Kael sensed the gray-robed mage's murderous intent and knew the man was determined to kill him. Yet he showed no fear—a cold glint flashed in his eyes as his attacks grew even fiercer.
Starburn Annihilation lived up to its name, its flames threatening to scorch the heavens. The blazing radiance illuminated the area for kilometers, and the colossal pillar of fire surged toward the gray-robed mage like a vengeful serpent.
Arjun, watching from the side, was utterly stunned. "A tenth-level mage?! Brother Idris has already reached the tenth level—how terrifying! There can't be more than a handful in the world capable of this. Even the legendary Temple's Holy Son, Einar, or that mysterious youth Kael who recently defeated him, probably only stand at this level!" His mind raced, though he remained unaware that the man before him was, in fact, Kael himself—disguised as "Idris" during their past adventure in the Water Dragon Secret Realm.
Now, Arjun was completely awestruck by Kael's strength. How long has it been since we last met, and he's already a tenth-level mage? And not just any tenth-level mage—he's daring to clash with Netherghost, one of the Four Elders of the Ghostfire Spire!
As Starburn Annihilation raged forward, the gray-robed elder sneered, unshaken. "Boneclaw of the Damned!" He chanted an intricate incantation, his expression icy with killing intent.
As the spell took form, the very sky seemed to tear open. A colossal skeletal hand—easily over ten meters long—descended from above. More than just bone, it was wreathed in eerie gusts of spectral wind, exuding an aura of dread that made Kael's pupils constrict.
With a thunderous sweep, the skeletal hand not only blocked the fiery pillar of Starburn Annihilation but also reached for Kael, intent on crushing him to paste!
"Die!" the gray-robed mage spat.
But Kael's Wings of the Wind God flared. Swift wind elements swirled around him as he vanished, reappearing a kilometer away—just beyond the skeletal hand's grasp.
BOOM! The monstrous hand slammed into the ground where Kael had stood moments before. The earth quaked violently, dust and debris exploding outward as nearby mountains trembled on the verge of collapse.
Fortunately, their battle raged in this desolate wilderness. Had they fought in a city, their magic would have reduced it to ruins.
Seeing Kael evade yet another lethal strike, the gray-robed mage's frown deepened, his face darkening with fury.
"Damn it, this brat is relentless! What kind of magic are those cyan wings behind him? How can they grant such insane speed?!" The gray-robed mage was thoroughly frustrated. Kael had repeatedly evaded his spells using the Wings of the Wind God, leaving him feeling like a titan swatting at a gnat—powerful yet ineffective.
"No more half-measures. I need a large-scale spell to eliminate all escape routes!"The gray-robed mage steeled his resolve.
Meanwhile, Kael's mind raced. Starburn Annihilation alone won't be enough to overpower him. I'll have to unleash something stronger.
"Dual-Element Spell—Thunderflame Annihilation!" Kael raised his staff sharply, and the surrounding elements erupted into chaos. Even the gray-robed mage sensed a sliver of death's approach, his instincts screaming danger.
A chill ran down the elder's spine. He focused entirely on his own incantation, not daring to slacken.
"Inferno of Ten Thousand Li!" The gray-robed mage's chant concluded. With a roar, he unleashed Hellfire once more—this time, the emerald flames howled like vengeful spirits, their range expanding to engulf nearly a kilometer in all directions. The ghostfire blotted out the sky, a ravenous tide of destruction.
But Kael's Thunderflame Annihilation was ready. A fusion of Starburn Annihilationand lightning magic, it crackled to life with violet arcs of electricity. The thunderous energy intertwined with his frostfire, sending spatial tremors rippling outward as magical power surged like a tsunami.
The gray-robed mage's heart lurched. "Lightning?!" His eyes widened in shock. Lightning magic?! Just who the hell is this kid?!
Both lightning and frostfire were variant elements, and their combined force didn't just add—it multiplied. This was one of Kael's trump cards, honed under the Water Dragon's guidance.
The thunder roared, its oppressive might shaking the gray-robed mage to his core. Lightning magic, like holy light, carried innate purifying force—a natural bane to dark arts.
The two supreme spells collided.
CRACK!
Bolts of lightning lanced through the sky, their jagged brilliance tearing through the Inferno of Ten Thousand Li. Despite being an eleventh-tier spell, the ghostfire's fury couldn't withstand the thunder's judgment.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion erupted as the Inferno of Ten Thousand Li crumbled before the lightning's fury, its power scattering into nothingness. Yet the residual force of the thunderbolts pierced through, streaking straight toward the gray-robed mage!
His face paled in terror. Desperate, he swung his staff, conjuring a defensive barrier.
But how could a mere shield withstand the might of lightning? His barrier shattered instantly, and the bolts struck him head-on.
"ARGH—!" The gray-robed mage screamed as the electricity seared his chest black, his hair standing on end, his body charred like a living thunder god struck down by Kael's spell.
Blood spilled from his lips. Panic set in. "No—this brat is monstrous! Though only tenth-tier, his techniques are endless—worse than most eleventh-tier experts! That lightning magic and those damned wings… I can't win. RUN!"
The thought flashed through his mind. Without hesitation, he whirled around and fled, his body transforming into a streak of black light shooting westward like a falling star.
"Thinking of escaping?" Kael's lips curled into a cold smirk.
With a single beat of the Wings of the Wind God, gusts of wind elemental energy surged. Kael crossed kilometers in an instant, closing the gap in mere breaths.
The gray-robed mage sensed the approaching mana and glanced back—only to see Kael right behind him. His soul nearly fled his body. Too fast! There's no outrunning him! Today… I might die here. Then I'll drag him down with me!
As the elder mustered his last strength for a suicidal counterattack, Kael was already prepared. His eyes flashed—Thunderflame Gaze!
Thunderflame Gaze! Though not his strongest ability, its greatest advantage was its near-instant activation, perfect for ambushes.
Purple lightning and frostfire erupted from Kael's pupils, coiling around the gray-robed mage's body. A wretched shriek echoed as the elder plummeted from the sky.
But before he could crash to his death, Kael summoned a surge of mana, yanking him midair.
Now, the gray-robed mage was utterly crippled, his combat strength obliterated.
Yet as one of the Four Elders of the Ghostfire Spire, he was too valuable to kill outright. Kael had other plans for him.
The gray-robed mage, though weakened and devoid of combat strength, remained fully conscious. His eyes burned with venomous hatred as he glared at Kael. "Brat, no matter who you are, you'll regret this! The Ghostfire Spire will hunt you to the ends of the earth—you'll suffer a fate worse than death!"
With a flick of mana, Kael knocked him unconscious. He couldn't be bothered to entertain the man's threats. If not for the elder's potential usefulness, he'd have executed him on the spot.
"Idris… you actually defeated Netherghost?!" Arjun rushed forward, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Kael smiled faintly and peeled off the human-skin mask from his face. Arjun staggered back, then let out a bitter laugh. "So back when we explored the Water Dragon Secret Realm together, you were using a fake identity. That name—Idris—was probably fake too, huh?" He wasn't a fool; the pieces clicked instantly.
"Arjun, why was this guy hunting you?" Kael studied his friend's disheveled state. Had he arrived even a moment later, Arjun would've been doomed.
"Ah, don't even ask!" Arjun sighed heavily and began his explanation.