"That is… a gem?"
Geller narrowed his eyes, uncertainty flickering within them as he studied the sparkling rune gem held casually in Magus's hand. For a brief moment, confusion creased his brow. Something about the item felt wrong—too potent, too unusual to be dismissed lightly.
Yet the doubt lasted only a breath. Geller quickly pushed the concern aside with a soft snort.
Even if Magus carried some strange trinkets, what did it matter?
Regardless of how powerful a wizard might be, none could possibly escape the suppression of Sir Hodge, a seasoned and terrifying Legendary Knight. Even with that eerie half-invisible creature—Magus's so-called Wyvern—fluttering about, the young wizard could not possibly overturn the current situation.
From the very instant Magus had stepped foot here, his fate had essentially been sealed.
He had only two paths before him: surrender… or die.
One could only blame the arrogance of youth. Young mages especially tended to think they were unmatched, never understanding how vast the world truly was or how many monsters walked upon it—monsters like Sir Hodge.
Geller turned to Owen, lips curling into a smug smile.
"You're in luck," he said lightly. "Once Magus dies, the morale of Blackstone City's army will collapse entirely. At that moment, you might seize the battlefield and deal a crushing blow to your opponents."
Owen's face lit up, barely containing his excitement.
"What the Emissary says is absolutely true!"
Killing Magus would not immediately dissolve all of Shanguang Territory's problems. But it would buy them a precious moment—an opportunity to regroup, reorganize, and perhaps overturn their current disadvantage. It might even allow them to reclaim the territory and scatter the Blackstone forces entirely.
With such possibilities laid before him, Owen found his heartbeat quickening.
His gaze locked onto the courtyard, as though sheer willpower could hasten Magus's death. Every fiber of his being yearned to see the wizard fall beneath Hodge's blade in the next heartbeat.
The battle, which had momentarily paused, erupted once more.
Just as Hodge had boasted earlier, the invisibility of Hidden Dragon—the newly evolving Wyvern—was nearly useless against him. Each time the beast shifted from its intangible shadowed state back into physical form, Hodge instantly sensed the distortion of air and energy. Without fail, he located the creature's exact position, intercepting its assault with practiced ease.
His flaming sword aura carved through the air, striking Hidden Dragon again and again. Each blow left a fresh charred gash across its scales.
"Hidden Dragon is still too weak to face a Legendary Knight head-on," Magus muttered inwardly, calmly analyzing the ongoing battle.
"Unless it completely refines its bloodline and transforms fully into a genuine Wyvern… only then will it possess the strength to clash evenly."
Still, the creature's efforts were not wasted. With Hidden Dragon drawing most of Hodge's attention and disrupting his rhythm, Magus gained the breathing room he needed.
He flicked his wrist.
A glowing rune gem arced through the air.
Boom!!
The gem detonated before it even hit the ground. Violent lightning erupted outward, transforming into dozens of writhing electric serpents. They snaked toward Hodge like living creatures, engulfing him instantly.
The sudden burst of power made Hodge's expression darken.
He retreated with blinding speed, flame flaring across his greatsword as he slashed upward. A scorching wave of sword aura burst forth, roaring toward the descending lightning.
Crack—!!
The clash was explosive. Though Hodge's flaming arc obliterated much of the incoming lightning, several bolts still struck him. His body spasmed, stiffening under the impact, and the protective aura of battle energy enveloping him flickered uncontrollably.
"What was that attack?!"
For the first time, genuine shock flooded Hodge's face.
The power contained in that single gem-blast far exceeded the might of any spell Magus had cast before. Despite Hodge's dual-layer defenses—battle aura and flame elemental energy—he had been injured.
But he had no time to dwell on the revelation.
Magus calmly pulled out a second rune gem.
The moment he released it, shadows bloomed.
A tide of dark, twisting rays spread outward—Shadow Erosion.
Hodge attempted to raise his sword, but the spell struck before he even completed the motion. A chilling, oppressive weight slammed into him, binding his limbs as though invisible chains had wrapped around every joint in his body. His breath hitched; his movements dulled; even his battle aura circulated sluggishly, as though rust had accumulated in his veins.
Before he could recover, Magus flung three more gems into the air.
Fire.
Frost.
Wind.
One after another, terrifying elemental forces converged on Hodge from all directions, their speed unrelenting.
Magus moved with the efficiency of a machine, a relentless rhythm. Facing a Legendary Knight meant there was no room for restraint. He had become a humanoid turret—each flick of his fingers releasing another devastating gem.
