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….
“Dear council members, we of the Eight-Clawed Spider wish to challenge the Nature’s Alliance guild!”
Suddenly, Skrill’s voice sounded out.
The judge were surprised and also angry as to why they would ask for a fight rather than raising the issue during mediation round. The Eight-Clawed Spider wouldn’t achieve anything from challenging the Nature’s Alliance expect for having their territory confiscated.
“My apologies, my lord! The animosity between us and Nature’s Alliance is not appropriate to be declared here, but please approve my request!” Skrill bowed, sounding resolute.
The lines on the council member’s forehead became deeper.
Honestly speaking, he did not want there to be internal friction between two small-scale guilds. However, Eight-Clawed Spider was not a medium-scale guild, and challenges between guilds of the same ranking were allowed.
The moment Nature’s Alliance was defeated, not only would they lose their spot, but they would also have to hand over all their resources to be re-distributed by the joint conference. Skrill could only, at most, obtain a portion of these resources.
As there were no benefits to it, few Magi chose to do this.
However, Lancy knew that they would definitely choose to take the icy caves! Knowing the situation, her blue pupils grew colder, and a sneer appeared on her lips with dense killing intent flaring in her heart. She is not an inexperienced delicate women, she is full fledged Dark Magi and her experience in battle and fights as well as drawing blood is very profound.
“Alright! Guild leader of Nature’s Alliance, Celine, who will you send onstage?”
The council member looked towards Celine.
“I invite our famed professor, Lady Lancy, to represent my Nature’s Alliance guild and battle!” Celine gave a slight bow.
Lancy suppressed her feeling’s in an instant and stood up.
“I am also sending out our famed professor to represent we of the Eight-Clawed Spider onstage!” At the other side, Skrill immediately bowed and moved aside to reveal the figure behind him.
It was a human figure completely wrapped in black mist. There were also numerous black tendrils fluctuating around it.
“Hm? They both sent out famed professors!”
The surrounding Magi broke out into a discussion.
There were a few Magi who could somewhat see through part of the strength of Lancy and the person wrapped in mist, and they shrunk back in fear, their eyes showing their terror.
The council member holding a thick book looked at Lancy, and some probing spells even flashed, before he flipped through his book.
“Professor Lancy of Nature’s Alliance guild does not belong to any other guild, and can thus represent Nature’s Alliance!”
“Magus Skrill, please get the Magus behind you to reveal his face for inspection!”
The council members spoke to Skrill.
Seeing this, Skrill could only speak to the person wrapped in the mist in a low voice.
The black mist then dissipated, revealing a face that was foreign to all the Magi here.
“Xerxes greets all of you!”
What appeared in front of the audience was a very androgynous face. Even the voice was neither male nor female; one could not tell this person’s gender.
The Magus called Xerxes seemed to want to provoke Lancy, shooting her a glance from the corner of his eyes.
“En! The famed professor from the Eight-Clawed Spider meets the requirements as well. I hereby announce the duel to begin. ”
Lancy and Xerxes looked at each other and as soon as the signal was given, Lancy threw couple of potions in the air in a unique trajectory at the end of which they both clashed.
“Rank 1 Potion-combination spell—Wrath of the Fire God. ”
*Bang!*
The attack potions clashed and produced a scarlet scorching fire which somehow only targeted Xerxes and pounced at him. Being someone who had an A. I. Chip filled with data and various potions recipe along with its superior assistance how could Lancy not have a few potions in her hand. In fact she had a ton of them saved and she didn’t mind spending a bit too.
Xerxes was looking for a frontal clash but the sudden attack surprised him, he manage to dodge but suffered severe burns from the very start.
All of a sudden, the scene of the battlefield changed.
Lancy waved her arm, and two large black sword appeared, which criss crossed and pierced towards Xerxes.
“The Rage of Yuva!” Xerxes yelled out the name of this spell in trepidation as he felt the immense wild pressure emitting from Lancy, her delicate body was filled monstrous strength and each of her blow were very heavy. After continuously adding a few more protective layers in front of him and he tried to evade at a flying speed.
“You can’t escape!” Lancy laughed looking at his attempts, she knew very well that this person is using a disguise hence, he can’t use his most adept spells and means, promoting her to take a great advantage. Lancy knew that even without the advantage this guy is bound to lose to her and this loss will only become more humiliating with his handicap.
