I am the Archmage

Chapter 7 Disaster in the forest

I chuckled slyly and waved my hand, summoning over ten super-sized ‘Fireballs’ that blasted onto Chirpy Bird’s body. Chirpy Bird’s energy surged, and its blazing flames roared to life, instantly engulfing my two great teachers.

I shouted, “Teachers, enjoy the thrill of battle to your hearts’ content!”

With that, I cast “Flight Spell” and soared into the sky, riding the swift winds back to the wooden cabin. Behind me, waves of heat rolled, and the sound of explosions echoed nonstop.

These two out-of-shape old men really needed some exercise.

As I landed at the cabin, I saw Livia practicing swordsmanship on the grass. Her golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, and every swing of her sword radiated a powerful grace, making her look like a goddess bathed in sunlight.

I was momentarily entranced, feeling a sense of awe. On a whim, I stretched out my hand and cast a colorful radiance toward her.

It was the “Holy Light” spell from the Holy Light Magic School. When cast on a warrior, it temporarily multiplies their attack power, speed, and defense.

Livia’s body was enveloped in the seven-colored glow, and she glanced at me briefly. Suddenly, her sword burst into flames, and with a swift motion, she spun and slashed at me like a bolt of lightning.

I didn’t expect my attempt to flatter her to be met with such retaliation. Panicking, I quickly cast “Guardian Wind” to form a protective whirlwind around me.

Normally, with Livia’s strength, “Guardian Wind” would have been impenetrable. But because I had just boosted her with “Holy Light,” her attack power had doubled. As a result, the whirlwind only briefly slowed her advance but didn’t stop her attack.

Seeing the slight smirk on Livia’s lips, I immediately realized she was avenging herself for the time I spied on her while she was bathing.

Hmph, what a petty woman!

Her flame-enchanted sword tore through the “Guardian Wind” and was about to strike me. In a flash, I raised my left hand and cast the “Light Shield” spell, another Holy Light Magic technique. A radiant shield formed around my hand just in time to block her flaming sword.

Next, I clenched my right hand into a fist and punched the air, chanting, “Go! Thunder Cannon Blast!”

With a thunderous roar, a ball of lightning shot out from my fist, hurtling directly toward Livia.

This was a mid-level lightning spell with immense power, but it was typically only effective for long-range attacks—“the incantation is so long that the enemy would reach you before you even finish chanting.” Of course, I could unleash it instantly without the usual delay.

The lightning ball struck Livia’s sword squarely. She let out a startled cry as the impact sent her flying, her sword spinning out of her hand before shattering into fragments mid-air.

Livia’s graceful figure twirled beautifully in the air before landing safely. She stormed over, her face filled with anger, grabbed my ear, and said, “You shameless rogue! You destroyed my sword—hurry up and compensate me!”

Despite her icy demeanor, Livia was actually a very lonely girl. Her father’s towering reputation made it difficult for her to make any friends—damn Eulis, that old man—and she ended up pouring all her energy into mastering magic and swordsmanship. This cultivated her cold personality, turning her into an ice queen.

When I, Wu Lai, showed up, I relied on my relentless persistence and indestructible cockroach-like spirit to slowly melt that icy heart. After all, she was still an eighteen-year-old girl.

While I was begging Livia for forgiveness, a clear and melodious cry echoed from above. Looking up, I saw Chirpy Bird soaring gracefully through the sky.

Livia, surprised and delighted, exclaimed, “Ah! It’s the Fire Phoenix! Wu Lai, get ready to catch it—we’ve been searching for it for so long!”

I smiled smugly, raised my hand, and beckoned toward the sky. Chirpy Bird immediately shrank in size and landed obediently on my shoulder, leaving Livia completely stunned.

I grinned and said proudly, “It’s already my summoned beast. Its name is Chirpy Bird.”

I noticed that Chirpy Bird’s fiery red feathers were visibly damaged, and it looked quite exhausted. I couldn’t help but sigh—those two old men truly lived up to their reputation as two of the seven greatest Grand Mages.

Quickly, I conjured a blazing flame to surround Chirpy Bird. As an immortal Phoenix, it could rejuvenate itself through fire. Bathed in the flames, Chirpy Bird soon regained its energy and spirit.

From the sky, Eulis’s furious roar echoed, **“Wu Lai, you brat! Prepare to die!”**

Immediately, a barrage of magic attacks—fireballs, wind blades, ice arrows, and more—came crashing down on me.

Without time to think, I grabbed Livia into my arms and chanted, **“Sacred Light Spirit Array.”**

A crystal-clear sphere of light enveloped me and Livia, shielding us from the onslaught. Fireballs and other attacks exploded continuously upon the barrier, but they couldn’t harm us in the slightest.

The **“Sacred Light Spirit Array”** was the ultimate defensive spell of the Holy Light magic school, theoretically capable of withstanding any magical assault. Its only drawback was the massive amount of magic power it consumed, but thanks to the countless **Phantom Spirit Fruits** (sweet potatoes) I’d eaten, this wasn’t an issue for me.

Seeing the situation, the now-revived Chirpy Bird flapped its wings, ready to counterattack, but I stopped it and sent it back to my dimensional space.

As the wave of attacks subsided, Eulis and Linka landed on the ground. Their hair and beards were singed yellow, clearly the result of Chirpy Bird’s earlier efforts.

Deactivating the **Sacred Light Spirit Array,** I grinned and said, **“Well, teachers, did you enjoy yourselves?”**

Eulis was already furious, and seeing me holding his precious daughter while making sarcastic remarks only added fuel to the fire. He roared, **“Livia! What are you doing? Get up this instant!”**

Livia, tightly held in my arms and surrounded by the natural scent of a man, had temporarily lost her usual cold demeanor. She allowed herself to stay in my embrace, soft and delicate.

Hearing Eulis’s shout snapped her back to reality. She quickly struggled out of my arms, stood up, and cast me a lingering glance. Then, with a graceful turn, she ran off.

In that fleeting glance, there was shyness, joy, anger, and a hint of reproach—a mix of emotions that left me completely dazed and lost in thought.

Suddenly, a sharp pain on my face snapped me back to reality. Eulis and Linka, taking advantage of my distraction, had each landed a punch on me, leaving me with two fresh black eyes.

Crying out in pain, I retaliated by wildly firing **‘Fireballs’** in all directions. The two old men weren’t about to back down either and unleashed their own magical attacks.

The entire forest erupted into chaos, with explosions echoing nonstop. Flashes of elemental magic and the roars of magical beasts filled the air, creating a scene of utter destruction.

As recorded in the history books of the Holy Magic Continent: **In the year 377 of the Continental Calendar, the southern region of the Continent’s densest forest, the ‘Forest of Waves,’ suffered devastating destruction. The battle between three mages left the area unable to recover even after thirty years.**