Age of Adepts c1-1513

by Zhen De Lao Lang, 真的老狼

  This terrifying reality drained the color from everyone’s faces. The high morale from all the fighting up until now crumbled in an instant.

  A row of towering ancient trees at the edge of the Black Forest snapped in half in front of the adepts’ concerned looks, revealing the terrifying magical creature behind them.

  It was a giant, brown-gray meatball, eight feet in diameter.

  Its body was covered in uneven scales the color of metal.

  A bloody mouth could be seen at the center of the ball of meat, taking up half of the body and filled with sharp fangs. A massive vertical eye was above the mouth but not yet opened. Seven or eight snake-like tentacles extended from the meatball like braids. A strange eyeball could be seen at the tip of each tentacle, closing and shutting constantly.

  These eyestalks had tough skin, and faint whipping sounds could be heard as they moved through the air.

  A Beholder. This Third Grade magical creature lord that had just appeared was actually a Beholder!

  Chapter 899 - Greem Appears

  Beholders were evil and twisted magical creatures.

  They possessed mighty mental powers and excelled at using mind magic to turn intelligent creatures into their servants. The multiple eyestalks on their bodies could each fire a magical beam with a different attribute. Not only were these beams extremely lethal, but they also fired instantly.

  As the beholder’s body possessed anti-gravity forcefields of its own, they could easily hover in the air. Moreover, the massive eye at the center of its fleshy body could fire a Light of Temptation, instantly taking control of an enemy’s body.

  Consequently, a powerful beholder would often enslave hundreds and thousands of slaves to construct a safe lair for itself. It would then become the ruler of the den, governing over the life and death of every single one of its subordinates and slaves.

  The Second Grades of the Crimson Clan immediately retreated into the fort at the sight of the Third Grade beholder. There, they commenced a nervous discussion about their next plan of action.

  If it were just an ordinary Third Grade magical creature, they might have been able to keep it away from the fort by working together.

  However, all the Crimson adepts lost their confidence in victory when they were dealing with a terrifying Third Grade beholder.

  Among them all, Tigule was the one with the loudest voice.

  “Zacha; Meryl repeatedly emphasized that you were the one in charge before we arrived here at this battlefield. Tell us, how are we supposed to continue fighting this war? You aren’t as foolishly loyal as to fight against a Third Grade beholder as a Second Grade yourself, are you? That’s a Third Grade and a beholder! You will probably be charmed the moment you get close to it and turn into its newest slave.”

  It was only natural that Tigule feared the beholder as much as he did.

  The goblins were not known for their Spirit. Amongst all the Second Grades here, Tigule was the only one fighting with a magical machine when he was only an advanced First Grade himself. Consequently, he was genuinely terrified of the beholder’s mental powers.

  The Goblin Shredder might have a shockingly high physical defense and decent magical resistance, but it could not shield its pilot from such intangible mental powers.

  Tigule, and individuals like Zacha, who only had muscle and limited mental resistance, were basically committing suicide if they even got close to a beholder. The monster only needed to order them to commit suicide, and it would be able to kill them without even lifting a finger.

  As the beholder slowly entered the battlefield with its horrifying aura, the atmosphere in the fort instantly thickened and froze.

  The civilians and goblins inside the fort also started to become restless.

  If the situation turned bad, the adepts all had the means to escape. That would leave the ordinary humans behind with a bunch of weak apprentices. How were they supposed to stop the attack of the stampede then?

  While everyone was growing anxious and nervous, a strong and powerful male voice rang in Zacha’s ear.

  “Zacha, help me lock on to your position. I am teleporting over!”

  It’s Greem! It’s the clan leader!

  A smile immediately appeared on Zacha’s broad, indigo face.

  He roared and stepped forward, tearing off a metal tag from his neck and grabbing it in his hand. He then concentrated wild lightning power and injected the energy into the tag.

  As the tag turned increasingly brighter from the lightning powers, it also became red and hot, burning Zacha’s hands and causing his flesh to sizzle. Even so, the dragonborn clung on to the tag, clasping it firmly between his hands as he raised it before him.

  A short moment later, a profound and mysterious light array radiated from the metal tag, causing the air itself to vibrate slightly in its own unique fashion.

  A Fire Teleportation rune!

  The Second Grades of the Crimson Clan were unlike those low-grade adepts with no proper knowledge. They almost instantly recognized the true nature of this strange light array. Its appearance usually meant…

  As this thought appeared in everyone’s mind, a burst of fire erupted in the center of the array. A faint yet tall silhouette appeared out of thin air, quickly materializing.

  It was the clan leader. It was the clan leader!

  A deafening wave of cheers spontaneously erupted within the fort!

  The beasts outside the fort suddenly stopped moving, confused and fearful as they sensed the aura of slaughter pressing toward their faces. The Third Grade beholder also stopped moving, staring firmly at the unnerving form that had appeared.

  Fire Teleportation!

  It was a fire spell that Greem had only mastered after advancing to Third Grade.

