Chapter 330: Compensation
Even Thea, the elven girl Serie had high hopes for, was quickly defeated due to a lack of combat experience, becoming one of the three pinned to the ground.
Seeing the disciples she had carefully selected being as vulnerable as chickens caught by these adventurers, Serie turned her face away in anger. She really didn't want to admit these guys were her students.
Too disgraceful! If word got out, where would she put her face?
Rhodes, on the other hand, watched with great interest, even offering a comment. "Their actual combat experience is still too little. Although these adventurers are strong and not opponents they can handle easily, their ability to adapt on the spot is still too poor. At the very least, they shouldn't have been subdued so simply."
"It seems we'll have to arrange some special training for them when we get back."
Hearing this, Serie nodded heavily, a somewhat fierce expression appearing on her face.
She was already calculating in her heart how she would train these disappointing apprentices once they returned.
But before that, she had to clean up the mess before her eyes and "rescue" these disgraceful fools from the adventurers.
Just as the lead warrior spotted a gap in Alvin's casting and prepared to dash in for the finishing blow, Serie acted.
An invisible, heavy force appeared instantly. Centered on the conflict, everyone within a ten-meter radius—whether it was Alvin and the others in fierce combat, the adventurers who had subdued their opponents, or even some nearby civilians—felt their bodies sink abruptly.
Every movement became incredibly difficult; even lifting a finger required immense effort.
everyone was forcibly frozen in place by this sudden force, unable to move from their previous postures.
"Gravity Magic..." some knowledgeable mages in the crowd whispered in alarm.
To cast such a powerful gravity field while controlling its range meant the caster's magical attainment must be unfathomable.
The adventurers tried to struggle but to no avail. The leader tested his restraints and, finding he couldn't break free immediately, lowered his head, his thoughts unknown.
For a moment, whether it was Alvin's group or the adventurers, everyone looked toward the source of the magic.
At the end of the path automatically opened by the crowd, a petite elven girl with dazzling long golden hair and exquisite features was slowly lowering her raised hand.
"It is... it is Lady Serie!" someone recognized her and cried out.
Although Serie rarely left the Magic Association, her portrait was widely circulated, especially in the Kingdom of Ersten. No mage failed to recognize this legendary existence.
Seeing Serie appear, Alvin and the others were stunned at first, then complex expressions appeared on their faces as they struggled to speak: "Tea... Teacher..."
Hearing this "Teacher," combined with her appearance and that terrifying Gravity Magic, the adventurers had no more doubts.
Before them was indeed the legendary Elven Saint Serie, the strongest mage of the current era.
Although news that the God-slayer Rhodes was still alive was gradually becoming known to everyone on the continent, and a significant portion believed he was the strongest mage, due to Rhodes's lack of clear combat records over the past millennium, most still regarded Serie as the strongest.
The adventurers turned ashen, their arrogance vanishing instantly without a trace.
Although they prided themselves on their strength, they knew deeply how vast the gap was between them and a legendary figure standing at the pinnacle of the continent.
Theoretically, warriors countered mages, but that was under the condition that the gap between the two sides wasn't too large.
Against a mage of Serie's level, even the recorded savior of the world, the elven warrior Kraft, probably wouldn't have confidence in winning.
At this moment, Serie spoke grumpily, her voice filled with undisguised disgust. "Do not call me Teacher. I do not have such disgraceful apprentices."
This sentence lashed at the hearts of Alvin and the others like a whip, making them too ashamed to lift their heads.
After speaking, Serie waved her small hand gently, and the terrifying gravity shrouding the area vanished instantly.
Thump! Thump!
Several adventurers, losing the restraint suddenly and unable to control their bodies, fell directly to the ground, looking quite wretched.
Alvin and the others regained their freedom but kept their heads lowered, daring not look at Serie.
"Alright, this farce ends here." Serie's gaze swept over both sides, her tone allowing no question. "Disperse."
However, among the adventurers, after catching his breath, the lead warrior stepped forward bravely. "Lady Serie! We have no intention of offending you or your students. But your disciples truly destroyed our magical materials. Those materials are very precious, the main harvest of our adventure this time. To just let it go... we... we truly cannot accept it!"
As he spoke, a barely perceptible slyness flashed deep in his eyes. He seemed to be betting that a big shot like Serie, constrained by status and face, wouldn't haggle too much over such a small matter.
Hearing this, Serie laughed in anger. She crossed her arms and lifted her chin slightly. "Oh? You mean you are unconvinced? Want to fight me?"
As her words fell, invisible mana seemed to gather around her.
The remaining adventurers were terrified, waving their hands repeatedly, their faces pale.
Fight Serie? What was the difference between that and suicide?
No matter how confident they were, they didn't dare challenge such a legendary existence.
"No, no, no! We have absolutely no such intention!" the lead warrior explained hurriedly. "It is just that these magical materials are indeed valuable. Our team relies on them to exchange for resources for cultivation and living, so we hope to receive reasonable compensation..."
Serie frowned.
Although she had a bad temper, she wasn't unreasonable. If her disciples were indeed at fault first, compensation was due.
She sensed briefly. Judging from the mana fluctuations emitted by the broken box of materials, they were indeed valuable magical materials.
"Fine," she waved her hand impatiently, as if shooing away flies. "I will have someone compensate you double later. Now, immediately, disappear from my sight."
Hearing this, the lead warrior thanked her repeatedly. "Thank you, Lady Serie! Thank you! You are truly magnanimous!"
As he spoke, seemingly out of excessive excitement, he involuntarily took a few more steps toward Serie, closing the distance.
To bystanders, this action didn't seem problematic; they assumed it was just excitement.
A legendary figure not only didn't pursue their offense but was willing to compensate for the loss. Subconsciously getting closer in excitement was perfectly normal.
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