Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Hill really held back from laughing out loud.

For the first time, he realized that being an old grandpa isn’t all that easy.

Sometimes you can internally curse stupidity, roll your eyes secretly to tolerate it, while cuteness can hardly keep you from smiling.

Luckily, Russell was extremely nervous, so he didn’t react to why he couldn’t speak for a while, and the person hidden behind the bookshelf remained silent.

He only used noticeable breathing and adjusted his clothes to calm down his panic, embarrassment, and nervous feelings.

Although until now, Russell still couldn’t understand why his first choice was to cover his face; he wasn’t Carpenter!

But Russell stubbornly suppressed himself... Those wild thoughts can wait for later; his most important task right now is to discern the opponent’s intentions.

However, since the other party didn’t rush to devour his soul instantly but instead reminded him to put on clothes, it gave Russell a faint glimmer of hope.

He might have bet correctly.

Russell seriously considered for a moment before tentatively asking, ”Are you Mr. Pierre Heisenar?”

This time, Hill genuinely couldn’t hold back a chuckle.

Pierre is the author of this notebook; the child is probing him in the simplest way!

Indeed, if someone harbors ill intent towards him, impersonating the original author of the notebook is the easiest.

Most importantly, the name and status of the Archmage of the Defense Tower have long been erased from many people’s memories.

If he were from this world, it would be really difficult to impersonate him.

Hill gently spoke, ”You don’t need to care who I am; you just need to know why you can come in here.

I really did not expect the Haisenal Clan to have a 16-year-old Mid-level Apprentice open this ring.

Logically, with your affinity for Protection Spells, you should have become an official mage long ago!

What’s going on outside?”

Russell was taken aback, ”I really have the talents to become a mage?”

”Very obviously, I can sense the aura of force from your body... As long as there is a Defense Mage in the Hainarson Family, they can’t possibly not feel it... Something happened to the Defense Tower, right?”

”They were cleared out by Sia Tower.” Russell hesitated a bit but still replied.

”Oh... Then perhaps, it’s when they tried to contact the outside world; they were discovered... That’s normal. Didn’t I make this ring because I felt this world was somewhat, hehe~?”

Hill casually mentioned his judgment: On certain levels, the habitual use of force fields in Protection Spells easily resonates with Earth Force, perhaps giving some inspiration to a Ninth Ring Mage.

Even if tamed lambs, once aware of the freedom outside the pen, will always have someone fantasizing.

Unfortunately, they may just feel the need to escape wolf jaws, unaware that outside is encircled by machine guns.

Only to finally face the reality of no survivors.

Russell pursed his lips; the other party indeed dared to speak frankly, but one must also dare to listen!

He is very realistic; now he only wants to survive with his family; he doesn’t want to consider anything else, let alone the troublesome matter of what the world’s future might become.

For people like them who are barely hanging on, they can only take each step as it comes!

So he focuses more on another matter... the implication in the other party’s words is that his talents are quite extreme, leading only Protection Spells to resonate enough to upgrade his Mental Sea, right?

But how can he dare to learn casually?

He’s now even a bit worried about what to do in the Magic Tower in a couple of days!

Carpenter’s talents are evidently not up to par, ultimately it’ll surely be him going... But he’s more aware that if Mage Gilbert also learns Protection Spells, after discovering his talents, he might rather choose Carpenter.

Though it’s also for his protection.

Actually, the people of the Tower of Dark Enigma are disorderly yet not entirely desperate because they speculate Sia Tower will ultimately lend a helping hand.

At least provide them a place to shelter.

After all, it’s the Magic Tower that offered sacrifices to the Goddess. To encourage other Magic Towers to emulate them, Sia Tower can’t let the Tower of Dark Enigma simply be destroyed.

Otherwise, which Magic Tower would treat capturing visitors from the Stellar Realm as important?

Just like over the years, many Magic Towers are no longer willing to put effort into this.

Basically, laying capture Arrays and calling it a day, no one would go to lengths like the Tower of Dark Enigma did, laying a web from the skies to the ground.

