On the outskirts of the Meteorite Academy's wilderness, Anka, as usual, monitored the surroundings from his hiding spot.
As a Black Wizard, understanding and controlling one's environment was a fundamental skill, and Anka excelled in this area.
Hundreds of tiny "eye worms" were scattered within a one-kilometer radius of his hiding place. Any movement within this range would be detected and relayed back to Anka through these worms.
According to the Crystal Ball's intel, the academy had initiated a decisive battle with the Meteorite Academy.
As an external wizard, the academy had issued a summoning order, urging all external wizards like Anka to return as quickly as possible.
However, Anka wasn't in a hurry to go back.
"Several dozen Second Circle Wizards won't make much of a difference. I might as well take a gamble and stay," Anka muttered to himself as he watched the images transmitted by the eye worms.
He was waiting for a piece of information, something that could earn him significant merit.
Suddenly, there was a slight disturbance in the images transmitted by the eye worms.
Although the disturbance was brief, it brought a smile to Anka's face.
He quickly reviewed the previous footage and saw a figure flying over the eye worms at the moment of the disturbance.
Anka smiled slightly, "I knew you guys couldn't resist."
With that, he immediately took out a modified communication Crystal Ball. Without hesitation, despite the Meteorite Academy's surveillance on such devices, Anka cranked the Crystal Ball's power to the maximum and sent a message to the Black Tower Academy.
"The Third Circle Wizards of the Meteorite Academy have made their move."
…
In the temporary command center, Richard was strategizing with several senior wizards in preparation for the upcoming battle.
However, rather than commanding, Richard was more like a student, absorbing the senior wizards' insights on the war's progression.
Though Richard's strength was adequate, in terms of experience, even some of the senior wizards' students surpassed him.
"That's about as much as we can do. The battle plan is as optimized as it can be," one of the senior wizards stated. "Our time and resources are limited; there's only so much we can manipulate.
If it weren't for Richard's slaves, this battle would be unwinnable."
Only by participating in war does one truly appreciate the importance of numbers. The number of Second Circle Wizards at the Meteorite Academy wasn't much different from ours, and they had slightly fewer Third Circle Wizards. However, they had more than double the number of First Circle Wizards than the Black Tower Academy.
This overwhelming number of First Circle Wizards gave the Meteorite Academy a significant advantage in war, providing them with substantial leeway.
Even though the Black Tower Wizard Academy had breached their defenses and made several gains, these losses were negligible to the Meteorite Academy.
Richard closed his notebook and bowed slightly to the senior wizards.
"Thank you all for allowing a novice like me to participate. This meeting has been incredibly enlightening for me."
The senior wizards smiled, some with a hint of nostalgia, others with envy.
Once, they and Jolod were both Second Circle Wizards. Although Jolod had many students, they didn't feel much about it.
But now, Jolod, who was once their peer, had advanced to the Third Circle and become the academy's vice president. His students could now stand shoulder to shoulder with them.
Such is the unpredictability of life.
Suddenly, Richard sensed a fluctuation of magic power.
He took out the Crystal Ball from his pocket and saw a message from Jolod.
"Quickly gather your slaves; the Third Circle Wizards of the Meteorite Academy are out."
Richard's expression changed slightly. After putting down the Crystal Ball, he spoke seriously to the senior wizards, "Masters, the worst-case scenario we anticipated has come to pass."
Hearing this, the smiles on the senior wizards' faces vanished.
One of them tentatively asked, "Have the Third Circle Wizards of the Meteorite Academy made their move?"
Richard nodded gravely, then pulled out another communication Crystal Ball from his pocket.
"Makar, Kava, Helaen, Mishaen, return to the command center immediately. The Third Circle Wizards of the Meteorite Academy are out. I need your protection now."
On the front lines, the voice of Richard echoed in the ears of the four Fire Lizards.
"The Third Circle Wizards are out; it seems the decisive battle is upon us," Kava casually remarked to Makar beside him.
Makar silently turned and hurried back towards the temporary command center.
"It doesn't matter; our only duty is to protect Master Richard."
Kava glanced at the surrounding wizards, a hint of bloodlust in his eyes.
"Too bad, if it's a decisive battle, we won't get to enjoy cutting down wizards."
…
The news of the Third Circle Wizards' involvement quickly spread across the front lines of both academies. Wizards who received the message immediately became serious.
They knew the big moment had arrived.
If the mobilization of a Great Wizard represented a pivotal battle in the Plane Expedition, then in the Academy War, the Third Circle Wizards held a similar position.
From the Central Black Tower, several figures with terrifying auras flew out. Simultaneously, from the rear of the Meteorite Academy, equally fearsome figures rapidly approached the front lines.
Third Circle Wizards, the most powerful beings allowed to exist in the Wizard World.
The power level among these beings varied greatly. The weaker ones, like the recently promoted Jolod, could only dominate among Second Circle Wizards and might still get injured when facing stronger Second Circle Wizards.
The stronger ones, however, were almost like junior Great Wizards.
Third Circle Wizards could begin to manipulate the rules. If a Third Circle Wizard controlled enough rules, they could temporarily rival a Great Wizard lacking in foundational power.
In the sky, the Third Circle Wizards from both academies had assembled.
