a picnic, with an open view and shelter from the direct sunlight.

Black’s mood was unusually relaxed. He walked slowly.

However, the moment the sole of his shoe stepped onto the grass under the shade of the tree, the grass suddenly lit up with complex magical patterns.

A deep purple light erupted, forming a circular barrier ten meters in diameter!

The air hummed with magical power. Countless chains made of magical power shot up from the ground, winding around Black’s limbs like living things!

[You have entered a state of Flow.]

‘A trap!’

Black’s pupils suddenly constricted!

His body instinctively retreated backward rapidly.

However, even with the bonus from the Flow state, the activation speed of the magic array was far beyond his reaction time.

The chains had already wound around his wrists and ankles, and magical power infiltrated his body through the contact points.

Trying to numb his nerves.

“Demon-Cleaver!”

With a low shout, the golden longsword unsheathed at his command!

The sword light slashed out like a bolt of silk, severing several chains.

But more chains surged forward, one after another, endlessly.

At the same time, the light of the magic array flared again, and the gravity abruptly increased several times.

Black felt his body sink, and his movements slowed by half a beat.

A figure slowly emerged from the shadows behind the locust tree.

Count Alvin.

He wore a deep purple sorcerer’s robe, and held a staff inlaid with a dark blue gemstone.

The face that was usually so serious was expressionless, with only cold killing intent flowing in his eyes.

He gently tapped the ground with his staff, and more magical patterns emerged from the ground, intertwining with the previous containment array.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Black.”

Alvin’s voice was chillingly calm.

“Although this is only our second meeting, there is no need for many words between you and me.”

“You are an obstacle, so you must die.”

Black’s heart sank completely.

He had still underestimated his opponent’s ruthlessness.

The invitation was fake.

Kristine probably didn’t even know about this.

Everything was a killing trap aimed at him.

This magic array must have used some kind of method to conceal its aura. He hadn’t noticed it at all just now.

Black struggled to cut the continuously surging chains and said coldly.

“A dignified academy professor, a prestigious family of a hundred years. Is this what you truly are?”

“Hmph!”

Alvin’s face darkened.

“You will certainly die today.”

He raised his staff high. The dark blue gemstone burst forth with a dazzling light.

With a raise of his hand, magical power belonging to an Over-Tier expert poured out.

Hundreds of pale cyan wind blades condensed out of thin air. Each one was as thin as a cicada’s wing, sharp enough to cut through metal and jade.

They drew strange arcs in the air, assaulting Black, who was trapped in the center of the array, from all directions!

Black’s hands and feet were bound. He couldn’t avoid it.

He took a deep breath, and a golden light flashed in his eyes.

“Demon-Cleaver!”

The world suddenly slowed down in his eyes. The trajectory of the wind blades became clearly visible.

At this moment, the Demon-Cleaver erupted with a golden light, flew up on its own, and met the numerous wind blades!

“Ding ding ding ding ding!”

A dense rain of clashing sounds rang out. Most of the wind blades were shattered by the sword light, but a few still broke through the defense, leaving wounds of varying depths on his body.

Blood stained his clothes. Black gritted his teeth tightly.

This magic array trap restricted all his movements. He couldn’t move. He could only command the sword spirit of the Demon-Cleaver.

He had to break this magic array!

Otherwise, facing an Over-Tier sorcerer in this restricted environment, he would surely die.

“Rock Lance!”

Alvin watched with cold eyes, his staff waving again.

The ground shook violently. Several rune-inscribed rock lances shot out of the ground, thrusting upward!

“Moonshadow Enchantment!”

The Demon-Cleaver’s body was covered in a flowing shadow and moonlight.

If ordinary attacks couldn’t sever the magic on the chains, then he would fuse spiritual and magical power to sever them!

It proved that Black had made the right gamble.

The Demon-Cleaver slashed through. All the chains were severed, and their regeneration speed was greatly reduced.

Seizing this opportunity, Black pushed off the ground, leaping upward, avoiding the thrust of the rock lances.

But just then, a cold smile curved at the corner of Alvin’s mouth.

“Boom!”

A thick purple lightning bolt descended from the sky, precisely striking Black in mid-air!

In a flash, Black held the Demon-Cleaver horizontally above his head. The sword’s body flared with a brilliant golden light, and he took the lightning strike head-on.

The huge impact force slammed him back to the ground. He knelt on one knee, his throat sweet with blood, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

The chains bound him again.

The Demon-Cleaver in his hand let out an overwhelmed hum.

Stuck in a high-tier magic array trap and facing an Over-Tier sorcerer, this was the first time Black had been defeated so quickly.

“It’s over.”

Alvin slowly approached. The gemstone at the tip of his staff began to condense an astonishing magical fluctuation.

He raised his hand. The magical power compressed at his fingertip, finally turning into a purple thread as thin as hair.

“Extermination!”

The thread shot out silently. Wherever it passed, the air rippled slightly.

With the aid of the Flow state, Black gritted his teeth and dodged. But the gravity restriction and the magic chains of the array slowed his movement by a second.

His heart barely avoided the attack, but his left arm was too late.

The severing of his arm was almost certain.

But, just as the thread was about to touch his arm.

A golden light shield appeared in front of the thread without any warning!

The light shield was as thin as a cicada’s wing, with sacred runes flowing on its surface.

The thread collided with the light shield, making a screeching cutting sound. The light shield only held for less than three seconds before it shattered with a boom.

But those three seconds gave Black precious time to react.