Chapter 917: All for Nothing
The magical fluctuations around the teleportation gate often reveal the strength of the person coming through. If it’s just a magic apprentice, the interval between the initial surge and their emergence would never exceed a second.
But now, it’s been seven or eight seconds since the intense magical fluctuations began, and still no one has appeared. The surge hasn’t faded either.
That can only mean one thing: someone truly powerful is coming through—at least a peak Ninth-Rank Title Archmage!
Only when someone like Heron or Joey crosses the portal do you get magical fluctuations this intense.
Ordinary Ninth-Rank Title Archmages could never pull that off.
With just a glance, Heron and Joey understood—Leon had grown much stronger since they last saw him. Now, his combat power was easily on par with theirs.
Sure enough, a moment later, a foot stepped out from the swirling light of the portal. Leon emerged, wearing a faint smile, strolling out as if he were taking a leisurely walk.
After Leon, the fifty Battalion Mages followed him out one by one.
Only when the last Battalion Mage stepped out did the portal’s swirling light snap back to normal, the magical fluctuations fading into a gentle breeze that drifted quietly around the room.
"Archmage Leon, welcome."
Heron gave a slight bow, performing the customary mage's salute.
Joey, standing nearby, looked on with a hint of admiration in his eyes and greeted Leon with the same mage's salute, his smile lingering.
This was a gesture only exchanged when both parties stood on equal footing.
Whether it was Heron or Joey, they now regarded Leon as their peer. His rate of progress had already surpassed their expectations.
Leon nodded with a smile and returned the salute.
"Lord Joey, Lord Heron, you honor me. Making your elders wait here for me—I’m truly undeserving."
Heron smiled, without any trace of arrogance. He had been paying attention to Leon ever since he was just a mage.
Back then, it was Leon’s identity as an alchemist that drew attention; now, things were completely different.
What truly draws attention to a powerful individual is their strength, not any other identity.
A prodigiously young creator is impressive, but if that’s all there is to him, then that’s his greatest accomplishment—worthy of respect, perhaps, but nothing more.
But if that creator is also a formidable force in his own right—a prodigiously young powerhouse—then words can’t do his talent justice. The speed of his rise becomes almost numbing.
That’s what makes a true powerhouse worthy of respect.
Heron understood well—at this pace, Leon might just break through to the Sky Rank before him.
Heron and Joey had come together to greet Leon in person. There’s no way the people at Sunset Fortress wouldn’t notice.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Heron and Joey led Leon to a secret chamber for their meeting.
The fifty Battalion Mages who arrived with Leon were also given their assignments.
The secret meeting focused on the current situation in the Blazeforge Realm, and then they touched on the details of what was to come—though no one knew the specifics.
While Leon was deep in discussion with Lord Joey and Heron, word of his arrival at Sunset Fortress was already spreading. Even the fact that Joey and Heron had gone out together to welcome him was quickly known by many.
Crack—
Oliver Defoe slammed his teacup to the ground, rage and shock twisted across his face.
"Damn it! Heron built a teleportation gate just to bring the Merlin Family to Sunset Fortress?"
Oliver Defoe was stunned, unable to believe it. They’d just captured Sunset Fortress, and now all that effort and resources went into building a portal—for the Merlin Family?
And the commander is just some young upstart from the Merlin Family?
And he only brought fifty people?
Has Heron got slime for brains? Damn it! I’d heard he admired that young man, but now? At a time like this? Is it just to help the kid rack up points?
Damn it! I rushed here from the Sanctuary, even brought a whole squad of experts to help Heron. If not for me, he wouldn’t have taken Sunset Fortress so easily.
The Black Tower has been operating in the Blazeforge Realm for how long? All this time, not once have they managed to take Sunset Fortress. Much less capture it.
He’s just a council chairman—shouldn’t he listen to me? Everything here should be under my command.
Who gave him the right? Damn it, he dares defy my orders—the Black Tower people are all useless, only listening to Heron and ignoring me.
So you ignored me before, fine, but now you've somehow joined forces with Cloudspire Tower? Damn it, is Heron a Blazeforge Orc or something? Has he forgotten just how deep the hatred runs between Black Tower and Cloudspire Tower?
Did he forget that Black Tower and Cloudspire Tower have always been at odds?
