Magical energy trembled in the air as fireballs, wind des, and other spells rained down on Borus Kendra, leaving the researchers observing from a distance stunned and filled with worry.


    Chelse, Ace, and the others rushed forward, their des and weapons shing at Borus Kendra. Their strikes tore through his skin, and blood immediately began to flow.


    For a brief moment, everyone was ted. After all, it was well known that mages were physically frail. Once a body-refining warrior closed in, it usually spelled certain death for the mage!


    But just as Dean Bruce pressed his attack, he suddenly felt a chilling sensation down his spine, as if he had plunged into an icy abyss. Without hesitation, he dispersed the lightning from his fists and, with wind at his feet, quickly retreated while shouting, "Fall back, now!"


    His instincts screamed that even Blood for Bloodwouldn''t be enough to withstand what wasing next!


    The group froze, unsure of what Dean Bruce meant.


    Weren''t they gaining the upper hand? Why retreat?


    Only Alita Miller trusted Dean Bruce fully. Even though she didn''t understand why, she immediately backed away.


    In the blink of an eye, the tide of battle shifted. In that brief moment of hesitation, blood suddenly erupted from Borus Kendra''s body, shooting out like arrows aimed at the group.


    Screams filled the air as the blood struck its targets. Wherever it touched, the skin instantly ignited, burning fiercely. Their flesh seemed to turn into fuel, feeding the mes. No matter how desperately they pounded at the fire or rolled on the ground, they couldn''t extinguish it.


    Seeing this, Lina Jones beat her wings, sending blue droplets of light down like rain toward the burning figures.


    But before the droplets could reach them, Borus Kendra''s eyes snapped open. In the next instant, the flesh of those caught in the mes exploded like bombs.


    Blood rained from the sky, mingled with the stench of scorched flesh, leaving the survivors wide-eyed in horror.


    "Run! Run for your lives!"


    Panic broke out as they scrambled away, fear overriding any thought of attacking Borus Kendra. Their faces were pale with terror as they turned to flee.


    Boom!


    In the air above, the glowing book in Carol Lane''s hands shattered violently. The bacsh hit her hard, sending her plummeting to the ground, blood pouring from her nose and mouth in a horrifying spectacle.


    Dean Bruce, retreating quickly, managed to catch the falling Carol Lane, putting enough distance between them and Borus Kendra.


    "Agh! The pain!"


    In the distance, Borus Kendra staggered as he broke free from the controlling spell. Shaking his head, he let out a low, menacing growl. "I never expected a group of lowly mages and grand mages to actually harm me. It''s... truly unimaginable!"


    "You, in particr," Borus Kendra said, his voice dripping with intrigue. "I can''t sense any strong magical energy from you, yet you''re able to cast spells instantly, and they''re unexpectedly powerful. You managed to paralyze me, make even my insides feel pain!"


    "You''ve piqued my curiosity. I swear, I will spare your life... so I can extract every one of your secrets."


    As he spoke, Borus Kendra licked his lips, his gaze locking onto Dean Bruce as if he were admiring a rare treasure.


    He showed no concern for those who had been burned or blown apart by his blood. Step by step, he advanced toward Dean Bruce, raising his hands slightly. The mes still burning on the ground seemed toe alive, swirling upwards and forming into fireballs thatnded in his palms.


    Dean Bruce furrowed his brows. Though he didn''t sense any immediate danger, he didn''t make a reckless move, instead preparing to cast Blood for Bloodat a moment''s notice.


    He had to admit, Borus Kendra, this veteran grand Magus, was far more formidable than Boken Nadra. The sheer pressure emanating from him was overwhelming.


    Whoosh—


    Suddenly, the sound of the air splitting pierced the battlefield. Lina Jones, bathed in a glowing blue light, her sword and shield intertwined, dove down at high speed, charging straight at Borus Kendra!


    "I almost forgot about you," Borus Kendra said, ncing up at Lina Jones. He didn''t flinch, didn''t even stop walking. He let her swing her sword and shield, striking him directly.


    But the moment her shield smashed into him, and her short sword shed across his body, Borus Kendra''s form turned into pure me. The weapons passed right through him, leaving him unharmed.


    The sight caused everyone''s eyes to widen in shock, their hearts filled with dread. Even Lina Jones, in her angelic form, couldn''t help but feel a wave of intense emotion.


    Borus Kendra cast a calm gaze at Lina Jones, his expression unchanged. "If an angel were truly controlling your body, I might show some respect. But a little girl like you daring to challenge me? You''re courting death."


