Chapter 500 - 328: Unexpected Death

"I am Rillo Johnson, Archbishop of Talisi." Rillo stood upon the tiled floor of the Gladiatorial Arena, his Golden Silk Mage Robe stirring without a breeze. The dazzling sunlight spilled over his Magic Staff, making it flash with golden light.

Having just ascended to the Legendary realm, he now carried himself as a supreme expert. The indignation he had shown at the council was gone, replaced by a placid, lake-like calm. He had the perfect bearing of a master.

It was the posture of one who saw all others as ants; nothing and no one could stir his emotions now.

Of the watching envoys and Debei Nobles, only the people of the Holy Sith Kingdom looked excited. They craned their necks in anticipation, waiting for their Archbishop to teach this outrageously arrogant Debei Guy a harsh lesson.

The Lord sized him up with curiosity. ’He really does feel different now,’ Levi thought. If Rillo had been a mantis he could casually crush back at the council, now he was a vicious dog that actually required a kick.

Before, the vast, sea-like Magic Elements within the Archbishop had been clearly visible. Now, however, he had returned to a state of primal simplicity, and not a single trace of them could be detected.

"I will show you just how fragile empty titles are before a true expert." Rillo raised his golden Magic Staff. The powerful Legendary Great Magic Master loomed like a mountain, inspiring awe and fear. "Levi! The Giant Dragon and the Mermaid are destined to be mine! I will gain a Mermaid consort and the blessing of the Sea Goddess, and I will become a Dragon Rider Mage! I am the favored child of the gods! And you? You are nothing more than an arrogant clown!"

He was proclaiming his lines like a hero from a grand epic.

The sun, perfectly positioned at the center of the sky, bathed him in a layer of golden light. The scene looked as if a hero had stepped out of an Epic painting and into reality.

"Damn, in his dreams!" Zamanzi, who was also in the crowd, scoffed. ’The Giant Dragon and the Mermaid can only belong to the boss.’ As for that "empty title," however, he would be willing to reluctantly accept it.

"Hasn’t even been a Legendary for a full day, and he’s already this good at posturing. I bet he pulls rank on the Nuns in private all the time." Levi snapped his fingers. "Let’s hope you can still stand and say that to me when this is over."

"Boss, your weapon!" Four hulking, muscle-bound Barbarians approached, grunting with effort as they carried the enormous Digen’s Howl.

The Legendary Weapon was simply too enormous, too heavy.

Each of the four Barbarians was a Tier Six Berserker. They were hulking men nearly three Tri-Blades tall and weighing a thousand pounds, each possessing enough Power to kill a giant elephant with a single punch. Yet, it still took all four of them to lift the weapon.

Levi gripped the hilt, steadied the weapon with one hand, and effortlessly hoisted it onto his shoulder. With a FWOOSH, the Dragon Flame on its surface roared to life, engulfing the entire blade.

Even from a great distance, the spectators in the stands couldn’t help but feel their cheeks flush with heat.

The outlandishly designed weapon, the valiant and extraordinary Knight, the golden cape snapping in the wind, and an utterly arrogant declaration: "I’ll finish you in eleven heartbeats!"

This drove the countless Noble Ladies in attendance to distraction, their eyes shimmering with affection.

"One day, he will take me as his bride." In the stands, Princess Vera placed her hands over her heart, speaking in a dreamy, wistful tone. "And then I will become the happiest Duchess in the entire world."

Ashiru watched Levi on the field and blushed at some private thought, a flush that only made her more beautiful.

Princess Lina, sitting beside her, was full of scorn. "Are you dreaming, Vera? Lord Levi should be marrying me!"

"You’re the one who’s dreaming, you bitch!" Vera shot back, not to be outdone.

The two began to argue, and when they reached an impasse, they turned in unison to the unassuming Ashiru beside them. "Dearest sister, you tell us. Which of us is fit to be Lord Levi’s wife?"

Ashiru shrank back and said timidly, "I think both of my sisters are very beautiful, and so accomplished..."

As she rambled on, a flicker of disdain passed through both Princesses’ eyes simultaneously.

...

"I gotta admit, he’s quite handsome. No wonder Fulina and you are both so fond of the boy."

Mandela, who was also watching, rubbed his bald head and said with a hint of jealousy.

"Looks aren’t everything. What’s inside is what matters most." Fatir neither confirmed nor denied it, his gaze simply fixed intently on Levi.

"I hope your strength is as great as your arrogance." Rillo’s gaze turned cold as he gripped the Magic Staff in his hand—an Epic Level weapon.

"Begin!"

The moment Filo said the word, he scrambled out of the center of the Gladiatorial Arena.

A man of his frail build would be blown to pieces if he were caught in the shockwaves of their fight.

A slight breeze swept past. In an instant, Rillo shot into the sky, casting several defensive spells on himself as he rose.

For a Legendary Great Magic Master, instantly casting spells below the Legendary tier was practically effortless.

He had already witnessed how deadly the Lord of High Cliff Castle’s javelin throws were and how exceptional his physical strength was. Naturally, he wasn’t foolish enough to stay on the ground and get pummeled.

It was, admittedly, a sound strategy. Since the Lord couldn’t fly, he had to rely on thrown javelins to deal with airborne opponents.

Rillo wasn’t the kind of Mage who spent all day cooped up in the Church, single-mindedly pursuing his Cultivation. Ever since his Cultivation hit a bottleneck, he had traveled the continent, seeking out powerful opponents to duel, honing his magic, and improving his strength through a different path.

Decades of accumulated experience had given him combat instincts that would astound any observer.