Lancy spread her arms, and her spiritual force stirred as she used Leylin’s original spell, ” Latent Fireball! ”
*Whoosh! Whoosh!* Several black flames with ridiculous speed and devastating might streaked through the air and flew towards Xerxes as if he was locked and targeted by it.
*Sou! Sou! Sou!*
Xerxes body constantly flashed, and after some hastily conjured barrier and shield, he had no choice but to bear with the attack.
The flames constantly collided with the defensive layers.
*Ka-cha!*
The defensive layers of Xerxes seemed to produce a tearing sound before it was being completely ripped apart.
*Pu!* Large black flames with extremely high temperature mercilessly tore at the chest of the Xerxes, and the man let out a miserable cry.
Meanwhile, one could see with their naked eyes, the withering of flesh spanning out from his wounds.
“I admit defeat!”
Before Lancy took another shot at him and killed him, Xerxes immediately yelled.
However, a cold glint appeared in the gaze of Lancy, she looked at him with killing intent. She knew that it was a good chance to get rid of him, the only reason he had such a miserable outcome was because he was caught unprepared and he also underestimated Lancy.
“Lancy won! ”
Lancy looked at him for a bit then bowed slightly towards the judges and withdraw.
Meanwhile, on the side, Celine seemed a bit dazzled.
It was over just like that! The opposition could not even resist. One could only gasp at the horrors of her amazing fighting capabilities, Lancy was able to destroy someone at the same level as her without much trouble. This fight was an eye opener for everyone even though the confrontation was extremely quick and fast, the insight and meaning behind her each and every move was very profound.
At this moment, all the difficulties Celine had experienced in the past, along with the ridicule she had to suffer, appeared in her mind. “Teacher, can you see this…”
“Hmph!”
Skrill’s face was extremely dark. He glared at Celine, but he didn’t dare to say anything looking at the power level of Lancy.
After which, without turning back once, he left the venue, with Xerxes unhurriedly following behind him.
This time around, the plot of the Eight-Clawed Spider was fruitless, and with the possibility of inducing rage from the Dense Fog Forest, Skrill did not want to stay at the conference for a single minute longer.
“Lady Lancy Thank you!”
After Lancy returned to his seat, Celine held his hands, her face filled with a genuine smile.
“Small stuff!” Lancy smiled.
“Lady Lancy, do you want us to get rid of them?” Ivy came near and spoke in her ears in an inaudible voice only hearable to Lancy, behind her both Dexter and Freed were in battle ready stance ready to ambush them outside once given the order.
“There is no need, I have something planned out and even if we do nothing they would definitely come our way. I would use the method Master told me about, even though I am clueless about many things but I have some knowledge of how to reap the greatest benefits in this case. ” Lancy stated as she looked at the retreating back of her adversary.
Actually, Lancy was very sure that this matter was far from over.
After their open and aboveboard plans have failed, the opponent could only utilise underhanded means now.
….
A carriage travelled across the dark plains unhurriedly.
Two wildebeests pulled the carriage. Due to the unhurried nature of the journey, these two steeds snorted as they gnawed at the plants along the path from time to time.
Around the carriage, a layer of light illuminated the surrounding land.
This was due to a constant illumination magic being applied to the horse carriage.
The horse carriage stopped, and Dexter and Freed, who had been riding, looked on coldly. In front of them, a dense wall of fog formed and blocked the way.
Although there were areas in the Twilight Zone with dense fog, such thick fog was abnormal. The power of the Magi who were mingled within the fog had given away their determination to massacre them tonight.
“A fog barrier! A specialised spell only known to Magi from the Dense Fog Forest. It really is them!”
Celine sighed from behind, “What should we do?”
“Nothing! I would go and drive them away. Ivy, Dexter, Freed you will also not interfere I don’t want to reveal all my cards. ”
Lancy hopped down from the horse carriage and walked towards the wall of fog. She cracked her knuckles as a bloodthirsty smirk appeared on her face.
Lancy went on and fought single handedly against the group of Magi from the Dense Fog Forest and after a few rounds of confrontation, she used her magical artifacts which was a magic ring with the ability to store some spell and unleashed a devastating reserve spell to greatly injure the Guild Leader who disguised as Xerxes previously.
Her amazing fighting prowess brought dread to the group of Magi who immediately left leaving a scared Skrill behind who would make a good witness and possibly an capable subordinate.
Celine also recorded the fight and send it to the conference so that their retaliation would not be criticised afterwards.
…
A few days past since the group has been hold up inside the Nature Alliance headquarters. Lancy retreated to treat her ‘injuries’ from the previous fight and Ivy, Dexter and Freed went with her to maintain her security.