He's been the Council Chairman long enough—does he really not know how much hatred there is between the sanctuaries of Cloudspire Tower and Black Tower?
The hatred between sanctuaries is far greater than any feud between Cloudspire Tower and Black Tower itself.
And yet, that damned fool actually joined forces with Cloudspire Tower to attack Sunset Fortress. Damn it—when we get back, let's see how he explains this to the sanctuary.
Defoe was so angry he was practically breathing fire. Ever since he'd arrived in the Blazeforge Realm, nothing had gone his way.
Heron's alliance with Cloudspire Tower was infuriating, but there was nothing he could say—Cloudspire Tower's sanctuary had sent reinforcements, and their support was even stronger than Defoe's own. Much stronger, in fact.
This chapter isn't over yet~.~ Click next page to continue reading!
Right now, there was already a group of Title Archmages at Sunset Fortress. Four ninth-rank Title Archmages had arrived, dozens more of lower rank, and over a hundred high-ranking mages.
And these people weren't just ascetics—they were clearly seasoned veterans, their aura marked by years of fighting on other planes. Their strength outclassed most mages of the same rank.
If it were just them, Defoe might have voiced some displeasure. Sure, their strength was formidable, but at a time like this, there wouldn't be much direct conflict—Black Tower wasn't that much weaker.
But the real problem was the news that Cloudspire Tower's sanctuary had apparently sent a Heavenly-ranked powerhouse to support them. With that knowledge, Defoe was powerless—what, was he supposed to pick a fight with Cloudspire Tower now?
Don't be stupid. If they really had a Heavenly-ranked powerhouse backing them, and he got killed, Black Tower wouldn't be able to do a damn thing. No one could save him.
All Defoe could do was report the news to Black Tower's sanctuary, and until their own reinforcements arrived, it was best to avoid Cloudspire Tower's people as much as possible—less chance of conflict when you have no leverage.
Defoe had been simmering for ages with nowhere to vent his anger—then Leon showed up.
That was all it took for Defoe to explode.
Heron, that idiot, built a teleportation gate just for this Leon Merlin?
Damn it, is he messing with me? What kind of power does the Merlin Family even have—a young Title Archmage and fifty people?
Fifty people? Are you fucking kidding me?
Fifty people, and only some of them are Title Archmages—the strongest is just a second-rank Title Archmage. Are they here at Sunset Fortress just to be cannon fodder?
Is this really the capital Black Tower is supposed to cooperate with? What right do they have to work with us?
Heron, that idiot, not only built a teleportation gate but personally went to greet them. That fool is beyond saving—his time as Council Chairman should be up. When we get back, I'm reporting to the sanctuary so they replace him with someone less idiotic. If this keeps up, Black Tower will be destroyed by Heron's stupidity.
Wait a minute—Leon Merlin. Why does that name sound so familiar? Damn it, he's the one who got my teacher's disciple killed!
Heron, you fool, just wait. If my teacher finds out about this, he'll make sure you pay dearly.
I can't deal with Cloudspire Tower right now, but I can deal with you, Leon Merlin. What right do you have to work with us? All you'll do is steal Black Tower's credit. Even sending Merlin Family members as cannon fodder isn't enough—their numbers are pathetic.
Yeah, I'll go find that idiot Heron and ask what the hell he's thinking. He's a completely unqualified commander.
Defoe stormed off to find Heron, who had just finished a secret discussion with Leon, and immediately launched into a furious interrogation.
"Heron, I think you're completely unqualified as a commander. Just look at what you've done! You built a teleportation gate just to welcome a minor force like the Merlin Family?
Do they have any right to cooperate with Black Tower? Do you even realize what kind of situation we're in? Our Andalusia Kingdom has already committed massive resources to the Blazeforge Realm—everyone's interests are at stake.
It's not just about breaking through the Blazeforge Orcs' defenses and conquering the Blazeforge Realm—we also have to beat Odin Kingdom to earn more points. If we lose this gamble to Odin Kingdom, all Black Tower's years of effort will be wasted!
Wasted, you know? At a time like this, you actually spend energy recruiting such a minor force. Just look at the Merlin Family.
A young Title Archmage—Leon Merlin only advanced to Title Archmage a little over a year ago, right? Whatever, doesn't matter. He's just cannon fodder anyway. (Irrelevant promotional message skipped.)