Chapter 518: The Two's Escape

Eustace keenly sensed the overwhelming hostility emanating from the Aura Master, the intensity far more noticeable than the others.

'If you're going to sneak up on me, you should learn to hide that bloodlust better...' Eustace mused. He couldn't help but remark on the man's lack of subtlety in concealing his bloodlust.

After contemplating the appropriate course of action for dealing with this particular adversary, an idea crossed Eustace's mind as he recalled the Holy Messenger's Summoning Scroll. It was the item that the middle-aged man had acquired in a previous auction.

The scroll had fetched a hefty price of 15,900 zen...

His eyes gleamed with a spark of interest.

"So, you're asking for it to be stolen, huh?" Eustace sneered, directing his scornful gaze towards the middle-aged man.

This gaze also broke the concealing spell of his enemy.

The man was obviously surprised by Eustace's discovery of his stealth.

"How did you--!"

He couldn't believe how his target detected him so effortlessly. He hadn't even come close to reaching Eustace yet.

Eustace's cold smile widened as he reached out his hand towards the man, his fingers poised to activate his spell.

"Traceless Shift!" Eustace whispered, his voice laced with expectation... He was excited to see the bag that the man was holding.

In an instant, the middle-aged man's bag vanished, materializing securely into Eustace's waiting hands. The man was dumbfounded, unable to comprehend how Eustace had managed to pilfer his possession without any visible signs of intrusion or arcane manipulation.

"W-what?! How?" The man exclaimed, his disbelief evident. His surprised voice had even caught the attention of the other Arcanists around. This includes Clyde and others observing the situation over 150 meters away.

"I don't have to answer that, do I?" Eustace replied.

"Give it back to me!"

The middle-aged man's mind raced, searching for a logical explanation as to how Eustace had effortlessly taken the item from him. Yet, he could find no plausible reason to account for the ease with which Eustace had succeeded.

"Thief!" The man shouted, his voice filled with indignation.

Eustace met the man's accusation with a scornful gaze.

In his mind, they were the ones ganging up on him, and he felt no remorse for his actions.

With the stolen item now in his possession, Eustace's considered to just escape...

'Right... I should do the same with the others.' He smiled at this as he stole another person's bag.

The cooldown of his Traceless Shift was only 10 seconds. However, he could only use it eight times a day before his Spell Light was drained.

Eustace then swiftly stole the bags of the other Arcanists who were on the verge of killing the weakened Savage Murlocs.

"Thief!"

"This man had summoned a Phantom Thief! That's the only explanation!"

"What? No wonder we didn't notice anything..."

"This is bad... My life savings is in my bag! Return it! Please!"

The Arcanists who had their bags stolen had various reactions. However, Vale didn't listen to them.

Since the Murlocs fought valiantly against the four Arcanists, they were already battered and on the verge of death. Even with Yvaine's covert support, it wasn't enough to compensate for their disadvantage.

"Well, at least I really looked like a Summoner with these Murclocs... except for that Traceless Shift. I hope they believe it's just another mysterious summoner's spell." He pondered, considering the impressions he was leaving behind.

'Ahh... Wait... Did they mention a Phantom Thief summon?' Eustace mused as he processed the words of the Elementalist just now. If there was a Summon that could steal items, then his Traceless Shift should be just fine.

As he was considering whether to extract these people, Eustace's intuition warned him of several powerful Arcanists in the vicinity, preparing to unleash a formidable Formation Art that could potentially trap him.

'Tsk... So that's it, huh...' Eustace sighed as he decided to leave.

With this looming threat, he knew it was more prudent to leave these Arcanists. He couldn't let numerous people know about his ability, which could drain the powers of people he touches.

He planned to do that with his identity as the Masked Devil Incarnate.

"You guys are lucky for not being extracted..." Eustace muttered under his breath, his gaze briefly flickering towards Clare and Teresa, acknowledging their presence.

With a final glance, he turned away, determined to make his escape before the situation escalated any further.

***

Clare and Teresa were taken aback by the intensity of Eustace's gaze.

However, they couldn't help but be exhilarated by the realization that Eustace's magical aura surpassed the typical level for someone his age.

