Before I meet up with my teammates, I head to Hanmi City's marketplace to pawn off the natural Warrior Essences. My bank account grows to 320 million, a comfortable sum, but it drops back to 100 million yuan once I buy another 2 Galaxy Veins. Although my Chaos Nebula is merely tier 1, I plan on using the energy contained within one Galaxy Vein to fuel breakthroughs for tier 2 and 3, and the other to expand the Nebula into a Galaxy.
Finally, I arrive at the north border of the city, where the 13 young Mages waiting at a gate strike an impressive sight. My appearance enhances the effect, what with the huge white Chaotic Piercer and its quiver of arrows on my back.
"I appreciate you all for waiting. Where are we headed?"
Mu Tingying opens her mouth, no doubt preparing a scathing remark on my tardiness, but Nan Yu jabs an elbow into her solar plexus, shutting her up.
Ai Jiangtu answers, "Mexico. As usual, our frozen identities prevent travel by plane. And boats covering such a large distance are infeasible; we're likely to be discovered over the week-long journey if we sneak aboard, and the large cities in possession of trade routes to Mexico are exactly the ones that don't require our assistance. A feat like we pulled at Feiniao Harbor is worth little when Super Mages are residents of the city. And ludicrously, the advisors informed me that vehicles are banned. Therefore, we are walking along the Pacific coast to Mexico, passing through Ecuador, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala on the way."
"... So we're wasting a month, or more, traveling along the beach?"
He reluctantly nods. "You're lucky you arrived so late. Zhao Manyan, Zu Jiming, and Mu Tingying took forever to quit yelling profanities."
[For once, I don't blame them.]
…
…
Weeks fly by without much incident. Water poses no obstacle: a Basic Water spell is sufficient to fill all of our containers. Food similarly bears no complications, aside from the fact that most of the group gags at the sight of fish after eating it for weeks straight.
The time has proved fruitful. All the energy in one Galaxy Vein is gone, pushing my Chaos Nebula to the third tier. However, it'll have to remain there for another few months to attain saturation before any expansion attempts.
My research has pointed to an inescapable conclusion: the mysterious substance in that crystal cup from the ancient ruins is Time Liquid. Not because it pertains to the unfathomable rule of the universe; anything of such a primordial level of power is unattainable and incomprehensible for a mere Advanced Mage like me. Rather than interacting with laws of time, it's a Summon Element treasure. Its name was bestowed due to its effects: it supplies Contracted Beasts with enough energy to temporarily evolve to their final forms.
Contracted Beasts, and demon creatures in general, have several stages of evolution. They begin at the Infant stage, proceeding through the Youth, Adolescent, Adult, Mature, and finally Peak. The Peak stage might never be achieved in one's lifetime—special circumstances and fortune are prerequisites. The Time Liquid evolves Contracted Beasts to their Mature forms for a brief period of time. I suspect Jiang Yu's Night Rakshasa, that cute black dark-attribute cat whose looks belie its excellence in the arts of assassination, could be a Ruler-level creature in its Mature phase.
[Perhaps I should offer a trade? It's useless to me, but I can't in good conscience put it up for auction or sell it to greedy merchants.]
In the wrong hands, the Time Liquid could be a devastating weapon. Among the better outcomes is if it's purchased by a rich student in the World College Tournament, but I'd be shooting our team in the foot. Its effects aren't limited to temporary boosting: it significantly decreases the accumulation time necessary to advance a Contracted Beast's form. An Adolescent who requires 5 years to reach the Adult phase might only take 1, or even less. Subsequent growth will also be hastened.
Not to mention the fact that it's incredibly rare. I searched all the major auctions for traces of the Time Liquid, but not a single person is selling it. Considering the fact that I'm just an Advanced Mage, people with the authority and resources to purchase it are just as likely to steal it from me.
With these thoughts blurring through my mind, I arrive at a decision, walking over to one of my peers, who's currently lying down on his back, isolated from the others.
"Jiang Yu, I've a remarkable proposition."
[He's one of the most mild-mannered and gentle-hearted people on the team. And his mentor, Pang Lai, is both filthy rich and an absurdly powerful Super Mage.]
His closed eyes flicker with surprise as he sits upright, taking in my figure.
"Yang Jianyu? What's on your mind?"
I ease myself onto the sand next to him. "Suppose, hypothetically, I'm in possession of a ludicrously valuable Summon Element treasure. Would you be amiable for an exchange or a direct purchase?"
He swivels his head, gazing at me intensely, a sharp contrast to his usual genial demeanor. "I'm aware you're not the type to toss out such adjectives casually. But, hypothetically, if you indeed owned such a treasure, any transaction must be preceded by a thorough, truthful description of what I'm buying."
