Kael's tent lay in ruins, the scene one of utter devastation. Wisps of smoke still curled from the fabric as if it had just been blasted by magic—clear evidence of deliberate sabotage.
Not far from the wreckage stood a group of figures, men and women alike, all clad in identical plain-colored robes and wielding crystalline staffs. The unique insignias embroidered on their attire marked them as members of a particular faction.
"People from the Crystal Spire!" Ethan's voice came out slightly strained, his eyes flashing with surprise. "It's Roland and Gavin!"
The Crystal Spire?
Understanding dawned on Kael. The Crystal Spire was one of the continent's foremost magical organizations, its influence vast, second only to the Sacred Council and the Holy Temple—a force not to be underestimated.
The Spire commanded immense prestige across the land, and each generation produced several prodigies who shone brightly on the continental stage.
Following Ethan's gaze, Kael saw the group of Crystal Spire youths gathered ahead. Among them, two figures stood out, surrounded like stars orbiting twin moons.
The first was a young man of unremarkable features but towering stature, his body exuding a refined yet restrained magical aura that spoke of extraordinary prowess.
The second was icy in demeanor, as if carved from frost itself. His eyes—sharp as twin blades—pierced through those they surveyed, sending involuntary chills down spines.
"Kael, that ice-cold one is Gavin, and the other is Roland. They're renowned experts within the Crystal Spire, ranked second and third in strength among their peers. Both are terrifyingly powerful—leading figures of the younger generation," Dylan quickly explained via magical transmission, his voice low and urgent.
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
On the continent, the term "younger generation" generally refers to mages and warriors under the age of thirty. Yet even among them, the disparities are vast. Take Ethan and Dylan, for instance—both in their early twenties. Though terrifyingly talented, their limited cultivation time inevitably leaves them mid-tier among their peers.
As for the strongest of the younger generation, they tend to be slightly older youths like the Gavin and Roland before them. Both around twenty-eight, their auras pulsed with extraordinary energy, revealing not only solid magical foundations but fearsome power that made Ethan and others seem downright green by comparison.
Figures like Gavin and Roland were contenders for the title of strongest among the continent's youth—so formidable that even some elders hesitated to challenge them.
Ethan snorted coldly, glaring at Gavin and Roland. "Care to explain the tent, Gavin? Roland?"
The prepared campsite now lay in ruins, clear magical residue evidence of intentional destruction.
The towering Roland wore a lazy smirk as he shrugged. "Our apologies. We were practicing spells here earlier and... well, got a bit carried away. Truly unfortunate—guess we just didn't see it properly."
His excuse was pathetically thin. The tent stood at least five to six meters tall—how could anyone "miss" something so massive? This was blatant provocation.
As Roland spoke, the youths behind him burst into mocking laughter, clearly relishing the confrontation.
Kael's gaze turned icy.
Dylan's magical whisper reached his ears: "Roland and Gavin rank among the Crystal Spire's top young talents. The Spire has always leaned toward the Holy Temple, maintaining close ties. We've had numerous... friction points with them already."
Understanding dawned. The Crystal Spire was a staunch Holy Temple ally.
With Kael's arrival at Moonmist Lake, all factions had likely fixed their attention on him—the Spire's group being no exception.
This "accident" was almost certainly a probe to test Kael's capabilities.
At that moment, Little Kitten suddenly spoke up from behind Kael: "What a bunch of idiots! Can't even come up with a decent excuse for picking a fight!"
The kitten was clearly displeased with these people, letting out a disdainful snort as it glared at them.
Its outburst immediately drew everyone's attention. The sight of a talking kitten left the onlookers astonished—even Ethan and Dylan wore expressions of surprise, having completely overlooked the creature earlier.
Roland's breath hitched, his face darkening with anger. "Where did this stray cat come from, daring to spout such nonsense? Some people can't even control their pets properly!"
This only infuriated Little Kitten further. "You're the cat! Your whole family are cats! Believe it or not, this young lady will claw your idiot face to shreds!" It hated nothing more than being called a cat.
"You're dead!" Roland's expression twisted with rage. Being repeatedly insulted by a kitten was beyond humiliating. He took a step forward, ready to strike.
Then Kael emerged from the crowd.
"Ah, just a simple misunderstanding." Kael shrugged, even smiling as he positioned himself protectively in front of Little Kitten.
His words left everyone stunned.
Roland and the icy-faced Gavin behind him exchanged bewildered glances. They hadn't expected Kael to respond with such calm—even amiable—indifference, showing not a trace of anger.
Roland studied Kael, disdain flashing in his eyes. So much for the continent's so-called genius, a level ten powerhouse—turns out he's just a spineless coward!
The group behind Roland erupted in scornful laughter, their eyes brimming with mockery. All this fuss over someone who crumbles at the slightest provocation!
Of course they knew who Kael was. Destroying the tent had been deliberate—a test to gauge his true strength.
Kael continued smiling, his expression almost disarmingly pleasant. "Roland, was it? If I'm not mistaken, your tents are over there?" He pointed toward a cluster of tents in the distance.
"What of it?" Roland sneered.
Kael's smile didn't waver as he suddenly raised his staff. A silver glint flashed across its tip as he rapidly chanted an incantation—
WHOOSH!
A massive fireball erupted from his staff, hurtling straight toward the Crystal Spire's encampment!
BOOM!
The Crystal Spire's tents were struck by Kael's spell, the fireball reducing them to rubble in an instant with a deafening explosion.
The crowd froze in shock, staring blankly at Kael. Their own encampment had just been obliterated in retaliation!
"My apologies. I was practicing magic and... well, got a bit carried away." Kael's tone was casual, almost indifferent.
Silence. Dead silence.
Ethan clenched his fists, exhilaration surging through him. This was too satisfying.Kael's counterattack was flawless—directly demolishing Roland's camp in one strike!
Dylan couldn't help but grin. He'd been puzzled by Kael's earlier docility, only to realize it was a setup for this brutal slap in Roland's face.
Kael's gaze remained icy. He had no patience for provocateurs. Experience had taught him one truth: Only by demonstrating overwhelming strength would these people learn to back off.
Roland snapped out of his daze, his face twisting with fury. "You little bastard! You're dead!" Rage burned in his chest as he glared at Kael—how dare this brat retaliate so brazenly!
Behind Roland, the other mages raised their staffs, ready for battle.
On Kael's side, Ethan and Dylan stepped forward, standing firmly behind him—though a trace of unease flickered in their eyes. Roland's group represented the Crystal Spire's elite, while their own lineup... wasn't quite as formidable. The odds were skewed.
"You? Not nearly enough to kill me." Kael's voice was calm, his eyes cold as he met Roland's glare.
Roland's lips curled into a sinister grin. "Oh? Let's see if your reputation holds up then."
Kael shook his head. "You're too weak. Better yet—why don't all of you come at me together?"
The moment those words left his mouth, the entire crowd erupted in disbelief!