Kael's domain unfurled, omnipresent, its power distorting space itself as the surrounding air rippled and evaporated under its pressure.
A formidable domain—countless bolts of lightning roared like rampaging beasts, their thunderous cacophony unending.
"Swordfire Skyrend!" Lone Wolf's eyes flashed as he lunged forward, both of his doppelgängers unleashing their full battle aura in a pincer assault. Faced with Kael's domain, Lone Wolf had no choice but to reveal his true strength. In an instant, the two clones locked onto Kael with overwhelming force.
Had Kael been a seventh-tier warrior, Lone Wolf's Divine Flame Doppelgängertechnique alone would have shattered his body—such was the might of a peak eighth-tier powerhouse.
Swordfire Skyrend, amplified by Lone Wolf's own domain, caused the blade in his hand to erupt with searing radiance. Sword energy weaved into a net of flames, surging skyward before crashing down like a fiery tsunami.
Kael flickered away in a flash-step, yet Lone Wolf's sword pursued him relentlessly, as if guided by an unerring will.
"Damn, he's persistent." Flames clung to Kael's shadow, waves of scorching battle aura nipping at his heels, forcing a frown.
"Storm of Thunderclouds!" Kael's staff descended from above, and countless lightning bolts rained down. The air crackled with electricity as his Thunder Dominionstruck with apocalyptic force. Dark clouds pressed low, suffocating all who dared approach.
"Incredible… The City Lord is only mid-eighth-tier, yet he stands toe-to-toe with Lone Wolf. Even the Divine Flame Doppelgänger can't suppress him." Ella murmured to herself. Kael had tasked her with intervening at the critical moment—to ambush and capture Lone Wolf.
Yet, hidden in the shadows, Ella was stunned. By all logic, a mid-eighth-tier mage should be at a disadvantage against Lone Wolf's peak strength. Yet Kael not only held his ground—he dominated.
Ella knew that if she faced Lone Wolf, she'd likely be at a slight disadvantage. His fourth-tier battle aura vibrations and Divine Flame Doppelgänger placed him among the elite even among eighth-tier experts.
In battles of this caliber—a hair's breadth decided victory or defeat.
Kael unleashed the Storm of Thunderclouds. Dark clouds gathered, lightning detonated, and in an instant, Lone Wolf's fiery battle aura was shattered. Both of his doppelgängers staggered back, his fury boiling over.
"Damn it! The Lord of Lefay is this strong?! I underestimated him!" Lone Wolf's vigilance spiked to its peak. Never had he imagined Kael would prove so formidable. Yet he quickly steadied himself, signaling sharply—the bandits surged forward, attempting to encircle Kael.
Fortunately, Kael had Sky-Soaring Art. Hovering high above, he evaded their assaults with ease.
And then Alaric reacted. With a thunderous roar, the metallic resonance of his voice erupted into a shockwave, scattering the bandits' formation. In a flash, the colossal figure of the eight-horned rhinoceros planted himself before Kael, his voice booming:
"Dare to touch the great Alaric's friend?! You. Are. Seeking. DEATH!"
Each word was a hammerblow. And frankly—it worked. Alaric's intimidation was palpable. As a peak eighth-tier magical beast, his innate strength far surpassed that of a human at the same level.
Even Lone Wolf's eyes flickered with deep apprehension.
Emboldened by Alaric's roar, the herd of eight-horned rhinos grew even more savage. Almost immediately, cracks began to show in Lone Wolf's Ancient Octadirectional Formation.
True, the formation was fearsome—but most of the bandits were only around fifth-tier in strength. Competent, yes, but nowhere near the legendary Eight Kings of old.Against a hundred enraged rhinos? The formation's power paled in comparison.
"No good. The City Lord's strength exceeds all expectations. Capturing him now is impossible—retreat!" Lone Wolf's mind raced. Adapting swiftly, he slashed a hand through the air—the signal to withdraw.
