by Zhuang Bifan
"What are you looking at, Felic?" Mason was boasting excitedly when he suddenly realized his teammate was staring into space.
"Did you notice? Something seems off about that fellow…"
"Which fellow?" Mason asked, puzzled. He followed Lin Li's gaze and realized that the latter was staring at his opponent for the next round, Garat from Far Seeing City. "Him?"
"Uh-huh."
"You don't say. This fellow is indeed weird…" Mason scratched his head in puzzlement. "Far Seeing City isn't that far from Chevan City. My mentor once brought me to their Guild of Magic when I was young. That fellow was a jerk from young age. He peeped at girls taking shower when he was just in his teenage years. I heard that he'd gotten worse as he got older, visiting houses of ill-repute as and when he likes. Nine out of ten p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.es in Far Seeing City has once served him. Why else do you think he's so skinny?"
"For real?"
"Duh…" Mason finished with a lecherous smile, then frowned, and mumbled to himself, "Strange. When we'd just arrived in Alanna, that fellow wanted to take me for drinks and what not. Why has he become like this? Look at his face and his eyes. Reminds me of the zombies in the Shadowglen…"
"He really does look like one…" Lin Li nodded. Although Mason's words might sound exaggerated, Garat had indeed given him such a feeling. If Lin Li were to find someone similar to Garat in aura, it would be Sendros, who had visited the Guild of Magic a few days ago.
However, even a half-human, half-undead monster like Sendros had more human aura than Garat.
"Anyway, you'd better be careful later. I can't stop thinking how abnormal this fellow is. He could've been cursed. It'll be trouble if he spreads it to you…"
Mason was exaggerating way too much. Even Orrin, who had stayed quiet all this while, couldn't listen any longer. He scolded him feebly in his chair. "Idiot…"
"Damn…" Mason glared at him, and was about to break out in a curse when he suddenly lost heart. "Forget it, pretty boy. You're injured. I shan't hold it against you."
"Do you even dare…" Orrin pouted, and looked at Mason with disdain. Then, he turned his attention to Lin Li. "Be careful."
"Mm-hmm."
Chapter 258 - Immortal King
Lin Li's match was arranged to be the last, so he was in no rush, as there was still time. He was engaged in a chat with Mason and Orrin while waiting for the results of the two matches.
Gryffindor was in the second match. The number one magic genius in Felan took only two minutes to win the match. The level-13 Magic Shooter from Starlight City stood no chance in front of Gryffindor. He was being oppressed throughout the whole match. There was no control from Gryffindor, only outburst through and through. Just like a gust of wind sweeping away the fallen leaves, he'd swept the level-13 Magic Shooter out of the final six.
The referee's announcement silenced the whole Aurora Square.
At least half of the thousands of mages in the audience were re-evaluating the number one magic genius of Felan. Everyone knew that he was strong, but had not expected that he could be so strong.The strength shown by both sides in the match earlier on was on two different levels. Gryffindor easily defeated his opponent without even needing to put much thought into it.
Many people couldn't believe that such a power gap would appear on two young mages in their twenties.
The mages who were participating in this trial were all elites in their respective guilds. Even the worst of them were level-10 Magic Shooters; there was no weakling among them to say the least. The fact that Gryffindor had won so easily showed that he was incredibly strong.
"F*ck, why's this kid so strong…" Hoffman's confidence took a dive as he watched Gryffindor from afar.
"I've warned you, but you didn't heed it…" Herza looked at him sympathetically, thinking that the fatty had gotten himself in hot water. Herza could judge from Hoffman's tense expression that the Glittergold Trade Union had placed a large bet this time. If Gryffindor really were to win the finals, Hoffman would have to pay off his pants with the handicap he'd imposed in the bet…
Herza thought the Glittergold Trade Union was bound to make a huge loss.
Perhaps no one knew Gryffindor's strength better than Herza. Gryffindor's mentor, Rosen, was one of the top ten leaders of the Supreme Council. He was not an ordinary person. He was definitely a legendary figure even in the Supreme Council. It took him only 20 years to progress from a member of a remote Guild of Magic to one of the top ten arbitrators of the Supreme Council. The present Rosen was an outstanding figure in the Supreme Council in terms of strength and skill.
