Those warriors were bound in midair, twisting their bodies as they tried to break free from the taut vines.
No matter how hard they struggled, the vines were like steel shackles, locking them firmly in place.
Elsa stood quietly where she was. She was the only one not restrained by the spell.
She looked at her subordinates who had already lost their fighting ability and slowly let out a breath.
Gripping the massive blade at her waist, she raised it before her, treating the situation as a life-or-death confrontation.
Aurelian, meanwhile, was skillfully placed at Viktor's side.
"It looks like you really want to fight me."
Viktor looked at the guarded Elsa and said indifferently, "What is it that's made you suppress your anger all this time?"
Elsa lowered her body, drawing herself tight like a bow, her posture resembling that of a hunting leopard.
Viktor looked at her, the corners of his mouth lifting as he suddenly laughed.
"Because of Cindy? That warrior I crippled?"
In an instant, Elsa's eyes widened as she shot forward like an arrow released from its string. The surrounding air seemed to tear open under the sheer speed of her dash, splitting with a sharp hiss.
In a blink, Elsa became a blur. A cold gleam traced a silver-white arc through the air, aimed straight at Viktor.
The blade vibrated continuously from the friction with the air, its killing light growing even sharper.
Aurelian, watching from the side, immediately widened her eyes.
'So fast!'
That extreme burst of speed made it impossible for her to see Elsa's form clearly.
But…
Viktor's reaction was even faster.
The instant the afterimage stabbed toward him, Viktor simply extended one hand and calmly caught the blade.
A layer of molten lava clung to his palm, forming an impenetrable, powerful defense.
The moment her blade was seized, Elsa saw the strange molten guard up close and stared in shock.
Viktor only looked at her with disdain.
"Do you know how I beat Cindy?"
A dangerous sensation shot straight up Elsa's spine. She instinctively tried to pull her weapon back, but Viktor's massive, lava-wrapped fist was already crashing down from above her head.
"Like this!"
Bang!
A heavy punch slammed into the top of Elsa's head. The violent impact instantly robbed her of her senses, her mind going completely blank.
The pain was amplified in a flash, sending her crashing to the ground, rolling helplessly in the dirt.
After a long while, Elsa's senses gradually returned.
But all that did was bring even more intense pain.
The blue light in Viktor's eyes slowly faded.
[Strength Enhancement (Large)]
"Looks like you're not as strong as Cindy."
"A speed-type fighter? Or an assassin?"
Enduring the pain, Elsa retreated to a safer spot. Her figure gradually faded, blending into the surroundings as if becoming one with the environment.
This was an assassin's skill.
[Concealment]
It was hard to imagine that a woman carrying such a massive blade could actually be an assassin.
Although assassins were highly effective against fragile mage-type classes, still, "You're not worthy of me taking you seriously."
Viktor extended a hand. Magic flickered at his fingertips, and the concealed Elsa was instantly drawn toward him.
A powerful hand clamped around Elsa's throat, lifting her into the air.
She struggled desperately in Viktor's grip, using all her strength to pry at his fingers, not even caring that her great blade had fallen to the ground.
With a violent swing, Viktor flung her away, embedding her into a giant tree.
Dust and debris exploded outward. Even the elves watching from behind were startled by the sheer power of the blow.
Aurelian stared blankly at Viktor.
'Teacher Viktor's fighting style… why is it... so different from other mages?'
'Is this the correct way for a mage to fight?'
She felt as if she'd gained some understanding, but then suddenly realized, the problem had grown far too serious.
Teacher Viktor and the Lesser family were really fighting each other.
Suddenly, the warriors broke free from the vines.
Without Viktor continuously supplying magic, the vines had grown more fragile.
That was the only reason they were able to barely tear themselves loose.
They landed on the ground and, before they could even steady themselves, prepared to rush over to support Elsa.
But the next second, Viktor raised one hand and pressed it gently downward.
A gray magic formation rapidly took shape in midair.
[Second-Tier Magic: Gravity]
A vast amount of magic poured into the formation, slamming countless warriors brutally into the ground, leaving them unable to lift even a single finger.
"As spectators, you can just stay there and keep watching."
"I don't have the leisure to play around with you."
As he finished speaking, a sharp whistling of wind reached his ears.
At some point, Elsa had already stood back up. Her great blade was once again in her hands as she charged toward Viktor.
Viktor raised a single finger. A red magic circle rapidly formed before him, like a giant lion holding up a solid shield.
The totem merged into the center of the red formation, and a barrier appeared in front of Viktor.
[Second-Tier Magic: Moses' Blessing]
The high-speed charge struck the barrier, and the red shield shattered with a thunderous crash.
Elsa was just about to press the advantage and attack Viktor in the instant the shield disappeared, but Viktor calmly placed one finger against her forehead, as if giving a light tap.
