Level Two Blessing Magic - Major Heal.

I attempted to cast healing magic on my wound, but it wasn't effective at all, even with the empowered affects of Chaos. "Damn it...if only Qing Yue was here..."

I only knew a few Blessing Element spells, and it just so happened that I didn't know one that cured poison. However, I had no doubt Qing Yue would, being a genius in Blessing Magic. I was uncertain on whether or not normal poison-treating magic would be effective on Battle Soul generated poison, but it probably would.

"A snake Battle Soul, huh...how fitting," I muttered.

"Silence, mongrel! Level Three Poison Magic - Venom Corruption!" Xuan Yang yelled, sending an empowered version of the same attack a guard had used against me earlier. Since Xuan Yang's Battle Soul is a snake and has close ties with the Poison Element, his attacks of that element are increased in strength. He and his Battle Soul were one; so the attack came not from Xuan Yang's hands, but from the snake's mouth.

I narrowly dodged the attack, but the situation was still plenty dangerous, since I was already injured - the consequence of attempting to use the power of Chaos to counter a Battle Soul's attacks. I don't know if my level is just still too low or what, but for now, I am unable to block attacks from Battle Souls. I learned that the hard way, and now my arm hurts like hell from the poison.

I wouldn't die from this injury, but my movement will definitely be impaired, leaving Xuan Yang far more opportunities to attack me. With this in mind, I decided to enhance my basic stats to make up for my carelessness.

Potentia Excitant: Salire.

Potentia Excitant: Celeritas.

Potentia Excitant: Imperium.

Potentia Excitant: Armis.

After casting four Potentia spells on myself (jump power, speed, strength, and defense respectively), I began formulating a plan with Mei Gui through our telepathic connection. On the surface, I was merely dodging Xuan Yang's attacks, but in reality I was busy trying to think of a way to defeat him.

"Haha, what's wrong, boy?! All you're doing is dodging!" Xuan Yang said with a evil cackle. "What happened to all that talk about killing me and revenge, huh?!"

[Mei Gui, any ideas? I'm kinda pinned down here...there's nothing I can do against his Battle Soul.] I asked in my head, completely ignoring Xuan Yang's taunt.

[Master...I cannot defeat him either. However...there is a Chaos Element spell that can counter Battle Souls...but I am not sure whether or not you will be able to learn it at this stage.]

[...It's the only option we have now.]

[Understood. I will hold him off while teaching you the spell, then.]

Saying this, Mei Gui emerged from the shadows in the corner, much to Xuan Yang's surprise.

"Who the hell are you?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "You're quite the looker, I can tell even if you're wearing a mask, but I have never seen you before. Are you with this bastard?"

"Hmph. You do not deserve to know who I am," Mei Gui replied coldly, and moved in to distract Xuan Yang.

[Master, the name of the spell I am going to teach you is called Soul Shackle. It is a spell designed particularly to counter Battle Souls, but can work on living beings as well.]

[Soul Shackle...] I echoed. [Sounds powerful, but I don't really understand it.]

[All living beings are composed of three bodies - the physical, mental, and ethereal. The three are interconnected and inseparable - if even just one is destroyed, the living being will still die.] Mei Gui explained, doing a somersault over the air to dodge one of Xuan Yang's attacks. [The biggest component of the ethereal body is one's soul. It is hard to explain in simple terms, but this spell, Soul Shackle, essentially tethers another soul to your own, thus letting you manipulate them freely. Essentially, in this case, you will be taking over control of Xuan Yang's Battle Soul, then killing it.]

[...I see. Can't you just use this spell though? Why bother teaching me?]

[For one, this is a good opportunity for Master - if Master is able to learn this spell, it will greatly help in the future, and perhaps even help you break another seal. However...the main reason I am teaching you this is because I am in fact unable to use this spell. Elementals are creatures born directly from a certain element, thus their ethereal bodies do not have souls. Instead, we have 'cores', but they are not physical objects within our bodies like you would expect. In other words, cores are the Elemental equivalent of souls.]

[Huh...so because you don't have a soul you can tether another soul to, you are unable to use this spell...I see.]

[That is correct, Master. Now then, I shall begin teaching you-]

"Ugh! I'm getting tired of you jumping around all over the place!" Xuan Yang yelled. "Take this! Legendary Poison Magic - Acid Flood!"

