chsdbacks Chapter 187 Battle and Voting
Chapter 187 Battle and Voting
Chapter 187 Battle and Voting
A thick fog rolled in and enveloped the area.
After clashing with the drow's scimitar, Kane used the force to retreat into the fog, his figure instantly swallowed up by the pitch-black white curtain.
He took a gamble.
The gamble is that the other party is manipulating this high-level corpse, requiring constant and meticulous observation and guidance, rather than simply issuing commands.
These two control methods require vastly different levels of concentration from the necromancer, which also determines the reaction patterns of the corpse servants.
Whoosh!
After missing its target, the Drow Corpse Servant did not blindly pursue, but quickly retreated back to the vicinity of the spellcaster.
Kane's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.
This confirmed his suspicion that the other party's manipulation was inseparable from real-time observation.
On the other side, Logan Susas played his bone flute.
The three corpses—a drow serpent, a heavy armored soldier, and a ranger—shrank into a tight formation, surrounding her closely to form a protective circle.
She frowned as she gazed at the thick fog that lingered over the square, obstructing her view.
She is a sorceress specializing in necromancy, and the spells she studies are all related to negative energy, the dead, poisons, and fear.
Indeed, her spell slots lacked effective means to deal with such environmental changes.
The gaze that Dean Kugu cast from the distant stands made her feel a sense of pressure.
She had to raise her voice and shout into the misty square: "Nords, there's no point in delaying."
The Cloud Mist spell has a limited duration; it's just a waste of everyone's time.
But in the fog, there was only silence, and her calls went unanswered.
In the stands of the arena, the mages watching the match began to whisper among themselves.
The expressions on everyone's faces varied, a mix of surprise, disdain, and curiosity, clearly indicating their astonishment at this unconventional tactic.
At the highest position, in the dean's seat.
Dean Bone turned to Bella, a knowing smile on his face: "It seems that the arcanist from Nord, knowing he was no match, has chosen to forfeit."
Bella smiled, neither confirming nor denying: "Not necessarily."
The withered bones shook their heads.
"The fog will eventually dissipate when the spell's effect ends, at which point he will still have to face three corpse servants, especially the third-tier drow."
Delaying only postpones defeat.
Bella listened with a calm smile: "That can't be helped. After all, even I would have a headache if I encountered a third-tier corpse servant."
Being able to think of and utilize the rules is also a skill.
"External force is also a form of strength."
Kugu thought the other party was subtly mocking his faction for relying too much on external things, so he snorted and said no more.
Just then, the dean of the Energy Transformation Branch, the white-haired mage in a deep red robe, suddenly spoke up: "Wait, something has changed in the arena."
The two deans' attention was immediately drawn back to the scene.
Perhaps because the spell was about to end, the pervasive mist began to thin and fade at a visible rate.
The scene in the southeast corner of the square gradually became clear, and a figure was rushing out from it, meandering towards Logan Susas.
Dean Kugu smiled knowingly.
Seeing the same scene, Logan Susas, whose patience had long since run out, glared fiercely.
She placed the bone flute to her lips and produced a short, sharp sound.
The drowsy servant responded to the call and transformed into a black shadow, shooting out with its curved blade and rapier tearing through the air, aimed directly at the running figure!
"it's over."
Logan Susas let out a soft breath, a faint smile appearing on his face.
In her view, the other party's failure to hide and being forced to reveal himself was tantamount to courting death.
The Drow Corpse Servant, being the powerful remains of a Tier 3 warrior in life, possesses astonishing speed and explosive power.
It instantly closed the distance, and the sharp blade in its hand slashed down with a fierce gust of wind!
However, just as the weapon was about to strike its target, the running figure of "Kane" vanished without warning, like a bubble.
Logan Susas's smile froze abruptly, and his expression changed.
It's an illusion! Damn it, we've fallen for it!
Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!
Almost simultaneously, in the thin but not yet dispersed lingering fog.
Three figures of "Kane" appeared suddenly from completely different directions, like ghosts.
It moved at an even faster speed, advancing towards her in a fan shape!
Logan Susas felt a chill run down his spine. Without time to discern the details, he immediately activated the bone flute.
The drowsy servant forcibly stopped its charge, and with incredible agility turned back, lunging at the nearest figure on its left.
At the same time, the wandering swordsman drew his bow and nocked an arrow, the tip of which whistled as it shot toward the figure on the right.
Swoosh! Whoosh!
The drow servant's scimitar sliced through the air, while the ranger's arrow pierced through the afterimage.
The two "Kane"s that were hit vanished instantly, like bubbles that had been punctured.
They're all illusions!
Logan Susas's face instantly turned extremely ugly.
At this moment, the figure of "Kane" in the very center, who had not been intercepted at first, had already approached her not far away.
