For The Glory Of Sitia Empire

-screech

With every flick of his whip, Elan, the sharp leaves would gash through the beast's skin, devouring its flesh before spilling poison and withdrawing.

'Tsk, Elan's poisons aren't effecting it much'

At that time, aside from the dazeness due to the various poisons flowing in its blood, the monster had broken its upper beak, lost a wing and injuries were covering its whole body.

Another magical circle appeared above the master's head, he directed his palm at the Griffin and instantly generated a large fire blast, shooting towards the white beast.

-swish

The monster swung his remaining wing, reversing the fire direction, causing the feather at the end of its wing to burn considerably.

' my mana is draining significantly, I can barely afford one or two attacks'

The master clicked his tongue as he avoided the range of the flames. At that moment, a large magical circle appeared on the sky, with a shower of hail falling like rain out of it.

"MASTER!!"

The master instantly flinched when he heard that voice.

' he returned faster than I thought '

Seeing his master's condition, Bernard almost fell on his knees

The branch on the master's head became thicker, three other branches heightened from his back and countless flower petals grew from within his fair skin.

The more mana he consumed the more he loses his human form.

Originally, the master had a minimum amount of mana that allowed him to live for forty years more. The more magical energy he consumed the fewer years were left for him to live, though, he lived for hundreds of thousands of years, his last years were the most enjoyable and meaningful.

" DON'T COME NEAR!! The dead mana is all over the air here, stay away!".

The master shouted as he dodged the falling hails.

Ignoring his master's commands, Bernard walked closer to him, blurting with trembling lips:" b.but master...master you. are.... already.....".

"Stop it, Bernard!!".

However, the man was still walking in rushed steps, he was overwhelmed by the fact that his master looked like a dead man walking.

'He won't listen. And my mana is almost empty....'

The effect of dead mana on living creatures can significantly damage one's body beyond repair, only divine magic can purify the infected ones. And since the source of the master's magical energy was a divine being, he is not affected by dead mana.

" fine! I will create an opportunity, aim for its head!! But if you fail, retreat right away! Do you understand?!!".

Bernard came back to his sense after hearing his master's words that sounded like a ray of hope to him, stopping his legs that he barely can feel them, Bernard responded loudly:", yes! yes, sir!!"

Following his masters' orders, Bernard stepped backwards, unsheathed his sword and stood with his eyes focused on the beast's head, ready to attack any second.

The two magical circles that were above the master disappeared and another two appeared. A whirlwind gradually raised from his palm, while the other hand held into a fire whip that kept flickering due to the lack of mana.

Aiming his whip at the monster's head, the master pulled the monster and pinned it down before calling for the other man.

"Bernard! Go!".

Immediately after hearing his master's command, Bernard dashed towards the white monster with everything he had, causing the ground under him to shake noticeably.

With the whirlwind, that the master created, clearing his way off the falling hails. Bernard landed heavily on the beast's head and without any bit of hesitation, he pierced his long sword through the Griffins' right eye.

-screech

As the sword went deeper into the beast's head, blood splashed erratically causing few drops to land on Bernard's eyes with sizzling sounds. Ignoring the sharp pain that started to spread from his eyes. Bernard, with his elemental's support, generated a lightning bolt. flowing from his sword and drastically striking the Griffin's insides.

Drip....drip

Both the whirlwind and the fire whip disappeared, after the monster's last screams hid within the pouring rain, its body fell lifelessly with Bernard still on the top.

Hurriedly, Bernard hopped off the Griffins' dead body and rushed towards the man kneeling down.

"MASTER!!!"

No response.

Forcefully opening his eyes that started to feel hot, Bernard walked faster as his heart beating wildly. He quickly grabbed his master's shoulders, shaking him as he called: "master! Are you alright?! Can you hear me?!!".

"I can.....I can hear you"

The master only answered the first question in a very low voice, it was obvious that he wasn't alright at all. Instantly, Bernard's mind went blank, what was he supposed to do?

While Bernard was debating whether he should take him inside the house or lay him on the ground to rest, the master extended his hand that no more felt like his normal fair skin, instead felt like a bunch of flower petals caressing his cheeks slightly.

He could not bear to see the black lines that looked like a spider net on his disciple's face, he must have been infected by the dead mana.

"Ay, my little boy became a grown man, I didn't even notice that "

The master's left arm can't be called an arm anymore, it turned to a firm branch, covered with peach flowers petals that relentlessly kept growing and digging into the ground.

Bernard's eyes began tearing up after hearing his master, he doesn't know what to do anymore. His master wasn't sick nor injured, he was just returning to his original form since all his magical energy were consumed.

He can't refill him with magical crystals, it has to be divine magic and not just any amount, but a great one that can only be provided by divine beings.

"Ma.....master. I....I don't know what to do "

"You don't have to do anything "

As he said that gently, the hand that was resting on Bernard's cheek began imitating a warm rosy aura, slowly sneaking on Bernard's face and detaching the black lines around his eyes.

"I have lived long enough, I want to rest. Hm?"

Bernard watched his master using the tiny bit of mana left to heal him. He knew that his master has lived for a very long time, he lived and saw all his beloved leaves him, while he stayed. He knew that his master really wished for his eternal rest, but he can't possibly just accept this fact.

"I worry about your youngers, Yoon will probably blame himself unreasonably, but Maitea will cause a fuss for sure"

A happy, beautiful and peaceful smile formed on the master's face as he said:" I leave it to you, Bernard ".