Infinite Mage [Remake]-Chapter 143: Rulebreaker’s Weakness

Marsha read the firm resolve in Shirone's eyes and curled her lips into a chilling smile.

"Yeah, at least you're not completely repulsive. But what now? You've already lost. Do you really think you can reach me?"

Shirone nodded.

"Wait. Because I'm coming to you now."

"..."

Marsha's expression did not change, but her heart pounded faster than ever before.

'Nonsense. I will never be caught.'

Shirone was unable to use magic, and his friends were utterly exhausted. The odds of him breaking through her subordinates and reaching her were close to zero.

"Rian."

Shirone called out.

"Cut down anyone who stands in our way."

Among them, Rian was the most gravely injured, but his fighting spirit remained unbroken.

"Got it. Leave it to me."

Tess interjected.

"Wait a second. I don't know what you're planning, but let me do it. I'm in better shape than Rian."

Shirone shook his head.

"No, this is about trust in the knight's oath. I can't let anyone else shed blood in his place."

"B-Blood?"

Without further explanation, Shirone stepped toward the enemy lines. Rian stood beside him as Marsha's face hardened.

Ten meters. Nine meters...

She had thought it was impossible, yet as the distance closed, her breath caught in her throat.

"Kill him! Don't let him get any closer!"

Her subordinates unsheathed their swords and charged. Rian gripped his greatsword tightly and stepped forward.

'I'll stop them.'

Despite the chaos, Shirone advanced steadily. He had no means to defend himself, and Amy and Tess anxiously watched.

Then, just as Rian clashed with an approaching enemy, the man's body turned into light and shot into the sky.

Amy's eyes widened as she followed the streaking flash.

"Spatial displacement?"

But why?

It made no sense. Retreating before even crossing blades? That wasn't normal.

Even as those thoughts swirled in her mind, the mercenaries of the Parrot Corps continued fleeing.

While Marsha stood stunned, Tess turned to Amy and asked,

"What's going on? Why are they running?"

"That's... It's Slow Magic."

A sub-light-speed spell that slows time within a specific area—Shirone had never cast it before.

'It was his only possible response after having his magic stolen. Even so...'

If he failed, he would die by their swords. This was a gamble that risked everything.

"Slow Magic?"

Tess refocused on the battlefield.

From an outsider's perspective, it looked as if the enemies were haphazardly teleporting away. But inside the Slow Field, the mercenaries were driven to madness.

'Da...mn... it... what... the...'

Within Shirone's warped space-time, time favored Rian.

The enemy's movements were excruciatingly slow, their blades inching forward at an unbearable crawl. Rian calmly observed each attack and swung his greatsword toward their exposed necks.

'What? Do I just cut them down?'

It felt unsettling, like executing someone bound in chains, but with Shirone at his side, he couldn't afford hesitation.

Though slow, the enemy could clearly see the deadly blade approaching their throats. Terror gripped them.

Even hardened soldiers, accustomed to the battlefield, found this type of death horrifyingly different.

"No... I can't...."

One mercenary, unable to bear it any longer, activated the teleportation spell embedded in his bracelet, vanishing from the battlefield.

Screeches of displaced magic echoed one after another.

Before long, Marsha was left standing alone.

Seeing Shirone approach, she instinctively stepped back—only to stumble and collapse from the pain of her wounds.

Blood poured from the gash Tess had inflicted.

"D-Don't come any closer."

Shirone's voice was cold.

"If you steal my mental energy, you might stand a chance. But I guess your magic doesn't allow for looting in this state."

"..."

It was true.

"Give up. You're caught. There's nowhere left to run."

Marsha's face twisted in fear. She grabbed a sharp rock and held it against her own throat.

"Stop! Take another step and I'll kill myself! If I die, you'll never get your magic back."

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"So now you're using magic as leverage?"

Shirone did not stop walking.

"The magic you stole was someone's entire life. Simply returning it won't undo what you did."

He grabbed her by the collar and yanked her to her feet.

From behind, Freeman's voice rang out in desperation.

"No! Stop!"

Eyes blazing like a mad beast, Freeman charged forward—only to be intercepted by Rian and Tess.

Even as the struggle continued, Shirone locked eyes with Marsha, her pupils trembling with dread.

"Face the price. The price you set for yourself."

"Uwaaaaah! Marsha!"

Ignoring Freeman's cries, Shirone swung his fist with all his strength, striking Marsha's face.

At the same time, Freeman collapsed to his knees.

"No...."

Rian twisted his arm, pinning him down, while Tess pressed a rapier against his throat.

"Don't move. If you try anything—"

She trailed off.

Freeman, sobbing uncontrollably, had lost all will to fight.

Amy approached.

"Now, talk. What price does Marsha have to pay? Can Shirone get his magic back?"

Marsha chuckled dryly, blood trickling from her lips.

"...Heh. Heh heh."

Her battered jaw ached, but at this point, no pain mattered anymore.

"Why? Are you anxious? Even though you touched me, the magic hasn't returned?"

Shirone remained silent.

"Don't worry. You'll get your magic back. The condition of contact was merely a restriction. The real issue is the price. Did you really think stealing another's magic was as simple as touching them?"

"What is the price?"

Marsha sat up.

Freeman, dragged forward with a blade to his neck, stared at her with hollow eyes.

She shook her head.

'It's not your fault.'

Marsha pushed herself up onto one knee.

"If you capture me, I'll be 'bound' to whoever I stole from. I won't be able to leave your side, and even if you leave, I won't be able to move. The conditions are absolute."

"In other words, it's an inescapable contract."

"Exactly. The law of regulation dictates it."

For her, there was no choice.

Marsha took a deep breath and spoke her final words.

"Shirone, you can hold me. Go on."