Hoffman, that darned fatty, was gutsy enough to bet on a dark horse in a competition like this. Didn't it cross his mind that Rosen would never allow his only disciple to lose?
As a member of the Supreme Council, Herza naturally understood better than anyone else how many appalling secrets were hidden in this council that held the destiny of all the mages in Anril. This was not something a businessman could understand. Even Herza himself had to admit that what he had learned in the Supreme Council for decades was only superficial. Only people like Rosen or Andoine, who had a chance to compete for the position of the arbitrator, had access to the heart of the matter.
"He'll only learn his lesson after making a huge loss…" Herza's eyes moved away from Hoffman and fell on the young mage, who was chatting with his two roommates at Aurora Square, and could not help but sigh. The young man was a real genius. Even he felt amazed at those peculiar casting skills. It was a pity that he'd encountered Gryffindor and was destined not to win the finals.
The present Gryffindor had far surpassed the average young mage. Not to mention those in their twenties, even in the entire Alanna Guild of Magic, only a few people—such as Aldwin and Macklin—could dare say that they could definitely beat him. Even the likes of Darian might not necessarily have this confidence. Such a strength could no longer be mentioned in the same breath as the average young mage.
"Pity…" Herza shook his head and bem.o.a.n.e.d the reality. In fact, it was true that the Jarrosus mage named Felic was the most suitable person to win the finals, not only because of his outstanding talent, but also because he came from Jarrosus, a small remote guild. His background was far less complicated than Gryffindor's. Even if a new guild were to be established in the Breezy Plains, it would not become a trouble that couldn't be handled.
However, Gryffindor was different. His mentor was Rosen, who was expected to become an arbitrator. Once he'd won the finals, numerous motives that wouldn't stand exposure to the day or light would emerge between the new guild and the new arbitrator.
Unfortunately, Gryffindor was too powerful.
Although the young mage named Felic was equally powerful, he might have to wait for another test three years later to emerge as the final winner.
"Knock on wood!" Hoffman pouted. He refused to believe Herza's words.
In fact, even Hoffman himself had to admit at this time that Gryffindor was indeed superior in terms of strength. However, Hoffman still stood to think that Gryffindor was bound to lose the finals because he knew very well that the young mage named Felic was not only an Archmage, but also a potion master!
A bottle of potion could decide the outcome of a magic battle, let alone a potion master.
Both of them held different opinions, but they refused to give in to each other and insisted that they were right. Both of them were eventually flushed from the aggressive exchange of words.
And at this moment, Matthias had entered the Aurora Square…
Lin Li perked up on seeing it was Matthias' turn.
I'd like to see if you're going to resort to sly means again… Lin Li was focused on the match with this thought in mind.
And then, he was dumbstruck…
Matthias was as if a different person in this match. His attack was a torrential pour of spells as soon as the match began. His casting speed was so quick that his opponent did not even have the chance to release
a Mana Retroaction. The surging magical elements seemed to be boiling, and there was a scorching aura in the Aurora Square. Matthias had used all his strength in every attack. He did not defend even once from the beginning. Only when he drove his opponent into a corner with a Flaming Storm did Lin Li suddenly realize that there wasn't even an Elemental Shield on this guy…
Lin Li was dumbfounded. Compared with the previous slyness, this match was a spark. It was a violent game from the beginning to the end. If Gryffindor hadn't stood near him, Lin Li would have thought that this match was in fact fought by Gryffindor.
That poor level-12 Magic Shooter had only managed to release a spell.
It was an Elemental Shield…
His competition came to an end when Matthias had broken through his only spell. Matthias hadn't even spared him another look before he released an Air Bomb on him. There was only a "bang", and the poor Magic Shooter was hit by the Air Bomb when his Elemental Shield broke. It felt as if he had been hit hard on his c.h.e.s.t by a hammer. He blacked out immediately and spat out blood, which dyed the slab stones red…
"The winner is Matthias from Sunrise City!"
