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…
Time passed, and news of the central region holding a competition for young geniuses spread like a hurricane to all four corners.
There was only one requirement for entry; all participants needed to be below 50 years of age. The rewards were very generous; not only were there great amounts of precious resources and research to be won, the top thirty could freely enter a guild of their choice. The large-scaled guilds in the central region all provided a few places, and there was even a small rumour going on that the Guardian of the Realm would meet the champion and take them on as their disciple!
All of Twilight Zone was elated. Many young wandering Magi, and even guild geniuses, all left their stations and headquarters to head to the central region.
Many of them cared little for both the resources and the opportunity to join a guild, but apprenticeship to a rank 3 Magus was a temptation they could not resist.
The plan was accepted as soon as Logan reported it. The Magi of the council were definitely smart enough to see the benefits of such an event. They even decided to make it a recurring thing, to ward off such troubles permanently.
The dark elves were rather quiet in this period of time.
Although they had managed to take over the north, navigating through territorial disputes with the dwarves and gnomes consumed most of their energy.
Hence, although central Twilight Zone was under immense pressure, the situation seeming dire, all they had to deal with till now were a few scouts and wandering riders.
Balanced on this razor’s edge, the central region had still remained peaceful. The preparations for the competition even made it seem like it was flourishing. As more and more Magi rushed over, it had gained fresh blood and increased strength.
….
In a shady swamp.
A toxic purple fog permeated the place, the rotten sludge concealing the bones of various darkness beasts. Occasionally, a few three-eyed crows would caw as they flew past, which was jarring to the ears.
In a dimly lit cave.
The walls were lined with spells that made them impermeable to the sludge and fog.
A black-haired old man was running his hands through the hair of a young Magus, his touch containing affection. “My child! In the ten years you’ve been here, you’ve learned everything I have to offer. Now, you are free to explore…”
“Gom has brought back some information. The holy land for us Magi, the central region, is holding a competition for young geniuses. Not only can the champion obtain great rewards, they can even meet with the Guardian of the Realm, a rank 3 existence. What’s more, they could even get the opportunity to become his inheritor…”
“A rank 3 Magus?” The youth, who had until then not looked in the least bit serious, suddenly turned solemn.
“Yes. You are the most formidable genius I’ve ever seen, and I believe there are few who can match you in the entirety of Twilight Zone. I believe the victor shall be you, though I’m afraid I won’t get the chance to see it…”
The old man sounded slightly regretful, and his hands halted in mid-air.
His originally smooth and tight skin began to age rapidly, layers of wrinkles forming as if an old branch that had lost all its moisture. His black hair gradually greyed out.
His body withered at a rate that could be seen by the naked eye, ending up a dried corpse.
“Master? MASTER!” The young Magus was dubious as he looked at the master who had always accompanied him.
*Thud!* The old Magus turned into a withered, dried black corpse.
*Poof!* The youth bumped into the Magus’ arm, and the corpse turned to dust in front of his eyes. Ashes spread out, leaving a complete set of Magus robes on the bed.
The young Magus was dazed, and only recovered after a long while.
Even if Magi could manipulate the radiation of energy particles to obtain a longer lifespan than regular humans, there was still a limit.
Even with dangerous modifications to the body, Morning Star Magi could only extend their lifespans by a few decades. It was difficult to succeed, and could cause Magi to end up with a strange, terrifying appearance.
This old Magus’ life energy had been exhausted, and he had reached the end of his life.
Regular rank 1 Magi, those that were not of ancient branches like Warlocks, had 200-year lifespans. This old Magus had lived for a very long time, and had not advanced in his meditation technique. His time was now up.
“Don’t drown yourself in sorrow child, Your Master wanted the best for you. So just fulfill your destiny by completing the Scared Flames meditation technique by joining all the pieces and shine brighter than everyone else as you are fated to. ” Suddenly an imaginary figure of a old man appeared before him and imparted some wisdom on him.
“I understand!” The youth stood there silently, images of the times he spent with his master flashing across his mind. A long while later, he turned and left.
