Chapter 1116: You'll Understand When The Time Comes
Leon packed up everything from the temporary camp and tossed it into his demi-plane, then set off with everyone, heading toward the location indicated on the Burning Tower Invitation.
They hunted pseudo-Sky Rank magical beasts along the way, traveling quickly. By the time they reached the Burning Tower's temporary camp, nearly everyone had arrived.
At the center of the temporary camp stood an alchemical device over eight meters tall, covered in intricate runes and alchemical patterns. It looked like a pile of parts stacked into a high platform, surrounded by four massive rune pillars.
The device was placed at the highest point of the camp, impossible to miss. It radiated a dense magical fluctuation—anyone could tell this was a powerful alchemical construct.
Leon’s lips curled slightly, a trace of amusement flickering in his eyes...
This is the most basic, direct fusion device—just the earliest concept of such alchemical constructs...
If they use this for fusion, things are bound to get interesting.
The moment Leon saw the device, he knew exactly what would happen next. He never planned to meddle, anyway. Even if he kindly went up to tell them their alchemical device was a failed prototype, they wouldn’t believe him.
They’d probably just think Leon was here to stir up trouble, maybe even start a fight...
Besides, from the chatter around him, Leon could tell—the mage attempting the final transcendental transformation with this device was from the Shadow Tower.
That made Leon even less inclined to interfere. Let them put on a show; if he tried to be the good guy and warn them, Diras would never believe him, just assume he was there to cause trouble...
All four Andalusia Kingdom factions and six Odin Kingdom factions were present. The Odin mages enthusiastically clustered around Dida La and Diras.
On the Andalusia side, Joey and Heron reappeared, and the Sword Saint of the royal family waited quietly in a corner.
But judging by Joey and Heron's appearance, they looked even more battered than before...
Both wore exhausted expressions, their mana unstable—clearly injured and forced into too many battles lately. Even now, their magic refused to settle.
All three Andalusia factions were gathered on the other side. Judging by Joey and Heron's faces, they’d just been thoroughly mocked by Diras.
Leon waved to Joey and Heron.
This time, Joey had lost all trace of his scholarly air—now he truly looked like a mage who’d survived a brutal ordeal. Heron, face drawn and eyes blazing with fury, had shed all pride of the Black Tower Chairman.
Seeing them both alive, Leon let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Morgan had been sending updates these days—three Sky Rank powerhouses had already been discovered among the Rageflame Orcs, possibly even four.
If you count the Bronze Orc burned to death by Leon, Rageflame Orcs might have had five powerhouses break through to Sky Rank on the Rageflame Battlefield!
Joey and Heron had already suffered heavy losses here—even their inherited True Spirit Magic Artifacts were destroyed. Even though they gained other benefits at the temple later, it couldn't make up for the huge drop in strength.
Without their magic artifacts and with their forces decimated, hunting pseudo-Sky Rank magical beasts became difficult for them. They could only target solitary pseudo-Sky Rank beasts, and had to avoid those with special abilities...
If things went wrong, the rest of their people might all be lost. By then, they might not even be able to walk out of the Rageflame Battlefield alive.
Leon looked at Joey and Heron, feeling a bit emotional.
Seeing Leon, Joey and Heron were also filled with emotion.
Archmage Leon, it’s so wonderful to see you again. I thought I’d never find you. Heron and I both thought we’d surely fall here...
Joey’s expression was complicated—clearly, things hadn’t gone well for him lately.
Heron gritted his teeth as he looked toward the Odin Kingdom side, his expression equally complicated.
Odin Kingdom really is stronger than our Andalusia Kingdom—whether it’s the number of powerhouses or the strength of their mage towers, they’re superior to us...
We once encountered a Rageflame Orc squad—they had a Sky Rank powerhouse. If it hadn’t been for a respected elder of Cloudspire Tower sacrificing himself to block that orc, Joey and I would probably be buried here...
Now Odin Kingdom has found a way to use the Beast God's Blood—their strength will only grow. Even if we survive the Rageflame Battlefield, we’re sure to lose the struggle for the Rageflame Plane...
Leon sighed.
Archmage Joey, Chairman Heron, don’t lose heart. Things aren’t that hopeless yet—you’ve just had some bad luck. Until the outcome is decided, no one knows what will happen...
As he spoke, Leon glanced at the powerful, complex alchemical device.
Joey and Heron exchanged a glance. Joey took out a beast-hide pouch marked with sealing runes and handed it to Leon.
Archmage Leon, these are mana crystals Heron and I obtained by hunting pseudo-Sky Rank magical beasts—eighty-eight in total. We’re giving them to you now.
Leon looked at Joey in surprise.
Archmage Joey, why are you doing this? Your True Spirit Magic Artifacts were destroyed—at the temple, you could exchange for another suitable one and regain some strength...
Before Leon could finish, Joey shook his head and sighed emotionally.
Archmage Leon, we actually know... but after all the battles Heron and I have fought these days, we’ve thought a lot. At first, we kept thinking about how to hunt more pseudo-Sky Rank magical beasts.
(Irrelevant system message skipped.)
But later, we saw the orc Sky Rank powerhouses with our own eyes—ones who could wield transcendental power and unleash their full strength.
Then we understood—even if our True Spirit Magic Artifacts hadn’t been destroyed, we probably still wouldn’t be a match for those orcs.
Let alone catching up to Odin Kingdom...
Now, in Andalusia Kingdom, only your strength is the greatest. Even as an Eighth-Rank Title Archmage, you can unleash Sky Rank combat power.
And Archmage Leon, your advancement is incredibly fast. I believe you’re about to break through to Ninth-Rank Title Archmage soon.
All these mana crystals should go to you, Archmage Leon. Then gather some more and exchange them for a drop of Beast God's Blood—maybe you can use this alchemical device crafted by the Burning Tower.
Once you break through to Sky Rank, Archmage Leon, our Andalusia Kingdom might not be wiped out here, and our strength won’t be reduced to nothing.
This is all we can do. To face the orc Sky Rank powerhouses, we’ll have to rely on Archmage Leon...
Sigh...
Hearing Joey’s words, Leon was moved—his eyes filled with undisguised shock.
He glanced at Heron, who clearly agreed with Joey. What they’d been through had changed these two leaders of Andalusia Kingdom’s strongest factions.
They’d witnessed greater power and suffered the biggest setbacks of their lives since taking control of Cloudspire and Black Tower—it was impossible not to change.
But handing over the mana crystals they’d painstakingly hunted from pseudo-Sky Rank magical beasts—this went completely against the interests of Cloudspire and Black Tower...
Even now, they did it for the sake of Andalusia Kingdom itself. As the kingdom’s strongest factions, if they succeeded, they’d reap the greatest rewards.
But no faction ever places its hopes on someone else—the sword’s hilt must always be in their own hands. That’s something that never changes...
Leon looked at the two, and for a moment, he didn’t understand...
He stared at the pouch of mana crystals. After half a minute, Leon finally sighed and pushed the crystals back to Joey.