Reincarnation of the Last Magus Emperor

Chapter 16

As they approached the next puppet, Merlin took the initiative, his eyes scanning the battlefield for the right moment to strike. The Archer puppet, built with a sleek, humanoid form, was positioned high atop a raised platform, its body a blend of DireFang limbs and Direbird wings. In its hands, it held a long composite bow, its string taut, ready to release an arrow at any sign of movement.

Merlin knew that getting close would be risky. The puppet's arrows, enhanced with mana, could pierce even a seasoned warrior's defenses, and its position offered a clear line of sight to any who dared to approach. But Merlin didn't need to get close.

He raised his hand, gathering mana in his palm, and began to weave the spell. First, he invoked the Static Tether—a 1st Circle spell designed to create a weak but persistent electrical field that could disrupt enemy movements by magnetizing their body. The current flowed outward, crackling through the air toward the puppet's bowstring. For a moment, nothing happened, but then the puppet's movements jerked as the tether latched onto the metallic parts of its equipment.

But Merlin wasn't done. Drawing on his deeper knowledge of Volt Lance, a 2nd Circle spell, he focused his mana into a concentrated bolt of electricity, aimed with precision. His hand snapped forward, sending the charged spear of energy hurtling toward the puppet.

The bolt struck with pinpoint accuracy, striking the archer's bowstring directly. The puppet's string sizzled and burned as electricity coursed through it, destabilizing the puppet's aim. A second strike from the Volt Lance found its mark in the puppet's chest, sending a burst of static shock through its inner workings.

The archer let out a mechanical whir as its systems overloaded, the mana crystal flickering in its chest before collapsing to the ground with a hollow thud, a pile of useless parts.

Merlin lowered his hand, satisfied with the execution. He had taken care of the puppet from a distance, using his precision and mana control to neutralize the threat.

Nia, who had been watching from the side with her arms crossed, shook her head with a rueful smile. "You're doing it again, aren't you?" she called, her voice half amused, half exasperated.

Merlin glanced at her, a slight quirk to his lips. "What's the problem?"

"You're using spells when you should be using your saber." She shook her head, but there was a twinkle in her eye. "If you keep relying on your spells to do all the work, you'll forget how to fight up close. You won't always have that distance advantage."

Merlin raised an eyebrow but said nothing in response. He was aware of Nia's tendency to prefer close combat, and her insistence that augmented physical combat was the true measure of skill. However, he didn't share her view completely.

"I'm not just relying on my spells," he finally said. "It's about being adaptable. Sometimes, close combat isn't the answer."

Nia snorted, clearly unconvinced. "Whatever you say, kid. Just don't come crying to me when you're facing a real enemy and realize you've forgotten how to swing that saber properly."

Merlin could only chuckle softly at her comment. "I think I've got that part covered."

Nia's smile widened as she clapped him on the back with a heavy hand. "Alright, let's keep moving. I'm sure the next one will be more of a challenge."

Together, they pressed forward into the maze, ready for whatever came next—knowing that their growing teamwork would be tested further.

****

Merlin and Nia stood at the edge of a wide pit of shimmering quicksand, its surface rippling unnaturally. The air was thick with mana, and the subtle golden glow of Earth energy emanated from the pit confirmed their suspicions—this was no ordinary quicksand.

Merlin knelt, touching the edge of the pit with his hand. The sand shifted slightly at his touch, responding almost like it was alive. "This isn't just quicksand," he said, his voice low and analytical. "It's an earth-based mana construct, designed to react to elemental mana. Elder Magnus's handiwork again."

Nia frowned, hefting her axe onto her shoulder. "Great. And since my Earth mana affinity is stronger, it's going to target me."

"Looks like it," Merlin said, his lips pressing into a thin line. "The more Earth mana you emit, the worse it'll get. You'll sink faster."

Nia let out a sharp breath. "So, what's the plan? Walking on water techniques don't exactly work well with Earth mana pulling me down."

Merlin stood, his gaze steady. "You'll have to suppress your Earth mana completely. Focus only on controlling your regular mana flow and follow the water walking technique. The moment you lose focus, the pit will overwhelm you."

"Easier said than done," Nia muttered, already working on pulling her Earth mana back into her core. She adjusted the grip on her shield. "What about you?"

"I'll go first," Merlin said, stepping onto the surface of the quicksand. A faint shimmer of mana surrounded his feet as he activated the Water Walking technique, spreading his mana evenly beneath him to prevent sinking. He took a few cautious steps, his body perfectly balanced as the quicksand rippled unnaturally beneath him.

"Show-off," Nia grumbled, but she focused her energy, following Merlin's lead.

As soon as her foot touched the surface, the pit rippled violently, the quicksand reacting to the faint traces of Earth mana she couldn't fully suppress. Her foot sank slightly, and she froze.

"Nia, focus!" Merlin called, stopping a few steps ahead to watch her. "Pull your mana tighter, don't let the Earth affinity leak out."

She clenched her jaw, forcing her breathing to slow. The ripples lessened as she redirected her mana, spreading it carefully beneath her feet to mimic the Water Walking technique. She took another step, this time without sinking further.

"Good," Merlin encouraged, walking a few more paces ahead to give her space.

But the pit wasn't done with them. The surface began to undulate, waves of quicksand rising like small tidal surges to destabilize their footing.

Merlin reacted instantly, his mana flaring as he shifted into Thunder Steps without the Lightning element. His movements became fluid and adaptive, each step perfectly countering the unpredictable ripples beneath him.

"Stay calm, Nia!" he shouted, glancing back to see her struggling.

Nia gritted her teeth as the quicksand beneath her feet seemed to tug harder, her Earth mana affinity making the pit more aggressive. Her shield wavered as she fought to maintain her balance, but she pushed forward, each step a battle against the sinking pull.

The quicksand surged upward, forming a small wave that aimed to knock her off balance. Merlin reacted instantly, raising his hand and casting Static Tether, creating a thread of stabilizing mana between them.

"Grab on!" he ordered, extending the tether to her.

Nia hesitated, her pride warring with her need for help, but another surge of quicksand forced her hand. She gripped the mana thread tightly, allowing Merlin to anchor her steps. With his guidance, she stabilized her footing and moved forward, her focus sharpening.

"Almost there," Merlin said, his voice steady as they neared the far edge of the pit.

The quicksand, sensing its prey slipping away, lashed out in one final surge, the entire surface of the pit rippling violently. Merlin didn't hesitate—he lunged forward, pulling Nia with him using the Static Tether.

With a final burst of effort, they both leapt onto solid ground, landing heavily but safely on the other side. The quicksand stilled behind them, its surface returning to an eerie calm.

Nia collapsed onto her knees, breathing hard. "That… was the worst."

Merlin smirked, helping her to her feet. "You did fine. Just needed a little nudge."

Nia shot him a glare but didn't argue, brushing the sand from her armor. "If Elder Magnus pulls another stunt like this, I might start using my axe on him instead of the traps."

Merlin chuckled, sheathing his saber. "I'm sure he'd appreciate the challenge."

They exchanged a brief, weary smile before turning to face the next challenge waiting deeper in the maze.