The moment Kael spoke those words, he felt a transformation within his soul—his resolve hardened further, his gaze locked onto the Storm King without the slightest retreat.
The Storm King observed Kael with genuine surprise. In truth, his earlier mockery had been deliberate, laced with a trace of magic designed to unsettle the mind. An ordinary person, caught off guard, might have faltered instantly. Only those with unshakable will could withstand it.
This, too, had been a test.
Yet to the Storm King's astonishment, Kael hadn't just resisted—his determination had grown even fiercer, brimming with an indomitable courage that left the ancient powerhouse inwardly awed. This boy possesses not only extraordinary talent but an unyielding spirit. More importantly, he truly tempers himself without cease!
"Well said, boy. You do have the right to walk the path of the Archmage. A pity we didn't share the same era—I'd have liked to see how far you'd go." The Storm King threw his head back in laughter, then stepped forward, his form towering before Kael.
Suddenly, Kael felt the Storm King's presence expand—limitless as the abyss, fathomless as the ocean.
"For centuries, my name has echoed across the Three Continents. With the power of wind, I roamed unchallenged. Few in this world have ever comprehended the element as I have. Boy, witness now the mark I leave behind!" With that declaration, the Storm King struck.
Kael's instincts screamed danger. Behind the Storm King, massive cyan wings unfurled—woven entirely of wind, vast enough to blot out the sky, radiating tempestuous energy.
The attack came faster than a shooting star. Kael couldn't even perceive the motion; there was no blur, no warning. Just the crushing impact of wind against his spiritual form.
Too fast. Too terrifying.
A thunderous crack—Kael's "body" within his spiritual sea shattered into fragments.
Horror gripped him. Had this strike landed in the physical world, death would have been instantaneous. No chance to resist.
"Reform!" Though his form had disintegrated, in the spiritual sea, such things were trivial. Kael knew this was all an illusion.
As his body reassembled, he hovered in contemplation, eyes alight with revelation.
The Storm King smiled. "That was the power of wind. Well? Any insights?"
Kael didn't answer. Eyes closed, he replayed the strike in his mind. Without question, the Storm King was the only being he'd ever seen wield wind with such mastery. That single blow contained the element's deepest mysteries—a lesson unto itself.
So this… is the true might of wind?
Swift, light, free—even violent!
Kael seemed to grasp something profound.
Suddenly, he stood motionless, yet a faint cyan glow erupted from his body, enveloping him in a shimmering aura of wind energy. The elemental forces gathered around him, pulling Kael into a wondrous state of enlightenment. With his eyes closed, he could almost hear the wind whispering softly in his ears.
"The Storm King's power is truly terrifying. Though everyone perceives the elements differently, his mastery offers invaluable insight." Kael reflected inwardly.
To fuse with an element, one must comprehend its essence—yet each person's understanding is unique. Thus, the Storm King's experience could only serve as a reference. Kael needed to make it his own.
Eyes still shut, Kael meditated on the power the Storm King had just demonstrated. The more he pondered, the more the wind elements around him seemed to merge with his being, until they became indistinguishable from himself. His comprehension deepened.
Then—a breakthrough!
A pair of cyan wings burst forth from Kael's back, identical in form to those the Storm King had summoned earlier, though smaller in scale. Yet their essence was the same: pure, unadulterated wind energy. With a single beat, the wings stirred a whirlwind, and Kael's body became impossibly light. He could feel it—his speed had increased at least tenfold!
"Is this the power of wind?" Kael marveled.
The Storm King stared at him in astonishment. "You've actually comprehended the Wings of the Storm God! Wait—no, these are different from mine. This is your own interpretation!"
"Wings of the Storm God?" Kael frowned in confusion.
The Storm King sighed wryly. "Indeed. In my youth, I traveled across the Three Continents, delving into the mysteries of wind until I perfected its application. That culminated in a supreme arcane art—the Wings of the Storm God—the very spell I demonstrated moments ago."
"A supreme arcane art? Wings of the Storm God?" Kael's eyes flashed with dawning realization.
The Storm King nodded. "Correct. Supreme arcane arts are spells only those at the legendary realm can grasp. They transcend ordinary magic, embodying the very essence of an element—hence their name."
So that was it!
"Then what I've just comprehended... is also a supreme arcane art?" Kael pressed. The wings granted him staggering power—a tenfold boost in speed. At his level, such an advantage was unimaginable!
The Storm King shook his head. "Yes, and no."
"The Wings of the Storm God you've comprehended now are different from the ones I created. Though similar, they embody your own understanding. But your current strength is still too weak—this version is far from a true supreme arcane art. At best, it's a prototype," the Storm King explained, his gaze fixed on Kael as waves of astonishment surged within him.
"However, as you grow stronger and refine these wings, they will naturally evolve into a supreme arcane art once you reach the legendary realm. And this art will be your original creation—one that might someday surpass even my own achievements."
The Storm King sighed inwardly. This young man is truly formidable. He might already have what it takes to walk the path of the Archmage.
Of course, geniuses who pursued that path were as countless as stars in the sky. In ancient times, every legendary powerhouse had been a peerless figure who shook the world—yet in the end, only a handful ever ascended to become Archmages. Even kings among legends were mere stepping stones in comparison.
But this youth before him? He possessed the qualifications to tread that road.
"Storm King… thank you." Kael's voice was sincere, his eyes clear as he met the ancient powerhouse's gaze.
His gratitude was genuine. Without the Storm King's guidance, Kael could never have grasped even the prototype of this supreme arcane art. Now, his strength had surged dramatically—enough to contend with tier-eleven experts!
"Young man, you've already grasped a fragment of wind's true essence."
Kael smiled faintly. The Storm King was right. Not only had he comprehended the Wings of the Storm God, but he'd also gained an entirely new understanding of wind itself. He could now be considered halfway to fusing with the wind element, just one step away from full mastery.
With his current power—hovering between tier ten and tier eleven—and the myriad trump cards at his disposal, Kael was confident he could hold his own against tier-eleven opponents. Though how that would play out remained to be seen.
"Boy, may you walk far on the path to becoming an Archmage. Charge forward—and perhaps fulfill the dreams we old relics could not." The Storm King chuckled softly as he spoke.
Then, with a final tremor, his form shattered into fragments, dissipating like scattered light within Kael's spiritual sea…
Kael understood—the Storm King's mark was fading. The imprint left behind by this ancient legendary powerhouse had finally begun to crumble and vanish.
The Storm King's expression was serene as he dissipated completely.
Kael stood beneath the statue of the Storm King, eyes still closed, savoring the insights the mark had bestowed upon him. He solidified his comprehension of the supreme arcane art, letting it take root deep within his being.
After a long while, Kael opened his eyes.
His gaze shifted to the remaining three statues. A single legendary mark was far from enough to satisfy him. He studied the other three figures intently.
Though Mia had mentioned that most could only endure the trial of one legendary mark, Kael knew he was different. He had already realized—the ability to withstand these trials depended on one's spiritual strength. And his own spirit was anything but ordinary. He was certain he could accept a second mark!
His eyes lingered on the three remaining statues. Now, the question was—which one should he choose next?