Though the insights the Flame King had bestowed upon Kael were currently beyond his reach, they were undeniably a staggering treasure—one that would prove invaluable on his path to becoming an Archmage.
Kael closed his eyes, still savoring the clash between the Water Dragon and the Flame King. Though their battle had lasted mere moments, the profundities within it were boundless. True to her title as the Legend Closest to the Archmage, the Flame King's power was terrifying beyond measure.
"I've fully fused with water and begun merging with wind as my second element. The duel between those two was too esoteric for my current comprehension—I've only grasped fragments. But even that is enough." A faint smile touched Kael's lips as clarity washed over him. He stood at the threshold of a breakthrough; once he fused wind, the barrier to tier eleven would shatter. Yet the stronger one grew, the harder advancement became. That final step might still demand time.
Returning to reality, Kael slowly opened his eyes.
They burned with newfound intensity, his entire demeanor radiant. The epiphanies had undeniably propelled him forward—were he to face Einar now, his confidence would be unshakable.
Of course, Einar too would have progressed. Kael underestimated no one. Yet he harbored absolute certainty: one day, he'd leave all those so-called geniuses far behind.
"Kael, you're awake!" Councilor Mia's voice reached him first. Turning, he found her standing nearby, her aura subtly altered. Kael sensed she'd also achieved a breakthrough—though not as monumental as his own.
After all, Kael had taken a half-step into wind fusion, a pivotal leap forward!
Mia studied Kael, struck by the depth of his presence and an indescribable quality that now clung to him. Her surprise was palpable.
"It seems you've reaped immense rewards from the legendary mark," she murmured, her gaze piercing.
Kael merely smiled. There was no need for explanation. Fortune and enlightenment varied for each individual. Had the Flame King's appearance not simultaneously awakened the Water Dragon's phantom, his gains would've been far meager.
Councilor Mia's gaze swept over the statues, and she froze in astonishment at the sight of three missing mage-class figures. "You actually comprehended two legendary marks?"
"Just got lucky," Kael replied modestly.
Mia shook her head with a wry smile. Truly, comparisons are odious. She had merely exchanged a brief dialogue with a water-elemental legend in her trial, yet reaped substantial gains. Meanwhile, Kael had absorbed two legendary imprints in succession!
Zorath the Silent, meanwhile, remained deep in his spiritual trance. His brow furrowed, face pale—clearly at a critical juncture. Only after a long while did he finally open his eyes, exhaling a turbid breath.
"Brother Kael, Mia—you're both awake already?" Zorath blinked at them, then groaned. "Damn it all, that trial was insane! I barely scraped through, only for that bastard to dump a pile of theories on me that made zero sense!"
Among the three, Zorath was easily the most aggrieved. He'd fought tooth and nail to pass the Dark King's trial, only to be bombarded with esoteric combat techniques far beyond his grasp. The frustration left him muttering curses under his breath.
In the end, he'd resorted to memorizing fragments by rote—better than nothing, though hardly useful.
While Kael and Mia flourished, Zorath stewed over his meager gains, griping incessantly about the Dark King: "That old coot and his cryptic riddles! Not a damn word was comprehensible!" A straightforward brawler at heart, Zorath had no patience for convoluted teachings.
Kael stifled a laugh. Legendary marks truly hinge on fortune. Even if given another chance, he doubted he could replicate such serendipitous breakthroughs.
Zorath's jaw dropped when he noticed the shattered statues. "Four gone?! Wait—you got two marks?!" He gaped at Kael, then clutched his head in exaggerated despair. "Unbelievable! Kael, you freak of nature—!"
Chuckling, Kael clapped Zorath's shoulder. "Look on the bright side, brother. At least we met legends—unlike those poor saps in the Holy Temple."
Ever the optimist, Zorath's gloom evaporated instantly. "Hah! True! Einar's lot probably left empty-handed!" In hindsight, this windfall owed much to Zorath's luck in discovering the hidden chamber to begin with.
"We should seal this stone door and conceal everything before reporting to the Grand Councilor," Mia mused after a moment's consideration.
Kael nodded. The fewer who knew about the legendary marks, the better. As for informing the Grand Councilor—he had no objections. Comprehending these imprints was no simple feat. They held little value for already-established powerhouses, while those lacking insight would struggle to grasp their secrets. Kael harbored no fear of leaks.
The little cat lounged lazily on Kael's shoulder, remarking, "As expected, once these statues shattered, their oppressive aura vanished completely. Pathetic compared to my draconic majesty—"
Kael rolled his eyes, lifting the cat by the scruff to silence it—prompting immediate protests: "Damn you, Kael! Unhand this young lady at once, or I'll blast you to pieces with my dragon's might!"
...
The trio swiftly tidied the chamber, sealed the stone door, and departed the Sacred King's Palace.
Upon returning to the Moonlake encampment, they reported everything to the Grand Councilor.
With the Moonlake Assembly nearing its end and factions leaving empty-handed, the once-bustling shores had grown quiet. As affairs wound down, Kael took the opportunity to bid farewell.
"You're leaving, Kael? Perfect timing. Regarding the Tower of Ghostflame—coordinate closely with Zorath the Silent," the Grand Councilor advised.
Kael nodded. He appreciated the Grand Councilor's attentiveness—even recalling the Ghostflame matter. With his recent breakthroughs, confronting the tower now seemed far more manageable.
"Once the tower is dealt with, seek me in Duskwatch City on the southern continent. The Human Alliance will clash with the Bloodkin there," the Grand Councilor added.
"You have my word, Grand Councilor. I'll be there." The Bloodkin had long intrigued Kael. His artifact, Moonlight Dusk, bore deep ties to their kind—another thread in their tangled history.
After exchanging pleasantries, Kael exited the tent to find Zorath waiting. The warrior clapped his shoulder heartily: "Worry not, brother! My ten Shadow Hall enforcers will remain in Refis City. I've already dispatched scouts to track the tower. The moment you locate it, summon me—I'll rally the troops personally!"
"My thanks. Then I'll return to Refis first!" Kael grinned.
A few final words, and they parted ways.
Leaving Moonlake behind, Kael soared through the skies, his figure flickering like a phantom before vanishing beyond the horizon.
The journey from Moonlake to Refis City was considerable. Midway, Kael's form blurred to a sudden halt—his gaze sharpened.
A streak of black light tore through the air ahead. Pursuing it was a cyan glow—one fleeing, the other chasing in relentless pursuit.
Two figures.
The cyan radiance emanated from a wind mage, who cast frantic glances backward as he fled, his panic palpable. Yet his speed paled against his pursuer—a gray-robed spellcaster who closed the distance with lightning swiftness.
"Fool! You cannot escape! The Tower of Ghostflame will carve you to pieces!" The gray-robed mage's voice dripped with venomous intent.
The Tower of Ghostflame!
Kael's eyes narrowed. So this pursuer was one of theirs. His attention shifted to the wind mage—and then froze.
The fleeing figure was a familiar face.