*Rumble!* After he left, the earth caved in, forming a void that allowed the surrounding sludge to enter.
“Master, don’t worry! I will definitely be the glorious victor!” The youth swore to the heavens, and left without hesitation. Previously, He has gotten his hands on an amazing artifact which had a remnant soul of an old expert who guided him and also gave him a meditation techniques much better than his own. With help of this marvelous techniques he has raised his power quite drastically and now the time to collect all the pieces and complete the puzzle has come.
…
“The family’s honour is in your hands.”
In the southern region, in an ancient Magus’ castle.
Dim rays of light fell on a long, rotten table. This black wooden table was about ten metres long, and extended from the head of the hall to the door.
On the tablecloth, there was a silver lampstand and all sorts of fruits and delicacies. A few figures were seated sparsely around it.
The old woman at the master’s seat, who wore a black high-hat and multiple red gems and emerald rings, was giving a young girl a reminder.
She was silent for a while, and then spoke resolutely, “I understand, grandmother.”
Only she knew that, under the cover of luxury, this family was already waning.
The wooden table was already rotten, and the castle had not been repaired for decades. Even their defensive spell formations were deactivated due to a lack of magic crystals. Among the aristocratic Magi, they were basically a joke.
The silver lampstand and delicacies at this table, too, had been gathered with some difficulty. The ornaments on her grandmother’s fingers? Fake trinkets! The originals had long been pawned off.
The girl was silent, knowing that in order to raise a Magus like her, they had paid a large price.
“I’ll definitely become the victor of the young Magus competition and revive the family!” She vowed. She silently pressed her robe touching a pendant there, an erudite look appeared in her eyes as if she had everything under control.
“Good! Let us drink to Lilina’s promise!” The old woman laughed and raised her cup.
“Cheers!” The rest of the relatives all cheered and finished all the alcoholic drinks in their hands. After, they pounced on the delicacies on the table.
Even though they were the descendants of a Magus family, fruits were not things they could have often!
Upon seeing this, the old lady had a bitter expression. This caused Lilina to be even more resolute in her convictions, ‘There is only one spot at the top and I am not giving it to anyone. I don’t need to follow the child of destiny because once I eliminate everyone who stands in my way, I can write my own future. ‘
…
After news of the genius competition spread, the entirety of Twilight Zone and even the surrounding dark elven, gnome and dwarven empires all responded to the news.
All sorts of Magi, regardless of race, hurried towards the central region.
In that moment, there really seemed to be a sense of instability.
The competition was to be held on the Walker Plains in the central region.
This place was close to the central city, so a few large-scaled guilds had branches nearby that could send out resources and personnel if anything unexpected came up.
The miraculous abilities of Magi ensured that it took but a few months to transform the heart of the Walker Plains into a vast field.
Before the competition started, a few Magi had arrived earlier to settle down and do business. Thus, a few fairs had sprung up on the outskirts. Many fairs merged together, forming a rudimentary Magus city.
If this competition could be pulled off without a hitch, given the war council’s plan to make it a regular affair, the place could really become a new Magus city, even surpassing the cities of the other four regions.
…
*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*
Multi-coloured fireworks exploded into the air, various spell lights and tassels forming gorgeous images in the sky.
The genius Magi competition held in the central region had begun magnificently.
The competition area was similar to the ancient Roman colosseum.
With support from magic, this construction was much larger than the ancient roman one. It was big enough to hold tens of thousands of Magi.
At the heart of the colosseum, tens of individual arenas had been created. The young Magi who were participating would first begin with the elimination rounds.
“Only four are remaining.” Lancy looked on as she easily recognised the Sacred flames practitioners among the crowd. She has seen first hand how many of them intercepted each other while on the way to the central zone, and fought to death in order to devour each other’s sacred flames achievement making themselves stronger, and after this bloody confrontation even before the competition only four are remaining. One following Baelin, another following Longbottom and the other two…
Currently Lancy and the eight other rank 2 Magi sat on the platform which had the best seats, doing their jobs as judges.
