LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 520-524
Chapter 520: I Leave This Matter to You, Eliard
The wind roared in Eliard’s ears as the world below blurred past him. He had never experienced such speed.
“Ahhh! This is way too fast! How is this even possible?” he screamed into the howling wind. He was always the first to express his awe and excitement whenever he saw something new and exciting.
His excited screams continued on for about an hour, before Fullmoon City, the capital of Southmoon Kingdom, finally appeared in front of them.
When the two of them landed, Eliard’s head was still spinning. He said incredulously, “That was really fast.”
Southmoon Kingdom was 1500 miles away from Scorched City. Still, they managed to reach there in no more than an hour.
Link laughed. “The speed I was traveling at just now was 600 feet per second, which translates to more than 2000 miles per hour. I’d say we made it just in time.”
Eliard exclaimed breathlessly, “So this is Legendary power? This is quite an eye-opener for me.”
Despite having flown at such blinding speed and at such a height, Link did not seem exhausted whatsoever. One could not help but marvel at the power he possessed.
Link chuckled. “No need to look at me like that. Work hard, and you’ll reach Level-10 one day as well. When that day comes, I’ll teach you the Void Walk technique myself.”
“It’s a spatial spell, isn’t it? I don’t think I’ll be able to learn it right.” Eliard wanted to, but knowing the obscene difficulty of spatial magic, he feared that he might not be up to the task.
“It’s just a spell that lets you get from one place to another quickly. It’s not that difficult… Up ahead is Full Moon City. Here, take this runestone.” Link landed beside Eliard and handed him a communication rune.
Eliard took it and then asked strangely, “Why? Aren’t we going in together?”
“Of course not, this will be your personal mission. You’ll need to make contact with representatives of Grinth Magical Academy. Then, after presenting yourself to the king of Southmoon Kingdom, see if there’s anything strange happening within the city. You’ll need to do all this yourself. As for me, I’ll be carrying out my own investigations from the shadows of the city. If you think you can’t handle any of it any longer, just use the runestone to contact me.”
His responsibilities as the Lord of Ferde, as well as the fact that his every action was always under scrutiny, was starting to wear on Link. As Eliard was now a fully-fledged Magician, this was the perfect opportunity to train Eliard on the job while also letting him handle some of Link’s more tedious tasks.
Eliard did not expect to be given such a task. This was the Syndicate they were dealing with after all; he should not expect Link to take care of everything himself. Besides, this should not pose a problem to a Level-8 Magician with Level-9 power like himself.
Eliard and Link were different in a number of ways.
Ever since coming to this world, Link had been all over the place without stopping to rest. To him, the world of Firuman held no secrets at this point. Now, he simply wished to put everything down and rest for a bit. On the other hand, Eliard had spent much of his time cooped up in the Mage Tower, studying magic diligently. To him, there was still a lot to be seen in the outside world. This diplomatic visit to Southmoon Kingdom was also his first time seeing the outside world from a Pinnacle master’s point of view.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything beautifully on your behalf,” said Eliard confidently.
Link smiled. “Good. Now go. If there’s any trouble, don’t forget the defensive runestone I just gave you.”
“Don’t worry too much about me, haha. Well, I’m off.” The enthusiastic look on Eliard’s face evoked in Link the image of a child who was just raring to leave his nest and venture off into the great unknown.
When he finished speaking, Eliard cast a Level-5 Mongoose Agility spell on himself and sped towards the gates of Full Moon City.
Link finally heaved a sigh as he saw Eliard reach the city gates in the distance. He puffed up his chest, then jumped for a bit on the spot, feeling a lot lighter and freer all of a sudden.
Right now, he was neither the Lord of Ferde nor a Legendary Magician. He was simply Link, a normal tourist who had come to Full Moon City looking for fun and adventure. Of course, this was all in jest. Ethereal Warriors were not to be trifled with. He needed to concentrate on the matter at hand.
He realized that his clothing was a bit too gaudy. A black battle robe with silver linings and a dark red cape might not look too distracting, but an attentive observer would be able to sense that he was no ordinary traveler. He needed to change it a bit.
With a nudge of his will, his body began to shimmer. The light instantly transformed into form-fitting, dark green, leather armor. Dangling from his waist was the Dragon King’s Fury sword.
When he was done, Link conjured a mirror in front of him to check on his new clothes.
Armor’s too new. Better give it a bit of wear here and there. Signet’s too conspicuous as well, better keep it. The Dragon King’s Fury sword looks a bit too elegant, better change it up a bit. Body’s way too clean to resemble an ordinary wanderer. Let’s dirty myself up a bit… almost there.
When he was done with his makeover, Link was now wearing somewhat worn-out leather armor. A normal steel sword dangled from his waist in place of the Dragon King’s Fury sword. He had also cut an inch of his hair. With his face covered with dust, he now looked like a run-of-the-mill mercenary.
When everything was settled, Link began walking towards Full Moon City.
After entering the city, Link strolled around the place and hung out at a local tavern where mercenaries from all walks of life had gathered for drinks and gossip. Two hours later, he had a better understanding of what was going on recently in Full Moon City.
On the surface, everything seemed in order, but there was also talk of a gang of fearsome bandits terrorizing the mercantile route on the city’s south side.
These bandits had appeared half a month ago. They came and went as they pleased. Any unfortunate traveling merchants passing through the area were all brutalized by them.
Before, this particular stretch of road was always busy with people and caravans. It was one of the most important passages leading towards Southmoon Kingdom. Now, the road was completely sealed off by these bandits.
Of course, the king did not succumb to their demands.
For the past month, he had used up all kinds of methods to flush out these hooligans. He had even resorted to dispatching a thousand cavalrymen to resolve the problem, but they all returned unsuccessful. The bandits had simply avoided direct confrontation with the king’s soldiers.
Left with no other choice, the king had put up a bounty on the heads of these bandits. When Link came to the city, the bounty had risen to 3000 gold pieces.
As a result, many mercenaries had flocked to Full Moon City, ready to do whatever it took to lay their hands on that bounty.
