“That can't be possible ... he's just a brat …!” The Leader’s voice sounded a little choked. Judging by his figure, he should have been just around Sixteen to Seventeen years old. If not, older but not older than twenty ...

How can he reached S-ranked in such a young age ?

However, the enormous mana leaking out from his body as well as the strange but powerful looking magic that an A rank and below couldn't use caused the leader and the four men to classify his existence as an S rank.

They really couldn’t believe their own eyes.

“Don’t joke with me. What is that magic ? How can you possess such strength ?! I've never heard of something like that before!?” The leader couldn't help but be agitated.

"None of your business~" Lyle didn't bother to explain and started walking towards them.

"Tsk! Even still, do you think that you can just fight here ? This is Academy City you know! It's forbidden to fight inside the city! The guards should've noticed us by now!" The leader was so startled that he nearly retreated several steps, but he held his ground.

He spoke in a fierce and unyielding manner, but concealed deep within him was the terror he truly felt. “You guys, we need to retreat and escape ... we can't draw any attention!”

"How about this girl ?"

"Leave her be! I will explain to Master why we failed ..." The leader immediately ordered. The enigmatic man had given him an enormous mental pressure! He was a bit terrified.

Even though he was an A-ranked Mage, he wasn’t arrogant at all. And even though if one looked closely, the strength between both parties are still imbalance. They still held a considerable advantage because of numbers.

However, he knew that although the gap between A rank and S rank was only a level, the difference was still extremely wide, similar to a chasm.

The advancement of a B rank to A rank wasn't the same as the advancement of an A rank to an S rank. S rank and above are totally different realm compared to the lower ranks.

Think of it like this, the power held by an A ranker is similar to a machine gun... very powerful. However, S ranker's power was similar to a missile.

Machine gun VS. Missiles ... even a fool would understand which is stronger.

Their power level was like heaven and earth. S rank Mages can even contend against several A rankers ... much less them who were only consist of three B rankers and one A rank Mage ...

Fighting him ? That's just seeking death!

More importantly, this enigmatic man before them uses strange magic he had never heard before to attack. His abilities might be stronger than an ordinary S ranker.

... ...

—Lyle implausibly listened to the kidnappers conversation.

But he didn't tried to stop them and only wore a casual look. It seems like they thought that they can really leave this place that easily ~

When the four kidnappers hastily turned around to leave, they suddenly noticed something strange. The Alley they were originally at was nowhere to be seen. Behind them became a long corridor.

Seeing this strange scene, their hearts couldn't help but stir in fright. What is happening ? There shouldn't be corridor here but a corner turning right!

There was nothing there. It was supposed to be there. But, not even a shadow was left. The leader couldn't help but panicked right away. Realizing that, Lyle spoke so as to ridicule them.

“What’s wrong? There’s nothing on your right though? In the first place, where are we ?”

The leader couldn’t respond to this mysterious phenomenon. There was no reason. It was impossible. Just like what he said, where are they ? He couldn't recognized this place ... much less this corridor.

Confusion and questions filled his head, what was going on?

Then something suddenly struck the leader's mind. He then turned around and faced the still standing black clothed man. "You ... what did you do ?"

“That’s right. There are two answers I can think up. It’s either that we were transported in some unknown place without you knowing, or, we are inside an imaginary world~”

“That’s ridiculous, there’s no way…”

“Is that so? Then where are we ?"

“Th-That is…”

Even if he asked him, he didn’t know the answer. It was true that he didn't know what was happening. It was like a different world.

"Leader! What are you talking about! He should have been the one who did this! It should've been an illusion!" The other black clothed man couldn't held it anymore and speak.

""That's right! That's right!""

Hearing his words, the other men immediately agreed.

"We will find it out after defeating him! I don't believe we can't kill this brat!"

After speaking so the man which was wearing a rock armor immediately rushed towards Lyle.

"No, stop!" The leader's voice was drowned by the powerful shockwave released by the Rock man's attack.

When he was almost a meter away from Lyle, the rock man immediately waved his his rock covered hand and released his first move towards Lyle. "Rock Descent!"

As if a huge boulder of rock fell down from the sky, a huge shadow covered Lyle's figure.

It seems like this rock guy was a magic warrior~ Lyle mused himself.

With regards to this attack that would even made anyone turned pale, Lyle didn't tried to dodge. Instead, raised his head to look at the incoming boulder above him and reached out his left hand and opened his palm, meeting the attack with just a single hand…

When the four men saw this, they were dumbstruck.

Could it be that this guy wanted to stop the attack with just his hand?

When rock guy saw this, he was delighted.

He never thought even in his dreams that this abominable brat would underestimate him and try to stop his attack with a single hand. That was equivalent to him seeking death.

Even if he was indeed an S ranker, he didn't believe that he would be left unscathed after taking his attack!

Immediately, instead of weakening the strength in his hands, the rock guy increased it even more, intent on smashing Lyle to the ground.

Even if he couldn’t kill him with one move, he would definitely be gravely injured. This was definitely a chance bestowed to him by the heavens. He must not miss it, or it might not happen again…

If he had known that this would just use a single hand to stop his move, he would have used his strongest attack he could muster. But this is fine! If he could kill this brat, he could brag it on his companions that he defeated a powerful guy like this brat!

A loud explosion resounded.

The loud sound pierced the three men's ears which was standing behind the rock guy.

Seeing the dusts and dirt flying around, the rock took a deep breath, and surveyed the pitiful state of the abominable brat's previous position.

That brat was buried within the remains of the rock.

Thinking that that brat might have died, the rock guy suddenly felt a huge achievement. Underestimating him was a huge mistake!

However, just as the corners of his mouth were about to turn up into a smile, he suddenly heard a voice.

"Ho ho, it seems you're not just all talk~" The casual voice sent shivers from the rock guy and the others on their spine.

"HA!" The rock's boulder, dusts and dirt floating around were being blown into the sky piece by piece and a huge pillar of flame rose up towards the sky.

When the dust were cleared, the four men could see the burning figure that wasn't even injured the slightest.

Seeing Lyle's appearance, the rock guy's eyes widened until they were bigger than a bull’s.

He was fine?

He was smashed by the [ Rock Descent ] like an ant. How can he be fine?

“He has condensed a flame shield in his hand before your attack had hit him." The leader who watched carefully during the fight answered. His voice grim.

"That can't be!?"

"My [ Rock Descent ] isn't something that can be blocked easily!"

"But he did it easily! And that's the fact!" The leader's face were almost as pale as a sheet of paper. He then turned around. "We don't have a choice. I don't think we can defeat him. use the girl as a hos --- where's the girl?"

The huge sack which were in the ground beside them just now suddenly vanished. Noticing this, the leaders face became even more pale.

"You won't find it ..." Lyle's nonchalant voice startled the leader. "... give it up~"

"You ... what did you do? No, this must be this place power! Is this an illusion ? no, ... a barrier ?!" As if he suddenly realized something, the leader's eyes became as wide as it can be.

"You have a good head on your shoulders~" Lyle's cheerful voice resounded. " That's right ... this is my barrier ”