Chapter 37 - 12-23

Chapter 12: Lynn: I Can Handle This!

After a night of relentless pursuit, everyone in the room was exhausted. Following Jonny's briefing, they all went their separate ways to rest.

Lynn was no exception. She picked a reasonably decent room, half-closed the broken door, and didn't mind the dust covering the wooden bed. She lay down immediately.

Throughout the past week since her arrival in this world, Lynn had kept her guard up, even when sleeping. She was afraid that guards would burst in at any moment. Now, she could finally relax a bit.

"Greenreel..."

Lynn murmured the name of the wizarding city Jonny had mentioned. Unlike Will and the others, who were skeptical, Lynn didn't find it strange at all that a group of magic-using wizards had gathered to study magic intensively. In fact, she thought it was perfectly normal. On the other hand, the Church's theological approach was quite strange to her.

For Lynn, going to the wizarding city was an excellent choice. In a place that valued magic and knowledge, she could better utilize her skills without worrying about being captured one day.

In the Secastian Empire controlled by the Church, she couldn't even find a place to farm and tinker with technology in peace.

If some divine intervention were to target her, there'd be no reasoning with it. Even if she managed to create anti-matter weapons, there was no guarantee she could defend against it.

After weighing the pros and cons, Lynn temporarily abandoned her plan to go alone, but a sense of unease still lingered in her mind. She didn't believe that the sense of danger she had felt in the forest was a mere illusion.

Jonny, Dove, Will, Buck, and Barton... Their images flashed through Lynn's mind. In the six months since she had become an apprentice wizard, her relationships with these people were superficial, with no personal grievances or grudges. This made it unlikely that the attack was due to personal vendettas.

As for who could have done it, Lynn thought for a moment, and she could rule out Jonny. Not because of the small affection she had for her, but because Jonny had the least suspicion. As the apparent leader of the group and the one who had proposed the escape plan, if Jonny had betrayed them, it was better for Lynn to escape as soon as possible.

Next was Dove. Her ability to control animals was crucial, serving as the team's eyes and ears. If someone like her changed sides, it would be a nightmare. The parchment Jonny had mentioned was also written by Dove, and the message had been delivered by her ravens. If either of them was compromised, Carl might have died before Lynn even arrived.

Lynn was hesitant about the remaining three: Buck and Barton, the twins, who took care of each other and could potentially deceive Jonny and the others. She knew very little about Will, who was a descendant of some count within the Secastian Empire.

Lynn closed her eyes and recollected every detail of her interactions with the other apprentice wizards. Then, she thought about the hidden passage in the Drunken Ghost Tavern, Old Hawk, the Wizarding City, Lame Loude...

A vague guess flashed through her mind. Lynn suddenly opened her eyes, sat up in bed, and a sense of inexplicable coldness gradually overcame her.

Click!

At that exact moment, the door's hinge creaked, and the half-closed door was pushed open.

Already on high alert, Lynn instinctively drew the longsword from her waist and slashed it in the direction of the door. When she saw who it was, her sword froze in mid-air.

"Jonny?" Lynn was somewhat surprised.

The silver-haired witch was holding her right hand in front of the sword's edge. It was then that Lynn noticed that the young woman was wearing a pure black leather glove with many intricate and mysterious inscriptions on its surface.

It seemed to be some kind of alchemical item.

"Did you have a nightmare?" The silver-haired witch furrowed her brows lightly, not quite understanding why Lynn had such a strong reaction all of a sudden. After a brief pause, she explained further, "I knocked on the door a moment ago, but you didn't respond."

Lynn nodded, she sheathed her sword, and curiously asked, "It's so late; is there something you need?"

"My teacher mentioned this to me earlier. He said that when you master the first-tier magic spell, 'Frostblade,' I should give this to you." Jonny looked melancholic as she took out a thick book about two fingers thick from her pocket and handed it to Lynn. The cover was inscribed with the words "Basic Magic Compendium" in a rough Common tongue.

Lynn curiously took the book and opened it. The entire book was made from coarse parchment paper. On the first page, the first type of magic was recorded - "Magic Missile."

Like "Basic Matter Disruption," "Magic Missile" was also a zero-tier magic spell of a special category. Its power was weaker than "Frostblade" and "Fireball," but it had the advantage of being a pure magical creation, requiring no preparation of casting materials and having no upper limit on control.

In theory, as long as you had enough magic power, creating hundreds of "Magic Missiles" at once was not impossible.

Of course, having a large quantity wasn't enough; any wizard had a limited amount of energy. An apprentice wizard could control two or three missiles at most without becoming distracted in combat.

But there was a solution to this problem.

Lynn flipped through the pages. On the second page of the "Basic Magic Compendium," there were numerous curved diagrams and many complex Helramm formulas below.

After careful study, Lynn roughly understood what Jonny was trying to convey. To surpass the control limit of "Magic Missile," you needed to establish a three-dimensional coordinate system in your mind with yourself at the center and preset the flight path of the "Magic Missiles."

The flight path could not only be straight but also curved. In other words, the caster could create a vast, overwhelming, and difficult-to-block barrage attack from different directions and angles.

This involved linear and curvilinear equations in three-dimensional space...

Lynn stroked her chin, thinking that this task didn't seem too difficult...

Since "Magic Missile" was purely a magical creation and was minimally affected by gravity, one only needed to consider inertia and wind speed.

Seeing Lynn's keen interest in studying the pages, Jonny couldn't help but offer a reminder. "These are magical formulas created by the great wizard Helramm. They can further enhance the power of 'Magic Missile,' but for us at our current level, it's still too difficult. You'd better not waste too much energy on it."

"I'll keep that in mind." Lynn quickly scanned the pages again, confirming that her thoughts were accurate. She then closed the book and casually replied.

Jonny saw that Lynn was being somewhat dismissive and sighed in resignation. She remembered being just like Lynn, fascinated with these intricate formulas when she first started with magic. It was only after hitting a wall that she gained some self-awareness...

Chapter 13: The Perfect Moment is Tonight!

"Tonight, you should get some rest early. It'll take us several days to reach the Wizard's City by ferry, and we'll have plenty of time to study new magic," Jonny advised Lynn. Seeing that Lynn was not convinced, she offered this reminder before turning to leave.

"Wait... Jonny!" Lynn tucked "Basic Magic Primer" into his arms and suddenly thought of his earlier suspicion, so he spoke up.

"What's the matter? Is there something else?" The silver-haired witch stopped in her tracks.

"Are you sure no one else knows the location of our hideout besides us?" Lynn asked again.

"Are you suspecting that someone among us might have defected to the Church?" Jonny's expression grew serious, and she understood Lynn's concern. She had the same suspicions, but after hesitating for a moment, she shook her head and said, "That's impossible!"

"Before you arrived in Ur Town, we spent a whole week in this village... The dangerous tasks of gathering information and procuring supplies were assigned by drawing lots," she explained. She had taken this opportunity to test each and every one of them, and so far, they hadn't encountered any pursuit from the Church. That was the best proof.

Lynn wasn't surprised by this; he was more direct in his response.

Have you ever thought that maybe the Church's first target isn't us?

Lynn knew that for an insider, silent compliance meant only one thing – working towards a bigger gain...

Jonny was momentarily stunned, wearing a puzzled expression on her face.

"Lame Loude... The route to Greenrealm, that's the true target of the Church!" Lynn said, enunciating each word.

He didn't know what kind of relationship the "Drunkard" Hawke and Kora had that made them willing to help apprentice wizards like them, but one thing was certain. A hidden passage directly leading outside the city was not specifically built for them!

In other words, "Drunkard" Hawke was very likely a spy placed by the Wizards in the Nordland Province, and helping them sail to Lorde was undoubtedly more important.

Lynn could imagine how many wizards had entered the Secas Empire through this route over the years, and how many cargo-laden ships had set sail from Nordland's ports to reach the Wizard's City.

In comparison, capturing a few apprentice wizards like them was inconsequential. It was probably just a way to appease the Duke of Nordland's emotions, handled as a side issue. This might explain why they were relentlessly pursued by the Church outside, yet they had been safe upon entering Ur Town.

With Lynn's prompt, Jonny immediately understood the situation, and her expression changed.

In this light, the Church probably already knew their movements but was biding its time, waiting for them to act, and then capturing everyone in one fell swoop.

Thinking about this, Jonny felt a chill down her spine. At this moment, they were like birds walking into a trap, just waiting for the hunter to raise his slaughter knife.

Jonny remained silent for a while but couldn't come up with a solution.

"So, what should we do?" She asked, but after posing the question, the young girl didn't expect Lynn to have any answers. In this hopeless situation, where even trust among themselves was nearly impossible, how could these apprentice wizards escape the intricately woven net of the Church?

However, Lynn spoke up.

"It's simple... We wait."

"Wait?" Jonny was surprised by Lynn's response.

"You just revealed the plan about the ferry and Lorde to them. We're leaving tomorrow, and by then, everyone will be watching each other. So... tonight is the best time to send a message!" Lynn stated firmly.

"Squeak, squeak."

When the moon's radiance passed the thirteenth star, Will awoke to the sounds of rats scurrying. The dry straw on his hard wooden bed felt like needles and blades against his back.

