Among the assembled crowd, Kael immediately spotted Simon and Jessica from Nanka Academy. Beside them stood a warrior-like youth with a calm demeanor and icy gaze. When Kael and Amelia arrived, the young man's eyes sharpened, locking onto Kael with laser focus.
Yet it wasn't just him—nearly all eyes turned toward Kael. News of his victory over Ethan at the Martial-Magic Tournament had spread like wildfire.
"That's Soren from Nanka Academy—seventh-tier, rumored to be their strongest contender this year," Amelia whispered into Kael's ear. Her longer tenure at the academy granted deeper insight into rival factions.
Nanka's top fighter, huh…
Kael studied Soren briefly. Though he'd clashed with Nanka's members before, he harbored no regrets or fear. Simon and Jessica remained stagnant at sixth-tier peak, while Soren's seventh-tier status likely paled against Ethan's prowess. Having defeated Ethan himself, Kael saw little threat here.
"The Sacred Council's rigid rules…" Kael muttered, scanning the diverse assembly from the four academies. "Dylan and others from our academy could easily rival these top three candidates, yet they're barred from joining."
He understood the necessity of such protocols, though. Talents like Dylan would likely receive Council or Sanctum invitations later—just missing this expedition's window.
"Ethan's here," Amelia noted with surprise.
Following her gaze, Kael saw Ethan approaching with neither defeat nor injury weighing him down. The young warrior moved with undimmed vigor, his wounds nearly healed, exuding the same composed dignity as before their duel.
"Acting like nothing happened," Kael remarked dryly. "His recovery's impressive, though."
Ethan's arrival drew collective attention. Though bested by Kael, his reputation—reverberating like thunder across the academies—still commanded respect.
"Kael." Ethan strode directly toward him, stopping face-to-face. "We're forming teams. The three of us together?"
Kael blinked, studying Ethan's composed expression. This guy's unshaken as if our duel never happened—terrifying mental fortitude. "Correct," he confirmed. Having Ethan's support in the perilous ruins could prove advantageous.
As Ethan opened his mouth to continue, a booming voice shattered the air.
"Excellent! All fledglings accounted for!" Zorath the Silent materialized as if from nowhere, his armored form hefting an eccentric warhammer. The imposing figure scanned the gathering with a satisfied grin.
Flanking him emerged three elderly mages whose robes bore esoteric sigils—the mark of Sage Magus, titles reserved for tier-ten and tier-eleven practitioners, supreme powers dwarfing even Arcane Masters. Their unassuming demeanors contrasted sharply with their status, standing placidly beside Zorath like ordinary grandfathers.
"Enough pleasantries!" Zorath's voice carried blade-like intensity, his gaze sweeping over the assembly. None dared meet those piercing eyes. "Before we breach the void, heed this: Your mission is to eliminate Shadowwing Mage Leif! Intel confirms he's the sole dark mage within. How you handle the rest afterward? Not my concern!"
Among the twenty-four prodigies present—twelve from the Sacred Council, twelve from the Sanctum—tensions simmered. Though both factions maintained fragile equilibrium through calculated rivalries, the ruins' lawless environment would unleash open conflict. Zorath's warning hung heavy: cooperation was mandated only against their common prey.
Zorath the Silent exchanged nods with the three Sage Magus, the four titans aligning in formation.
"Begin!" Zorath roared. With a swing of his warhammer, the weapon erupted with a thunderous hum, its resonance surpassing even the Golden-Horned Lion King's sonic attacks. The deafening vibrations forced Kael and the others to clamp hands over their ears.
Zorath's figure blurred as the warhammer ascended like a resplendent star, radiating light across a hundred-meter radius.
Incredible… Kael's breath hitched. This was his first glimpse of Zorath's true power. The warrior's mere motion warped space itself, violent air currents exploding outward. The warhammer collided with the void—
CRACK!
A hairline fissure snaked through reality, barely perceptible. Fortunately, their remote Yanhua Island location spared civilians from panic.
What tier could achieve spatial fracturing?
Awe and terror gripped the young talents. Zorath's reputation as a human alliance hero proved well-earned.
"Quit gawking—move!" Zorath barked, veins bulging as he strained against dimensional resistance.
The Sage Magus acted. The first raised a hand, reality itself bending. Kael's group suddenly stood within an azure expanse saturated with aqueous energy—a water-aligned magic domain. Here, the caster reigned supreme.
His counterparts followed suit. Three overlapping domains unfurled like leviathan jaws, engulfing the area. Alongside Zorath's hammer strikes, the Sage Magus intensified their assault. Space groaned, the fissure widening into a jagged maw.
"Truly, legends of mighty ones reshaping heaven and earth with a mere gesture aren't mere fables," someone murmured in awe amidst the crowd.
Zorath the Silent and his three companions strained at full power, finally sundering reality.
Space fractured, revealing a shimmering passageway. Peering through, Kael glimpsed another world—rolling mountains draped in viridian splendor, serpentine rivers threading through primordial forests, shadowed by indistinct forms of ancient creatures. An arcane essence permeated the air, whispering of mysteries awaiting discovery.
This was the unconquered ancient ruin, its secrets eluding even the Sacred Council and Sanctum's combined efforts.
A collective gasp swept through the group, hearts racing with wonder.
"The cradle of our continent's oldest civilizations..." Kael breathed, imagination ignited by infinite possibilities.
"Move! Now!" Zorath's strained shout shattered the reverie. Veins bulged across his neck as the dimensional passage flickered precariously. "This gateway won't hold!"
The young talents surged forward without hesitation. Within moments, all twenty-four had streamed into the luminous corridor, vanishing into the ancient demiplane's embrace.