445. And Thunder

Helena Warshade stood atop her nimbus cloud as it raced across the sky. She realized quickly what Salvos’ scheme was. The silver-haired girl had sent out six clones as a distraction before vanishing— but with the Archmage’s scrying spell, she only found five of them dispersed far and wide. It was clearly a ruse.

And thanks to Helena Warshade’s [Passive - Photographic Memory], she knew the direction where Salvos’ sixth clone went. All the Archmage had to do was head on over there and follow a trail, and she’d find where the silver-haired girl was hiding.

There were many things that went through Helena Warshade’s mind as she made her trip. But she did her best to sort out the irrational speculations with the actual viable options. The fact that Salvos was actively trying to avoid the scrying spell wasn’t a sign of the silver-haired girl being evil— anyone who was being scried on would try to avoid it.

But that didn’t mean Salvos was blameless. It was innocent until proven guilty, and whatever Salvos was trying to hide might be proof otherwise. The Archmage had considered many possibilities. Perhaps Salvos was simply a Vampire. Or maybe Salvos was a shapeshifting [Goblin] or [Orc]— Helena had once heard of an [Orc] that became a [Druid] and disguised itself as a Human before. The Archmage even considered the fact that Salvos was a Dragon. The mythical Gods of the Kobolds.

It seemed outlandish, but that would explain Salvos’ Class and those odd scales that occasionally appeared over her skin. However, never once in Helena Warshade’s wildest dreams did she imagine what was actually going on.

Her eyes grew wide as she watched the silver-haired girl hand over the Crown of Alexander to… a Primeval Demon. The Demon responsible for destroying Nixa.

Belzu.

Everything finally clicked in Helena Warshade’s head. The reason why Salvos had disappeared immediately after Belzu’s fake death. The lies that the silver-haired girl espoused. And the normally calm and composed Archmage… lashed out.

“TRAITOR!”

I looked on as Helena Warshade, the Great Tempest Archmage of Mavos Academy, the leader of the Rising Veterans Company, the second highest-leveled [Mage] in the world, and an Elite Ranked adventurer unleashed a crimson blast of lightning at me.

“DIE!”

The first attack had struck Belzu. It was meant for me, but I dodged out of the way thanks to the Boots of Alexander boosting me. But this second spell was stronger. It was faster. Even with my heightened speed, I barely managed to avoid the second lightning bolt. It ripped apart the earth, sending rubble and debris flying into the air.

I landed next to my clone as she created a scythe made of golden flame.

“You…”

Helena Warshade’s eyes were burning with fire and fury. The sky rapidly darkened as black clouds poured forth overhead like the rising tide at twilight. The crackle of thunder echoed, only enhanced by the acoustic environment of the valley.

She brought her staff down as she bellowed.

“How dare you collaborate with those damn Demons!”

“Wait, I can explain—”

I started, but a volley of lightning bolts came streaking down. My clone and I split up. I leapt into the air as my wings spread wide, and my clone kept low to the ground. I donned the Crown of Alexander, avoiding the lightning storm. Dozens of lightning bolts crashed around me every second. A powerful gale pushed back against my wings, but I managed to press on.

“Helena! It’s not what you think it is!”

I tried to protest. But the Archmage refused to listen.

“I knew you were not Human. I knew you weren’t being entirely truthful. I knew that you could’ve been a threat. ”

I paused, brows snapping together.

“How did you…?”

She spoke over me, shaking her head.

“But this? You are a traitor, Salvos. Not just to Humankind itself, but to all of the Mortal Realm.”

Her staff glimmered. I bit my lower lip. What do I do? The question bore down on me. I had to think fast. She… knew that I was a Demon? No— she knew I wasn’t a Human. There was still a chance I could scavenge this situation, now that Belzu was dead. I mean… or I could just kill her.

But that would be, well, a harder task than talking to her.

A lightning bolt arced after me, and I kicked it away with the Greaves of Alexander. The magical attack struck the ground and scarred the earth. I wiped the sweat off my forehead as I saw the devastation from the single blast. My Pendant of Greater Protection would only save me from about a dozen of those. That was not to mention Helena’s stronger spells.