The battles at the beginning were usually not very intense. The Magi were lowly-ranked, and most were level 3 acolytes. With a competition of this level, it was more than enough for peak rank 1 Magi to watch over them.
Hence, Lancy and the others were bored to death. Dexter, Freed and Ivy were behind her acting like attendants, they were looking uninterested in the fights too.
Lancy watched the competition patiently while engaging in small talk with her accompany. Lancy was an extremely beautiful women, her mere presence would create a suction which could attract any man gaze but even if one has favourable opinion about her, no one would dare to do anything or have any designs on her, since her might is something to look out for, in the whole circle of Rank 2 Magus.
“Arena 34, the fifth round of the selection! Here are participant numbers 273 and 35!” The announcer was a peak rank 1 Magus dressed in formal Magus attire, his hair perfectly combed.
As match after match went on, a few geniuses made a name for themselves, resulting in the adulation of the audience.
Lancy smiled as she thought, “Lilina from the western region, Haylon of the voodoo marshes, and then Baelin as well as Longbottom. The former two are the probably going to be the final ones remaining in the battle to complete Sacred Flames meditation techniques. As for Baelin and Longbottom, they are the main character but now, Lilina and Haylon with their original fate strengthen, no one could say for sure what would happen. ”
With her knowledge she can easily found those so-called ‘geniuses’. So she distributed the techniques to them and changed their fate.
Usually, these geniuses would be considered the ‘main characters’ of the era and were important figures in history but against the brilliance of Baelin and Longbottom they could not shine brightly but now. Unlike others who gained the sacred flames, these two Lilina and Haylon have decided to not follow either of them, rather they choose to take matters in their hands, changing the original path.
The preliminaries were very quick.
By nightfall, about half out of the numerous contestants who had signed up had been eliminated. Numerous Magi became familiar with some of the great battles here, and some were even turned into videos and supplied to large-scale guilds to pick from.
Baelin and Longbottom, as well as the other contestants that Lancy had thought highly of, had not failed their missions. They passed through the preliminaries, and even earned themselves a reputation.
Amongst the Magi at the competition area, they had become somewhat famous.
“Haylon!” “Lilina!” and the like finally reached the ears of rank 2 Magi.
…
“The forces of destiny have converged further!”
While resting that day, Lancy proceeded to a luxurious room that was especially prepared for her and looked out the window at the sky. She has noticed that all of the last bearers of Sacred Flames are infinitely close to Peak Rank 1 and they could breakthrough to even the peak of Rank 2 when a winner emerges by combining all four understanding of the techniques together and finishing it. Then the time to act will begin.
Days later.
With the Eternal Light spell as well as strength of the Sun Stones, the area was illuminated.
A Magus wearing the attire of a host first bowed towards the platform, and then announced the schedule for the competition.
“All of you are the best who have gone through round after round of selection! A victor will appear amongst you today, and the top thirty will have the opportunity to choose a guild to enter! This includes any large-scaled guilds…”
The moment these words left the host’s mouth, the area was filled with an uproar.
The hundred or so remaining contestants’ eyes revealed different emotions. There was passion, contemplation and excitement.
*Cough!* The host coughed lightly, and the area fell silent.
“The competition shall be held here!” He pointed at the stage right in the centre.
A giant spell formation had been set up atop the stage, while crimson runes were spread around. They emanated a strange light that caused one to shudder in fear.
“The finals of the competition will be held in a secret plane. You will be sent to a random location in the secret plane, and there is only one way to win. Defeat your opponents and obtain the points on their amulet!”
The host raised a milky-white amulet that was only the size of a finger with a simple number written on it.
“In the secret plane, there are no rules. Besieges and usage of external items is allowed.”
“I would like to remind all of you that even though we will install a spell pattern that will teleport you out the moment you are at the brink of death, there are always accidents. Hence, there is the real possibility of death in the secret plane, and I want you to consider this carefully.”
The host spoke indifferently, and a bloody smell assaulted the nostrils. Baelin was surprised. With this lack of rules, it was easy to slip up. Even with the aid, it would be difficult to keep one’s life.