The so-called ‘treatment’ here was merely a facade Lancy had let out to lure others into taking the bait. She then ordered her people to secretly release the news.
“Now the time to expand the Nature Alliance influence and getting rid of some maggots have come. ” Lancy thought as she felt the doom coming to the Nature Alliance. She looked towards the three guards and ordered, ” Go and after waiting for a while for them to cause enough destruction start attacking, and don’t show any mercy I want them all of them dead and their guild brought down as fast as possible. Then we could proceed to the next step. ”
“Yes! ” Three nodded unanimously and slowly went towards the upcoming group.
*Bang!*
More than a dozen brilliant lights rushed to the entrance of the canyon, but were immediately stopped by a membrane formed from a defensive layer of light.
“It’s just defensive formation made by an insignificant small-scaled guild! Destroy it!”
From the layer of bright light, a screeching sound was heard and black light converged, forming the shape of a large axe. The head of the axe even had strong black iron chains coiled around it which were threads of bright, cold and threatening light.
*Ka Cha!*
The giant hatchet ruthlessly struck!
In the wake of the loud strike, the entire membrane of light fell apart, disintegrating and dispersing into small specks of light that gradually darkened.
“Enemy Attacking!”
As an official Magus, Celine was the first to react. Her face turned deathly pale and a gush of cold wind sent her to the entrance of the experiment lab within the icy mountain.
*Shaaa!* The black light flashed past, a mole no smaller than the size of a young boy crawled out, his two long, grizzly beards dragging across the floor.
“This Celine! Causing trouble this time! If I am still alive later, you’ll have to send me 10 times as many berries as before!”
The mole stroked his beard, with an unwilling look on his face. It was the Guardian spirit of the Nature Alliance.
“All of the acolytes, meet me here now!”
Celine did not even have the time to force a smile, let alone talk to the mole. She just communicated directly with the rest of the acolytes in the guild.
She was extremely sure that the attack this time around was from the Dense Fog Forest’s men!
Currently, they had a slim chance of survival!
Celine’s eyes flashed with a tinge of hope, and started shouting towards the laboratory, “My Lord Lancy! It is the Magi of the Dense Fog Forest! They have violated the rules of the joint conference and launched an attack on our guild!”
But what took with Celine by surprise even more than the sudden attack was the fact that there was no reply from inside.
Celine repeated the message twice, and it was only after she could not wait any longer and was about to broke into her chambers that Lancy’s voice responded. “I’m still in the midst of recovering! My Knights are going there to take care of the situation.”
“Your Knights?” Celine asked confused, even if they are a bit strong, what could a trio of Knights possibly do against so many Magi with two being at the Peak of Rank 1. She felt like this was a joke!
“Lady Lancy! ” Celine tried to call her again but she got no response in return. She looked on helplessly and could only believe in Lancy so she looked at her guild Acolytes and decided firmly.
“As the guild leader, I command you to protect this place at all costs! It might be hard to you, but with the help of spell formations, I need you to persevere, help is coming. Just buy us some time.”
“Yes, my Lord! We will fight to the end!”
After being distracted for a moment, the acolytes below started an uproar one after another.
It was obvious and they clearly understood what the future had in store for them if their guild was defeated today.
“That’s great! Let’s activate it! Grandpa Cedric!!!”
Celine took a deep breath.
“Okay, alright! I can’t stand youngsters like you all!” the mole shook his head and suddenly plopped to the ground!
In some instant, black rays of light spread out, forming a big spell formation runes on the ground.
*Boom! Blast!*
At this moment, a group of enemy Magi arrived at the scene, and the acolytes that were not able to get into the barrier in time were severely injured.
A small boy was cut in half by a blade of light. His upper torso was still wailing as he tried to breathe.
Another female acolyte, who was decimated into a pool of blood by a green sphere that fell from the sky, did not even had time make a sound.
More and more acolytes were instantly buried to death, by huge broken structure of the building that was shattered by magic spells, also without being able to make any sound.
As Celine looked at the devastating scene in front of her, she was unable to control herself and broke down into tears. They were the future potential Magi of Nature’s Alliance, where her sweat and blood were poured in.
“I found it! It’s here!”
This new barrier of light, which was visibly thicker and stronger than the ones before, caught the attention of the enemy Magi quickly. Very soon, more than a dozen rays of light enveloped the entire place, creating faint shadows in the middle.
*Clang!* Celine threw a communication device on the ground.
