"Damien's bloodline is indeed powerful, but it's purely strength. Facing that man from Molten Lake, I felt a profound sense of inferiority, as if from my soul. I never felt that way with Damien," Clemens confessed, unsure if Derby could grasp the nuance, or if he himself could fully articulate it.
It was akin to a commoner feeling different when facing a stronger warrior versus a nobler aristocrat, leading Clemens to conclude that Ronan's bloodline might not match the youth with orange-gold eyes.
"Not even Damien?" Derby murmured, looking ahead at the water screen projection with concern. "But it seems this guy has already set his sights on Damien. He seems eager to meet Damien in the arena. I heard his name is Igor, the brother of Molten Lake's strongest of this generation. They share the same bloodline."
"His bloodline might be formidable, but Damien's no slouch. Plus, with his artifact set, he's not without a chance against him. Hmm?!" Clemens was saying when he noticed the surrounding stir and Derby's sudden pause, instinctively turning to the spell projection.
Seeing the scene, Clemens froze, baffled, his brow furrowing deeply.
"What kind of rule is this?" he muttered, glancing at the sky where the Third Ring Master, Caroni, was watching the unexpected change on the screen, his expression darkening.
Among the leading wizards from the four forces, only the bald wizard from Molten Lake was smiling.
"Swoosh—"
A slender silver beam pierced the rune array's light barrier, enveloping Ronan.
As Ronan instinctively reached for his blue diamond earring to summon his [Land of Winter] artifact set, he found its power forcibly sealed by a strong restriction, rendering them unusable.
This ban wasn't unique to him.
The Thorn Palace wizard facing him and others preparing for battle on different platforms were similarly affected.
Everyone's artifacts were unusable, relying solely on their innate power.
This appeared to be a new rule for the second legacy selection.
After a brief shock and silence, a platform erupted with laughter from a certain Molten Lake "madman."
Wild flames rose, spell blasts echoed, and opponents' angry shouts marked the start of the second legacy selection.
Ronan's opponent, the Thorn Palace wizard, quickly adjusted, embodying the qualities of a top elite, and immediately attacked Ronan.
"[Ground Spikes!]"
He cast a lengthy incantation, scattering numerous black dots toward Ronan.
As they neared, Ronan saw they were seeds.
Upon landing, they swiftly grew into strange vine-like plants on the mirror-smooth surface.
These spell plants twisted into balls, their black branches bristling with long, black spikes. Once formed, they rolled rapidly in all directions like "tumbleweeds."
Each spiky ball emitted intense, unstable energy, gleaming with metallic sheen, as if ready to explode on contact.
Facing this overwhelming net of spiky balls, Ronan remained expressionless, stepping back slightly, then spreading his arms wide.
Ice spells silently manifested around him, their restrained power warping the surrounding void and light.
In that moment, Ronan became an invisible black hole, absorbing all surrounding light, heat, and air.
As this sensation of contraction and collapse peaked...
"Boom!"
A terrifying cold wave spread, with deep blue beams radiating from Ronan.
Bathed in brilliant blue light, the three extraordinary domains intertwined around him, his white hair lifting, and intense, despairing cold surged from beneath his robes.
With a single step forward, the spiky balls near him froze, coated in layers of frost, hanging in midair like large black ice balls.
"Tundra, Frozen Ground"
"My Realm!"
Ronan stepped forward, speaking calmly.
His voice was like the winter wind howling across the snowfield, or the distant wail of an ice demon on a snowy night.
A tier-two ice spell—[Voice of Cold].
Ice crystal thorns and fist-sized snow whirlpools emerged from the ground and void with each step, quickly covering the entire mirror platform.
The previously dominant spiky balls were now frozen, though they soon exploded under the Thorn Palace wizard's control. Yet the explosion's power was swallowed by the layered snow and ice.
With the [Land of Winter] artifact set sealed, the Yarlis Ice Ring necklace inactive, and all ice-amplifying artifacts unusable, Ronan felt slightly nerfed.
However.
With the [Mirror Light] rune enhancing his pseudo "Six Domain Overlay," the "Eighteen Spell Anchors" cold domain remained powerful.
Additionally, his purified, superior-quality mental power and the ancient Frost Hydra bloodline's invisible ice magic boost still gave him the edge to face late second-level opponents barehanded!
Even with only two tier-two metals—Mithril Tungsten and Neyman Metal—as spell mediums, his second-level metal wizard abilities remained unaffected.
As Ronan prepared to advance his domain, the silver-white metals coalescing into weapons in his palms...
A calm voice emerged from the swirling snow.
"I yield."
"Uh…"
Ronan paused.
Through the snow, he saw the Thorn Palace wizard, his opponent, calmly concede and turn toward the platform's edge. His retreating figure, cloaked in snow, carried an unspeakable resignation and melancholy.
Ronan realized everyone's artifacts, including storage tools, were sealed.
Many powerful plant spells relied on mediums, and most plant wizards stored their seeds in such tools. This seal effectively crippled them.
The Thorn Palace wizard might have used his last seeds in that spiky ball spell.
Ronan realized he wasn't the most nerfed by the changes.
His opponent was.
As Ronan's battle ended and before the wizard fully left the platform...
"Boom!"
A massive flame pillar suddenly engulfed the platform, red with hints of orange-gold, swallowing it whole.
The rune array quivered, the flames blocked outside, with only a hint of heat seeping through.
In the fiery center, Ronan pressed his right hand to his chest, breathing heavily.
"Huff—huff—"
He breathed deeply, seemingly controlling something.
No one saw.
Under lowered lids, Ronan's blue eyes glowed faintly red, his pupils elongating vertically.
Among his loose white hair, dark blue, scale-like patterns quickly formed along his cheeks and neck, then receded.