After all, the mysteriousness of magic could not be surmised by the regular person. Perhaps there were methods that could forcefully break the life-saving methods the organisers had set up and cause a large number of deaths.
*Peng! Peng! Peng!* Three giant fireworks flew across the sky like colorful comets, and the music reached fever-pitch.
*Buzz!* Purple energy condensed into the spell formation, constantly increasing its strength until a hole was ripped open in space.
The finalists stepped forward one after the other, receiving their amulets and spell formations before they disappeared with a flash of light.
After the last of them entered the secret plane, a giant curtain of light was formed around the competition area. Their figures blinked onto the curtain, each contestant occupying one of the dozens of square partitions.
They were monitoring every inch of the secret plane, which surprised many of the Magi present.
There was a flash in Lancy’s eyes.
She felt that after large numbers of geniuses had fallen in this competition, the force of destiny shrouding the area had become richer till the extreme. It was good that she never played a major role in tempering with anyone and she also has a method to save herself from even a new Rank 2 divination Magus, otherwise she could be exposed.
The surging river of destiny was like a giant gunpowder warehouse. With just a little spark, it would explode violently.
“The four of them are going to meet and decide a winner among themselves. Time for a good show!”
Right after, Lancy realised something else and changed her focus to a screen at a corner.
“Based on the guide of destiny!”
Four voices sounded in unison, with two male and two female voices. It was Lilina from the western region, Haylon of the voodoo marshes and Derick, Gerina the two Magus guiding Baelin and Longbottom respectively.
These geniuses that Lancy has made even formidable has finally came together.
If anyone had been focusing on these four Magi, they would realise that after entering the secret plane, they had not fought with any Magi and instead, had been hurrying forward.
Just as they were about to encounter enemies, they could predict and evade them.
Hence, the four somehow passed through half of the secret plane and met at a corner on the plains. As Lancy estimated Haylon and Lilina won devouring the energy from the other ones but they suppressed their succession as it would create a commotion and met each other.
“It’s the first time we’re meeting in real life! I’ll introduce myself. My name is Haylon!” There was a smile on Haylon’ face. His gaze swept past Lilina’s neck where a pendant hanged.
Lilina looked at him for while then smiled, “I guess you also don’t want to end things here right? ”
Haylon looked at her and nodded, “This stage is not ours.”
“Yeah! We need to stop the conspiracy first.” said Lilina, as she looked at Haylon, who was looking serious. They both disappeared among the milky, white light beams.
The day’s events had been thoroughly confusing for both of them, so much so that they no longer held any interest in the final showdown between Baelin and Longbottom.
Outside the secret territory, Lancy touched her chin as she pondered deeply, ‘It seems my lastest prediction have fooled them but when they decide to breakthrough once outside, they can seer through it but unfortunately the situation would have already developed to an point it cannot be resolved.’
The reason why both of them didn’t breakthrough right now, was because of a new divination they saw as soon as they collected the energy from their enemy. It was about the elves conspiracy and it was just an exaggerated one Lancy projected to them so that they would not disturb the final outcome.
After those two left the stage belonged to Baelin and Longbottom who was fighting in a disguise of ‘Carl’. They attacked each other vigorously and after an exciting bout for the audience, Longbottom finally won.
“Now, may we invite our champion and the other 30 Magi on stage, for our 9 most distinguished and high-ranked judges to give out the prizes…”
Along with the host’s voice and cheers, a stage decorated with gold and silver, bedazzled with numerous rays started rising slowly from the middle of the site.
Other than Baelin, Longbottom, and a few other Magi who held other intentions, the 30 Magi who had obtained a high enough score walked up to the stage emotionally.
To them, this was the pathway to fame, the glorious road to success.
“I, Victory, rank 2 Magus and guild leader of Glorious Sword, solemnly announce that this Magus from the west is the champion of this season’s young genius talent competition!”
The rank 2 Magus standing in the middle announced, at the same time placing on Longbottom a golden crown encrusted with gems.
