The sorcerers from the three groups each chose a direction and proceeded to explore various locations such as offices, workshops, sorcerers’ dwellings, laboratories, and archives.
“Where are we heading?” Ivan asked, as they passed several sorcerers’ dwellings, which Christian showed no intention of entering.
“I know where the Ward family’s dwelling is. The Ward family is one of the families controlling Night Forest, and I believe we might find something substantial there,” Christian said.
Christian was a middle-aged, handsome sorcerer with a lean frame and an air of experience about him. At first glance, one could tell he was a man of integrity.
As far as Ivan knew, Christian had been the chief steward of the Hunting Team for about fifty to sixty years. To hold his position under the pressure of the Three Great Families for such a long time, he must be a very capable man.
Such a man would likely know many of the academy’s secrets, perhaps even information about the Ant Beings’ secret vault.
Ivan considered inquiring with the Hunting Team, but he wasn’t in a rush to succeed; he believed in a gradual process in everything.
“We’ve arrived. The Ward family’s dwelling is quite concealed, mostly situated deeper underground.”
Under Christian’s guidance, the two headed to a sparsely built area where the ground structures resembled black coffins lying horizontally or standing vertically, with mist swirling around them.
Ivan felt he was broadening his experiences; who would favor such bizarre architecture unless it related to their meditation practice?
That night, a traitor had led the way, and even the most hidden structures were breached. Now, many signs of battle remained visible.
The two entered through an opening of one coffin, descended via a spiral staircase into a spacious underground palace, where walls were adorned with glowing green lights and the ground was littered with scattered items.
Christian took out a glazed mirror, activated it, and it emitted a pale yellow light, illuminating the surroundings. It was a special magicalized item, used specifically for inspecting hidden rooms and compartments.
“Sorcerer Ivan, I heard that you handed over your research on the Black Magic Wind Array to the academy, as well as the sorcerers at Rapid Flow Twin Towers?” Christian casually asked as they were walking.
“I had no choice but to do so given the circumstances,” Ivan responded calmly. “It was just the Black Magic Wind Bundle Array, yet it still attracted some unnecessary trouble.”
“Those people are just like that, only seeing their own interests, and the safety and lives of ordinary sorcerers are of no concern to them.”
“The academy really doesn’t behave properly in some aspects.”
Hearing Christian’s discontent, Ivan strongly agreed, still bearing a grudge over the academy’s previous inaction.
“Sorcerer Ivan, you are a Senior Enchanter, aren’t you?”
“You could say that,” Ivan replied.
“Haha, no need to be modest. Although I am not a professional Enchanter, I do have an eye for talent. May I ask, was your knowledge in Advanced Enchantment Skill taught by the academy?”
“How could it be? You should know there are strict rules. One has to have been a sorcerer for thirty years to even apply. My knowledge of Advanced Enchantment Skill was acquired by a fortunate coincidence. As for what I traded for the Black Magic Wind Bundle Array, it was merely three thousand credits and a set of mental power potions.”
Christian was not surprised by this, knowing the nature of those people, they would never allow ordinary sorcerers easy access to advanced knowledge. He was about to continue speaking when he heard unusual sounds coming from behind him.
The two exchanged glances and turned to be on guard.
Suddenly, a tracking light approached, followed by three masked sorcerers appearing. Their gaze instantly fixed on Ivan as they met.
“Ivan Marichardon, we’ve finally found you.”
“I’ll hold this guy off, you go and kill him.”
The three sorcerers were clearly targeting Ivan and made their intentions known from the start, using their words to try to intimidate Christian into retreating.
Ivan glanced at the rapidly dissipating tracking light. It seemed he had been betrayed. Otherwise, how would they know he was headed to Night Forest and be able to track him so precisely here?
He could no longer afford deep thought, as his enemies were already attacking with murderous intent.
“Sorcerer Ivan, we must fight side by side this time.”
“Thank you. You intercept one, and leave the rest to me,” he replied.
“I’m waiting to see your technique.”
Christian had no intention of retreating, and Ivan certainly wouldn’t refuse him, as he wasn’t arrogant enough to take on three alone.
To avoid interference from spells, they each moved a distance off to the front side.
In his hand, Ivan flipped through some magic-casting materials, a potion resembling black lava with black catkins floating around it.
As his Enchantment skills advanced, the materials he refined became more dazzling and pure, already achieving a preliminary synergy of wind and fire. Stay updated with empire
‘Black Magic Hand’
A giant hand burning with black flames emerged; the fiery patterns within distinctly visible as the intense flames caused the air to distort unnaturally.
The fiery giant hand struck forward.
The masked sorcerer on the opposing side made his move as well.
Not to be outdone, one used a Fire-type spell and the other a Wind-type magic; the wind fueling the fire made their spell look more powerful than an ordinary Level 1 spell, causing Christian, who was observing the scene, to sweat for Ivan.
The black flames met the raging firestorm.
Like facing its nemesis, the storm began to dissipate as soon as it resisted.
In this battle of attrition, the fiery giant hand quickly penetrated the enemy’s block and continued towards the two sorcerers ahead.
“How is that possible!”
The two opposing sorcerers couldn’t believe their combined attack was broken so easily, clearly due to the peculiarity of the opposing flames.
As the fiery giant hand approached, they had no time to be shocked and could only try to jointly fend it off.
Seizing the advantage, Ivan pressed forward, launching another Black Magic Hand with maximum force that engulfed the slowly retreating duo.
On one side of the battlefield, brilliant lightning flared, similarly engulfing another masked sorcerer, with screams echoing through the chamber indicating his dire situation.
“Bastard! Go to hell.”
Under the fiery giant hand, one sorcerer was heavily damaged. Seeing the enemy approach so closely, he threw out three blast potions, only to be swept away by an incoming Combat Energy Slash.
Instantly, flames shot up into the sky, reigniting the area and engulfing the sorcerer who had thrown the blast potions.
With the Solidification Magic Flower Tree Shield on the outside and Earth Knight armor on the inside, Ivan blocked the flames firmly in front of him, then he launched another Combat Energy Slash at his enemies.
Moments later, the flames gradually extinguished, leaving behind several charred corpses.
“What did I say? In their eyes, our lives are worthless. Don’t even mention any camaraderie from the same academy. Mongna Ant Land Cottage is no longer the Sorcerer’s Academy it used to be. It has become a mere plaything in the hands of the Three Great Families,” he said.
Having witnessed his unusual methods of attack, Christian grew even more certain of his perspective. The sorcerer before him was someone he desperately needed to recruit to his faction, so he bluntly pointed it out.