“The signal is disrupted! Hold on!”
She placed her palm on the barrier, as a huge wave of spiritual force and magical power was poured forth and injected into the barrier.
The rest of the acolytes followed suit, though their spiritual powers were very weak. With a mere touch, most of the acolytes’ faces turned pale, as though they had been beaten up by a large hammer.
*Boom!*
Both sides did not exchange many words, and more than a dozen colourful energy beams bombarded the spell formation.
*Bang!* Numerous acolytes lay paralyzed on the floor, most of them having fainted. Celine could barely even stand up straight and was on the verge of collapsing.
Upon seeing two shadows behind the numerous Magi, Celine’s expression was filled with despair.
“It should be roughly about now, right?” Freed muttered. Dexter and Ivy nodded and the group decided to intercept.
In fact, they could have fought back, but they had waited until the Nature’s Alliance has racked up a disastrous amount of casualties, this would help their case when questioned by the Conference.
As for the dead acolytes, they did not have much importance to them, and their deaths weighed lighter than specks of dust in their heart.
As long as the opponent left irrefutable evidence of an attack, what were the deaths of a few acolytes? Also, these acolytes were under Celine’s guidance. If Lancy really wanted to gain complete control of the Nature’s Alliance, more blood would have to be shed!
Now, however, it was time.
The opposition had done so much damage to the Nature’s Alliance that even if the trio were to kill them all, it could be reasoned as self-defense.
This excuse may not be very good, but it was definitely better than having none! The acolytes that have died and the data that have been perished.
Celine retracted her hands and looked at the barrier which was damaged by the combined attacks of the enemy. The guardian animal too was severely injured as it spat out blood, smiling bitterly.
*Sweesh* *Sweesh* *Sweesh*
Suddenly three fast figures flashed as they immediately began to clean up the opposite Magus. They force was so formidable and irresistible that all of their enemies died in just a single blow.
*Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!*
They attacked like ghost with blinding speed under their joint attack, deadly moves, unique combination and intervention they could even delay a Rank 2 Magus and this Magi group was just like vegetables to be cut, especially when caught unprepared. From the start they used their final berserk mode unleashing the full brunt of the dreadful Saint Knights capabilities matching that of a Rank peak 1 Magus. Dexter, Freed and Ivy has evolved as a fighter by the trail of blood and fire back in South Coast. Leylin is a ruthless person to his enemy and himself, being his subordinates they are expected to be few notches better than everyone else.
*Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!*
The scene immediately changed as one by one, the Magi were loosing, even the two Peak Rank 1 Magus couldn’t do anything since they were outnumbered and after a while of delay they were also defeated. One of them had a Rank 2 spell scroll which was neutralized by a spell granted to them by Leylin and obviously in a clash of spell Leylin’s might won, immediately after which the Magus was killed.
After dealing with the Magus here, the group immediately went to the Dense Fog Forest headquarters and penetrated it. With their strength equivalent and even to some degree surpassing a Peak Rank 1 strength they easily massacred the people inside and looted the place, this process was instantly followed to one guild after the another.
With regards to the subsidiary guilds of the Dense Fog Forest, Lancy did not intend to exterminate all of them fully. It would be for the best to subdue all of them to increase Nature’s Alliance’s strength.
Looking at the uproar from the various guild headquarters, together they went inside and subdue them.
Increasing the power of Nature’s Alliance was only part of the reason why they had destroyed the guilds. The main objective behind her actions was actually to collect the high-grade meditation techniques!
Dense Fog Forest has other auxiliary guilds, namely 3 other small-scale guilds, and 15 unrated guilds. All of them were raided by the three Saint Knights who subdue and suppressed them all.
With their strength, the unrated guilds did not stand a chance in a siege lead by them.
Furthermore, upon performing this deed, these newly subdued Magi would have no way out, and would only be able to come under Lancy’s wings.
…
Several days later, explosive news spread across the entire Eastern Twilight Zone that caused a sensation in the Magi world, and even continued to spread in the 4 other zones.
After having existed for a few hundred thousand years, large amounts of contracted guardian beasts, countless official Magi, and even a peak rank 1 Magus that oversaw a medium-scale guild, the Dense Fog Forest, were entirely destroyed!
The one responsible for it was actually Nature’s Alliance! This news had revealed that the honorary professor of Nature’s Alliance had used her outstanding strength to crush them all. There were rumours about her being a Rank 2 Magi but without any proof no one could say for sure.
