Einar was already preparing his third and final magical strike. His crimson eyes locked onto Kael: "I never intended to use this spell. But at this point, it seems impossible to defeat you without it."
His words sent another wave of shock through the crowd. The murmurs that had just begun to settle now surged anew. No one had expected Kael to push Einar to such extremes—forcing him to openly admit that without resorting to his trump card, victory was beyond reach!
Even Zorath the Silent tensed, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on Kael. Three exchanges, and Kael's already gained the upper hand—proof enough of his strength! But this third strike of Einar's…
Then—Einar moved!
His staff swept downward, and a massive magic circle flared to life on the ground, pulsing with condensed energy. Einar's incantation was unfathomably complex, its chant unusually prolonged.
"A summoning spell!" Kael's eyes flicked to the magic circle and Einar's formation, instantly recognizing it.
Summoning magic was devastatingly powerful, but its lengthy casting time made it impractical in most battles—which explained why Einar hadn't used it earlier.
Now, Einar maintained a cautious distance from Kael, his chanting accelerating.
Yet Kael showed no intention of interrupting the spell. Instead, he too raised his staff and began his own incantation.
Beneath him, another magic circle materialized!
"Summoning magic—both of them?! They're answering summoning with summoning?" Councilor Mia of the Sacred Council couldn't suppress her gasp.
Conventional wisdom dictated that when a mage began casting a summoning spell, the priority was to disrupt it. After all, the summoned entity's power was too terrifying to risk unleashing.
But Kael was matching him spell for spell!
Did he truly believe his own summoning could overpower Einar's?
"Countering summoning magic… with summoning magic?" Every spectator stared, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Summon, Angel of Light!"
A spirit emerged from the magic circle—an Angel of Light.
With an androgynous beauty, a tall and slender figure, and two pairs of pristine white wings, this so-called Angel of Light bore an expression of icy detachment.
"A four-winged Angel of Light, nearly level eleven—even among spirits, this is exceptional!" The members of the Sacred Council gasped in astonishment, staring at the radiant being emanating intense holy energy. Could Kael's summoned spirit possibly withstand it?
"Summon, Cerberus!"
From Kael's magic circle surged black flames, and within them emerged a massive beast—no, not just one, but three heads!
Cerberus!
Cloaked in dark fire, the three-headed monstrosity let out a deafening roar as it fully materialized. Many who witnessed its terrifying form shuddered involuntarily.
The savage howls of Cerberus echoed as the beast stood before the crowd—its black inferno, three gaping maws, and a colossal body spanning over ten meters. With a thunderous growl, it bared its fangs, its visage twisted in ferocity.
The appearance of Cerberus sent shockwaves through the spectators.
A summoning spell recorded in The Book of Immortality—Cerberus!
This was precisely why Kael dared to challenge Einar in a battle of summoning magic.
The onlookers, especially the younger generation, were stunned. None had expected Einar to summon a spirit as formidable as the Angel of Light, already nearing the peak of level ten… Yet, even more terrifying was Kael.
The monster he had summoned was none other than Cerberus—the legendary guardian beast of the underworld…
"This Cerberus summoned by the kid is bizarre… its spirit level seems impossible to determine…" Amidst the shock, many also realized that the exact rank of this three-headed monstrosity was unclear. It appeared to be near the upper limits of level ten, yet somehow… not quite.
A flash of surprise crossed Einar's eyes as his expression turned grave. "Cerberus?"
The Angel of Light tensed as if facing a mortal enemy, and the atmosphere grew even more charged.
The Angel of Light and Cerberus were natural adversaries—one a spirit of holy magic, the other a legendary guardian beast of the underworld. Their very natures repelled each other.
"You dare challenge my summoning magic with your own? Let's see if you have what it takes!" Einar's momentary astonishment faded, replaced by unwavering confidence in his Angel of Light. With a cold shout, he commanded the celestial being to charge at Cerberus.
Cerberus roared, its three gaping maws snapping viciously as the two colossal spirits clashed. The sky trembled violently from the impact.
Space itself quaked under the relentless shockwaves of magic, the expanding force of their battle whipping up a storm that seemed to tear the heavens apart. The experts of the Sacred Council and the Holy Temple had no choice but to intervene, shielding themselves with auras and spells to avoid being caught in the devastation.
"Damn it, these two little monsters—they're strong enough to threaten even level eleven! How terrifying!" Zorath the Silent muttered in frustration. Both Kael and Einar were prodigies capable of fighting beyond their ranks. Given the power they had displayed, they might even stand a chance against true eleventh-level masters!
From the sky, pristine white feathers drifted down—feathers from the Angel of Light…
The Angel of Light was gradually being overpowered!
Cerberus's assault was too ferocious. Each of its three heads tore savagely at the celestial being, and bit by bit, the Angel of Light began to falter. More and more feathers scattered through the air, torn from its wings…
Then—a deafening explosion.
Cerberus's massive paw struck, splitting the Angel of Light's wings clean in half. The celestial spirit, now utterly outmatched, flickered weakly before dissolving into countless motes of elemental light, vanishing from existence.
Einar's mana was completely drained—summoning magic demanded immense reserves. His face paled, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. The moment his Angel of Light was shattered, a brutal backlash of magic surged through him—one of the inherent risks of summoning spells.
The staff in Einar's grip slipped from his fingers and clattered to the ground, marking his defeat.
"Einar has lost!"
The fallen staff signaled his utter and undeniable failure.
The Holy Temple's prodigy, a genius revered across the continent… had been defeated!
Einar stared blankly at his own hands, disbelief washing over him.
He… had actually lost.
This scene left countless members of the Holy Temple in disbelief. Those from the Crystal Tower and the Emerald Spire could scarcely believe their eyes—even the Sacred Council's own people seemed momentarily stunned.
Zorath the Silent's lips twitched, as if a colossal hammer had struck his mind. The outcome before him was something he had never anticipated.
Initially, Zorath had assumed the best possible result would be a draw between Kael and Einar. Yet now, not only had Kael won—he had done so with overwhelming dominance, a complete and utter defeat for his opponent.
Even the Holy Pontiff, renowned for his unshakable clarity, experienced a rare moment of mental blankness.
Then—a thunderous roar of triumph erupted from the Sacred Council's side, shaking the very air with jubilant cheers.
The Holy Temple's faction, however, remained frozen in shock. To them, Einar had been the undisputed successor to the Pontiff's legacy. How could he have lost?
On the platform, Einar's eyes glazed over, his gaze unfocused. It took a long moment before clarity slowly returned. "Kael… you've won," he forced out, his voice hoarse as though each word drained the last of his strength.
The Grand Speaker rose to his full height, his voice resonating across the arena: "I declare the first duel between the Sacred Council and the Holy Temple—victory goes to the Sacred Council!"
Seated among the observers, the Pontiff's expression darkened, flickering through several shades of displeasure before he finally let out a quiet scoff. Yet he offered no further comment.
The truth was undeniable: Kael had triumphed.
Kael turned his gaze toward the Grand Speaker, a mix of pride and anticipation stirring within him. He had secured the Sacred Council's first victory—a feat worthy of reward. What would the Council grant him in return?