A streak of wind surged forward, barely noticeable yet filled with deadly intent.
On his smoke-driven chariot, Lotus's instincts screamed danger.
"If I get hit by that… I'll die!"
His body moved before his thoughts could catch up. The smoke chariot sped up, additional wheels materializing beneath it as he pushed his magic to its limits.
Just two seconds—no, even one second was enough to reach the exit. But fate had other plans.
"Mineral Creation Magic—Crystal Giant!"
Mars had regained consciousness, though barely aware of the unfolding situation. Summoning his crystal giant was a reflex born of desperation. The towering figure stood as an unyielding barrier.
But as the gentle stream of white wind touched it, the giant shattered as though it were made of fragile glass.
The force blasted through the crystal giant and surged onward, leaving only destruction in its wake.
Even as the group atop the magic ark watched the unfolding chaos, one thought unified their stunned expressions: the overwhelming power of Ethan Hayes's magic.
Escaping the Collapsing Magic Palace
The dungeon began to shake violently. Walls crumbled, and the ceiling cracked apart as debris fell.
"Is the palace collapsing?!" Vanessa yelled, dodging a falling rock.
Emerging from a hidden chamber, Asta sprinted toward the group, clutching a new black sword. "What's happening? Did someone hit the wrong spot?"
Klaus pointed toward the quaking ruins. "There's no time to explain! We have to get out now!"
Mimosa activated her plant-based tracking magic. "I found a path! Left at the next tunnel, then straight ahead. But the structure's unstable—it might collapse before we get there."
Ethan Hayes smirked. "Why bother with paths when we can make our own?"
Raising his hand, the winds around him stirred to life. "Spirit Magic—Wind Tunnel!"
A cyclone surged forth, carving a clear and stable passage through the collapsing palace. The group, sheltered within the eye of the storm, soared upward.
The winds shielded them from falling debris, and within moments, sunlight pierced through the swirling dust.
The group emerged into open air just as the magic palace crumbled entirely behind them, leaving nothing but a heap of rubble.
Everyone breathed heavily, the weight of survival sinking in.
"That was way too close!" Vanessa sighed, slumping to the ground.
"We owe you our lives, Ethan Hayes," Klaus admitted, his usual arrogance subdued by gratitude.
Meanwhile, Asta marveled at Ethan Hayes's control of wind magic. "That was amazing! You made a whole path out of wind!"
But no one was more affected than Yuno.
He clenched his fists as he stared at Ethan Hayes. The gap between us is growing.
His dream of becoming the Wizard King burned brighter, but so did his determination.
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Advance Chapters: .com / Samorash