Vesper acted swiftly. Kael was momentarily startled but quickly regained his composure.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Instantly, Kael's domain expanded, covering everything within a dozen meters around him. An overwhelming force surged forth as his domain erupted, and violet lightning engulfed the surroundings.
The crackling sound of electricity made Vesper's eyes flicker with surprise. "Lightning?!" he exclaimed. "You've got some tricks up your sleeve, kid!" Kael's mastery over lightning left Vesper genuinely astonished. Whether by sheer luck or divine favor, the boy had obtained such an overpowering ability!
The thunderous explosion of lightning surged toward Vesper, roaring as it descended!
With a flicker, Vesper vanished, reappearing dozens of meters away. The lightning detonated right where he had stood, and had Kael not restrained his magic at the last moment, the entire Earl's estate might have been reduced to rubble.
"Heh, brat, you can't hit me!" Vesper let out his trademark sleazy chuckle. "Don't forget—I was the one who taught you the Astral Step! When it comes to running away, I'm second to none!"
Grinning shamelessly, Vesper wore his escape skills like a badge of honor, utterly unashamed and even proud.
True to his word, Vesper's speed was extraordinary. In the blink of an eye, he had already dashed out of the banquet hall and into the courtyard outside. His confidence remained unshaken—his movement skills were among the finest on the continent, and few could hope to match him.
After all, the Astral Step he had taught Kael was an exceptionally powerful secret technique, and Vesper had honed it to perfection, executing it with flawless precision.
Kael didn't bother arguing with the gloating Vesper. Instead, he softly chanted an incantation, and in an instant, mana coalesced around him. His body shot upward, soaring into the sky!
"Sky Soar!"
"What?! Sky Soar?!" Vesper's eyes nearly bulged out of his skull, his face twisting in sheer disbelief. Sky Soar was a legendary spell long thought lost to time—how could it possibly reappear now? He blinked hard, trying to convince himself this was an illusion, but reality refused to bend.
No matter how he racked his brain, Vesper couldn't fathom how Kael had mastered Sky Soar!
Kael smirked, his body flickering like lightning as the spell propelled him forward. With Sky Soar, his speed left Vesper's vaunted movement skills utterly outmatched!
"Damn it all!" Vesper yelped, his earlier bravado vanishing as he flailed wildly, dodging and weaving without a shred of dignity. Gone was the master's poise—now he was just a man desperately fleeing for his life.
"Stop! Stop! I surrender! I surrender, alright?! Ow—not the face! I make my living with this face!" Vesper howled, scrambling like a cornered rat as Kael pressed the attack.
Kael responded by igniting Vesper's robes with a flame spell. The older man yelped, slapping at the fire in panic until he finally smothered it, then raised his hands in defeat.
Finn and Toms watched the spectacle with barely concealed schadenfreude. Vesper could only force a sheepish grin. **"Well, Kael, you've proven yourself stronger than I expected. Consider this test passed! I'd worried you might not be ready, but clearly, that's not an issue."**
"You were testing me?" Kael eyed Vesper skeptically. The old man's true strength remained an enigma—he clearly had power, yet his first instinct was always to flee.
"Of course! The news I'm about to share is no small matter. I had to be sure you could handle it—otherwise, I'd be leading you to your doom." Vesper stroked his beard, suddenly solemn.
For a moment, he almost looked the part of a reclusive master... but Kael wasn't buying it.
"Cut the crap, you old lech. Spit it out." Kael waved off the theatrics.
Vesper's face fell. **"Kael, my boy, must you ruin the moment? This dashing visage has charmed maidens and matrons alike across the—"** A sharp look from Kael shut him up. **"...Right, right. Let's just get to the news."**
At last, Vesper straightened, his demeanor shifting. Even Toms seemed to tense beside him—whatever they'd brought, it was no trivial matter.
"As you know, young Kael, my astrology skills are unparalleled—second to none on this continent. A few months ago, while observing the stars at night, I witnessed a brilliant star plummet from the heavens. According to my divinations, a major event has occurred in the Kingdom of Maider!" Vesper spoke with deliberate gravity, his mysterious tone successfully piquing Kael's curiosity.
Pausing for effect, Vesper noted how Kael and the others were now hanging on his every word. Satisfied, he smirked and continued, **"Now, Maider is just a fringe kingdom on the eastern continent—hardly a powerhouse, especially compared to the ancient Empire of Gui. Yet, my crystal ball insisted on pointing me there. Strange, isn't it? So, I expended more energy to delve deeper into the stars!"**
"And what I found… heh…" Vesper narrowed his eyes, relishing the way Kael and the others leaned in eagerly. Too pleased to drag it out, he finally declared, **"I discovered that a hidden realm is about to open in the Maider Kingdom—and soon!"**
A hidden realm!
The group's eyes lit up. Hidden realms were similar to ancient ruins, but unlike ruins—which often had strict restrictions—realms were tied to specific locations and usually far better preserved.
"Hold on, I'm not done yet!" Vesper chuckled, basking in their anticipation. **"This realm holds something even more significant!"**
At this, everyone held their breath. Finn, in particular, trembled with excitement.
"Through my divinations, I've determined that within this realm… lies the tomb of a legendary mage—perhaps even an Archmage! And without a doubt, it contains the legacy of a supreme powerhouse!" Vesper's words instantly ignited Kael's interest, while Finn slumped in resignation.
A legendary mage or Archmage's legacy was an irresistible lure for Kael, but to Finn, it might as well have been stale bread—utterly useless.
"Why does Kael always stumble into these kinds of opportunities?!" Finn lamented, his voice thick with envy.
"Don't celebrate just yet!" Vesper snorted, noticing Kael's eager expression. **"Things won't be so simple. Though the realm is shrouded in mystery, it's no secret to everyone. I'm certain the recent anomalies have already drawn the attention of many factions. What awaits us… is nothing short of a bloody free-for-all."**
"That's exactly why I had to test your strength just now—to see if you're capable of surviving in that realm!" Vesper huffed.
Kael grinned. **"So that was your way of testing me? Did I pass?"**
Vesper's face twitched as he rolled his eyes in exasperation. **"Barely! But... I suppose you did alright."** He couldn't help but grumble inwardly. Who would've thought this brat would grow so strong in just a few months? Reaching mid-tier Level 8 is one thing, but that lightning magic and Sky Soar are downright terrifying!
Sure, the new generation surpasses the old, but this is just ridiculous!
Vesper shot Kael a sour look. He had fully intended to mess with the kid a little, but now? Damn it all.
"Old lech, when exactly will the realm open?" Kael asked bluntly, not bothering with pleasantries.
"Hey, brat! My astrology may be peerless, but even I can't predict everything! All I know is 'soon'—no exact date! You'll have to prepare on your own!" Vesper snapped, clearly annoyed.
Kael frowned in thought. Looks like I should head to the Maider Kingdom immediately. A legendary mage—or even an Archmage's—legacy is definitely worth the trip.
As Kael fell into deep contemplation, Amelia and Finn hesitated to interrupt. But Vesper, ever the buzzkill, cut in sharply:
"Listen, kid, don't say I didn't warn you. You might be decent now, but this situation is no joke. It'll draw powerhouses from all over—real monsters!"
"Hell, we might even see ranked experts from the Continental Rankings show up!"Vesper added gravely.
Continental Rankings?!
Kael blinked. The term was completely unfamiliar to him. **"Continental Rankings? What's that?"**
Not just Kael—Finn and Amelia also turned to Vesper with identical looks of curiosity, silently demanding an explanation.