Struggling to sit up, Will noticed three or four rats gathered around a half-eaten piece of dark bread near his discarded robe. Their long tongues hung from their mouths, and their dark, clawed feet left imprints on the blue fabric.

"Damn you filthy creatures," Will fumed. He kicked the bread aside, cursing fiercely. It took several minutes for him to calm down, during which he reluctantly picked up his robe, carefully pushed open the door.

The corridor leading to the hall was pitch-black, with no sign of anyone around. At this hour, except for Dove, who was on night watch duty, everyone should be resting.

Will didn't dare linger and swiftly crossed the hallway, entering a secluded storage room. He turned around and closed the door behind him.

The old wooden door creaked and groaned, a testament to the mercenaries who had violently broken in. All the locks in the manor had been damaged, and the storage room was a chaotic mess, with dusty wooden boards covering the floor, and a few chairs and cabinets strewn haphazardly.

Will knelt down, anxious, and started to clear away the clutter piled up in the corner, revealing a dusty floor with an enigmatic rhombus-shaped pattern etched on it.

Back when they were apprentices selecting their specialized fields, Jonny had chosen elemental magic, Dove had opted for psychomancy, and Will had mastered alchemy.

"By boat, the harbor, Lorde..."

Will etched each character into the center of the magical circle, then placed the magic stones on the four circular patterns within. Faint, radiant light gradually emanated, extending along the lines of the magic circle.

Just as the radiance was about to enshroud the entire magic circle, a piercing sound of something cutting through the air echoed in the silent room. A "Frostblade" was pinned firmly to the edge of the magic circle, and the brilliant magical light instantly dimmed.

"Who's there?" Will was startled, and he sat down on the floor, his eyes filled with fear as he looked towards the direction the sound had come from.

The partially open room had already been forcefully entered. In Jonny's eyes, there was a mix of disappointment and confusion.

"Why are you betraying us, Will?" The hot-tempered Buck strode forward and grabbed Will by his collar, landing a punch on his face. "Answer me!"

"Why?" Will sneered, then suddenly pushed Buck away, wiping the blood from his mouth. He spoke with an agitated expression. "You're asking me why?"

"I am Will Isk, the second son of an Imperial Count! If it weren't for that fool Kora, I would have been living in the Isk estate, attending lavish high-society gatherings, enjoying delicious meals, and being served by servants. In the future, I would have inherited a portion of my father's lands and become a Baron in the Secas Empire!"

"But now? Every day, we're stuck eating the same wretched bread as the peasants, sleeping in filthy ruins infested with rats." Will screamed hysterically. "I've had enough!"

"Kora is a madman, a devil! He taught us demonic knowledge and turned us from high-born nobles into a bunch of insects cowering in the shadows..."

Chapter 14: The Caged Bird

"Have you all forgotten your own identities?" Will shouted loudly. "Before we became wizards, we were all noble children of the Secas Empire!"

Buck and the others exchanged glances, falling into silence.

They had all experienced what Will had gone through, that feeling of falling from heaven to hell was indeed unpleasant.

In the midst of the silence, Lynn suddenly spoke, "You should understand, Will, the Church will never change its treatment of us based on our identities..."

As a monotheistic faith, the Church's most fundamental belief was in the Creationist doctrine. The legendary deity, Elra, had created everything in the world and brought the elixir of life, giving life to the once barren and desolate land. Therefore, everyone was expected to obey the Church's rule.

Wizards, who sought to decipher the laws of the world and gain power from them, naturally became the Church's arch-enemies. After all, this was undermining the very foundation of the Church's religious authority.

"This time is different!" Will exclaimed excitedly, looking at everyone present, appearing almost insane. "Jonny, Carl, Buck, the Church's primary target is not us. As long as we sincerely repent, Archbishop Anluke and Duke Noland will surely forgive our sins!"

"You're crazy, Will!" Jonny sighed. "From the moment we chose to become wizards, there was no turning back."

Once they chose to become wizards, magic would forever flow within them, a symbol of evil and shame in the Secas Empire.

If Count Isk knew that his second son had become a wizard, his first reaction would undoubtedly be to disown him and cast Will out of the family...

In other words, they could never return to their previous lives.

"I'm not crazy, I know exactly what I'm doing!" Will said coldly, turning to Dove, who had remained silent, and from the hidden pocket of her robe, he took out several magic stones. Suddenly, without warning, he scattered them towards Jonny and the others.

"Jonny, be careful!" Dove screamed, her spiritual vision allowing her to see the hidden runes inscribed on each magic stone.

As Dove's voice rang out, several magic stones exploded in mid-air, and sharp shards rained down like locusts...

The gray-haired witch remained unchanged in expression. She raised her right hand, her fingers tapping like playing a harp, and the runes on her gloves lit up in succession.

A faint flame appeared at her fingertips, and then it rapidly expanded, engulfing everything in front of her in just one second!

This was a higher-level magic, "Flame's Touch"!

At the moment Will threw the magic stones, he had already planned his escape route. He rolled in a desperate manner to avoid the searing flames and was about to jump out of the wide-open window.

But Lynn's actions were quicker than his. A diamond-shaped ice blade shot out, piercing Will's ankle directly, causing his airborne body to lose balance and fall to the ground.

A piercing cold spread up his ankle, and Will immediately felt his right leg go numb. He leaned against the wall, panic-stricken, about to say something, but a slender "Magic Missile" flew straight into his eye sockets and exploded.

Crimson blood mixed with brain matter splattered, dyeing the wooden floor crimson. Lynn immediately turned to look in the opposite direction, and Jonny, incredulous, questioned Dove, "What are you doing, Dove?"

When she used "Flame's Touch," she intentionally reduced its power to leave a survivor and extract some information through interrogation.

"It's too late; I can only kill him!" Dove cried out, her hands clutching her head in fear. "Outside... there are at least a hundred guards, we're surrounded!"

Hearing this, Jonny rushed to the window and used a Fireball spell to illuminate the dim night.

In the explosion of flames, Lynn saw from a distance a group of armored guards, bearing crossbows, silently crossing the dense forest, heading towards them.

The leader, holding a staff and clad in a white and gilded robe, gazed at Lynn from a distance, illuminated by the firelight.

"It's Archbishop Anluke of the Noland domain! We're done for!" Barton immediately recognized him and fell into despair.

He hadn't expected that the Archbishop of the Noland domain would personally lead the pursuit to capture a few wizard apprentices.

Lynn glanced at the dim alchemical array on the ground; they should have stopped the spell from being cast earlier, which meant...

The eyes of everyone on the scene involuntarily turned to Dove.

"It wasn't me... it wasn't me!" the fourteen-year-old girl frantically shook her head, her face filled with a mixture of fear and uncertainty.

The chaotic situation and the imminent Church pursuers made Jonny, who was already on edge, feel a wave of dizziness. She clenched her teeth and forced herself to calm down, speaking in a low voice.

"Listen, things aren't as bad as they seem. There's a wide drainage canal in the basement of this estate that leads directly to the river outside. We can escape from there."

As she spoke, Jonny turned her head and used a pleading look to signal Lynn to keep an eye on Dove, as she didn't know who else she could trust.

...

One minute earlier, in the dense forest outside the town of Uru, over a hundred neatly uniformed guards were slowly advancing under the cover of the trees.

Priest Aaron, accompanying the troops, looked at the castle looming in the distance and asked in confusion, "Archbishop Anluke, according to the plan we previously set, shouldn't we have waited for these wizard apprentices to arrive in the Harbor Town before taking action?"

For this "Caged Bird" operation, they had mobilized a large number of people to monitor the entire town of Uru. Their intention was to use these apprentice wizards to trace the heretics who had abandoned the faith of the Master and lead them all to hell.

Now, they were taking the initiative, which undoubtedly disrupted all the efforts they had made earlier.

"Aaron, a skilled hunter not only needs to learn how to set clever traps but also to know when to close the net," Archbishop Anluke responded in a deep voice. "A sturdy cage may hold clumsy ostriches, but if a griffon happens to be trapped inside, it can break free and tear the hunter to pieces."

"Remember, excessive greed will only make you lose everything in your hands."

The essence of the "Caged Bird" operation was their absolute control. No matter how these apprentice wizards struggled, they couldn't escape the trap they had set.

However, Blaine's death had made Archbishop Anluke feel a hint of unease. The presence of a formal wizard among Kora's apprentices completely disrupted his plans. Having dealt with the followers of these heretics many times, Archbishop Anluke was well aware of how formidable formal wizards could be. Their magic was diverse, and a slight oversight could lead to instant death. In the battle in the Noland domain, capturing a formal wizard was no easy task, especially considering Kora sacrificed herself to protect one of her apprentices and stayed behind.

Chapter 15: The Battle Inside the Castle

 In comparison, it was undoubtedly wiser to take the initiative while the situation was still under control. If they could capture a few key figures, they might extract valuable information.

  "Thank you for your guidance, Lord Archbishop Anluke," Priest Aaron said, carefully pondering the situation and bowing respectfully.