"Alright, I'll dispense with the pretenses. I have Time Liquid. I'm sure an erudite student like you needs no further explanation."
He inhales in shock, an admittedly appropriate response. "How much?"
"Approximately a liter's worth. Disrupting its purity to verify the volume seemed like an idiotic idea. I'm also aware that there exists no accurate market value for any amount of Time Liquid, since its scarcity means that its price in auctions usually depends on how rich the wealthiest person there is."
[Of course, it isn't expensive because of its effects.]
Any other substance that temporarily bestows oneself with Ruler-level strength might indeed go for billions of yuan, but in the grand scheme of things, that isn't such a high price. Super Mages' net worth tends to be in that ballpark, but even the strongest Super Mages drool over traces of Time Liquid. Its value comes from hope. Hope that by researching it, one might discover how to create it, and thus obtain a money-printing opportunity. A steady source of Time Liquid, over the course of decades (or even centuries, depending on the feasibility of mass production), is sufficient to propel a ragged beggar's net worth to the wealth possessed by the Mu Clan.
"Well, you're right, but if I bought it, I'd only be using it in dire situations (at most twice with a liter of it), with a side effect of promoting the evolution of my Night Rakshasa. I think figuring out its secrets is beyond anyone's means in the current era."
"True. Ruler-level strength is a life-preserving tool for an Advanced Mage like you. What say 5 billion yuan for each use, so 10 billion?"
He gawks at me. "Huh? I was thinking like 100 million for each use!"
It's my turn to gape at his ridiculous offer. "You can't be serious. The majority of Super Mages struggle to take on an Average Ruler, and I'm sure that level is easily attainable by your Night Rakshasa after consuming some Time Liquid. A trump card capable of eradicating most Super Mages is worth billions of yuan. 5 billion is reasonable. 100 million is a pitiful excuse for a bargaining attempt."
He frowns, pondering for a few moments. "1 billion per use, 2 billion total. I'll have to ask Master to transfer you the funds, and I believe that's the most he'd pay for even a rare resource like the Time Liquid if it's going to me. Final offer."
"2 billion? You're killing me here, Jiang Yu. The only reason I'm not auctioning it is because I don't want it ending up in the hands of a rich Summoner on another country's team."
"We can complete the transaction in Venice, where Master Pang Lai will greet the team before the tournament begins. No promises; he might back out."
"Fair enough. I trust you'll do your best to convince him; I'd really prefer not to auction it."
We nod at each other, and I get up, heading to the sparkling blue waters for a swim.
[I don't know whether to be dissatisfied or relieved that the Essence Orb didn't consume all the Time Liquid. Demon Element with no side effects versus billions of yuan?]
Shaking my head, I plunge into the ocean.
…
…
The team reaches a fortified mountain village in Costa Rica with a breathtaking view. It rests beside the Caribbean Sea (we traversed from one side of Costa Rica to the other), and the terrain consists of steps along a hill. The picturesque huts are perched on the hillside, and a delicate white path winds its way to the summit. Red sweetgrass lines the path, adding to the village's enchanting aura. The hill, the path, the sea, the flowers, and the huts create a mesmerizing scene.
Jiang Shaoxu suggests resting in this serene village, but Ai Jiangtu is hesitant due to our recent break. Nan Yu's stern gaze pushes Ai Jiangtu to agree. The remaining girls, Mu Tingying and Nanrong Ni, eagerly support Jiang Shaoxu's idea, captivated by the beauty that seems straight out of a dream. The vibrant sky and clouds only enhance the magical atmosphere.
Amidst some reluctance, the boys follow the girls into the village. The fragrance of the red sweetgrass veils the natural scents of the hillside, making the path feel soothing. As they walk, it's almost as if the next steps will lead them to a hut made of cream, cake, strawberries, and fruit.
My thoughts about vacationing here with Xinxia and Uncle Mo are interrupted by the entrance, where a woman adorned with ornaments stands in a shed.
"Hi, I'm Oni. Who are you? Lost travelers?"
Her seductive smile and demeanor seem out of place in this idyllic setting. She's quite alluring, her tanned skin exuding a hidden radiance. Zhao Manyan appreciates her beauty and approaches her, intending to flirt. However, that doesn't deter her from conveying that the village is in the midst of a festival and isn't accepting visitors at the moment.
The girls are disappointed by this news, especially Jiang Shaoxu, who expresses a willingness to wait. However, our obligations prompt us to continue our journey. Our goal is larger than leisurely enjoyment: we're eventually headed to Venice and preparing for the World College Tournament.
Zhao Manyan, however, lingers with intentions to extend his stay, especially captivated by the allure of the woman. She's resistant yet amused: a mature woman facing the advances of a young, handsome man.
