Chapter 524 - Danger Everywhere (1/2)
Chapter 524: Danger Everywhere
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Grinth Magic Academy
Before long, Eliard was able to find Earl Andal on the top floor of the Mage Tower of Enlightenment.
The man was nearing 70 and possessed Level-6 magical knowledge. This was an impressive achievement among the Magicians of the previous generation, but age had caught up to him.
While the world saw a drastic growth among the younger Magicians due to the steady increase in Mana concentration, his power level had stagnated due to his wizened body.
The white-haired old man reclined on his leather armchair with one hand toying around his magic wand. Seeing the youthful Eliard, he smiled and said, “I knew you would come, young one. Must have realized that there’s something odd going on here.”
Eliard still did not have a handle on the old man’s temperament. Just a while back, Magician Amir had also told him that Earl Andal had contracted a highly suspicious illness. With this in mind, Eliard remained suspicious of the old man.
Without a word, he began to feel his aura. It felt normal, at least for someone his age. Link had reminded him that anyone possessed by an Ethereal entity would display unnaturally augmented power. He had also told him not to dismiss the possibility that some of these might be able to hide their own presences.
He found nothing else to confirm his suspicions.
Andal seemed to have read his mind, as he continued, “Young man, you must have realized that the people here don’t seem to be speaking truthfully. It’s as if everyone’s been possessed by some evil spirit.”
Eliard raised an eyebrow and asked uncertainly, “Spirit? What spirit?”
Andal smiled weakly. “I don’t know. What I do know is the fact that these spirits have attacked the king, queen, princess, prince, as well as me and a few other Magicians. Some of the attacks were successful, others not so much. They’re extremely good at hiding themselves. Even I don’t know whose body has been taken over at this very moment. The only thing I know is that I have not been possessed by these evil spirits.”
“I find that hard to believe.” Eliard had pulled out his magic wand and was now twisting it between his fingers.
“I don’t have proof of this.” A bitter smile surfaced on Andal’s face. “That’s what’s so terrifying about these creatures. Regardless of whether they managed to possess any one of us, these spirits have succeeded in destroying the trust between us beyond repair. Don’t think that I’m not possessed by one of them right now just because I’m having this conversation with you. Remember, they are capable of disguising and hiding themselves in our midst, and they are also extremely crafty.”
At this point, Eliard sensed that the fog around him had thickened so much that everything was now a blur before him. He had never experienced something so bizzare.
He had never felt a shred of fear in a fight with anyone else.
He was now a Level-8 Magician. At this point, his power was near limitless. He was equipped with a powerful wand in his hand and the runestone that Link had given him as a defensive measure. However, he could neither see nor feel the enemy he was now facing this time.
“I’m way in over my head,” said Eliard, sighing.
Earl Andal chuckled, “I don’t think you can handle this by yourself. You probably should leave here right now and let the Lord of Ferde take care of things himself.”
The one who should have come to this place in the first place was Link. But Link had changed his mind on a whim, and Eliard ended up coming here on his behalf. This was all just a series of unexpected turns
However, the Earl’s words fired Eliard up. He smiled. “No need to bring Link into this. I too would like to see how big this particular python is.”
“As you wish,” said Andal.
At this point, there was nothing else left to say. Eliard turned around and was ready to leave the room. He opened the door. Just as he was about to step over the threshold, Eliard suddenly stopped. He then asked, “It must be really nice in Alford right now, I imagine?”
“Rubbish, that god-forsaken place…” Andal suddenly paused, then smiled even more bitterly at him. “You win, young man.”
Alford, a city in the Delou Ethereal Realm, was known for its nightmarish weather and hostile environment. In truth, all the habitable regions in the Ethereal Realm were deplorable. Alford was simply one of the worst places to live in. The place was also renowned for being one of the three great cities of the Ethereal Realm.
No ordinary Magician in the realm of Firuman should be able to know a place like Alford. The fact that Earl Andal knew what kind of place immediately revealed his true identity.
Earl Andal was still smiling, though his eyes had turned cold. “Young man, you were never in any danger before. But now that you know who I am, I can’t possibly let you leave here alive.”
Warning bells began to ring in Eliard. He suddenly remembered what Amir had told him, that a Magician had suddenly gone berserk and cast a Flame Blast spell to bring down a palace. He was then executed on the spot.
His situation now was the same as that Magician. If he were to assault Earl Andal here, everyone else would think he had gone mad. There were probably other Magicians who had been possessed in the Magic Academy. As soon as they subdued him, Eliard would be immediately executed like the other Magician.
He was able to figure out so many things in such a short span of time.
A moment later, he turned around and pointed his wand at Earl Andal. “Radiant Sunbeam!”
Radiant Sunbeam
Level-8 Master Level Spell
Supreme Magic Skills: Soul Resonance (Instant cast)
Cost: 4500 Sunlight Magical Power Points
Description: Sends out a beam of pure hot energy and has a lock-on effect. Anyone hit by it will not be able to use any spatial magic spells below Level-8. The beam will shoot out three times. At each time, it will recalibrate its direction to match a moving target’s movements.
(Note: Be gone like a pile of snow in the morning sun.)
Eliard’s attack came fast and strong. He had the first move!