  The low-grade Fire Teleportation had only allowed him to teleport to an area within his visual radius, up to a maximum of four hundred meters. Meanwhile, the upgraded version had a much more extended range. As long as Fire Teleportation runes had been set up within a hundred-kilometer radius, Greem would be able to use his tremendous mastery over flames to instantly teleport over.

  Meryl had already considered this when she chose the Doverand Basin as the battlefield.

  As such, Greem immediately had teleported over from the White Tower without any hesitation upon hearing about the change at the frontlines.

  He was not at all worried about running into an excessively powerful opponent.

  After all, the initiative in this battle had always been in Meryl’s hands.

  The bold yet careful Meryl had long since figured out the power and distribution of the magical creature lords around the tower before the stampede broke out. The existence of this Third Grade beholder was a surprise to the low-grade adepts and ordinary civilians, but that was not the case for the leaders of the clan.

  The reason Zacha was chosen as the commander of this battle was due to him having once been Greem’s soul servant, and because of his continued loyalty. That was why the Fire Teleportation rune used for locking on to his position was left in his care.

  And Zacha did indeed live up to his obligation, successfully guiding Greem over to the battlefield!

  …………

  The fire finally dispersed.

  Greem’s vision was once again clear.

  His massive Spirit instantly engulfed the entirety of the basin, and he promptly understood the situation. His Spirit unavoidably clashed with the sinister and chilling Spirit of the beholder.

  Greem lifted his head and locked eyes with the beholder, through the towering fort walls, through three hundred meters of distance, and through the horde of countless strange monsters and beasts.

  A blast of fire immediately rose around Greem’s tall body. However, an evil white-green will seemed to be wrapped within the flames, causing him to shiver slightly.

  Scorch marks mysteriously appeared on the beholder’s hovering body. It had to fire off several magical beams of various colors from all its eyestalks a
t itself to dispel those strange magical fires that were burning on its body.

  Greem frowned slightly. He had to raise the output of his fire energy somewhat before he could successfully drive away the evil will around him with his Burning Domain.

  Both parties gained a comprehensive understanding of their opponent’s strength after just a single exchange. Their expressions couldn’t help but turn stern and cold.

  If this were the extent of tricks up Greem’s sleeves, the battle against the beholder would be much more unpredictable. However, as of now, Greem had already stabilized has Spirit and gained possession of several trump cards. He would not fear the challenge of a Third Grade beholder.

  Greem laughed beneath the worshipping and admiring gazes of the people around him. He then walked across the sky toward the beholder.

  Greem rapidly armed himself as he walked forward.

  Burning Suncrown, Emblem of Fire, The Fearless, Ash, Fire Dragon’s Breath; the five pieces of Second Grade magical equipment let out an overwhelming surge of fire aura that combined with Greem’s soul aura, forming a strange, large red barrier around his body.

  This Ring of Fire quickly enveloped the beasts and creatures around the fort as he walked forward.

  After he had advanced to Third Grade, the Ring of Fire had turned into the Burning Domain, bringing frightful magical damage. The five-hundred-meter Burning Domain brought catastrophic damage down upon the horde when it appeared.

  All beasts caught in the red barrier had wild fire energy surge out of their orifices, turning them into ash before they could even leave.

  Ordinary beasts and birds had no magical resistance and vanished into dust within a single second. Even the more powerful magical creatures were only slightly better off than them, enduring for three to five seconds before dying a painful death.

  Only First or Second Grade magical creatures at the edge of the Burning Domain could barely escape with their life.

  The fearless horde immediately fell into chaos before a human volcano like this. The creatures quickly escaped into the distance, leaving the battlefield at the center of the basin to the two powerful Third Grades.

  The beholder started waving its eyestalks in frustration when it saw Greem’s domineering performance. Several magical barriers of various colors quickly emerged on its body.

  This powerful human adept appeared to be an elementium adept specializing in fire.

  Individuals like these might have tremendously powerful fire spells, but their bodies were much more frail compared to Third Grade magical creatures. As such, the Third Grade beholder quickly prepared itself to engage its opponent in close combat.

  However, before it could execute its plan, the human adept started undergoing some strange transformations.

  An odd, palm-sized doll suddenly appeared on Greem’s shoulder. Its body was covered in strange patterns, and a sickly-green poison halo hung around its body, giving its small stature an even more wicked and peculiar vibe.

  The appearance of the Spirit of Pestilence added a fire poison effect to Greem’s Burning Domain.

  That wasn’t the end of it.

  Greem waved his hand as a two-meter tall elementium magical machine created entirely from metal appeared in front of everyone.

  Everyone could see the iconic metal body of a magical machine on this strange being, while also sensing the unique elementium flux of elementium golems on it. As Greem placed a miniaturized magic generator furnace into the elementium magical machine, it gained a staggering increase in power.

  It was almost as if a small sun had been placed into the machine’s chest, as it was now spewing out red flames and searing heat waves. A surge of incredibly violent and pure magic energy flowed out of the magic generator furnace, slowly lighting up the entire body of the elementium magical machine.

  Its originally ghostly blue metal body started to turn red-hot from the injection of the powerful magical energy. The elementium magical machine had transformed into a fearsome flame humanoid.