[He'll catch up with us later. His lust, accumulated over the month of no flirting, will subside after he charms her into bed.]
As we descend the mountain to find a town for the night, I notice something.
"I'm going to investigate the festival by sneaking in. I'll be back after satisfying my curiosity."
The group laconically assents. Surprisingly, Jiang Shaoxu insists on accompanying me, her enthusiasm a mystery to me.
Unbeknownst to the group, I've noticed the Essence Orb emitting a light, guiding me towards the village. The promise of replenishing it drives me forward, even if it means bending the village's rules.
Jiang Shaoxu's presence is both a comfort and a puzzle. I rely on shadows to mask my approach, and she follows me closely.
The village comes into view, huts clustered together. It's a safe haven with numerous Magicians guarding its paths, making it significantly safer than previous places we've encountered. Jiang Shaoxu notes the Concubine Sweetgrass, a rare plant nurtured with the tears of an imperial concubine. I'm more concerned with why a seemingly ordinary village holds something that can replenish the Essence Orb.
We sneak into the village, unnoticed amidst the festivities. The village bustles with life: around four hundred people gather in a huge open area, and red-clad Magicians add an air of mystique. It's a puzzling sight, a random village with an unexpectedly high number of Magicians.
[Something's off.]
A confrontation unfolds as a captain of the Red Ornaments Guild faces off with the village's chief. The villagers stand helpless against his threats and demands, robbed of their belongings and trapped by his cunning. This is no festival; it's a den of bandits.
Jiang Shaoxu and I watch, aghast at the audacity of his actions.
"I, Xi Ge, am a very reasonable man. You can ask the people that used to be my prisoners if you don't trust me. They were never scared or uncomfortable with my actions. Most of them were actually grateful for how I insisted on keeping my promises. I told you, I'm no bad guy, I'm a businessman who's willing to make a deal with you. Your people, houses, lands, and sweetgrass are all mine now. By paying enough money, I'll bring my men and leave at once."
"Asshole, they are our belongings, since when are they yours!? You've robbed our belongings, surrounded our village, and you dare to ask us to pay you money to get our own belongings back? Are you treating us like idiots!?" a spirited woman steps out from the crowd and spits on him.
Xi Ge does not try to dodge it, instead taking out his handkerchief and wiping his chest clean. In a revolting maneuver, he places the handkerchief with the woman's saliva on his nose and sniffs it, before grinning. "I can smell that you're a woman that hasn't been caressed by a man before. I have already told you my business plan, so it's up to you to decide if you will accept it. Of course, if you disrespect the Red Ornaments Guild again, I will have you taste the number of men you are only supposed to taste throughout your whole life in just a single night!"
Her face pales instantly, and a burly middle-aged man, likely her father, steps in front of her. Unfortunately, this fails to intimidate Xi Ge, and he continues laughing coldly.
"Bandits usually leave after robbing a place, and sell the stolen goods when it's safer to do so, but not only did these people rob the village, they even demand the villagers they robbed buy their own belongings back… they didn't even need to sell the stolen goods!" Jiang Shaoxu softly exclaims.
"Speaking of which, didn't we see a lot of wanted posters in the towns and cities we passed by? Weren't they for the Red Ornaments Guild?" I recall the familiar name.
"Yeah, and the rewards aren't bad… Jianyu, calm down, there's too many of them!" Jiang Shaoxu realizes my intentions.
"Shaoxu, relax. This is cake."
I pull away from her concerned hands, aligning Shadow stars furiously as I exit our secluded crevice.
3rd-tier Nyx Regime: Abyssal Domain! Even as the outburst of Shadow magic alarms the Advanced Mages among the red-clad bandits, the fear-inducing pitch black substance permeates everything in sight.
[Well, technically they no longer have sight.]
All Mages who don't possess the Shadow Element lose their sense of direction, and the resulting panic is only amplified by the effects of the Nyx Regime. Annoyingly, the villagers are also running around like headless chickens.
No matter. 5th tier Shadow stars plus 1 more level from the Abyssal Domain means Shadow Nails now fires 24 projectiles. Even accounting for cooldown, alternating level 5 and level 6 Shadow Nails is an average of 18 nails per Intermediate spell, and around 9 are sufficient to immobilize a regular Advanced Mage. I target the Light Mages before their barriers can protect bandits other than themselves, and the storm of Shadow Nails crushes all the golden partitions, piercing right through their Magic Equipment to paralyze them.
Now the others are as helpless as lambs. After a few minutes, every Red Ornament Guild member can't move a single muscle, and all the villagers are safe. Running around crazily and screaming at the top of their lungs, but safe.
