"This Darkmoon Divine Armor must be a relic left behind by a supreme warrior-class expert from three thousand years ago, during the ancient era," Kael mused silently.
It was highly likely that some Martial Saint of that time had challenged the Water Dragon, only to be slain in battle—leaving this armor behind as a trophy in the Water Dragon Vault.
One thing was certain: anything stored in the deepest reaches of the Water Dragon Vault had to be an extraordinary treasure!
Kael's eyes gleamed as he weighed his options. "While the magic crystal is a sacred artifact for all mages, it might not be as useful to me. My mana and mental reserves are already abnormally vast—I rarely exhaust them. In contrast, this Darkmoon Divine Armor is far more suited to my needs!"
Indeed, what set Kael apart from other mages was his monstrously superior aptitude. His mana and mental strength dwarfed those of his peers, making depletion almost unheard of. For him, a magic crystal would merely be icing on the cake.
The Darkmoon Divine Armor, however, was entirely different—a defensive masterpiece that would drastically boost his survivability in the Water Dragon Secret Realm!
What could be more important than preserving one's life?
As Kael lifted the armor, his fingers tingled with recognition. Suddenly, his eyes widened. "Eternal Meteor Iron! This is actually Eternal Meteor Iron!"
He had been puzzling over the armor's material. Despite its imposing appearance, it was feather-light, defying all expectations.
With The Book of Immortality in his possession, Kael should have been able to identify any magical ore or material instantly. Yet deciphering the armor's composition had taken real effort!
The Darkmoon Divine Armor was forged from Eternal Meteor Iron—a legendary divine metal said to be refined from celestial meteorites, impossibly rare. Even a trace of it could exponentially enhance the durability of any weapon or armor.
And this suit was infused with it!
Kael clutched the armor like a priceless treasure, his heart racing. To him, no magic crystal could compare—this was perfection.
Without the slightest hesitation, Kael immediately donned the Darkmoon Divine Armor.
The moment it settled onto his body, the armor emitted a faint glow and—remarkably—began to reshape itself, morphing to fit Kael's proportions perfectly. Not only did it conform seamlessly to his frame, but it also remained as light as parchment, causing him no discomfort whatsoever.
"Excellent... truly an exceptional treasure!" Kael marveled. The hardness of Eternal Meteor Iron was beyond imagination. Even though the armor only contained a fraction of the legendary metal, its defensive capabilities were anything but ordinary.
While Kael quietly secured his prize, Lucian and the other two were still locked in fierce combat over the staff.
Unlike Kael, all three were ninth-tier experts, and the magic crystal remained one of the most coveted treasures for them. Yet, their strengths were so evenly matched that their battle raged on—space trembled, mana surged, and none could gain the upper hand.
"Brother Idris, are you alright...?" Arjun lay about ten meters away from Kael, his injuries slightly more severe but not life-threatening. He turned his head, his gaze landing on Kael.
"Huh? Since when did you put on such strange attire?" Arjun remarked in surprise. The Darkmoon Divine Armor clung to Kael like ordinary clothing, though its silver sheen made it anything but mundane.
But Arjun had no time to dwell on it. His expression grew tense as he added, "Listen, those three are all ninth-tier powerhouses. The only reason they haven't turned on us yet is because they're too busy fighting over that staff! Once one of them claims it, we're as good as dead!"
Arjun saw the situation clearly. For now, Lucian and the others were too preoccupied with each other to bother with them. But the moment their struggle ended, Kael and Arjun would be next.
Kael smiled faintly. "Relax—we're charging straight out!" With the Darkmoon Divine Armor protecting him, his confidence surged, and he immediately prepared to make his move.
But just then, the battle between Lucian and the other two reached its climax. Lucian's body tensed as he swung the staff, unleashing a torrent of mana so pure that it sent a chill down Kael's spine.
"Incredible... I've underestimated the heroes of this continent," Kael thought, awestruck. Lucian's mana was not only vast but refined to an extraordinary degree—far surpassing Kael's expectations. No wonder he ranks forty-ninth on the Continent's Wind and Cloud List's Human Ranking. His foundation is monstrous.
Lucian, now fighting at full power, resembled a demonic god. Flames of magic swirled around him, forcing Cain and the black-armored man back. Seizing an opening, he finally wrested control of the staff!
Kael's pulse quickened. Among the three, Lucian had proven himself the strongest—his tactics sharper, his dominance undeniable. In mere moments, he had overpowered Cain and the armored foe, claiming the prize.
"Hah! Today is my day of triumph!" Lucian roared, his aura swelling as the staff amplified his power. Cain and the black-armored man retreated hastily, unwilling to face his unleashed might head-on.
Lucian's hair whipped wildly in the air, his eyes blazing with triumph. Driving his opponents back only fueled his exhilaration.
Cain seethed with frustration. The staff he had coveted for so long had fallen into the hands of a younger rival. Though far more experienced, he couldn't deny Lucian's superiority—both he and the armored man were outmatched. And now, with the staff in Lucian's grasp, the gap had widened further, leaving them helpless.
Rage burned in Cain's chest. Then his gaze landed on Kael and Arjun, who were preparing to flee.
"You wretched brats—DIE!" Cain snarled, redirecting his fury toward them.
His outburst drew Lucian and the armored man's attention back to the two eighth-tier mages. They had nearly forgotten about Kael and Arjun—after all, the pair posed no real threat.
But Cain, humiliated and furious, now sought vengeance on the easiest targets.
Cain swung his staff, chanting sharply: "Stormwater Divine Dragon!"
In an instant, a colossal dragon—five or six times larger than his previous water dragon—materialized in the air. This behemoth dwarfed its predecessor, its form towering and majestic. Unlike the pure water-element spell, this was a dual-element composite magic, fusing wind and water for devastating power.
"We're done for—this is the end!" Arjun's face paled, his mouth going dry as he recognized the spell from afar.
The absolute gap in strength was undeniable. Arjun could already envision his grim fate, his expression twisted with dread.
The ninth-tier composite magic descended like a cataclysm, crashing toward them!
The air itself seemed to compress under the overwhelming pressure, bearing down on Kael and Arjun with suffocating force. The roar of the spell drowned out all sound—until, at the last moment, a faint glow erupted from Kael's body.
No—not his body. His armor.
The Darkmoon Divine Armor shimmered with a silvery light. As the Stormwater Divine Dragon closed in, its power weakened rapidly, its form destabilizing until it shattered outright, vanishing as if it had never existed!
"What the hell?!" Cain stared at his hands in disbelief. That had been his signature composite spell—how could it fail against a mere eighth-tier brat?!
"The Darkmoon Divine Armor is even better than I imagined!" Kael exulted inwardly. Eternal Meteor Iron wasn't just indestructible—it could nullify magic!
Cain's devastating composite spell had been neutralized on contact, its threat erased in an instant.
In other words, with the Darkmoon Divine Armor, even ninth-tier magic might be useless against him!