Standing at the forefront of their respective groups were Susanna and Crispin, both students of Great Wizards.
Crispin smiled slightly, "Susanna, long time no see. Last time we met, you were still a Second Circle Wizard. Now, you're the vice president of the Meteorite Academy."
Susanna raised an eyebrow, "You only advanced a hundred years earlier than me; don't act like an old-timer. Enough talk; let's fight if you're going to."
Crispin's expression stiffened, then he smiled wryly, "Your temper is as fiery as ever. How about we agree to not kill each other's students?"
"Agreed."
Before Susanna could finish her words, a Magic Barrier suddenly erupted from her body. An invisible wind blade had silently approached her neck.
Flames erupted around Susanna, making her resemble a fire deity descending to earth.
She cursed, "You despicable creature, you've been sneaky for thousands of years and still haven't changed!"
With that, her staff unleashed a sea of flames that instantly enveloped Crispin and several surrounding Third Circle Wizards.
The battle had begun.
Instantly, the sky was filled with elements and thunder. In the civilization of the gods, Third Circle beings were considered demigods.
This wasn't just an honorary title but a realistic description.
Watching those Third Circle Wizards in the sky, resembling gods and demons, any mortal would feel a sense of awe.
In the temporary command center, several senior wizards silently tore up the battle plans they had just written.
The involvement of Third Circle Wizards meant the war had little to do with them now.
If the Third Circle Wizards of the Black Tower Academy could win, the wizards of the Meteorite Academy would automatically cede territory. Conversely, if the Third Circle Wizards of the Meteorite Academy emerged victorious, the Black Tower Academy's wizards would make the same decision.
Dealing with a single Third Circle Wizard was one thing, but facing multiple Third Circle Wizards, along with a large number of First and Second Circle Wizards, was beyond the capacity of the Meteorite Academy to resist.
Watching the chaotic battle in the sky, Richard commanded the Demon Hunter squad beside him, "Makar, Kava, go up and assist my teacher. Take care of some of the weaker Third Circle Wizards."
Upon receiving the order, Makar hesitated, "Master, if we leave, the wizards in the sky might take the opportunity to harm you…"
Richard interrupted, "Just go. The wizards in the sky won't bother with a Second Circle Wizard like me.
Besides, I have Mishaen and Helaen here for protection. Even if an unwise Third Circle Wizard comes, they can handle it."
Makar said no more, gripped his Chainsaw Sword tightly, and with Kava, flew up into the sky.
…
In the sky, Jolod held a flesh staff, continuously pulling various casting materials from his pocket to enhance the combat abilities of the chimera beside him.
As a Flesh Faction Alchemist Wizard, his personal combat abilities were weaker than those of normal wizards. This was because most of the spells he learned were enhancements like Cat's Agility, Bull's Strength, and Vampire's Touch.
His combat prowess entirely relied on his creations—the chimeras, and the enhancement spells were prepared for them.
It was precisely for this reason that he was targeted by two Third Circle Wizards from the Meteorite Academy.
"Roar!"
The octopus-like chimera roared, its sonic waves causing the Magic Barriers of the two Third Circle Wizards to ripple continuously.
"Jolod, this chimera of yours is quite impressive," one of the Third Circle Wizards laughed.
He was also a Flesh Faction Alchemist Wizard, but his focus was on physical evolution and bloodline modification.
At this moment, this Third Circle Wizard looked like a giant, his flesh continuously twisting, transforming into various monster parts as he tangled with the octopus chimera.
On the other side, a skeletal Necromancer cackled, casting necromantic spells that continuously drained the chimera's vitality.
The Necromancer's staff shot beams of death, and wherever they hit the chimera, its flesh instantly withered.
"Hehehe, Jolod, you've just advanced to the Third Circle, why persist so stubbornly? If you step down now, your chimera might still survive."
Jolod stood within the octopus chimera's defense, his face devoid of emotion.
However, every attack from the Necromancer caused a slight twitch at the corner of his eye.
This chimera had been with him for over two thousand years; no matter how cold-blooded Jolod was, he still had some affection for it.
Suddenly, two black lights flew rapidly from the ground.
The Necromancer sensed something approaching and quickly used his spiritual power to investigate. However, upon seeing what it was, he immediately felt at ease.
"What is this? Just two iron golems. Did you really think that specializing golems would allow them to take on a Third Circle Wizard?"
With that, the Necromancer poured a pile of bones from his Magic Pocket, waved his bone staff, and the bones seemed to come alive, assembling into a skeletal flying dragon over five meters long.
The skeletal dragon let out a silent roar, its red soul flames indicating this undead creature was exceptionally fierce.
The Necromancer pointed his finger, and the skeletal dragon turned its head towards the direction of the two black lights.
"Go, deal with those two golems."
Following the instincts left from its life, the skeletal dragon flapped its useless wings and charged like lightning towards Makar and Kava, who were flying up.
The Necromancer turned back to look at Jolod, only to see Jolod stifling a laugh.
"Jolod, what are you laughing at?"
Jolod couldn't hold back his laughter, "You fool, look behind you, and remember not
to use your spiritual power; use your undead vision."
A thunderous sound came from behind the Necromancer. He turned to see a golden Chainsaw Sword, entwined with electric arcs, descending from the sky.
--Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LegendaryTL
Thanks!