I dispel the region of suffocating darkness. Droplets of a yellow substance are leaking out of a decent number of villagers' crotches; perhaps control of their bladder ranked bottom on their priority list when faced with such a frightening spell.
The chief, made of sterner stuff, faces me with dignity. "You have our gratitude. We possess little with which to repay you, but please ask anything of us!"
I reply in Spanish, "Sir, I didn't take action to obtain a reward from you, but here's something I'd like your assistance with. Consider us even if you help drag these paralyzed fiends into a small area. And may I have your name?"
"Chief Armando Delgado. Consider it done."
He shouts instructions at the able-bodied men in the village, and all 70 Red Ornaments Guild members are gathered in a tight circle within a few minutes. I interrogate Xi Ge in the meantime; the mere threat of torture pushes him to confess everything he knows.
Just in time for government officials to arrive and handcuff them, dragging the lot away to toss behind bars. As expected, they bestow a grand reward upon me: the equivalent of 9 million yuan? For 70 Mages, led by an Advanced Mage?
[No wonder they're so rampant in the area. No Magicians strong enough bother to take them out.]
Shrugging, I meet up with a gobsmacked Jiang Shaoxu, and I escort her back to the team's rented residence in a town at the foot of the mountain.
…
…
After a few days, Nan Yu knocks on my door in the morning. Apparently, there's a meeting regarding a noteworthy change of plans.
Once everyone arrives in the private room, she announces, "The advisors assigned us a mission: to arrest the members of the Red Ornaments Guild. We're cooperating with the national teams of Japan and India, but also competing for the Dark Noble Mantle, a reward for the best performance. Rumors say it belonged to a Forbidden Magician in the past. He donated it to the Asia Magic Association to inspire young magicians."
"Do we really need to team up with them just to take down a bunch of bandits?" Guan Yu scoffs.
"You're mistaken. The Red Ornaments Guild isn't just a bunch of bandits. When it was first formed, it was a guild of corrupted magicians. Their numbers have grown to thousands, their average strength is Intermediate Level, and they even have a lot of Advanced Magicians. They use stolen resources and money to train new members, creating a complete cycle of growth." Clearly, Nan Yu has done her research.
"We've encountered them recently; they're not weak overall," Jiang Shaoxu adds, her tone serious.
Clearly, the group led by Xi Ge was just a small branch of the Red Ornaments Guild. There must be someone even stronger backing them behind the scenes. Otherwise, the nearby countries' governments wouldn't be so helpless against them.
"We'll wait here in Lanshi Town. The Japanese and Indian teams are on their way. We should see them soon," Nan Yu instructs.
…
…
In the afternoon, the Japanese and Indian teams arrive in Lanshi Town. All 36 of us gather at Sea Gull Park.
Since there's so many people and not everyone speaks English fluently, we send representatives to discuss at a table. Ai Jiangtu and Nan Yu head up, and I follow since I'm fluent in Japanese and Hindi. The rest of the group waits on the grass and walkway.
"Although our advisors want us to cooperate, I have no intention of sharing our intel with you," Shou Watani, the captain of the Japanese team, states. Like Ai Jiangtu and Arjun Mehta, all three of our captains' demeanors are reminiscent of the military.
"Which means you've already located their lair?" I ask.
"Something like that. You Chinese and Indians just need to support us. I'll lead the team and finish the mission swiftly. After that, we'll part ways and meet again in Venice. Of course, since we're offering vital intel, the Dark Noble Mantle is ours." Shou Watani outlines his plan.
"If you've got the intel and the plan, we're more than happy to support you," Nan Yu responds.
Arjun Mehta nods in agreement, placing safety and security of his team above a reward. Ordinarily, I might concur, but I do not in this instance.
"I'll have to decline. The location of their lair, the whereabouts of their leader for the next week or so, I've got it all after interrogating a Red Ornaments Guild captain. Nan Yu, Ai Jiangtu, we can't give up on the Dark Noble Mantle so easily."
Akira Matsuki, a Japanese representative, glares at me. "Quit your boasting. If even our captain's military connections required serious effort to secure our information, what could a mere Chinese team member accomplish?"
"Believing me isn't necessary, since we'll be seeing each other again if we have accurate intel. We'll just go our separate ways. Ai Jiangtu, Nan Yu, trust me."
I stand up from the table, and the two follow suit without hesitation.
…
…
"Since we're setting out at night, I'm going to check out the town!" Jiang Shaoxu declares.
"Seriously, you have to shop everywhere?" Mu Tingying complains.
"Of course, rare treasures are easier to find in a place like this! Are you coming too?"
"Fine, I'm planning to buy something as well. I'll tag along."
The two girls leave the team, heading for the town.
Seeing someone suggest going into town, Zhao Manyan raises an eyebrow at me and says, "Want to go have a look? I found a magnificent strip club!"
