Chapter 81

Contrary to what Rezen thought, Zero is a bit similar to mages at the 4th and 5th rank when it comes to achieving flight but is also a bit different

Instead of riding on a sheet of their chosen element, Zero was releasing streams of elemental energies from his palms and the soles of his feet, giving him more flexibility

He basically looks like a certain character from a comic and movie

Zero showed the reason why the mage path is considered a mediocre path and the Tattoo Warrior path is a superior path if not for its side effects and restrictions

He just reached his current rank today but he already managed to catch up to Lord Keito in terms of fighting prowess

“Hmph! [Lightning Net!]”

Lord Keito waved his hand while his lightning-type mystic gem resonated with the natural laws

He materializes a magic circle that releases a net of lightning. If Zero was caught with it then even with his superior physique, he would still suffer a heavy consequence

In return, Zero slowed down his flying speed. Light elemental energies gathered and condensed at his palms, looking particularly bright in the darkness of the night

Zero threw one elemental ball from his hand and it met the net of lightning before exploding

The two elemental attacks canceled out each other before Zero threw the remaining light elemental ball on his hand

Lord Keito’s countenance turned dark at that. His flying sheet of metal evaded the ball narrowly

However, Zero controlled the elemental ball to explode even if it didn’t hit Lord Keito

As a result, the mage was caught in the explosion. The metal sheet carrying him was battered and thrown away

Even his robes received some damage, parts of them were burned

Blood flowed out from Lord Keito’s lips yet Zero didn’t stop. He continues flying until he reaches Keito

His feet were still releasing streams of energy while his fist was coated by the power of the light element

He was about to land a punch on his enemy when Keito forcefully conjured another magic circle

“[Spiraling Lance!]”

From the magic circle, a Lance made from pure metal came out. It was spinning at a rapid speed, increasing its penetrating power

With this distance, Zero would be severely injured if he let that spell land on his body

Without a choice, Zero altered the trajectory of his punch. Instead of punching Lord Keito in the face, he moved his arm as he punched down

His fist landed on the spiraling lance, and the impact of his punch send the lance flying down

Bang!

That Lance easily penetrated the ground, it even resulted in a crater and it sends ground debris flying everywhere

“[Lightning Flash!]”

Lord Keito casts yet another spell and swimming snakes of lightning appeared on his body again

He used what remained of his metal sheet as a springboard to jump high

When a mage fought with a Tattoo Warrior, they must always make sure to put on some distance

While mages at the higher rank can create magic circles in an instant to use a spell, Tattoo Warriors on the other hand can easily use their bodies to attack

Lord Keito leaped higher in the air and Zero chased him as he flew upwards

The fight grew more intense. If Zero was not a newly ascended 4th rank Tattoo Warrior, this battle might have already finished some time ago

Unfortunately, Zero just reached his current rank today and he still hasn’t reached the peak of his power

“[Lightning Streaks!]”

Lord Keito condensed another magic circle and from it, tens of streaks of lightning flew out

Even then, Zero didn’t stop flying. He just clenched his fist coated with light element and he met those lightning streaks head-on

He punched the lightning streaks, sending them in another direction and Lord Keito snorted coldly

The lightning streaks suddenly changed their direction and targeted Rezen and the others that were watching the battle in the sky with bated breath

“Ayooo! Why do you have to include us?!” Rezen complained while his subordinates moved in front of him to block the lightning streaks for him

“Master!” Zero called out, he was about to fly towards Rezen when the latter stopped him

“Go catch that bastard, I won’t rest as long as I haven’t punished him yet!” Rezen shouted while throwing another handful of his cherry bombs, effectively blocking the lightning streaks

“Tsk” Lord Keito clicked his tongue in annoyance and he hurriedly condensed another sheet of metal to ride as Zero obeyed his master

Lord Keito was about to focus on fleeing but Zero continuously punched the air, sending a trail of light energies

Those trails blocked Lord Keito’s path. If he took care of them, he would be hindered and he has no choice but to change direction

However, Zero’s attack has the goal of preventing him from flying far, and even until now, they are still around Rezen’s farm

Sensing that his situation was not optimistic, Lord Keito changed his plans. He controlled his metal sheet to fly down and focus on attacking Rezen that is clearly the most important person for these Tattoo Warriors

“Master!” Zero called out in worry as he sped up his pace to try and catch the damned mage

Seeing Lord Keito flying towards him, Rezen sneered. He even raised his hand to pull down his undereye

“Bitch, you thought I was just idling here?” Rezen said arrogantly before waving his hand and lavender stalks were thrown by him that his subordinates caught

“Alright my lovely subordinates, sniff the lavenders well!” Rezen said while placing a lavender on his own nose

Rezen uses his right hand to hold the lavender and on his left hand, a black rose appeared

“My mutated rose, go do your job!” Rezen ordered and as if the rose can understand him, its petals detached themselves and they met Lord Keito before turning into a black gas

Lord Keito didn’t sense any danger from the roses and he thought that Rezen was just bluffing but…

“Bleeggghhh!!”

The mage’s eyes widened and teared up. Snot flow out of his nose while he pinched it and held his own throat

He was looking quite miserable as if he wanted to puke or something

“Hehehehe, how’s my mutated black rose? It’s stinky, right?” Rezen said while sniffing the lavender on his own nose

While Zero and Lord Keito were fighting earlier, he checked the crops that he planted, specifically the mutated ones to see what he could use from them

There is no guarantee that Rezen and the others wouldn’t be harmed. As such, he prepared some mutated crops if ever the enemy decided to attack him and it really did happen!

Zero was taken aback at first but then he moved again. After Rezen gave him a lavender to not be another victim of the mutated black rose, Zero broke the mage’s arms and legs

He even placed a tattoo mark on the mage’s stomach and Lord Keito’s mystic gems re-entered his elixir field

That tattoo mark and the traps that Rezen encountered from the trial in the Blessed Land were all created by the master of the said Blessed Land

Normal Tattoo Warriors can only engrave tattoos on their own bodies. However, the Blessed Land’s master was different

They were able to invent a way to use tattoos outside of a person’s body and every tattoo mark has a different effect

The ones back on trial were all traps while the one that Zero used on Lord Keito was a Tattoo Mark that would prevent the mage from summoning his mystic gems

Without the mystic gems, a mage wouldn’t be able to use magic no matter how high their comprehension was

This means that Lord Keito is not much different from a normal human right now

“Zero, good job!” Rezen complimented. If Zero didn’t reach the 4th rank today, things would be really dire

Rezen has to call Rain and Florine again and he has to survive until they arrive. With just his cherry bombs, surviving for a long time would be a problem

Just the [Mercury Swamp] spell alone was already a huge threat. If Zero didn’t arrive on time, Rezen is surely already swallowed by the swamp, dying right there

“It’s what I should do, Master” Zero answered humbly but there was still a hint of arrogance in his tone

His arrogance was not directed at Rezen but at the other Tattoo Warriors that were not powerful enough to protect their Master that blushed in shame, humiliation, and jealousy

Rezen didn’t expect that Zero actually has this kind of side. To think that this always quiet subordinate of him that would only talk when needed could be this childish…

This was quite refreshing and reminded Rezen that although his subordinates are Artificial Humans, they are almost no different from a real one

They all have the desire to live for him but their personality is also as complex as other humans out there