Australian Alps Outpost
"Hey, hey—why's another school bus showing up? Didn't the Skywave Academy students arrive ages ago?"
"Maybe a few of them overslept."
"If they overslept on a field exercise, their asses would be in trouble when they get back!"
The nearby hunters immediately started whispering the moment they spotted the bus.
The passengers were Kain Clinton and Jayce. To be honest, after being jolted around the entire trip, Kain almost preferred walking. If he used his Enchanted Boots, he would have arrived in half the time.
"Huh… they're not students. Are they… sightseeing?"
"Heh, who comes here to sightsee these days? Got a hole in their brains?"
Jayce felt his pride burn at the ridicule. He was a dignified Warlock—yet these hunters dared look down on him? He immediately pointed at the loudest one.
"Hey! You there! Do tourists offend your eyes or something?!"
Most of the hunters were Apprentices – High Stage or Adept – Early Stage mages. Even if they all charged, Jayce wouldn't feel a shred of fear.
"Oh? A tough one, huh? Old Mason, you'd better teach him some manners."
"Yeah, teach him! Can't let these outsiders look down on us!"
The surrounding hunters hyped the fire, eager for trouble—they'd been stuck in this outpost for years. Stirring chaos was their main entertainment.
"Kid, apologize now, and maybe I won't rough you up."
"Old Mason," the one they called, stood over 1.8 meters tall, with a jagged scar by his mouth. A small flame flickered in his palm, making him look even more intimidating.
"Those two are done for. Old Mason's flames hurt like hell."
"Who told him to provoke Old Mason? He deserves it."
The hunters conveniently forgot that they were the ones who instigated the confrontation.
Kain sighed. These hunters were lucky they hadn't met someone like Natalie's mentor—someone who truly didn't tolerate nonsense. Being low-level but loud was a dangerous hobby.
"Seriously? That tiny spark? You can't even control that properly."
Jayce sneered. A pale-blue water orb floated in his hand, shifting shapes smoothly. Anyone could see it was far superior to Old Mason's tiny flame.
Once a mage reached the Warlock level, their control became precise—every basic spell was devastating in skilled hands.
"A Water Mage? Old Mason's in trouble now."
"What trouble? Water mages are mostly defensive."
"Yeah! Old Mason, hit him!"
To these hunters, the two young men were mere outsiders. No way could they beat Old Mason, a Tier-3 Elementary Mage.
"So what if you're Water Element? I gave you a chance!"
Old Mason linked his star path. The tiny flame in his palm suddenly swelled.
"Fire Burst—Scorch!"
A bright red fireball shot toward Jayce. The heat made even the bus driver flinch.
Old Mason was still holding back—just a Tier-1 Fire Burst. Even if it hit, it wouldn't cause serious injury.
"Heh~"
Jayce laughed lightly. The water orb formed a shield in front of him. The fireball struck it, sizzling sharply before dissipating instantly.
"He… didn't link his star path, did he?"
"You talking nonsense? You can't cast without linking!"
"He really didn't. I swear!"
All the hunters—including Old Mason—were stunned. They had never seen such a thing in Alice Springs. Casting without linking stars… wasn't that illegal under standard magical laws?
"Enough. Just give them a light beating."
Kain patted Jayce's shoulder. These hunters had stepped on their faces; a light humiliation was sufficient. Anything more would be overkill.
Jayce nodded, ready to act, when a calm, authoritative voice cut through the air:
"Who is releasing magic here? Casting is prohibited within this outpost!"
A woman in green military uniform approached—a military mage. The hunters immediately fell silent.
"It was those two causing trouble!"
"Yeah! They came to make a scene and even fought Old Mason!"
Two veteran hunters quickly blamed Kain and Jayce. Men used to bending rules often had no sense of morality.
"You two—what are you doing here? Why are you getting off a Skywave Academy bus?"
The military mage didn't blindly trust the accusations. These young men looked refined and composed—hardly the type to pick fights. She also noted the bus—anyone riding that must have a connection to Skywave Academy.
"This should prove our identity."
Kain shot a cold glance at the lying hunters and revealed his Hunter Certification once more.
"Kain Clinton… Warlock – Two-Star Hunter Master."
The military mage's eyes went wide. A young man barely in his twenties and already a Warlock? Incredible.
Nearby, hunters peeked at the certificate. At first, it seemed routine—everyone had one. But when they saw the bold rank…
"Advanced Mage! Two-Star Hunter Master!"
It was like kicking a 24K alloy warhead.
"Honored Mage, we apologize. Rest assured—we will handle this."
The military mage immediately bowed slightly. These two were clearly not from Alice Springs. If they moved, several hunters might vanish without notice. She was also protecting her own people from a disaster.
"You hunters are far too arrogant. No wonder you're stuck at the elementary level."
Kain spoke coldly. Punishing them himself would be beneath him—but shaming them was another matter.
The hunters' faces flushed red. They couldn't refute it. A young man barely twenty, already a Warlock, while they were struggling at the bottom… decades of wasted effort stared back at them.
"I am Adjutant Adrian, assistant to Commander Kane of the Alice Springs Military. Do the two honored mages have a mission here?"
She assumed they were sent to handle a military task—or perhaps a dangerous monster had appeared.
"Adjutant Pan, I wish to meet your commander."
To approach Blake safely and expose him, Kain needed proximity to Commander Kane. The two had a tenuous history—Kane was once a national team member, while Kain was the current captain.
But now, the differences were stark. Kane had retreated to Alice Springs, worn down by time. By now, even if Kain gave up two elements, Kane wouldn't last ten rounds in combat.
Meanwhile, Kain could ascend to Mythic level within two years. The gap was already insurmountable.