Though it consumed massive resources... Sia Tower and the Goddess’s rewards seemed much more valuable than the consumption, capable of sustaining the Tower of Dark Enigma for hundreds of years, even without acquiring sufficient meteorite resources.

A revelation came to the ordinary mages of the Tower of Dark Enigma: the beneficiaries are the upper tier, opportunities for survival offered to the lower tier, but the middle tier, where they are, lost a significant amount of cultivation resources.

The Ninth Ring Mages indeed grew stronger; even if somewhat declining, the Tower of Dark Enigma remains among the strongest Magic Towers, solely dependant on fierce upper-tier strengths.

But middle-tier mages stunned to discover, because much of the stock resources were used to create the web halting the heavens and earth, there are always missing necessities when they need them.

Of course, Sia Tower didn’t leave them empty-handed either.

No matter how firm the Tower Master’s resolve, the ones executing are ordinary mages!

Sending resources, unconsciously withholding more crucial items for themselves, even without malicious intentions.

Even realizing being tricked, how can the Tower of Dark Enigma complain?

After all, Sia Tower did return several times the resources... Complaining doesn’t even know how to start.

Not to mention the Tower Master retreats immediately after ensuring resource delivery.

Over the past centuries, they truly wondered how the Tower of Dark Enigma endured.

But because of this reason, those from the Tower hold faith that Sia Tower won’t abandon a Tower of Dark Enigma made this way by their errors.

Countless Magic Towers on the continent are watching!

Russell fully understands, since it’s assumed they’ll inevitably go to the Tower of Dark Enigma, Mage Gilbert will surely worry his protection talents might attract undue attention.

But how can he be content?

And Carpenter’s talents... She couldn’t even hold her ground in the Tower of Dark Enigma, entering Sia Tower is virtually heading towards death!

Russell absolutely won’t consent.

Upon this realization, he made up his mind, raising his head sharply: ”So, are you Archmage Johnston?

Can I ask for your assistance?”

”You don’t need to know who I am.” Hill smiled, ”But I can indeed lend you a hand.

With the Defense Tower gone, no one can claim Defense Spells originate from them, right?”

”But currently, Defense Spells aren’t something you can just learn.” Russell felt a bit puzzled, ”And my talents...”

”Since you’re so certain someone can discern your talents, it means not all Defense Spells are off-limits, right?” Hill continued smiling, ”A little trick can temporarily make you appear as another type of mage, of course, just from appearances.

Only your spiritual power would accelerate a bit, but it doesn’t mean learning other spells would become easy.

But you would endure great struggles, given your terrible talents in other areas.”

Russell was beyond delighted: ”I’m willing to learn! As long as there’s a chance, of course I’m willing to learn!”

Then he saw the slowly moving mage from behind the bookshelf clad in a black robe, and the robe half-dragged on the ground with its unique runes on the tail.

Russell blinked... It seemed like a defensive rune he had studied.

Vaguely heard that the past insignia of the Defense Tower was this foundational rune symbolizing resistance enhancement... As all defenses are based on this rune.

Black robe, brownish rune, and the faint reflective lines.

Russell still believed it could very well be Archmage Johnston.

His heart settled slowly.

Of course, he dare not fully trust the other... Who knows if the other plans to establish a soul connection due to insufficient Soul Power?

Even though now Sia Tower imposes strict control over these matters, once determined anyone dares such acts of soul devouring and self-revival, they’d be directly turned into compost.

Somehow, Sia Tower particularly delights in capturing these individuals.

Nevertheless, Russell truly didn’t sense any hostility from the opposite party.

Especially when he acted foolish earlier, Russell felt he perceived a gentle gaze.

Resembling his grandpa’s gentle smile watching him bouncing around in excitement upon discovering his mage talents.

Thus, Russell later spoke so directly.

Though even such shallow probing, the other merely considered him amusing.

Only then did Russell truly find peace of mind.

Yet he vaguely sensed what the elders once mentioned: the reason the Defense Tower met such outcomes was due to their naiveté with overwhelming prowess.

The mage before him seemed not too adept at controlling his emotions.