Perspective: Dale—Location: At sea—

Who exactly is this guy? I mean, seriously, if you've got the skills to show off standing on the sea, wouldn't it be more effective to launch a sudden attack instead? That would make a better impression, right?

You standing on the sea, not knowing if you're waiting for us or just taking a casual stroll, is really easy to misinterpret.

Eyes shining and all, don't you know individuals like you are usually used as a light source? Yeah, like some war god who uses others' heads as lanterns and such.

Although that's what's being said, we are quite clear that the other party is here for us. Because your name is already in red, my friend.

No, my enemy.

"Hey, this guy doesn't seem human at all..." Fran, standing beside me, remarked.

"Are you stating the obvious? How could a normal person stand on the sea showing off?" I chuckled.

"I'm not talking about that. I mean, this guy doesn't seem to be a living being." Fran explained.

"Not a living being? Could it be undead?"

"That's right."

Although Fran didn't say it outright, this guy is indeed a necromancer.

"Well, what next?" I curiously inquired.

"So, do you think he was summoned or turned himself into an undead?" Fran replied.

"How should I know? I just know he's undead."

"Then why do undead beings like to show off like this? Shouldn't an undead be emitting black smoke all over and only appear at midnight? What's the deal with this guy showing up in broad daylight and alone?"

"Well..."

Suddenly, the officer next to me interjected.

"I apologize for interrupting your conversation, but... we are getting closer to that guy on the sea. What do we do?"

"Why are you asking us?" I sighed.

"You guys should just do as you usually do. While we will help you deal with him, don't rely entirely on us either."

"Oh, sorry." The officer looked a bit sheepish. "Usually, when mages join the battle, we would ask for their battle plans beforehand. You know, it's quite painful for us ordinary folks if we get caught in magical crossfire."

"I don't think we can make any arrangements in this situation now, can we?" I said with a smile. "After all, we are on the sea, and it's not simple to evade."

"That... is true. Well, let's get prepared then."

"No... I think we should refrain from preparation and engage in combat," Fran suddenly suggested. "It's starting."

Upon hearing her words, we all turned to look at the person on the sea. He had taken out a skull at some point and raised it towards the sky. A huge black magic circle, with a diameter of over ten meters, slowly began to unfold behind him.

"Oh no, that guy is summoning something from the abyss. Let's not watch, if we don't interrupt him, we're done for!" Fran's urgency made us tense up.

Fran must have known our strengths. If she was this anxious, she knew exactly what kind of magic the other side possessed. But the beings from the abyss... They weren't that strong, right? Well, maybe there were quite a few we hadn't encountered yet.

"Perfect, I can try out some magic I've never used before," Mary seemed quite pleased, pulling out her magic notes again.

Geez, why do you have to show off like this? Learn to be more practical like me.

With that thought in mind, I brought out all my electromagnetic cannon reserves and lined them up neatly. "Do you intend to evaporate the entire ocean with this?" Mary, who was about to cast a spell, looked at me with a twitch in her eye.

"Mind your own business. Hurry up with your spell," I retorted.

"Hmph."

Just then, a ship in the distance suddenly erupted with screams! I turned to look and saw many black things protruding from the ship near the sea surface! Peering through the binoculars, my expression twisted.

As it turned out, these things emerging from the sea were black skeletal hands, soon followed by numerous black skeletons climbing up the outer walls of the ship!

Isn't this typical of undead, using such disgusting skills? But skeleton soldiers... They're just there to scare people, right? Well, I stand corrected.

Seeing Black and Sylvantus huddled nearby, observing the skeletons in the distance, I realized that these skeleton soldiers were quite useful, at least to a certain extent.

"Mary, you better figure out how to deal with those skeleton soldiers," I advised.

"What? Why me?" Mary protested.

"Do you think my magical attacks will reach that ship after I've cast them?" I raised an eyebrow.

After contemplating for a moment, Mary reluctantly nodded. "Well, I was planning to use a similar spell anyway."

"Huh?"

"Great ultimate..." Mary raised her wand high. "...Eternal Frozen Glacier Century!"

Goodness, that skill's name is really lengthy. What followed next was even more impressive.

In an instant, just a single instant, our surroundings underwent a drastic change. We found ourselves suddenly in the midst of a vast glacier, having been in the endless sea just a moment ago!

"Stay calm, hold your positions!" The officer on the ship shouted loudly to the soldiers.

"Join!" With Mary's hands clasped together, two massive icebergs advanced towards the dark-cloaked figure from both directions, likely aiming to squish him into a pulp.

Of course, that is if he has flesh; otherwise, the skeletons are in for a treat.

Additionally, the spell had an added effect of freezing the skeletons near the ship, resolving the immediate threat.

However... We had underestimated that guy.

The magic circle behind him suddenly accelerated, completing its formation in an instant, emitting a strange ripple. A pair of giant hands emerged from the magic circle, directly stopping the advance of the icebergs from both sides!

Then... a ghostly face appeared... I couldn't shake the feeling that this guy seemed familiar but different at the same time.

The being emerging from the magic circle bore a resemblance to the Hornbeast we encountered previously, but... this one seemed... more terrifying!

Boom!

With a powerful tremor, the ghost shattered the two icebergs, causing Mary to scream in agony and fall to her knees.

Magic backlash!

This ghost actually countered Mary's magic?

"Interesting," Fran chuckled. "Shall we unleash all our firepower?"

"Trying to show off now would be fatal," I said wryly.

I hope the opponent isn't too strong...