The Unicorn Rhinos and the kitten were still basking in their excitement. Kael smiled faintly—these guys probably hadn't fully adjusted to their newfound strength yet, but this was the perfect time for them to familiarize themselves with it.
"Listen up. Next, you're all coming with me to the Reynolds Family—we're going to crush them!" Kael issued his first command.
"Crush the Reynolds Family?" One of the rhinos, a peak ninth-tier powerhouse and a standout even among their ranks, bellowed in response.
Unlike humans, magical beasts found cultivation far more challenging. A peak ninth-tier Unicorn Rhino was undeniably a genius among their kind.
"Hell yeah! I've been itching to take those bastards down! Kael, boss, we're with you—let's flatten them!" The rhino roared, its blood boiling with battle lust.
Once this one took the lead, the others quickly joined in:
"That's right, Boss Kael! We'll follow you!"
"As long as there's roasted lamb afterward, we're in!"
"Wipe out the Reynolds Family!"
Kael nodded in satisfaction. So far, the rhinos had been utterly obedient and had indeed been a tremendous help to him.
"Senior Brother..."
At that moment, Grace approached, her steps light but her eyes shadowed with concern. Beside her was Amelia, the two women arriving together.
Amelia's battle aura had grown profound—clearly, her strength had also advanced significantly. She had likely broken through to the mid-eighth-tier by now. True to her reputation as a once-in-a-century genius of Flarehart Academy, her talent was exceptional—at least among all the people Kael had met.
(Of course, she still couldn't compare to Kael himself.)
"What's the matter?" Kael looked at the two women. One was his beloved, the other his junior sister—their simultaneous approach puzzled him.
"Kael, are you really going after the Reynolds Family?" Amelia asked directly, her brows faintly furrowed with worry.
Kael nodded solemnly. "Of course. The Reynolds are a ticking time bomb. If we don't eliminate them now, once they learn of today's events, they'll retaliate mercilessly. Better to strike first."
Amelia nodded. She understood his reasoning, but that didn't ease her concern for his safety.
Having witnessed Kael's battle against Zev, everyone had seen firsthand the terror of a tenth-tier mage—a level of power that left Amelia deeply unsettled.
"Don't worry, I have this under control. Just look at these Unicorn Rhinos," Kael said with a faint smile.
Amelia and Grace turned their gazes toward the rhinos, and both were startled. The creatures now gleamed with a faint radiance, their strength visibly amplified.
"Ninth-tier?" Amelia asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"That's right. Ninth-tier," Kael confirmed. Alaric, unable to contain his excitement, let out a proud roar and declared, "Indeed, Lady Amelia! The great Alaric has now reached the peak of the ninth-tier!"
Amelia was genuinely stunned. Unicorn Rhinos advancing from eighth-tier to ninth-tier? How had Kael managed that?
She knew Kael was behind this miraculous transformation, but the sheer impossibility of it left her baffled. How could he elevate an entire herd in such a short time?
Grace, too, was mystified. Her senior brother was becoming more enigmatic by the day—his power increasingly unfathomable. And now, he had even orchestrated a mass evolution for these beasts!
Yet, their confusion also brought relief. Clearly, Kael had hidden cards up his sleeve, and the Reynolds Family might not be as daunting a foe as they'd feared.
"I need to strike the Reynolds before they learn of Zev's death—wipe them out completely," Kael said coolly, though an undercurrent of icy resolve laced his words. Beside him, Alaric shivered, unable to help but pity the Reynolds.
They'd provoked Kael once, twice… and now, they'd finally pushed him too far.
"Since you've decided to move against the Reynolds, the sooner, the better," Grace agreed. "Catching them off guard is key." If the Reynolds discovered Zev's demise, they'd surely prepare defenses.
Strangely, Zev bore no magical imprint of the Reynolds Family—likely because, as a tenth-tier powerhouse, no one had ever imagined someone of his caliber could fall.
Kael chuckled. If Amelia and Grace hadn't come to see him, he might already be on his way to the Reynolds' stronghold.
"By the way, Senior Brother, our intelligence division has uncovered another major development!" Grace's expression grew even graver. The usually lively girl knew when to set aside her playfulness for serious matters.
Kael's brow furrowed slightly as he turned to Grace. Since Lone Wolf had joined his ranks, the influence of Laifei Territory had expanded dramatically. Kael had since established an intelligence network under Jett's direct command, answering solely to him. Now, it seemed something significant was unfolding across the continent?
Grace nodded. "Senior Brother, our sources report that the Sacred Temple and the Holy Council have recently clashed. The cause remains unclear, but tensions have escalated—both factions have gathered their forces at Moonmirror Lake in the continent's heartland!"
"What?" Kael's frown deepened.
The Sacred Temple and the Holy Council—locked in conflict?
These two organizations had long stood as the twin titans of the continent, unrivaled in prestige and power, forcing even the great kingdoms to tread carefully. While minor frictions had occurred over the years, nothing major had ever erupted. So why were they now converging at Moonmirror Lake?
As a Five-Star Executor of the Holy Council, Kael's status placed him among its upper echelons. Naturally, this clash concerned him deeply—especially since his interests were now inextricably tied to the Holy Council's fate.
"No leads on the cause?" Kael mused, his mind racing.
Grace shook her head. "None. Both the Holy Council and the Sacred Temple operate in shadows. However, rumors suggest most of the Sacred Temple's elite have gathered at Moonmirror Lake—even their 'Saint' Einar is said to have appeared."
Saint Einar!
Kael's expression darkened further. Einar, hailed as the youngest prodigy across the three continents, had been a legend for years. His talent was so monstrous that many believed he might ascend to the mythical rank of Archmage in his lifetime. Anointed as the Sacred Temple's heir, he was destined to become its next Pontiff.
Without a doubt, Einar was the most renowned figure in the Sacred Temple—and his strength was said to surpass even many veteran masters.
Over the years, Kael had heard countless tales of Einar's prowess, yet he had never crossed paths with him. Among the younger generation, Einar might be the only onewho could make Kael wary.
"Moreover, it seems the Holy Council and the Sacred Temple held a duel between their younger elites. The 'Saint' Einar single-handedly defeated three champions from the Holy Council's side, humiliating them utterly," Grace added.
Three consecutive defeats!
Given that the Holy Council was a den of dragons and tigers—a gathering of unparalleled talents—for Einar to crush three of their best was nothing short of a devastating blow to their pride.
Kael pondered for a moment. "Keep a close eye on the movements of both the Holy Council and the Sacred Temple. We'll address this matter after I return from the Reynolds Family." The conflict between these two behemoths demanded his attention—it could very well reshape the continent's balance of power.
"Understood. You can count on me, Senior Brother," Grace declared confidently, patting her chest.
Kael smiled. He had full faith in Grace's administrative capabilities. But then his expression hardened. "There's one more thing. I need you to dispatch agents to monitor the movements of the Phantom Spire."
The Phantom Spire—yes, that Darkwing Mage faction, the very same.
"The Phantom Spire?!" Grace couldn't help but gasp, her hand flying to her mouth. The mere mention of a Darkwing Mage faction sent a chill down her spine.
Kael, too, felt a twinge of unease. Unlike the Reynolds Family, the Phantom Spire was a Darkwing Mage organization—a force bold enough to openly defy the Holy Council across the continent.
At the mention of the Phantom Spire, both Amelia and Grace paled, their faces betraying shock.