  "Everything is guided by the Lord," Archbishop Anluke replied casually. Suddenly, as if he sensed something, without any visible movement, several radiant arrows materialized in the void, instantly pinning four gray doves about to take flight to a tree.

  Three seconds later, a dazzling fireball shot out from a nearby estate, illuminating the sky.

  Archbishop Anluke lifted his head, his magically enhanced sight piercing hundreds of meters, passing through the open windows of the third floor, and he saw Lynn and the others gazing outward.

  Brown hair, medium build, handsome features...

  That was the wizard named Carl, the one who had killed Blaine!

  "Everyone, advance at full speed!" Archbishop Anluke commanded without hesitation.

  Since they had been discovered, there was no need to hide any longer. The guards, who had been moving at a leisurely pace, immediately switched to a sprint, and the clanging of armor resounded as they surged towards the central fortress from all directions.

  Seven years had passed, and the manor's gates were violently flung open once more. Guards armed with swords and shields formed groups of ten, surrounding the entire castle methodically.

  Aaron led several squads, heading straight for the direction where Lynn and the others had been.

  As they traversed the long and wide corridors, the guards at the forefront had just entered the main hall when they emerged one by one, their faces filled with fear.

  Unfortunately, they were too slow, and several scorching fireballs, like meteorites, rained down on the crowd.

  Soon after, a series of violent explosions occurred, and the orderly and tightly-knit formation turned into a chaotic sea of people.

  "Ahh!"

  Accompanied by the piercing screams, blood splattered, bodies were flung, and the thick scent of blood filled the air.

  Even though the participants in this encirclement were elite soldiers selected from the Nordland army, each fully armed, they still instantly fell into disarray in the face of powerful magic.

  "Fall back as a formation, and archers, prepare to fire!" The only calm one on the battlefield was Aaron, who raised his staff high and shouted.

  "Don't panic, Eira is with us!"

  The disordered troops quickly regained their composure, restoring order. The white glow in everyone's eyes shone brightly, and the inexplicable courage filled their minds.

  This was the magic of the first circle—Fear Removal!

  Under Aaron's command, the shield-bearing guards placed their sturdy shields in front, advancing with large steps, while the guards behind them drew their crossbows in unison.

  Long-range volleys had always been the best way to deal with wizard apprentices!

  The tortoise-shell-like shield formation greatly reduced the effectiveness of ordinary magic, and magic missiles couldn't penetrate it. Even the powerful fireball spells couldn't produce significant results.

  The dense rain of arrows forced the group of wizard apprentices to retreat, and they were forced to take cover behind walls. The slowest to react, Barton, was accidentally struck by a crossbow bolt in the back and tumbled to the ground in disarray.

  "Barton!" Buck urgently called his brother's name, rushing forward and struggling to help Barton up.

  Waiting for the right moment, Aaron issued orders once again, dozens of strong crossbows all pointed at the two of them. As the crossbow triggers were pulled, a multitude of arrows poured down like a meteor shower.

  Second-circle high-level magic—Frost Barrier.

  Jonny decisively stood in front of the two, raised his hand, and a transparent water screen appeared in front of them. In an instant, it solidified into an icy crystalline wall.

  "Bang, bang, bang..."

  The dense sound of impacts echoed in succession, and icy crystal shards scattered on the ground as the continuous rain of arrows broke through the Frost Barrier. Three arrows were aimed straight at Jonny!

  Jonny, who had just completed an over-speed spell using Magic Hand, didn't have time to create a second ice wall. Behind her were Buck and Barton, the two brothers...

  "No escape!"

  Jonny clenched her lips, forcibly stopping her evasive movements, and held the hilt of her sword with no certainty that she could intercept all the arrows coming her way.

  At that moment, three magic missiles flew in from the side, accurately shooting down the arrows.

  Jonny was momentarily stunned, unable to fully grasp the joy of escaping the peril. Then, she saw seven more Magic Missiles flying past her, curiously not following a straight path but taking a bizarre curved trajectory, easily bypassing the shield wall's protection, and heading directly for the guards behind holding crossbows.

  A brief moment of chaos caused the continuous arrow rain to temporarily cease. Jonny, Buck, and Barton took the opportunity to hide behind a low wall, looking in astonishment at Lynn and Dove standing beside them, a thought flashing through their minds.

  When did Dove become so powerful?

  But they quickly realized that it wasn't Dove who had acted because the next moment, a full twelve Magic Missiles condensed in the void and floated beside Lynn.

  Magic—Bullet Barrage!

  With a thought, Lynn sent more than a dozen missiles hurtling toward the guards.

  Seeing the strange magic, Aaron immediately commanded the shield-bearing guards to gather, layering their shields without leaving any gaps, forming a semi-circular protection for the crossbowmen behind.

  However, what surprised everyone was that these dozen or so missiles, without any prior agreement, bypassed the shield wall and flew towards the rear.

  Did they miss their target?

  Aaron thought to himself, but quickly dismissed the possibility. If only one or two Magic Missiles had gone off course, that might be plausible, but if they all deviated from their path, it could only mean that their initial target was never here!

  Aaron abruptly turned around, and almost simultaneously, the twelve missiles hit the weathered pillar behind. In the billowing dust, the seven-meter-high pillar toppled straight down.

  "Spread out, get away from each other!" Aaron shouted hoarsely, raising his staff high and casting the only protective divine spell he possessed—Sanctified Word: Shield!

  But it was clear that it was a futile effort. The bright white shield had just formed and was instantly shattered by the massive stone pillar. Over ten shield-bearing guards and crossbowmen who hadn't had time to disperse were buried beneath the fallen pillar.

  When Aaron turned around again, Lynn and the others had already vanished.

  After much hesitation and numerous glances at the guards trapped under the pillar, crying for help as they bled, Aaron clenched his teeth and said, "Leave half the men behind to rescue them! The rest follow me!"

Chapter 16: Fire Magic Isn't Meant to Be Used Like This!

Meanwhile, Lynn and the others were making their way to the castle from the other side, underground.

Everyone was well aware of the pressing time. Barton, injured as he was, had even refused Buck's assistance. After a hasty makeshift bandage for his back wound, he gritted his teeth and followed the rest.

In that moment, Lynn was still replaying the details of his spellcasting in his mind.

"Magic Missiles," as a fundamental zero-tier spell, wasn't particularly difficult to learn or use. The real challenge lay in presetting the trajectories for each missile.

Lynn hadn't joined the first wave of counterattacks with Jonny and the others. He had been preparing his spells.

Unless 071 assisted him with targeting, controlling twelve Magic Missiles simultaneously was his limit. Their power was roughly equivalent to a higher-tier first-circle spell.

"Are you really Karl?" In the midst of the silence, Buck couldn't help but ask.

"Of course," Lynn nodded.

"But when did you master the Helram Formula?" Jonny was also very curious. She had handed Lynn the book "Fundamental Magic for All" just over an hour ago. It didn't make sense that he could learn it so quickly, did it?

"Just a little while ago," Lynn casually replied. Then he suddenly remembered that he had only been studying magic for half a year in his original body. He thought he might be coming across as too confident and quickly added, "My teacher explained the principles of this formula to me before. It didn't seem too difficult."

Not difficult? A perplexed expression crossed Jonny's delicate face. If it was so easy, why had she spent several months trying to grasp it herself?

Buck and Barton were convinced that their mentor, Kora, must have given Karl some extra help.

"Dove, report the enemy's positions and distances!" Lynn changed the subject and looked at the silent girl by his side.

Although her killing of Will raised suspicions, they had no choice but to rely on her abilities in this crisis.

"Enemies are everywhere, and it seems like they're trying to surround us," Dove said, her body trembling with fear.

"What about Archbishop Anluke? Where is he?" Jonny suddenly inquired.

"I don't know. My psychic sensing can't detect him," Dove almost burst into tears.

"In that case, find a place to gather as many enemies as possible and deal with them first!" Lynn calmly analyzed. Apart from the still-unused Grand Archbishop, the biggest threat to them right now was the rain of arrows from the crossbowmen. If they were in an open area, a few volleys of crossbow fire would kill at least half of them.

"Are you serious, Karl?" Buck's eyes widened in astonishment.

They didn't even have time to escape right now, and Lynn was thinking about gathering the enemy for a counterattack. It sounded like a fairy tale.

Lynn didn't reply but instead looked at Barton, who was struggling with his bleeding back.

Buck then realized that they were still carrying a wounded member who couldn't move well. It wouldn't be long before the enemy surrounded them from all sides, and once that happened, there might be no escaping at all.

"How confident are you?" Jonny asked directly.

"That depends on how many types of magic you guys have mastered!" Lynn declared decisively.

...

With Dove's perception and Lynn's coordination, guards from several directions nearly converged on the group of wizard apprentices in a side hall of the castle simultaneously.

A total of six squads of guards had gathered, with the mysterious and unpredictable Grand Archbishop Anluke stationed at the entrances and tending to the wounded. All of them were now assembled.

Even though they outnumbered the enemy, Aaron, who had just suffered a severe setback at the hands of Lynn, didn't dare to be complacent. He ordered the guards to advance using a shield wall and crossbow formation, and then worked alongside other priests to cast supportive divine spells.

"Fear Nullification," "Sacred Blessing!"