My eyes widened at my first ever real life witnessing of Legendary Magic, but that awe soon turned into despair as the underground chamber we were in began filling up with toxic acid.

"Crazy bastard...using that spell in an enclosed space," I muttered. I then pointed my hand at the acid, and began calling upon the power of Chaos within me to suck it up and turn it into mana...but unfortunately, it failed.

"Haha! Let's see you run away from this one, Xuan Kai!" Xuan Yan laughed haughtily.

Tch...the only entrance to this room is already blocked by the acid...hm, wait, only entrance? Kuku...if there isn't an entrance, I'll just have to make one.

Level Two Water Magic - Geyser.

Immediately after I chanted in my mind, a torrent of extremely high-pressure water shot up from the ground, and blasted straight into the ceiling of the underground chamber we were in. Alas...whatever material the room was made of, it didn't stand a chance. The geyser continued shooting upwards, obliterating everything in its path.

[Mei Gui, let's go!]

[Yes, Master!]

Together, the two of us rode the current upwards, and we were soon carried out of the underground chamber. Since it was magic I conjured, it obviously didn't harm me. Since I was carrying Mei Gui in my arms tightly, the pressurized water didn't hurt her either.

As the geyser closed, the two of us landed on the Xuan family training field, soaked and panting. The pouring rain didn't help. I took off my mask, and Mei Gui did the same. It was hard to breathe with it on by this point, so...

"That maniac..." I muttered out loud. But unfortunately, said maniac wasn't done just yet.

"Master...he's coming."

"Yeah...I know."

Both of us narrowed our eyes at a certain location on the lawn about ten meters away, as a huge torrent of green acid shot out from the ground, with Xuan Yang riding on top of it while placing a tiny blanket of acid above his head to shield himself from the rain. Meanwhile, his huge purple snake Battle Soul looked down at us as if we were its prey.

This was the power of Legendary Magic. Every spell was a lot 'bigger', and could be used for many more purposes than just one. Level One to Three spells are all quite strict and straightforward with their uses, but Legendary Magic and above are far more creative and unique to the user. For example, here, Xuan Yang used his acid to mimic my Geyser in order to chase me, but that is far from the limits of this spell.

Xuan Yang can control this acid like its part of his body, and even form 'golems' or 'walls' to assist him in battle, be it for offense or defense. This is why Legendary Magic was so powerful, and not many people are able to use it.

"Hahaha! Who would've thought you actually managed to escape from that?" Xuan Yang said, clearly amused. "I have already had my suspicions earlier, but it seems you can really cast magic without chanting, huh?"

I smirked. "How do you know I wasn't just saying the incantation very quietly?"

[Master...I see, so this is your strategy. Very well, keep stalling, I will begin telling you how to cast Soul Shackle.]

[Copy. But try to be quick, I don't know how long I can hold him off for...and I can't exactly concentrate if I have to focus on fighting at the same time.]

[Understood.]

"Hah! That's what I thought earlier, when you used Space Magic to suddenly close the gap between us," Xuan Yang scoffed, completely unaware of the fact that his death is edging closer by the second. "However...just now, you were completely surrounded by my acid. I would've been able to pick up on even the tiniest of sounds. And guess what? I didn't hear anything coming from that disgusting mouth of yours, boy!"

[The first step to casting Soul Shackle - get close enough to the target for physical contact. In this case, it means you have to get near the snake-type Battle Soul.]

"Heh, and so what if I can cast magic without chanting?" I taunted while keenly listening to Mei Gui. "I'll have you know, the artifact that lets me do that is quite rare."

[The second step - channel your Chaos Energy, and let it flow out of your hands, directly onto your target.]

"Artifact, you say?" Xuan Yang mused, scratching his chin as if considering something. "Hmm...how about this, then? I'm willing to let you go today if you hand over that artifact.]

Idiot, you actually fell for that? Well, deep down, I was happy, since his stupidity meant playing directly into my hand, thus leading to more time for me to learn the new Chaos Element spell, Forbidden Magic - Soul Shackle.

[And lastly, the third step-]

"Kuku...I deny your offer," I said with a devilish smile.

Xuan Yang's expression twisted up into a nasty sneer. "Then...two birds with one stone, I'll just have to kill you to obtain that artifact, hahah!" Saying this, he sent his tsunami of acid directly towards me, rapidly eroding everything in its wake.

[-Chant in your mind: Forbidden Magic - Soul Shackle.]