The discovery of a massive Bloodkin presence in Dusk Moon City of the Southern Continent was dire news. While scattered Bloodkin sightings had occurred across the continent in recent years, those were isolated individuals—never a coordinated force of over a thousand.
Everyone wore grave expressions, recognizing the severity of the situation.
"What's there to discuss? Boss, just send ten thousand Divine Martial Order troops and raze Dusk Moon City to the ground!" Zorath the Silent boomed, his voice dripping with disdain.
True to his brash nature, Zorath's impulsive suggestion drew mixed reactions—some exasperated, some amused. If only it were that simple.
Bjorn, the representative from the Magic Shrine, stepped forward. "I believe this Bloodkin threat is grave enough to concern all three continents. Since we lack intel on their full strength, reckless action is unwise. Perhaps we should disclose this to the major factions—united, we can crush the Bloodkin with minimal losses to the Sacred Council."
His proposal earned nods from several senators.
The Grand Speaker's gaze shifted to Kael. "Your thoughts, Kael?"
Since defeating Einar, Kael's standing in the Sacred Council had soared—no one dared underestimate him now, and the Grand Speaker actively included him in high-level deliberations.
Kael pondered before responding: "The critical issue is determining the Bloodkin's true strength and which Shadow Wing Mage factions they've allied with..."
Zorath had previously mentioned the Sacred Council's intelligence on Bloodkin-Shadow Wing collaboration in the Southern Continent.
Shadow Wing Mages.
The mere mention darkened the room. Though no single Shadow Wing faction rivaled the Sacred Council's might, several major ones came uncomfortably close. Worse, despite relentless suppression, they persisted like weeds—a perpetual thorn in the human alliance's side.
And if the Bloodkin had joined forces with powerful Shadow Wing factions...
The mere thought sent chills down their spines.
A heavy silence fell over the assembly.
"This matter is not to be leaked. Blazing Hand!" The Grand Speaker's voice was calm but firm.
"At your command!" The First Knight of the Divine Martial Order—its current commander—stepped forward. Though still shadowed by his defeat against Merlin, his expression shifted to solemn reverence as he stood at attention beside the Grand Speaker.
"Blazing Hand, I order you to lead eight thousand elite Divine Martial Order troops to the Southern Continent immediately. Conceal your identities and investigate the Bloodkin's movements thoroughly."
Blazing Hand's spirits lifted instantly, his earlier gloom replaced by fervor. "Understood, Your Excellency! I will not fail!"
With renewed vigor, he accepted the orders and withdrew.
"This discussion is concluded. The time has nearly come." The Grand Speaker's tone remained measured.
Kael blinked in realization—the Bloodkin crisis had consumed the night, and dawn now marked the day of the Grand Speaker's duel with the Pontiff!
Without question, this battle would reshape the three continents' political landscape. Naturally, Kael hoped for the Grand Speaker's victory—his fate was now irrevocably tied to the Sacred Council's.
In the distance, a horn blast echoed across the land, signaling the impending clash.
Tension gripped everyone in the tent. The stakes were too high for complacency.
"Follow me." The Grand Speaker smiled faintly, his composure unshaken as he strode ahead, the others hastily falling in behind.
The massive black drake unleashed a deafening roar, its primal cry reverberating with draconic arrogance, shaking the earth itself.
Even the beast seemed electrified by the coming battle, its aura radiating fierce combativeness.
"Damn it, this is getting my blood pumping! Too bad I'm still too weak compared to the boss—I'd probably get wrecked in a few casual moves!" Zorath the Silent's excitement was palpable, though it quickly gave way to awed trepidation as he recalled the overwhelming might of the two leaders.
Kael chuckled as he watched the Grand Speaker mount the dragon-drawn chariot. With another earth-shaking screech, the black drake surged skyward, its wings shredding the air as it hurtled toward the heart of Thousand Moon Lake.
Kael and the others soared through the air, the howling wind whipping past their ears. In moments, they caught sight of the very heart of the island at the lake's center.
The area was already teeming with people—representatives from every major faction had arrived early, knowing full well the significance of this battle. Some had even stayed overnight, unwilling to miss the dawn of this decisive clash.
These were no ordinary spectators. They were the leaders of their respective factions—individuals of immense prestige and power, revered across the continent. Yet even they were gripped by anticipation, for this duel would undoubtedly reshape the world's balance of power.
Would the Sacred Council maintain its long-held dominance over the human alliance? Or would the Holy Temple rise to claim supremacy? This was the question weighing on everyone's minds.
"Your Excellency the Grand Speaker, ever punctual!" The Holy Pontiff stepped forward with a faint smile. His chariot was drawn by a snow-white Golden-Horned Beast, its majestic cry echoing as radiant light elements surged beneath its hooves. Kael felt a tremor of awe—both leaders had arrived in grand fashion. The Grand Speaker with his drake-drawn chariot, the Pontiff with his Golden-Horned Beast. Both steeds were tenth-tier magical beasts—a display of power matched only by each other.
Kael couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "The Grand Speaker and the Pontiff really spare no expense—tenth-tier beasts as mere mounts? What extravagance. When will I ever have that kind of presence…"
"Hmph! Just a little black drake and a Golden-Horned Beast? My bloodline is far nobler than those creatures!" The kitten, who had been lounging in the Moonlight Dusk pocket dimension, had insisted on being let out to witness the duel. Now, it bristled at Kael's admiration for the beasts.
Kael chuckled. "No offense, but you're only eighth-tier right now. You're still a ways off from matching a drake or a Golden-Horned Beast."
The kitten glared. "I'm gifted by nature! How dare you compare me to those common creatures? You're lucky to have me! Once I break through to the next tier and unlock my true abilities, hmph…"
Kael's eyes gleamed with interest—the kitten wasn't entirely wrong. If it evolved again, it might indeed unlock even greater abilities. Truthfully, Kael had only been teasing earlier. In his heart, the kitten was far more valuable than any drake or Golden-Horned Beast.
After all, no ordinary magical beast possessed its terrifying perception or the ability to shapeshift into a tenth-tier creature...
The kitten was a rare anomaly, and Kael suspected it might even harbor draconic bloodline abilities. He made a mental note to research its origins later—what kind of legendary beast was it, exactly?
"It's long been said that Your Excellency the Grand Speaker touched the threshold of Divine Magehood over a decade ago, standing just one step away. Today, I wish to test that claim myself!" The Pontiff's resonant voice cut through Kael's thoughts as he addressed the Grand Speaker.
By issuing the challenge first, the Pontiff instantly bolstered the Holy Temple's morale. Since Einar's defeat by Kael, the Temple had relied on Merlin to even the score—yet an intangible sense of inferiority lingered. Now, the Pontiff's confident stance erased all hesitation.
The Grand Speaker smiled faintly, utterly unshaken. "Rumors also speak of Your Holiness's peerless mastery over the six primal elements. I, Berg, would be honored to learn from you."
His tone was calm, his confidence unwavering. Not a trace of pressure from the Pontiff's presence seemed to affect him.
"After you!" The Pontiff laughed, his figure blurring as he materialized atop the dueling platform in an instant.
"After you!"
Before Kael could even process the movement, the Grand Speaker's voice echoed from the platform—he, too, had already taken his position.
The Pontiff stood sharp and aggressive, his aura pressing outward like a blade. In contrast, the Grand Speaker remained serene, his smile unbroken. The crowd was spellbound by the dichotomy of these two titans.
"Both stand at the pinnacle of the mage's path. Witnessing their battle could profoundly advance my own magic and mindset!" Kael's pulse quickened at the realization.
Then—the arena's atmosphere shifted abruptly!