Mage Adam

According to what Priscilla said, Adam's role in the trials was mainly as a powerful enforcer. He needed to step in to handle emergencies when necessary.

The trial area was massive, with unexpected incidents happening frequently.

Whenever the command center encountered a problem too difficult for the apprentices to manage, they called on level-four mages like Adam to intervene.

"On Islands No. 3 and 4, the antimages has found a way to enhance Abyssal creatures. Over 20,000 abyssal bloodseekers in that area have grown stronger, increasing by one level. Numerous level-three bloodseekers have appeared, far beyond what the apprentices can handle. We need you and several other level-four mages to eliminate them as quickly as possible," a level-two mage urgently explained through Adam's communicator. "There are nearly three thousand apprentices in the region, and they are in serious danger. Please move at once."

"I understand. I'm on my way." Ending the communication, Adam reviewed what he knew about the bloodseekers.

Bloodseekers were humanoid creatures from an abyssal plane, though their origins were unclear.

Mages believed them to be a hybrid between demons and beast races. They lived off the blood of other creatures, and they were extremely aggressive.

They were considered one of the most dangerous abyssal species.

Their weaknesses were well known---they had almost no resistance to elemental magic, especially water magic.

A simple evaporation spell could dry out large numbers of bloodseekers at the same level. Normally, they posed no major threat to mages unless...

...

"Damn it! The antimages have strengthened the bloodseekers! They've increased their elemental resistance and added bizarre abilities to them. Water magic barely affects them now!" an apprentice shouted in frustration, shattering the activation crystal on his chest.

Etheric light enveloped him as he ascended into the ranks of a full-fledged mage.

He cast a fire rain spell on a swarm of level-one bloodseekers charging at him, their limbs clawing frantically at the ground.

The bloodseekers shrieked in pain as they burned, but even as their flesh sizzled and emitted the smell of cooked meat, they didn't retreat. Instead, they charged forward with even more aggression.

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Crystal hovered mid-air, her expression sharp. She whispered, "Wind and Frog!"

Instantly, a thick mist spread out, filled with fine wind blades and spinning vortexes like sharp knives. The bloodseekers' vision was momentarily blocked.

Eliott quickly rummaged through his pack, pulling out five colorful bottles and tossing them forward. As they shattered, rune formations appeared, spreading toxic gas that moved not with the wind but within it, covering a wide area.

With their vision obscured, the group picked up their pace, knowing they couldn't face the bloodseekers head-on.

The creatures were too numerous and utterly fearless. If the group got caught, even more bloodseekers would swarm them. They had already seen several new mages fall to such ambushes.

Their combined magic had slowed the bloodseekers' advance, but no one dared relax.

"That's the Bloodthirst ability. Within its range, no living creature can escape their detection!" Crystal warned, her voice tense.

"Suppress your blood smell as much as possible! If we don't, they'll never stop hunting us!" Ophelia urged, riding atop Dark Cloud. She cast a concealment spell while shouting instructions to her companions.

Everyone knew Ophelia was right, but most elemental mages lacked the ability to conceal their blood smell. They could hide their magical energy, but masking their blood was beyond their skill.

Crystal bit her lip. "I'll hold them off. You go ahead and find help. The higher-level mages should arrive soon to handle this."

The newly ascended fire mage hesitated, his expression torn. Finally, he stood beside Crystal. "Go! If none of us stay behind, none of us will make it out."

Eliott, drenched in sweat, frantically tossed materials into the Alchemic Array in his hands. He glanced up, his voice urgent. "We don't need a rearguard! Just give me two minutes! I can mask our blood smell!"

Ophelia summoned a knight's lance, her blood smell flaring as it merged with her magic.

A crimson-gold light flashed around her, and Dark Cloud turned mid-air, carrying her toward the bloodseekers.

"Ophelia! What are you doing?" Crystal shouted after her.

Without turning, Ophelia called back, "These two minutes are mine to handle!"

Her speed increased as she charged forward, lance aimed at the bloodseekers. In the mist ahead, blood sprayed, and the creatures' howls filled the air.

The group watched anxiously, unable to help. They knew that trying to assist without masking their blood smell would only make them targets. Until Eliott finished, they were stuck waiting.

Eliott's hands moved rapidly, his alchemical skills steady despite the pressure. Normally, alchemy required calm conditions to measure ingredients with precision, but the urgency pushed him to his limits.

The two minutes felt like an eternity. The group stood guard, ready to fend off any stray bloodseekers that might break through from another direction.

Fueled by desperation, Eliott completed his potion twenty seconds ahead of schedule.

As alchemical light glowed around them, he gathered the deep green liquid into small orbs and passed them out.

After quickly drinking his own, he said, "This is a weakening potion. Drink it now, and I'll give you the antidote once we're safe." He then activated a communication spell and called out to Ophelia, "It's done! Come back!"

...

Meanwhile, in another part of the trial zone, the command center was briefing Adam's avatar.

"Mage Adam, this is the situation," a level-two mage explained. "This intel came from several apprentices. They're safe for now but won't last much longer. There are many others in the surrounding areas, and the death toll is rising rapidly."

Unaware that he was speaking to Adam's avatar and not Adam himself, the mage assumed the energy radiating from the creation confirmed Adam's presence.

Adam, directing his focus through the avatar, began programming the Electromagnetic Robot.

He inputted enemy and ally data, set mission objectives, and provided specific commands.

Once the robot's Vital Generator had absorbed enough energy, it distorted the space around it and stepped directly into the danger zone.

Although Adam's true body remained in the Tower's laboratory, he saw this as the perfect opportunity to test the robot's combat abilities.

He monitored its performance remotely, gathering valuable data as the robot carried out its mission.

"Hostile targets detected," the robot's radar picked up the bloodseekers, red dots flooding its vision. "Large numbers of low-level individuals. Beginning extermination."