"As long as we steer clear of it, I'll be happy to accompany you."
"You're no fun."
…
…
We explore the shops for a few hours while conversing with each other.
"So, I never asked what you guys did during my week near the ancient ruins in Peru."
"Oh. It's a long story, but I'll summarize it for you. Essentially, we explored a sacred area in Peru, the Nazca Lines, prior to your arrival. Those flocks of demon birds with colorful crests were Nazca birds, haunting us because something was stolen when we visited the site."
"You didn't say one of you stole anything, just that your presence coincided with the theft."
"Exactly. A miner with Nazca heritage was responsible. When we got back to Hanmi City, a huge horde of birds, 100,000 in number, attacked the city. General Mott, responsible for the city's safety, ordered us to leave or he'd kill us, even though he had no evidence we did anything."
"But you still left?"
"Right. Ariosto, a good-natured authority, recommended we hide in a castle down the shoreline. It contained a barrier that Nan Yu barely activated in time, and we took turns battling the birds and hiding inside to recover our energy. Of course, we were overwhelmed at first, but Ai Jiangtu reminded us of your advice, so I started tagging all the birds with golden crests using Illuminate: Blindness spells. We killed them all after expending a lot of our energy, and our factions demoted General Mott and his subordinates for leaving us to die."
"How did you resolve the animosity with the Nazca birds? Wouldn't a flock of 1 million come next? Being aware of their weakness won't do anything against sheer numbers."
"Ariosto begged us to help them with the Nazca problem, since different Nazca creatures were attacking places all over Peru, and offered us each 50 million yuan's worth of resources if we resolved it. Jiang Shaoxu dug into her memories with her Psychic Element, and she recalled a stout, tanned man that smelled of saltpeter pass nearby when we were exploring the Nazca lines. That scent is indicative of the mines, so we flew to the nearest mines, and after informing the manager of our suspicions and giving him a drawing of the suspect from Jiang Shaoxu's memories, it was smooth sailing."
"Were there Nazca birds attacking the mines?"
"Nazca apes, and we wiped them all out, thanks to your intel. A miner's face matched up with the drawing, and he tried to run, but we caught him easily. He didn't have anything in his pockets, but the manager ordered all the miners to search the cave for an eye that we noticed was missing from a sculpture in the Nazca Lines. Sure enough, it was found in a hollow somewhere in the mines, and all the Nazca creatures vanished once we placed it back into the sculpture. The end."
"Fascinating. An unusual blend of Chaos and Summon magic."
"Speaking of which, I haven't once seen you align any Chaos stars."
"It's deliberate. When I was an Intermediate Mage, Shadow was my trump card. Now, Chaos has replaced it."
"I see, I thought maybe Chaos Star Paths and Star Patterns were more difficult to construct than those of other Elements."
"Not really. On the subject of aligning stars, I've been meaning to ask you. How much do Magic Accelerators go for?"
"Depends on how long you want it to be useful. As an Advanced Mage, you can control up to 49 stars a day if you buy a particularly expensive one."
Magic Accelerators explosively enhance the connections between Mages and their stars, enabling ridiculous speeds of learning how to construct a new Star Pattern, Star Constellation, or even Star Palace.
"And if I want it to remain useful in the Super level?"
"2 billion, minimum. That's the 49 stars a day tool, which shoots up to 200 stars a day once you reach the Super level and significantly increase your control capabilities."
"Ugh… that'll have to wait."
"Yeah. Just let me know if you decide to settle for a lesser one; I can get it for you relatively cheap."
[By the time I sell the Time Liquid, I may not even need the Magic Accelerator for the Chaos Galaxy-to-be.]
…
…
Evening arrives, and the two of us head back to the house that the team rented. Conspicuously, Mu Tingying is back, but Jiang Shaoxu isn't. I approach the former, who's chatting with Nanrong Ni.
"Hey, Mu Tingying. Any idea where Shaoxu might be?"
"We split up on the street to visit different shops, and I went back soon after. Why? Afraid your girlfriend will seduce other guys while you aren't there?"
Ignoring the jab, I thank her, eliciting a disdainful sniff.
I informed the team where the Red Ornament Guild's leader, Casso, will be located for the next few days, and we agreed to eliminate him tonight. She wouldn't continue exploring the town a paltry 30 minutes before our planned departure.
[Shaoxu is flirty, yes, but not ditzy.]
Ill at ease, I exit the residence and dash to the location Mu Tingying separated from Jiang Shaoxu. Strangely, black arrows litter the billboards, and I spot a painter getting scolded by a superior. The conclusion hits me after half a minute of processing.
[So she was facing too many enemies, ran, and used Psychic magic to lay a breadcrumb trail?]
