If Nero hadn't been able to feel that her brother was still alive, she would have already collapsed by now.
"Buzz!" Just at this moment, the group suddenly heard the sound of intense wing vibrations in their ears, and then a hornet the size of an adult's head appeared before them.
"These are Corpse-Collecting Poison Bees, run!" Vanessa's expression changed. The strength of these poison bees wasn't particularly formidable—any Mage could easily handle one or two—but the sight of them blotting out the sky was terrifying!
"We can't get away!" Noelle watched the poison bees swarming from all directions. Without a second thought, she immediately channeled her magic, "Water Creation Magic: Sea Dragon's Lair!"
However, the massive water barrier she imagined did not appear. To her shock, she discovered that her magic had vanished!
"My magic has also been completely cut off. It seems this place is a forbidden zone that isolates all magic," Vanessa said with a solemn expression.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" Asta didn't hesitate to use the Uchiha clan's C-rank Ninjutsu. Since these surging flames were composed of the vast Chakra within his body, they were not restricted by the magic-forbidden zone.
Whoosh! The fire surged toward the poison bees, and in an instant, a large number of them were wiped out by the Ninjutsu.
Buzz~ Buzz~ The poison bees continued to charge, fearless of death. Asta tirelessly released the Great Fireball Technique. This war of attrition lasted for several minutes before the bees finally retreated completely.
"We're saved!" Nero was a girl with a soft exterior but a resilient heart, yet seeing such a world-destroying spectacle had stirred the fear deep within her. Only now did she realize how terrifying the battlefield ruins truly were!
And to think they were still only in the outer perimeter!
They hadn't even approached the most dangerous area yet, and it was already perilously treacherous. Thinking back, Nero felt a wave of lingering fear; if she hadn't met the Black Bulls, she wouldn't have even made it past that black maggot at the first trial!
"Stay close to me from now on. This place is very strange!" Asta said with a heavy expression. As for why he could still use 'magic' while all other magic was isolated, everyone tacitly chose not to ask.
"Sister Vanessa, the magic power around us was so violent just a moment ago, why is it isolated now?" Noelle asked with lingering fear.
"The methods of ancient Mages are far beyond what people today can imagine. We are in the deepest part of the battlefield; any change is possible." Vanessa looked at Asta, "Asta, everything depends on you now."
"Don't worry, Sister Vanessa!" At this moment, Asta was laughing hysterically in his head. Holy crap, that round of burning just now actually earned him 100,000 points! He could exchange for a flying orb in an instant!
"Is the income from these poison bees really this substantial?" Asta looked at the charred bees covering the ground, his eyes lighting up. These weren't monsters; they were little money-making darlings!
A single poison bee was worth 500 points, which was practically more valuable than a Mage.
What Asta didn't know was that while these bees were just experience fodder to him, they were a nightmare to other Mages. Especially in a place where magic couldn't be used, they were lethal. Thus, 500 points per bee was honestly not expensive.
Tsk tsk! Asta clicked his tongue in regret. It was a pity the mission was the priority; otherwise, he would definitely have gone on a killing spree here!
"Exchange for flying orb!" Asta hurried to make the exchange. After all, having such a trump card even a minute earlier could make a difference.
Ding-dong! Successfully exchanged for flying orb. Cost: 100,000 points!
Normal Effect: Can summon 15 flying orbs to gather under your feet for high-speed flight, providing vertical mobility.
Special Effect: None!
"Sweet!" Asta suppressed his urge to try it out, now looking forward to the monsters ahead even more.
"Asta, what kind of wicked plan are you thinking of with that perverted smile?" Noelle keenly noticed that Asta's smile was a bit lewd, like a Husky that had just eaten honey!
"Watch out!" Asta turned his head, intending to joke back, but suddenly noticed a crude magic circle under Noelle's foot. At that moment, her little foot was just a fraction away from touching the ground.
Swoosh! Asta swept Noelle up in his arms, a dazzling princess carry that nearly blinded all the women present.
"Ah! Oh my! This is so embarrassing!" Noelle's face flushed crimson. Thinking of the powerful magic circles in the Magic Palace, she said gratefully, "Thank you."
"You're welcome!" Asta gave a mischievous grin, and then Vanessa's hesitant voice sounded.
"I can still feel that my magic is being isolated by a mysterious substance, so this magic circle shouldn't have any effect." As Vanessa spoke, she crouched down and poked the ground with her pinky. Sure enough, nothing happened. Moreover, looking at the magic circle, it seemed to have been carved in a hurry; it likely wouldn't have worked even without the magic isolation.
...Is that so? I forgot?" Asta set Noelle down. Actually, he knew that too, but Little Noelle was so cute, how could he not tease her!
"Ah! You jerk, Asta!" Noelle pouted and gave Asta a light punch before walking over to Vanessa's side. She had realized that being next to Vanessa was the safest place.
"We seem to be getting closer to my brother!" Nero suddenly said in pleasant surprise. she could even feel Kryss's heartbeat; though weak, it was still beating steadily!
"Then let's pick up the pace!" Asta said seriously. Along the way, the group saw a large number of bandit corpses. It seemed these bandits had suffered a devastating blow.
"So cruel!" It was the first time Noelle had seen so many bodies—there were nearly a thousand of them packed together!
This bandit group was truly large. If they had occupied the easily-defended Wind and Thunder Village, the consequences would have been unimaginable! Vanessa couldn't help but sigh, now feeling a bit of admiration for Nero's brother.
"What a waste!" Asta looked at the corpses covering the ground. If he had been the one to kill them, he could have earned at least 100,000 points!
"Run! The Headless Soldiers are coming again!"
"Mom, save me! What kind of hellhole is this? Find Kryss quickly, make him take us out of here!"
"Leader! Where is the Leader?"
"The Leader seems to have followed Kryss into a cave, but there are so many cockroaches around that cave, we can't get near it!"
"I swear, once I get out, I'll definitely slaughter the Village! I'll slaughter the whole Village!" Asta and his group walked a bit further. Noelle and Vanessa were pleasantly surprised to find their magic power restored, and they also encountered a small group of surviving bandits.
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