Technically speaking, Kael's current state was also a form of mutation—
A mutation of the eyes.
The Eyes of Thunder and Flame were, in essence, a spell. Using his pupils as the medium, Kael's eyes functioned like a staff, yet required no incantation. Merely channeling mana activated their power.
This was how he had ann Black-Armored No. 1 in an instant.
The emergence of this ability had been purely accidental—even the Water Dragon hadn't anticipated Kael mastering such a unique variant. Its potency dwarfed his previous mutated magic by over tenfold!
Now, Kael's eyes were his trump card, surpassing even the magic crystal cannon in lethality. A single glance had sent a ninth-tier mage to the abyss.
Meanwhile, Black-Armored No. 3 continued his incantation. The spell he chanted was unnervingly complex, its syllables so alien and convoluted that even Kael found them unsettling.
"This magic… it's unlike anything I've ever encountered." Kael's brow furrowed as his gaze snapped toward No. 3.
Whatever the mage was plotting, it had to be stopped—immediately.
The Eyes of Thunder and Flame flared once more!
Runes materialized in Kael's pupils, their luminous sigils weaving an ancient, as he locked onto No. 3.
Though the mage was also early ninth-tier—arguably weaker than No. 1—there was no doubt: he wouldn't survive Kael's assault.
Power condensed in Kael's glare, the pressure erupting like an explosion as it crashed toward No. 3. The mage's pulse spiked, his instincts screaming at the tidal wave of lethal force—
But then, No. 4 grunted and lunged in front of him!
Damn it! Kael cursed inwardly.
Eyes of Thunder and Flame!
The icy-blue flames and violet lightning instantly engulfed Black-Armored No. 4. A piercing shriek tore through the air as his body convulsed violently—then fell silent.
His corpse collapsed, crumbling into ashes the moment it hit the ground, scattering like dust in the wind.
Another instant kill!
Kael, still at peak eighth-tier, had once again annihilated a ninth-tier expert with his Eyes of Thunder and Flame. The technique's lethality was undeniable—even ninth-tier powerhouses stood no chance against its devastating might.
"This is… terrifying."
"Too strong. Is this the power of the Water Dragon's legacy?" Murmurs rippled through the crowd, laced with awe and fear.
Unlike Kael's expectation of eliminating No. 3 directly, No. 4 had intervened at the last moment, sacrificing his own life to shield the mage.
A chill ran down Kael's spine. What kind of faction were these black-armored men?Their willingness to face death without hesitation made them formidable foes.
But now, No. 3's incantation was nearing completion.
The final syllables rang clearly in Kael's ears—simple yet ominous.
"O demon of the abyss, by my name, by blood offered, I summon—"
The ancient words sent Kael's expression darkening.
And not just his. Every mage who understood the chant stiffened in horror.
"This is—" Arjun froze, his face paling.
"Dark Magic!" Kael spat.
Yes—Dark Magic!
The black-armored mage was actually a practitioner of the forbidden arts!
No. 3's incantation dripped with malice, each syllable laced with corruption. A cold dread settled in Kael's chest. This man was a Shadowwing Sorcerer.
No wonder these black-armored warriors were so enigmatic. No wonder their coordination was flawless. They belonged to a Dark Magic faction—a force not to be underestimated!
"Keh keh… Correct. Dark Magic. Now, die, you wretched brat!" No. 3 cackled, his chant complete.
As the final syllable faded, an enormous and intricate magic circle materialized on the ground. From its depths, a monstrous demon began to rise.
It was a monster covered entirely in skeletal spikes, standing three meters tall—not particularly massive, yet the pressure it exuded was unmistakable. The creature had no trace of "flesh" on its body, only jagged bones, and within its eye sockets flickered two flames of soul-fire, indicating an intelligent being.
The monster let out a series of roars, its deep, guttural growls rolling like a storm. The moment it appeared, it opened its maw—lined with razor-sharp fangs—and swallowed Number Five whole!
After a brief struggle, Number Five was devoured into the monster's belly.
Kael's pupils contracted slightly. What Number Three had unleashed was not just dark magic—it was one of the most sinister and brutal forms of dark magic, requiring a living sacrifice. And the sacrifice Number Three had used was none other than Number Five.
Among the black-armored warriors, only Number Three remained.
Even Kael felt a faint chill crawl down his spine. These black-armored warriors truly spared no cruelty, resorting to such perverse magic.
"You're strong, I'll give you that. But against the demon I've summoned, you're still lacking!" Number Three sneered. "What I've called forth is a demon from the Abyss…"
A demon of the Abyss!
The so-called "Abyss" was a unique plane of existence, connected to the continent of Nangar but governed by its own twisted laws. Within the Abyss dwelled countless horrors, and demons were among them.
Kael hadn't expected that this bone-covered monstrosity before him was actually a demon from the Abyssal plane.
No wonder Number Three was so confident.
Kael couldn't be sure of the demon's exact strength, but one thing was certain—it was at least Level Nine or higher. Moreover, the outer shell of an Abyssal demon was incredibly resilient, making it nearly impervious to ordinary magic.
"Let's see how you handle this…" Number Three chuckled darkly, utterly convinced of his demon's superiority. Though Kael's abilities were unpredictable, he doubted even he could withstand such a foe.
Number Three knew full well how troublesome Kael was—hence why he had sacrificed Number Five as a blood offering to summon an Abyssal demon.
Kael, too, found the situation. While the power of his Thunderflame Pupil was formidable, it might not be enough to contend with an Abyssal demon.
The demon advanced toward Kael, its massive frame causing the ground to tremble with each step. Kael could feel its hot, rancid breath, the jagged fangs looming dangerously close, as if ready to tear him apart at any moment.
Faced with such overwhelming pressure, Kael's mind grew eerily calm.
Kael no longer had any higher-grade magic crystals on hand, and even a magic cannon would struggle against an Abyssal demon. As for his Thunderflame Pupil, Kael wasn't certain it could kill the creature either.
But then…
Kael suddenly stopped moving.
"Heh heh, given up already, boy? Ready to die quietly?" Number Three taunted, though inwardly, he remained wary. This kid was full of tricks—he'd seen enough to know better.
Under Number Three's command, the Abyssal demon advanced, now less than ten meters from Kael.
Kael could even smell the demon's fetid stench. This thing was no weakling even in the Abyss, let alone the human world.
But Kael had no retreat left!
Abruptly, a brilliant radiance erupted from Kael's body as his mana surged violently. At this moment, he was like the eye of a typhoon—calm at the center, yet surrounded by raging power.
"No! Damn it, impossible!" Number Three's eyes bulged, his face twisting in horror.
"Ninth-level… How the hell is he breaking through to the ninth level now?!" His voice cracked with disbelief, the earlier bloodlust in his gaze snuffed out like a dying ember.
There was no mistaking it—Kael was ascending to the ninth level!
His mana skyrocketed, his spiritual energy climbing relentlessly. Kael had already been on the verge of a breakthrough, and with the Water Dragon's guidance, the signs had been there all along. Now, everything erupted at once.
The rush of power flooded Kael with exhilaration. Mana coursed through his veins, forming layered barriers around him. Combined with his Celestial Steps evasion technique, even the Abyssal demon couldn't close the distance.
This newfound strength demanded release.
His gaze locked onto the demon…