Badge in Azure

Chapter 237: Sleeping Spirits of the Dead (Part 2)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The ghost fog monsters were not fast enough, and the attacks by the magic array constructed by Saleen were not quick enough either. However, the three magic crystals at the front of the magic array took turns casting the spell, and furthermore, the transformed level-5 ice bomb could do damage in an area. Thus, the horde of ghost fog monsters could never get close to the magic tower.

The occasional few who managed to slip past were burned to death by Lex’s fire crows. The orange flames on Lex’s body sizzled just beside Saleen’s ears, but no heat was emitted. Saleen had never expected the Fire Washing spell to have this effect once a mage was promoted. As Saleen stimulated the magic array, he thought, I seem to have missed out on many low-level water element spells. Perhaps the spells themselves can be advanced as well, it is just that there are many spells which people have not bothered to examine.

For example, within the low-level spells of the water element, there were essentially no spells which could deal damage to groups. Since Saleen had been helpless, he had begun examining the Icicle spell and had barely managed to simulate its area of effect damage once he had been promoted. However, the Icicle spell was still inadequate in comparison to the fire element spells, because its consumption of energy was that of a combination of level-2 spells instead of just a single spell.

As for the transformations to the Ice Bomb spell, Saleen had made them slowly. Firstly, Saleen had combined the Ice Bomb spell with the Icicle spell in order to increase the distance of the attack. Then, after he had acquired knowledge of elemental conversion, he had proceeded to combine the Ice Bomb spell with fire element magic.

If not for the defects in his magic chords, Saleen would not have spent so much time studying these transformations. Perhaps this was the choice which many mages had made. Since they had been able to advance, some spells had been abandoned and would never be examined in depth.

While Saleen was admiring Lex’s control over the elements, Daniel was feeling heartbroken over the depletion of the magic nuclei. The magic nuclei which Lex had handed to him were all segmented grade-6 magic nuclei. Even though Daniel was not an elemental mage, he could still feel the astounding speed at which the magic nuclei mosaicked into the magic arrays were being depleted.

If Daniel had received a grade-6 magic nucleus like this for training, he would have been able to use it for two to three months. But now, all these magic nuclei could potentially be fully depleted in less than a day.

The unintelligent ghost fog monsters did not understand the logic of attacking from the rear. They simply clashed head-on against Saleen’s magic attacks as they tried looking for a breakthrough up front. A gigantic ice bomb flew outwards, bringing flames along with it, before exploding in midair. The shards produced by the explosion were as sharp as ice blades. Once these shards pierced into the monsters, they exploded and burned like fireballs.

Had the ghost fog monsters moved faster, Saleen’s magic array would have been rendered useless already. Right now, Saleen continuously adjusted the attack range of the magic array, from one hundred meters to two hundred meters, and then to five hundred meters. Only when the attack range reached one mile did Saleen feel that the magic array might possess a risk of exploding.

This attack range was not farther than that of the magic trebuchet or magic stone artillery. Even the speed was slower. It was just that the frequency of attacks was slightly higher.

Even so, Saleen was very satisfied, because after the ice bomb had been transformed, the mist on its surface now possessed the characteristics of his newest flying magic. In the water, these ice bombs would definitely travel at least ten times faster.

This meant that Saleen’s magic array was designed solely for the purpose of underwater combat.

Death mages could make use of their death flames to mark coordinates between the planes so they could summon the death creatures to assist them in battles. Once the death mage died, these death creatures would then remain on the Myers Mainland. Without any restraint from the death mages, these death creatures would no longer be harmless tools. They would also go around hunting just like magic beasts.

The ghost fog monsters were merely the lowest grade of creatures commanded by a death mage. Those truly powerful death creatures would be sealed by the death mage before they died to reduce their abilities so that they would not be of harm to other humans. Besides having a restoration magic array, the ghost fog also had the effect of suppressing death creatures for a long time. Saleen wanted to destroy the ghost fog monsters and ruin the energy balance within the ghost fog so that the seals might be loosened. Then, the strongest death creatures left behind by the death mage would be able to massacre all life on this island.

Such actions were indeed very perilous. If the death mage on this island had only died recently, the death creatures which were sealed by him might not have been fully suppressed yet, so they might still be above grade-6.

Saleen wished to tame the death creature and give it to Daniel so that Daniel’s power could be boosted quickly. Since Daniel was Saleen’s follower, he would have to be the first to charge forward if there were any battles. The winged skeleton was too valuable, so Saleen was not willing to make it cannon fodder, but the death creatures on this island would make good targets for his contracts.

The squeaking noises had diminished drastically since the number of ghost fog monsters had dwindled by a significant amount. Rock fragments and the bodies of the ghost fog monsters which had been blown up by the ice bomb shards covered the ground. There were rocks everywhere on this island, and since the ice bomb shards had unparalleled sharpness, they cut into the rocks before exploding and burning. The stimulation of the magic array by Saleen and the others had already flattened all ground within one mile.

