[Warning... No signal... Warning... Not connected to the network... Please find a signal source promptly...]
Lynn's face displayed a mix of astonishment and joy. After reading the message and understanding its content, the corners of their mouth twitched involuntarily.
"What a ridiculous AI..."
"I don't need an online narration. Turn off the warning sound and report the remaining energy!" Lynn silently commanded in their mind.
[Remaining energy: 19.5 percent. Significant increase in energy density detected in the vicinity, with an estimated increase of one percent in energy reserves per hour.]
So fast! Lynn couldn't help but be surprised. An increase of one percent per hour meant the energy would be full in about four days. But it had been five days since the system was last shut down!
Lynn glanced at the smart brain's notification once more. A significant increase in energy density? It couldn't possibly be related to the castle beneath their feet. It could only be the influence of Monday!
"Kora!"
Lynn was contemplating this when Johnny's shout interrupted their thoughts. A three-meter-tall Spirit Guard rushed towards them, wielding a sledgehammer, ready to strike.
"Entering overload mode, three seconds!" Lynn didn't turn around but silently uttered in their mind.
In the next moment, a massive influx of data streamed into Lynn's mind. With a powerful leap, they used the reaction force to soar into the air, narrowly avoiding the heavy sledgehammer. Then, they landed on the stout arm of the Spirit Guard, pulled out a sharp Witch Hunter's sword, and embedded it into a crack in the statue's neck, pinning it firmly to the wall behind!
However, this strike clearly couldn't completely shatter the statue. Lynn didn't force it and, after temporarily restricting the Spirit Guard's movement, deactivated the overload mode. They swiftly grabbed Johnny, who hadn't reacted yet, and continued their escape.
The smart brain's energy was now less than twenty percent, and it needed to be conserved for more critical situations.
The group ran like mad, and after about ten seconds, the sound of the giant statue's footsteps trembling the floor rang out again. Dove, who was holding onto Johnny's arm, trembled continuously, sobbing softly. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Johnny... Carl..."
"You knew from the beginning that Will had betrayed us, didn't you?" Lynn glanced at Dove with certainty.
Tonight, when tracking Will, Lynn had sensed that something was amiss. Will's behavior on his way to the storage room was too peculiar. Dove, who was on night watch, had probably been using the gray jays to monitor the entire castle. However, Will showed no vigilance at all and didn't even glance around the windows or corners.
This was clearly irrational, unless... Will was confident that there would be no consequences even if the gray jays discovered him.
"Can you tell me the reason?" Johnny asked, gripping Dove's delicate hand tightly. She couldn't believe Dove would do something as treacherous as this.
Dove's nose twitched as she spoke with a tearful voice, her tone choked with emotion. Three nights ago, when it was Will's turn for night watch, she released the gray jays for patrol as usual. But to her surprise, she discovered that Will was secretly reporting the situation here to the Church through an alchemical array.
"Why didn't you tell us about this?" Johnny asked.
"But... Will... Will had already discovered me. He said the Church knew my identity. If I dared to tell you, my parents, my brother, and sisters would all be bound to the stake and burned to death..." Dove's face showed a look of fear, and she sobbed as she spoke.
Johnny fell silent. For apprentices like them, family safety was indeed a significant concern. That was why in their situation, it was a taboo to inquire about each other's true identities. They couldn't even be sure if they were using real names.
"Clearly, he lied to you. Perhaps Will didn't know your true identity, or maybe he intended to take all the credit himself," Lynn calmly remarked.
From Will's hands-on approach, it was apparent that his words were likely just a ruse. Otherwise, he could have used this to manipulate Dove into doing more for him.
Of course, it was also possible that Will planned to keep all the credit for himself. The more he did, the more the Church might see his "sincerity" and pardon him as a "faithful follower of the Church."
"Do you want to survive, Dove? I have a method that might deal with Archbishop Anluke," Lynn suddenly asked.
Before Johnny could respond, Dove, her eyes brimming with tears, nodded. "Yes!"
She didn't want to die.
"Then tell me everything you know about magic. I need to know the principles and methods of their use," Lynn said bluntly.
"What are you planning?" Johnny asked, surprised.
"I think it's not too late to start learning from now on, right?" Lynn said seriously.
Now that 071 had been restarted, it was time to bring things to a close.
Chased all the way and having witnessed the deaths of Buck and Barton, Lynn was now burning with anger.
But... was there really time? Johnny couldn't believe it, but after hesitating for a moment, he began explaining.
[Touched by Flame], [Fossil to Mud], [Icy Veil], [Minor - Fiery Grasp]...
As Kora's most valued disciple, Johnny mastered a dozen or so first-tier spells, while Dove knew very few, only two highly specialized spiritual spells. It was said that only a few apprentices with spiritual talents could master them.
Considering the urgency of time, Lynn didn't get greedy. They selectively memorized a few and began practicing them in their mind with the help of the smart brain.
Lynn's composed appearance also infected Johnny and Dove, boosting their confidence in defeating Archbishop Anluke.
As the three advanced, the sound of rushing water reached them from the front, and the gentle breeze carried a hint of moisture.
What they saw was a rapidly flowing underground river. The turbulent water gushed from underground continuously, passing through a long tunnel, directly leading outside the castle.
[Holy Light Impact]!
Lynn and Johnny hadn't reached the riverbank yet when a white light shot out from behind them.
[Icy Veil] x2
Johnny and Lynn exchanged a glance and simultaneously raised their hands. Two walls of ice crystals shot up from the ground, jointly blocking this second-tier divine spell.
The two walls of ice crystals disintegrated instantly, and the shards fell like hail.
"Now, what do we do?" Johnny asked anxiously, looking at Lynn. The escape route was right in front of them, but once they were swept into the swift current, they would have no means to resist Archbishop Anluke's attacks.
"It's simple!" Lynn glanced at Johnny and, without warning, took the girl's sword off her waist. To Johnny's surprise, Lynn pushed her directly into the swift current.
The cold river water engulfed her nose and mouth, quickly soaking her entire body. Johnny keenly felt the massive inertial force of the swiftly flowing water, forcefully pulling her toward the exit.
Through the blurry curtain of water, Johnny vaguely saw Lynn's mouth moving as if bidding a final farewell. Then, a heavy object was thrown in her direction—Dove, who was in a panic.
Watching the two being carried away by the current, Lynn wasn't particularly concerned about the safety of the two witches. After all, a wizard who could control oxygen wouldn't drown in the water. Lynn simply added the unspoken second part in their mind:
"It's simple. Just don't get in my way here!"
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