CHAPTER 1725: CHAPTER 469: THE LATE-ARRIVING 3 PARTIES

"I see."

"With the resolve of breaking the cauldrons and sinking the boats, transforming the physical body into nourishment, nurturing the soul to ascend to a Grand Wizard... No wonder, in this withered world, such a brilliant flower can bloom."

"Throughout the process, the most puzzling and difficult part is how to transform the physical body into evolutionary nourishment. This is not knowledge that an ordinary wizard can access. As far as I know, the relevant knowledge belongs to the forbidden within the Alliance..."

"Not necessarily derived from the forbidden... Perhaps it’s just talent, or some secret technique she’s figured out herself."

"Alas, what a pity. If outside, with this secret technique and this new way of advancing, Shallow Jin Ryoko would fully deserve the title of ’Master’... At the very least, more worthy than that ’Great Sage’ from the North District."

"Heh, what is ’name’? The reason a Grand Wizard is a Grand Wizard is not because of popular expectations, but because they possess the measure and ability of a Grand Wizard."

"The problem is, she doesn’t believe she is a wizard now."

"Choosing to become a Grand Wizard or a Great Demon is her own problem. We cannot deny a new path before us just because of a problem of perspective... Even if it’s just a recently opened narrow path."

"Alright, alright, let’s not argue over such matters. Whether secret technique, talent, or external help, as Dean Strange said, they are ultimately minor paths... Upholding the belief of a wizard and having the resolve to contend with destiny is the only true path to breaking shackles. Every being that has achieved the Great Wizard Rank did so without exception."

Above the battlefield in front of the Inner Castle.

Before the duel of the Black Mountain Goats ends, the Grand Wizards and Great Demons maintain a fragile peace and balance. Neither side wishes to be watched by cold eyes from behind when fighting.

So, both sides only entangle their auras, vigilant of each other.

Meanwhile.

The divine thoughts of the Grand Wizards interweave intensely, discussing the special Great Demon below, analyzing its way of advancement, judging the possibility of its assimilation.

On the opposite side, the Big Sea Demon and the Great Wizard Demons hesitate whether to strike and break the inverted ’jade bowl,’ releasing Shallow Jin Ryoko.

"After all, she doesn’t belong to any of our factions." The Vortex Captain’s stance is very clear: "Using her to restrain a member of the Moon Council’s Upper House is a very cost-effective business."

"It’s said that the five Upper House Members of the Moon Council together can wield legendary power." Captain of the Poseidon, also known as Captain of the Mirage, reminds the other Great Demons: "We do not have a third Legend to handle this power."

"That may not be the case."

The voice of Watcher Gustav Duran is as round as his body—just like the Dean of Jiuyou Academy opposite, he too hasn’t withdrawn his true form, with his enormous eyeball like an extinguished sun, its surrounding twirling tentacles the dead light of the sun—he strongly suggests aiding the female demon trapped below:

"...What if one of our colleagues manages to break through the peak and achieve Legend? There are quite a few beings with such potential, like the Multiple-Armed Giant KOTOS, the Dark Beast Leviathan, the Sunbird Ziz in the sky... even our Mist Captain."

The enormous eyeball whirls, turning to the contemplative Mist Captain, a hint of flattery in the tone: "Of course, from our perspective, the Mist Captain is the most likely candidate among them."

"Heh, if Ulrich heard this, he’d probably be displeased." The Vortex Captain sneers repeatedly: "In the end, you just want to use our strength to snatch a significant experimental subject for the Land of Desolation."

Captain of the Poseidon also looks displeased: "If breaking through to Legend were so easy, there wouldn’t just be one king each for the Sea Demon or the Wizard Demon."

"Howl!" Captain Iceberg agrees with a low growl, his enormous claws clawing at the air, leaving deep fractures.

"Click, click."

The giant clock, transformed from Mark Bridget, the Time Usurper, makes a crisp sound, interrupting the argument of the Great Demons, casting divine thought on the Mist Captain: "According to the initial agreement, the area in front of the outer castle is for the Wizard Demons, and the inner castle front is for the Sea Demons. Mist, it’s up to you to decide on this matter."

The other four Great Demons’ gazes all fall simultaneously on the Mist Captain.

It’s just that the Mist’s mind is evidently on a different level from his colleagues.

He frowns, scrutinizing a small patch of pink ’moss’ at the edge of the battlefield, where the Emperor Bugs of Mi-go are gathering. According to the initial agreement, it’s now time for the Emperor Bugs of Mi-go to ’make a bigger contribution’—even though those two Black Mountain Goat cubs on the scene create a significant variable in the plan—yet seeing that small patch of pink ’moss’ growing larger, its presence ever harder to conceal, while allies bound by agreement remain inactive is truly unsettling for him.

What makes him even more uneasy is that the wizards have apparently noticed that patch of ’pink’—so out of place with the surrounding colors—including the boy with forbidden spell aura and the black cat, as well as several other hunting teams, they are drawing closer to those Emperor Bugs of Mi-go.

This is not a good sign.

Thinking of this, the Mist Captain lifts his head, his gaze passing over the collapsed breach in the outer castle walls, looking at the tumultuous battlefield outside, his eyes distant.

Ulrich, what are you plotting?

...

...

When that Emperor Bug of Mi-go got pinned dead on the castle wall’s brick.

On the outer castle battlefield.

In front of the altar built by the demons.

The Duke Ulrich, too, frowns, lifting his head, casting a deep look toward the direction of the Inner Castle battlefield, eyes filled with some inquiry and puzzlement.

"Where did things go wrong?"

The Great Wizard Demon quickly calculates the demons’ plan—however, the chaotic environment of the battlefield makes it very difficult for him to clearly grasp the entire battle as he could usually.

According to the initial setup, when the demon and prisoner coalition held the main forces of the wizards on the outer castle battlefield, their allies—the Dark Council—should have already appeared behind the wizards, fiercely striking the flank of the Black Prison Castle.

For this, the Land of Desolation even cooperated with the Wandering Wizard, using creatures from the Starry Sky, hybridized a batch of special Emperor Bugs, sent them inside the Black Prison Castle as supplemental combat force.

The Wandering Wizard confidently stated that there were ’their people’ inside the Black Prison Castle who could command this batch of special Emperor Bugs, causing great damage to the wizards defending the castle.

But now.

The scenes from the Inner Castle battlefield transmitted through those Emperor Bugs of Mi-go make it very difficult for The Duke Ulrich to understand what exactly his allies are up to.

Is this a new battle formation developed by the Dark Council?

The Duke Ulrich watches the Mi-go Emperor Bugs swinging their segmented limbs in an orderly team, utterly confused. No matter how hard he thinks, he cannot fathom that this scene is merely a mother filled with guilt inwardly, trying to please her daughter.

Of course, provided that the wizard demon still possesses a brain in the traditional sense.