Three days later, I finally had enough souls to upgrade all new space stars with Servant, Pack Chieftain, and Warlord souls, letting me cast fourth-step High-level magic right off. With my spiritual boundaries and fusing such an attack with same-step ice strike... Vilyuk has no chance.
Eh, good thing new stars from my past life don't need subduing; no time otherwise. Never stop loving that time save on irreplaceable resource.
Summoning armor first, I finally teleported right at Eternal Ice cave entrance to prep fusion spells. Deadly cold for normal humans around. Even other High-level mages couldn't last long. And cave holds most of this lethal chill; entering... Anyway, no freeze risk for me; strong body and high ice cultivation handle it.
Spitting on weather musings, to business. For the effect I want, fused space's "Displacement Field" – creates area for repeated teleports without recasting (each costs extra energy beyond initial, but I need just the teleport part).
From ice: "Ice Rose," weaving instant freeze effect. Won't hurt Vilyuk much – ice elemental variant ignores most native attacks – but binds Displacement Field to strong ice, exactly what I need.
With sixth spiritual boundary, I sensed Vilyuk through ice-saturated cave walls and surroundings. He blended perfectly; even my cultivation here saw no anomalies.
But soul... his soul felt fuzzier than normal, but with my experience and power, no complaints. Like spotting grandma in camo in forest. Tricky, but doable if you look. Not the weakling straight out of Intermediate anymore.
Casting "Save Point" just in case, I entered the ice-wind-swept cave and loudly called my old foe. Well, in another parallel world, but whatever; I'm not picky, revenge on this one. Then forget and revenge the right one later. Eh, what a good guy I am.
"Come out, Owl! Bear's here!" – I yelled toward where Vilyuk lurked. Atmosphere unfriendly, kinda creepy. Could think I hit monster horror, not magic Earth. Though... world situation makes it close.
Realizing ambush spotted and failed, he slowly crawled out in full glory – minus scary soundtrack. Black-eyed, snow-white body, razor claws. Unchanged since first meet, just more magic-dense. Peak Warlord. And today such a brute falls to me.
"Hi there." – I smiled at his face, fearless. No soul attacks to counter my "Save Point." Plus "Sevenfold Time Acceleration" prepped. With my Warlord-level enhanced body, we'll see who's faster. Bet on me.
Vilyuk eyed me confused, sniffed my magic density, growled disdainfully, circled slowly on clawed paws, chipping ice snow. Like mages, monsters sense only the 'main' – most pumped element.
Mine: ice, which this brute ignores... So now just interesting toy for brief attention before nap. Better for me.
No dallying, I unleashed the anti-him spell prepped at entrance:
"Ice Layering!" – I intoned dramatically, watching space waves radiating ice aura toward foe triumphantly.
Vilyuk first sneered at ice element threat. But sensing spell's effect... charged suicidal assault, determined to take me too.
He knew he'd lost. Now just shadow of living. Parody of seconds ago self, soon to dissipate into ambient magic, indistinguishable. Taking me was his only hope for peaceful rest. Too bad it wouldn't happen.
Prepped "Sevenfold Time Acceleration" activated smoothly, boosting speed; I dodged playfully, smirking at the one most High mages feared. Hell, few could handle him at this level. Now I'm one. Soon stronger.
Vilyuk desperately chased undeterred, but time ran out. After five real seconds – dozens cave laps – he froze.
Then faded visibly, crumbling to dense ice magic energy exceeding Three-Step Tower's. Last moment, eyed me like asking "Why?" No answer; vanished from existence, soul unexpectedly to my pendant.
Gazing at where old enemy stood, then pendant – now slightly faster cultivation – I sighed. Dude, not personal hate; you left no choice. Where else easy peak Warlord soul?
What killed him so fast? Dissolved his condensed ice energy body across space layers. Each wave took part of him.
Soul held it together for whole five seconds. Now mine.
Punching thicker, tougher wall than last time, eyeing peak Soul Seed I came for, I mentally praised fusion magic nonstop. Handy tool, massively expands arsenal. Especially multi-element users.
Time to get stronger.