This power was far greater than that of the magic scrolls. For the first time ever, Saleen regretted his decision. Had he known that magic arrays were so useful, he would not have chosen to learn magic pharmaceutics anymore. If he started his studies over from the beginning again, he would have to face a colossal and complicated system. Even though Saleen possessed the Myers Goddess’ necklace which could shorten calculation time by tens or even hundreds of times, it was still not a good choice.

Unless Saleen became a sorcerer and was able to extend his life steadily, he would never waste too much time on magic arrays alone, as it would adversely affect his advancement.

Mages did not just pursue power, they also pursued the truth. Magic arrays were not able to explain the true colors of this world. They simply gathered the power of the elements and enabled a person to control the elements in a regulated manner.

“It’s almost there. The two of you take note!” Saleen bent down and pressed both hands onto the center of the magic array. The magic formulae came to life and countless of magic lines began to ripple. The magic nuclei on the seven magic arrays lit up successively, and the three crystals at the front formed an enormous ice bomb with a diameter of about three meters via condensation.

This ice bomb was still expanding and was also highly volatile. Within thirty frames of time, Saleen had already lost control of it, not to mention Daniel and Lex.

The colossal ice bomb flew outwards following a whistle. This time around, it managed to fly for more than two miles. Even Saleen could not be sure where it had flown even though he had used his perception. According to its trajectory, the ice bomb was also flying at a great height.

In the far distance, a dull explosion could be heard. Ka la! Cracks had appeared on the oval-shaped alchemical machine, while the crystals mosaicked into it had fallen to ground and broken into several pieces. Daniel was so heartbroken that he was on the verge of tears already. Even though these large crystals had no attributes, they could have been used to create crystal magic books or at least store a sequential spell.

Now that the crystals had broken in front of him, Daniel rubbed his hands as he looked at Saleen.

“What are you looking at? It’s all for you!” Saleen frowned and picked up the crystal fragments before putting them away. He then said to Daniel, “Where do you think the death creatures are sealed on this island?”

Saleen had managed to discover the secrets of a small group of death mages using his memories, but he could not locate the seal.

“The best place would have been underneath the magic tower, but that already seems improbable.” Daniel hesitated, before continuing dubiously, “If I absorb this ghost fog, the death creatures will break the seals themselves. Can I do that?”

“Hm? Is it not enough to just kill the ghost fog monsters?”

“Of course it isn’t. The magic array on this island is very bizarre. It’s a dead cycle. I haven’t located the starting point, so I can only use a stupid method like this.”

“No rush. There is still a long time before daybreak. Sika, Nailisi, come out.” Saleen called for the two people who were resting inside the magic tower, and said, “I have killed almost all of the ghost fog monsters, and the magic array seems to have spoiled. You two will guard this place for the time being. Don’t allow any surviving ghost fog monsters to enter. I have to speak to Daniel about some matters.”

“Yes, Master.” Nailisi carelessly forgot about Sika’s threats and pulled on her sleeves while giggling before going to the edge of the podium. The mist had greatly faded and the power from Lex’s flames had dispersed, yet no more ghost fog monsters were trying to invade the place.

Daniel followed Saleen into the magic tower, but Lex did not follow them. Saleen then closed the mostly broken door and turned his head sideways to look at Daniel. In that darkness, Saleen’s blue eyes gave out a faint glow, like a magic beast which only targeted humans.

Daniel was nervous. He had never seen Saleen put on such an expression before.

Saleen looked at Daniel for a moment before saying, “Daniel, I am seventeen years old this year, and soon I will be eighteen.”

Daniel did not understand what Saleen meant, so he simply nodded his head since he was at a loss for what to do. For a while, Saleen thought of how to express his thoughts. Then, he continued, “Perhaps you are unwilling to be my follower, but that is fine. With the contract around, I don’t really care about what you think. I am going to enter adulthood soon, so I will use an adult’s method to illustrate my points. If you lie to me one more time, I will take everything from you.”

“Everything?” A hint of fury appeared on Daniel’s honest face, then he tried his best to lower his voice and replied, “Saleen, it’s not impossible for you to attain my respect, but what methods are you going to use to do so? A piece of black crystal?”

“It is Lex who wants to tame you, not me. I just don’t want you to die so early. That was not your attitude when you were signing the contract. So this is a person from Tanggulasi? Hehe…”

“What’s wrong with people from Tanggulasi? At least we have a religion!”

“Of course. Tanggulasi has the Glorious Plains and the grace of god. Too bad you will never be able to enjoy all that glory anymore. Daniel, did you think I was joking when I said that I was able to take everything from you, including your death flames?”

Saleen’s blue eyes gave off an air of frostiness in that darkness. Daniel stifled a breath, and did not dare to rebut any further. He had seen Saleen cast a divine spell before. That divine spell was used to restrain death magic. Saleen was not bluffing. If Saleen really became angry, Daniel’s death flames and winged skeleton would be disintegrated by that divine spell.

“Now tell me honestly, where could the death creatures on this island have come from in order for you to never be able to forget them? If you tell me that you do not know, you will not get any other chances.”

As Saleen spoke, he caressed his Ring of Gifts, his left hand shriveled like half of a gaunt skull. Compared to Daniel, it was Saleen who looked more like a death mage.