The Pontiff stood cold-eyed on one side of the arena, a golden crown atop his head and an ancient golden staff in hand—both said to be treasures of the Holy Temple, nearing the level of holy artifacts. His expression was icy, his body wreathed in explosive currents of energy. The very air trembled as magical elements resonated around him, their harmonic vibrations so intense that even Kael, standing nearly a kilometer away, felt his heart shudder.
"Terrifying. Just his aura alone would make most legendary powerhouses quake..."Zorath the Silent muttered, his face grim.
Kael nodded in silent agreement. The kitten, hypersensitive to such energies, bristled uncomfortably.
"Divine Martial Order, all members of the Sacred Council—retreat three kilometers immediately! No one is to observe from closer!" The Grand Speaker commanded calmly.
"Holy Temple forces, heed my order—White Feather Knights and all acolytes, withdraw three kilometers without delay!"
Three kilometers!
Damn it, that far?!
Kael's mind raced. Even with the Grand Speaker and Pontiff deliberately restraining their power, they demanded such distance—proof enough of the cataclysmic scale of this duel.
Though reluctant, the crowd obeyed, scattering swiftly.
Within the three-kilometer radius, only a handful remained—the absolute pinnacle fighters of major factions, such as the supreme experts of the Crystal Tower and Crimson Moon City.
Once the perimeter was cleared, Kael's gaze locked onto the two figures. Then—
The Pontiff moved first.
The golden staff in the Pope's hand twitched slightly as he gently rotated it, chanting an incantation under his breath. The spell was incredibly complex, yet the Pope recited it with astonishing speed, completing it in the blink of an eye!
A crimson moon descended from the sky—the Crimson Moon Sigil!
The Crimson Moon Sigil appeared on the Pope's staff, far more profound and enigmatic than the one Kael had mastered. This was undeniable proof that the Pope's comprehension of the Crimson Moon Sigil far surpassed Kael's.
Of course, it was only natural for the Pope to wield the Crimson Moon Sigil with such mastery.
What truly astounded Kael was the Pope's staggering display of power. There was no doubt—the Pope was a legendary 14th-level mage, a being on par with the Water Dragon!
Such a powerhouse would have commanded awe even in ancient times.
The crowd gasped as the surrounding mana surged like a tsunami, flooding every inch of space with overwhelming pressure.
Under the heavens, the Grand Speaker moved as well!
Clutching a jade-white staff, the Grand Speaker's figure seemed pitifully small against the boundless tide of mana, as if he might be swallowed by the raging waves at any moment.
Under the terrifying influence of such mana, the highly intelligent magical beasts in the distance—the Golden-Horned Beast and the Black Dragon—grew restless, their agitated cries filling the air. Meanwhile, those below the 10th level paled, some even struggling to breathe.
Yet the Grand Speaker soared into the sky, utterly unfazed by the Pope's near-terrifying mana presence. In an instant, the two most formidable figures of the era had launched into a fierce battle!
Wherever Kael's gaze fell, the very fabric of space trembled.
"Damn it… I still underestimated the Grand Speaker and the Pope," Kael muttered inwardly. His eyes gradually steadied as he scrutinized their duel, determined not to miss a single detail.
Beneath the heavens, the two legendary mages were each enveloped in their own formidable mana, manifesting as six radiant auras: red for fire, azure for wind, yellow for earth, blue for water, white for light, and black for darkness!
These six hues swirled around them, coalescing into two blinding orbs of light—like miniature suns—that orbited each other at breakneck speed, a testament to the intensity of their clash.
Both were masters who had unified the six elemental forces, allowing them to wield any elemental magic with effortless dominance, unrestrained by the limitations of a single affinity.
The clouds in the sky vanished.
The very earth seemed to twist and warp.
The waters of Thousand Moon Lake churned violently, as if pulled by an unseen force, surging upward in great waves. Countless droplets evaporated into mist, drawing gasps of awe from the onlookers.
"Dimension of Light!"
As a mysterious Crimson Moon Sigil flared to life, the Pope unleashed a spell. The light element converged, and the world seemed bathed in endless radiance—so intense that space itself split apart under the cascading brilliance, revealing sacred luminescence.
Then came a crackling noise, like the sound of frying beans.
Another spell, another profound Crimson Moon Sigil!
"Eye of the Fire God!"
Suddenly, fire element spread wildly, detonating in the air. The Grand Speaker strode forth as if emerging from the heart of a blazing sun. Flames whirled at terrifying speeds, devouring everything around them, coalescing midair into an enormous, oval shape—a colossal eye gazing down upon all living things.
"Dimension of Light... Eye of the Fire God..." Kael's mind reeled. This was his first time witnessing such terrifying magic. Dimension of Light could tear through space itself, while Eye of the Fire God was peerless in its destructive might. And this was still with both the Pope and the Grand Speaker restraining their mana—just how monstrous were they?
Deafening explosions erupted. Gigantic blades of light, wild tongues of flame, and tsunami-like surges of mana ravaged the surrounding space. In the next instant, Thousand Moon Lake's surface rippled violently, its water level plummeting as the Grand Speaker's Eye of the Fire God vaporized it in an instant!
"This... this is beyond absurd..."
"Terrifying... utterly terrifying! I can feel the very sky trembling—like it's about to collapse!"
Many had little understanding of the Pope's Dimension of Light, but when they witnessed the Grand Speaker's Eye of the Fire God, their eyes widened in shock. Before them, Thousand Moon Lake's waters evaporated at a visible rate, its surface rapidly receding—undeniable proof of the spell's cataclysmic power...
"Even the lake was burned dry…" The little cat shuddered in awe, unable to hold back a cry.
Dimension of Light and Eye of the Fire God—two spells of terrifying magnitude—collided. The clash of these colossal magics unleashed storm-like surges of arcane energy, their power shaking heaven and earth. Within the battleground, violent elemental forces swirled chaotically, saturating the air with raw magic.
Both combatants had mastered the fusion of the six primal elements, wielding near-limitless mana and drawing upon an inexhaustible well of power. Streaks of unstable energy ricocheted wildly, forcing the high-ranking members of the Sacred Council and the Temple to hastily erect magical barriers for protection.
By now, Kael had grown almost numb to the sheer spectacle of their battle—yet his heart burned with ambition. Having now embarked on the path of an Archmage, he knew that one day, he too would stand at such heights. No, he would surpass them.
The Grand Speaker and the Pope fought on, their spells unfolding in an endless torrent. Beneath the heavens, their duel painted a scene of breathtaking beauty, strangeness, and overwhelming power…
Suddenly, the little cat leaped from Kael's shoulder. "Kael, look!" it yowled, stretching a paw downward.
Kael followed its gesture—then froze.
The lake.
The Eye of the Fire God's devastation, compounded by the Grand Speaker's supreme mastery of fire magic, had caused Thousand Moon Lake's waters to evaporate at a staggering rate. Now, in the shallows, the receding waters had fully drained away, exposing a patch of the lakebed.
And there, amid the cracked mud, stood a structure.
Built from dark, weathered stone, it was neither grand nor intact—half-collapsed, its ancient lines spoke of ruin and antiquity.
"An ancient palace…?" Kael's eyes swept over it, his mind racing with quiet astonishment.
The discovery quickly drew the attention of others. Even amid the cataclysm of the two titans' duel, the drained shallows had unveiled this relic—a forgotten edifice hidden beneath the lake's surface.
What an unexpected twist…