Two consecutive beams of white light shone. The shield-bearers, now brimming with courage and vitality, boldly advanced with their thick shields.

In front of them, Buck stood alone, barring the way for the numerous shield-bearers. He lifted a counter that weighed several hundred pounds from the ground, his already muscular arms swelling once more. With superhuman strength beyond the limits of a human body, he hurled the heavy counter forward.

"Kill them all!"

The heavy counter collided with the dense wall of shields, producing a tremendous muffled sound.

Then, the solid stone floor underfoot suddenly sank.

This was the result of Jonny and Barton, who were hiding in the shadows, working together to cast a first-circle spell—Fossilize to Mud! The sturdy armor had ceased to protect and, upon impact, the legs of the shield-bearers, who were standing on fine sand, immediately lost balance. The once neatly aligned shield-bearers fell to the ground, all out of place...

Though it was a combined spell of two wizard apprentices, the range of its impact was still limited. Behind them, the crossbowmen had already raised their crossbows, and more than forty sharp crossbow bolts glinted ominously, aimed at Buck...

Please, Dove, be quick!

A bead of cold sweat slid down Buck's forehead as he silently prayed in his heart. This moment was the difference between life and death!

Fortunately, Dove didn't disappoint him. Just as the crossbow triggers were about to be pulled, an indescribable shrill sound echoed through the castle.

Soul Wail!

Everyone present felt as if their brains had been struck with a heavy hammer, losing all control over their bodies in that instant.

Injury was sustained on both sides, and the enigmatic nature of psychic magic was unmistakable!

The range of the Soul Wail's effect was extremely wide, but its magical power consumption was incredibly intense. It was forced to stop after only two seconds.

Dove's figure wavered, almost falling to the ground.

Jonny and the others felt a sense of unease. They had done everything they could, collectively buying them five seconds and gathering all the enemies together.

For Lynn, this was enough. Pale yellow phosphorous powder was already suspended in his palm, rapidly expanding into a huge fireball nearly half a meter tall.

The yellow-white flames didn't seem particularly remarkable, but all the wizard apprentices and priests present couldn't help but shiver with a deep sense of dread.

However, this massive fireball didn't target Aaron and the others; it flew into the air and disintegrated, with sparkling embers trailing behind, like a beautiful fireworks display in the sky.

Buck's face turned ashen. He couldn't help but suspect that Dove's Soul Wail just now had interfered with Lynn's spellcasting.

You see, fire magic had always been concentrated for effective use!

Chapter 17: The Devil's Power, Flames from Hell!

Could it be that all our efforts have been in vain?

Under the watchful gaze of Buck, a shower of starfire soon rained down upon them all!

[Sacred Word - Shield]

After breaking free from the effects of the [Soul Shriek], Aaron immediately cast a protective divine spell.

A pure white shield materialized in the void, and the scattered starfire dots began corroding it, leaving behind small craters.

Is this the power a weakened magical residue possesses, even reducing its strength by a hundredfold?

If the giant fireball had hit him directly earlier, Aaron was sure he wouldn't have been able to stop it!

Just as he marveled, a series of shrill and agonizing screams echoed through the castle. Aaron turned to look, and he was left dumbfounded in place.

Compared to the priests who practiced divine magic, the guards had yet to recover from the shock of the [Soul Shriek], and tiny starfire dots were already sticking to their armor, shields, crossbows, and exposed limbs and faces.

The horror of white phosphorus fire was soon revealed in the next moment. The faint flames, upon contact with the material, rapidly spread. Leather shoulder pads and gloves were burned through with gaping holes. The yellowish-white flames, as if attracted to flesh and blood, directly penetrated the skin beneath.

"Ah!" A shieldbearer frantically beat at his chest, trying to extinguish the spreading white phosphorus flames. However, the result of his actions was that his arm also ignited, and in a matter of a few breaths, half of his body had turned into a torch...

His companions fared even worse. Tiny flames fell directly into the gaps in their armor. The thousand-degree heat caused them to scream in agony, and they forcibly tore off their armor, then thrust their hands into their bodies, only to pull out a bloody, flaming chunk of meat...

Flesh and corpses were the best nourishment for white phosphorus flames, and the fire quickly spread.

A burning sea of fire, billowing white smoke, and grotesque, terrifying soldiers; this scene was as if hell had descended to the mortal world...

"Devils, this must be the power of devils, flames from hell!"

The terrifying sight completely shattered the elite guards of Nordan Land, and the magic spell [Banish Fear] had lost all effect. A priest who had managed to avoid the flames' onslaught screamed himself hoarse, threw away his staff, and fled without looking back...

Joni and the others, who were equally stunned, almost forgot Lynn's advice to hold their breath and use magic to extract oxygen from the air.

"What kind of magic is this?" Buck shivered deeply. Just getting a little closer, he could feel the pain as if his bone marrow were burning.

"This is Fireball Magic. You guys don't know it? I just made a slight modification!" Lynn noticed the astonished looks on everyone's faces and explained.

This is considered a slight modification?

Buck's expression became quite strange, as he thought Lynn's understanding of the term might be different from his own.

Joni, on the other hand, was beginning to suspect if Lynn had already broken through the heavy barriers and become a full-fledged wizard.

But Lynn had only been exposed to magic for half a year, and that seemed a bit too exaggerated... Plus, their teacher Kora had always been destitute, so where would he get the money to purchase a source of magical power.

Compared to the intricate thoughts of Jonny and Buck, Barton's ideas were straightforward. He realized that when these apprentice wizards united, they could be so powerful! Barton even believed that, if they all worked together, facing the Church's pursuit might not be as difficult as they thought.

Just as he was thinking this, a dazzling white light appeared in the distance, breaking through the flames' barriers and heading toward the group of wizard apprentices.

Distracted, Barton only saw his brother, Buck, urgently opening his mouth to say something, and then he felt as if a powerful force had slammed into his body. His frail form was torn apart in mid-air, somersaulting several times, and then he plummeted to the ground, becoming lifeless in an instant.

The sudden turn of events left Jonny and the others with frozen expressions. Buck's face contorted gradually, and he shouted hoarsely.

"No, Barton!"

Lynn acted as soon as the white light appeared. Twelve Magic Missiles circled around him, drawing eerie, curved arcs in the air as they shot towards the end of the corridor.

In the end, over a dozen Magic Missiles were blocked by an invisible wall, and all they could see were the ripples when they collided...

Lynn's heart sank instantly, his gaze fixed on the other end of the sea of flames. He understood that the person he had been waiting for had finally arrived, and their strength exceeded his wildest expectations.

Suddenly, a melodious hymn resounded within the castle, and an invisible power gradually enveloped the whole area, causing a light rain to fall even within the enclosed indoors.

This was the Third-Circle Divine Magic - [Song of Life]! The green raindrops contained an incredibly potent divine power, gradually suppressing the hellish flames.

The unrelenting and nearly all-consuming white phosphorus fire rapidly subsided, and Archbishop Anluke, dressed in a white and gilded robe, walked in at a leisurely pace.

"Your Grace!"

Aaron, who had escaped the starfire's coverage by luck, shouted excitedly, though his words concealed a hint of resentment and hatred.

The timing of Anluke's appearance was so clever that Aaron couldn't help but suspect that this Archbishop had been watching them all along.

Clearly, he and the elite guards of Nordan Land were nothing more than tools for testing the opponent's strength and trump cards!

Aaron's heart grew ice-cold halfway through, understanding that after this incident concluded, he, as the on-site commander, would undoubtedly face severe punishment.

Anluke paid no attention to Aaron, surveyed the ground strewn with casualties, and the guards whose wills had been completely shattered. Then, his pupils contracted. Because the flames that had been extinguished once were showing signs of reigniting immediately after the Divine Magic [Song of Life] had ended.

This was white phosphorus fire; as long as there was still oxygen in the air and something to burn, it would not stop!

"Do not linger, retreat!"

After Lynn's feigned Magic Missile attack failed, he made a choice without hesitation.

The giant fireball he had prepared, with a casting time exceeding five seconds, had consumed most of the white phosphorus he had created. The remaining amount was insufficient to defeat the Archbishop, who was now unleashing powerful divine magic.

Jonny and Dove also understood the terror of Anluke. Despite their deep sorrow for Barton's death, they knew that at this moment, the only chance for survival was to escape.

But Buck, who had lost his younger brother, had gone mad. He roared with anger, picking up a relatively intact guard's corpse from the ground as a shield and charged towards Anluke.

Chapter 18: Praise to Aila - The Light of the Holy Spirit

"Don't be reckless, come back, Buck!" Jonny shouted loudly.

Buck paid no heed and lunged forward with a ferocious expression.

"Praise Aila - Holy Light Impact!" Archbishop Anluke slowly incanted, casting a second-tier divine spell.

Dazzling white light erupted once again. This time, the body that stood as a shield in front of him was directly turned into a bloody mist, and the terrifying shockwave sent Buck flying effortlessly.

Archbishop Anluke raised his staff to continue his spellcasting to deal a fatal blow. In the critical moment, Dove intervened.

