Age of Adepts

At Greem’s level, any number of auxiliary functions would only remain supplemental. What truly determined victory in battle was the magical techniques of the adepts themselves.

In all honesty, Scarface Gallow’s combat style was somewhat similar to body-refining adepts, though he was far more powerful and unusual in his attacks.

After having his body modified heavily, Gallow no longer had so-called ‘weaknesses’ on his person. He would still be able to live if his body was severely injured, with over 80% of it missing. That said, his heart, spine, and right hand were most crucial to him.

Though he wouldn’t die if these organs were damaged, he would still suffer a tremendous discount in combat prowess!

Thus, when Greem and the elementium magical machine focused their attacks on Gallow’s heart, the source of his dead energy, this adept with an undead’s bloodline finally went berserk.

Scarface Gallow gave up on defending altogether, putting all his strength into attacking instead. Greem immediately felt mountainous pressure crash down upon him.

Force threads!

These force threads, created by Gallow’s concentrated Strength and magical energy, slashed towards Greem from every direction. Even as powerful and composed as he was, Greem had no choice but to turn and flee. He didn’t even have the courage to turn back.

They were too firmly concentrated!

Compared to the formed spells of elementium adepts and Greem’s pyromancy, Gallow’s Strength was undoubtedly richer and more refined.

The difference between the two of them was like that of a needle and that of an ostrich egg. There was no doubt that the ostrich egg was larger and contained more power. However, if the needle and the egg were to crash, the egg was sure to be the one to break. Its strength and hardness were simply too dispersed compared to the needle.

The main reason Gallow was able to refine his Strenght to such an extent was likely due to the magical sword in his hand. At the very least, in Greem’s Elementium Sight, Gallow’s danger indicator was lower than the magic sword in his hand.

According to the Chip’s analysis, the magical sword was close to awakening to an independent consciousness, or what people usually knew as an artifact spirit. Should the sword awaken successfully, it was very likely to advance into Fourth Grade magical equipment immediately, becoming even more potent than before.

However, at the moment, it was only Third Grade magical equipment that could refine its user’s Strength to an extreme!

As Scarface Gallow pressed forward with all he had, the insignificant red force threads wove into a vast yet inescapable web that descended upon Greem. Greem fled without hesitation, directing his flames to stall and obstruct the movement of the threads as he did so.

After flying for two hundred meters, the force threads gradually started to falter. They became incapable of maintaining a stable form and energy structure, quickly scattering and disintegrating. The energy tide that radiated from the dispersal of the threads caused a fearsome storm on the battlefield.

Greem was only grazed slightly by the shockwave of the energy storm, and a good half of his Inferno Shield crackled and shattered into sparks.

Before Greem could take a breath, Gallow roared and charged ahead, dragging Greem into a melee with a storm of attacks.

The two adepts that stood at the peak of Third Grade clashed with each other in this fashion, causing yet another horrifying energy storm to rise in the battlefield.

…………

The battle in the faraway land raged on.

The many adepts standing in front of the magical screens were holding their breath, almost watching this high-grade adept battle with a sort reverence.

The power of the bloodline adepts and the ferocity of elementium adepts were on full display in this battle.

Even the Third Grade adepts that were leaders of their own organizations couldn’t stop sweating as they watched the battle unfold. They couldn’t help but compare themselves to the two combatants. They were also subjects of admiration in the regions they came from, elites amongst the adepts.

However, compared to these two peak Third Grade adepts on the screen, there was nothing praiseworthy about themselves!

Their past arrogance and disdain for everything weaker than themselves were swept away in an instant, leaving them with only the realization of their ignorance and foolishness.

Among the many rooms where adepts watched the battle, there was one in which resided two silver-robed adepts.

They talked amongst themselves with solemn expressions as they watched.

“How is it? Can you detect the intensity of their attacks?”

Several magical crystals floated in front of one of the silver-robed adepts. The sharp ends of these crystals were pointed at the screen, and all kinds of data and numbers continually appearing on the surface of the crystals. Most of these numbers were glowing with a blinding red color.

“…760 points…830 points…910 points……”

This silver-robed adept broke out in cold sweat when he saw the jumping red numbers continue to soar and turn a brighter shade of red.

