Badge in Azure Chapter 944 - Pursuit (Part 1)

Chapter 944: Pursuit (Part 1)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Nicholas’ voice rang in Saleen’s mind. He opened his mouth and said, “Time, reverse…”
Saleen could already feel the tip of the metal tail piercing through his skin, but all of a sudden, it withdrew and the entire tail retreat at least 10 yards away from Saleen.
Imposa was taken aback by what he had just seen. Saleen had just used a divine spell!
A mage using a divine spell was even more unacceptable than a Holy Master using elemental spells. The Holy See had attempted to bribe mages to become Holy Masters, but their magic chords degenerated, and eventually, they were not even able to cast spells higher than grade-0. Even magic apprentices were better off than them.
Saleen was already a top-notch grade-9 sorcerer. What good would it do him to collaborate with the Holy See? Within three to five years’ time, he would turn into a mage without any magic chords. The higher one’s grade, the faster the magic chords disappeared. That was why it was so difficult for the Holy See to recruit mages.
Only the Supreme Court was able to hire mages once in a while, but there was no way those mages would place their faith in any Gods or practice any divine spells. No matter how high the mage’s grade was, or how powerful their mental strength was, the number of blessings they received would still be less than that of a disciple that had served their Gods since childhood.
Giving up magic for divine spells was definitely not something a grade-9 mage would do. A grade-9 mage would rather die than to place his faith in God.
The Lesser Prophecy spell was unleashed completely. It was the luckiest thing to happen to Saleen in his entire lifetime. Without thinking any further, Saleen let the six Tempest Dragon-mights bring him to Imposa and he thrust out his finger.
Crystal Finger penetrated through Imposa’s mechanical shell and struck his forehead directly. A hole that was the size of a fist appeared in his metal face. The gigantic alchemy machinery carrying him collapsed onto the ground. Saleen saw a black mass escape from the core of the alchemy machinery. It hid in the metal tail that was flying away.
The metal tail fell onto the ground and tunneled through it. Soon it was completely out of sight.
Saleen vaguely thought that the black mass resembled Imposa. Although Saleen managed to clinch victory with a single strike, he was still a little stunned. It was because Imposa’s soul looked exactly like the body he possessed after modifications.
No matter how one changed his appearance, his soul should remain unchanged. What Saleen knew was that even Nailisi’s Ultimate Shapeshifting spell could not alter the shape of her soul. The appearance of Imposa’s soul left Saleen too shocked for words.
He had thought that his soul was the most powerful amongst all grade-9 sorcerers, and so was his mental strength. Instead, Imposa was even able to transform the shape of his own soul. No matter how he looked at it, Imposa must be more powerful than him.
If not for the fact that Saleen’s equipment was more powerful and his techniques were mysterious, based on pure abilities alone, he was no match for Imposa.
The shape of Imposa’s soul also had six legs and the tail of a scorpion.
“My Lord!” Jola’s face was pale as he rushed to Saleen’s side. The alchemy machinery crashed onto the ground, sending dirt and mud flying in all directions.
Saleen was finally shaken out of his daze. Saleen understood that the divine spell that Nicholas had cast through him was a result of Nicholas sacrificing portions of his life in order to leave behind a protective measure just before he left.
Saleen immediately dove towards the ground and released all his elemental creatures. He took out his interdimensional stone and put away Imposa’s alchemy machinery in it. It was valuable equipment and could be easily studied, unlike equipment that Grandmaster had given him. No matter how powerful Imposa’s alchemy skills might be, he was still only a grade-9 sorcerer at the end of the day.
The equipment created by grade-9 sorcerers could be thoroughly studied in Metatrin City, where there were tens of sorcerers that would be able to analyze equipment very quickly. The only downside was the tail that had gotten away. Saleen believed that the tail was Imposa’s biggest secret.
In a palace far away, there was a huge crystal coffin in a room that had been sealed up, and a strange looking body laid in it. The body looked exactly like Imposa, except that there was no metal on the face. The chin was made from black Fallenstar metal. The upper half of Imposa’s body was covered with a shell that was made from the bones of magic beasts, while the lower half of the body was made of metal. There were six gigantic metal limbs and a long scorpion tail.
The crystal coffin was filled with transparent fluid, which was slightly blue in color. All of a sudden, the body opened its eyes and mouth at the same time and sucked in the blue fluid forcefully. The blue fluid disappeared very quickly, until it was completely sucked dry by Imposa’s body.
With a loud crash, Imposa’s fist smashed the crystal coffin and he sprang up with his six mechanical limbs. There were also eight iron blood warriors in this sealed room. When Imposa awoke, so did the eight iron blood warriors.
What made them different from other iron blood warriors was that their eyes showed intelligence. One of them even asked, “Master, what happened?”