At this point in time, the entire eastern Twilight Zone was shocked.
Under Lancy’s comand, the actions of Nature’s Alliance went extremely smoothly.
Not only did Nature’s Alliance attack all of the Dense Fog Forest’s auxiliary guilds and wiped out all traces of its history, many Magi had joined Nature’s Alliance and enhanced its strength, such that it had been promoted to a medium-scale guild! These were all within Lancy’s expectations.
Moreover, the taking over of the Dense Fog Forest’s resources was also proceeding smoothly.
This, of course, was not in accordance with the rules set by the council members and had sparked their displeasure.
However, under Lancy’s suppression, Nature’s Alliance continued doing whatever they wanted to without any hesitation. The guild sent out many troops and their strength increased day after day.
With regards to small matters like the strength of the guild, She could not be bothered to oversee them and would casually instruct her new subordinates who bowed to her to handle them.
The newly-joined Magi that were now part of Nature’s Alliance were all given roles as professors or guest professors, but in actual fact, they would only listen to Lancy’s bidding.
Celine’s powers were suppressed to the maximum, but she could only force a smile, and could not complain much.
Due to her special status, other official Magi would still be slightly respectful towards her and would not reject her requests towards small matters.
Furthermore, these Magi were still under Nature’s Alliance, even if only in name, which gave Celine some comfort.
Afterwards Lancy turned her attention to the numerous high-grade meditation techniques she had forcefully obtained. This was the real reason why she took this risk even.
Though the Twilight Zone had obtained a larger number of complete inheritances from the ancient Magi, high-grade meditation techniques weren’t anything common. Some unrated guilds only had the simplified versions that had been altered based on incomplete high-grade meditation techniques, which were completely useless to her.
There were also a few guilds who had the same high-grade meditation technique as the Dense Fog Forest. However, they only had the first or second levels, and these were slightly modified.
Hence, even though Lancy had technically destroyed ten or so guilds, what she actually gathered were only six high-grade meditation techniques.
Out of the six high-grade meditation techniques, there were five that were incomplete!
The only one worth talking about is the Dragon King’s Mystic Might which was obviously a high-grade meditation technique meant for the Dragon race to train in!
This Dragon King’s Mystic Might was what the Dense Fog Forest had in storage, but it was a pity that this was merely a decoration for Dense Fog Forest, as it was comprised of only humans.
This was a high-grade meditation that was meant for another race and was unsuitable for the human body. Even Warlocks that had the bloodline of dragons could not do this!
However, after Lancy discovered this Dragon King’s Mystic Might, it was like she had gained a treasure.
Though she could not train this technique either, she could see a clearer path and since her original advanced mediation techniques had 2 levels taking her upto Rank 2 she could use these as reference to fill some blind covers and treak a more suitable and versatile path.
In her mind, the A.I. Chip constantly recorded information regarding high-grade meditation techniques to fill its database.
After good knows how long, a prompt from the A.I. Chip appeared in Lancy’s mind. [Beep! Recording of six high-grade meditation techniques complete. Dragon King’s Mystic Might, Abyssal Breath… Completeness of high-grade meditation techniques at 14.7%, beginning to infer actual level of the meditation technique…]
Following this incredible increase in her database she immediately retreated in a secluded meditation period.
…
Lancy opened her eyes and her face revealed a smile.
“Finally, I have achieved it!”
Rays of silver spiritual forces radiated from Lancy eyes into the fire tornado within her hands.
*Whoosh*
Together with the rapid wind movements, the fire tornado’s physical form expanded multiple times, and the edges of the spiral formed sharp knife blades.
The surrounding areas were seemingly scorched as pressure radiated from Lancy’s body.
Lancy smiled, looking at her data.
[Lancy Evans. Rank 2 Magus, Strength: 20.1, Agility: 13.8, Vitality: 24.6 Spiritual force: 102, Magic power: 102 (Magic power is in synchronisation with spiritual force).]
“Finally, I’ve managed to breakthrough to rank 2 Magus!”
Lancy smile became bigger. Having reached this stage she knew a lot of her plans could now be implemented and she could also now start spreading the deviation technique and start to begin her plans.
‘Just reaching the same outcome as Master told me about is not enough, I want to do more. Is this greedy of me to think so? I don’t care I just want to do everything I can in order to please my Lord. ‘ Lancy thought as fire burns in her blue eyes, she decided to take an action with a very dangerous outcome which can very easily turn out to be cataclysmic for her, but she was willing to take the risk.