“[Burst Hurricane].”

The light at the tip of her staff flashed. I gritted my teeth and kicked off the air with the Boots of Alexander’s help. The air around where I’d been rapidly contracted, sucked into a mini-typhoon. Then it rapidly expanded and burst out into an explosion of wind. Wind blades shot out in every direction as a pulse of visible wind shot out like a giant ring.

I braced myself as some stray wind blades struck me, clashing against my Aura of Greater Protection. I flew around the others, only to pause just as I escaped from the radius of the blast. Helena Warshade waited for me at the exit, pointing down with her staff glistening at the tip.

“Uh-oh…”

I raised the Greaves of Alexander for protection, but right as the spell shot out, my clone crashed into the Archmage’s back. The streak of lightning missed me, shooting out into the sky and parting the clouds. An inkling of the blue sky above leaked down before the black clouds shrouded over it once again.

Helena Warshade recoiled as my clone swung up with a golden scythe. My clone unleashed a [Barrage of Cinders] combined with a flourish of [Draconic Fury], each hit striking a crackle of electricity surrounding the Archmage’s body. Some kind of armor made of lightning. The final hit tore through the magical defenses wreathing Helena Warshade.

My cloine grinned as I blinked. She brought a hand to her chest, and I raised an arm.

“Wait—” .

But my clone didn’t listen. She detonated. A gold and silver explosion engulfed the Archmage before blooming into a giant cross— like the markings of a grave. I hovered there, looking on as the blast dissipated. Then I sighed.

Helena Warshade emerged from the explosion, still standing on her nimbus cloud unharmed.

“[Eye of the Storm].”

She was covered by visible winds. Translucent clouds shielded her body. Like she was the center of a storm. It was a powerful barrier spell. I had seen it at work against the Wyverns. I closed my eyes.

“I knew that wouldn’t work. Now Helena’s just going to get even more mad at me…”

A dozen spell circles formed behind the Archmage. Glyphs with an intricate pattern etched into it. Giant spikes of ice poked out before propelling forward towards me. I clicked my tongue, creating my own flaming spikes in return. Our magic clashed in the air between us as I called out.

“Listen to me! The reason I was trying to—”

But Helena Warshade clapped her arms together. A sonic boom shot out towards me in a wave, cutting me off and sending me flying back. The Aura of Greater Protection covering me flickered. I looked up just in time for a giant sphere of acid to come crashing towards me.

I kicked to the left with the Boots of Alexander and activated [Haste]. With a burst of flames, I narrowly avoided the attack. But that wasn’t just it. This was an Archmage of Mavos Academy. She had a deluge of spells in her repertoire. Whether it was earth magic, fire magic, water magic, space magic, or more. I couldn’t keep running from this forever.

“Helena!”

I shouted, and she didn’t listen. There was only one other solution if this kept up. A very simple way to get out of this— I had to run.

But the problem was I couldn’t just run away. I couldn’t return to Alyras no matter what. If I just talked to her now—

And I froze as I heard the chant.

“[The Calm has Come and Gone.]”

It was a Grand Skill. I looked up as the dark clouds swirled above the Archmage’s head, peeling away from the blue sky. But the sky wasn’t blue. It was pitch black. My breath caught in my throat as I saw the mana threads coalescing around her.

“[The Storm has Simmered for so Long.]”

I landed at the ravaged hilltop and stared with wide eyes as Helena Warshade pointed at me.

“I think I’m just going to run…”

And I was going to. Then I saw the figure appear behind Helena Warshade.

“[Now it is Time for you to—”

“The Great Tempest Archmage of Mavos Academy. Killing you you shall provide me with a bountiful of experience.”

Belzu laughed as he pointed at Helena Warshade. She spun around, but it was too late.

“[Forlorn Execution].”

A figure of crimson energy took shape, raising an ax and swung down at her. My eyes widened as blood splattered out.