Right now, Link was in a bar called “Gear Up Tavern” on the south side of the city. Though the tavern might seem small, the mercenaries who had gathered here had an above average power level, the weakest among them being Level-4. If there was anyone in this city who could pull this job off, it would certainly be any one of the mercenaries in this tavern.
Link sat in a corner of the tavern at the moment, a glass of beer and a plate of fried green beans set in front of him. As he absently chewed on his food, he listened closely to the gossiping mercenaries around him. The other portion of his concentration was directed to the Dragon King’s Fury sword on his waist.
His Dragon Power’s recovery rate was now at 45 points per second, which was almost equal to the Red Dragon Queen’s. As he had no use for his Dragon Power at the moment, he thought it would be better to recharge the Dragon King’s Fury sword with it. With enough Dragon Power, the sword might be able to unlock a new level.
The mercenaries in the tavern were all busy chatting about the bandits.
“I hear these bandits have some mysterious power. I heard from one of the cavalrymen that they could shapeshift. When he stabbed his sword at one of the bandits, his body instantly turned into water. When he pulled his sword out, the bandit came out unharmed.”
“Isn’t that magic? What’s so mysterious about that?”
“If any one of them turns into water, we’ll just chuck one of those dwarven explosives at them. Even if he turns completely into water, he’ll still be blown into pieces by the explosion.”
“Your talk is cheap. If they’re giving even the kingdom’s calvarymen a hard time, these bandits must be something. I don’t know if any of us will be able to get the bounty this time.”
“There’s got to be someone capable around here. What’s to fear?”
Everyone nodded in agreement at that and then poured their beers down their throats. When they were done, the mercenaries opened up a new topic between themselves.
There was a silence in the tavern for a moment. Then, someone said, “I hear the North is preparing for war again.”
“Oh?”
“I see.”
“Hmm.”
All kinds of noises were raised in response to the news. Then, everyone waited for the mercenary from the North to elaborate further on the subject.
The mercenary took another gulp of his beer and sighed. “A month ago, I was in Gladstone City. I saw with my own two eyes a large number of Warriors and cargo being transported towards the iron line of defense. I also heard from the folks who had just gotten back from the Black Forest that the Dark Elf scum had started summoning creatures from the Isomerism Realm.”
The tavern fell silent again. Then one of them angrily cursed, “Dark Elf scum!”
“Nothing good ever came from them pointy ears, I’ll tell ya! The other day, I met this High Elf wanderer. With that haughty look of his, I really wanted to pull his head down!”
“Are you talking about…”
The conversation had gone off in all kinds of directions among the mercenaries. Link could not care less about them at this point. He had gotten what he wanted. He was now sure that the bandits they were talking about were Ethereal Warriors, and from the mercenaries’ accounts, they only seemed to have a normal power level.
The bandits were simply testing how far the Lord of Ferde himself would meddle with Southmoon Kingdom’s affairs.
Link decided that his best course of action for now was to wait for the enemy to make their first move. If Eliard could not deal with things on his own, Link would need to step in and take matters into his own hands.
Right now, he deserved all the rest he could get. He had been way too occupied with things back in Ferde.
He rested the back of his head against his hands, propped his legs up on the table and continued eating his green beans as he listened to the mercenaries’ chatter almost nonchalantly.
He then saw a 30-year-old archer enter the tavern.
The man’s face was extremely handsome. It was also adorned with a pair of sideburns that exuded virility. His eyes belonged to someone who had seen much of the world. His Battle Aura was Level-7, befitting his weathered look, and his long gorilla arms that indicated his mastery of the bow.
With such power, he must have quite the reputation as a mercenary.
As he entered, the tavern went silent. Link then heard someone mutter, “Look, Eagle-eye Irvan’s here.”
Eagle-eye Irvan?
Link had heard of this name before. In the game world, he was an excellent mercenary. However, in one mission, he had the misfortune of coming across a Fodor Flaming Demon who tore him up and swallowed him whole, leaving nothing but a boot behind. Link’s mission back then had been to track the Fodor Flaming Demon by following the aura left on Irvan’s boot.
In this world, the demons did not make their way down south which meant that Irvan was still alive and well.
The man looked around him and walked towards Link, as his table was the only one left with an empty seat. He said to Link, “Put your foot down, mate!”
Link did not move an inch and instead just looked at him sideways. “There’s plenty of space here. Sit wherever you like.”
He was now one of the vulgar mercenaries in the tavern, and normal mercenaries had no business with decorum or manners. The only thing that mattered to these people was the size of their fists, and only those with big fists had the right to speak.
Right now, he wanted to know a bit more about this Eagle-eye fellow, and what better way to make a friend here than a good old-fashioned bout of fisticuffs?
Chapter 521: I’ll Discipline Him for You! ##
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Gear Up Tavern
With Link’s words, the mercenaries in the tavern knew that it was time to fight. Everyone spun around, picked up their cups, and got ready to watch the show.
Mercenaries didn’t care about right or wrong. It was just a battle of power.
If Link could beat Irvan, then he was right. People would laugh at Irvan for overestimating his own power and look for a beating.
If Link lost, then he would be the classic example of pretending to be cool. He’d instantly become a laughingstock and wouldn’t be able to stay in the tavern.
Irvan furrowed his brows. He was an archer and didn’t like to have conflicts over such a small thing. But he knew the rules between mercenaries. If he surrendered and left now, his reputation as Eagle Eye would be gone. Others would say he was a coward. He had to go up and teach this guy a lesson.
Surrendering was not an option. Mercenaries depended on their reputation for a living.
This young man looked really average too. He wore old leather armor and was covered in dust, his black hair tied back casually. He looked nothing more than a poor mercenary. Irvan didn’t believe he could be very skilled.
At this time, Link was still eating the green beans on his plate. He tossed the beans up and opened his mouth, letting the beans fall in. The entire process was filled with disdain. He totally ignored the archer beside him.
Irvan had wanted to treat this as a common scuffle, but Link’s actions pissed him off. Taking a deep breath, he said coldly, “Hey, you don’t like me being Eagle Eye, so you’re here to look for trouble?”
Link side-eyed him and then closed his eyes. “What do you mean? I’m just sitting here not doing anything. If someone’s looking for trouble, it’s probably you.”