Smart thinking under pressure. I follow the arrows, and after a few minutes of running, I sense fluctuations of magic in a nearby alley.
Shadow stars align as I prepare Nyx Regime: Abyssal Domain, shrouding everything within 200 meters of me in a suffocating darkness. Jiang Shaoxu's face is hiding behind a Triangular Water Mirror, a defensive tool that can transform any Element's mana into a barrier, albeit at a much lower efficiency than simply casting a defensive spell. Her pallid face indicates mana exhaustion.
[Just in time. Wait, is that… ]
The lady snarling at Jiang Shaoxu whirls around with excellent reaction speed once the Abyssal Domain descends. Her face matches that of the woman Zhao Manyan was flirting with a few days ago: Oni. She and the men surrounding her are clad in red, evidently affiliated with the Red Ornaments Guild.
Unfortunately, she simply isn't fast enough. Before she can align any stars or summon Magic Equipment, 5 Shadow Nails immobilize her. Dozens more follow, paralyzing all 6 of her lackeys before they can react.
On second thought, she likely possesses a high rank in the guild. Perhaps she'll be useful.
Jiang Shaoxu withdraws the Triangular Water Mirror, glaring at me with teary eyes. "Jerk, why didn't you come sooner?! A minute later, who knows what would have happened to me!"
"Actually, I was the only concerned one in the entire residence. I left as soon as I noticed Mu Tingying had returned but you hadn't."
"... Whatever! Protect me, all of my star clusters have little to no energy left."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Don't call me that! I'm not an old lady."
This continues, but I take her animosity in stride as we run to Casso's location. She doesn't mean any of it; she's just venting after experiencing immense anxiety. From her rambling, I gather that Oni's lustful subordinates desired Jiang Shaoxu, and their numbers were too much for her to fight off.
Whatever, it's over now. Our destination: White Head Harbor, slightly north of Lanshi Town.
…
…
To my surprise, all three teams are gathered at the docks. Perhaps the Indian team also employed its military connections to obtain the location.
They're in a deadlock with… the local government's army? Soldiers clad in green form a human barrier between us and the boats, one of which houses Casso. I recognize one of the soldiers, and I dump Oni on the ground to approach him.
He's the captain of the division that jailed all the bandits at Chief Delgado's village, who are precisely Oni's men that I just killed. Evidently, "jailed" is not accurate; they didn't even stay a week in prison.
"What did you do with those bandits? Seeing as you're protecting Casso, I have a hard time believing you rightfully put them behind bars."
His expression darkens. "None of your business!"
"Did you let them go?"
He panics a bit, but holds his ground. "So what if I released them? This place is off-limits to civilians like you. Leave, or I'll arrest you!"
I glance around the area. Several soldiers have shame engraved on their countenances, but the key figure, Mayor Lauren, does not.
[The hard way it is.]
My Shadow Galaxy's only a third full, but I still align the stars for a Confining Shadow array. 4 groups of 3 nails split off, immobilizing the captain and 3 of his subordinates. I walk past them while the other soldiers gawk at my audacity. Ignoring them, I stand in front of Mayor Lauren.
"I can only conjecture why you're adamant on defending the Red Ornaments Guild. You have yet to comprehend the danger associated with trusting madmen to protect you from the sea monsters."
His face freezes, then a grim determination washes over it. "What do you know? Hundreds of soldiers die against the ocean's onslaught, and thousands of civilians if we fail to react in time. The Red Ornaments Guild is our only hope for change: stray do-gooders like you and your friends merely worsen the situation. Especially when you engage in conflicts with them."
"Wait, so they haven't even demonstrated their sincerity by fending off any sea monsters yet?"
"... No, but our agreement says that they'll do so when the next wave of attacks arrives this season. In the meantime, we just need to bow our heads and capitulate to their demands."
Contempt wells up within me as I recall Xi Ge's rape threat and Jiang Shaoxu's crisis, coloring my tone with sarcasm. "Ah yes, sunshine and roses will surely follow when you entrust your livelihood to people who kill, rape, and pillage for a living. Your genius astounds me. Out of the way, I'll extinguish this tumor for you. It's not benign, as you seem to believe: the villages know it's malignant."
Nan Yu rushes up to calm me down, but Ai Jiangtu holds her back, nodding at me. "Some things can't be ignored. Go. We'll hold back the soldiers."
Akira Matsuki yells, "Control your teammates! We can't just attack the government!"
He's interrupted by a girl in a sailor moon outfit next to him who tosses a Fiery Fist at the soldiers, attacking the government.
Similar unruliness rises among a few bold Indian and Japanese team members, and their unwilling peers are forced to engage when the soldiers retaliate, thinking all of us are perpetrators.
