October 22nd
As night descended, stars shimmered against the vast, dark canvas above. The air grew colder as Sakeer approached the Azerlisia Mountains, the chill biting through the wind.
A black figure streaked across the night sky.
Draped in a flowing black cloak, Sakeer had long discarded his priest's robe. In one hand, he carried the unconscious Quaiesse, his flight steady and purposeful as he ventured deeper into the mountain range.
In the distance, the northern interior of the Azerlisia Mountains glowed with a fiery red hue.
Seven days had passed since the gray-robed mage's death, and three since Sakeer had entered the mountainous terrain. His mana reserves had fully recovered, and even the depleted energy within the Orb of Death had been partially restored.
He had deliberately chosen this remote region as the place to eliminate Quaiesse. The Slane Theocracy was undoubtedly tracking him, but compared to the vast, open wetlands, the treacherous geography of these mountains offered better cover and a more unpredictable environment.
This would make it harder for them to pinpoint his location.
"Seven days... I wonder if the Slane Theocracy has noticed anything unusual."
Sakeer muttered under his breath, feeling the cold wind rush past him.
Whoosh!
A black shadow shot through the sky—a harpy, its eagle-like wings and razor-sharp talons cutting through the darkness. Though it bore some resemblance to a human, it was one of the most dangerous aerial predators in the Azerlisia Mountains.
Yet, Sakeer's flight never wavered.
Just as the harpy lunged toward him—
A magic greatsword materialized in his palm, its cold steel gleaming under the night sky.
Slash!
With a single stroke, the harpy was cleaved in two.
[Experience Gained: 1211]
[Experience Progress: 82,907 / 120,000]
The lifeless creature plummeted silently. Not even a death cry escaped its lips.
Sakeer continued forward, his dark silhouette blending seamlessly with the night.
Using physical attacks instead of magic wasn't just a matter of conserving mana—it was a strategic choice. The Azerlisia Mountains were home to formidable beings, and drawing their attention was the last thing he wanted.
Even Sakeer himself was uncertain of which powerful factions ruled the region.
Would he encounter dwarves, tirelessly forging weapons in their underground cities?
Or perhaps the earth-digging Quagoa, whose natural resilience to physical attacks made them a fearsome force?
Then there were the Frost Dragons and Frost Giants, creatures that could easily annihilate armies.
If the Slane Theocracy dared to enter this region, only their elite [Black Scripture] unit would stand a chance. Any of their other Five Scripture divisions would be obliterated before they even knew what hit them.
Even a single misstep could trigger a conflict with one of these formidable groups, leading to their total destruction.
"Almost there..."
Sakeer peered downward.
With the moonlight and stars illuminating the terrain, he could see it clearly—
A massive, bottomless rift, stretching like a wound through the earth.
His destination lay ahead—the Lava Fields, deep within the Azerlisia Mountains.
From this high vantage point, navigating was easy. There was no risk of losing his way.
To the east, not far from the Great Rift, lay the dwarven capital.
The dwarves' mastery over rune magic intrigued Sakeer greatly. But for now, he had more pressing matters. He only spared a glance at their territory before soaring past the Great Rift.
As he flew, a blinding red glow began to fill his vision.
Waves of heat rippled through the air, shifting like ocean currents.
The moment he entered the Lava Fields, he felt it—
The temperature skyrocketed.
The collision of scorching heat from the lava and cold air from the surrounding peaks created an unstable, chaotic airflow.
Even Sakeer, who had been flying steadily, was affected.
His body wavered midair, forcing him to descend rapidly, landing on the outer edge of the Lava Fields.
Hissss~
As his boots met the scorching-hot rock, a sharp sizzle filled the air.
"This heat is unreal..."
Sakeer's eyes narrowed. The dense, magical energy in the air felt far stronger here than in other locations.
He gritted his teeth, took a few steps back, and exhaled.
Sweat beaded on his forehead almost instantly.
"This should do."
He scanned the surroundings.
No signs of other creatures.
With a nod, he confirmed his choice.
Here, in the heart of the Lava Fields, he would begin his next move.
In this scorching domain, where temperatures soared to unbearable levels, only a handful of heat-resistant monsters could survive. Ordinary creatures could not even approach.
Sakeer lacked fire resistance and fire-based magic, so he could only remain on the outer edges, where the heat was somewhat manageable.
Looking up, he saw it—a vast sea of molten lava, its fiery glow illuminating the darkness.
This was the heart of the Lava Field.