“Carl!” “Carl!” “Carl!”
Many Magi were cheering, and bouts of cheers got overpowered by other bouts of cheers.
“Other than obtaining the reward previously, Carl, you have the opportunity to choose a guild to enter! What is your choice?”
Victory had high hopes for Carl, and hence in his voice held a tinge of excitement and pressure, as well as feelings of enticement.
“My choice is obviously…”
Longbottom deliberately hesitated a while and then said, “It’s obviously the Dark Elves, you idiots!”
“What?” The jaws of numerous Magi dropped open. They all thought they’d heard wrong.
“Not good, we have been cheated by him!” On the other side, Baelin’s face immediately changed, the armour on his body once again surfaced. He had wanted to rush over, but unfortunately, it was already too late.
“Mud membrane!”
A layer of clay-coloured invisible film surfaced from Longbottom’s body, with 9 rays of lights shooting out of his body, directly shooting at the 9 rank 2 Magi judges on the stage who had no time to dodge the attack.
*Kacha! Kacha!*
A deep blue ice layer immediately spread out on their body, and caused all 9 Magi to freeze into ice sculptures.
In the ice sculptures, the numerous rank 2 Magi had life-like expressions of anger or fear.
This sudden change had shocked all the Magi present at the site.
“Longbottom! What are you doing! Release them now!”
Baelin shouted as he saw how Ivy, Dexter, Lancy and his master who had great respect for, Freed was also sealed because of being too close to Lancy.
“Carl! What are you doing!” The face of the host on the stage instantly became more solemn, a ray of a peak rank 1 energy wave imploded from his body.
*Boom! Boom!*
2 rays of spells attacked the surface of an ice sculpture, yet it was entirely useless, and could not leave any traces on the crystal clear surface of the ice sculpture.
“There’s no use, the matriarchs of the dark elves used one thousand years to extract this essence of the cold abyss. Even rank 2 Magi cannot be able to overcome it…” Longbottom’s voice was unhurried.
“As for them? I’ve wanted to kill these people for so long! And now, They is finally in my hands. Do you reckon I would easily let this opportunity go by? Haha…”
Presently, Longbottom had removed all restrictions, and laughed hysterically.
*Boom!* A light ray flashed across, Longbottom removed the skin alteration spell on his body, and recovered his original appearance. At the same time, a strong and enormous energy was released from his body like the surging waves of the ocean.
“And this noisy crow, I’ve borne with you long enough!”
Longbottom lifted his hands and a dark silver spiritual strength exploded. The body of the host, not having time to react, exploded into a rain of flesh.
The Magi standing on the stage immediately retreated, with one of them shouting out, “Solidified spiritual force! Rank 2 Magus!”
“This is the leader of the revolutionary army, Longbottom! I saw his face in a picture once!”
“It’s already too late. Attack!” Longbottom shouted.
*Swish! Swish!* Numerous shadows appeared all around the competition site, all tearing apart magic scrolls.
Dark clouds instantly enshrouded the area, and large numbers of tiny spiders were shot out of the dark clouds. The spiders spat out threads continuously, binding up the entire area in a short duration.
From a distance, the competition site that was enshrouded by a white silk wall looked like a giant cocoon.
Baelin’s face dimmed, and the aura on his body exploded forth. He treated Longbottom as a rival. “So your target was not only the 9 judges but also all the Magi in this competition site!”
He was secretly shocked. Around 20% of the elite Magi of Twilight Zone were present at the scene, and if they were to all die here, it would be a terrifying blow to the humans.
“Kill!” At this point in time, the black-clothed men hiding amongst the crowd immediately took action, and many more spiders drilled their way through the cocoons, surrounding and attacking the human magicians.
Large amounts of silk wove together into a formation, weakening the human Magi while channeling the strength to their opponents. Immediately, lights flashed and explosions occurred everywhere.
The obstruction made it impossible for the human Magi to escape. Some Magi, eyes turned red, fired off spells in all directions, adding further to the chaos.
