Kael's mana surged wildly within him, and under Number Three's horrified gaze, his power climbed to the ninth level!
That's right—ninth level!
Kael's spiritual energy had ascended to an entirely new tier, and his mana resonated violently, causing the ambient magic in the air to ripple and tremble. His control over mana now far surpassed the Fifth-Level Mana Oscillation—he probably didn't even realize just how high he had reached.
Mana swirled like a vortex around Kael, drawing in elements from all directions: pale-yellow earth, faint-green wind, deep-red fire, and light-blue water. The elements resonated in harmony, producing a faint hum that seemed to echo through the world itself.
It wasn't just Number Three—everyone else was stunned as well.
None of the cultivators had expected Kael to break through to the ninth level so quickly! Especially Arjun, who knew some of Kael's background—his shock was beyond measure.
After all, Kael had only just reached peak eighth-level in the Water Dragon's Secret Realm, and yet, in such a short time, he had already ascended to the ninth level!
The leap from eighth to ninth level was a massive threshold—ordinary mages could spend years, even decades, struggling to cross it. The speed of Kael's breakthrough was nothing short of terrifying.
The other cultivators were equally dumbfounded.
"A ninth-level mage at such a young age… His future is limitless!"
"As expected of the Water Dragon's successor—unbelievably strong!"
Whispers spread among the crowd, though none of them knew the truth—Kael was still wearing the human-skin mask given to him by Toms, which made him appear several years older. If they discovered that his real face belonged to a young man barely twenty years old, their shock would be immeasurable.
"Tear him apart!" Number Three snarled, his composure cracking. He had never imagined that, at this critical moment, Kael would break through again, shattering all his carefully laid plans.
The Abyssal Demon roared in fury, its bone spikes bristling across its body. Despite its relentless assaults, Kael had dodged every attack—and now, the demon was thoroughly enraged.
"Tear me apart? Not so easy." Kael shook his head, his eyes hardening with focus.
The Abyssal Demon's strength was formidable—far more terrifying than an ordinary magical beast. Its power hovered near the peak of ninth-level, and as a creature from the Abyssal Plane, it was far more savage and relentless than most monsters.
Despite its massive frame, the demon moved with eerie agility, its body twisting like a curved blade as it lunged. Its enormous claws slashed forward, the gleaming white bone spikes piercing like swords aimed at Kael's vitals.
Kael retreated swiftly, blinking away in an instant. Raising his staff, silver astral runesflickered to life: "Lightning Shield!"
Crackling purple lightning crystallized into three hovering shields, encircling him with a barrier of sizzling energy. Combined with the protection of his Darkmoon Divine Armor, the defenses finally gave Kael a sliver of security.
Without them, resisting the demon's onslaught would've been impossible.
The demon's bone spikes flashed—CRACK!—a sound like shattering glass echoed as they punctured Kael's magic shield.
Fortunately, his Darkmoon Divine Armor held firm, dispersing the impact.
"Damn it, even after breaking through to ninth-level, this thing's still a nightmare. No wonder Number Three sacrificed Number Five as a blood offering to summon it!" Kael's mind raced.
In truth, Number Three had originally intended to use both Number Five and Number Four as sacrifices. But Kael had obliterated Number Four with his Thunderflame Pupil, weakening the demon's summoned form. Otherwise, Kael would've been in far worse trouble.
"Heh heh, useless, boy. Just resign yourself to becoming this demon's meal. Why aren't you using that terrifying ocular art anymore? Let me guess… that damned technique has severe limitations, doesn't it?" Number Three sneered, his voice dripping with malice. He'd calculated everything.
Kael's Thunderflame Pupil did unsettle him, but he knew such an overpowered ability had to come with heavy restrictions. There was no way Kael could spam it freely.
Kael activated Celestial Steps, his figure blurring backward again. His gaze turned glacial.
"Is that so? Then open your eyes wide and see clearly..." Kael replied.