With that, he grabbed another bean to toss into his mouth.
When the bean was in mid-air, Irvan suddenly moved. His hand shot out like lightning to take his bow. At the same time, he knocked the arrow against the bowstring. Whizz. The arrow shot out, going straight for the bean Link had tossed up.
He wanted to hit the bean so the other would know how skilled he was. This action had a special term in the mercenary world—show-off. They would use this when they didn’t want to create true conflict.
Show-offs usually happened inside the city because cities had guards and laws. Killing or hurting someone there was troublesome. If they were in the wilderness, they would go straight for blood.
Take Irvan’s action for example. If he shot the tiny bean in the air, it meant: I can hit such a small thing in such a short time. It’s just as easy for me to take your life. If you’re smart, surrender now!
This was something Eagle Eye could do easily before. Today, things were different.
Just as the arrow was about to hit the bean, Link suddenly blew some air.
Poof. The bean jumped up. The next moment, the arrow flew past under the bean without hitting anything. After that, the bean continued falling. Link’s head didn’t move at all. He just opened his mouth, and the bean fell in. He continued eating.
When he was done, Link gazed at the arrow buried into the wooden wall. Smiling, he said, “Don’t shoot arrows when you’re not skilled enough. If you hit an innocent bystander, the king might drag you to the gallows.”
Irvan huffed. He knew he’d met a match today, but he still wouldn’t surrender. He hadn’t used all his power yet. It wasn’t a big deal.
Thinking of that, he tossed his bow to the worker on the side. Rolling up his sleeves, he threw a punch at Link’s face. He didn’t use any Battle Aura. It was just pure physical strength.
As long as no one died, the city guards wouldn’t care about a regular fight without weapons or Battle Aura in a tavern full of mercenaries. Even if some uppity guard wanted to get into their business, the tavern’s owner would help get rid of him.
Of course, if they damaged the tavern, they had to pay for it. That was the rule.
Irvan still held back some power for this punch. Otherwise, with his strength, the opponent could die if he didn’t defend himself in time. That would be annoying.
Even so, the commotion was shocking. Irvan was a Level-7 Warrior, after all. His punch created a gust of wind, and before his fist reached Link, Link’s hair was already blown into a mess.
Many mercenaries in the tavern exclaimed instinctively. They predicted that since Link was sprawled on the chair, he couldn’t use much power. He definitely couldn’t dodge Irvan’s punch and would get beaten to a pulp. He might even get knocked unconscious.
But then Irvan’s fist was blocked.
Link calmly raised his arm and grasped Irvan’s fist. His body was at Level-11. Facing this arrogant Level-7 archer was like a demon against a little boy. They were in totally different leagues.
He was just clutching Irvan’s fist, but the man felt that he’d punched iron. No matter how he struggled, his fist wouldn’t move.
Irvan immediately realized that he was facing a master. But he was at Level-7. Though he wasn’t almighty, he was still respected usually. No way he would beg for mercy now.
Link didn’t expect that either. He pushed the fist toward the side a bit, and Irvan was forced back a few steps.
“Alright, archer. Go do what you need to do and stop bothering me.”
After Irvan caught his balance, his face reddened. He snatched his bow from the worker, glanced at Link, and walked away angrily. He couldn’t stay in this tavern any longer.
Link continued sitting with his feet propped, eating the beans. After a few beans, he realized the mood was off. Turning, he saw all the mercenaries gaping at him. It actually felt nice to be looked at like that. His mood improved and he chuckled.
“Everyone, keep talking, keep talking. Don’t look at me or else I’ll get angry!”
The mercenaries gulped. They would remember this guy. Seeing that Link didn’t plan on talking to anyone, they started conversing amongst themselves again. However, everyone kept away from Link so they wouldn’t get in trouble.
…
On the other hand, Irvan left the tavern and walked quickly with his head down. He didn’t slow down until he left the area, but his face still felt hot.
It was truly humiliating this time.
He looked around, wanting to find somewhere to hide. When that damn fellow walked out of the tavern, he would shoot the man’s leg or stomach to make him suffer. It would also make Irvan feel better.
But after thinking further, he forced down the urge. Whatever. That guy is so powerful at such a young age. He would definitely improve more. If I miss, I’ll get a big enemy instead. It’s not worth it.
He still couldn’t bear the anger though. It felt horrible. Irvan’s face turned livid with his eyebrows down and lips pursed tightly as he sped down the street. It was obvious he was frustrated.
Just as he walked, a familiar voice sounded before him. “Hey, Eagle Eye Irvan, it’s you, right… Yes, it’s you. I knew Eagle Eye wouldn’t pass up a reward of 3000 gold coins.”
Irvan looked up to see a tired, smiling face. Beside the person was a woman with flaxen-colored hair and a middle-aged Magician in a gray robe.
Seeing these three, Irvan muttered, “I was wondering why I was so unlucky today. It’s because you three grave robbers are here, bringing all the bad luck.”
Skinorse wasn’t upset at being called a grave robber. He chuckled at Morrigan. “I bet this guy was taught a lesson by someone. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so pissed.”
Morrigan studied Irvan and chuckled too. “I bet it’s someone really powerful and he didn’t have any way to fight back. Eagle Eye, am I right?”
Priest Moya looked at Eagle Eye’s expression. Seeing that he was about to explode, she quickly comforted, “Alright, even the lord of Ferde wouldn’t dare say he’s undefeatable. It’s normal to meet a more powerful opponent. Irvan, we’re good friends. Tell us who you ran into?”
Moya wasn’t ugly and had a gentle voice. Eagle Eye couldn’t keep being angry after being comforted like that. He sat down next to some flowers by the road and let out a long sigh. “I just came out of Gear Up Tavern,” he muttered. “There’s a young guy who took up an entire table by himself, even propping his feet up. The tavern is filled with people. I wanted him to move, but I was kicked out just after one move. How unlucky am I?”
As soon as he finished, Skinorse slapped his knee and burst into laughter. “Unlucky, really unlucky. You lost all your dignity, hahaha, hehehe.”
