Chapter 591: Gate of Purgatory
No, I have to find a way to stop that lunatic...
Otherwise, Matthew Merlin will unleash even greater magic against Oracis...
If that happens, this joke will have gone way too far...
Just think about the consequences: Oracis will go completely berserk and destroy everything here—including Suville himself, of course.
Normally, there would still be time to stop Matthew Merlin, but the real problem is that Matthew is deliberately ignoring me.
This makes things tricky. I can't just attack Matthew Merlin directly, can I?
Wait a minute.
At that moment, Suville suddenly remembered the existence of allies.
Allies, by definition, are those who share your views and act in concert at critical moments. Usually, when several people apply pressure together, it carries far more weight than any individual. Likewise, you can use the strongest stance to stop certain mistakes...
For instance, what Matthew Merlin is doing right now...
Then, Suville noticed a figure who had just retreated.
"Reid, you need to stop that madman Matthew Merlin right now. If this keeps up, we're all going to die here..." Suville's words tumbled out urgently—there was no time left, the situation was critical. Oracis was simply too powerful. This beast from the deepest layer of the abyss was far stronger than their combined might, almost unbeatable...
That figure was none other than Reid Watson.
Reid Watson had just barely escaped Oracis's grasp—his right arm was frozen solid like a block of ice, and he staggered into the Watson Family's camp.
Suville believed that if he needed an ally, Reid Watson—who had just suffered at Oracis's hands—was definitely the best choice, because Reid's fear of Oracis surely wasn't much less than his own...
To convince Reid Watson, Suville even gave an example: "Just look at our recent siege. And now, Oracis is still standing there, completely unharmed—actually, even stronger than before. What does that tell you? It means our strength isn't even on the same level as Oracis! So the only thing I can do now is run, not face it head-on. I believe you won't be as foolish as Matthew Merlin..."
"You might actually have a point..."
It had to be said, Suville's reasoning won Reid Watson's approval.
What is Oracis, really?
Oracis is truly one of the beings standing at the very peak of the Northend World.
Its strength is so overwhelming that even Reid Watson feels that, even if someone as powerful as Cyrus were here in person, he might not be able to stand against Oracis head-on.
"Of course. I'm not as ignorant or naive as Matthew Merlin. He's so full of himself, actually thinking he can face Oracis head-on..." With his worries settled, Suville felt much calmer and started subconsciously criticizing Matthew: "If he wants to get himself killed, fine—he's just a Sixth-Tier Archmage. But look who's here? Every one of us is a distinguished Title Archmage! What's he trying to do, drag us all down with him? It's outrageous!"
During the first round of attacks, Reid Watson also contributed some effort. The backlash from Oracis's body was undeniably powerful. If Reid hadn't cast an Arcane Halo at the last second to offset some of the damage, he'd probably be gravely injured by now.
It's just too terrifying...
Can this team really handle Oracis?
Because, right as he was talking with Reid Watson, that damned Matthew Merlin had already raised his staff again.
"Wait, I need to consult Lord Cyrus first..." In truth, Reid Watson had already tentatively agreed with Suville, but he couldn't make decisions for the Watson Family alone—the real authority lay with Cyrus Watson.
Suville saw it clearly—the moment Matthew Merlin lifted his staff, a hexagram array shot up from the forest. It was the Gate of Purgatory, a spell that could open a direct channel to the hell dimension. Once completed, hordes of hellish creatures would pour out of the Gate of Purgatory...
"Damn it!" Suville cursed. The Gate of Purgatory was only a Seventh-Tier spell. For someone of Matthew Merlin's power, casting above his rank wasn't hard—and it really could hold Oracis back...
After finishing, Reid Watson steadied himself and waited for Cyrus Watson's response.
"..." Cyrus Watson didn't answer Reid Watson directly; he was clearly hesitating inside.
Before leaving the ancestral lands, Cyrus Watson had received a mission.
If it were just an ordinary mission, Cyrus would have selectively informed Reid Watson and the others after leaving the ancestral lands, which would have made things much easier.
But the key issue was that this mission was far too special—it was the core secret of the ancestral lands. Even the head of the Watson Family wasn't qualified to know its contents!
Because it was tied to a secret passed down since the early days of the Third Dynasty...
When the elders called Cyrus Watson over, they made it clear: this secret concerned the future of the Watson Family. Once mastered, it could bring unimaginable transformation to the family.
