My Muscle System in the Mage World

However, as he surveyed the scene, a faint frown creased his brow.

With a swift motion, he propelled himself forward using the ground as his platform, arriving at the tumultuous scene in mere moments.

"What happened?" Aur inquired as he approached.

"Captain," Darcy spoke up, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Hmm?" Aur responded, turning his attention to where Darcy indicated.

"Look at John, captain. That guy has gone crazy for that woman," she explained, pointing towards the source of the commotion.

John tightened his grip on Zaya, his expression fierce as he warily watched the two teammates who encircled him. Nearby, women and children observed the scene with wide-eyed terror.

"What happened?" Aur inquired, his voice calm yet authoritative.

"Captain, while we were hunting, Gabriel moved to eliminate Zaya, but John intervened and engaged us in combat without hesitation," Darcy explained, her tone tinged with apprehension.

Aur's disappointment was evident as he absorbed the news. "I thought he was smarter than this," he muttered, shaking his head in dismay.

"Clear a path," Aur commanded, his voice cold and commanding.

Without hesitation, Gabriel and the other teammate complied, their eyes gleaming with obedience. "Yes, captain," Gabriel affirmed, exchanging a glance with the other boy before they both departed, leaving the tumult behind them.

However, before Gabriel departed, he left a foreboding word for John: "You're in trouble, John."

John seemed to tremble, his apprehension evident as he looked at Aur, fear written in his eyes.

"Kill that girl, John," Aur casually ordered, barely sparing a glance at the woman.

"Captain, can I keep this woman with me?" John hesitantly asked.

Aur's eyebrows raised in amusement at the request. "Are you sure you want to?" he inquired again, as if seeking confirmation.

"Yes," John replied, his eyes glinting with determination.

"Very well then," Aur shrugged, turning around to deal with the others who had escaped.

"Eh!?" John was a little stunned by Aur's leniency. "He let me go so easily?" he wondered, observing as the others redirected their attention to the remaining targets.

"Immortal, thank you for saving me," Zaya trembled, her eyes widened in his embrace.

John sighed, feeling her trembling body in his arms, his eyes immediately growing tender and loving.

"Call me John from now on; don't worry, I will take care of you from now on," John reassured Zaya.

Zaya blushed as she replied, "Thank you, John," but her gaze wasn't on John; instead, it was fixed on the people being slaughtered by the others, an indescribable light flashing in her eyes.

"But John, tell me, is that white-haired immortal stronger than you?" she inquired.

John looked at her deeply, his expression resigned. "Yes. That guy is a monster. Technically, his talent is even less than mine, but he has already reached the peak of the wizard apprentice while I have just reached the high wizard apprentice realm."

"Really?" Zaya asked, her curiosity evident.

"Yes. If I dared to disobey him, he has the authority given by the academy to punish me," John admitted, fear flickering in his eyes.

Zaya nodded thoughtfully, processing this information.

"And from what I heard, his combat strength is even more terrifying, already reaching the tier one wizard realm," John added with a hint of awe and terror in his voice.

As the wails of countless slaughtered people finally ceased, the wilderness fell into a somber silence, illuminated only by the silvery rays of the moon, revealing the grim aftermath of the carnage: countless corpses strewn across the ground.

Aur sheathed his saber and turned to depart, the others following suit.

"For this mission, John will receive 50% less of the contribution, as per the rules," Aur declared in a cold tone before striding away, leaving John stunned in his wake.

Gabriel couldn't contain a snicker upon hearing this, casting a mocking glance at John before following Aur. Darcy, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for him.

"But wait, how is that fair? I was supposed to get—"

"This is my command," Aur's voice echoed in the air, cutting off John's protests as he disappeared into the night.

Left alone amidst a sea of corpses, John found himself grappling with his thoughts, with only a beauty in his arms for solace.

Just as he was about to leave, John heard voices emanating from the surrounding bushes.

Zizizzi...

His eyes widened as he swiftly sent a wind slash at the bushes.

A thud resounded, followed by blood seeping from the bushes, prompting John to heave a sigh of relief.

However, his respite was short-lived as countless sounds echoed from all directions.

"Imps!?" John gritted his teeth. "Damn it, they must have been drawn by the scent of blood," he muttered, hastily leaving the area with Zaya in his embrace.

"Hey, wait for me, Aur!" he shouted from behind, hastening to catch up to them.

"What happened, John?" Darcy inquired curiously.

"It looks like the smell of blood drew the imps in the surrounding area," John helplessly explained.

Upon hearing this, Aur's expression shifted slightly.

"You fool," he scolded in a cold tone, before randomly throwing a fireball at the bushes.

The 'kree' sound of Imps resonated in the surroundings as the scent of burnt flesh filled the air.

"We are already surrounded by Imps," Aur said in a cold tone.

Unbeknownst to them, countless pairs of eyes were fixated on them from the darkness.

Aur frowned slightly. "Who knows fire magic?"

"I do," Darcy volunteered, her hand raised and a smile on her face.

"Alright, set fire to the entire forest," Aur commanded in a cruel tone.

Darcy hesitated for a moment upon hearing the order, but seeing the countless Imps surrounding them, she nodded with determination.

"Tier one: Fire Lance," she muttered under her breath.

A spear of fire materialised in front of her, shooting forward in an instant.

The bushes erupted into flames, accompanied by a chorus of pained 'kree' sounds from the Imps, as the burnt smell pervaded the surroundings.