Seeing that Irvan was honestly about to explode, Moya cried out, “Okay, Skinorse, if you’re so skilled, then you go. Go discipline that young guy.”
“Fine, I’ll go. It’s just some young guy. Irvan, I’ll discipline him for you!” Skinorse rolled up his sleeves and strode to the Gear Up Tavern.
Moya and Morrigan followed. Eagle Eye was angry at Skinorse’s mockery, but they were still friends and had worked together before. Now, Skinorse was helping him, so he followed too.
The group powerfully strode into the tavern.
Chapter 522: Legs Turned to Jelly
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Gear Up Tavern
Skinorse was not the type to think things through before opening his mouth. However, he usually exercised great caution when he had to.
When he arrived at the tavern’s entrance, he slowed down and took a deep breath to calm himself down. He then raised a hand to wipe at his face, causing it to slacken. His body was able to relax considerably as a result.
The high and mighty air he had assumed before was gone. He now looked like an ordinary customer who was just about to enjoy a glass of beer in the tavern.
Still, he remained standing at the doorway, in no hurry to enter the tavern. He then asked, “Where’s he sitting at? What’s he look like?”
Eagle Eye Irvan stood behind Morrigan, not daring to let himself be seen by the people in the tavern. He replied in a low voice, “He’s sitting on the leftmost corner of the tavern. The guy looks 30, well-built, about six feet tall. He has a steel sword on his waist. Oh, and he’s got black hair and has his feet on the table. When I left, he was eating fried green beans.”
“Got it.” Skinorse nodded. His eyes scanned the throng of people in the tavern and finally found his mark. He muttered, “Can’t believe the nerve of this guy. Whole place’s jam-packed with people, and he’s got the whole table to himself.”
Hearing this, Irvan muttered angrily back, “Right? And I was just about to teach him a lesson for being so inconsiderate.”
“Better be careful, though. If he’s bold enough to do something like this, he must have some skill himself,” reminded Moya.
Morrigan said, “The place is teeming with masters of all shapes and sizes at this time of year. Ski, it’s not too late to pull out now.”
Skinorse remained brimming with confidence. “Don’t worry, why would an actual master even come to a place like this? Besides, I’ve just reached Level-9, and I’m only one level away from Legendary. What are the odds of finding a Legendary master in this tavern?”
His words sounded reasonable enough. Moya and Morrigan could not find the words to change his mind.
Skinorse then smoothed out his shirt, held his head high and walked into the tavern in long strides. When he was inside, he let his eyes wander to the left side of the tavern without making it seem too obvious.
With one glance in that direction, Skinorse’s feet turned into jelly. He staggered and nearly fell face-first to the ground.
He immediately stood up without saying a word, then turned to leave the tavern. He passed Moya wordlessly still and kept on walking forward.
Seeing this, Irvan raised a brow and went up to ask, “Skinorse, you okay? Didn’t you just say you had just reached Level-9?”
Moya too sensed that something was off. “Skinorse, you having a fever?”
Morrigan the Magician was curious as to what had elicited such a reaction from Skinorse. He entered the tavern and took a look around. When his eyes fell on the leftmost corner, his legs too gave way beneath him. He then turned around and hurriedly left the tavern.
When he caught up to Skinorse, there was a confused look on his face. He looked at Skinorse and asked, “Skinorse, we’re probably mistaken. I don’t think it’s the same person.”
Hearing this, bewilderment came across Skinorse’s face. He had seen the black-haired young man. His features matched Irvan’s description exactly. The man was leaning back on his chair, with his feet propped on the table as he leisurely ate fried green beans from a plate.
At first, he had thought that it was the Lord of Ferde himself, but now, thinking back, he could have been mistaken. The Lord of Ferde should be in Ferde right now. Why would he be in there, dressed up as an ordinary mercenary?
“You’re right. It’s probably not the same person.” Skinorse scratched his head, still unsure of his words.
Moya listened to the conversation between them, puzzled. “What on earth are you two talking about? Why can’t I understand anything that you just said? Who was that?”
Eagle Eye Irvan was now curious as well. “Who exactly is this person that gave even a Level-9 master like yourself such a fright?”
Skinorse glared at him. “You’ll soil your pants too if I were to tell you who he really is.”
Unable to restrain her curiosity, Moya decided to enter the tavern herself. She wanted to take a look at whoever had frightened Skinorse so much.
Before entering, Moya pulled down her hood and then slowly walked towards the tavern. After a few steps, she walked around one of the tables and casually shot a glance to her left.
She furrowed her brows at what she saw.
Before her, a young man was leaning back lazily on his chair, his eyes almost completely shut. His hair was unkempt, his body was covered with a layer of dirt, and the stitching on some parts of his leather armor had frayed. He had all the defining qualities of a ruffian.
Looking at the man for a few seconds, Moya did not notice anything peculiar about him. Still confused, she exited the tavern and asked her three companions, “Who did you mistake the man for?”
Skinorse glanced at Morrigan, who remained mute beside him. He then said to her, “Don’t you think that he looks almost like the Lord of Ferde himself?”
“The Lord of Ferde?” Moya shook her head. “Maybe. I was looking at him from afar, so I can’t say for sure. You must be mistaken. Why would the Lord himself have the time to loiter around this place?”
This sounded reasonable enough.
Skinorse and Morrigan were more confident that they were mistaken now.
Irvan’s heart thumped loudly against his chest as he listened to this. He tried to sound unfazed by this. “This is rubbish. The Lord of Ferde is a Magician. That ruffian back there is a sword-wielding vagrant. How exactly are they the same person?”
Moya turned to him. “Shows how much you know. The Lord of Ferde is extremely proficient in swordplay. He also usually carries a sword with him.”
Irvan was shocked upon hearing this. He made a conscious effort to lick his lips wet. He then looked at Skinorse. “Why don’t you go back inside again and make sure it’s not really him?”
Without needing to be told twice, Skinorse headed back into the tavern. When he was inside, he took a closer look at the man and then exited. “Thank god, they only look like each other. The power he was giving off isn’t quite the same.”
Irvan let out a sigh of relief and asked, “Then why don’t you go teach him a lesson?”