The moment his gesture flashed, the hundreds of bandits behind him reacted. Even Amanda, the vice-captain, disengaged from her duel with Finn, seizing an opening to fall back to Lone Wolf's side.
"Captain, we must retreat—now!" Amanda's toned legs carried her with swift grace as her lithe figure flickered like a phantom. She seized Lone Wolf's arm urgently, her voice sharp.
"You go first! I'll cover our retreat!" Both of Lone Wolf's doppelgängers roared in unison, flames surging toward Kael once more.
"No, Captain—you must lead! The Rogue Bandits cannot lose you!" Amanda yanked Lone Wolf back forcefully. Behind her, several dozen elite bandits—clearly the core of their forces—formed a defensive line between Alaric/Kael and their leaders, buying precious seconds.
Lone Wolf's gaze flickered through emotions before hardening. **"Then keep up!"** he growled. His eyes locked onto Kael one last time, a murderous glint flashing within.
This was the first true defeat since Lone Wolf's rise to infamy. First, Amir—one of his deputy captains—and a hundred men had been annihilated when Kael first entered Lefay Territory. Now, this ambush had collapsed spectacularly.
Fury simmered in his chest. This operation had mobilized nearly the entire Rogue Bandits faction! Yet they'd suffered devastating losses.
This single battle would cripple over half their strength. Lone Wolf's jaw clenched as he took in the hundred-strong herd of eight-horned rhinos before Kael.
He'd been cautious ever since Kael wiped out Amir's squad. This time, he'd gone all out—surely no city lord, however strong, could single-handedly defeat an entire bandit army? As for Lefay's garrison? Mere decorations.
But who could've predicted Kael commanded a hundred eight-horned rhino contract beasts?!
This hidden trump card had shattered the Rogue Bandits completely.
"Leaving so soon? You underestimate me." Kael's cold chuckle sliced through the chaos as he gestured. From the shadows, Ella erupted forward—her peak eighth-tier aura making Lone Wolf's pupils contract violently!
Another Level 8 Peak Expert!
Ella's appearance deepened the gravity in Lone Wolf's gaze. The Lefay Territory had been producing such formidable experts one after another—since when had it become such a hidden powerhouse?
Seizing the moment while Ella blocked Lone Wolf, Kael's domain flashed, instantly clearing out the surrounding bandits. These pitiful outlaws stood no chance against him.
"Seems today marks the end of the Rogue Bandits," Kael remarked coolly. Simultaneously, his Soaring Flight Technique activated, allowing him to dart in front of Ella in an instant, cutting off Lone Wolf's path.
Thanks to Soaring Flight, Kael effortlessly evaded all the bandits. With this technique and his Mana Surge, Lone Wolf was hardly a threat.
"Damn you!" Lone Wolf's Divine Flame Doppelganger Technique had already worn off, his clones gradually dissipating until only his true form remained.
"Composite Magic—Thunderfrost Inferno!" Kael's gaze sharpened as he chanted an esoteric incantation. At last, he unleashed his trump card—a composite spell he had mastered only after reaching Level 8, combining thunder and fire magic.
Frostflames and lightning merged seamlessly, their fiery glow and violet arcs of thunder shooting skyward, engulfing Lone Wolf completely.
Lone Wolf's expression darkened as he sensed the overwhelming power within the composite magic. With a roar, he shouted, "Divine Flame Doppelganger!" Once again, he summoned his clones, hoping to escape the impending doom.
Yet Kael wouldn't let him. The speed of lightning was unimaginable—in an instant, it enveloped Lone Wolf's body and his clones alike, striking with devastating force.
It was as if heavenly thunder had split the sky and a volcano had erupted—the valley transformed into a hellscape in mere moments.
Lone Wolf grunted in pain. Even his Divine Flame Doppelganger couldn't withstand the full might of the composite magic. His body plummeted from midair, crashing to the ground with a thunderous impact.
Kael stood ahead, his gaze icy and unflinching.
Ella, meanwhile, was utterly stunned—even Lone Wolf, a Level 8 Peak expert, was no match for Kael!