Clair reached Ronan in an instant.
Now, Ronan was fully encased in a suit of "Titanium" metal armor, including his face, which was entirely covered by a silver mask with a constantly shifting, tightly sealed pattern resembling shark teeth.
Only his eyes were visible, making it hard for anyone to discern his true appearance.
Ronan had briefly considered whether or not to reveal his face in front of Clair, but then he realized it was no longer worth hiding his identity. Trying to be secretive might make him seem petty, so he decided to reveal his face and see what Clair's reaction would be.
He removed the metal mask from his face, calmly gazing at Clair, who was rapidly approaching.
"It's you?!"
Sure enough, when the young wizard Clair saw Ronan's face, his steps faltered, his brows furrowing for a moment.
But quickly, his emotions settled, and he walked up to Ronan without expression.
"You should be thankful that Orian brought you into the Blue Mist Society early. Otherwise, if you had run into me now, you might have already been out of the game."
Clair briefly sized up Ronan, his eyes lingering on the Titanium armor covering him. He then took out a communication stone to check and gestured for Ronan to follow.
"Let's go."
Ronan's eyes flickered slightly. "Where to?"
"There are a few more Blue Mist Society members in this area. We've agreed to meet at the third stone pillar," Clair said casually, pointing to a prominent gray stone pillar in the distance. He looked at Ronan, his expression cold. "If you don't trust me or don't want to come, feel free."
"Boom!"
Before Ronan could answer, a loud rumbling sound of magic echoed from the east.
Both their gazes snapped in that direction, seeing faint red light glowing between the ancient buildings shrouded in mist, followed by continuous booming sounds, as if a fierce battle was taking place.
Ronan and Clair exchanged a brief glance and immediately, without saying another word, both flew toward the source of the explosion.
The battle was surprisingly close. In less than half a minute, both of them reached the location where the fighting was taking place.
Ronan and Clair stood atop one of the round, ancient fairy buildings, observing the fierce battle unfolding below.
Between several high and low ancient buildings, two figures in robes were locked in combat. Both had reached the mid-third level of wizardry—one wielded fire, and the other controlled massive shadows.
Both were casting powerful spells, generating immense magical domains. The collisions of their forces sent shockwaves, clearing a wide area of mist around them. Some of the ancient fairy buildings had been struck by the magic, collapsing and sending large chunks of earth and stone flying.
Ronan, aided by **Truth's Eye** and his sharp senses, noticed seven other figures hidden nearby.
"With me here, there are at least six third-level wizards in this area, including two mid-third-levels."
Clair suddenly spoke up, his expression grave.
"This could turn into a free-for-all. Getting involved right now would be of no benefit to us."
"Let's go, we'll meet up with the others as planned."
Clair slowly began to retreat.
However, after moving a bit further back, he realized Ronan hadn't followed.
"Don't you understand what I said? I said, leave."
Clair frowned and walked back to Ronan, his voice cold.
Ronan turned to face him calmly. "You don't have to worry about me."
Clair stared at him expressionlessly. The two silently locked eyes.
After a moment, Clair scoffed and shook his head.
"Foolish."
Without another word, he turned and left, disappearing in an instant.
Ronan's gaze shifted back to the battle, his eyes flashing as his mind raced with possibilities.
So far, aside from the two combatants, there were two mid-third-level wizards and five early-third-level wizards nearby.
Clair's assessment was not wrong. This area was likely to erupt into a third-level battle.
To most, it was a dangerous situation. But for Ronan, it was an excellent opportunity.
If he could defeat a few more in the chaos, the last bit of soul power he needed to level up from second to third level might be fully replenished.
Just as he thought this, two more figures arrived.
The two third-level wizards, who had been battling fiercely, seemed to sense something was off.
Ronan frowned, realizing the two combatants seemed to be slowing down.
Moments later, they completely stopped, casting cold glances around, as though they were unsure whether they were on the same side.
Wizards who participated in the competition weren't idiots, and wouldn't do something that would let others "fish in troubled waters."
The tense and strange atmosphere quickly dissipated, and as the "profitable" situation vanished, none of the wizards seemed eager to step forward.
Some started to leave—one, two—within moments, half of the watching wizards had dispersed.
