Chapter 848: Hopeless Fools
Especially at the mountain's summit, any Caucasus Battlemage below Fifth-Rank Title Archmage would be struck dead by lightning within a day. The record was ten minutes—a Fourth-Rank Title Archmage was killed, his body charred to ash.
Even away from the summit, the risks were immense. A bolt of thunder could strike halfway up the mountain at any moment. Every year, many died mining thunderstruck ore.
Half a year... This...
Despair etched Kempes' face as he looked at his teacher.
Daryl glared fiercely at Kempes. At a time like this, defying Seer Droy's order was unthinkable. If word reached the King, the punishment would be far harsher, not lighter.
"Kempes, did you not hear Seer Droy? Or do you think the punishment isn't severe enough?"
Kempes' face twisted bitterly as he quickly lowered his head.
"Kempes accepts the punishment..."
Droy nodded and turned his gaze back to Daryl.
"Daryl, return to camp and guard it. Without orders, you are not to leave. As for those men Kempes brought, send them all to Thunderstrike Peak to mine. Every single one must dig thunderstruck ore for a year, and no one leaves until they've mined at least ten thousand pounds."
Droy's voice was filled with authority—none dared refute him. Though this Caucasus Seer rarely intervened or issued direct orders, whatever he said was absolute.
For defiance meant incurring the King's wrath. Then the punishment would be far worse—banishment wasn't out of the question...
Daryl left with his people, tails between their legs. Only Droy remained.
Droy took out a box and handed it to Hubert, who was clearly injured.
"This is Thunder Grass, unique to the Caucasus Highlands. It is born when Buzzgrass is struck by lightning and reborn, brimming with life force. There are three stalks in the box—crush one and apply it to your wound, and you'll be fully healed in three days, with no aftereffects."
Hubert, the big oaf, beamed and hugged the box like treasure. Anderson sneered in disdain, and even Reina rolled her eyes.
Leon was speechless, surprised by Droy's generosity.
"Your Excellency, I'm truly sorry for what happened today. Please forgive us. Droy will visit you personally to apologize another day."
Droy made every effort to show humility, lowering himself so much that Leon couldn't even stay angry. Judging by the punishment handed out, mining at Thunderstrike Peak was agony for Kempes—and even worse for the other Caucasus Battlemages.
Droy bowed lightly, his posture elegant and full of a sage's grace—nothing like those Caucasus Battlemages people called barbarians.
After Droy left, Hubert clutched the box and asked Leon a silly question.
"Archmage Leon, that old guy just gave me this. You're not going to take it away, are you?"
Leon shot Hubert a fierce glare and couldn't help but kick him. With Leon's strength, it was more like a tickle to Hubert.
Seeing Hubert didn't even budge, Leon summoned Theo and had him string Hubert up for a beating. Only after hearing Hubert's pitiful screams did Leon finally feel better.
"Archmage Leon, if you want it, just take it. Hubert doesn't need it—it's all yours..."
Anderson couldn't help but laugh at Hubert's misfortune.
"That fool never learns..."
Leon turned and roared.
"Theo, beat him for three hours! Not a second less!"
Theo dutifully obeyed Leon's command. Flames bound Hubert's feet, suspending him behind Leon, while a fiery whip lashed him repeatedly.
Leon stormed out of Poisonmist Valley, angrier than after fighting the Caucasus Battlemages. Was Hubert's evolution just more muscle? His brain was practically turning into muscle too.
Leon led the way back, with Reina and Anderson trailing behind, watching Hubert get thrashed in midair as they walked.
Anderson grinned at Hubert's screams and mocked him aloud.
"Maybe he's not that dumb after all. Theo's whipping leaves no mark on his skin, yet he screams so miserably. He knows if he fights back, Archmage Leon will beat him personally..."
Theo suddenly paused, then doubled the speed of the fiery whip. Soon, Hubert's skin was flushed red.
