Chapter 138: The Magical Brawl in Chinatown

"Alright, I'll help you, but I threw that Matryoshka doll away at the store entrance back then," David said after thinking it over, ultimately falling into Balthazar's trap.

George, observing the situation but keeping silent, didn't intervene. After all, he also wanted David to agree, so he could join in and learn the magic from the Book of Merlin later.

"You threw it away? Let me see!"

Upon hearing this, Balthazar began casting a spell. The doll had a magical mark he had placed on it, allowing him to locate it no matter where it was.

Moments later, he opened his eyes. "It's in a busy area, likely in Chinatown. We need to hurry before Horvath gets to it first."

"Why not use your eagle?"

Seeing Balthazar walk toward the building's stairs instead of summoning his giant eagle like before, David was puzzled.

Balthazar explained, "As wizards, we try to avoid drawing attention from humans whenever possible. It's a rule we Merlin-style wizards abide by.

There are too many people in the bustling streets, and flying there on a giant eagle would be far too conspicuous. Fortunately, I have a car parked in the building's garage from ten years ago. We'll drive there."

"If you're worried about being too conspicuous, I can take you there," George offered.

Given the circumstances, time was of the essence. Reaching the doll before Horvath would save a lot of trouble.

"How will you take us there?"

Both Balthazar and David looked at George with puzzled expressions.

With a flash of magical light, a pair of large, white wings unfolded from George's back.

"By flying, of course!"

"You can fly?!"

David's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched George hover in the air. He had no idea the giant panda could fly, especially since George had never done so before.

"Excellent. Let's not waste any more time," Balthazar said, equally surprised yet pleased. Flying meant they could reach Chinatown even faster.

Carrying Balthazar and David under each arm, George flew swiftly toward Chinatown.

About twenty minutes later, they landed on the rooftop of a seven-story residential building.

"You two stay here. I'll retrieve the doll," Balthazar instructed before heading down the stairs.

David, not yet trained in magic, couldn't offer much help. George, meanwhile, would draw too much attention in his panda form.

"Oh, this place is lively!"

As Balthazar left, David looked down at the vibrant street adorned with red lanterns and bustling crowds, expressing his amazement.

George replied, "It's the New Year here. It's like your Christmas."

It dawned on George that it was indeed New Year's in this world.

David, enlightened, remarked, "You're a panda. Does that mean you used to live in China?"

"You could say that," George replied with a slight hesitation before nodding.

It wasn't wrong—pandas were native to China. Although his soul didn't belong to this world, saying he came from China wasn't inaccurate.

"No wonder you know so much about them."

David hadn't realized that the panda magician was actually from China.

"I've always thought you resembled Po from Kung Fu Panda. Have you seen it?"

"I have, but I don't do kung fu—just magic," George replied with a shrug.

As they chatted on the rooftop, the window on the third floor suddenly shattered with a loud crash. Balthazar was flung out and landed on the busy street below.

Three figures jumped out after him.

At the forefront was Horvath, flanked by a young male and female wizard.

"Balthazar, today is your last day alive!"

"Looks like we wasted time chatting earlier," George muttered, realizing Horvath had gotten to the doll first and released the two Morganian wizards sealed within it.

The Book of Morgana contained a time-reversal spell that allowed Horvath to recreate past scenes. Using this, he had located the doll before them.

"You stay here. I'll go help!"

George leaped off the roof, spread his wings, and stealthily maneuvered behind Horvath.

"Shadowless Slash!" Said a different name to fool Horvath.

Aiming to eliminate Horvath first, George struck decisively. However, just as his spell landed, Horvath transformed into a swarm of cockroaches, evading the attack.

At the same time, the young female wizard turned and locked eyes with George. Her gaze glowed with an eerie light.

"You foolish panda! Did you think I wouldn't expect you to show up? I've been waiting for you," Horvath sneered as he reformed into his human shape, clearly prepared for George's ambush.

He knew that if he didn't eliminate both Balthazar and the panda today, they would relentlessly pursue him even if he managed to obtain the doll.

Thus, after retrieving the doll and unsealing his Morganian allies, he had set up an ambush.

When George, Balthazar, and David descended to the rooftop, the female wizard, adept at mental magic, had already sensed them. Everything was going according to Horvath's plan.

"Horvath!"

Balthazar stood up, brushing off the dust. As a wizard second only to Merlin and Morgana, he wasn't so easily defeated. The earlier attack had merely caught him off guard.

Seeing George trapped mid-air by the female wizard's psychic magic, Balthazar clasped his hands together. Lightning crackled, condensing into a plasma-like form in his palms.

This was plasma magic, an advanced version of lightning magic and one of the strongest offensive spells in the Merlin school.

"Fire dragon! Hold him back!"

Horvath ignored Balthazar, raising his wand to finish off George first.

The male wizard beside him clasped his hands over his chest, activating the fire dragon tattoo on his body. At the same time, a decorative fabric dragon used for festivities suddenly transformed into a real, massive fire dragon and charged at Balthazar.

With the fire dragon obstructing him, Balthazar couldn't immediately help George, who was about to face Horvath's finishing blow. David, still on the rooftop, panicked.

He tried to cast a spell, but having only received a brief lesson from Balthazar earlier, he couldn't calm his mind to conjure magic.

Just then, George's previously dazed eyes cleared, and his body rapidly expanded to nearly five meters tall. Before Horvath could release his spell, George swiped with a massive paw.

The strike sent both Horvath and the female wizard flying over ten meters, causing the doll to slip from Horvath's grasp.