Seeing John step out of the protective shield, a fierce gleam flashed through Alastair's eyes.
If John had remained within the shield, he might have truly been helpless.
But now that he had come out, things were different.
He wanted this man dead.
More than dead—obliterated without a trace.
He was determined to make this man suffer excruciatingly, to vent the hatred seething within him.
He despised these so-called geniuses most of all in his life—those who think just a little ability allows them to do whatever they wish, to trample others underfoot.
Those who don't care about the lives of others are the ones who deserve to die the most.
"Since you seek death, I'll gladly oblige!"
"Blade of Light!"
A flurry of white light gathered in Alastair's hand, then transformed into thousands of blades swirling towards John.
The pupils of everyone atop the city walls dilated in shock.
Some instinctively tried to shield John, but to no avail.
Other combat-ready students desperately cast their skills at the light blades, hoping to destroy them with their powers.
But it was no use.
Their skills met the light blades like paper, instantly extinguished.
"Get out of the way!"
Leopold was frantic.
John wasn't usually impulsive, so why had he suddenly rushed out?
Was it really just a moment of pride, or was there some other reason?
He glanced instinctively at Archibald.
"What's going on? Why didn't you stop him when he decided to go out? It's safest to stay inside the protective shield!"
Leopold knew very well that no one could match a semigod-tier powerhouse in battle, not even a demi-semigod!
Such powerhouses truly possess the formidable pressure and skill damage characteristic of semigod-tier—those aspects wouldn't just weaken.
Even if John was incredibly skilled, how could he possibly face a semigod-tier powerhouse alone?
"You need to trust John."
Even though Archibald was incredibly anxious himself, he managed to say this.
Leopold was nearly losing his mind with worry.
"How can you ask me to trust him when he's facing a semigod-tier powerhouse across from him!"
"John is our only hope. Do you expect me to just watch that hope be destroyed?!"
Leopold almost screamed in despair.
He had always believed that if they could just survive these 15 days, they would be able to get out.
But now, a semigod-tier powerhouse had suddenly appeared.
His emotions were already severely strained.
John had briefly ignited a fighting spirit within him, helping him to just barely hold on.
John had always been his hope for survival, their only hope of getting out.
But now... this hope was recklessly provoking a semigod-tier powerhouse?
Had he gone mad?
"Have you forgotten we still have a squad?"
Archibald said calmly, watching Leopold begin to lose control.
Leopold paused, then instinctively turned his head to look at John.
Right, they did have a squad still actively working.
He had wanted to join the squad himself, but because he had been seen, he had to bitterly let the opportunity pass to someone else.
He didn't know the current status of the squad, but with John's actions, could it be that they had already succeeded?
"You mean..."
Archibald didn't respond, just silently watched Leopold.
Leopold seemed to come to some realization, his teeth clenched, his eyes suddenly reddening as he stared at John outside.
Seeing that Leopold appeared to calm down, Archibald felt a slight relief.
Now, with John at a critical juncture, they couldn't afford to disrupt him further.
The only thing they could do was to maintain control on the rear.
As long as they could respond swiftly when needed, they would be successful.
Blades of light rained down on John, but he showed no panic.
After fully regaining consciousness, he discovered that his mastery over the power of control had reached 65%.
This meant that he could exert control over everything on this continent beyond 65%—including his own skill damage and... the enemy's skill damage.
With a light flick of his fingers, John seemed to send an invisible ripple flying through the air.
Alastair's freshly conjured attack suddenly lost 65% of its damage!
Although it still looked terrifying, it was now effectively blocked by the protective shield.
Today, John's mere light shield had blocked nearly half of the damage, causing everyone to widen their eyes in astonishment.
Was it John becoming stronger, or Alastair weakening?
After that barrage of skills, everyone thought John was doomed, yet he was still standing firm.
Alastair was completely unprepared for his skills to be utterly ineffective against John!
He suddenly realized something, his eyes fixed intently on John.
"You... you've taken control of so much power of control!"
Initially, Alastair had used 20% of his power of control to trap John, which had successfully allowed the poisoned dagger to pierce John's body.
Yet, not only did John survive, his mastery over the power of control had surged tremendously.
It was like losing one's bait along with the fish!
However...
Alastair sneered and released another skill.
Even if John could evade once, could he evade a second or third time?
If the power of control wasn't his own, then surely it wasn't John's either!
The struggle over the power of control between them never ceased.
It was merely a game of give and take.
But inevitably, one side would consume resources.
John needed to expend power of control to enhance his skills.
As long as the consumption continued, John's power of control would decrease further, and eventually, Alastair would be able to annihilate him.
Just a minor gold-tier, daring to defy him?
"Is that all you've got? What a waste."
John said with a smirk, his tone dripping with scorn that sent shivers down the spine.
Alastair was infuriated, his ability to think clearly completely obliterated by rage.
The only thought in his mind: I want him dead! He must die before me!
Boom, boom, boom!
Stunning skills were unleashed once again, but this time, John didn't just stand there and take it; he swiftly dodged out of the way.
Now empowered by the power of control, John's speed was beyond what any ordinary gold-tier could possess, even reaching transcendent-tier speeds—perfect for evasion.
Several skills crashed down, yet John remained unscathed, slipping away from the attacks like a slippery eel, dodging over and over again.
Furious, Alastair commanded the bone dragon beneath him to charge at John, flying towards him with vengeful speed.
John scoffed derisively and, using his magical power, conjured a pair of wings.
He nimbly avoided all the incoming attacks.
The aftermath of the assaults had already turned the surrounding forest into nothingness, and many lesser creatures on the ground met a disastrous end.
However, John could not afford to care about that now as he swiftly headed towards the Northernmost Realm.
How could Alastair not realize that John was deliberately luring him away from the area?
But he could no longer care about such tactics.
He wanted John dead.
As a semigod-tier powerhouse, how could he allow himself to be toyed with like this?
Watching the two speed away, completely vanishing from their sight, everyone was left somewhat bewildered.
They had... left?
But soon, they breathed a sigh of relief.
Now that the semigod-tier threat was gone, only some lesser monsters remained.
John was not there, but without anything but these lesser creatures, they knew they could manage.
Leopold stared intently in the direction John had gone, his eyes suddenly reddening.
"John!"
Leopold suddenly shouted.
"You better survive! Once you're out, I'm treating you to a big meal!"