“Well… I think it’s better to let bygones be bygones.” Skinorse was still wary about this. The black-haired young man seemed way too nonchalant. He feared that something might go awry.
“Coward!” teased Irvan.
“Fine, I’ll go. It’s just one mercenary. Worst case scenario, I’ll just get beaten up by him.”
Skinorse walked back into the tavern. Under the collective gaze of the mercenaries, he strode towards Link. He then drew his dagger out and stabbed it on the table where Link’s feet were raised. “Buddy, you look like a tough guy. I’m here to teach you some manners on my friend’s behalf!”
Seeing how worked up Skinorse was, Link could not help but smile at him.
He had seen them come in and out of the tavern, trying to get a better look at him. Now that one of them had mustered up the courage to come up to him personally, Link felt that he was probably going to burst out laughing at any moment.
He stretched out his hand and flicked a finger at the dagger that was still stuck to the table. The dagger let out a clear twanging sound, which echoed around the tavern.
The expression on Skinorse’s face began to change gradually. He could feel the fine vibrations of power the man’s finger had sent off from the dagger.
Only one man in this world possessed such resonant, indescribably oppressive power.
“Why isn’t he doing anything?” Irvan asked, looking at them from the doorframe.
Moya swallowed and whispered, “I don’t think he can.”
Beads of sweat appeared on Morrigan’s forehead. “Eagle Eye, this is someone you don’t want to pick a fight with. I can’t believe you actually met him here.”
“What do you mean?” Irvan realized that his hand was trembling.
On the other side of the tavern, Link retracted his finger and softly asked, “What brings you to the South?”
“There’s an ancient site here. There’s also the king’s bounty. I thought I’d just drop by and give it a shot.” The truth left Skinorse’s lips all of a sudden. Deep down, he was cursing Irvan. What was he thinking, letting himself be dragged into another one of his messes?
Link thought for a while about this, then smiled. “Your power has grown quite a lot. Eliard’s here as well as a diplomatic envoy. He’s currently investigating the city’s bandit troubles. Why don’t you go help him out?”
He had wanted to be acquainted with Irvan at first, but the sudden appearance of Skinorse made things much simpler.
Eliard still lacked experience, and Link was worried something might happen to him. With experienced adventurers like Skinorse and the others to aid him on his mission, Eliard was sure to pick things up quickly.
“I’m not saying I can’t, it’s just… the bounty…” Skinorse tried not to show the trepidation in his voice. He felt guilty about wanting to rough Link up a few moments ago.
“The bounty’s all in your dagger.”
Link then leaned back into his chair and spoke softly, “Don’t reveal my identity out loud. I’m just here to gather some information from these mercenaries. Go now, Eliard should be at the Magic Academy.”
“Oh, alright, got it, I’m going.” Skinorse pulled out the dagger from the table without giving it a second look and hurriedly walked out of the tavern.
Once outside the place, he let out a long sigh and said to Morrigan, “Come, we’re going to Grinth Magic Academy.”
Morrigan and Moya followed Skinorse without a word. Only Irvan hesitated.
Skinorse called after him. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go, I’ll split the bounty with you. How’s 1000 gold pieces sound to you?”
Irvan jogged after them. His legs were limp like noodles. His voice quaked with uncertainty as he asked, “The man back in the tavern, was it really him?”
“Yes, you should count yourself lucky that you’re still alive,” growled Skinorse.
Irvan wobbled a bit and caught Morrigan’s shoulder just in time. “I really am one unlucky fellow.”
According to what he had heard, the Lord of Ferde possessed power capable of rending the skies and splitting the ground. He had eliminated the army of darkness all by himself. To him, those demons were like flocks of sheep waiting to be slaughtered. Irvan had just raised his fist at the man, and now he feared that he might be placed under some fatal curse for his transgression. Would he just collapse and die on the spot without warning? Would his soul be tortured for eternity?
All kinds of thoughts ran through his mind. He stood there almost in trance, sensing that a curse had already been cast on him.
Skinorse noticed this and patted his back. “Alright now, Irvan, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Let me tell you, the Lord seemed to fancy you. Also, if he really wanted to end you, he wouldn’t resort to such underhanded techniques. You would have been erased from this plane of existence completely. Under instructions from the Lord himself, the king of Southmoon Kingdom would also have slapped a couple of unpardonable offenses on you to justify your execution.”
Hearing this, Irvan cheered up a bit. “Really? The Lord fancied me?”
Mercenaries like him were not worth much in the eyes of any other lord. Irvan swelled up with pride at the thought of impressing someone like Link.
Seeing the foolish grin on his face, Skinorse did not bother with him any longer. Moya added, “The Lord is a tolerant person, he won’t take something so minor to heart. Got it?”
“Got it.” Irvan sighed, then asked, “Where are we going now?”
“To finish the Lord’s mission,” said Skinorse. He looked at the dagger in his hand. It was already an Epic-level weapon, but now there was a red gleam around it.
He knocked the dagger against the Reaper’s Dagger he was already equipped with, on which a large crack appeared.
“This is good stuff. So worth it.”
…
Grinth Magic Academy.
Eliard had only been there for around an hour, and already trouble had found him.
Upon hearing that he had arrived at the Magic Academy, the king of Southmoon Kingdom immediately hurried over to welcome him personally. There were more than 20 people who had come out to receive him, including the king, queen and princess, all of whom who were illustrious figures in the Southmoon Kingdom.
The king had given him a warm welcome. However, Eliard sensed that something was wrong, but he could not put his finger on it.
Chapter 523: Who’s Lying? ##
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Grinth Magic Academy
“Master, your lord must be very busy recently, right?” the king of Southmoon asked.
Eliard furrowed his brows at this. He’d heard that something happened to Link recently but this king looked dazed. This was his third time he started talking about Link. He seemed to really wish that Link could come to Southmoon.
“Your Majesty, our lord has been paying close attention to the situation in the North. If you run into any problems, let me know, and I will do my best to help you. If I can’t, I will definitely help send the message.” Eliard deepened his tone at the end.
