Chapter 171: Combat Model
Actually, the conversation between Joey and Leon wasn't complicated...
But the information revealed was simply staggering. It was as if a fifth-level Archmage would perish together with a ninth-level Magus this year. That's absurd—any sane person hearing such a claim would burst out laughing, then politely compliment the joke.
Even a fool knows that the gap between a fifth-level Archmage and a ninth-level Magus is almost infinite. No amount of skill or tactics could bridge that distance—the sheer disparity in power alone means that in a completely one-sided battle, there’s no room for luck...
Yet now, with so many sensible people standing in the Gilded Rose’s hall, not one dared to laugh...
Because the one who said this wasn’t just anyone—it was the master of Cloudspire Tower, known as the strongest Title Archmage: Star Sage Joey.
Even Horne, the person involved, could only grit his teeth and stand there. His face showed indifference, but he didn’t dare utter a single word.
"It seems you still don’t quite believe me..." Joey glanced at Horne’s expression and simply gave a small smile.
"Sir Joey..." Perhaps it was the Star Sage’s smile that gave Horne a bit more courage. After hesitating for a long moment, he finally bit the bullet: "It’s not that I doubt your judgment, it’s just..."
"Enough, you don’t need to say it." Joey didn’t even let him finish, waving a hand to interrupt. "Since you don’t believe it, I’ll show you. Leon, come with me..."
Without waiting for Horne’s reaction, Joey patted Leon’s shoulder and went straight to a table, sitting down.
"Weren’t we supposed to go to Rockridge?" Leon dragged his feet as he sat beside Joey, still clinging to a shred of hope for escape.
Unfortunately, Joey ignored Leon’s struggle completely. The kingdom’s strongest Title Magus picked up a stack of manuscript paper, split it in two in front of Leon. "You handle Horne’s model, I’ll handle yours."
"Fine..." Leon resigned himself, nodded, and pulled a quill from his pocket, quickly scribbling on the paper.
Both Joey and Leon used Nesserian Script. As the quill tips danced, runes and formulas appeared on the pages. The two were utterly focused, and the crowd, infected by their concentration, unconsciously held their breath, eyes glued to the manuscript.
"It’s a combat model!" Kadgar, who was closest, was the first to react—and then was startled by his own realization.
For a mage, building a combat model for battle analysis is almost a basic skill. But usually, such analysis only covers a small part—maybe just an exchange of one or two spells—because the sheer number of details and possibilities makes the calculations astronomical.
If a mage could analyze a thirty-second battle using a combat model, they’d be considered a genius among geniuses—enough to make the major mage factions in Auckland fight over them.
Also, the combatants’ levels can’t be too high. If one side exceeds your own rank, the analysis becomes nearly impossible; even a single spell exchange will be riddled with unavoidable errors due to the gap in power.
But now...
Star Sage Joey was one thing—he was the kingdom’s strongest Title Magus, so building a combat model for any mage wouldn’t be surprising. But Merlin...
Good grief, Merlin is only a fifth-level Archmage right now!
How could he possibly build a combat model for a ninth-level Magus? And Joey just said—the fight will last a whole five minutes!
Only now did Kadgar finally understand why the two were using Nesserian Script...
Because, whether it was Leon or Joey, the calculations they were about to do would be truly astronomical—so massive that most mages would despair. If they used ordinary magical script, Kadgar figured the manuscript paper would fill the entire hall.
Only Nesserian Script—a blend of Draconic and Elven, famed for its innate magical power—could possibly handle such a terrifying combat model.
But could Merlin really pull it off?
After all, he was still just a fifth-level Archmage...
Kadgar watched the manuscript paper covering the table, unable to hide his worry...
Standing beside Kadgar, Horne had already put away his earlier indifference and began to frown.
At first, Horne hadn’t believed it at all—how could a twenty-something fifth-level Archmage build a combat model for him? But as he watched, something started to feel off...
On the manuscript, a dozen characters and three formulas could be combined into seven spells. These seven spells were exactly the choices he’d had at the time; the moment he began arranging the elements, he’d picked Serpent of Wind, so the other six spells never appeared...
Seeing this, Horne’s brow furrowed. This was no joke—the other six spells had never even been used. How could Leon Merlin have guessed them?
No, no, that’s impossible. It had to be luck.
Yes, that must be it!
Horne tried to steel himself with self-comfort, but kept reading, heart pounding. The quill scratched across the paper, and after just a few seconds, his expression changed again—this section of Nesserian Script was analyzing his spell choices after casting Serpent of Wind. With just a glance, Horne saw that every option listed was something he might have chosen...