Lin Li took one look at the injured level-12 Magic Shooter from a distance, and couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Although Mathias' strength had advanced by leaps and bounds, he was still as narrow-minded and petty as before. He'd used Air Bomb twice to defeat his opponents. The mageweaths Aldwin laid could only reduce damage by magic, but couldn't offset the impact of the Air Bomb. If you want to hurt your opponent in this special environment, the Air Bomb, a low-level spell, would become the most effective method.
Both Sarsen and the level-12 Magic Shooter were badly hurt when they were blown out of Aurora Square.
"Felic, it's your turn!" Macklin, who was at a side, was already rushing Lin Li eagerly when the referee read his name. The old man was in a good mood. Two of his three trial apprentices had made it to the final six. He'd have to brag about this achievement for a while.
"All the best!"
"Do it right!"
"Mm-hm!" Lin Li slowly proceeded to the square's center amidst his roommates' cheers.
Garat, from the Far Seeing City Guild of Magic, was already waiting there. He was still wrapped tightly in a black robe, and his face was still ghastly pale like a dead man's. When Lin Lin stepped forward, he could clearly see that there was no expression on Garat's pale face, making him look as if he was wearing a mask.
Lin Li stared at him for a long while. He couldn't imagine how Garat was someone who knew to peep at girls in shower in his teenage years…
What puzzled Lin Li most was that the magical wave emanating from Garat seemed to be quite different from those of most mages he had seen. It was a cold and depressing aura, just like the feeling of being surrounded by countless undead when he was in the Shadowglen. If Lin Li had to name someone with a similar aura, it could only be Sendros, whom he had just seen a few days ago. Only this semi-human, semi-undead monster had some traits similar to Garat's.
Lin Li knew that this was the real death aura, just like that of the high-level Vampires or Necromancer in the Shadowglen. Only mages like Sendros, who dealt with various undead creatures all year round, could emit such strong death aura.
However, even the death aura that emanated from Sendros was far weaker than the one from Garat.
Lin Li was utterly astounded by this realization.
Sendros was the Lord of the Undead, and was a powerhouse who'd broken through the Legendary realm many years ago. Even a figure like Andoine had to acknowledge Sendros' power. Garat was a mere level-14 Magic Shooter. How could the death aura emanating from him be stronger than that of Sendros?
Lin Li couldn't understand how a guy who enjoyed watching girls taking showers emitted such a strong death aura. He had never heard of any achievements the Far Seeing City Guild of Magic had made in undead magic.
Wait a minute… Could it be the trial back in the Shadowglen? A thought suddenly flashed across Lin Li's mind.
That's right, it's the Shadowglen trial!
The more Lin Li thought about it, the more plausible the idea became. When Lin Li first arrived in Alanna, he'd never sensed the death aura from anyone when the 24 trial apprentices were gathered in the guild hall. In other words, Garat should have been normal at that time. And in the following two months, the only thing that could be associated with the undead was the trial in the Shadowglen…
All kinds of thoughts flashed across Lin Li's mind. His heart tightened when he looked at Garat once again. If it was just as he guessed, then Garat was no longer just a level-14 Magic Shooter. A death aura stronger than that of Sendros' was no joking matter.
Lin Li tightened his grip on the Aether Staff in his hand and fixed his eyes on Garat. His mental strength had been pushed to the limits, and the magical elements were surging violently, stirring up a magic storm in Aurora Square. Lin Li was more serious than ever at this moment; he knew very well that in the face of such a half-human, half-undead monster, an oversight could leave him a lifelong regret.
This was not merely a competition. He had no other choice but to give his all.
Garat stood there, expressionless. There was still not a trace of expression on his death-like face. He held a fire magic staff in his hand, but the magical wave that was emanating from it had nothing to do with fire magic. Lin Li, who had spent seven days in the Shadowglen, knew that this was the purest form of death energy.