I scoop up Oni amidst the rising ruckus and dash to one of the ships. Once I'm next to the boarding plank, I unseal the Shadow Nail immobilizing the muscles in her head, allowing her to scream.
"Casso, SAVE ME!"
A bulky silhouette in a fur coat climbs onto the deck of the ship, coldly gazing at me.
"Kid, let her go and I won't be fussy about what you've done. I'll also promise you my men won't trouble you anymore."
I grin widely, tossing her paralyzed body at him. A superior glint appears in his eyes.
And it vanishes as I abruptly fire an arrow through her skull, splattering his face and body with her blood.
The scene freezes for a few moments, as the Red Ornaments Guild processes what just happened. Enough time for the students to rush over, who incapacitated the weak soldiers with ease.
They intercept the charging Red Ornaments Guild members, awakened from their shock at my audacious kill. Each student finds an opponent, or multiple Intermediate Mage opponents, leaving a clear path to Casso. I stomp towards him. He grins, jumping onto the deck.
"You'll regret mocking me like that, kid."
His bravado disappears within the next few seconds. I activate a Light barrier formation that encompasses the deck in a huge yellow sphere, scaring the living daylights out of him. A pair of Wind Wings materializes on his back, flapping to propel him at absurd speeds my eyes barely keep up with. His skin bizarrely bubbles, and a green hue tints his muscles. The Advanced Poison spell, Mutation: Meat Armor, enhances his body's specs to near that of a Commander's. I brace for impact, but he slips right past me, headed for the portion of the barrier closest to the shore.
My swords miss him by mere centimeters; I summoned them when he was a meter away, but his heightened reflexes from the Meat Armor enabled him to flutter his Wind Wings in time, jerking him to the side. Fortunately, he screams in agony as the yellow obstruction burns his flesh when he rams into the barrier.
[Poison is dark-attribute. Did he seriously think he could break through a Light formation constructed over the course of 2 days?]
Though I'm having trouble comprehending his cautiousness. He acted so brazen on the ship, but all his arrogance disappeared when I activated the formation. A mere student like me shouldn't be grounds to panic.
[Perhaps he has strong enemies, which are constantly seeking to detain him? Hence why he decided to temporarily settle in such a remote region?]
I think I'm right on the mark, as he seems to realize it's just me. A relieved look washes over his face, but it's replaced by wariness as he approaches me once more.
"Who are you?"
"Yang Jianyu. On the Chinese national team."
I interrupt the inane conversation with Descending Light: Plummeting Rays. Thousands of light beams race at his body, but his eyes flicker a deep brown. Eyes of the Rock Demon: Petrifaction! Likely the effects of his Soul-grade Earth Spirit, orange-yellow sand particles coalesce into an earthen bear, which blocks my 1st tier Light Advanced spell, suffering some damage but retaining its form.
I forced him to waste the spell on defense instead of turning me to stone, but he ignores the opportunity cost and lunges at me, sharp bone blades extending out from his Meat Armor-transformed arm. I duck, but the immense agility provided by his Wind Wings enables several swipes in succession.
[Oh how I wish I got Wind instead of Water or Light. I'd be unstoppable in close combat.]
I spin to my left and duck once more, avoiding two swipes. His muscles always flex before his movements, like almost all other opponents I've faced. Since his speed is barely on par with the slowest of Commanders, he stands no chance of landing a hit until he learns how to hide his body's natural tells. I sidestep, twirl, evade every swipe, and his last one is punished with a sword that shears straight through his extended arm; he couldn't flap his Wind Wings in time to react.
A howl of pain escapes his mouth, and I sneakily immobilize his remaining limbs with a Confining Shadow Array, 10 of the 12 nails finding their marks because of his temporary inattention. Even then, he might have dodged in time, but the damage he sustained when he tried to break through the barrier prevented his muscles from reacting for the briefest of moments. Enough for him to lie paralyzed on the ground.
[Commendable that he evaded 7, but no cigar.]
Not taking any chances, I draw a second Shadow Star Pattern, rendering him unconscious with 6 more Shadow Nails. I launch the other 6 at bandits getting the upper hand in their battles against students, and the tide quickly turns once the Red Ornaments Guild realizes their leader is compromised.
However, the barrier suddenly shatters, sending me into full alert. I summon the Black Snake Armor and intensely glare at the two figures robed in black and gold. One is a tall woman with clear blue eyes and waist length blonde hair, and the other is an even taller man with buzz cut black hair.
Sensing my hostility, they smile at each other and leisurely plod towards my position. The blonde is the first to speak in English. "Don't worry, we aren't ruffians. In fact, we're affiliated with the Sacred Hall of Liberty, and Casso has given us a horrid time over the past few years. We did force him to cease his pirating activities: he's been on the run for a while."