“Oh, I see. That’s good, that’s good. I don’t have any problems now.” The king chuckled awkwardly. After a pause, he said, “Ah, let’s not talk about this anymore, Master Eliard. You came from such a faraway place and must be tired. I won’t disturb you anymore.”
With that, he got up and left.
Eliard found this even stranger, but his expression didn’t change. He stood up and saw the king out of the magic academy.
When the king’s group left, he turned to the one responsible for the Ferde magic ambassador group. “Amir,” he murmured. “Has there been any strange news from inside the palace recently?”
He felt that the king was very not normal.
Amir was a 30-year-old Level-5 Magician. He was short and looked wooden, but that was just the surface. In actuality, he was very sharp. This was the reason why he was responsible for the group this time.
He glanced to the side. Seeing that there were some people from the Grinth Magic Academy beside them, he said, “Master, the palace is as usual. I didn’t hear anything strange.”
His tone was normal, but when he spoke, he blinked at Eliard. This meant he had something to report privately.
Eliard was taken aback. He turned to study the Southmoon Magicians. At a glance, they seemed to be doing their own things. At closer inspection, they were paying attention to him. One of the young Magicians was the most obvious. He would constantly look over.
Things were even more off now.
Eliard was clever too. He yawned and slapped his forehead; fatigue showed on his face. “That’s good. I’m tired, actually. I’ll go rest now.”
With that, he patted Amir’s shoulder. “Where are we resting? Take me there.”
Amir nodded. “Lord, please follow me.”
He turned towards the garden villa in the southeast of the academy. The villa was very big with more than 20 rooms. All of Ferde’s Magicians were living in it.
Once inside the garden, Amir took out his wand. He shook it and cast a Level-5 Secret Spell: Soul Fog.
Light fog spread from his wand and expanded. It became omnipresent water vapor that shrouded the entire villa. Then Amir continued walking. After entering the villa, he led Eliard to a small room on the second floor and cast a Level-4 barrier.
Finally, he relaxed. “Master, the situation is very strange.”
His earlier actions had alerted Eliard. “Why did you cast so many barriers?” he asked. “Are there spies?”
Amir shook his head, looking perplexed. “I don’t know if anyone is spying, but for the last half month, there were times when I felt strange while sleeping. It was like someone was watching me from the shadows. I looked around but couldn’t find any spies. To be honest, I can’t take it for much longer. I’ve had so many nightmares these days.”
Eliard studied Amir. He realized the man had light dark circles under his bloodshot eyes. His pallor was dark too. He truly looked exhausted.
The situation was quite serious. After thinking, Eliard turned to look at the surrounding barrier. “Are these effective?”
Amir shook his head, chuckling dryly. “I don’t know. Maybe or maybe it’s just a placebo.”
Eliard furrowed his brows. He thought a bit and took out his own wand. This was special. He’d modified it from Link’s Burning Wrath of Heavens. It was now called the Wrath of the Sun wand.
The wand looked like it was made of crystal and radiated with faint sun-like golden flames. When Eliard poured Sunlight Power into it, the flames would multiply until the entire room was painted in light gold.
“Sun Barrier!” he roared quietly.
Sun Barrier
Level-7 Sunlight Spell
Cost: 2000 points
Effect: Use Sunlight Power to create a barrier that blocks outer sensory. When the barrier spreads, all abnormal power in the environment will be forced out.
(Note: Sunlight shines over the world.)
A ball of faint gold light spread from the tip of the wand. The golden flood rushed past everything, and there were some hisses. There really were things in the corner—detection spells. They were hidden well but were uncovered by the Sunlight Power.
Half a second later, the barrier was complete. The entire room was covered in a thin layer of gold as if it was plated with gold crystal.
“Alright, no one can hear us now. Tell me what you know but hurry. Best if you finish within three minutes.” Eliard’s power was already regenerating as he spoke.
He was highly confident in this spell because Link had participated in developing it. It was created specifically for Sunlight Power. When it had been completed, Link had personally promised that, for five minutes, even a Legendary figure couldn’t see inside the barrier.
Amir was shaken. He’d never seen power like this. However, there wasn’t much time, so he repressed his shock and said quickly, “Half a month ago, there were rumors that the king, queen, princes, and princesses—dozens of royalty—all fell ill with some weird disease. It wasn’t serious, and they recovered in a few days. There was nothing wrong. But a while later, there were rumors that the king changed. He’s like a different man.”
“A different man? Did he become better or worse?” Eliard frowned. Before coming, Link had told him about the Ethereals. Hearing this, he instinctively suspected that it was an Ethereal.
Amir shook his head. “I don’t know. The king hasn’t called us for this half month. We don’t know much about inside the palace, and my message to the lord isn’t because of the king.”
“Oh, tell me.” Eliard felt that Full Moon City’s situation was off.
“Three hours ago, a Level-5 Palace Magician went crazy. He cast a Flame Blast spell inside the palace, destroying a pavilion. A bunch of soldiers and servants were killed. He was captured later and killed without any trial. Even more frightening, the details were instantly silenced. I can’t find anything out no matter what I do… I think something’s really wrong. The Southmoon royalty is going to have trouble.”
“I see…” Eliard fell into deep thought. He looked to Amir. The man seemed really anxious and scared. This must have traumatized him.
Magicians were noble and important. Every country treated them with respect. Even if they were sentenced to death, it had to be a horrible crime and go through a just trial. Every Magician had to be convinced before the criminal Magician could be killed. Killing a Magician like butchering a chicken rarely ever happened.
There weren’t enough details though. Eliard couldn’t figure anything out. He thought a bit more and asked, “The magic academy seems guarded against us. Why?”
Magicians were usually independent. In their field, they didn’t care much about political power of the regular world. They only cared about a Magician’s level. With Link’s reputation as a Legendary Magician, they shouldn’t be so feared here.
Amir sighed. “So many things have happened recently. There’s a rumor going around Full Moon City that we brought them bad luck… Of course, this is just a small thing. The real reason is that Earl Andal, dean of the academy, fell sick. After he recovered, I felt clearly that they started watching us.”
“Another sickness?” Eliard was shocked. If the people who fell sick were all taken over by Ethereals… He felt like he’d walked into a den of wolves.
