Chapter 1428: Chapter 474: Oh No, We’re Doomed

She guessed it was me?

No, she knew it was me from the start?

Upon hearing Bai Yi calmly reveal his identity, the Great Mage instinctively deduced the true situation.

Though it was unclear how it was done, undoubtedly, Fan Mao had already anticipated his appearance, and his primary target in appearing here this time was indeed him.

Thinking back to all the anomalies from the start to the recent past, the Great Mage increasingly believed this possibility.

After all, if it was merely revenge, there wouldn’t be such a huge commotion; a straightforward challenge in the name of the Gemini Civilization would suffice.

Even with the intention to eliminate Hunter, it wouldn’t require going to such extents.

Not only coordinating with the Gemini Civilization to bring him and Hunter here but also fabricating a facade of normalcy through battle reports and various channels.

To achieve such a level, it far exceeded the preparation needed for a typical revenge.

If it wasn’t for another purpose, how could there have been such a significant additional cost?

And that other purpose, he happened to fit the bill.

Of course, there was also another critical factor.

If it was truly revenge, the strength of Fan Mao’s punch earlier didn’t seem like the kind that would require so many Seventh Rank powerhouses for support.

Bringing out so many Seventh Rank powerhouses specifically, it’s obvious whom they want to guard against or target.

Realizing that he had already become someone else’s prey, the Great Mage indeed felt some trepidation.

Astonished that Fan Mao had already known he was targeting her, and fearful that Bai Yi had spun such a long trap to wait for him.

But since he was already here, standing in front of Fan Mao, he had no other choice.

Only succeeding in killing Fan Mao, obtaining that abnormal object for promotion, or being defeated by Fan Mao were the two possible outcomes.

"Lord Fanmao, it’s been a while.

But how did you know it was me? Besides being close to Hunter, I don’t recall showing any abnormalities."

The Great Mage didn’t care about his somewhat disheveled clothing due to the explosion earlier, subtly flicked a conjured sphere of magic power behind, sending it toward Hunter who was also blown away.

His spell quickly repaired Hunter’s shattered shield.

At the same time, magic power flowed rapidly within him, preparing strong spells one after another.

On the surface, he mustered a smiling expression, trying to buy time for his spell.

The earlier decisive strike intended to save Hunter was forced to be activated prematurely, and due to Fan Mao’s unknown attack, it had no effect.

It would take quite some time to prepare a set of spells potent enough to kill Fan Mao again.

But clearly, Bai Yi didn’t plan to answer his question, nor did he intend to give him that time.

"Heh, earlier I wasn’t sure.

But since you’re here and questioning me, how could I not understand your purpose now?

The target has appeared, Plan No. 1!"

The Great Mage only heard Bai Yi’s icy voice and felt a wave of energy filled with life force burst from Bai Yi’s body as its core.

Hunter redeployed his repaired shield instantly, but they quickly realized that this energy had no damage or effect.

Before they could ponder what Bai Yi was up to, after Bai Yi acted, those Seventh Rank witches seemed to be following that "Plan No. 1" and made their move again.

Just like earlier, they each unleashed attacks, simultaneously targeting the two at the core.

Having been punched by Bai Yi earlier, Hunter was now fully focused on Bai Yi, always prepared for any potential attack.

As for those Seventh Rank attacks?

The earlier shield had already proven its strength.

But when those attacks landed on the shield, Hunter’s face changed, suspiciously saying:

"These attacks are off; they’ve reached the Eighth Rank level?"

As the maintainer of the shield, Hunter noticed most clearly the increase in the shield’s consumption compared to the original attacks; now the shield no longer held the Eighth Rank’s overwhelming priority over the Seventh Rank.

With the loss of priority, the effect of easily blocking multiple times the attack with minimal magic power disappeared.

Every magic bullet and spell effect landed solidly on the shield.

Even if the attacks seemed the same, the magic power consumption increased exponentially or even several folds.

If the original attacks felt like a basin of warm water to the shield, now it was like scalding hot oil!

The shield which could easily block attacks now faced immense pressure, wobbling, and Hunter quickly increased his magic power output.

Yet even so, they had to avoid the sharpness after a brief block.

Before more Light Cannons and spells collectively exploded on the shield, Hunter sheltered by the shield took the Great Mage with him like a ball hurled by explosions.

Although the cost was the Great Mage’s prepared spell being disrupted again.

But even the Great Mage didn’t have time to complain at that moment.

A bit disheveled from the explosion, the Great Mage steadied himself and urgently activated an abnormal object to generate a pale blue semi-transparent shield in front of him.

"What’s going on? The attacks earlier, weren’t they Seventh Rank!"

As a top Eighth Rank, the Great Mage’s perception was far stronger than Hunter’s, and even though he wasn’t the one directly attacked, he could clearly sense the level of those attacks.