"Hahahaha! Very amusing indeed!" Ghosteye jeered. "Erasing me from this world? With only the four of you? Surely you jest!"

"We'll see," I replied stoically, without emotion. I began concentrating my mana, and prepared for the fight that was about to come.

*****

(Feng Mian's Perspective)

Uh, what is going on?! Xuan Kai agreed to come in here, and now we're suddenly fighting Ghosteye?! Didn't he say Ghosteye was on the same level as our principal, meaning he is at least a late Golden Monarch stage?!

No matter how powerful Xuan Kai was, he couldn't possibly defeat a Golden Monarch, who could cast Legendary-Tier spells! Not to mention battle souls, which were known as an extremely overpowered skill to have!

I didn't know what he was thinking, but...he usually had a plan...I think? Last time, in the alleyway, he had even fooled me. But I didn't think the boy before me was just an illusion this time. He was here, in the flesh, and perfectly capable of dying.

I had seen Xuan Kai's power before. Yes, he could use every element. Yes, he somehow amplified the power of his spells as if it was second nature to him. Yes, his magic was unique and a different color scheme from anyone else's. But even so, could he defeat a mage 4 levels above him? Xuan Kai's power in reality was probably equivalent to that of a late-stage Advanced Mage, but formally he was still considered merely a Novice Mage. He didn't stand a chance against a Golden Monarch.

The only thing that could defeat a Golden Monarch, was...another Golden Monarch.

But well, either way, I would do what I can to support him. I concentrated my mana and prepared myself. That's the job of an ally, after all. J-Just an ally, nothing more, o-okay?!

*****

(Xuan Kai's Perspective)

"Level One Fire Magic - Flame Lotus," I chanted calmly, raising my right hand and directing it towards Ghosteye, standing in front of me.

I couldn't see his expression thanks to the mask, but I was pretty sure he was smirking inside. As the lotus-shaped flame was about to hit its mark, the man disappeared. I looked around patiently, waiting for him to come out.

"Where did he go?" Feng Mian asked, frantically turning her head left and right, hands at the ready for casting magic.

The other two girls seemed equally on alert, and narrowed their eyes. We gradually came close together, forming a square. Each of us had our backs to one another, and covered one direction. I was responsible for the front, where the throne sat. Feng Mian was the left, Qing Yue was the right, and Yu An Xue watched my back.

"Hahahaha! Wondering where I am, are you?" a voice hollered arrogantly.

I grinned. "You're a Shadow Magic expert, this is no surprise at all."

I said this casually, but in reality I was still on my toes. I couldn't afford to let my guard down. This is the Midnight Syndicate we were dealing with. And besides...I have to keep my act up. One wrong step, and this entire plan goes to waste.

"So you realize how advantageous this scenario is for me, at least!" against bellowed mockingly. "Well? Have you reconsidered?"

"No, not at all," I replied with a bright smile.

"Guess I'll have to force you to, then!" the man said with a laugh.

Suddenly, I felt the air grow thin, and I immediately realized what it was.

"Sky Magic, huh..." I muttered under my breath.

"Already having trouble breathing, are you?" Ghosteye scoffed. "Last chance before I suck all the air in this room dry!"

Of course, he would leave some air for himself to breathe. But we wouldn't be able to access it, and therefore die from lack of oxygen eventually.

That is, if I didn't do anything about it.

I looked behind me at the three girls, who seemed to be having trouble. None of the three had a Sky element aptitude, and hence couldn't do anything in this situation. The best Yu An Xue could do was create a water bubble around us, but that would run out of oxygen eventually as well.

I sighed and closed my eyes. I searched my memory for any Sky Element spells that would help us here.

And...found it.

"Level One Sky Magic - Wind Barrier."

I set up walls of wind all around us, and above us as well. We were now enclosed within a cube made of air. And with that...

"Generate: Air."

The Generate spell family was one that had spells in different elements. It was a simple but useful spell. You could create fires, water, air, rocks, and such with it. It was perfect for this scenario. It didn't consume much mana either, and I had a good amount of mana left in my storage. Besides, even if I ran out, I could just get one of the girls to cast a spell, or absorb any spells Ghosteye sends towards us.

"Hm...Generate, is it?" Ghosteye murmured, but to us it sounded like a megaphone, his voice resounding across the dimly illuminated hall. "Very well. If you are insistent on CREATING more...then I'll just have to TAKE MORE!"

I winced as I felt the suction force become stronger, but luckily my wind barriers held up. I quickly strengthened them once more.

"U-Um, do you need me to put up an ice wall as well...?" Feng Mian asked hesitantly.

"No need. I wouldn't be able to see the outside if you used ice," I replied.

After a while, the suction stopped, and Ghosteye appeared shocked. "Impossible..." he gasped. "How can a mere level one wind barrier hold up against my Oxygen Drain...?"

"Kuku...look closer," I laughed darkly.

Ghosteye seemed to be listening, since wind barriers were not soundproof.

"What is this...? A black wind wall? And red?"

"Why don't you show yourself and have a proper fight with me?" I baited. "Tell you what - if you win, I will gladly serve under you. I respect strength, after all."

"Ahahaha! Very well! I have indeed not chosen wrong. You are worthy of becoming my disciple."

More like your puppet...

But I didn't say that out loud. After a while, Ghosteye appeared before my eyes once more, sitting on the throne. It was instant, like he had been there all along. How much mastery did you need to be able to use a certain element to such a stage?

I got rid of the wind barriers around us, and the three girls looked on nervously as I approached Ghosteye. As I got closer, an invisible force suddenly struck me from above, its aim forcing me to kneel. I smirked and discretely cast my own magic without an incantation to stop that from happening.

Using your hands to direct your magic wasn't necessary, but it was a good idea to do so until you reached the Ancestral Mage level, since anyone before that didn't have absolute control of their own mana nor enough experience yet. Using your hands to aim your spells was safer, lest your magic run wild and accidentally hit an innocent person or object.

Incantations, on the other hand, were needed depending on the person. Some people unlocked the ability to cast magic without a chant at the Novice Mage level, while others had to wait until being an Ancestral Mage to be capable of doing so. I had never done this before, but it seemed I could, thanks to this little experiment.

As a general rule of thumb, the earlier you unlocked this ability, the more talented you were. Most people had to reach the Ancestral Mage to learn how to cast spells without an incantation, and even then it was rare. Out of the entire world, maybe 1% of the people could do so. Out of that 1%, the ones who actively chose to actually do so were even fewer, as chanting your spell out loud provides more stability and power to your mana, making your spells slightly stronger.

All you had to do was picture the incantation in your head strongly enough, let your mana run throughout your body, and it would cast the spell.

In this case, I cast Wind Palm, a Level One Sky Magic spell that sent a gushing invisible force of wind at someone. Normally, this spell was extremely weak and was used more for daily activity and convenience than fighting, but with my mysterious power that could amplify my magic to be at least two times as strong as anyone else's, this spell was enough to push back Ghosteye's. I let the mana flow out from my back, and directed it upwards with my mind.

It worked exactly as planned, and I continued walking on the black carpet, getting closer and closer to Ghosteye.

He didn't show a reaction at my unfazed expression, but I knew that deep inside he was shocked at how easily I repelled his attack.

I glanced up to stare at him in the eye slits of his mask. "Now then...shall we begin?"