Kael opened his eyes once again!
In an instant, the world seemed to exist solely because of Kael's gaze!
Mystical runes and intricate magic circles emerged within Kael's pupils, and through them, he unleashed the Flame-Thunder Eyes once more!
With a thunderous roar, the Abyssal Demon was engulfed in searing flames while crackling violet lightning surged through its entire body. The demon immediately let out a howl of agony. Even a being as formidable as the Abyssal Demon suddenly felt a deep, soul-shaking terror!
Yes—terror! An overwhelming dread that completely subdued the demon under the might of Kael's Flame-Thunder Eyes, even stirring an instinct to submit.
Creatures of the abyss were inherently savage, and only in the face of absolute, crushing power would they ever entertain the thought of surrender.
Having advanced to the Ninth Rank, the power of Kael's Flame-Thunder Eyes had surged to terrifying new heights. Not even a monstrous entity like the Abyssal Demon could withstand its unleashed fury!
"He can still cast it...?!" No. 3 was so terrified his soul nearly fled his body. His legs trembled uncontrollably—this young man named Idris was simply monstrous. How could anyone unleash such a devastating spell repeatedly? And now, after his rank-up, its power had skyrocketed...
No. 3 cursed himself inwardly, wishing he could tear his own mouth in half. If only he hadn't provoked Kael with his earlier taunts, this second cataclysmic strike might never have happened!
The Abyssal Demon shrieked incessantly as its body blackened under the dual assault of icy flames and violet lightning, eventually crumbling into ashes...
This mighty fiend from the Abyssal Plane, before the stunned eyes of all present, had been obliterated by Kael before it could even fully unleash its power—reduced to nothing but drifting embers.
Such a display was nothing short of awe-inspiring!
Beads of cold sweat the size of peas rolled down No. 3's forehead. His face turned ashen, his eyes wide with abject horror as he stared at Kael—as if the young man were a towering dragon incarnate.
Step by step, Kael advanced toward No. 3. The battlefield fell deathly silent; the cultivators held their breaths, not daring to make a sound.
"Y-you... what are you going to do?" No. 3 stammered, his words faltering. He knew full well that in his current state, he stood no chance against Kael's might. Fear coiled tightly in his chest.
With each measured step, Kael's approach carried an overwhelming pressure.
With every step Kael took, the terror in No. 3's eyes deepened. Regret gnawed at his heart—how could he have ever imagined that an insignificant Eighth-Rank magefrom back then would now corner him like this?
All for a fleeting greed over Kael's Arcane Crystal Cannon, he had led four Ninth-Rank experts to their doom… and now, it seemed he would join them.
"Y-you can't kill me!" No. 3 blurted out in desperation as Kael closed in, his voice shrill. "I'm from the Tower of Malevolence! If you kill me, our organization will hunt you down without mercy!"
The Tower of Malevolence!
A Darkwing Mage faction!
Kael paused briefly. He had heard of them—a Darkwing Mage group based in the southern continent. While nowhere near as formidable as the Shadow Dominion he'd encountered before, the Tower of Malevolence had its own… peculiarities.
A Darkwing Mage faction, huh? Kael narrowed his eyes, then shook his head with a cold smirk. "And if I spare you, do you truly believe your kind would let me walk free?"
No. 3 froze.
Kael was right. The feud was already set—why hesitate now?
His gaze turned glacial. These black-armored men had crossed him first. Mercy was never an option.
The Tower of Malevolence? A Darkwing Mage faction? So what!
Kael's icy stare swept over No. 3, who suddenly felt as though plunged into a frozen abyss. Under that ruthless scrutiny, any thought of resistance crumbled.
Too terrifying… too strong…
No. 3 gritted his teeth, clawing at his staff in a futile attempt to fight back—but his body refused to obey, limbs leaden with dread.
Then, in the next instant, endless flames swallowed him whole.
And just like that, all five black-armored men lay annihilated by Kael's hand.