Several months ago, a large number of Bloodkin appeared in Dusk Moon City in the southern continent, drawing the attention of the Human Alliance's upper echelons.
The Human Alliance's leadership was alarmed by this development. Using it as a pretext, the Holy Temple proposed electing a new leader for the Human Alliance. The Sacred Council, however, was no pushover, and the two factions clashed, neither willing to yield.
They agreed to settle their dispute through the Three-Battle Pact. Yet in the first battle—a duel between their younger generations—no one from the Sacred Council could stand against the Holy Temple's Einar. Just as the Sacred Council seemed destined to lose the first round, Kael entered their sights.
...
Kael mulled over the intelligence in his mind as he traveled with Zorath the Silent toward Moonmist Lake.
He sat atop Zorath the Silent's wyvern-drawn carriage, which soared through the skies at incredible speed yet remained remarkably stable. The broad back of the wyvern was exceptionally comfortable, stirring a hint of envy in Kael's heart.
If only I could have a wyvern carriage of my own one day, Kael mused silently. Wyvern carriages were privileges reserved only for Sacred Council members—fewer than twenty people in the entire organization had the right to own one.
"Pah! A mere wyvern, trembling before the terrifying dragon majesty of this young lady!" Little Kitten, meanwhile, pranced about triumphantly. Thrilled that Kael had brought her along, she flicked her tail and snorted at the wyvern.
Unfortunately, compared to the wyvern's massive, dozens-of-meters-long frame, the tiny feline was utterly insignificant. Her boasts were completely ignored.
Zorath the Silent could only sigh at the kitten's antics. He had no idea where Kael had found this creature—an eighth-tier beast capable of speech. Truly, the three continents were full of wonders.
What baffled him even more was why Kael would bring the kitten to Moonmist Lake.
Had he known Zorath the Silent's thoughts, Kael would have chuckled. Though Little Kitten wasn't particularly strong in combat, her sensory abilities were terrifyingly acute. Who goes to battle without a radar?
Despite the wyvern carriage's blistering speed, Moonmist Lake at the continent's heart was still a considerable distance away. With no immediate arrival in sight, Zorath the Silent struck up another conversation with Kael.
This time, he shared some additional intelligence.
Only then did Kael realize that Moonmist Lake wasn't just hosting the Sacred Council and the Holy Temple—numerous other factions from across the continent had gathered as well, making it a true convergence of powers.
This made the Sacred Council's potential defeat even more unacceptable!
"So the Crystal Spire, the Emerald Tower, and Crimson Moon City have also arrived?" Kael's expression grew solemn as he processed Zorath the Silent's words.
The Crystal Spire, the Emerald Tower, Crimson Moon City—these were all renowned magical organizations on the continent, each formidable in their own right.
And just like the major factions, these groups were divided into two camps: one supporting the Sacred Council, the other backing the Holy Temple.
...
After a long journey, the blue-scaled wyvern suddenly let out a thunderous roar that shook the heavens. Zorath the Silent abruptly sat upright, his eyes gleaming. "Brother Kael, we've arrived!"
Kael's pulse quickened as he looked downward. Below stretched vast emerald forests, bisected by a broad river winding into the distance. Farther ahead lay an enormous lake shrouded in mist—a breathtaking paradise.
The Sacred Council and the Holy Temple certainly know how to pick a venue, Kael mused silently.
Little Kitten wagged her tail excitedly at the view. "Finally! This young lady can't wait to unleash her draconic majesty!"
Kael patted her head. "Behave yourself. This isn't like before. Moonmist Lake is now under total lockdown—no one enters or leaves. With so many factions tangled here, if you get captured, don't expect me to save you."
The kitten snorted in dissatisfaction but quieted down, knowing Kael spoke the truth.
"Let's descend," Zorath the Silent said, slapping the wyvern's back while uttering strange guttural sounds. The beast seemed to understand, beginning its gradual descent from the skies...
The wyvern's massive form blotted out the sun long before it neared the lake, drawing the attention of every faction in the vicinity. Rustling echoed through the forests as all eyes turned upward.