His screams grew more and more pitiful—even Reina, stone-faced, couldn't stand it and turned away.
With his strength, it was just pain, not real harm—yet he howled like he was dying.
Anderson glanced at Hubert, who clung to his box even while being whipped, muttering, "Hopeless fool," before following Reina.
Once everyone was gone, Hubert bared his teeth and muttered:
"Lord Theo, the old man said there are three Thunder Grass stalks in here. I'll give you one—just let me go, okay? We can go back after three hours. Archmage Leon will never know..."
*Crack! Crack! Crack!*
His answer was a fiercer whipping, and Hubert howled in pain.
"Damn it, Theo, I'm going easy on you—ah... You're dead, ah... Once I reach Sky Rank, first thing I'll do is duel you—no, beat you to death... ah..."
Leon returned to Storm Fortress. Nothing had changed—those guys were still arguing, and the main offensive hadn't even started. Fools were already fighting over post-war loot.
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Late at night, Leon received an unexpected visitor.
Seeing Droy's respectful old face, Leon felt a headache coming on.
"Archmage, these gifts are our tribe's apology for what happened earlier. I sincerely hope you won't refuse. I come with nothing but regret to apologize in person."
If not for the Auckland mages' misunderstanding of our Caucasus Battlemages, I would've come to apologize in daylight. You know, with this major offensive in the Blazeforge Realm, our tribe is involved, but there are things you surely understand. To avoid troubling you, I could only come at this hour. I hope you understand."
Staring at the mound of boxes, Leon felt utterly drained.
Droy was all respectful humility, lowering himself and reading the room perfectly—everyone in Leon's group received an apology gift.
Hubert, true to form, forgot all about his beating once he heard he had a gift. He was the first to rush up, grinning as he walked away with his loot.
Reina received several small gifts tailored for her—ancient ice from the sun-drenched summit, never melting, perfect for boosting frost spells by thirty percent.
There were other thoughtful little gifts, all of which Reina accepted.
Leon’s alchemical golem got a special potion to reduce wear on its parts, and a vial of frost oil for lubrication—keeping it cool even under fire, doubling its combat time.
Anderson lounged with a rare pipe, blissfully puffing away. The tobacco was special—usable by magical avatars, it helped refine their form and even boosted their intellect a bit.
Anything that benefits a magical avatar is a priceless treasure.
Leon received the most—clearly recognized as a master creator. His gifts were all precious materials: rare ores, rare herbs, and three massive pieces of top-grade thunderstruck ore, the kind Caucasus never lets out of their hands.
"Archmage, I truly want to know what else you saw in the King's Chapter ruin, and where it is. I swear on King Wagram, every word you say is a secret—I will never breathe a word to anyone."
Leon sighed inwardly. He'd planned to say nothing of the ruin, but seeing Droy's respectful patience—and all those thoughtful gifts—saying nothing felt downright heartless.
"Alright, honestly, there's no harm in telling you some things.
That place might've been where the King of the Caucasus once stayed. There were some inheritances and books left behind, but none of it was particularly rare...
There were also some magical beasts from the King's experiments—the Elemental Chapter, you've seen..."
Leon told Droy everything he could—nothing about the King of the Caucasus or the Long-Legged Emperor. At the end, he added:
"Honestly, all I got was the Elemental Chapter and a meditation codex. I can't give you the Elemental Chapter, but if you want Elemental Tide, I can share it..."
Droy was visibly moved, his aged face almost glowing. When Leon finished, he bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Archmage. For sharing this, I am truly grateful. As for what you gained, it was King Wagram himself who chose you. It's not ours to take—we wouldn't dare claim anything that's rightfully yours."
Leon was at a loss for words. Droy was just too considerate—no flaws in anything he said or did.
Droy looked hesitant, as if wanting to say something but lacking the courage.
Leon casually asked:
"Seer Droy, is there something else you'd like to say?"
Droy looked awkward, hesitating several seconds before finally speaking up.