He quickly calmed himself down though and started planning. He prepared to visit the dean of the Grinth Magic Academy. He wanted to see if the man really had any problems.
“Alright, keep your guard up. I’ll pay Earl Andal a visit,” Eliard said. He’d seen the man earlier and thought he was a bit quiet. Thinking back, it was strange.
“Master, should I go with you?” Amir asked. “We can have each other’s backs.”
“No.” Eliard shook his head. “He’s just a Level-6 Magician. I can deal with him.”
With that, Eliard canceled the barrier. Without resting, he walked out of the villa. Outside, he walked alongside the square and then turned a corner. As soon as he turned, he saw a Magician from the academy come out of hiding and blocked his path.
He looked familiar. He seemed to be the one who’d paid attention to Eliard and Amir’s conversation. Eliard remembered his name was Flemming.
When he got closer, Flemming suddenly said, “Master, I have something to say.”
“You too? What?” Eliard found it strange.
Flemming looked side to side and muttered, “Be careful of Amir. He hasn’t been acting normal. There are rumors that he has secret contacts with the robbers outside the city. I personally saw him with some weird strangers. I told the dean, but he doesn’t believe me. I felt like I had to tell you.”
Flemming was young. He was in his twenties and was only at Level-1. When he spoke, his eyes darted around as if scared someone else would hear. He didn’t look like he was lying.
Eliard was even more perplexed.
He’d only been in the Southmoon Kingdom for less than two hours, and there seemed to be fog everywhere. He didn’t know who he should trust. Was Amir or Flemming lying? Was everyone lying?
Thinking it through, Eliard still didn’t know how to distinguish truth from lie. He could only stick to his original plan—investigate the dean.
Chapter 524: Danger Everywhere
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Grinth Magic Academy
Before long, Eliard was able to find Earl Andal on the top floor of the Mage Tower of Enlightenment.
The man was nearing 70 and possessed Level-6 magical knowledge. This was an impressive achievement among the Magicians of the previous generation, but age had caught up to him.
While the world saw a drastic growth among the younger Magicians due to the steady increase in Mana concentration, his power level had stagnated due to his wizened body.
The white-haired old man reclined on his leather armchair with one hand toying around his magic wand. Seeing the youthful Eliard, he smiled and said, “I knew you would come, young one. Must have realized that there’s something odd going on here.”
Eliard still did not have a handle on the old man’s temperament. Just a while back, Magician Amir had also told him that Earl Andal had contracted a highly suspicious illness. With this in mind, Eliard remained suspicious of the old man.
Without a word, he began to feel his aura. It felt normal, at least for someone his age. Link had reminded him that anyone possessed by an Ethereal entity would display unnaturally augmented power. He had also told him not to dismiss the possibility that some of these might be able to hide their own presences.
He found nothing else to confirm his suspicions.
Andal seemed to have read his mind, as he continued, “Young man, you must have realized that the people here don’t seem to be speaking truthfully. It’s as if everyone’s been possessed by some evil spirit.”
Eliard raised an eyebrow and asked uncertainly, “Spirit? What spirit?”
Andal smiled weakly. “I don’t know. What I do know is the fact that these spirits have attacked the king, queen, princess, prince, as well as me and a few other Magicians. Some of the attacks were successful, others not so much. They’re extremely good at hiding themselves. Even I don’t know whose body has been taken over at this very moment. The only thing I know is that I have not been possessed by these evil spirits.”
“I find that hard to believe.” Eliard had pulled out his magic wand and was now twisting it between his fingers.
“I don’t have proof of this.” A bitter smile surfaced on Andal’s face. “That’s what’s so terrifying about these creatures. Regardless of whether they managed to possess any one of us, these spirits have succeeded in destroying the trust between us beyond repair. Don’t think that I’m not possessed by one of them right now just because I’m having this conversation with you. Remember, they are capable of disguising and hiding themselves in our midst, and they are also extremely crafty.”
At this point, Eliard sensed that the fog around him had thickened so much that everything was now a blur before him. He had never experienced something so bizzare.
He had never felt a shred of fear in a fight with anyone else.
He was now a Level-8 Magician. At this point, his power was near limitless. He was equipped with a powerful wand in his hand and the runestone that Link had given him as a defensive measure. However, he could neither see nor feel the enemy he was now facing this time.
“I’m way in over my head,” said Eliard, sighing.
Earl Andal chuckled, “I don’t think you can handle this by yourself. You probably should leave here right now and let the Lord of Ferde take care of things himself.”
The one who should have come to this place in the first place was Link. But Link had changed his mind on a whim, and Eliard ended up coming here on his behalf. This was all just a series of unexpected turns
However, the Earl’s words fired Eliard up. He smiled. “No need to bring Link into this. I too would like to see how big this particular python is.”
“As you wish,” said Andal.
At this point, there was nothing else left to say. Eliard turned around and was ready to leave the room. He opened the door. Just as he was about to step over the threshold, Eliard suddenly stopped. He then asked, “It must be really nice in Alford right now, I imagine?”
“Rubbish, that god-forsaken place…” Andal suddenly paused, then smiled even more bitterly at him. “You win, young man.”
Alford, a city in the Delou Ethereal Realm, was known for its nightmarish weather and hostile environment. In truth, all the habitable regions in the Ethereal Realm were deplorable. Alford was simply one of the worst places to live in. The place was also renowned for being one of the three great cities of the Ethereal Realm.
No ordinary Magician in the realm of Firuman should be able to know a place like Alford. The fact that Earl Andal knew what kind of place immediately revealed his true identity.
Earl Andal was still smiling, though his eyes had turned cold. “Young man, you were never in any danger before. But now that you know who I am, I can’t possibly let you leave here alive.”
Warning bells began to ring in Eliard. He suddenly remembered what Amir had told him, that a Magician had suddenly gone berserk and cast a Flame Blast spell to bring down a palace. He was then executed on the spot.
His situation now was the same as that Magician. If he were to assault Earl Andal here, everyone else would think he had gone mad. There were probably other Magicians who had been possessed in the Magic Academy. As soon as they subdued him, Eliard would be immediately executed like the other Magician.
