The battlefield below was a maelstrom of steel and blood, the deafening clash of two opposing forces resonating for miles. This was a trial by fire—one that would forge Laphie's soldiers into veterans overnight.
Assuming they survived.
Under Lone Wolf's command, over ten thousand troops moved as one, their Ancient Octagonal Formation unleashing its full, devastating potential.
But the true deciding factor lay high above—the duel between Kael and Zev. Even if Lone Wolf triumphed on the ground, all would be for naught if Kael fell.
In the void between skies, Kael's gaze remained icy and unflinching, while Zev sneered, his murderous intent spiking at the sight of the little kitten.
"If not for that wretched creature's 'Mystic Smoke' last time, I'd have crushed you already!"
Zev's figure blurred into motion, his Minor World rippling outward like a tidal wave of frost.
Kael felt it instantly—a bone-deep cold, as if plunged into an eternal blizzard. The temperature plummeted to unfathomable lows, his body numbing, his movements sluggish as if trapped in ice.
"So this is Zev's Minor World? Impressive. Good thing I kept my distance last time—otherwise, I'd have been frozen solid." Kael retreated swiftly, his own Minor World unfurling in response.
The two realms collided like twin suns in the cosmos, their clashing energies tearing through the fabric of the sky.
Ella watched from below, awe and dread warring in her heart—but stronger still, a burning yearning.
If Level 10 mages wielded such power… what lay beyond?
The path of magic was limitless indeed.
"Infinite Frost!" Zev raised his staff, his hair whipping wildly, his robes snapping like war banners. His eyes, glacial and pitiless, locked onto Kael as he channeled his Minor World's full might.
A tsunami of absolute zero erupted toward Kael.
Kael's brow furrowed. The Life Tree answered.
Verdant radiance burst from its canopy, a jade barrier forming to meet the frost head-on. The collision birthed chaotic energy vortices, each shredding the air with thunderous force.
No ordinary Level 9 mage could survive even a second within that storm.
Yet the Life Tree stood unshaken, its kilometer-spanning crown unwavering. The emerald shield held firm, repelling Zev's assault without so much as a tremor.
And so, amidst the shattered sky, their battle raged on.
But the more he attacked, the more Zev's unease grew. Despite being a newly ascended Level 10 mage, Kael's strength was terrifyingly profound—so much so that even Zev felt a creeping sense of dread.
"What in the world is this kid's background? Damn it!" Zev's confidence began to waver.
The Reynolds Family had, of course, investigated Kael's origins. Yet all they uncovered was that he'd appeared out of nowhere, enrolling at the Flamestar Academy with peerless talent before joining the Sacred Council. Beyond that—nothing. No records, no lineage, no traces.
"He's this powerful and this mysterious… Could he belong to some hidden clan or arcane faction?" A sliver of fear wormed into Zev's heart. If true, Kael wasn't just a threat—he was a catastrophe.
But it was too late for regrets. Zev cursed himself for arrogantly charging in aloneinstead of bringing the Family Head—a peak-Level 10 mage whose presence would have sealed Kael's fate.
High above, their battle raged on. Mana bled into the skies, and elemental spirits howled as Kael and Zev clashed with world-shattering force.
On the ground, Lone Wolf's gaze was frostier than the winter winds. Though anxiety gnawed at him, he suppressed it ruthlessly. Kael had entrusted him with absolute command—he couldn't afford to fail.
And then there was the blood debt. For vengeance alone, he'd butcher every last Black Eagle Guard.
His hands moved like a conductor's, signaling formations and directing barragesfrom the Arcane Crystal Cannons. The Black Eagle Guard paid in blood.
"Fall back! Evade the artillery!" their commander roared. Thousands of riders wheeled into defensive maneuvers.
"Hah! Right on cue." Lone Wolf slammed his fist down. "Tank Legion—CHARGE! CRUSH THEM!"
The "Tank Legion" was none other than the Unicorn Rhino herd.
Alaric bellowed, his voice shaking the battlefield: "Brothers! FORWARD! Slaughter these bastards! Boss Kael's buying us a ranch—we'll feast on roasted lamb every damn day!"
Alaric's roar echoed across the battlefield, instantly igniting the fervor of the Unicorn Rhino herd. These living siege engines—each standing over six to seven meters tall—charged forth with such force that the very earth trembled beneath them. The Black Eagle Guard's eyes widened with unrestrained shock, their formations faltering under the sheer intimidation of the rhinos' advance.
A cold smirk played on Lone Wolf's lips. Even his former rogue mercenary band had been powerless against the Unicorn Rhinos' charge—let alone these Black Eagle Guards.
The rhinos' terror lay not just in their Level 8 strength, but in their colossal frames and unstoppable momentum. On the battlefield, they were walking catastrophes.
The Black Eagle Guard buckled instantly. Their formations shattered like glass, thrown into disarray as the rhinos plowed through their ranks like a storm of living battering rams.
"All other units—follow the Tank Legion's advance! Cut them down! Leave none standing!" Lone Wolf barked his second command.
With the Unicorn Rhinos spearheading the assault, the Black Eagle Guard had no front to hold. Seizing the opportunity, Laphie's soldiers shifted their Ancient Octagonal Formation, transitioning into a blade-sharp offensive stance.
What followed was a slaughter.
Caught between the rhinos' brute force and Laphie's disciplined formations, the Black Eagle Guard fell into relentless retreat, their lines crumbling under the dual assault.
"Ella—eliminate their captains!" Lone Wolf ordered next.
With a solemn nod, Ella blurred into motion, her figure slicing through the battlefield like a wolf among sheep. At Level 9, she carved through the enemy with lethal grace. The Black Eagle Guard boasted a few Level 8 commanders, but against Ella? They stood no chance.
The tide had turned.
Laphie's forces seized the momentum, with Lone Wolf masterfully dictating the battle's rhythm. The Black Eagle Guard, now mired in a desperate struggle, found themselves outmatched at every turn.
The scales tipped steadily in Kael's favor.
And so, Laphie City's dominance grew...
High in the void, Kael and Zev clashed relentlessly. Sweat poured down Zev's face, his mana reserves draining dangerously low. A gnawing sense of disbelief took root—how could a freshly ascended Level 10 mage press him this hard?
Not just press him, but dominate him.
Kael's performance was terrifying. Throughout their duel, he'd maintained absolute superiority, systematically eroding Zev's confidence.
What kind of monster is this kid?
Kael, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes. The battle had been instructive. As a new Level 10, he'd yet to fully master his power—Zev had served as the perfect whetstone, allowing him to hone his strength seamlessly.
Zev was strong, yes. But against a freak like Kael? Hopelessly outmatched.
"Warm-up's over, Zev. Time to send you to hell." Kael's voice was arctic, his gaze sharpening like a blade.
"Warm-up?!" Zev nearly choked. Then—Kael's aura shifted.
A tsunami of killing intent erupted from him, so palpable it made Zev's exhausted heart stutter with dread.
Lightning crackled around Kael's form, coalescing into a storm of annihilation aimed straight at Zev.
Zev scrambled to cast a Level 10 barrier, but it shattered like glass against the thunderous onslaught. His eyes bulged in last-moment horror—