CHAPTER 311: ERUPTION FROM THE GROUND?

[In the underground shelter]

"STARBRINGERRR!"

Mirage widened his eyes, watching as a golden blur broke through the wall to his right before blitzing towards the Star mage, Donatello, before him.

However, fortunately for Mirage’s current Tier in the Path of Ascension, he was able to make out the one behind the golden blur.

It was Leonardo Von Lionbright, otherwise known as the current King, who had reached the fourth Tier.

BAM!

The King slammed his fist, which was wrapped in a golden knuckleduster, into the side of Donatello’s face, causing him to stagger before following up his attack with an uppercut.

An uppercut that—

BOOM!

—Sent the headmaster crashing through the metal ceiling.

The hole created was at least 5 metres wide.

Mirage, dropping his illusion, braced the harsh winds that circled around the room like a hurricane. It was all from the King’s blow.

Leonardo, steadying himself and fixing his crown, crouched before shooting upwards into the hole with a powerful jump.

Mirage, watching this happen, quickly threw commands around to the surrounding staff members before summoning a pair of butterfly wings and flying into the wide hole as well.

Leonardo travelled through the dark tunnel that he made, constantly leaping off the walls to continue his ascent upwards.

Once he caught sight of Donatello and reached his position, he released and shot out another bone-shattering blow that sent the Tier 5 mage further down into the ground.

And with each blow he made, he sent a destructive shockwave through the ground that shook the realm. Not only that, but his continuous ascent upwards continued to increase in speed and power.

Donatello, not seemingly fazed by the blows inflicted on his body, couldn’t help but feel slightly agitated as he felt staggered by the King’s destructive strikes.

However, once his body had finally gotten over its stagger, he raised his right index finger and aimed it towards the King, who was rapidly approaching him.

At the tip of his finger, a radiant energy appeared and condensed into a single point. The heat released from the energy caused the surrounding stone to begin to glow red.

Once it became unbearably bright, the Star Mage muttered:

"[Cosmic Ray...]"

And with that said, a beam with unimaginable light shot down towards King, its diameter reaching 5 metres, ultimately filling the entire hole that was once devoid of light.

Leonardo widened his eyes, but remained steadfast. He raised his forearm and summoned a small, dark wooden shield with metal platings that expanded in size.

Due to this, he was able to successfully cover all gaps where the beam of light could slip through.

He then felt an overpowering weight push down on his shield, causing him to fall back. However, he then felt a solid platform beneath his feet.

Mirage, who had managed to catch up, created a solid illusion underneath the King’s feet, allowing the man to steady himself and enhance himself with mana.

But not only that. He had enhanced himself with something else.

And it was that something that allowed him to leap back up and push back against the constant force applied to his shield.

Like an immovable force, he crushed through the light beam and rammed his shield into Donatello’s body. And with his shield bash, he was able to smash them into the surface.

BOOM!

Because of that, a tall pillar of dirt, rocks, and dust shot into the sky, following their ascent.

***

BOOM!

Lillian’s eyes shot wide open as a pillar of dust shot out from the ground. She narrowed and focused her gaze, watching as three individuals bursted out from the ground along with it.

She was able to recognise them as the Luton Academy’s Headmaster, The King, and lastly, Mirage.

"Ah shit! I’m late!" Lillian shouted, quickly getting up to her feet and running towards the direction of the Academy Building, while unintentionally ignoring Marek, who watched her leave.

The Assassin dropped the man on his shoulder before looking up towards the sky, watching as an overwhelming battle took place that shook the entire realm.

He sighed—disappointment leaking into his glitched and robotic voice:

"W-... What a shame... I-... I should’ve pleaded to come here in person..."

***

Lillian ran and ran.

With each event that went inside the realm, she was able to roughly determine how long the next one would take to happen. And she currently didn’t have long left.

Her destination was towards the bin where she always dumped water. That was because a certain individual would be opening a portal to get inside a secret realm where the true mastermind would be.

The headmaster whom the King and Mirage were fighting was merely a copy, a fake of the real one. And because of that, it wasn’t a true 5th Tier mage.

It wasn’t in the fifth tier at all.

If she were to remember, it should be around a Fourth Tier mage. Not only that, but it had the same weakness as the cultists, who had abilities.

The fake Donatello’s body was far weaker compared to the real one; the only difference between him and the other cultists was that he wasn’t dead and had access to more than one ability.

’Am I ready for the fight? Am I ready for the boss fight?’

Lillian had managed to snag a few... Concerning potions, while she was with a certain Assassin, mainly lethal poisons, she had stored inside her spatial ring.

Upon reaching her destination, she hid behind a corner before opening her system, checking out her current loadout.

[Shards: Black Maw, Lady Fate’s Lucky Necklace of Entertainment, Swiftstep, Regular Sword, Carapace Hunter, Fluttering Prowl]

Having your items as Shards was helpful. Not only did that passively repair over time, but once they are summoned from your Mana Realm, they appear into your hands or on your body.

She took a deep breath, staring into the sky that shuddered rhythmically.

Raising her hand, she summoned a mask.

A mask with jagged edges that seemed to have formed from molten metal. It also had small jagged antlers that gave it an intimidating look.

It was the Mask of Deceit.

Lillian gulped, trembling from the chaotic feeling she was getting from the mask, before taking another breath and putting it on.