Ascension from Dual Professions

Chapter 162: Chapter 160: Surviving a Great Disaster

VMMMM—!

The very instant Claudio’s [Mirror Realm Corridor] took form, the pure white orb of light above the cloaked figure’s head burst open silently.

There was no earth-shattering explosion, no blinding light or heat.

There were only countless pure white rays of light, just like the one that had pierced Jon’s chest moments before. They shot out with precision toward every locked target, aimed straight for vital points like the space between the eyebrows and the heart!

PFFT! PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!

A dense and faint buzzing sound arose, enough to make one’s scalp tingle.

However, the anticipated tragedy of everyone being struck down never came to pass.

The moment they were about to hit their targets, the paths of all the pure white rays of light bizarrely warped!

As if guided by an unseen force, they plunged headfirst into the nearest spatial mirror!

Upon contact with the spatial ripples, the rays of light entered what seemed to be an endlessly looping maze, ricocheting, refracting, and disintegrating wildly between countless intersecting mirrors!

A single ray of light instantly split into dozens, then hundreds of finer filaments, which darted through the silver mirrors, colliding and annihilating one another!

In an instant, the entire [Mirror Realm Corridor] was filled with countless frantically leaping white lights, creating a bizarre and grotesque yet deadly scene, like an activated, fatal kaleidoscope.

Claudio’s expression was grim.

Defense is more difficult than destruction. Casting such a complex and precise Defense Magic in such a hurry was an immense burden, even for him.

It was only a moment, yet it felt like an eternity.

When the last wisp of pure white light had exhausted its Energy and was utterly annihilated within the mirror maze, the tens of thousands of spatial mirrors also popped like silent bubbles, vanishing into the air.

In the square, the targeted individuals only felt a cold prick at the center of their brow or over their heart, as if lightly touched by an icy needle. Then, the fatal sense of being locked on vanished, leaving them dazed and too slow to react.

Claudio gasped for breath, his sharp gaze sweeping like a hawk’s over the spot where the cloaked figure had been.

It was empty.

There were no spatial fluctuations, no residual Energy, not even the slightest trace left behind.

The mysterious figure in the gray cloak had vanished without a sound, just as silently as they had appeared, as if they had never been there at all. Only the charred crater from Sutton’s thunderous strike, the chaotic aftermath of the battle, and the lingering smell of scorched flesh and faint blood in the air proved that what had just happened was not an illusion.

"What a... bizarre way to escape..."

Hearing Claudio mutter this to himself, the Old Dwarf beside him snorted coldly.

"Hmph, and they call you the genius of the Elves, yet you couldn’t even stop him from leaving! For all your eight hundred years, you might as well have been living in a goblin’s gut!"

With that, he turned his stocky body and went to check on Jon’s injuries, who was enveloped in a silver light.

Faced with his old friend’s scathing mockery, the Elf Blacksmith could only offer a bitter smile.

He had been about to leave after delivering the [Crystal Scorpion Armor], but Sutton had insisted on keeping him, dragging him into idle chatter, which was why he had stayed at the Chamber of Commerce.

With his wisdom, how could he not know that Sutton had done this deliberately, just to keep him here and add an extra layer of security for everyone at the Chamber of Commerce?

But for a powerhouse of his caliber, it really didn’t matter. He was just helping out an old friend.

Then, he had watched Jon return and fight.

Only then did his interest truly pique.

Jon’s execution of the Dragon Flame Dance and his Dragon Might Burst were "exquisite" skills, even to an Elf with exceptionally high standards. And the Old Dwarf had even boasted:

"I’ve watched this kid grow up. He only just awakened his Power a short while ago. How’s his talent compare to yours?"

It was, of course, exceptionally outstanding.

Even someone as gifted as Claudio had to admit that this young man was truly extraordinary.

Then, right under their noses, this extraordinary genius was ambushed.

A single blow pierced his chest, nearly killing him instantly!

’The Old Dwarf has every right to be angry. As a great Mage, failing to notice the enemy’s appearance and movements is indeed an unforgivable oversight.’

"Sigh..."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Claudio could only suppress the thought of making amends and continue casting his Magic to clear out the remaining Eternal Frost Cultists in the square.

At this point, the others finally snapped out of their shock.

From their perspective, Jon’s ambush and the subsequent clash between the three powerhouses had all happened in the blink of an eye.

A battle of this level was far beyond the limits of their Perception.

But now was not the time to be awestruck.

Rosalind was the first to react. Her silver eyes saw only Jon’s figure as she rushed recklessly to Claudio’s side. Her trembling hand reached out, wanting to touch the man enveloped in a silver halo, his presence now terrifyingly faint.

"Master!"

Reya also broke free from Joyina and stumbled over, her emerald eyes welling with tears.

"Mr. Jon!"

Her voice, choked with sobs, was filled with helplessness and unbearable pain.

"Alright, dry your tears, little ladies!"

Sutton heaved a heavy sigh and withdrew the hand he had pressed against Jon’s chest. The light from the Runes on his fingertips faded.

"This kid’s Constitution is abnormal. Anyone else would have died ten times over from that last blow!"

"Thankfully, Claudio was quick enough to pull him back from the brink. At least he’s still breathing."

He paused, his gaze complicated as he looked at Jon’s pale face.

"But the wound destroyed most of one lung and a small part of his heart. Even with his strong Recovery Power, he’ll need a long time to recuperate!"

"During that time, he must rest properly. There can’t be any complications!"

Hearing that he was "still breathing" allowed Rosalind’s tense body to relax for a moment, but the mention of "a long time" to recuperate for an injury to his "lung and heart" made her heart clench all over again.

She didn’t respond to Sutton’s words, only silently drew closer to Jon, using her own body to shield him as much as possible, as if afraid of another attack.

Meanwhile, Reya wiped the tears from her face forcefully, the grief in her emerald eyes quickly replaced by a steely resolve.

She straightened her back, her flame-like red hair seeming to glow anew with her willpower. Her voice, carrying an undeniable strength, rang out clearly.

"The Xavier Chamber of Commerce will spare no expense to ensure Mr. Jon receives the best treatment and recovery!"

Her gaze swept across the area, finally landing on the just-arrived Xia and Xina sisters, whose faces were also pale. She added,

"Sister Joyina, please contact Grandpa Ingram immediately! Ask him to request high-purity Life Saint Water and a healing ritual. I will bear the cost!"

"On my authority as the Divine Favored!"

This was the first time she had ever made such a request to the Sun Church using this status.

Joyina, Xia, and Xina immediately gave a solemn reply.

"By our Lord Po Ao, your will shall be done."