Chapter 7

Oh no, if I had thought of it earlier, I definitely wouldn't have used the Frost Spell. After all, it's just a control spell with limited power. I should have used a burst spell like Fire Blast. Even if he had a magic item that could resist magical damage, it wouldn't have been as easy for him as it is now. Not to mention, the shockwave from the Fire Blast alone would have been enough to knock him flat on his back, completely disoriented.

Alright, this was just a small mishap. Let's switch to Fire Blast!

After reassuring himself, Raymond began to chant the incantation for Fire Blast with renewed confidence. This time, Raymond was very steady, neither abbreviating the incantation nor casting it while moving. He stood there, reciting the incantation word by word, from the arrangement of elements to the rotation of the magic vortex, everything was as standard as a textbook. Even the strictest teacher would find no fault with it.

This time, there won't be any mishaps, Raymond thought to himself with satisfaction.

However...

Before Raymond could finish his smug thoughts, a sharp whistle suddenly sounded in his ear.

There was a "whoosh" as if something had torn through the air, and then Raymond suddenly felt a tingling sensation in his shoulder. He flew up like a kite with a broken string...

He flew several meters before landing heavily on the ground.

Only then did Raymond feel a burning sensation on his shoulder. Recalling the sharp whistling sound, he immediately realized it was a Hurricane Lash, a level two spell!

But realizing it didn't mean understanding it. In fact, after recognizing it as a Hurricane Lash, Raymond became even more confused. What... what's going on? How could a Hurricane Lash appear here? Raymond even wondered if he had chanted the wrong incantation, mistaking the Hurricane Lash for Fire Blast, and thus suffered a spell backlash?

Otherwise, how could this be explained? Could it be that a magic apprentice actually cast this Hurricane Lash?

The explanation came quickly...

Before Raymond could even struggle to stand up, another sharp whistling sound rang in his ear. Then, his other shoulder tingled, and he flew up again like a broken kite.

No way...

Lying on the ground again, Raymond's mind was in a daze. What's going on? I didn't chant the wrong incantation, so why did a Hurricane Lash appear?

Could it really be...

Thinking about it, Raymond's face gradually turned pale. Even the most clumsy mage couldn't make the same mistake twice, nor could they suffer the same spell backlash twice. The only reasonable explanation was that those two Hurricane Lashes were indeed cast by a ninth-level magic apprentice.

No, no, not a ninth-level magic apprentice...

That bastard cast two Hurricane Lashes with just a wave of his hand, clearly using incantation abbreviation and silent casting. Damn it, this bastard is a mage, a mage who has mastered at least two magical abilities!

For a moment, Raymond felt like dying. Why would a perfectly fine mage pretend to be a magic apprentice just to use Hurricane Lashes on me? Are you a bit psychologically twisted...

Raymond couldn't understand at all. When did this bastard become a mage? A month ago, he was still a ninth-level magic apprentice. How did he suddenly become a mage, and even master at least two magical abilities? Is there any justice in this world?

"How could you possibly become a mage?"

"Why not?" Lin Yun gave Raymond a strange look, not bothering to explain. He just said casually, "By the way, don't forget to thank your father when you go back."

"What do you mean?" Raymond was taken aback.

But Lin Yun had no intention of answering.

In fact, if Lin Yun hadn't suddenly remembered that respectable old man, Raymond would have already been a corpse when the Frost Spell was cast. The vigilance he had developed from surviving for over twenty years in the apocalypse was not something Raymond's incantation abbreviation and mobile casting could deceive.

Almost as soon as the magical fluctuation changed, Lin Yun had an Ice Spike in his hand. If nothing had gone wrong, the Ice Spike would have pierced Raymond's forehead when the Frost Spell was cast and the magic vortex contracted.

As Lin Yun had said, Raymond should thank Old Pavie. Just as the Ice Spike was about to be released, Lin Yun suddenly realized that this was no longer a life-or-death situation in the apocalypse. The attack on him was not aimed at killing him. Moreover, the father of this young mage was a respectable old man.

So, Lin Yun held back the Ice Spike and used a crude magic shield to block the Frost Spell.

"By the way, come help me with something."

It was still that annoying commanding tone, but at this point, Raymond didn't dare to say anything. A mage who could casually use two Hurricane Lashes to knock him down was not someone to be easily refused. If there was any argument, he would definitely be the one to suffer.

So, Raymond had to grit his teeth and ask, "What do you want me to do?"

"Perform a magical treatment on them." Lin Yun pointed to a few glass bottles while busy at the alchemy table.

"Oh..."

Performing a magical treatment was one of the simplest alchemical operations. For Raymond, who was now a mage, it was not complicated. In fact, every mage would have some knowledge of alchemy, and many high-level mages were also top-notch alchemists.

Since the birth of alchemy, it has been closely related to magic. They complement each other. To achieve great success in the world of magic, one cannot do without the support of alchemy. Alchemical equipment can bring direct combat power enhancement, alchemical potions can provide replenishment when needed, and alchemical puppets are known as strategic-level forces. A mage without the support of alchemy, no matter how talented, would have limited achievements.

Similarly, alchemy cannot do without magic. A good mage is not necessarily a good alchemist, but a good alchemist is definitely a good mage. This might sound a bit awkward, but it is true. For more complex alchemical formulas, a large amount of magical knowledge is required. An ordinary person might achieve some success in alchemy through talent and effort, but to conduct more in-depth research, one must be a mage.

Raymond's achievements in alchemy were not high, and he was still far from being able to create magical items. However, performing a magical treatment on a few glass bottles was not a problem. Raymond treated the glass bottles one by one, skillfully and easily. Even while doing this, Raymond had time to wonder when that bastard had become a mage...

Hey, what's that smell?

Just as Raymond was deep in thought, a strong, pungent smell suddenly came. Raymond first frowned in disgust, but then his expression suddenly changed.

Because Raymond clearly saw that the person beside the alchemy table had just thrown a firestone into a test tube...

"Damn..." Raymond sucked in a cold breath. Once a firestone is stimulated by magic, it instantly produces a temperature of several hundred degrees. This thing in the crimson coral solution is like dry wood and fire.

It's over, this time I'm really done for. Watching the firestone fall into the test tube, a red glow blooming, Raymond could already feel the heat of several hundred degrees coming from afar.

Raymond wanted to curse, but it was too late. Under the heat of several hundred degrees, the crimson coral solution was completely out of control, and wild magic was raging. Red light shot up into the sky, and the entire alchemy laboratory was bathed in blood-red light. Large red bubbles were rushing out of the test tube, and feeling the terrifying magical fluctuations, Raymond resignedly closed his eyes.

"I'm dead this time..."