I Died and Became a Noble's Heir

Chapter 513: Be quiet Boy

Red lightning crackled across Jack’s armor as he and Mira separated from their latest exchange, both breathing slightly more than normal.

Her fire-wreathed attacks had scored hits despite his demon armor, and her superior close-combat experience was becoming increasingly apparent.

’She’s too skilled at hand-to-hand,’ Jack contemplated, his mind processing options while his body remained ready for the next assault. ’Every exchange at close range favors her. I need to create distance and use techniques that leverage my advantages instead of playing to her strengths.’

[Static Orbs: Activated]

Thirty red orbs materialized around Jack’s position, each one crackling with compressed electrical energy.

They floated in seemingly random positions, hidden among the rain and scattered debris from their fight.

To Mira’s eyes, they appeared as nothing more than ambient magical discharge, harmless residue from Jack’s lightning techniques.

But each orb was a trap waiting to be triggered.

Mira charged, fire igniting beneath her feet, propelling her forward with explosive speed.

Her fists blazed with concentrated heat as she closed the distance, aiming to overwhelm Jack before he could establish a defensive position.

The static orbs detonated simultaneously.

Thirty explosions erupted across the courtyard, each one releasing a four-meter blast radius of pure electrical devastation.

The orbs had been positioned to create overlapping kill zones, ensuring that no matter which direction Mira dodged, she’d be caught in multiple detonations.

The combined force was catastrophic.

Lightning consumed Mira’s charging form, electricity arcing through her body as explosion after explosion hammered her defenses.

Her fire resistance meant nothing against electrical attacks. The energy types were incompatible, leaving her vulnerable.

[-110,160 HP]

[Mira HP: 129,785/250,000]

Mira’s scream cut through the explosions, raw agony transmitted as her nervous system overloaded from electrical current.

She stumbled, her charge broken, smoke rising from her clothing where lightning had scorched fabric and flesh beneath.

But she didn’t fall. Her constitution was quite high, and her resilience kept her standing despite damage that would have killed normal mages ten times over.

Jack didn’t give her time to recover. His hands clapped together with explosive force.

[Thunder Clap: Activated]

The sound was deafening, a percussive blast that sent shockwaves rippling outward to a radius of 6 meters. But the noise was secondary to the electrical discharge that followed, an area-of-effect attack designed to catch multiple enemies simultaneously.

Red lightning erupted from Jack’s position, washing over Mira’s wounded form with merciless intensity.

[-4,590 HP]

[Mira HP: 125,195/250,000]

The attack sent Mira flying backward, her body tumoring across wet stone before crashing into the shrine’s foundation.

Marble cracked from the impact, ancient stone fracturing as her momentum transferred into the structure.

Jack pressed his advantage, his spear raised as he closed the distance with steps enhanced by Thunder Mantle’s speed boost.

But before he could capitalize on Mira’s vulnerable position, his enhanced hearing caught something that made his blood run cold.

A significant and powerful explosion originating from the vicinity of Pho’s engagement with Warren.

Jack’s mind immediately reached through the Soul Link, searching for his bound demon’s presence.

’Pho, status report.’

Silence.

’Pho, respond.’

Nothing. The Soul Link connection existed. Jack could feel it, the binding intact, but no thoughts or communication came back through the channel.

Either Pho was unconscious, too focused on combat to respond, or...

’No,’ Jack thought, rejecting the worst possibility. ’He’s almost Sovereign-class. Warren is strong, but not strong enough to kill Pho outright. Something else is happening.’

But uncertainty gnawed at him. If Warren had somehow managed to put Pho down, even temporarily, that meant the Council member was far more dangerous than he thought.

Through the Soul Link, he sent commands that rippled across Floor 25, reaching Loryn’s bony ears.

’Send everyone. All combat-ready forces on Floor 25. Deploy them to Floors 11 through 20. Kill everything.’

Loryn’s response came instantly, the old mage’s consciousness brushing against Jack’s through the magical connection.

On Floor 25, portals began opening. Demons flooded through the gateways in organized waves. Thousands of bound creatures following their master’s command without question or fear.

Jack didn’t know if the fight would escalate to the point where his ”just in case” preparations would be necessary.

Mira pushed herself upright, blood running from wounds across her torso and arms.

Her traveling clothes were scorched beyond recognition, the fabric barely holding together after multiple lightning strikes.

But her amber eyes still burned with determination, and fire still wreathed her hands despite the damage she’d taken.

”You’re strong,” she admitted, her voice carrying strain from injuries. ”Stronger than our intelligence suggested. But strength alone won’t save you from what’s coming.”

Movement at the shrine’s side entrance drew Jack’s attention.

Rhys emerged from the shadows, his winter-ice eyes widening as he took in the scene before him.

Jack, standing in demon armor wreathed with red lightning, spear raised and ready. Mira is bleeding but defiant, fire magic still crackling around her damaged form.

The courtyard was destroyed, statues shattered, and the ancient oak tree was burning despite the rain.

”Jack?” Rhys called out, confusion and concern mixing in his voice. ”What’s happening? Who is...”

A second figure appeared beside Mira, materializing with such smooth precision that it seemed he’d always been standing there and everyone had failed to notice.

A young man, in his mid-twenties, with raven-black hair that fell past his shoulders.

Blue tattoos covered his visible skin. Intricate patterns that looked like flowing water frozen mid-motion, creating designs that were beautiful to look at.

His eyes were the pale blue of deep ocean ice, and despite his youthful demeanor, he bore the burden of experience far exceeding his age.

Jack’s enhanced perception immediately noted details.

The way he stood with complete confidence, his posture relaxed but ready to move with explosive speed.

Water mana radiated from him in waves, the magical pressure outshining Mira’s magic.

’Where’s Pho?’ Jack thought, ice flooding through his veins.

Rhys had frozen mid-step, his gaze tracking to a third figure Jack hadn’t initially noticed.

An older man stood in the shadows near the shrine’s side entrance, exactly where Rhys had emerged.

His presence was so minimal, so perfectly concealed, that even Jack’s enhanced perception struggled to maintain focus on him.

But Rhys was staring directly at the figure, his expression showing shock and confusion that transcended simple surprise.

His entire body had gone rigid; every sense he possessed was a screaming contradiction.

He could see the man clearly, but his magical perception registered absolutely nothing.

No mana signature.

He had no presence.

No indication that anything living occupied the space where his eyes insisted a person stood.

It was like staring at a void shaped like a human being.

”Who are you?” Rhys asked, his voice carrying genuine bewilderment mixed with growing unease. ”How can I not sense anything from you? It’s like you’re not even there, but I’m looking right at you. I can see you clearly, but every magical sense I possess says that space is empty.”

The cognitive dissonance was overwhelming. Rhys had trained for years to trust his perception, to rely on his ability to sense mana signatures and magical presence.

But this man defied everything he’d learned. Existing visually while being completely absent from magical detection.

’How strong does someone have to be to achieve this?’ Rhys thought, his mind racing through possibilities.

’Complete suppression of presence isn’t just an advanced technique. It requires power so far beyond mine that I can’t even comprehend the gap. S can conceal himself, but I can still sense him if I focus. But this man? It’s like he’s erased himself from reality except for the visual component.’

The older man’s response was quiet but carried absolute authority, making Rhys’s combat instincts snap to full alert. ”Be silent, boy. This fight is important. Jack needs to face this alone. What happens here will determine things far beyond your current understanding.”