Every power present knew Zorath the Silent had left to "seek reinforcements." Now that he'd returned, his arrival commanded intense scrutiny.
"Is that the kid?"
"Seems so. I heard he single-handedly wiped out the Renault Family. His strength must be terrifying."
"One person annihilating the Renault Family? Impossible. Rumors are rarely credible. How old is this brat anyway? If he really destroyed the Renaults, he must've relied on others to do the dirty work!"
The onlookers all noticed Kael standing beside Zorath the Silent. Seeing a youth barely twenty years old, they were both astonished and skeptical. This was the reinforcement Zorath the Silent had brought back?
Hearing their murmurs, Zorath the Silent's expression darkened slightly. He reassured Kael, "Ignore them, Kael. Many here are Holy Temple supporters. We'll shut them up with facts soon enough..."
Kael shrugged with a faint smile, utterly unbothered.
Yet internally, he gained even clearer insight into the situation. The Sacred Council's position appeared more precarious than he'd imagined—so many factions here openly backed the Holy Temple...
Perched on Kael's shoulder, Little Kitten muttered under her breath at the crowd, "What're you staring at? Hmph! Never seen a dragon before?"
Kael couldn't help but chuckle. His gaze then shifted as he noticed movement ahead.
A group of about a dozen mages and warriors—both men and women, all around twenty years old—emerged before them. The younger generation, unmistakably marked by the Sacred Council's trident emblem.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"The Sacred Council's young elites..."
"We welcome Councilor Zorath the Silent! We welcome Five-Star Overseer Kael!"The youths formed two lines, bowing slightly in unison to greet them. These were the escorts sent to receive Kael and Zorath the Silent.
"Good. Lead the way," Zorath the Silent acknowledged with a nod, then clapped Kael's shoulder cheerfully. "I'll go park the wyvern carriage first. Let them guide you to secure lodging here. After that, we'll meet the Grand Speaker together."
"Understood," Kael replied.
With that, Zorath the Silent went to tend to the wyvern carriage. The massive, dozens-of-meters-long vehicle posed significant challenges for forest entry, forcing it to remain stationed outside.
"Kael."
A familiar voice suddenly rang out.
Kael paused, lifting his gaze slightly to see two familiar figures approaching.
One was a golden-haired young man clad in armor, his handsome features breaking into a smile as he met Kael's eyes. The other was a mage, equally striking, standing tall with a staff in hand. Both were faces Kael knew well.
Ethan and Dylan!
Indeed, these two were none other than the former prodigies of Flarecrest Academy—Ethan and Dylan. Like Kael, they had joined the Sacred Council. Though they hadn't thrived as effortlessly as Kael, they hadn't fared poorly either.
Among the Sacred Council's younger generation, Ethan and Dylan were considered upper-mid-tier talents, both at the peak of level eight, just a step away from breaking into level nine.
"So it's you two..." Kael smiled, a flicker of warmth crossing his heart at the sight of old acquaintances. He hadn't expected to run into Ethan and Dylan here—nor had he noticed them earlier among the Sacred Council's younger elites.
Ethan let out a wry chuckle. "Long time no see. And now you're already a level ten powerhouse." Both he and Dylan couldn't help but sigh. In such a short span, Kael had left them far behind, his shadow now untouchable.
After exchanging brief pleasantries, Ethan gestured ahead. "Come on, we'll take you to your quarters first." Only then did Kael learn that the forests surrounding Moonmist Lake operated under strict territorial rules. For now, he'd have to settle for the outskirts—entering the lake proper would be no easy feat.
"Kael, your spot is right over there. We already set up the tent for you..." Ethan explained, pointing toward a designated area.
Suddenly, Ethan's brow furrowed, his expression darkening. "Dammit! Who wrecked the tent?"
Following Ethan's gaze, Kael's expression cooled. Not far ahead, on a slightly elevated patch of ground, lay utter chaos—the once-neatly-pitched tent now collapsed in disarray. Nearby, a group of youths snickered openly in Kael's direction...
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze turning frosty.