I Just Want to be a Throwaway Character - Chapter 76

Chapter 76: World 4

Lu Fanghan, Luo Jinyan, and a group of senior mages led by Principal Su Li successfully infiltrated the Dark Guild, disguised as its members. They planned to completely destroy the guild in one fell swoop, leaving no room for retreat.

Unbeknownst to Ji Wan, during the three days she spent absorbing dark magic, she and Lu Fanghan were in the same location.

As Lu Fanghan’s group gathered in a secluded corner to rest, she finally had a moment to herself. She cast a concealment spell around them to hide their presence.

Lu Fanghan sat alone in a corner. The image of Ji Wan’s sweet smile kept flashing in her mind; she missed her a little. Thinking of the girl’s shy expressions whenever she saw her, Lu Fanghan couldn’t help but let a small smile form on her lips.

She took out the matching bracelet she had given to Ji Wan. Lu Fanghan wanted to check the tracking magic she had placed on it to see where she was and ensure she was safe. Although, in her heart, Lu Fanghan secretly hoped to see a live image of the girl that the tracking magic would display for a few seconds.

But when the image did appear, Lu Fanghan’s expression turned to one of utter panic.

The image showed an unfamiliar woman, sitting in the center of a strange magic circle. Dark magical elements swirled around her, as if trying to devour her. And the location… was deep beneath the Dark Guild’s headquarters?

“It’s Ji Wan,” Lu Fanghan knew instinctively.

The image vanished in just a few seconds. Lu Fanghan’s heart ached as she watched the girl’s pained expression, with sweat trickling down her cheeks. Forgetting what she was doing, Lu Fanghan stood up in a daze. She didn’t question why the girl was disguised, why she was surrounded by dark magic, or anything else. In that moment, Lu Fanghan’s eyes could only see the girl’s pained, furrowed brows.

“Hey, Lu Fanghan. What are you doing?” Luo Jinyan noticed Lu Fanghan’s unusual behavior and asked without thinking. Although she was uncomfortable with this person’s engagement to Ji Wan, she still had a chance to compete, didn’t she? And this was no time to be thinking about such things.

“You all continue deeper into the Dark Guild and stick to the plan,” Lu Fanghan instructed, her voice tinged with urgency.

“Hey, Lu Fanghan,” Luo Jinyan tried to stop her from leaving, but she was already gone.

To see the usually composed Lu Fanghan in such a state of panic made a possibility flash in Luo Jinyan’s mind. Could it be… Ji Wan!

Just as Luo Jinyan was about to go with Lu Fanghan to find Ji Wan, Principal Su Li grabbed her, shaking his head and signaling her to stay. “The Dark Guild is not something you can just explore on a whim. Lu Fanghan has a plan. The most urgent task now is to capture their members.” Su Li’s eyes held a deep, knowing look as he quietly advised her.

“But…” Luo Jinyan wanted to say more, but she stopped herself.

“Giving them a delay is the best way to help,” Su Li said with a heavy tone, as if he had realized something. He had more or less sensed Ji Wan’s unique physique. Her ability to leave the academy so easily at a time like this had something to do with his behind-the-scenes support. Thinking of the two people from the prophecy, Su Li stared into the distance, lost in thought.

Ji Wan sat cross-legged in the middle of the magic circle. She was so close to the end. The immense energy made her feel as if a terrifying force that didn’t belong to her was being forcefully poured into her body. The tearing, pulling pain made Ji Wan feel as if she would faint. But she gritted her teeth. She couldn’t let all her effort go to waste.

Just as the last bit of energy was about to be absorbed, she heard clear, slow footsteps, accompanied by Luo Ying’s triumphant, scheming laughter.

“I really must thank you, my great benefactor,” Luo Ying said with false sincerity.

Ji Wan ignored him and continued to absorb the energy. But Luo Ying didn’t care. He continued to talk to himself.

“This energy needs to be absorbed and converted by a vessel, and the ones on the ground are all failed, defective products. But only you, ha ha ha, only you.”

“What do you mean?” Ji Wan’s voice was weak as she replied.

“What do you think? Do you think I brought you in so easily for no reason? It’s just because you are a qualified vessel,” Luo Ying laughed maniacally.

“Oh, really?” Ji Wan finished absorbing the last bit of dark energy and stopped. She slowly stood up and turned to face Luo Ying. Ji Wan’s peripheral vision scanned her surroundings, hoping to stall for time and find a way out.

“Don’t bother looking, you can’t run. I wouldn’t let you absorb this energy without some kind of assurance. But since you’re on the verge of death, I’ll be kind and tell you. This energy must be absorbed by a vessel and then transferred to me. And you are undoubtedly the most perfect vessel.” Luo Ying laughed with disdain.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll use this energy to defeat you?” Ji Wan took a step back, her legs feeling weak.

“Heh, why do you think I look this way? I only absorbed it for less than a quarter of an hour and became this half-man, half-ghost. You’ve been absorbing for three days. Even with a Chaos Body, you won’t have any strength left to fight. Now, not even a deity could save you.”

Luo Ying moved closer to Ji Wan, laughing with greedy madness. This was the supreme energy he had pursued his entire life. Finally, he could become the supreme being of this continent.

Seeing Luo Ying approach like a madman, Ji Wan wanted to run, but just as he said, she had no strength left.