A sinister, violent, cruel, and domineering aura emanated from him like invisible smoke, roiling like magma beneath thick ice.
Finally.
As the enclosing flames faded, Ronan's abnormalities subsided.
He lowered his hand, raising his head, his deep eyes reflecting a fiery figure on a distant platform.
The orange-eyed youth faced him, smiling, baring white teeth, silently taunting him.
As the platforms neared and merged into a larger one, Ronan's next opponent emerged.
A pale, sinister black-robed wizard with a scorpion tattoo on his left cheek.
"[Vile Venom Revelry]!"
The Black Swamp wizard wasted no time, casting a spell with potent domain power.
Countless black insects swarmed from his robes, buzzing like a vast, dark cloud, flooding toward Ronan.
Ronan remained unfazed, his mind lingering on the youth.
As the swarm neared, ready to engulf him, Ronan closed his eyes, then reopened them, his face calm.
He lifted his head, facing the swarm, making a sweeping gesture with his hand.
The sweep seemed to cut a long, invisible gash in the void, releasing boundless mysterious energy.
Two mystical, serene, seven-colored rivers appeared, merging into a magnificent rainbow stream.
"A domain resonance, [Spearit's Seven-Colored River]!"
"[Mirror Light], double the flow!"
Ronan pointed, the rainbow stream surged forward, silently consuming all.
"A fourth domain power, nearing a second resonance domain!"
Outside the realm, the green-robed witch, who'd been lamenting the unfair rules for plant wizards, was stunned, covering her mouth.
Beside her, Caroni stepped forward, peering intently at the projection.
Both watched the scene for a long time, until the witch broke the silence.
"How much has Archido poured into this illegitimate child?"
She turned to Caroni, blinking, "Is he grooming another Orion?"
Caroni's eye twitched, pondering before replying, "Archido said he's not his offspring."
"Of course, he wouldn't admit it now."
The witch waved dismissively. "When this kid's genius becomes known, reaching or nearing Orion's level, he'll brag to you."
"…"
Caroni had no response.
Suddenly, the witch tossed him something. Caroni caught it instinctively.
Seeing it, his eyes relaxed and brightened with joy.
"Thanks."
The witch shook her head. "A bet's a bet. These chaotic rules are harsh on plant wizards."
Caroni pocketed the items, considering comforting her, but she spoke first. "Don't celebrate too soon."
"Hmm?"
"The last round is between this kid and Molten Lake's monster."
She glanced toward Molten Lake, speaking softly, "With artifacts banned, even with near second resonance domain power, his odds against Igor are slim. Don't forget, Molten Lake's family does things recklessly."
"If this kid gets hurt, will Archido blame you?"
"Uh…"
Caroni's expression stiffened, glancing toward Molten Lake, meeting the bald wizard's knowing gaze. The bald wizard quickly looked away, but Caroni's face darkened.
"Crack—"
In the realm, the final two mirror platforms rose, merging into one.
Two figures stood at opposite ends.
A red-robed youth, grinning wickedly, trembled slightly, his hands twitching.
Those familiar with him knew it wasn't fear but anticipation, excitement to the point of trembling.
A madman.
Igor.
As the selection unfolded, Igor's identity spread.
He was no nobody; he hailed from a prestigious Molten Lake family, whose bloodline underpinned much of Molten Lake's renown in the far south.
The previous heir to this bloodline still led Molten Lake's young wizards.
In contrast, Igor's opponent seemed ordinary.
A talented youth from the Ring, his prowess continually surprising others, raising expectations.
But typical talent couldn't compare to a bloodline-driven "madman," especially with a clear mental power disparity.
With artifacts banned, this fight seemed tailored for bloodline-reliant Igor!
"Buzz—"
Finally, the platforms merged into a larger one. Igor's trembling reached an extreme.
His shoulders heaved, his crazed grin spreading, his aura radiating feverish madness.
"Finally, it's here."
Igor whispered, stepping forward.
With each step, red-gold light flared from his body, transforming into flames, flowing outward like water.
The flames rose, forming walls, towers, waves—growing, climbing, the red-gold hue engulfing the platform. The heat warped the air, extending the fiery chaos.
Even through the projection, the outside wizards felt the fiery power's terror, their eyes wide.
"You hide well."
Engulfed in orange-gold flames, Igor sniffed, eyeing the boy before him, head down, clutching his chest, unmoving. "But I can smell it… that loathsome frost bloodline…"
"Another second, and I'll puke!"
Igor's tone shifted from soft to vicious, his face snarling.
He lunged at the boy, the surrounding flames flaring violently.
The scene was like a raging ancient fire demon, poised to devour the lone, frail boy.
But then.
"Boom!"
The fragile figure vanished, a comet-like force piercing the platform.
Igor, snarling, couldn't react, seized by a force, hurled backward, carving a path through the flames, slamming into the platform's rune barrier!
An ancient, malevolent, regal aura spread, quelling the endless flames.
Ancient frost descended, the crimson platform plunging from summer to winter.
In this ancient storm, a slender, sinister figure stood tall.
Dark blue hair flew high, scale-like patterns covering his body.
Ronan gripped Igor's throat, pinning him to the barrier, his crimson, slit pupils meeting Igor's eyes, his voice hoarse with restrained rage.
"What kind of bloodline do you have?"
"To dare provoke me repeatedly?!"
"Do you… truly not fear death?"
"Ugh—"
Igor's eyes widened, his madness gone, replaced by terror.
He tried to speak, but Ronan's grip only allowed strange whimpers.
At that moment.
Outside the realm, above the vast Mirror Lake.
All who witnessed this scene felt as if an invisible hand gripped their throats.
For a long moment, no one made a sound.
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