Within four or five breaths, over twenty rune gems had already detonated.
Hodge's mind reeled in disbelief.
It felt as though he was being attacked by multiple Legendary-ranked opponents simultaneously—each side assaulting him with different elemental specialties.
He could not even pause long enough to gather energy particles or stabilize his aura. Flames, blades of frost, arcs of lightning, ghostly shadows—everything hammered him without mercy. His battle aura shattered again and again, unable to fully reform under such relentless bombardment.
Forced to endure the onslaught with raw flesh and bone, Hodge staggered backward, his body marked by frostbite, charred burns, and deep lacerations from slicing wind currents. His once heroic figure was now drenched in soot and blood, far removed from the imposing warrior who had dominated the fight earlier.
"Damn… you!"
Never since attaining the rank of Legendary Knight had Hodge suffered such humiliation. Enraged beyond measure, he unleashed the full extent of his power—more than he typically dared exert. Flames erupted from him in a storm, and he charged directly into the incoming elemental barrage.
With an animalistic roar, he burst forward, eyes locked on Magus with murderous fury.
But Magus only tilted his hand upward.
Six more rune gems shimmered in his palm—each glowing with a different elemental hue.
"...!!!"
A strangled howl nearly escaped Hodge's throat.
How many—how many—of those blasted gems did this accursed wizard possess?!
What impossible fortune—or insanity—led him to carry such a monstrous arsenal?
He would never learn the answer.
Because in the very next instant, six different elements exploded outward together, merging into a catastrophic tide that swallowed him whole.
BOOOOOOM!!!
A massive shockwave tore through the courtyard.
Stone tiles shattered. Gravel shot outward like bullets.
Even from their position far from the center of the battlefield, Geller and Owen were forced to brace themselves. The blast threw them backward several steps. Pebbles struck their faces like stinging needles.
Neither man cared about the pain.
All they could do was stare, pale and trembling, at the settling cloud of smoke in the courtyard's heart.
This… this couldn't be real.
Just moments ago, Hodge had held the absolute upper hand. Their victory had seemed guaranteed.
So how had he—one of the strongest warriors in the region—been beaten into a miserable, smoking heap within such a short span?
What… what kind of monster was Magus?
A gust of wind swept through, dispersing the final wisps of smoke.
Hodge's ruined body lay crumpled on the ground. Frost crystals clung to his skin; scorch marks marred half his torso. He did not move. His chest did not rise.
He was dead.
Magus's expression held only mild disappointment.
"The soul of a Legendary Knight could've formed at least a small soul crystal," he murmured. "Shame I still can't extract souls from bodies… a pity."
He shook his head lightly.
Then he turned his gaze toward Geller and Owen.
The instant their eyes met his, both men shuddered violently.
Cold sweat trickled down Owen's back. His legs nearly gave out.
Geller instinctively stepped backward, face ashen and drained of all arrogance.
"S-Sir Magus, w-we can discuss things!" Geller stammered. "There's no need for hostility. The Gold Rock Marquis can—can surely negotiate—"
His voice shook like a frightened mouse.
But Magus had no intention of wasting time on talk.
A spark of lightning flickered at his fingertip.
A crack of electricity flashed.
A tiny bolt pierced straight through Geller's forehead.
The emissary froze, eyes bulging in shock, before collapsing lifelessly onto the ground.
Owen dropped to his knees instantly, overcome with terror.
"Magus! Great Wizard! Please, spare me!" he begged, voice cracking. "I—I'll return the noble title. I'll give everything back! I don't need anything anymore, just please… don't kill me…"
But before he could continue his pitiful pleading, Magus casually flicked his hand.
A soft wave of magical energy struck Owen. His body slumped over, unconscious.
"Killing you now would be letting you off too lightly," Magus said coldly. "You belong on the execution platform. Let the people judge your crimes."
He turned away and looked toward the distant city gate.
Hidden Dragon, battered but still able to fight, limped toward him and nudged its head against his arm.
Magus patted its scaled head.
"Go," he commanded softly. "Break open the city gates and welcome my brother and the others inside."
Hidden Dragon let out a resonant cry. Its body shimmered before vanishing completely into the air.
Moments later—
BOOOOM!!!
A thunderous crash came from the direction of the city entrance. This was immediately followed by the echo of clashing steel, roaring battle cries, and the crumbling of stone.
The real battle for the city had begun.
Magus stood calmly in the courtyard, hands clasped behind his back.
The human turret had finished firing.
Now it was time for conquest.
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