A sharp, piercing screech, like the sound of death echoing from hell, momentarily disrupted Archbishop Anluke's actions, but only for a moment.

"Flame's Touch."

"Phosphorus - Fireball Spell."

Lynn and Jonny, who had covered their ears in advance, simultaneously unleashed their most potent magic. Two scorching flames surged toward Archbishop Anluke, forcing the Archbishop to switch from attack to defensive magic.

Third-tier divine spell - "Holy Barrier!"

An invisible barrier stood in front of Archbishop Anluke, effortlessly fending off the assault of the flames. However, the white phosphorus flames clung to it, slowly but steadily corroding the surface of the invisible barrier.

Roar!

Buck, who had been severely injured and knocked down moments ago, stood up again. His bloodshot eyes and his increasingly bestial features were even more apparent.

At this moment, Buck, like a giant bear standing upright, charged into the burning sea of flames. His hair and robes were quickly engulfed by the white phosphorus flames.

The pain of being burned at temperatures exceeding a thousand degrees was enough to make anyone go mad, but Buck paid no heed. From the moment he used the magic transformation spell as an apprentice wizard, the process of his transformation had become irreversible, and breaking Archbishop Anluke's protective divine spell by his own strength was an impossible feat!

"Jonny, Kora, you go first. I'll stay behind to avenge Barton!" Buck roared while smacking his hand against the "Holy Barrier" in front of him.

Ripples appeared on the invisible barrier, and Archbishop Anluke used a divine spell to send Buck flying.

"We're going!" Lynn glanced at Buck, covered in white phosphorus flames, without hesitation. There was no way to save him now.

After knocking Buck away, Archbishop Anluke stood in front of the only exit. Having suffered so many losses, he would not easily let Lynn and the others escape.

"Repent before the great Lord, followers of the devil..." Archbishop Anluke raised the Episcopal staff in his hand and chanted loudly.

"Praise Aila - Holy Spirit's Light!"

A dazzling light wave, emanating from the staff as its center, spread out in a semicircular shape. It was unstoppable and unavoidable, as the divine spell's range covered most of the side chamber.

However, Lynn was not a person without an escape plan. In fact, he had prepared for an escape strategy in case of a crisis before entering the side chamber.

Lynn, Dove, and Jonny simultaneously pressed their hands on the ground.

Zero-tier magic - "Basic Material Deconstruction!"

The solid floor instantly cracked, and three fine cracks spread like a spider's web, finally connecting. Before the terrifying white light arrived, the ground beneath their feet had already collapsed...

The failed "Holy Spirit's Light" passed through the collapsed cavity and struck the wall behind it, causing a series of explosions that soon reverberated through the castle.

After the dust and debris settled, Archbishop Anluke's expression became quite ugly as he looked at the collapsed cavity inside the side chamber.

"Roar!"

A hoarse roar came from the side.

Due to being thrown out by the earlier attack, Buck was not within the reach of "Holy Spirit's Light." However, at this moment, he had already lost his human appearance and transformed into a robust giant bear, with his skin still covered in white phosphorus flames. Under the burned flesh, you could vaguely see his white bones.

Even so, Buck continued to charge forward fueled by his thirst for revenge.

Archbishop Anluke frowned. He didn't have time to waste on a dying wizard apprentice. He extended his hand, and the fallen sand and stones quickly gathered and combined with the shattered armor on the ground to create two huge stone statues, each standing at three meters tall.

This was a second-tier divine spell, "Summon Guardian of the Spirit Realm."

After the two stone statues were assembled, they separated. One of them swung its fist and knocked the giant bear Buck down, while the other jumped into the collapsed hole in the ground.

...

"Thankfully, this place isn't too high!"

With the falling debris as a cushion, Lynn, with the combined effort of the three, successfully used the "Basic Material Deconstruction" to break through the ground and reach the castle's basement.

Lynn looked around. It seemed like a weapons storage room, with numerous weapons and swords piled on racks around them. In addition, there were many empty crates, probably where treasures were stored previously but had been taken by the castle's owner when he fled.

After confirming the environment, Lynn immediately turned his attention to his two companions.

Jonny was in relatively good condition, with severe magical exhaustion being his main issue. However, Dove was in a different state. After using "Soul's Scream" twice in a row, she, despite being a rare psychic, could hardly stand.

"Jonny, how far is it from here to the underground canal?" Lynn asked.

"Follow this path, keep going, and we should be able to reach it in no more than three minutes," Jonny replied, helping Dove to her feet. After a moment of hesitation, he quickly made up his mind. "Next, we can split up. You lead Dove, and I'll try to divert Archbishop Anluke."

Jonny was well aware that they couldn't outrun Archbishop Anluke. Continuing like this would inevitably lead to capture.

Although he had expended a considerable amount of magic in the previous battle, Dove could still cast two more upper-tier first-tier spells with the help of "Magic Hands." This could buy them some time.

The silver-haired witch lowered her head, and her red lips had traces of blood from biting down. She had promised her mentor Kora that she would safely bring everyone back to the land of the wizards.

But now, Kent was dead, Will was dead, Buck and Barton had fallen right in front of her, and she couldn't do anything...

"You might be a little late with that suggestion," Lynn said, looking up.

In just that moment, there were already violent explosions from above, followed by a colossal stone statue, about three meters tall and clad in armor, crashing down from the hole above.

"Let's go!" Lynn grabbed Jonny and Dove by the arms, pulling them out of the falling debris zone and shouting loudly.

He had been forced to use the white phosphorus flames, originally meant for covering their escape, to save Buck before. His magical energy was now depleted by more than half.

Facing Archbishop Anluke once again, he had no chance of winning!

The massive and heavy Guardian of the Spirit Realm fell to the ground, causing the entire floor to tremble. Then it stretched its stone arms and took large strides toward the three of them.

Lynn's expression tightened, and he was about to evade when a warning sound suddenly rang in his mind.

(Warning... Detected severe illegal activities by the agreed target, suspected of using chemical weapons to cause mass casualties, of a highly heinous nature! The criminal acts have been recorded. Before the federal police arrive, you will have one opportunity for an online statement...)

Chapter 19: Time for Closure!

[Warning... No signal... Warning... Not connected to the network... Please find a signal source promptly...]

Lynn's face displayed a mix of astonishment and joy. After reading the message and understanding its content, the corners of their mouth twitched involuntarily.

"What a ridiculous AI..."

"I don't need an online narration. Turn off the warning sound and report the remaining energy!" Lynn silently commanded in their mind.

[Remaining energy: 19.5 percent. Significant increase in energy density detected in the vicinity, with an estimated increase of one percent in energy reserves per hour.]

So fast! Lynn couldn't help but be surprised. An increase of one percent per hour meant the energy would be full in about four days. But it had been five days since the system was last shut down!

Lynn glanced at the smart brain's notification once more. A significant increase in energy density? It couldn't possibly be related to the castle beneath their feet. It could only be the influence of Monday!

"Kora!"

Lynn was contemplating this when Johnny's shout interrupted their thoughts. A three-meter-tall Spirit Guard rushed towards them, wielding a sledgehammer, ready to strike.

"Entering overload mode, three seconds!" Lynn didn't turn around but silently uttered in their mind.

In the next moment, a massive influx of data streamed into Lynn's mind. With a powerful leap, they used the reaction force to soar into the air, narrowly avoiding the heavy sledgehammer. Then, they landed on the stout arm of the Spirit Guard, pulled out a sharp Witch Hunter's sword, and embedded it into a crack in the statue's neck, pinning it firmly to the wall behind!

However, this strike clearly couldn't completely shatter the statue. Lynn didn't force it and, after temporarily restricting the Spirit Guard's movement, deactivated the overload mode. They swiftly grabbed Johnny, who hadn't reacted yet, and continued their escape.

The smart brain's energy was now less than twenty percent, and it needed to be conserved for more critical situations.

The group ran like mad, and after about ten seconds, the sound of the giant statue's footsteps trembling the floor rang out again. Dove, who was holding onto Johnny's arm, trembled continuously, sobbing softly. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Johnny... Carl..."

"You knew from the beginning that Will had betrayed us, didn't you?" Lynn glanced at Dove with certainty.

Tonight, when tracking Will, Lynn had sensed that something was amiss. Will's behavior on his way to the storage room was too peculiar. Dove, who was on night watch, had probably been using the gray jays to monitor the entire castle. However, Will showed no vigilance at all and didn't even glance around the windows or corners.

This was clearly irrational, unless... Will was confident that there would be no consequences even if the gray jays discovered him.

"Can you tell me the reason?" Johnny asked, gripping Dove's delicate hand tightly. She couldn't believe Dove would do something as treacherous as this.

Dove's nose twitched as she spoke with a tearful voice, her tone choked with emotion. Three nights ago, when it was Will's turn for night watch, she released the gray jays for patrol as usual. But to her surprise, she discovered that Will was secretly reporting the situation here to the Church through an alchemical array.

"Why didn't you tell us about this?" Johnny asked.

"But... Will... Will had already discovered me. He said the Church knew my identity. If I dared to tell you, my parents, my brother, and sisters would all be bound to the stake and burned to death..." Dove's face showed a look of fear, and she sobbed as she spoke.