The only thing still standing between her and Kane was the relatively slow-moving, heavily armored soldier corpse.
It faithfully carried out its guard duties, its massive body blocking the way.
The heavy shield, accompanied by a whistling sound, swept fiercely towards Kane, intending to knock him away or block him.
Spider-like movement technique!
Kane neither dodged nor evaded. Just as the shield was about to reach him, it was as if invisible suction cups grew from the soles of his feet, allowing him to precisely step onto the sweeping shield.
He seemed to defy gravity, rapidly "running" upwards along the surface of the erected shield.
The instant he stepped onto the top of the shield, he exerted force with his feet, and his body leaped into the air.
With a light and swift aerial flip, he completely bypassed the last barrier of the heavily armored soldiers.
There were no more obstacles in front of them.
Kane and Logan Susas were only a few steps apart.
Logan Susas's pupils contracted sharply, a flicker of panic even crossing her face. She swiftly raised her short staff with her left hand: "Death Armor!"
Dark, negative energy surged from beneath her feet, forming a solid protective layer around her.
But almost at the same time she began her incantation, a huge burning hand arrived first.
It slammed down hard on the black spiritual light that had just condensed and was not yet stable!
boom!
The flames clashed violently with the negative energy, and a pungent smell filled the air.
The black light emanating from the Death Armor fluctuated violently, flickering unpredictably under the impact of the Burning Hand.
And at that very moment, when the black light was at its dimmest and fluctuated most violently.
A cold, gleaming blade sliced through the thick smoke without a trace of smoke.
Logan Susas felt a chill in his throat.
All her movements, the incantation she was reciting halfway through, and the short staff she was holding in mid-air, all froze.
The panic on her face was replaced by astonishment and disbelief, and her pupils dilated slightly.
After the thick smoke cleared, Kane's calm face was revealed.
With black hair and black eyes, her gaze was focused, and the curved sword in her hand was steadily held at the side of her neck.
She lost.
With one Tier 3 Corpse Servant and two well-coordinated Tier 2 Corpse Servant.
She was completely fooled, her senses were completely deceived, and she broke through all her defenses, eventually being brought close enough to have a sharp blade placed against her neck.
This was a complete tactical crushing defeat, and a disgrace to the necromancer.
Watching the complex expression on the other person's face as the color faded, then flushed red with intense humiliation, and finally turned completely pale.
Kane maintained his knife-wielding posture, smiled slightly, and said calmly, "I apologize, Mage Logan, I used some tricky tactics."
In a direct confrontation, I am no match for your drow corpse servant.
His words were not merely humble.
In fact, if he were to fight head-on, his chances of winning would be slim.
The opponent may possess spells that can repair or temporarily enhance corpses, so even if they can cause effective damage, it may be quickly undone.
Logan Susas stared at Kane, who was so close to him, his lips pressed tightly together, his teeth clenched, but he couldn't utter a single word.
The defeat is inevitable; any words seem inadequate.
From the highest point of the stands, the booming voice of the Bone Master, devoid of emotion, echoed through the gradually quieting arena: "Enough, Nord, you have won."
His voice carried a hint of helplessness, as well as a sense of finality regarding the outcome.
Upon hearing this, Logan Susas's shoulders slumped almost imperceptibly.
She closed her eyes, slowly lowered her head, and the short cane in her hand fell limply to the ground.
Kane flicked his wrist, and the scimitar swiftly returned to its sheath.
He nodded slightly to the monks in the stands, whose expressions varied as they recovered from their astonishment and began to murmur.
Without giving Logan another glance, he turned and walked steadily toward the players' tunnel.
As he passed by, the gazes of the people in the stands on both sides were focused on him with a complex mix of emotions.
Kane ignored all of this and left the field.
Victory or defeat is not the goal itself, but merely a necessary step to achieve it.
The light inside the passageway was slightly dim.
As Kane walked, he calmly analyzed the battle he had just fought.
The key to their victory in this battle lies in Logan Susas's own rank limitation.
She forcibly controlled the third-tier corpse servant with the second-tier power, which required her to be distracted and made it difficult to perfectly manage the overall situation. She also could not make the corpse servant exert all its combat instincts before it was born.
This gave him the opportunity to exploit information asymmetry and use tactical deception.
But if it were a high-ranking necromancer like Dean Bone personally controlling it, even if it was just for that drow corpse servant…
"Kill" command.
Based on his combat experience and instincts during his lifetime, he would probably be able to put himself in a tough fight.
The gap in social rank remains an insurmountable chasm.
After he left, in the center of the arena, under the gaze of countless eyes, Logan Susas walked to the seat where Dean Skeleton was, and bowed his head deeply: "Dean, I lost—I have let you down."