By all logic, the Alpine terrain of the Azerlisia Mountains, known for its eternal snow and ice, should never have contained lava.
However—
This was a world shaped by magic.
And in a world of magic, the impossible was often explained by the arcane.
The lava sea before him was no exception.
Beneath its depths lay a natural portal, an unseen connection to distant lands, continuously drawing magma from an unknown source.
This was the reason behind the phenomenon.
Bang!
Sakeer threw the unconscious Quaiesse onto the scorching ground.
The blistering heat jolted Quaiesse awake with a sharp gasp.
"We can... discuss this..."
Quaiesse scrambled to his feet, his crimson eyes filled with fear, darting toward Sakeer.
A glint of magic flickered in Sakeer's gaze.
"All-Race Charm."
Quaiesse's body froze, his expression vacant.
"Tell me everything about the ability Thousand Leagues Astrologer," Sakeer said coldly.
Quaiesse's lips trembled, his voice shaky.
"Astrologer... specialize in divination and detection magic... Her innate ability allows her to—"
His words faltered.
A visible strain twisted his face, a sign of the forbidden magic's resistance.
This was the third question.
Sakeer had already forced answers from Quaiesse twice before. Now, he watched carefully, wary of what might follow.
What he heard confirmed his suspicions.
The innate ability of 'Thousand Leagues Astrologer' could greatly amplify detection magic. Even the simplest spells could be enhanced to unimaginable levels.
This was why his caution had been justified.
"Aghh—!"
Before Quaiesse could finish his sentence, he let out a piercing scream.
A gush of blood erupted from his mouth as his body collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.
[Experience Gained: 13,512]
[Experience Progress: 96,419 / 120,000]
Sakeer's eyes flickered with intrigue.
"This forbidden magic is truly peculiar."
Glancing at the experience gained, he noted it was slightly lower than what the gray-robed mage had granted.
"So Quaiesse's rank was actually lower than the gray-robed mage's?"
It made sense.
Quaiesse's expertise lay in controlling monsters in battle, rather than direct combat.
Sakeer exhaled. No more distractions.
"Resurrection of the Dead!"
He raised a hand, casting his spell—
Meanwhile, in the Slane Theocracy—
Within the Temple of the Earth God, where Quaiesse's cover identity resided, the sacred halls stood in silence.
The floor was paved with white marble, reflecting the flickering glow of candlelight.
The walls bore ancient carvings, depicting six divine figures battling subhuman races—each image infused with an unfathomable mystique.
The interior of the temple, aside from the white floor, was adorned in deep brown, a color dedicated to the Earth God.
Kneeling before the deity's statue, an elderly priest in ceremonial brown robes murmured in solemn prayer.
He was the Cardinal of the Earth Temple.
Suddenly—
Boom!
A pulse of invisible force ruptured the air.
In the blink of an eye, a black-haired youth—clad in plain armor—materialized behind the priest, his entrance as swift as teleportation.
The Cardinal, eyes closed in deep devotion, instinctively sensed the disturbance and abruptly opened his eyes.
Before he could even turn around, a firm voice rang out.
"Quaiesse is dead."
The youth's words struck like a thunderclap.
For a moment, the Cardinal's shoulders tensed—but he quickly exhaled, regaining his composure.
Slowly, he rose to his feet, his voice calm yet laced with wisdom earned through age.
"Do not let emotion cloud your judgment."
The youth's brow furrowed.
"With your status, it is unwise for you to be here."
The Cardinal turned, his wrinkled face gentle yet firm, his gaze settling upon the black-haired youth.
Despite his words, he offered a slight bow, a mark of respect.
Then, he spoke again, his tone measured.
"We placed certain restrictions upon your actions, yes. But as the Captain of the Black Scripture, you are not required to report to us whenever you activate 'Resurrection Magic.'"
The youth's voice hardened.
"This is different. Quaiesse cannot be resurrected."
The Cardinal's expression shifted—the first crack in his collected demeanor.
His half-lidded eyes widened, and a glimmer of sharpness flickered within them.
"Explain."
The youth inhaled, steady but tense.
"Among those who killed Quaiesse... is another magic user capable of resurrection."
For the first time, a trace of unease crept into the Cardinal's gaze.
A moment of silence stretched between them before he finally spoke.
"You need not act. I will inform the other Cardinals... and 'Thousand Leagues Astrologer.'"
Without another word, the Cardinal strode away, his robe rustling against the marble floor.