Johnny fell silent. For apprentices like them, family safety was indeed a significant concern. That was why in their situation, it was a taboo to inquire about each other's true identities. They couldn't even be sure if they were using real names.

"Clearly, he lied to you. Perhaps Will didn't know your true identity, or maybe he intended to take all the credit himself," Lynn calmly remarked.

From Will's hands-on approach, it was apparent that his words were likely just a ruse. Otherwise, he could have used this to manipulate Dove into doing more for him.

Of course, it was also possible that Will planned to keep all the credit for himself. The more he did, the more the Church might see his "sincerity" and pardon him as a "faithful follower of the Church."

"Do you want to survive, Dove? I have a method that might deal with Archbishop Anluke," Lynn suddenly asked.

Before Johnny could respond, Dove, her eyes brimming with tears, nodded. "Yes!"

She didn't want to die.

"Then tell me everything you know about magic. I need to know the principles and methods of their use," Lynn said bluntly.

"What are you planning?" Johnny asked, surprised.

"I think it's not too late to start learning from now on, right?" Lynn said seriously.

Now that 071 had been restarted, it was time to bring things to a close.

Chased all the way and having witnessed the deaths of Buck and Barton, Lynn was now burning with anger.

But... was there really time? Johnny couldn't believe it, but after hesitating for a moment, he began explaining.

[Touched by Flame], [Fossil to Mud], [Icy Veil], [Minor - Fiery Grasp]...

As Kora's most valued disciple, Johnny mastered a dozen or so first-tier spells, while Dove knew very few, only two highly specialized spiritual spells. It was said that only a few apprentices with spiritual talents could master them.

Considering the urgency of time, Lynn didn't get greedy. They selectively memorized a few and began practicing them in their mind with the help of the smart brain.

Lynn's composed appearance also infected Johnny and Dove, boosting their confidence in defeating Archbishop Anluke.

As the three advanced, the sound of rushing water reached them from the front, and the gentle breeze carried a hint of moisture.

What they saw was a rapidly flowing underground river. The turbulent water gushed from underground continuously, passing through a long tunnel, directly leading outside the castle.

[Holy Light Impact]!

Lynn and Johnny hadn't reached the riverbank yet when a white light shot out from behind them.

[Icy Veil] x2

Johnny and Lynn exchanged a glance and simultaneously raised their hands. Two walls of ice crystals shot up from the ground, jointly blocking this second-tier divine spell.

The two walls of ice crystals disintegrated instantly, and the shards fell like hail.

"Now, what do we do?" Johnny asked anxiously, looking at Lynn. The escape route was right in front of them, but once they were swept into the swift current, they would have no means to resist Archbishop Anluke's attacks.

"It's simple!" Lynn glanced at Johnny and, without warning, took the girl's sword off her waist. To Johnny's surprise, Lynn pushed her directly into the swift current.

The cold river water engulfed her nose and mouth, quickly soaking her entire body. Johnny keenly felt the massive inertial force of the swiftly flowing water, forcefully pulling her toward the exit.

Through the blurry curtain of water, Johnny vaguely saw Lynn's mouth moving as if bidding a final farewell. Then, a heavy object was thrown in her direction—Dove, who was in a panic.

Watching the two being carried away by the current, Lynn wasn't particularly concerned about the safety of the two witches. After all, a wizard who could control oxygen wouldn't drown in the water. Lynn simply added the unspoken second part in their mind:

"It's simple. Just don't get in my way here!"

Chapter 20: Deconstruction Record Mimicry!

"Such a touching scene..."

Archbishop Anluke's figure appeared at the other end of the corridor, accompanied by a massive spirit realm guardian walking in step beside him.

Watching Jonny and Dove being carried towards the exit by the rushing current, Anluke had no intention of stopping them. After all, the wizards standing in his way would not let him succeed.

If the scene were a bit different, this would almost be a reenactment of the Battle of Nordland...

"I believe you may have misunderstood something..." Lynn turned around, his gaze piercing, fixed on Archbishop Anluke standing at the end of the corridor. He extended his right hand, and a trace of white phosphorus remaining on the surface of his pouch was separated by the influence of the Mage's Hand.

First, it needed to be recorded...

Recalling Jonny's earlier explanation, Lynn instantly entered an overload mode and cast a Tier-0 spell - Basic Material Deconstruction Magic!

The fine white phosphorus powder rapidly disintegrated, returning to its basic molecular state...

Then came the magic mimicry!

A large amount of magic flowed into his palm, just like cell division. The white phosphorus suspended in his hand multiplied, eventually surging into a huge fireball.

Deconstruct and record an element, then mimic it with magic; this was the essence of how a true wizard could cast spells without materials. Typically, mastering an element would take weeks or even months, but with the immense computational power provided by the intellect engine, Lynn reduced this time to just three seconds.

A new rune was quickly etched into his mind – the White Phosphorus Fireball spell!

Looking at the fiery sphere in Lynn's hand, Archbishop Anluke halted his advance. Having witnessed the terrifying power of white phosphorus, he naturally didn't dare to underestimate it. He immediately employed his most potent protective spell - the Sacred Barrier!

An invisible barrier, as strong as a fortress wall, stood before him. However, Lynn's white phosphorus fire bypassed it and crashed into the entrance behind.

A violent explosion erupted in the next moment, accompanied by a burst of rising flames. The entrance behind them was now engulfed in the horrifying white phosphorus blaze.

Archbishop Anluke was taken aback for a moment, but once he realized Lynn's intent, his expression became extremely grim.

It was evident that the wizard in front of him didn't just want to protect his companions and let them escape. By sealing off his retreat, it meant he was preparing to eliminate him right here!

"Very well!" Realizing this, Archbishop Anluke's anger flared up. The massive spirit realm guardian at his side made heavy strides and charged forward.

Lynn, standing before the spirit realm guardian, was like a mantis trying to stop a speeding car.

But Lynn's expression remained calm, with no intention of dodging. He was silently counting in his mind.

Three... Two... One...

Mud to Stone!

Just as the spirit realm guardian rushed to him, about to deliver a powerful punch, Lynn bent down to evade and pressed his palm to the ground.

The solid ground instantly transformed into soft sand. The massive, heavy stone statue lost its balance as it stepped onto the soft ground and tumbled into the fast-flowing water behind.

The massive water spray had not yet hit the ground when it disintegrated into the most basic elements. Then, infused with magic, it condensed into dozens of shimmering ice blades, speeding away at an unimaginable pace!

Taking advantage of the terrain, Lynn used a Tier-2 spell for the first time – Group Frost Blades!

The tide of battle shifted in an instant. Archbishop Anluke couldn't react in time, and the spirit realm guardian sank beneath the water, while the ice blades, swift as flying locusts, collided with the Sacred Barrier.

How could a Tier-2 offensive spell triumph over a Tier-3 defensive divine art?

Lynn quickly provided the answer as dozens of frost blades precisely struck three specific points on the invisible barrier. Ripples spread across the intangible surface, accelerating as they went, first forming hairline cracks, then swiftly expanding until the invisible barrier shattered.

This was breaking point with pinpoint accuracy.

Archbishop Anluke's face completely changed, and he couldn't help but take a step back, raising his staff and using his second Tier-3 divine art - Divine Light of the Spirit!

The dazzling light emitted an aura of death as it spread forward in a semi-circular fashion. Just five minutes ago, Lynn had fled from this very spell in a sorry state, but he was no longer the same.

White Phosphorus - Flame Demon's Hand!

Lynn raised his hand, and the terrifying white phosphorus flames ignited once again, forming a colossal hand resembling an ancient demon. This hand clashed with the blinding light wave.

This ordinary Tier-1 advanced spell, in Lynn's hands, unleashed unimaginable power. The blazing fire surged into the sky, causing the entire castle to tremble violently.

In the white smoke and the glare of shattered stones, Archbishop Anluke faintly saw something shining in mid-air. Upon approaching, he realized it was a sword, and the swordbearer, Lynn, was already right in front of him.

Clang!

The sharp longsword collided with the gilded staff, emitting a sharp and unpleasant thud.

What was the best way to deal with a priest who could use divine arts? Close combat, of course!

But Lynn quickly realized that his accumulated experience from games and novels didn't apply this time, because Archbishop Anluke effortlessly blocked his full-strength attack with just one hand on his staff.

Could this be what they called a close combat priest?

Cold sweat formed on Lynn's forehead. He lowered his head to evade Archbishop Anluke's powerful strike.

Feeling the whistling sound created by the staff passing above his head, Lynn estimated that this strike had an impact force of at least 1.5 tons or more.

This reminded Lynn of the witch hunter he had encountered earlier. Were all the Church's members human-shaped dinosaurs?

Fortunately, due to years of a luxurious lifestyle, even though Archbishop Anluke had taken divine elixirs, his close combat skills were still far from satisfactory. Combat wasn't just about brute strength!

After three or four exchanges, Lynn instantly calculated the staff's landing point. His longsword pierced in at a clever angle, leaving a fierce gash on Archbishop Anluke's chest.

Archbishop Anluke was both shocked and furious. He didn't hesitate to use a Tier-2 divine art, Holy Light Impact, even though the two were in extremely close quarters. Dazzling white light erupted, and Lynn and Archbishop Anluke were both blasted away by a powerful shockwave.

