Atai'er was Atai'er after all.
He quickly calmed down.
His gaze was sharp as he surveyed the flesh and blood beneath the city wall, sensing the magical properties and assessing the surrounding situation.
A moment later, Atai'er said:
"This flesh and blood comes from demi-humans like centaurs, trolls, and hawkmen, as well as various magical beasts, wyrms, and ordinary animals."
"Their bones and souls must have been made into undead, and the piled-up flesh here is likely for some kind of hell summoning ritual."
"The ritual has already begun; there's no time to find reinforcements. We must resolve it now."
Atai'er turned around and looked at Eric:
"Are you afraid?"
Eric swallowed.
He knew his own capabilities, so how could he not?
Eric pondered for a moment.
He didn't feign righteousness, nor was he hot-blooded.
Instead, he answered very honestly:
"Teacher, I'm willing to help you, but in this situation, it's truly not something I can participate in. I don't even qualify as cannon fodder."
"Moreover, I don't want to be cannon fodder."
These were sincere words.
The Fairy's Blessing told Atai'er that Eric wasn't lying.
Of course, even without the Fairy's Blessing, Atai'er could tell that Eric's words were from his heart.
Though they were words of retreat—
Sincere retreat was far better than hypocritical betrayal.
Atai'er patted Eric's head, and a faint smile finally appeared on his rigid face.
"But Eric, this time, I truly need you."
Eric sighed.
Simply because Atai'er had saved him from Old Buck, Eric couldn't refuse Atai'er's request.
Not to mention, as a teacher, Atai'er was genuinely good to Eric.
Having made up his mind, Eric's gaze became resolute:
"Teacher, what can I do?"
Atai'er didn't rush to answer. He looked at Judy again and said:
"Judy, I'm entrusting you with protecting Eric this time."
Judy was instantly startled. She looked at Atai'er, her eyes filled with terror:
"I... I can't do it. How could I possibly..."
Atai'er placed his hand on Judy's head again:
"Eric will protect you too."
Judy's hands gripped Eric's shoulders, and she slowly lowered her head.
Atai'er rubbed Judy's head, then looked at Eric and said:
"Eric, your goal this time isn't to kill a certain number of undead, but to destroy the barrier here."
"I will attack head-on to draw their attention away from you and Judy."
"You should take advantage of the chaos to destroy the barrier's magic crystal. There are no other requirements; if you truly can't do it, take Judy and flee quickly."
Atai'er then looked at the gallows, pointing at his comrades hanging there, and said:
"Remember, Eric, don't let yourself and Judy end up like this."
Eric nodded:
"I understand, Teacher."
Atai'er looked at his comrades, then at the towering ruined city wall, slowly crouched down, and placed his hand on the ground.
"Ancient Natural Spirit, master of the earth that bears all things, in accordance with the primeval covenant, show me your power."
As the incantation was spoken, an earthy brown light bloomed around Atai'er.
The light flowed into the earth, and the surrounding pebbles began to vibrate.
"Earthquake Spell."
Atai'er stood up.
Judy pulled Eric back.
A dull, colossal roar boomed, like the angry cry of a giant beast, erupting from the earth's core.
The ground cracked, earth and stone rolled, and the towering city wall instantly collapsed, revealing the true appearance of the city behind it.
Inside the city were countless skeletons.
The surging earth swept them up, and collapsing buildings instantly swallowed countless undead bones.
"Judy will help you find the location of the crystal, Eric. Protect yourself and Judy well."
With that, Atai'er let out a roar.
He raised his twin swords and charged into the city, which was still undergoing the Earthquake Spell.
Eric's eyes widened.
Although he knew his teacher's level was incredibly high,
due to the system's data only showing a maximum of Level 20, Eric didn't have a strong sense of Atai'er's power.
Now that Atai'er was fighting seriously, Eric finally had a clear understanding of his teacher's strength.
With just one spell, a count's city was reduced to ruins.
Behind the collapsed city wall not far away,
Atai'er was already engaging the skeleton army.
The rings on his hands glowed, and meteors constantly fell from the sky into the ground.
The entire city instantly became a sea of fire.
His posture was agile, his eyes glowed with a blood-red light, and the muscles on his body continuously swelled.
His two short swords had, at some unknown point, transformed into two giant axes.
Now, Atai'er was less like a Ranger.
He was more like a Berserker.
Or rather, Atai'er's class progression already included Level 20 Berserker.
Atai'er faced enemies such as mountain-sized skeleton magical beasts, centaur skeleton knights wielding long spears, and even skeleton wyrms dozens of meters long.
But none of these were a match for Atai'er.
Before him, no enemy could withstand his furious twin axes.
"Judy, are you scared?"
Eric looked at Judy behind him, and she shook her head.
"Tell me honestly."
Judy nodded again.
Eric looked at the city. Atai'er didn't continue forward, nor did he retreat a single step.
He was like a challenger, waiting for the final boss to arrive.
Or perhaps, he was waiting for Eric's results.
"This is Teacher's battlefield. We'll enter from the side."
Judy nodded, and the clothes on Eric's shoulder, which she was clutching, were pulled forward as Eric moved.
But at this pace, it was simply too slow.
Eric turned to look at Judy, crouched down, and put his hands behind him in a supportive gesture, saying:
"I'll carry you. This is too slow."
"Uh, this—"
Judy was a bit shy. She took her hands off Eric's shoulders, covered her mouth, and took half a step back.
Eric urged again:
"Hurry, we don't have much time."
Judy turned to look at Atai'er.
Judy knew Atai'er much better than Eric, his disciple.
She knew Atai'er's legend, after all, her teacher always spoke of this Legendary Ranger who was active 500 years ago.
Judy knew Atai'er's strength, and she also knew Atai'er's weakness.
The Spellblade was a Legendary class created by Atai'er, combining Ranger, Berserker, Knight, Druid, and Mage.
It possessed powerful close-combat martial arts.
And also terrifying instant spellcasting ability.
But similarly, his close combat had stamina limitations, and his spells required casting mediums, as well as mana limitations.
And Atai'er had only cast one spell since the battle began.
The barrier here was restricting Atai'er.
Judy truly didn't know how much longer this Legendary Ranger could hold on.
Eric was right; time was truly running out.
Thinking this, Judy placed her hands on Eric's shoulders once again.
"Can you do it? I should be heavier than you."
"Don't worry, I have a weight-reducing item. It's just a bit more mana consumption."
Hearing Eric say this, Judy placed her legs around Eric's waist, letting Eric's hands support her legs.
Eric felt the weight on his back; this little witch was indeed not light.
But it didn't matter.
The Wind Wolf Boots glowed with a silvery-white light.
These small leather boots, first completed by Old Buck and then refined by Atai'er, once again found their purpose.
Their effect was quite impressive.
With the supply of mana, Eric clearly felt the weight lessen.
He chugged a mana potion and said:
"Hold on tight."
Feeling the hands supporting her legs, Judy's round face flushed slightly as she gripped Eric's shoulders.
"Mm."
Wind Elements circled around the two of them.
A slender figure, carrying the round-faced, pointed-hat witch on his back, sped through the moonlight.