Kael had always maintained deep vigilance toward Lucian.
Young yet formidable, Lucian ranked 49th on the Continent's Stormwind Leaderboard, standing head and shoulders above his peers—far surpassing those black-armored warriors in both talent and threat.
Even the Water Dragon had once praised Lucian's potential. Left unchecked, he could become a terrifyingly powerful mage, one truly worthy of being Kael's rival.
Lucian's gaze, too, was wary as it locked onto Kael. To him, Kael was a foe demanding utmost caution. When they'd first entered the Water Dragon's secret realm, Kael had merely been an eighth-tier mage. Yet in an astonishingly short time, he'd broken through to the ninth tier and seized the Water Dragon's legacy…
Such talent forced Lucian to regard him as a mortal threat.
Moreover, their clash within the Chrono Grand Array had sown deep enmity between them.
And above all—Lucian craved the Water Dragon's inheritance for himself.
With his exceptional cultivation, obtaining it could propel him to new heights, perhaps even granting him a shot at the Archmage realm in his lifetime!
How could he not be tempted?
Lucian's eyes narrowed. During Kael's battle with the black-armored warriors, he'd repeatedly considered striking but held back—back then, Kael had been too fearsome.
But now…
A cold smile curled Lucian's lips. "Idris, I admit your strength. But after consecutive fights against the Tower of the Fallen's agents, your magic reserves must be nearly depleted…"
Unlike those brash black-armored fools, Lucian's cunning ran far deeper.
He was certain Kael's clashes had left him weakened—this was the perfect moment to strike!
What he didn't know was that Kael's power had only grown since then. The sapling's miracles had not only stabilized his ninth-tier foundation but enhanced it further.
As for expended magic?
Kael was a Grandmaster Alchemist. Did Lucian truly think he'd lack mana potions?
Pity such details escaped Lucian. Convinced Kael was at his most vulnerable, he saw only prime hunting grounds.
Had Kael not been an alchemy virtuoso, Lucian might've actually succeeded.
"Lucian, you're only at the mid-ninth-tier level. Do you really think you can withstand a single strike from me?" Kael said coolly. Lucian was indeed skilled, but he was merely a mid-tier ninth-rank mage. Back when Kael was still eighth-tier, he had been able to obliterate ninth-tier opponents instantly—now that he had reached the ninth tier himself, Lucian stood no chance!
Given Lucian's cunning nature, the fact that he dared to confront Kael despite knowing his strength meant he must have some hidden advantage.
"Idris, prepare to die!" Lucian sneered coldly. Of course, he was aware of Kael's power—but he was also confident in his own preparations. He refused to believe Kael could counter him!
Lucian's figure blurred as he swiftly raised his Magical Crystal Staff, pointing it midair. **"Earth Net!"**
Magic surged, and the earth trembled violently. The entire cave shook as if on the verge of collapse. Beneath and around Kael, thick tendrils of sand and soil wove together, forming a massive net that sought to ensnare him completely.
Kael's expression darkened slightly. Lucian was indeed on a completely different level from the black-armored warriors—no wonder even Cain and the others had failed to compete with him, ultimately allowing Lucian to claim the Magical Crystal Staff.
Lucian was not only powerful but also deeply rooted in his foundations—an opponent who could not be underestimated!
Kael swiftly retreated, evading the Earth Net, his eyes glinting with cold intensity.
No matter how strong Lucian was, compared to Kael—now fully consolidated at the ninth tier—he was far outmatched.
Kael had been able to annihilate ninth-tier foes even at the eighth tier—now, the gap was even wider.
With a thunderous BOOM, Kael narrowed his eyes, preparing to unleash Thunderfire Gaze—
But at that moment, Lucian smirked, his face betraying a trace of scheming triumph. **"Idris, I know how terrifying your ocular magic is. But unfortunately for you, I came prepared!"**
As he spoke, Lucian flicked his wrist, scattering a cloud of black powder into the air. The foul-smelling substance rapidly dispersed, forming a dense, obscuring mist that blocked all vision.
"This is—?" Kael's heart tightened. Lucian had indeed come prepared. While his Thunderfire Gaze was formidable and unpredictable, it had one critical limitation—it required direct eye contact to lock onto a target before activation!
But now, Lucian had scattered that black powder, creating a mist that obscured Kael's vision entirely.
"Black Venom Powder!" Kael instantly recognized it—a toxic substance refined from a rare spiritual herb, notorious for its ability to block sight and inflict deadly poisoning.
Lucian had clearly taken antidotes in advance, allowing him to move freely within the mist without fear.
A cold glint flashed in Kael's eyes. Lucian had gone to great lengths, but this was far from enough to stump him.
As a Grandmaster Alchemist, Kael possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of all medicinal properties. No matter how unusual the Black Venom Powder was, it posed no challenge to him!
This toxin had one critical weakness—it dissolved in water!
Kael twisted his staff and unleashed a water-attribute spell: **"Dragon's Water Roar!"**
An eighth-tier spell like this was child's play for a ninth-tier mage like him. As he raised his staff, moisture coalesced in the air before erupting in a torrent, instantly dispersing the poisonous mist!
"Damn it, how?!" Lucian staggered back in shock, never expecting his Black Venom Powder to be neutralized so swiftly.
"You're… an alchemist too?!" Lucian paled, a surge of dread rising in his chest as he realized Kael's deep understanding of the toxin.
Still clinging to a sliver of hope, he thought—Even if the mist is gone, the poison lingers. Maybe he's already infected…
The venom in Black Venom Powder was terrifying enough to make even magical beasts flee in fear, let alone humans. If Kael had inhaled even a trace, Lucian was certain he could finish him off!
But Kael only smirked, seeing right through him. **"You think I'm poisoned? Too bad—you overestimated this powder's potency."**
Seeing Kael completely unharmed, Lucian's confidence wavered. Desperation crept in as he tried to discern—Had the toxin truly failed?
Kael's gaze turned icy as he moved abruptly.
Thunderfire Gaze!
In an instant, the terrifying power of the Thunderfire Gaze erupted. Lucian felt an overwhelming pressure lock onto him—a force he couldn't possibly resist.
Without hesitation, without even attempting to fight back, Lucian spun on his heel and fled!
That's right—Lucian didn't even entertain the thought of resistance. He knew all too well that once Kael activated that eerie ocular magic, he stood no chance. In this regard, he was far more self-aware than those reckless black-armored warriors.
But he was too late.
The moment Kael unleashed the Thunderfire Gaze, ghostly frostflames erupted across Lucian's body, while violet lightning coiled around him like a ravenous parasite.
"Damn it—ARGH—!"
Despite his incredible speed, despite reacting the second he sensed danger, Lucian couldn't escape the Thunderfire Gaze's reach.
His body was engulfed in freezing flames, hurling him backward. The attack dealt devastating damage—proof that even Lucian's considerable strength couldn't withstand a single strike from Kael's ultimate technique.
It was a testament to just how terrifying Thunderfire Gaze truly was.
"Idris…" Lucian's eyes flickered with fear and venom. "I'm the heir of the Reynold Family, one of Maider Kingdom's foremost magical lineages! If you spare me, I'll pretend this never happened—"
"The black-armored fools said the same thing," Kael replied coldly.
Spare Lucian? Only for him to return with reinforcements?
Kael wasn't that stupid.
"I'm nothing like those Darkwing Mages! You're in Maider Kingdom's territory now—my family's magical crest is on me! If I die, they'll hunt you to the ends of the earth!"
Seeing the merciless glint in Kael's eyes, Lucian's voice grew desperate.