Ronan felt some disappointment, as things weren't progressing as he'd hoped.
However, he soon "discovered" two third-level wizards who hadn't left yet, seemingly interested in the unknown second-level wizard who had appeared out of nowhere. They started to approach him slowly.
Both regarded him as a target, and, sensing each other's intent, kept most of their attention focused on one another, cautiously testing the waters.
"Come on, hurry up. This is just right."
Ronan lightly inhaled, pretending to be unaware as he lowered his head slightly. Unseen by anyone, the light in his eyes grew brighter.
As the two third-level wizards drew closer, Ronan was already considering how to make his move—how to defeat one while ensuring the other wouldn't escape.
Suddenly.
"Buzz—"
A strange sound wave rapidly swept through the area.
All the remaining third-level wizards in the area shuddered slightly, and Ronan immediately looked up, his gaze shifting toward a specific direction.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz—"
The strange sound continued, echoing as if from a broken and decaying bell tower. It carried a haunting, soul-chilling force.
All the wizards present were immersed in the sound, their eyes staring vacantly in the direction the sound was coming from.
Ronan, too, was no longer concerned with "fishing." He shot up from his hiding place, soaring high into the air.
At a height where he had a clear view, Ronan squinted, and with his excellent eyesight, he saw—
To the west, above a cluster of ancient fairy buildings, several figures were frantically fleeing.
Behind them, a black-grey wave was rolling through the sky, coming fast.
Above this wave, a terrifying figure surrounded by countless restless souls was the source of the bell sound. The figure's body was surrounded by thick grey smoke, nearly obscuring its shape, with only a pair of pitch-black eyes visible, coldly scanning Ronan and the others.
The fleeing wizards were rapidly caught up by the terrifying figure. The black-grey ghostly wave rolled over them, swallowing them in an instant, devouring them completely.
And atop the wave, the terrifying figure's grey smoke began to swell, quickly expanding several times, thick enough to resemble a massive grey cloud.
When the last fleeing wizard was swallowed up by the ghostly wave, a wizard in the crowd finally recognized the figure.
It was one of the mid-third-level wizards who had previously fought. His face turned ashen as he exclaimed in horror, "It's Maffrin... the Skeleton Bell Maffrin. He's here!"
"When the Bell of the Skeleton tolls, no one can escape!"
His voice, filled with desperation, echoed like a death wail.
The wizard, now completely frantic, turned and ran. Other wizards who had heard of Maffrin's name reacted in the same manner.
The remaining wizards, sensing the overwhelming power of the ghostly wave, also scattered in panic.
In less than half a breath, the area was left with only Ronan standing.
"Mid-third level, close to late-third level spiritual strength..."
Ronan stood in the air, squinting at the figure, now stepping on the ghostly wave and rapidly approaching him.
The bell's sound rang repeatedly in his ears, growing more urgent and eerie.
Ronan's mind raced, and his three soul energy crystals quivered slightly with each toll. In his eyes, all that remained was the figure's thick grey smoke.
"If I defeat this guy..."
Ronan licked his slightly dry lips. "How much soul power could I gain?"
His eyes flickered, and he was about to charge directly when—
Suddenly, a panicked voice rang in his ear.
"Damn it."
Ronan paused, turning to see Clair, who had left earlier, now returning in a rush.
"Are you stupid? Why are you standing here waiting to die?!"
Clair rushed up to Ronan, nearly shouting in his ear.
"Every generation of the Skeleton Bell is a complete madman! Before inheriting this title, they kill all their fellow disciples and teachers, turning them into ghosts to feed the realm of souls!"
Clair ground his teeth, urging Ronan on. "Hurry up, you ignorant fool. Maffrin has the right to compete for the top twenty spots in the competition. He can crush a puny second-level wizard like you a hundred times easier than squashing an ant!"
"Why did you come back?"
Clair's tirade was met with a strangely calm question from Ronan.
Clair froze, then his anxiety and urgency evaporated as he shook his head, retreating rapidly.
"Yeah, why did I come back... I'm such a fool. I should have just let you die. Compared to you, even Orian seems more likable."
Ronan watched Clair leave again with a bemused smile.
Turning, Ronan's expression returned to complete calm.
With a steady step forward, he vanished with a flash.
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