The two people fighting on the screen were only Third Grade adepts! They might have reached the peak of Third Grade, but they were still Third Grade after all. Yet, somehow, the might of every casual attack they unleashed was approaching the range of Fourth Grade adepts.

Didn’t that mean that either of these two adepts alone would have enough power to face off against a beginner Fourth Grade adept!? Moreover, the shadow of the principle powers could be seen on both of them.

It was evidence that these two peak Third Grade adepts both had a frightening potential for development.

Even without any external assistance, these two adepts were very likely to advance to Fourth Grade within the next century or two.

After all, principle powers were a miraculous power that only peak Fourth Grade adepts could possess!

“These two adepts would at least be elites if they were in our Silver Union, wouldn’t they?” One of the silver robes couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Probably not just elites,” the other adept shook his head and said, “Considering the trace of principle power that they already possess, even our core adepts might not be able to defeat them with utter certainty!”

“Core adepts.” The silver robe became utterly speechless.

The adepts were classified in a strict fashion within the Silver Union based on their abilities.

Apart from the silver-robed adepts who were responsible for upholding and maintaining order within the Union, several silver-robed adepts were also selected to form an elite squad. Most of these elites were of higher status than even the executors and the punishers.

Meanwhile, there was also a group of adepts that stood above even the elites. These were individuals with exceptional talent and potential that were selected from the combat adepts, inducted into the inner circle of the Silver Union, and acknowledged as core adepts of the organizations. Each of these individuals was shockingly powerful and formed the core strength that had ensured the Silver Union’s continued stability of the past one hundred thousand years.

In all frankness, they were Fourth Grade adept reserves and candidates!

Should any casualty occur among the current Fourth Grades of the Silver Union, an opening would appear within the power structure. The Silver Union would then invest resources and effort into cultivating these core adepts without holding back, such that they could fill the opening within the Union as soon as possible.

That was the true purpose for the existence of these core adepts!

The two Second Grade silver robes in the room right now were executors sent by the Silver Union to collect information on Zhentarim. As such, their opinion was fairer and more objective than any of the other observers.

…………

Apart from the Silver Union, the Northern Witches and the Adept’s Association had also sent representatives.

The Northern Witches sent none other than Second Grade Witch Nina.

As the representative that the Deceit Witches had stationed in Zhentarim, Witch Nina naturally had to have perfectly understood everything about the significant event that was happening here. The reason she was so passionate about her job was that it was the Deceit Witches’ turn to manage the public affairs of the Northern Lands for these hundred years.

If a witch leader were to ask about major events in Zhentarim during the next witch leader meeting, the entire Deceit Witch branch would suffer shame should there be gaps in the information she was supposed to collect.

Moreover, she was relatively well acquainted with this legendary fire adept as well.

After all, she had met him back when he was still a mere First Grade adept. The fire adept had left a deep impression upon her.

The thought of making the fire adept her man and concubine had even appeared in Nina’s head at one point.

However, as this Adept Greem became related to the newly risen Fate Witch leader, Alice, Nina had no choice but to give up on this idea. She had been reasonably upset over this for a long time.

However, when she once again saw Greem–this time through a screen–he had become a fearsome peak Third Grade existence that she could only look up at.

If…if this guy was to improve by just a little bit more, wouldn’t he…wouldn’t he be equal to our clan leader?

Witch Nina’s body trembled and her soul quaked at the thought of this.

Dammit! Had these years of living gone to waste compared to him?!

Disregarding all the complex emotions that Witch Nina was currently experiencing, a middle-aged adept in a proper adept’s robe and a pointed hat was sitting in another room, staring solemnly at the light screen. His long adept’s staff leaned against the back of his chair.

As the two peak Third Grade adepts on the screen fought with increasing ferocity and savagery, the expression on the middle-aged adept’s face only turned graver.

Finally, he took out a crystal-clear communication crystal and rubbed it with his right hand. He mumbled a few activation chants, and the crystal ball lit up.

“I need all the information on Legendary Fire Adept Greem. The more detailed, the better, and the faster, the better…yes, put him into our observation and contact list as well. As for his position, put him in front of that Gallow!”

A short moment later, the light from the crystal ball faded.

The only source of light was the magical water screen in the room, illuminating the dark and solemn expression of the middle-aged adept.