He was able to figure out so many things in such a short span of time.
A moment later, he turned around and pointed his wand at Earl Andal. “Radiant Sunbeam!”
Radiant Sunbeam
Level-8 Master Level Spell
Supreme Magic Skills: Soul Resonance (Instant cast)
Cost: 4500 Sunlight Magical Power Points
Description: Sends out a beam of pure hot energy and has a lock-on effect. Anyone hit by it will not be able to use any spatial magic spells below Level-8. The beam will shoot out three times. At each time, it will recalibrate its direction to match a moving target’s movements.
(Note: Be gone like a pile of snow in the morning sun.)
Eliard’s attack came fast and strong. He had the first move!
There was a tearing sound, as a golden beam of light flashed through the air not once, but thrice in an instant.
The first flash came. Earl Andal had remained on his chair, but the beam did not hit its mark. Rapidly, Andal dodged sideways, avoiding the attack entirely. The second beam of light immediately adjusted its direction.
He dodged again, but this time, it took a lot more effort than before. The beam of light managed to graze his skin, which instantly set it ablaze.
He was still in mid-air as he dodged the second beam when the third beam came. It pierced through his chest, leaving a gaping hole with a diameter of more than 10 inches in it. The blood and flesh around the wound were still melting away after the beam of light had dissipated.
After being struck by Eliard’s spell, Earl Andal’s body immediately lost its balance. Like a kite whose string had snapped, he collapsed to the ground and hit the wall. The old man’s neck snapped, and his head rolled on the ground limply.
Even in such a state, he was still barely alive. He raised his head unsteadily and stared at Eliard with a cold sneer on his bloodstained face. “Not bad, but you’re alone here. Even if you kill me, how will you escape from Full Moon City?”
Saying this, Earl Andal let out his last breath. From his mouth drifted a faint green mist. This was usually what would happen whenever a possessed body expired.
Eliard heaved a long sigh. Even after killing Earl Andal, the sense of urgency in him intensified even more.
He heard footsteps and shouts coming from outside the window.
“Someone has killed the dean!”
“Apprehend him, quick!”
“We’ll kill him on the spot!”
The shouts sent a chill down Eliard’s spine. He knew that those shouting outside the window were possessed by the Ethereal creatures. How else would they have known that the dean was dead without even setting foot in his room?
If the ones coming for him were ordinary Magicians, Eliard would be able to eliminate them all without breaking a sweat. But these were Ethereal Warriors he was dealing with. Link had told him that Ethereal Warriors were endowed with special abilities. In large numbers, they could easily rival a Legendary master’s power.
They had laid out this trap especially for Link. Eliard was heavily outmatched. The only thing he could do right now was flee!
A great number of people had gathered outside the building. He needed to get out of there before it was too late. Eliard quickly took out the communication rune and was ready to leave.
Just then, he put the runestone back inside his pocket. “Do I really need to ask for Link’s help to deal with this? I’ll be looked down on by him. No, I need to think of a way to get myself out of this and resolve this business in Southmoon Kingdom by myself.”
In a flash, Eliard had come up with an escape route in his mind. He rushed into the room in long strides and then waved his wand midway. Earl Andal’s corpse floated into the air. At the same time, Eliard extended a hand towards the window and activated the Magician’s Hand, which swung the window wide open.
“Go to hell!” Eliard swished his wand again, and Earl Andal’s body soared out of the window.
Just as the corpse left the window, a huge number of spells struck it in mid-air. Apparently, the people outside had mistaken the corpse for a fleeing Eliard.
Taking advantage of the confusion, Eliard cast a Traceless Invisibility spell and ran out towards the Mage Tower’s spiral staircase.
As he descended, he could hear many footsteps coming from below the staircase. The magic wand in his hand twitched, and he cast a Conjuring spell on himself: Tangible Illusion.
The illusion ran back up towards the top of the tower, while Eliard, who had remained invisible, leaned back motionlessly against a wall.
A few seconds later, a group of people ran up the stairs without noticing Eliard.
When everyone had rushed past him, Eliard continued his path down the staircase. Before long, he reached a great hall. There were four people in it. Unlike the rest who had gone up the tower, they stood guard in the hall in a composed manner.
When Eliard appeared, one of them suddenly turned towards him. The other three, who had been oblivious to Eliard’s presence, turned to look at him as well, as if the four of them were psychically linked to one another.
Eliard quickly realized that he had been spotted. Without bothering to recast his concealment, he made his first move and waved his wand, shouting, “Freeze!”
A golden mist erupted from his wand and settled on the four of them. A golden film of vapor condensed on every one of them. They were all immobilized in an instant.
Eliard then cast another spell: Sunlight Acceleration.
His body trembled violently, as a golden light engulfed his body. At a glance, he now resembled a small sun, which burst out of the Mage Tower at blinding speed and into the courtyard outside.
Along the way, Eliard looked towards the garden villa nearby that served as the base camp of Ferde’s diplomatic envoy.
Should I trust Amir? thought Eliard. Then another thought surfaced in his mind. Of course, Link must have prepared some countermeasure to prevent Ethereal possession. Amir should be alright!
At this thought, he then turned and sped towards the garden villa.
Eliard saw Amir standing at the entrance with an agitated look. When he saw Eliard, Amir shouted, “Master, what’s going on?”
“Many have been possessed by evil spirits in the Magic Academy, including the dean. And I’ve just killed him.”
Without even doubting his words, Amir said, “Quick, let’s get inside, the villa has a defensive magic circle around it!”
When Eliard rushed into the courtyard, Amir instantly activated the defensive magic circle. Eliard noticed that the magic circle was only Level-5. He immediately halted in his tracks and said, “No, a Level-5 magic circle won’t be enough! I’ll hold them off, go gather everyone… ah, you…”
Eliard suddenly noticed that Amir’s face had contorted peculiarly. Startled, he dodged sideways. From the corner of his eyes, he saw that Amir had pulled out a dagger from behind. The dagger sliced through the air fast and was already inches away from stabbing through his heart.
He would not be able to dodge the attack in time.