Chapter Sixty-Six: Counterspell

"Very well." Wang Ningwei spoke, then clasped the pearl in her hand. Gradually, the pearl that once restored magical power lost its usual luster. Only by the next day would it regain its energy.

With her spell slot restored, Wang Ningwei's complexion grew rosier. She strode straight up to Zhao Xu and pressed the "Pearl of Power Restoration" back into his hand. "This is too precious; restoring a spell slot is reward enough," she said, then slowly widened the distance between herself and Zhao Xu until she reached the proper range for a mage duel.

At the same time, Wang Ningwei removed a shimmering silver necklace from her chest and slipped it into her pocket.

Around them, most players—aside from a few ambitious ones who looked disappointed—quickly moved to give space. From their first day of training, they'd been warned: anyone who cast offensive spells on a companion without permission would be expelled from the Floating City. This was why everyone was so eager to cast spells freely tonight on the plaza. Now, with a rare sanctioned mage duel about to unfold, excitement and cooperation surged.

"Looks like they're really afraid you might get killed," Antinoia's voice, with Zhao Xu's consent, echoed in his mind.

"Hmm?"

"That necklace she wears—she's performed a ritual. It lets the wearer increase their caster level by one," Antinoia explained.

"You can use a ritual to increase caster level by one?" Understanding that Wang Ningwei was intentionally lowering her Magic Missile's damage, Zhao Xu still couldn't help but marvel at the ritual.

"Yes, my Circlet of Intelligence is enhanced with the same ritual," Antinoia replied.

Zhao Xu couldn't help but complain internally. "Mentor, why didn't you just enhance me directly? That Ironstone is hard enough to bring out."

"If I cast a ritual for you, you have no idea its value. But if I give you an Ironstone with the same effect, you understand its worth and feel grateful," Antinoia said, explaining the subtleties of human relations.

Zhao Xu nearly laughed aloud.

But he noticed Wang Ningwei had already taken her position, awaiting his declaration to start.

Only then did Zhao Xu realize he didn't know what to do. He hurriedly called out to Antinoia.

"Mentor, what am I supposed to do?"

"Oh, with all your bravado just now, I thought you had everything under control."

"Antinoia, someone might die!"

"All right. Prepare to cast. If you successfully identify your opponent's spell, focus on casting the same spell to counter theirs. That's all you need."

"Is it really that simple?" Zhao Xu couldn't see the logic.

"If you manage to kill her, I'll give you another magical item. Begin now," Antinoia said directly.

Everyone around grew tense, unsettled by the promise of a magical item.

A large circle had gathered, attracting many curious eyes. Even several managers further away watched intently.

The bricks of the underground plaza gleamed brightly enough to reflect Zhao Xu's silhouette.

Wang Ningwei entered a different state entirely, her gaze focused on Zhao Xu as she began chanting.

Zhao Xu had already deciphered her spell—even without listening, he knew Wang Ningwei was about to cast "Magic Missile."

Magic Missile dealt 1d4+1 damage (2-5). After removing her necklace, even at maximum, Wang Ningwei couldn't knock him out.

But Zhao Xu was powerless. He could only watch his character sheet.

Recognizing the spell was useless; the system had to acknowledge it, connecting him to the magical source for feedback.

As Wang Ningwei finished her incantation, the Magic Missile was primed.

Wang Ningwei looked slightly surprised.

She'd assumed Zhao Xu would try to cast a first-level "Shield" at the last moment to block her Magic Missile.

Yet, as the energy coalesced, no shield appeared before Zhao Xu.

Any mage able to reach Mystra's domain wouldn't have an Intelligence below sixteen. Few would invest much in Constitution, unless they started with thirty-two points on day one.

With that in mind, Wang Ningwei steeled herself and shifted her target.

Zhao Xu wasn't blind; he could see the Magic Missile forming in her palm.

He wasn't afraid, but that didn't mean it wouldn't hurt.

The suspense, like awaiting judgment, weighed on him, testing his will.

Suddenly, he felt his remaining strength surge.

The magical field formed a bridge between the source and himself; at that moment, Zhao Xu grasped the opportunity.

"Hmm?"

"What's happening?"

"Impossible!"

Exclamations erupted from the crowd.

Wang Ningwei stared, bewildered, at her palm—her Magic Missile had vanished.

A bird had yet to leave a mark in the sky before disappearing.

Along with it, Antinoia and Zhao Xu both vanished.

Only a "First-Level Pearl of Power Restoration" floated in midair, slowly descending.

It fell into Wang Ningwei's hand, at the very spot where her Magic Missile had gathered.

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The night sky above the Obelisk Tower was bleak, even though many castle towers nearby still glowed with light.

Yet from the highest viewpoint in the Floating City, most of the vast vista was claimed by a dazzling starry sky and three mysterious moons radiating power.

The air was thick with the scent of rain. Though it could not break through the Floating City's barrier, it lent a touch of moisture to the land.

"Mentor, just now was I...?"

Zhao Xu felt his mind go blank; the Magic Missile slot Antinoia had him prepare vanished, and he never saw Wang Ningwei's Magic Missile appear.

"You know what happened."

"Spell countering?" Zhao Xu guessed.

"I can't stand you people—guessing and secretly rejoicing, but still wanting others to congratulate you again."

Zhao Xu was used to his mentor's bluntness.

With Antinoia's confirmation, he realized he'd learned another mage skill.

Spell countering: after successfully identifying a spell, you expend the same prepared spell to negate your opponent's spell.

That meant his days in the Floating City were numbered.

"As long as I have the same spell slot, I can cancel an opponent's spell?" Zhao Xu checked with Antinoia.

"That's right. Spell countering is powerful if used well—it can negate others' spells. Used poorly, it's a burden."

After all, few could always prepare the exact same spells.

"Mentor, isn't there a way to compensate for that?" Zhao Xu asked.

The books were coy on the subject, reluctant to discuss mage dueling tactics.

"There is—feats."

"Can I learn them?"

"You can."

Hearing this, Zhao Xu began to imagine a scene where no mage could cast spells before him.

Suddenly, he recalled another drawback to spell countering and asked urgently, "Mentor, spell countering can only be used once per round. If two mages cast spells simultaneously, is there a way to compensate?"

"There is—feats."

"Can I learn them?"

"That one you can't."

Zhao Xu was puzzled.

"Why?"

"That requires a legendary feat."