Lynn, with a weaker physique, was sent flying more than ten meters away. However, at the moment of casting the divine art, he had created an ice shield outside his body to mitigate most of the impact, preventing himself from falling into the swift-flowing river behind.

On the other side, Archbishop Anluke had directly taken the blow from his own divine art. His splendid gilded robes were torn and tattered, and the grotesque wound on his chest ruptured once again.

Holy Word: Shield, Divine Blessing, Dispelling Fear, Sacred Barrier, Wall of light...

In the face of successive life-threatening situations, the terrified Archbishop Anluke didn't even tend to his injuries first; instead, he cast one protective divine art after another, turning himself into a turtle shell!

Chapter 21: Shaking the Gods When You Can't Beat Them

[Warning: Energy remaining at only three percent, the system will forcibly shut down in fifteen seconds...]

"Disable overload mode!" Lin Yun said without hesitation, upon hearing the warning in his mind.

It had been five days of complete silence since the last shutdown of the AI brain. Lin Yun had no intention of going through that again, and the previous battles had depleted nearly ninety percent of his magical power.

However, despite the daunting difference in power, a faint smile graced Lin Yun's lips. He had gained the upper hand in this battle!

White phosphorus, a forbidden weapon in modern warfare, had a terrifying quality apart from its ability to burn everything—it was its insidious toxicity!

This was precisely why he had sent Dove and Jonny away and instructed everyone to hold their breath during the fight. It was to prevent them from succumbing to the poison.

However, the situation was different when facing Archbishop Anluke. The widespread use of "White Phosphorus - Fireball Art" and "Hand of the Flame Demon" aimed to fill the enclosed space with toxic gas.

Close-quarters combat would exhaust Anluke's stamina and manipulate the air, forcing him to inhale the poisonous gas more intensely.

It had been about the right amount of time, and even a genuine humanoid dragon would find it extremely challenging to endure until now.

As Lin Yun had expected, Anluke, who was hiding in the "Turtle Shell," had noticed the weakening sensations throughout his body. He felt dizzy and feverish, and his vision was gradually blurring. It seemed like his strength was being gradually sapped away.

What kind of magic was this? In an instant, Anluke thought of the Four-Ring Magic known as the "Harvest of Death." This terrifying magic could turn an area into a forbidden zone for the living in a matter of seconds.

But if the opponent was a great wizard capable of using Four-Ring Magic, it meant that he was already dead during their confrontation!

So it could only be poison!

Anluke immediately realized this possibility. For example, the Three-Ring Magic "Toxic Domain" could create a large area of yellow-green poison mist with very distinctive characteristics.

Now, it was too late to cast the dispelling magic for the poison. Lin Yun was not about to let go of the most vulnerable moment of his enemy. He immediately pushed all his remaining magical power into it.

"Magic - Barrage!"

In an instant, thirty-six "Magic Missiles" floated in the air. Lin Yun even reactivated the three-second overload mode, quickly adjusting their trajectories.

Facing Anluke's turtle shell-like tactics, Lin Yun had no intention of confronting it head-on. Instead, he chose to evade the most challenging "Holy Barrier" using the flexibility of the "Magic Missiles." He attacked from the weak points and sent this Nordland leader and Archbishop straight to hell!

After twenty-five years, Anluke once again felt the impending sense of death.

At this life-or-death moment, Anluke appeared strangely calm. He had no doubt that he would die today, but before that, he could do one last thing—send this devilish disciple, who was young but already a Three-Ring Wizard, straight to hell!

"Great Lord of the Stars, Goddess of the Moon, Creator of the Earth and Life, your humble servant prays here and offers up this body. I beseech the projection of the Supreme Lord to descend upon this place..."

Anluke chanted fervently, and with each verse, his face aged by a year. His skin became wrinkled, white hair hung down from his forehead to his eyes, and his voice grew lower and more hoarse.

In a trance, it was as if a sacred hymn resonated in the enclosed underground space, gradually overshadowing Anluke's voice. In no time, the entire space began to shake violently.

"God... Summoning... Ritual?" Lin Yun exclaimed, barely managing to utter the words through clenched teeth.

Upon arriving in this otherworldly realm and discovering that the priests of the Church possessed true divine magic, the thing that Lynn was most worried about and least willing to face was the God-Summoning Ritual!

The beings referred to as gods were not to be underestimated, even if it was just a projection that couldn't carry much power. A single gesture from it could flick you to death!

Shaking the gods when you can't beat them... Is this still a human?

Lynn inwardly cursed and launched the pre-set Magic Missiles without daring to look back at Archbishop Anluke's fate. He promptly jumped into the swift underground river behind him.

More than thirty Magic Missiles followed their original path, avoiding the sturdy Holy Barrier, and hit Anluke directly, colliding with a mysterious force.

The successive explosions were like the last straw that broke the camel's back. The underground space, which had endured countless trials, quickly disintegrated!

Huge, multi-ton stones continuously detached from the ceiling, crashing down to the ground and into the river, engulfing everything in rolling smoke and dust.

At this moment, Lynn had been swept into the turbulent water...

Being a land dweller who had lived in the central region of the Federation for years, Lynn had no experience in swimming. His nearly depleted magical power and physical strength had stripped him of any chance to struggle. He could only allow the strong current to pull his body downward relentlessly.

However, there was not a trace of worry on Lynn's face. In his previous life as a data archivist, he knew very well how a non-swimmer could survive in fast-flowing water.

First and foremost, he needed to remain calm; that was the foundation of everything. Then, he needed to make full use of the buoyancy of the water itself.

As everyone knows, the density of the human body is greater than that of water, and the gravitational force exerted on it is greater than the buoyancy, which is why people gradually sink when they fall into the water.

However, before he jumped, Lynn had already taken a deep breath. Then, he relaxed his body as much as possible, adjusted his center of gravity, and increased the contact area with the water's surface by lying on his back.

This way, as long as he held his breath and reached a slightly calmer area in the water, he would naturally float on the surface.

Based on this theory, Lynn maintained a very standard supine posture. Even as his body slowly sank, he paid it no mind, thinking it was just the influence of the water current. But as the depth of his descent increased, a hint of panic crept into Lynn's heart.

Could it be that my backstroke posture isn't standard enough?

"071? What's going on?" Lynn couldn't help but shout in his mind.

The AI brain's prompt tone sounded immediately.

"According to Section 32, Article 7 of the Federal Diving Safety Guidelines, beginners practicing diving should not carry heavy objects, sir..."

Lynn glanced down at the steel longsword hanging from his waist and then continued sinking to the riverbed...

Chapter 22: Sorry, Aliens Have No Rights

As the evening descended and the fading glow of the setting sun painted the sky, Lynn had been adrift at sea for almost a day!

Since the troublesome longsword had been borrowed from Jonny, Lynn had hesitated to part with it. Instead, he had spent two hours learning to swim and doggy paddle under the guidance of his smartbrain.

"071, next time we encounter a situation like this, you should alert me in advance," Lynn said, struggling to swim and avoid colliding with the protruding rocks ahead.

[In accordance with Directive Target 17 hours, 23 minutes, 50 seconds ago, the warning tone has been disabled...]

"Well, then turn it back on for me now!" Lynn blurted out without thinking, and immediately regretted it.

[You have an unprocessed criminal record. Do you wish to make an online defense statement?]

Lynn sighed in resignation, almost facing the projected divine being. He couldn't help but wish that a federal officer would fly him out of this wicked medieval realm. Perhaps he'd even receive a substantial reward for being the first to discover extraterrestrial life on a planet.

But, alas, this fantasy was destined to remain unfulfilled. Before his time travel, the range of federal spacecraft was limited to the solar system and lacked the capability for interstellar travel.

Furthermore, there was no signal, which was odd.

Lynn, who understood the logic of his smartbrain's operation very well, suddenly spoke.

"071, based on the current information, identify the star I'm on."

[The planet has been detected to possess an unknown energy called 'magic,' and it is beyond the signal tower coverage of Uranus. The current location is predicted to be in an unknown galaxy outside the Milky Way - Orion Arm - the Solar System, and it cannot be determined if it's in the same universe.]

"In that case, please describe the definition of protecting extraterrestrial life in the 'Intelligent Management Act,'" Lynn inquired again.

[The 'Intelligent Management Act' contains no provisions for the protection of extraterrestrial life.]

071's response was concise. As the federal exploration of the cosmos had yet to discover extraterrestrial civilizations, there was no need for any provisions in the 'Intelligent Management Act' to protect extraterrestrial life.

"So, you mean that aliens have no rights, right? In fact, I haven't committed any crimes!" Lynn said earnestly.

The high-speed operation of the smartbrain seemed to stutter for a moment. After consuming one-thousandth of its energy for computation, it provided an answer.

[The logical chain is valid, and the criminal record has been erased!]

Hearing this, Lynn finally breathed a sigh of relief. He understood that, no matter what he did in the future, he wouldn't be bothered by annoying warning tones anymore.

After all, federal law couldn't reach this otherworldly realm.

