Drake really wanted to tell the three to pay attention to their flight safety; they were acting recklessly at such a high altitude.
Fortunately, they arrived at Sosshi Village without incident. Sosshi Village, also in the Outer Region, was as impoverished and remote as Hage Village.
In mid-air, Drake narrowed his eyes, turning to the others. "Magna-senpai, something’s below. Let’s check it out."
He landed, using his flame wings.
Magna grumbled, "Damn it! I’m the senior; I decide the course of action!"
He followed Drake down.
They landed, and Drake examined something on the ground.
Magna asked, "What is it, Drake? Did you find something?"
Drake showed them something in his palm.
Asta said, puzzled, "It’s just a piece of ice. What’s so strange?"
Drake held a small piece of ice; more scattered on the ground.
Noelle was speechless at Asta’s lack of observation. "Idiot Asta, it’s impossible to have ice this time of year."
Asta slapped his forehead. "That’s right! So what’s this ice?"
Magna’s expression turned serious. "It’s magic. Someone used ice magic here!"
Drake nodded. "Exactly. And they’re skilled! The lingering magic power is significant; the mage must be strong!"
Asta still didn’t understand. "So, what’s the problem?"
Noelle knocked Asta on the head. "Use your brain, idiot! A powerful, unknown mage wouldn’t appear here without reason. What’s their purpose?"
Magna’s face darkened. "That’s near Sosshi Village..."
Drake said, "Let’s check Sosshi Village. Our mission isn’t urgent."
Magna, decisive, was about to go, but Drake stopped him. "You used a lot of magic power carrying Asta and Noelle. A fight would be bad. Recover first."
Magna understood and sat down to recover. Drake did the same.
Magic power is life and soul; natural recovery is slow without recovery magic. But willpower is also a source of magic power; Magna recovered quickly.
He rushed toward Sosshi Village, recounting his past with the village. It was a story of a boy, guided by a wise elder, finding his purpose and changing his life.
"Besides Captain Yami, Sekke-ojisan is the person I respect most," Magna said sincerely.
They reached Sosshi Village, seeing it enveloped in a gray mist.
"A fog-type barrier spell. It blocks perception; entering blindly would lead to being controlled," Drake assessed.
"Magic..." Magna grabbed Asta’s collar.
"Asta, use your sword to cut through the fog."
Asta said, "I don’t understand, but I’ll do it!"
He drew the Demon-slayer Sword, cutting through the fog, revealing the surroundings.
Magna, having grown up here, knew the village well. He could find his way even with limited visibility.
Asta cleared a path, and they reached the village center. Their magic sense returned.
Flames enveloped Drake’s hands, startling the others. He launched a combined attack.
"Fire Dragon’s Blazing Inferno!"
The flames dispersed the fog, revealing the scene.
Dozens of villagers, old and young, knelt in terror and despair. Sharp ice spikes hovered above them. Drake’s magic targeted the spikes.
The flames destroyed the spikes, easing the villagers’ fear. The Black Bulls’ cloaks reassured them.
Magna’s expression darkened; he saw Sekke, the village chief, lying among the villagers. The old man was unconscious, his clothes bloodstained, lifeless.
A child cried, "The Magic Knights! They saved us!"
Magna went to Sekke. "Hey! Old man, snap out of it!"
The villagers showed the old man’s worth.
Sekke’s grandson cried, "Grandpa, the Magic Knights came! Your prayers were answered!"
Rage almost consumed Magna. He addressed a group of people. "You did this!"
A scarred man sat impassively, wearing a blue-gray robe and holding a pocket watch. Three others, similarly robed and hooded, stood behind him.
He looked at his watch. "Execution was scheduled for ten seconds. You disrupted my plan! In ten seconds, everyone dies!"
Ice spheres with spikes appeared, hurtling towards them.
Before Drake could act, Asta intervened, cleaving the spheres in two. Follow current novels on ɴovelfire.net
Angry, Asta said, "Why did you do this? Who are you?"
Drake knew the answer: The man belonged to the Eye of the Midnight Sun, a group aiming to overthrow the Clover Kingdom.
The first antagonists had appeared.
Drake looked at Sekke, his eyes blazing.
His memories were blurry; he remembered the protagonists’ triumphs but overlooked the tragedies. If he’d been more mindful, he could have prevented Sekke’s death.
His worldview and Igneel’s teachings made him despise those who disrespected life.
"I... am burning with rage! I’ll burn these bastards to ashes!"
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