[MAGA-RYU]
Egologia muttered to himself, smiling inwardly
It was the most insidious maga, a spirit without an aura, Ryu was invisible, feeding on the energy of others without them noticing.
The ones holding him, the guards, including the one who knew his previous body, didn't realize that their energy was being absorbed, silently dissolving, becoming food for Egologia himself.
He didn't need to move; Ryu would take care of the rest.
As they continued walking deeper into the forest, the green expanse around them widened, as if they had entered another world.
The trees stretched toward the sky in a unique spectacle, while the ground was lush with greenery, reflecting a serene glow. The place was vibrant with life, its air pure, filling the lungs with a renewed sense of peace.
For him, this beauty wasn't just a scene; it was a feeling... After awakening in a foul cell, nature was reviving his body, giving him something he hadn't experienced in a long time...
Ten feet ahead of them, the two guards were whispering, moving with energy and activity. The speaker, the second guard, was brimming with energy and motion, while the Sir listened quietly.
A sigh, then a tired voice grumbled:
"Hey... damn it, Dager, I'm so tired..."
"The same thing is happening to me... I tried to hide it as much as I could, but I... feel weak..."
Then he added.
"The Sir won't be pleased with this..."
"No... no, I'm collapsing... Dager, I can't..."
Then the first one fell.
A moment of silence...
Then the second followed, his body collapsing as if life had been drained from him, his eyes rolling back before he fell forward, his body hitting the ground with a thud.
"What's this...? Wait... you two!!!"
The Sir turned quickly, tension reflecting on his face, his gaze falling on the two motionless bodies. But something was wrong...
The prisoner... wasn't here.
'What did he do to them?!'
The second guard stepped forward to examine them, while the Sir, with a smooth and swift motion, drew his sword, his eyes darting cautiously between the trees, among the shadows dancing in the wind.
Then he whispered to himself, his words carrying a tension he couldn't hide:
"How dare he cause trouble here alone? What changed in him? What did the monsters do to him..."
Then it came.
Something flashed by at blinding speed!
Like an arrow shot from nowhere, it struck the air from behind, then in front, then to the right, then to the left... up... then vertically!
Incredible speed... and unmatched agility.
It was impossible to track. It was like light, like a moving mirage that couldn't be caught.
Then the display stopped... and he stood behind the Sir.
A slow step, barely audible breaths, a calm voice, but one that carried unsettling confidence.
"Oh, I apologize... I didn't mean to cause such trouble."
The Sir didn't move, but his grip on the sword tightened.
"Who are you...? You're not the usual human."
A faint smile...
"Oh, who am I?"
Another step forward, then:
"I don't exist, Sir... I become."
Caution increased in the Sir's demeanor, his grip on his sword tightening, his eyes scrutinizing his opponent carefully. His silence wasn't fear, but an understanding that confrontation might be inevitable.
"So, you declare war on us? You've allied with the monsters for power, haven't you?"
He said it in a steady voice and added...
"Scum like you don't realize what they're doing…"
"What?! Ha... you're quite imaginative, Sir. You're insane."
Egologia cast a quick glance at the two bodies lying on the ground.
"The guards are fine... just tired. They need some rest and—recharging."
The Sir raised an eyebrow, his voice laden with suspicion: "Recharging?"
"I ask you to order your man to carry them and step back a bit. We need to go over the details."
"Details?" The Sir furrowed his brows.
Frank, the second guard, added skeptically: "What's in your head? Are you mocking the Sir's intelligence?"
"Frank, carry them and step back."
"What? Sir?!"
"Come on, no time for arguments...", the light reflecting off its sword blade. "This traitor, let me hear what he has to say."
Frank, despite his hesitation, obeyed and walked away with the two guards, leaving the Sir alone with this stranger.
"Speak now… what happened to them? And what do you intend to do?"
Egologia smiled, his eyes glinting faintly. "They're spiritually exhausted… I absorbed their maga, and it has rejuvenated me greatly."
The Sir froze for a moment. "Absorption?!"
"Yes, yes, absorption! Its sole purpose is to prove all your questions… I survived only because I'm stronger than all of you thought."
He took a step forward. "I captured myself among them and learned many of their secrets... all by myself. I am the one moving myself, Sir."
The Sir narrowed his eyes. "Espionage? Huh?... What are these abilities you're so arrogant about?"
"Well, good… I'll show you the true maga."
He raised his hand slowly, muttering words barely audible, but their effect was enough to change the atmosphere around him. The air began to tremble, an invisible pressure forming, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Then— [Vortex!]
Behind him, the giant blood circle appeared, hovering in the sky, its effects beginning to manifest...
"Impossible...!!"
Gravity began to pull inward, rocks, soil, even the air itself! The massive vortex absorbed everything around it, like a black hole unleashed in this world.
The Sir felt the pressure, his knee almost buckling, but he held firm, his grip on the sword unwavering. Sweat trickled down his forehead, but it wasn't fear... it was astonishment.
"This pressure... a vortex of Maga?!"
With eyes full of shock. 'Impossible... how can a novice master a summoning of this level?!'
"Now, Sir... do you still think I'm just a traitor?"