Maybe even...
The Watson Family's power might leap to become the strongest in Auckland—no, not just that. That wouldn't be the limit. In the final stage, they might even rise to the very top of the Northend World...
Just imagine what a staggering change that would be...
It's easy to imagine how shocked Cyrus Watson was when he learned the details of this mission. He also understood just how heavy a burden he now carried.
This was a mission that simply could not fail...
But Cyrus hadn't expected the mission to be so difficult. They'd barely entered before running into Oracis—an ancient beast from a bygone era...
With power nearly reaching the Heavenly Rank, Oracis blocked them with ease.
But that wasn't what worried him most. What truly scared him was the possibility of failure...
Just imagine—if the mission failed, what would await him back in the ancestral lands would be the most terrifying punishment imaginable...
The mere thought of such a suffocating scene sent chills down the spine of even a Title Archmage like Cyrus Watson.
Now, it seemed Suville was right—running away was actually the smartest choice. At the very least, he had to make sure the mission could continue...
"Here's what we'll do: tell Suville that the Watson Family will fully support his proposal." By now, Cyrus Watson had a clear idea—leave the forest before Oracis unleashes something truly despair-inducing...
"Understood!"
Reid Watson, whose mind had been blank, froze for a few seconds after hearing this. When he finally processed it, joy burst in his eyes.
Fantastic—Cyrus Watson agreed. Now things were looking up; at last, they wouldn't have to face the terrifying Oracis head-on...
Soon, Reid Watson found Suville.
"Well?" Suville had been waiting here, with Oracis roaring ahead and magic raging around them. Strictly speaking, he'd been under crushing pressure the whole time.
But to get a response from the Watson Family, he had to suppress his anxiety and wait patiently.
Now, seeing Reid Watson finally return, Suville's mood lifted—especially when he saw how relaxed Reid looked. He knew the matter was settled...
Sure enough, Reid Watson's answer didn't disappoint: "The Watson Family will fully support your plan."
"Heh, this will be the smartest decision you've ever made..."
Hearing this, Suville finally let out a deep sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from his brow. Looks like turning to the Watson Family had been the right move.
For him, the Watson Family's support was absolutely crucial. With their backing, the Merlin Family would lose its say in the group—everything would be decided by the Black Tower and the Watsons. Whether the Merlins agreed or not no longer mattered. If they refused to retreat, the Black Tower and Watson Family would abandon them to face Oracis's wrath alone...
"I hope you act quickly. Oracis won't stay calm for long." Reid Watson said calmly, glancing at Oracis again. That mountain-like body still made his eyelids twitch uncontrollably.
"Of course. I'm not as ignorant or naive as Leon Merlin. He's so full of himself, actually thinking he can face Oracis head-on..." With his worries settled, Suville felt much calmer and started subconsciously criticizing Leon: "If he wants to get himself killed, fine—he's just a Sixth-Tier Archmage. But look who's here? Every one of us is a distinguished Title Archmage! What's he trying to do, drag us all down with him? It's outrageous!"
"Su...Suville, look..." Just as Suville was ranting, Reid Watson's face suddenly twisted in horror.
"What is it?" Suville froze, then instinctively turned to look...
And then, Suville's face went ghostly pale in an instant...
Because, right as he was talking with Reid Watson, that damned Leon Merlin had already raised his staff again.
And this time, he wasn't casting any ordinary spell.
Suville saw it clearly—the moment Leon Merlin lifted his staff, a hexagram array shot up from the forest. It was the Gate of Purgatory, a spell that could open a direct channel to the hell dimension. Once completed, hordes of hellish creatures would pour out of the Gate of Purgatory...
"Damn it!" Suville cursed. The Gate of Purgatory was only a Seventh-Tier spell. For someone of Leon Merlin's power, casting above his rank wasn't hard—and it really could hold Oracis back...
But...
The deadliest part of this spell was that it summoned hellish creatures.
As a Title Archmage, Suville knew all too well—hellish creatures and abyssal demons are mortal enemies. Oracis carries abyssal demon blood; if he sees hellish creatures appear, he'll go berserk. 'Calling it a grudge doesn't even begin to cover it.' They're true arch-enemies, locked in a fight to the death. If that happens, the whole forest could be leveled, and no one here would escape Oracis's fury...