  The expression of the Third Grade beholder finally soured when it sensed the intensity of the magic energy projecting from the machine!

  Chapter 900 - Greem's Battle

  Greem had always been the most mysterious character within the Crimson Clan!

  As the founder of the Crimson Clan, Greem had the prestige of being known as a legendary fire adept. He was also one of the few powerful adepts who had managed to advance to Third Grade before they were two hundred years old.

  There were even private rumors that Greem possessed a dragon plane. It was said that he had defeated a Third Grade adept as a Second Grade and that he had an intimate relationship with one of the witch leaders of the Northern Witches.

  When so many rumors gathered upon a rising adept like him, it was enough to turn him into a powerful adept who was envied, admired, and respected by all. Naturally, a powerful adept like that was what people would follow and admire.

  That was why Greem had always been a ‘god’ of sorts within the clan!

  However, he never really showed himself, choosing instead to indulge in his research and magic. He rarely ever involved himself in the specifics of clan matters. That was why many newly recruited Crimson adepts had not even had the chance to see him even once.

  However, this did not hinder their admiration or respect for him.

  In their hearts, Clan Leader Greem was omnipotent and could not be defeated!

  That was why an overwhelming will to fight erupted from their hearts when they saw Greem personally descending in such a dominating fashion. The adepts all started cheering and shouting.

  “Long live Lord Greem!”

  “Our clan leader is undefeated!”

  For a moment, a loud wave of cheers rose through the sky as the entire fort fell into a celebration.

  Greem and the Third Grade beholder hadn’t even started fighting, but the Crimson Clan was behaving as if victory was in their hands. Their fervent behavior instantly brought the atmosphere of the battlefield to a boiling point.

  Greem released the newly forged Third Grade elementium magical machine at the start of the battle and even placed a new miniature magic generator furnace into its core. With two against one, they had the Third Grade beholder at a complete disadvantage.

  Kirkburn squirmed anxiously with hiss eyestalks waving more urgently as the eyes opened and shut.

  As the only Third Grade magical creature lord of this stretch of the Black Forest, Kirkburn possessed tremendous power and authority. Of the two dozen Second Grade magical creatures running around the battlefield, eight were mind slaves of his.

  Unfortunately, two of them had become sacrifices of the war in the skirmish earlier, dying at the hands of the human adepts. The lazy and cautious behavior of the other second Grade magical creature lords also infuriated Kirkburn.

  That was why he had personally appeared on the battlefield to use his immense powers to crush these outsiders that didn’t know better.

  However, that wish of his was unlikely to come true now.

  That was because a powerful individual that made him feel a trace of fear had suddenly appeared and was standing in his way. Moreover, that person…that person had actually summoned an equally powerful Third Grade.

  Kirkburn smacked his lips. He couldn’t think of a word to describe this towering magical machine golem before him.

  A metal construct, an elementium golem, or a combination of both?

  Before he could come to a conclusion, the gigantic magical machine golem controlled by the human adept roared and charged at him.

  What did it feel like when the earth quaked and the mountains trembled? What did it feel like when the sky was collapsing, and the ground was splitting apart?

  Kirkburn immediately understood what these felt like when the machine golem moved.

  The two-meter body of the elementium machine was relatively small compared to most metal constructs, but it still weighed as much as seventy tons. When it sprinted
across the earth toward the beholder, every one of its footsteps would leave a deep crater in the firm dirt.

  All the beasts and magical creatures that failed to escape from its path were instantly crushed to pulp beneath its feet, sticking to its soles as their remains were scattered across the earth. The ones that narrowly escaped death were also knocked around by the quaking of the earth and could not flee quickly.

  The elementium magical machine raised its right arm as it charged at the beholder. Its elementium hand vanished abruptly, revealing a black cannon barrel beneath.

  The next second, dense fire elementium gathered within the cannon, forming a concentrated fireball the size of a fist before it shot quickly at the beholder, spiraling through the air as it did so.

  It only took 0.3 seconds for the fireball to crash into the beholder’s energy forcefield and erupt into a blinding cluster of flames.

  The forcefield blocked most of the flame shockwaves, but the remaining energy waves still pushed the beholder away.

  Five hundred and ten points!

  Kirkburn’s heart tightened when he saw this.

  The opponent’s strange golem was able to inflict an attack of over five hundred points so easily. It caused Kirkburn to lose confidence in the battle today for the first time.

  The battle that ensued went just as Kirkburn had predicted. He was immediately trapped in a difficult fight.

  The power of a beholder came from its magical beams that could bypass any defense.

  The seven or eight eyestalks could simultaneously fire magical beams of different colors and attributes. Each one of them could inflict extreme pain and torture on the enemy.

  Ray of Enfeeblement.

  Ray of Blindness.

  Ray of Chaos.

  Ray of Fear.

  Scorching Ray.

  Frost Ray.

  Ray of SLowing.

  These various unique powers and weakening effects added together upon the victim. Though they were not that powerful individually, together, they could make life a living hell for the opponent.

  However, these magical beams were unprecedentedly awkward when used against an elementium magical machine.