The next second, a suffocating sensation instantly overwhelmed her. Luo Ying grabbed Ji Wan’s neck with an unseen force. “Take one last look at this world. You won’t be able to see it for much longer. Ha ha ha…”

“Ugh…” Ji Wan’s hands flailed in the air, and she frowned in discomfort. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

No, I can’t let this energy be taken by Luo Ying. I can’t die now. Ji Wan struggled desperately, but her breathing became shallow, and her consciousness grew blurry. In a daze, Ji Wan thought she saw a familiar figure. It looked like Lu Fanghan. For some reason, Ji Wan felt a strange sense of grievance.

It had to be a hallucination. How could Lu Fanghan possibly be here?

The feeling of suffocation intensified, and Ji Wan’s eyes slowly closed.

“Let her go!” an urgent voice rang out, accompanied by Lu Fanghan’s furious rage. How dare he? Magical elements instantly became violent, and a brilliant light enveloped the underground space. Light magic surged toward Luo Ying.

Caught off guard, Luo Ying was instantly scorched by the light magic. Lu Fanghan took the opportunity to grab Ji Wan and flash away from him. Looking at the pained expression on the unconscious Ji Wan’s face in her arms, Lu Fanghan slowly reined in her light magic.

Ji Wan’s disguise wore off, revealing her exquisite face. As her breathing slowly returned to normal, Ji Wan’s long, feathery eyelashes fluttered open. A warm embrace enveloped her, a feeling she longed for.

“Mmm… Lu… Lu Fanghan.” Ji Wan’s eyes opened completely, and she clearly felt the unique scent of Lu Fanghan.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.” Lu Fanghan gently patted Ji Wan’s back with a pained expression, comforting her.

In that instant, a sense of security wrapped around Ji Wan.

“Heh, are you two done with your public display?” Luo Ying asked, his face turning grim after he recovered.

Lu Fanghan looked at him, her eyes filled with a deep coldness. She didn’t waste any words, pulling Ji Wan behind her to protect her. With a wave of her hand, a massive fireball surged toward Luo Ying.

Ji Wan, clutching Lu Fanghan’s clothes, felt the abundant dark elements in her body thrashing wildly. She bit her lip to endure the pain. There was no time. She had to convert this energy now.

“Lu Fanghan, go! I need one hour,” Ji Wan said softly, her voice weak.

Lu Fanghan didn’t say anything, but she squeezed Ji Wan’s hand, a little bit of warmth passing through. “Okay,” she said, and then intensified her attack.

But Luo Ying was no pushover. To have brought the Dark Guild to a point where it could threaten the entire empire meant he was no ordinary person.

“Lu Fanghan, don’t worry about me. Use your light magic!” Ji Wan said, struggling with the pain.

Lu Fanghan pursed her lips and did not answer Ji Wan. She knew the pain of dark magic and light magic clashing within a body. “I’ll take you out of here,” Lu Fanghan said softly. She instantly created a separate magical teleportation circle.

Just as Ji Wan was about to say something, a flash of light appeared. The last thing Ji Wan saw was Lu Fanghan turning to her with a smile. A wave of heartache instantly surged through her. Many fragments of memory flashed in her mind. Wu Yan…

Beep… beep…

Warning, warning.

The light from the teleportation circle stopped.

“Ji Wan?” Luo Jinyan quickly stepped forward to help the weak, collapsing Ji Wan.

“Jinyan, there’s… no time. Go help Lu Fanghan and buy me some time.” Ji Wan felt a section of her memory had been inexplicably erased, but she didn’t have time to think about it.

“Little One, quick, start,” she said. Ji Wan immediately entered conversion mode.

Luo Jinyan was about to ask what was going on, but Su Li pulled her back. “Jinyan, take a team to support Lu Fanghan’s location. The rest of you stay with me and protect Ji Wan.”

“Yes.” Despite her worry for Ji Wan, Luo Jinyan immediately left with a team.

“Now the real battle begins.” Su Li looked at the dark elements swirling around Ji Wan, lost in thought.

Lu Fanghan was relieved to see Ji Wan was sent to a safe place. However, the expression on Luo Ying’s face showed he wasn’t worried at all.

“Do you think she’s safe just because you teleported her away? I placed a tracking mark on her. My eight clones have power on par with my own. As soon as she dies, I will be the strongest being.”

Luo Ying smiled wickedly, but Lu Fanghan ignored him. Her light magic instantly erupted.

Luo Ying’s body instantly shattered. But he showed no fear. “Do you think my real body is here? Haha! I will be the strongest being on this continent!”

Luo Ying’s manic laughter grew weaker as his body disintegrated. Lu Fanghan’s eyes turned cold. Ji Wan was in danger.

On Su Li’s side, he watched the six identical figures fighting the other mages. The real Luo Ying stood at the back of the final circle of defense. Su Li stood guard over Ji Wan; she was the key now. They had to hold for the last half hour.

Ji Wan gritted her teeth, trying to suppress the immense pain in her body. She was completely wrapped in a ball of dark elements.

“Give up. Your strength is no match for mine,” Luo Ying said with a laugh.

“Heh, never,” Su Li said expressionlessly, standing in front of Ji Wan.

“Luo Ying, surrender. Don’t continue down this path,” Su Li said calmly.

“Heh, I’m pursuing the supreme power. I’m on the right path. And all of you are just sacrifices on my way,” Luo Ying said with a sneer.

“In that case, I won’t hold back.” Su Li’s eyes sharpened. In an instant, two powerful energies erupted.

Su Li’s magical ability was at the peak of his generation; his strength was unquestionable. But Luo Ying, at the cost of his own lifespan, was also a force that could not be easily shaken.