Lynn secretly resolved that when he became a full-fledged wizard, capable of freely using magic, he would research whether he could modify this artificial intelligence.

Just as Lynn was lost in thought, a sea of twinkling lights appeared on the vast expanse of water. As he got closer, a towering city wall came into view, and the previously seen lights turned out to be bonfires used for illumination on the battlements.

After a day of drifting on the water, Lynn's mood was slightly excited as he finally saw something different. However, he decided not to approach recklessly. Instead, he opted to land nearby and explore this place tomorrow.

The commotion from the battle outside the town of Ull had been quite substantial, and not all the people had been annihilated. The news had likely spread by now.

Lynn had no doubt that the entire Nordland territory was under strict martial law. His hair color, age, and physique were all distinctive signs that could easily get him arrested if he didn't do some kind of disguise. Therefore, Lynn changed his swimming style from effortless backstroke to less proficient doggy paddle as he prepared to make his way to shore first.

Just then, something heavy dropped from the towering city wall in front of him. Accompanied by a dull thud, a splash of water shot high into the air. Ripples on the water's surface gradually expanded, indicating that something was struggling beneath.

"A person?" Lynn's pupils contracted slightly. After a moment of hesitation, he swam over swiftly.

Although it seemed like a crime scene, he happened to need someone to answer some questions.

Water splashed everywhere, and the clear lake had already been stained red.

Lynn became even more certain of his earlier suspicions. Before he could provide any rescue, a hand reached out from the lake bottom and tried to pull him down.

This was a common stress response for drowning victims and could sometimes drag rescuers down with them. Fortunately, Lynn didn't have to worry about oxygen and was able to swim to the shore while holding onto the other person's collar.

...

An hour later, inside a natural cave outside the city, a roaring fire gradually lit up, providing both illumination and dispelling the night's chill.

During the interval while his clothes dried, Lynn turned to look at the young man he had "rescued."

This young man appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen, with an ordinary face and hair color strikingly similar to his own. What made Lynn sigh in frustration was the deep scar on the young man's chest, which seemed to be the result of a knife wound that pierced his heart.

Had he known, he might have left him alone. He had put in so much effort and, after all, ended up saving a lifeless body.

Lynn shook his head in resignation but still went through the routine of searching the body. After all, this was likely a noble's offspring, and who knew what valuable items he might find.

Three gold coins, over ten silver coins, a few exquisite trinkets, and a book with no name on the water-damaged cover were all the young man had in his possession.

For a noble's offspring, this seemed quite meager, but for Lynn, it was an unexpected windfall.

In the Sekas Empire, a copper coin could buy a dark loaf of bread, which, along with water, could provide a meal's sustenance. The exchange rate between silver and copper coins fluctuated around 1:80, and the exchange rate between gold and silver was over 100, even higher in times of war.

After all, gold was considered a rare element throughout the universe, with very limited reserves...

However, since these items were still with the body, it was unlikely that the motive for the murder was simple robbery.

Lynn tossed the coins in his hand. He wasn't a professional detective, but after examining the wound on the victim's chest, his expression suddenly froze. Then, he mimicked holding a dagger with his right hand and tried to stab himself in the chest at a similar angle.

The angle of the wound was exactly the same...

This is... suicide?

Lynn immediately realized this possibility. After thinking for a moment, he reached for the book he had overlooked and gently lifted the water-damaged pages. The writing was scribbled but deep, as if it had been carved into the paper.

"Perhaps without me, everything will get better..."

Chapter 23: The Diary of the Inept

[Training, it's always training... no matter how many times I try, I can't make it through the selection...]

[Why do you look at me with those hopeful eyes, Father...]

[It's that time again, in the July of the 824th year of the Holy Calendar, the third knight selection...]

[Against Tiral, defeated in twenty-seven seconds, once again... Do you hate me, Ivina? I can understand your feelings, a failure like me stealing your opportunity...]

[If only things could be reversed, why not?]

[Perhaps, I shouldn't exist at all...]

Time flowed slowly, and the fire in the cave flickered until the last bit of dry wood was consumed.

The sudden darkness interrupted Lynn's thoughts, and with a wave of his hand, the piled twigs and fallen leaves levitated and nestled into the firewood, which now sparkled with starry flames.

In the next moment, the crimson flames leaped again, and Lynn flipped through the diary in his hand.

No, to describe it as a diary might not be quite accurate.

This was the record of an ordinary noble youth, one without exceptional talents, who documented his hidden fears, self-doubt, resentment, and pain on these pages.

"Lotte Pedrol!" Lynn pronounced the youth's name.

There was no doubt that this was a classic case of too much expectation driving someone to madness.

But what he saw was even more complex than that.

Lotte's father was a baron in the Secas Empire, the kind of nobility that had long since fallen from grace, with only a title to their name. They were the sort who had to rely on their dwindling savings to maintain a semblance of noble stature.

Just like every set of parents who hoped their child would rise to greatness, Baron Pedrol had placed all his hopes for family revival on his son's shoulders.

Noble offspring like them, if they could pass the knight assessment before the age of twenty and remain steadfast in their faith, were eligible to become priests or clerics, which was undoubtedly the best way to change the fate of their family.

For this reason, Lotte had been subjected to rigorous training from a young age, with the goal of becoming a member of the clergy through the knight's assessment.

The Pedrol baron even spent a fortune to hire formal knights to hone Lotte's combat skills.

However, Lotte's talents were lackluster, and no amount of hard work could change that.

In the entire Nordland region, there were only three slots for priests and clerics each year. Many aspired for those positions, and among them were individuals who were more dedicated, more talented than Lotte, and even more influential.

Thus, from the age of sixteen, all he received were repeated disappointments. Faced with the disparity between his family's expectations and the harsh reality, Lotte gradually became introverted, almost silent, to the extreme.

His younger sister, Ivina, was the opposite, possessing decent talent. She had mastered swordsmanship not weaker than Lotte's through continuous observation and sparring with formal knights.

However, for Baron Pedrol, Ivina's displayed talent was merely a small surprise.

In the Secas Empire, there were precedents of noble women, but those were usually exceptional cases where male heirs were absent. Otherwise, daughters were typically tools used for political marriages to enhance family influence.

Investing significant resources in their upbringing was not a wise decision.

After all, the preservation of the noble bloodline was fundamental. Selecting a female as the heir meant the risk of losing everything the family had accumulated.

Lotte, unable to bear the pressure and expectations, was probably trying to force Baron Pedrol to make a decision with his own death.

In Lynn's view, Lotte's choice was undoubtedly a foolish move.

He had some understanding of these noble personalities. From the description of Baron Pedrol's character in the diary, it was clear that upon hearing of Lotte's death, he would only be concerned about whether he could still produce another son or adopt a promising heir from a collateral branch.

Ivina would forever be the last resort.

As for individuals like the previous host, Carl, who were bastards, they were in an even more pitiful situation. Unless the family line was about to end completely, they wouldn't get anything.

The diary, spanning over a hundred pages, was quickly turned to the last page. Lynn was somewhat touched by the experiences of this noble youth, but what truly caught his attention was a term mentioned in the diary.

"Useless ones?" Lynn muttered to himself. He had thought he would no longer hear that term in this new world.

After all, even a farmer tilling the fields here had some value in their exploitation.

Lynn let out a slow breath, reorganizing his scattered thoughts and then turned to look at Lotte's lifeless body. Since he had accepted the young man's belongings, he should take the time to give him a proper burial.

"071, how much energy reserve do we have now?" Lynn inquired in his mind.

[Remaining energy: 12.3%. Energy concentration is continuously decreasing. Estimated increase in energy reserve: 1% every ten hours.]

As expected... Lynn checked the faintly lit sky and wasn't surprised by this. Just as he had guessed, the Moon's phases affected the activity of magic. After a night of rest, his stamina and magical energy were almost back to their peak.

From Lotte's diary, Lynn also gained a crucial piece of information - he was in the harbor town of Nordland, which meant that the underground river in the castle directly flowed into the Misty Sea.

Unfortunately, he had sent Jonny and Dove away ahead of time to deal with Archbishop Anluke, so he couldn't be sure where the two witches had drifted to. If they were proficient swimmers, they could land anywhere, unlike him, who was left drifting along with the current, slowly learning to swim.

In the absence of communication, finding two living persons in the entire Nordland region wouldn't be easy.

Avoiding the Church's pursuit was also a significant problem.

Lynn pondered for a long time, and a name suddenly popped into his mind - Lame Loude! Regardless of where Jonny and Dove were headed, if they were planning to make their way to the land of the wizards, they would inevitably arrive in the harbor town. Lynn needed to find a way to contact Lame Loude.

So, all he needed to do now was to find this person! Lynn stood up and looked at the towering city walls in the distance. The only problem left was how to safely enter the harbor town.

"071, retrieve information about disguise and transformation techniques, preferably those that can be done with simple materials!"

Lynn glanced at Lotte, whose physique and hair color were remarkably similar to his own. Perhaps he could temporarily borrow the young man's identity to deceive the guards of the harbor town.

If he remembered correctly, besides basic disguise techniques, the "Foundations of Universal Magic" in the book also had a spell that could handle this situation.