Just when Lin Li was on his guard for the dangers that might come, Garat had made a move all of a sudden…
"Oh, Great Immortal King, you're finally back…" Garat's voice was low and hoarse. Perhaps only Lin Li could hear what he was saying in the whole Aurora Square.
"Im… Immortal King?" Lin Li's heart tightened. Surely this couldn't be some summoning spell?
Then he saw that a plume of black fog arose from Garat's body. It filled the whole Aurora Square in an instant, just like a fast-spreading plague. Lin Li lost control of his body in this immeasurably strong death aura. And then there were cries—howls, screams, and m.o.a.ns—and it was as if the whole Aurora Square was thrown into hell instantly.
Chapter 259 - Crystal
"What's happening?" the audience cried out in alarm as they watched the black fog rise. All the people present were the magic elites of Felan Kingdom. They had a far higher sensitivity to magic power than the ordinary person. As soon as a black fog appeared, at least half of the thousands of spectators had correctly guessed what it was.
Indeed, this was definitely the purest form of Death Energy. Only the most powerful undead creatures and the most powerful Necromancers could emit such pure Death Energy. It might look like a plume of haze, but it definitely contained enough energy to destroy everything.
In an instant, the audience were seething with anxiety. Everyone was speculating who was the one who had released such a pure form of Death Energy. Was it the young mage from Jarrosus, or was it Garat with the dead-man-like expression?
"To hell…" Herza frowned as he saw the black fog on Aurora Square.
With his decades of diabolical vision, it was natural that he'd be able to see things more clearly than other mages. As soon as the plague-like black fog gushed out, he already saw that it was Garat who had released it.
Even Herza had to admit that the power of this Death Energy was absolutely the strongest one he had ever seen.This had even gone beyond the Legendary realm, and to a level where most mages dared not even imagine it. Herza looked at the center of Aurora Square dumbfounded, and could not help but tremble with fear.
"Damn…" Hoffman thought he was going to pass out. Like Herza, he felt the power of the Death Energy at once. He was completely stupefied when he looked back at Aurora Square. This plume of black fog not only engulfed an astronomical sum of money, but also a potion master who was expected to break through to the guru realm. It was a magic genius seen only once in a few centuries. Anyone who knew anything about Felic would feel regret for t
his plume of black fog…
There was absolutely no way out of such a terribly powerful Death Energy concentration. Even if it were Hoffman, he wouldn't necessarily have made it after being devoured by the fog, let alone an Archmage in his twenties.
Macklin was at the edge of Aurora Square, lecturing Mason with curses and swear words. His face turned ghastly white at once when he saw the black fog rose. He'd never expected there'd be such a horrible Death Energy in a competition between trial apprentices. For a moment, Macklin was dumbstruck. The person engulfed by the Death Energy was their only hope to win the bet, and he was also the only disciple of a Legendary-mage, Andoine. Macklin dared not think of the consequences if Felic were to die in this match…
"Felic!" Macklin couldn't care less about the rules in anxiety. He pushed through the crowd and threw himself into the black fog. However, he felt powerful energy gush out from amidst the black fog. It was like a hammer landing heavily on his c.h.e.s.t. Macklin threw up a mouthful of blood in an instant, and he was yanked out of Aurora Square like a broken kite.
Macklin was not the only one that was shaken by the force. Mason had also rushed into the black fog when he felt that something was wrong. However, he was also struck by the massive power and was yanked out of Aurora Square like Macklin. The whole Aurora Square was in chaos. The two referees desperately tried to use Magic Quell to dispel the terrifying black fog. The dozen of mages who were in charge of maintaining the energy of the mageweaths also began to recite their spells in a bid to free the Jarrosus mage from the black fog.
At this time, even Orrin, who had yet to recover from his injury, rushed forward with his weak body. Unfortunately, he had yet to enter the plume of black fog when he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, and fell limply onto the ground…
"Don't go near!" Aldwin stood up from the VIP stand. After a hasty recitation, the magic staff in his hand began to emit a dazzling light. Boundless magical elements surged toward the black fog like torrential waves.