[Ah, the dominant Magic Association of the United States, and possibly the strongest one in the world.]
I reply fluently in English. "Pirating? The Red Ornaments Guild consists of pirates?"
"Indeed, though they settled down here to temporarily lie low."
"Well, judging by your imposing auras, my intervention here seems superfluous."
"On the contrary, we'd have gone back empty handed if not for you. Casso is wary of us Sacred Hall Mages. He bolts at the first sight of us, ensuring we can't trap him; he'd bust through any formations we tried to quickly lay down with his Meat Armor plus Wind Wings, and his sensitivity cautioned him against our longer-term array building. I don't know how you managed to not alert him while you set this up."
"My Runic Pen is our household's ancestral item. Infusing my mana into it produces miniscule fluctuations, tiny enough that a mere Advanced Mage can't sense them. He continued partying and venting his lust on his female subordinates, unaware that I was plotting his demise just outside his boat. And this was prior to learning that our team needed to arrest a few members of the Red Ornaments Guild; I couldn't stand the vile actions of his subordinates at a village, so I interrogated one of them. He confessed immediately, and I went here to set up a trap for Casso."
"I see. Whatever the reason, your skills are astounding for a mere student. Constructing such a large, stable barrier in just one or two days isn't a mean feat, no less powered by a Gathering Array! And your combat prowess… I'm afraid you'd walk all over our defensive team. If you're withholding substantial strength, you may even be a match for our national team's captain."
"Let's disregard the comparison involving my strength. I hope you'll mention my deeds in your account to the Asia Magic Association; I want the Dark Noble Mantle."
She winks. "Not a problem."
Her partner, a man of few words, pats me on the shoulder and nods, offering me an approving smile as he walks away with the blonde woman towards Mayor Lauren.
After a brief chat with him, he looks thoroughly cowed. Perhaps they talked some sense into him. They leave after ensuring every Red Ornaments Guild member is either dead or trussed up with Shadow Nails preventing movement and alignment of stars.
…
…
As expected, the Chinese team obtained the Dark Noble Mantle, which was allocated to me upon reaching Bangersha City in Mexico. The Japanese team was frustrated, unconvinced of the result.
However, it did not matter what they felt. The initial plan only asked the three national teams to weaken the Red Ornaments Guild by taking out some of their members. They never thought the students would be able to uproot the entire organization, since that involved taking down their leader, Casso, and the Magic Associations were well aware of how tough the guy was.
To their surprise, we ended up arresting Casso and helping the Sacred Hall Mages accomplish their mission, returning peace to the Caribbean Sea. A feat which clearly set us apart from the other two teams. I wasn't the only one rewarded; the others were allocated resources of their choice.
After crossing the Caribbean Sea and reaching Mexico, the vast land of North America opens up to us.
"Jianyu, why were you interested in Sweetgrass Village back then? Did you realize something was strange about Oni?" Jiang Shaoxu randomly recalls.
"I initially thought I could find something I'm looking for there, but I realized that it wasn't as I imagined. What about you?"
The Essence Orb was glowing in response to an old tree, but no energy could be absorbed, leaving me empty-handed and disappointed.
"How mysterious! I was just curious about the festival."
A few moments of silence pass before Jiang Shaoxu fills it once more.
"Oh, now that we've completed the mission, didn't the advisors say someone in the team will be disqualified around this time? Zhao Manyan, are you the one?" Jiang Shaoxu looks at Zhao Manyan curiously.
"Are you kidding me? I'm definitely not the weakest on the team!" Zhao Manyan straightens his chest and asserts.
"I second that; your Lifetime Vessel has significantly enhanced your utility."
The wooden clapper is extremely powerful. Zhao Manyan discovered that funneling a bit of his mana into a set of yellow runes activated an effect that doubled the strength of his defensive spells. During the battle with the pirates, even against a strong opponent, he could spare the attention and energy to shield others who needed help; she couldn't break through his defense.
"If you aren't the one being disqualified, who's it going to be then?" Jiang Shaoxu ponders.
"See, someone is panicking more than me," Zhao Manyan says, smiling and looking at Li Kaifeng not far ahead of them.
"Him? But I thought he's fine still?"
"He's in a similar spot to Guan Yu, but Guan Yu has an outstanding weapon. Li Kaifeng doesn't have that advantage, so I think he's most likely the one that will be disqualified. I heard Li Kaifeng has a powerful background, but his own strength is important, too," Zhao Manyan judges.
I ask, "Is someone certainly getting disqualified? Who's the replacement?"
He scoffs, "None other than your ice princess: Mu Ningxue."
My mood lifts.
[The team has regained all of its strongest members.]