The skeleton looked at her and simply shook its head.
The opponent's application of spells, timing, and tactical design all exceeded the scope of a conventional contest between spellcasters.
"Go and rest first."
Logan Susas pursed his pale lips and said no more.
She silently retreated into the shadows behind the skeleton, her fingers turning slightly white from the force she exerted.
The skeleton then turned its gaze to Bella, who was standing calmly to the side, and announced in a flat voice: "You have won. As agreed, the Necromancer Division will not vote against it in the following votes."
He changed the subject, lowering his voice so that only a few deans around him could hear him.
"But Bella, you must understand that once the gears of this ancient machine of the academy begin to turn, it will involve countless chains of interests in all aspects of the kingdom."
Premature and excessive intervention in royal affairs could inadvertently disrupt the existing fragile balance and exacerbate the kingdom's instability, which is not something we would want.
"I understand the risks involved, Dean Kugu."
Bella's smile faded, and her expression became serious. She stood up and glanced at the other four deans in the seats.
"So, according to the previous agreement, in the event that the deans of the Protection and Prophecy divisions are absent for some reason..."
We are now holding a final vote on the motion regarding whether to intervene in the internal affairs of the Susas Royal Court.
We request that all deans state their positions.
The six abbots, dressed in magnificent robes symbolizing the colors of their respective schools of thought, stood up in unison.
The entire training arena gradually quieted down, and everyone watched the scene that would determine the academy's next move.
"Necromancer Academy," Dean Skeleton said in a deep voice, "abstains."
He kept his promise.
"Illusion Academy," Bella followed clearly, "Agreed."
"The School of Energy," the red-robed, white-haired dean stroked his beard, "agreed."
"The school of incantation magic," another middle-aged dean nodded, "I agree."
"The Academy of Change," a middle-aged female mage with a stern face said slowly, "I agree."
Soon, the result became clear.
Apart from the Necromancer Academy abstaining from the agreement, only the Bewitching Academy has yet to express its opinion.
With four votes in favor, exceeding half of the deans present, the motion had effectively passed.
Bella smiled and turned her gaze to the last one, the Dean of the Bewitching Academy, Ling Shu, who always kept his eyes closed.
"Dean of Ling Shu, what is the final opinion of the Academy of Bewilderment and Control?"
The middle-aged dean named Ling Shu slowly "opened" his eyes.
He laughed, a smile carrying a detached indifference that seemed to have seen through the ways of the world: "Bella, at this point, does it still matter whether our Confusion and Control Academy has any objections?"
Since the situation is already set, then so be it. Let the Mage Academy, this behemoth that has been dormant for so long, stretch its muscles anew.
After he finished speaking, he stopped looking at anyone, a mysterious smile on his face.
He turned and left the dean's seat, walking slowly towards the edge of the arena, as if he no longer cared about what was to come.
Dean Kugu watched his retreating figure, frowned slightly, and said to Bella, "You'd better watch yourself."
Having said that, he got up, flicked his sleeves, and left.
Bella watched the two leave, her lips twitching slightly.
She then turned to the three remaining deans on the field, as well as all the mages below who were paying attention to the matter, and said loudly, "The decision has been made. Next, please move to the hall so that we can discuss the composition of the delegation, the itinerary, and the specific strategy for our audience with King Susas."
After a detailed proposal is drafted, it will be submitted to the Chief Justice for a final decision.
Deep within the academy, in the tower of the Illusion Department, in Kane's room.
I learned from Arundel that the resolution of the High Council of the Mage Academy had been passed.
Kane finally relaxed and let out a soft breath.
The most crucial step has finally been taken.
The behemoth that is the academy has finally decided to formally intervene in the vortex of the Kingdom of Susas.
Soon, a dean will be dispatched as a plenipotentiary envoy to the inner court of the capital to meet with King Susas, whose attitude is ambiguous.
This is his fundamental purpose in participating in this competition and demonstrating his "value".
The internal situation in Sussas is complex and intertwined, with the shadow of the Demon Cult looming large, and the relationship between Prince Grayson, the old king, and the duke remaining ambiguous.
In such a chaotic situation, the role that an individual or a small group can play is ultimately limited.
But the Academy of Magicians is different. Through hundreds of years of study abroad and travel programs, this academy has trained countless spellcasters for the six countries of the continent, and its influence is deeply entrenched.
Rather than waiting for the situation to spiral out of control and for the organization to suffer heavy losses in an attack by the demon army, it is better to wait until the situation is completely out of control.
Instead of taking the initiative, we should take advantage of the academy's superior status and influence to try to cut off the threads of certain conspiracies in advance and nip the turmoil in the bud.
"With such a commotion, the academy's almost never-showing dean, a fourth-tier archmage, should already know about it."