(Irrelevant system message about chapter continuation. Skip this line for translation.)
No way...
As Horne kept reading, cold sweat began to drip down his forehead. If he hadn’t seen the manuscript for himself, he’d never have imagined that a fifth-level Archmage could see through all his intentions in that previous battle!
The more Horne thought about it, the more terrified he became. Thank goodness his opponent was only a fifth-level Archmage. If it had been a ninth-level Magus—or even just a fifth-level Magus with sixth-level spells—someone who could see through all his strategies could have killed him easily...
Thank goodness his opponent was only a fifth-level Archmage.
Horne quietly wiped the sweat from his forehead. But when he looked up again, he didn’t dare glance at Leon’s manuscript—he was like a thief pretending not to hear the bell, shifting his gaze to Joey’s paper, hoping to salvage a shred of dignity from the Star Sage’s combat model...
But the moment Horne looked over, he was completely stunned.
Joey’s combat model was already halfway done, and Horne could see clearly: despite his overwhelming power in that battle, he’d been led by the nose by a fifth-level Archmage from start to finish. And it all began with that shattered Frost Armor...
Only now did Horne realize that the broken Frost Armor could have become a deadly trap. If Salomon hadn’t shown up, that shattered Frost Armor would’ve left him utterly bogged down—powerful yet unable to act, and the fight would’ve spiraled out of control...
Staring at the Nesserian Script on the manuscript, Horne felt a chill crawling up his spine, like a venomous snake slithering slowly along his back...
The final outcome of this battle was something Horne had never even considered. But now, through the two combat models, he suddenly realized he really could have died together with a fifth-level Archmage. At that thought, a trace of fear finally appeared on his stern, square face...
"So, what’s your final move?" Joey’s model was nearly complete, but he left a large blank on the last page. Tapping the table, the Star Sage asked Leon in a consultative tone.
Leon didn’t hesitate. After glancing at Joey, he took the manuscript and quickly wrote a long section of Nesserian Script and magical formulas.
Joey took the paper and studied it for a long time, frowning slightly. "That means you’ll need to use at least two Soulbound Relics..."
"Three, actually, Lord Joey."
...Leon’s words made Joey roll his eyes, and the others nearly dropped their jaws. Three Soulbound Relics—for a fifth-level Archmage? Kadgar, Soth, and even the always-nervous Monty all looked at Leon, their expressions completely changed...
The two finished their combat models one after the other. After reviewing both manuscripts together for a while, Joey finally walked over to Horne with his hands behind his back.
"Well, Horne, do you have anything else to say?"
"N-no... nothing..." By now, Horne’s face was drained of color, fear and shock leaving him utterly dazed. He didn’t even ask why Leon Merlin’s model kept using fifth-level Magus power—he already knew the answer.
Because Horne understood...
This twenty-something fifth-level Archmage really did qualify to wield such power. There was no denying it now—a mage who could use Nesserian Script to build a combat model and analyze a ninth-level Magus’s five-minute battle was beyond explanation. Even Horne, a ninth-level Magus, couldn’t match that terrifying calculation ability. Anyone with such power could unleash unimaginable force in combat.
Only now did Horne finally understand why Lord Joey had said his arrival had saved him...
It really had saved him...
Just as Leon Merlin said, in this battle, maybe he couldn’t defeat Horne, but after five minutes, Horne would definitely die. That wasn’t bravado—it was a simple statement of fact!
"Excellent..." Joey finally nodded with a smile.
Then, a stack of manuscript paper landed squarely on Horne’s face...
"Idiot!" The next moment, Joey’s long-suppressed anger exploded: "Get back to Cloudspire Tower right now and ask everyone you know why your data collection in the Pale Plane was suddenly stopped! Let me tell you, if not for Merlin, you might never return to Northend even after ten more years. Merlin’s contribution to Cloudspire Tower, to all mages in Northend, is worth a hundred of you—and you still dare lay a hand on him? Do you think I’m dead already?"
"Because of him?" For the past two years, Horne had been collecting base data for the Vanruisen Formula in the Pale Plane. Recently, for unknown reasons, his work was suddenly halted. When Horne returned, he was made Minister of Magic because of those two years of work.
If his work was stopped because of Leon Merlin, then wasn’t his position as Minister of Magic also because of Leon Merlin?
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(Author’s note: Nearly four thousand words in this chapter—please vote for the monthly ticket!)