“The body that I have been using as a trial has been destroyed. The floating combat vessel is gone too.” Imposa was able to smash the crystal coffin into pieces with just one strike. The power of that strike alone surpassed the power of a silver grand swordmaster. He immediately calmed down after venting his anger. Clearly, he felt more comfortable in this body. He found it hard to control his emotions in his other body.
“Who did it? Let’s kill him!” Another iron blood warrior said. Their conversation demonstrated their thinking abilities, setting them apart from the other puppet-like iron blood warriors. The eight iron blood warriors were clad in brand new tainted blood armor. They were armed with magic equipment that had been personally refined by Imposa.
They had the modified version of cross spears with a crescent-shaped horizontal hook. There was a menacing look about them. The fact that the iron blood warriors gave up wielding weapons that they were already familiar with could only mean that they must have picked up new techniques. Otherwise, no matter how powerful the weapon was, it would be a huge problem if they were not used to it.
Grade-9 warriors that were capable of learning new techniques were already very close to the standard of golden grand swordmasters. Besides, those warriors already possessed intelligence, which was not something that the elemental creatures could compare favorably against.
“No need.” The expression on Imposa’s face was one of composure. “That person’s equipment is unpredictable, and I cannot accept his techniques. My trial body was destroyed by a single spell from his finger. That’s something that even golden grand swordmasters are not able to achieve. We will leave him alone for now. Grand Duke Iron Blood is coming. All of you…”
“Yes, Master.” The iron blood warriors immediately put on wooden expressions, even their eyeballs were moving at a speed that was three times slower than before. They looked dull and unknowing.
“Master!” Grand Duke Iron Blood’s voice was one of panic as he knocked on the door from outside.
“Grand Duke, I am fine.” Imposa changed his tone into one that sounded fatigued. His six legs drew a circle on the ground and the silhouette of a metal door appeared on the wall. Grand Duke Iron Blood was standing outside with Dark Blue.
“Grand Duke, I have misplaced your trust. I feel guilty about it.” Imposa placed his hand on his chest with a pained expression.
“Master, I’m just glad that you are alright!” Grand Duke Iron Blood meant what he said. If Imposa was to die, no one else would be able to help him control the iron blood warriors. Although he had many sorcerers working for him, none of them possessed the mysterious alchemy skills of Imposa.
Imposa’s abilities were more significant than the combined abilities of all his sorcerers. Until Imposa had completely refined all the iron blood warriors, he would be the most important and crucial person to Grand Duke Iron Blood. The latter had allowed the former to try to kill Saleen only because Grand Duke Iron Blood had thought that it would be straightforward and simple.
No one expected Saleen to possess such mysterious techniques; it seemed that he had yet to display all his skills.
“Grand Duke, has Saleen escaped?” Imposa knew this question was pointless. Both Dark Blue and the Grand Duke were there. Belivare was not there because it was Imposa’s hiding place. As a grade-9 sorcerer, Belivare had to avoid arousing suspicions. If he dared to come there, then Imposa would dare to kill him.
“Yes. I did not deploy my men well and something happened at the magic tower.” Grand Duke Iron Blood’s voice was full of regret. No one could have expected a gap to appear in the Elemental Prison or a grade-8 sorcerer, who was controlling the magic array, to die suddenly. By the time the other sorcerers arrived, Saleen had already taken the opportunity to escape through the gap and fled to beyond the island.
“What about that golden grand swordmaster?” Imposa was more concerned about Jola. Imposa had felt endangered by the golden grand swordmaster, who had grasped the power of rules. The power of rules would stop his soul from being able to escape.
“We exchanged a blow. One of my substitute puppets was destroyed. I have no idea how badly injured he is. If he is not healed properly, he will probably die in less than two days though.” Dark Blue replied casually with a tinge of arrogance.
He finally took a good look at this golden grand swordmaster. He was indeed powerful. He only lost a substitute puppet while the other golden grand swordmaster was attacked by Dark Blue’s sword aura. Even if Jola did not die, he would lose all his skills.
That was when Imposa noticed that Dark Blue was missing a left eye. All of a sudden, it dawned on Imposa that he had been misled by an illusion and he was filled with regret.
That golden grand swordmaster had yet to completely grasp the rule. He must have utilized the power of his equipment instead. There was no way Dark Blue’s substitute puppet could have taken the hit for him otherwise. The power of rules would be able to go past the puppet and take effect on Dark Blue’s soul directly.
He was tricked! That golden grand swordmaster was no threat to Imposa. If Imposa had focused only on Saleen, his experimental body would not have been defeated. The technique that Saleen used was clearly a close-ranged attack, otherwise he would have used that finger on the experimental body long ago. Why bother waiting until he was already on the brink of death before finally unleashing it?
Imposa was filled with regret. He had wasted an excellent opportunity. It was close to impossible to try and capture Saleen again. Saleen was such a cunning person, he would never be in the range of the magic tower again. More than half of the iron blood warriors had been lost in vain! Imposa was extremely unhappy and his facial expression showed it.