'That's more than 150 meters!'

It was a clear indication that he possessed extraordinary capabilities, either due to exceptional innate talent or a unique physical constitution that could accommodate a vast amount of Spirit Strands.

"A Half-Spirit!" Teresa exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face as she connected the dots. She concluded that Eustace was likely Clovis and Vale as well!

Clare, too, arrived at the same conclusion and couldn't contain her excitement. "Incredible... I wonder what his true identity is?" She muttered, her mind brimming with curiosity.

Teresa's imagination also ran wild as she contemplated the possible situation behind Eustace's existence.

"This guy must have been a legendary figure in the past. Perhaps he was on a special mission..." She pondered, envisioning a grand narrative.

If Vale, Clovis, and Eustace were indeed the same person, Clare and Teresa reasoned that this enigmatic individual had likely lived for an extensive period of time. The notion that Eustace, as a Half-Spirit, could potentially live for a thousand years crossed Clare's mind.

Perhaps, he had several more identities, young or old, that they weren't aware of.

"Well, if he's a Half-Spirit, he could certainly have a lifespan spanning a millennium as long as he don't seek death... So it wouldn't be surprising." Clare commented, her gaze fixed on the spot where Eustace had disappeared. She no longer had any plans of pursuing him.

There was a lingering feeling that Eustace's parting glance held a warning... As if telling them not to push their luck.

"You're right..." Teresa agreed with a sigh.

"Let's leave it at that for now. If fate allows, I'm confident we'll meet again." Teresa added, acknowledging the uncertain nature of their paths.

The two could only turn their backs as they dared not to aggravate the situation even more.

***

As night fell over the bustling Roaring City, the atmosphere remained vibrant and lively.

However, while this was all happening, the Ascension Tower, which had been sealed for a while now, began to tremble.

A mysterious energy suddenly started leaking out and pervaded the surroundings. Then, an enigmatic aura enveloped the area before dissipating into nothingness.

It happened so quickly, but it didn't escape from the guards and numerous Arcanists assigned to monitor the Tower.

They were all taken aback since this was an unprecedented event.

They were at a loss, unable to respond in this type of situation.

"This Tower truly is a riddle... If only I had my research team here, we could unravel its secrets within a matter of weeks..." Odessa murmured.

The esteemed Royal Mage sighed, lamenting the absence of the talented magicians she had assembled for her Tower. She envisioned the wealth of knowledge they could bring to bear on such enigmatic phenomena.

'I'm sure they'll be excited if I bring them here.' She mused.

***

In the meantime, unbeknownst to the city's inhabitants, including Odessa herself, a figure had managed to escape the confines of the Tower.

It was an adorable girl, adorned with striking blue eyes and flowing blue hair. She relished the sensation of freedom as she inhaled the surrounding air, finding it refreshingly different from the atmosphere within the Tower, where she had been confined for an extended period.

"This is it... So refreshing..." She muttered.

Surveying her surroundings, the young girl confirmed that her choice of attire was fitting for her situation.

The garments she wore were unassuming, mostly acquired from previous Arcanists who had ventured into the Tower.

Satisfied with her appearance, she directed her gaze towards the sky, longing to marvel at the stars and moon above. However, fate had a different plan in store.

"Ugh... What terrible timing... Why must it be cloudy tonight? Is rain on the horizon? Well, perhaps that wouldn't be so bad either." She sighed, resigned to the whims of the weather.

Suddenly, a familiar surge of divinity coursed through the young lady, reminding her of the source that granted her a physical form.

Indeed, she was Constance, the lady who resided in the Mystic Soul Tower, also known as the Ascension Tower.

A moment of realization dawned upon her.

"So he's still here... Is Vale Chambers waiting for me?" She pondered after sensing his distinctive aura.

Constance made a spontaneous decision to approach Vale. After all, he was the only person she knew in this unfamiliar place. If there were other renowned Arcanists she once knew, time must have claimed them long ago.

With a smile on her face, Constance followed the trail left behind by Vale, who seemed to be moving with astonishing speed, leading away from the city.