Elsa froze for a moment, a sense of dread rising from deep within her heart.
By the time she realized what was happening, it was already too late.
[Second-Tier Magic: Light Explosion]
Almost instantly, a crimson blast erupted with a deafening roar, smoke and dust billowing outward.
Struck by the massive impact, Elsa was sent flying out of the smoke like a kite with its string cut.
As the dust slowly settled, Viktor stood calmly where he was, not even his coat disturbed in the slightest.
Watching Viktor deal with Elsa's attacks so effortlessly, Aurelian sensed a quality that belonged uniquely to Viktor.
Elegance.
It was hard for her to associate that word with the profession of mage.
The stronger the mage, the more powerful the magic they used, and the longer the chant and preparation required.
All the mages who had once taught her were basically like that.
Such cumbersome behavior had little to do with elegance.
But watching Viktor fight felt almost like a kind of enjoyment.
What he used were merely the most basic, most ordinary spells.
Yet he fought an assassin with ease, even overwhelming her completely.
It was as if... he had been through countless battles.
Viktor continued responding to Elsa's attacks, countering each move. His attention was spread across his surroundings.
He stood in place, yet seemed completely flawless.
'But why is teacher only using first- and second-tier spells?'
'Could it be...'
"Is teacher… teaching me?!"
Aurelian was stunned.
Even in a situation like this, Teacher Viktor was still giving her a lesson?
But Viktor's calm dominance looked more like humiliation in Elsa's eyes.
She grew furious. Her muscles trembled, her blood flowing at high speed.
Her attacks became faster and faster.
Cold flashes streaked again and again, yet Viktor, as if he had predicted them all, easily and skillfully avoided each strike and knocked her back with simple counters.
The great blade constantly carved into the ground, gouging deep trenches into the earth.
After a long while, Viktor remained completely unscathed.
The great blade never stopped swinging, and Elsa gradually descended into madness.
"Why! Why, why, why?!"
She couldn't accept this.
Even if Viktor had used fourth-tier magic and crushed her with full force, she could have accepted that.
But he only ever responded with low-tier magic.
One defense, one attack.
Every counter was extremely effective.
The damage wasn't high, but the humiliation was overwhelming.
Her storm-like barrage of attacks never managed to touch Viktor even once.
Her mindset grew increasingly unstable, doubt creeping in.
Her attacks became faster, faster, faster, until her body suddenly froze in midair.
[First-Tier Magic: Telekinesis]
"Have you had enough?"
Viktor pointed downward with his finger.
With a loud crash, Elsa was slammed hard into the ground.
She tried to stand, but Viktor lifted one foot and stepped on her head.
She couldn't lift her head at all.
She struggled desperately, trying to raise it, but even such a simple motion was impossible.
Viktor looked down at her from above.
"What is Cindy to you?"
"Husband? Lover? Or…"
"You just like him? Admire his strength?"
At these words, Elsa's struggling grew even more violent.
As if he had his answer, the corners of Viktor's mouth curved upward.
"So that's it."
"Then compared to him, I should be stronger, right?"
With her face buried in the dirt, Elsa suddenly stopped struggling.
Seeing her reaction, Viktor laughed with clear delight.
As if he had thought of something amusing, he spoke with a smile, yet his words sounded like those of a demon in Elsa's ears.
"I can let that fourth-tier warrior go, and I can also spare everyone here."
"But the price is that you follow me and become mine."
"And then, by your own hand, you cripple Cindy."
At these words, Elsa became furious once more, but Viktor continued calmly, "Otherwise, tomorrow you'll see that man's corpse hanging at the Lesser family's gate."
At that point, she stopped struggling entirely.
Viktor was very satisfied.
"Choose. I believe you'll make the right decision."
Although the warriors' bodies were embedded in the ground, they still struggled to shout loudly, "No! Don't agree to him!"
"Our reinforcements will arrive soon, Miss Elsa, please hold on!"
"Madam! Please 'upgrade' us!"
But Cassandra showed no reaction at all, and Viktor turned his head, his gaze falling on her.
"Upgrade?"
The crow on Viktor's shoulder flashed with golden light in its eye, like the morning sun, making one feel at ease.
Viktor's body was suddenly wrapped in holy light. A mysterious power surged through his blood.
Every aspect of his physical attributes began to skyrocket.
The warriors struggled to lift their heads, only to see Viktor radiating golden light, completely dumbfounded.
"This familiar power…"
It was clearly Madam Cassandra's ability.
But why was that power being applied to Viktor?
Their gazes shifted to Cassandra, kneeling on the ground, her soul seemingly gone.
'Madam Cassandra, have you betrayed the Lesser family?'
Viktor withdrew the foot pressing on Elsa's head and slowly turned around.
Carrying what seemed like divine authority, he looked down with contempt at the warriors embedded in the ground.
"The upgrade you mentioned…"
"Is this it?"