In the next moment, the once-imposing gates of Black Water City collapsed with a deafening crash.
The protective magic arrays that had been etched into the gates were torn apart by Nina’s mana, reduced to nothing.
The grand signboard bearing the city’s name lay shattered amidst the ruins.
Nina’s attack was precise. freēwebnovel.com
She destroyed only the gates, leaving the surrounding buildings and people unharmed.
Witnessing this, the steward was struck dumb. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, trembling.
This woman was undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with—a true powerhouse.
To destroy Black Water City’s magic arrays and gates in a single blow was far beyond what the steward could comprehend, much less challenge.
The onlookers, too, took several steps back.
The tension in the air was suffocating.
A clash of epic proportions seemed inevitable.
For years, the
sanctuary’s
prestige had remained unchallenged.
Yet, here was someone brazen enough to obliterate the gates of Black Water City, a key border city of the holy city.
This was unprecedented.
In the last five years, conflicts around the holy city weren’t uncommon.
Many powerful individuals had descended upon the sanctuary to seek justice or settle grievances.
But none of them had ever achieved anything.
Most of these so-called challengers ended up joining the sanctuary, pledging allegiance to it or relocating their families to the holy city.
The sanctuary’s mysterious and powerful reputation remained intact, untarnished.
Never before had anyone dared to destroy a city gate, effectively slapping the sanctuary in the face.
Black Water City, located on the outskirts of the holy city, wasn’t an especially important location. But now everyone was watching to see how the sanctuary would respond to this blatant provocation.
Dez: The Lord of Black Water City
The lord of Black Water City, Dez, was a man of questionable fortune. Born an orphan, he eventually gained entry to the prestigious Crossbridge Academy.
His life was a series of unexpected twists.
Shortly after he enrolled, the academy’s old headmaster died unexpectedly, leaving Dez on the brink of returning to his life of poverty.
Then, a new headmaster arrived, bringing stability and improvements to the academy.
Dez’s life improved dramatically—better food, accommodations, teachers, and classrooms.
But even with all these advantages, Dez lacked magical talent.
Despite the academy’s ideal conditions, which most mages could only dream of, Dez remained unremarkable.
While others hunted spell beasts and rapidly advanced, Dez wandered aimlessly in the nearby mountains.
He rarely challenged himself, opting instead to hunt low-level spell beasts that posed no threat.
When even those beasts became scarce, Dez joined his peers on deeper excursions into the mountains. But he always returned empty-handed.
While his classmates quickly ascended the ranks, Dez remained stagnant, taking over a year to barely reach the gold tier.
By that time, even students who had enrolled after him had surpassed him.
It was during this period that Crossbridge Academy and Riverside City underwent significant upheaval. Dez seized the opportunity to apply for a post in a remote region, managing affairs there.
The academy, eager to fill gaps in staffing, approved his request immediately.
Had Dez dedicated himself to his work, his status as a Crossbridge Academy alumnus would have allowed him to rise swiftly in a place like Black Water Town.
Instead, Dez squandered the opportunity, fading into obscurity.
Even so, his status as an academy alumnus eventually earned him the title of Lord of Black Water City.
Once in power, Dez began leveraging his position for personal gain, enabling his subordinates to act with impunity.
Chaos in Black Water City
As Dez enjoyed his usual leisurely routine, a law enforcer burst into his chambers in a panic.
“Lord Dez, something terrible has happened! Someone is attacking us!”
Dez blinked, confused.
“Attacking Black Water City? Impossible!” he scoffed.
Anyone with grievances against the Crossbridge Academy would go straight there, not waste time on a border city like Black Water.
Black Water City was merely a waypoint for those lacking the power to fly directly to the holy city. No one dared stir up trouble here.
But before Dez could process the report, a thunderous sound echoed across the city. The ground trembled violently as if an earthquake had struck.
“What’s going on?” Dez demanded.
A servant rushed in, pale-faced.
“Lord Dez, the city gate… it’s been destroyed!”
“What?” Dez roared, leaping to his feet.
He quickly dressed and stormed out.
While he wasn’t particularly remarkable back at the academy, in Black Water City, Dez was untouchable.
Anyone passing through was beneath him, and his magical artifacts, provided by the academy, ensured his survival even in dire situations.
His confidence unshaken, Dez hurried to the ruined gates.
Nina vs. Dez
“Who dares cause trouble in my Black Water City?” Dez bellowed. “Do you know where you are? This is the holy city’s border! To defy the holy city is to court death!”
His voice carried authority, earning murmurs of admiration from the crowd.
“Impressive! No wonder he’s a lord from the sanctuary.”
“Exactly! Even his words exude power!”
“The fool who challenged the sanctuary is doomed now.”
Kaylyn, standing among the crowd, looked pale and worried.
Dez landed near the ruins, surveying the scene.
“I am Dez, Lord of Black Water City! Who dares challenge the sanctuary? State your name!” he demanded.
From the crowd, Nina stepped forward, her expression calm but sharp.
“My name is Nina,” she said. “Who do you think you are?”
Before Dez could respond, Nina delivered a devastating punch to his face.
The force sent him flying into the rubble.
For someone like Dez, who had tarnished the reputation of Crossbridge Academy, Nina didn’t even bother using magic. A physical blow was far more satisfying.
Dez crashed into the debris, his head ringing.
The crowd was stunned.
“Wait… isn’t he supposed to be from the Crossbridge Sanctuary? How is he this weak?”
“Maybe she used some kind of advanced magic?”
As Dez staggered to his feet, he retrieved a magical artifact from his storage crystal, prepared to retaliate.
But then he saw Nina’s face and froze.
Nina… he remembered her.
She had been one of the most promising students of their cohort, second only to the dazzling Rose.
During the beast tide in Black Water Town, Nina had stood out, her skill and determination leaving a lasting impression.
Dez’s confidence faltered.
And then he saw someone else.
Standing not far away, exuding an overwhelming aura, was Daniel—the very headmaster who had transformed the academy.
Everything Dez had—the position, the resources, the opportunities—was owed to Daniel.
At the sight of Daniel, Dez’s legs gave out, and he fell to his knees.
“H-headmaster… I…”
He opened his mouth to speak, but terror clouded his mind, rendering him speechless.