    As he finished speaking, his body solidified. With a swift motion, he clenched his right fist, mes surging around it, and threw a powerful punch aimed at Lina''s chest.


    Her wings pped, trying to shield her, but they collided with Borus''s ming fist.


    A deafening boom echoed across the battlefield, and Lina Jones was sent flying, the blue light surrounding her body dissipating rapidly as she tumbled to the ground.


    "Did... did he just break the Divine Descentspell with a single punch?"


    "My god! What kind of power does Borus Kendra possess?"


    "He''s unbelievably strong…"


    The sound of people swallowing nervously echoed through the stunned crowd. Watching Lina revert to her normal form, those who had survived felt their legs give way beneath them, nearly copsing in fear. Their gazes, now filled with terror, were fixed on Borus Kendra.


    At this moment, all their hopes rested solely on Dean Bruce.


    "So weak, so boring." With a sigh and a shake of his head, Borus Kendra made no move to finish off the wounded Lina Jones, nor did he bother with anyone else. He walked slowly toward Dean Bruce, speaking softly. "You know, your face feels oddly familiar. If you''re willing to reveal your secrets, I might just spare your life. Keeping you as my servant wouldn''t be such a bad idea."


    Dean Bruce''s lip twitched as he gently set Carol Lane down. "Make me your servant? You''re wee to try and see if you can."


    Dean had been considering his options for a while now, not because he didn''t know how to defeat Borus Kendra, but because he didn''t want to waste any of his special items. He preferred to beat Borus using magic, fair and square.


    If he were to use those items, Borus Kendra—no, even ten Borus Kendras—wouldn''t stand a chance against him.


    Hearing this exchange, the others exhaled in relief. Dean''s calm, easy tone reassured them—he clearly had the confidence to win.


    After all their battles together, they hade to trust Dean Brucepletely.


    "You seem so confident," Borus Kendra said with a grin instead of anger. "Let''s see what kind of power you really have!"


    "The fire in my heart will never be extinguished. It will turn into an eternal prison, trapping the guilty within! Prison of Eternal mes!"


    Chanting, Borus Kendra waved his left hand, and blood-red mes surged up from the ground, shooting toward the sky and encircling Dean Bruce and the others in a fiery barrier.


    "Oh spirits of me, turn into meteors, and unleash your zing fury! ming Meteors!"


    The moment Borus began chanting again, Dean Bruce instantly understood his n.


    Borus intended to trap them all inside the prison of mes and then wipe out the rest of the group right in front of him using a barrage of ming meteors!


    "Killing them to break me emotionally? Not a bad strategy," Dean Bruce mused with a smile. "But it''s a shame—you won''t seed."


    If Borus had targeted Dean alone, defending against the attack might have been a challenge. But because he was aiming at the others and casting arge-scale spell, its overall power would be spread out, making the individual damage weaker.


    Dean Bruce''s mastery, with his tenfold power and heightened understanding, was focused on defensive and support spells. Even with the wide gap in their levels, there was still a chance he could block the attack sessfully!


    Borus Kendra''s expression darkened, his voice turning cold. "Talk is cheap. Let''s see how many of these people you can actually save!"


    "ming Meteors, unleash!"


    At Borus''smand, the gathered mes transformed into zing fireballs, streaking through the sky like meteors, tracing graceful arcs as they descended toward Alita Miller, Lina Jones, and the others.


    Everyone looked up as the fireballs rapidly grew in size within their pupils, filling them with dread. In their fear, they squeezed their eyes shut, not daring to watch. All they could do was silently pray that Dean Bruce would be able to protect their lives.


    Footsteps echoed lightly as Dean Bruce walked forward, as if taking a casual stroll, heading straight toward the iing ming meteors.


    He cast The Compassion of Heaven and Earth—the ground surged and shifted, transforming into towering earthen walls, enveloping the group in protective barriers.


    A warm energy flowed through the air, replenishing their previously drained magical reserves. Even Lina Jones and Carol Lane''s injuries began to heal at an astonishing rate.


    "Defense... and restoration... a spell thatbines both? Now that''s intriguing." Borus Kendra narrowed his eyes, sensing the unique energies around him. Rather than interrupt the spell, he allowed himself a moment to study its effects, curious.


    He was confident in his own power, so there was no rush and no fear in his mind.


    However, at that very moment, a strange ripple of energy suddenly spread through the air.


    In an instant, it was as if time itself had frozen. The ming meteors descending from the sky, the raging mes of the Prison of Eternal Fire—everything came to a halt. Even the sounds of battle faded into eerie silence.


    Both Dean Bruce and Borus Kendra''s eyes widened in shock.