Rol dashed downward, the scent of blood growing stronger. Along the way, he had encountered several bodies, their deaths peculiar, as if life had been snatched away by magic without any chance to react.
"Damm it. What in the world is happening? Has the Council been infiltrated?" Rol cursed loudly. The defenses within the Crown of Sun Tower had utterly failed.
Undoubtedly, there was a traitor within the Council, leaking information about their operation. Then, taking advantage of the vulnerability in the Tower's defenses, they infiltrated the core of the Magic Council.
Rol was extremely anxious but encountered a group of familiar figures—the ones led by Ogest, who had gone to besiege the Cult of Apocalypse .
"Teacher." Rol exclaimed in surprise, instantly relieved. If Ogest had been here, then the situation on the other side should have been resolved.
But he didn't have time to inquire further. "Teacher, your return is timely. Enemies have breached the Magic Council. The guards I arranged were attacked, and the protective enchantments failed. There might be a traitor inside."
"And there's the Cult of Apocalypse . It's likely connected to Kashimo, the one you killed two months ago. I investigated his records. He was the right-hand man of the dark wizard Merk five years ago. I suspect recent events are all related to him." Rol rapidly conveyed his speculations.
Ogest remained calm, patiently listening to Rol's account while heading deeper into the Crown of Sun Tower. Then, with interest, he inquired, "Are these your own deductions?"
"No, it's Lord Lynn's speculation, but I believe it's highly accurate," Rol asserted firmly.
"He seems clever." Ogest praised generously but then shook his head after glancing at Rol. "But compared to him, you lack a bit."
Rol hesitated, a hint of embarrassment on his face. Naturally, he couldn't compare to Lord Lynn.
"Teacher, where are we going?" Rol followed Ogest, puzzled. Shouldn't they be gathering forces to search for the traitors and intruders?
"The Control Chamber." Ogest replied casually.
Soon, they arrived at the door of the Control Chamber—a bronze door adorned with intricate alchemical patterns, notably featuring a central device resembling a roulette wheel.
There were no signs of damage, indicating no one had breached this place.
Rol wasn't surprised. The door to the Control Chamber was fortified with profound magic, accessible only by the Councilors.
"Do you know, Rol, sometimes magic can be deceived, like mistaking you for someone else, just like this..." Ogest placed his hand on the center of the wheel. With a violent tremor, the pointer on the wheel shifted to the imprint representing the Fayz Dragon.
Click. Accompanied by a faint sound, the wheel began rotating slowly, soon sinking in, and the heavy bronze door opened slowly, revealing a spacious area beyond.
No, perhaps describing it as an ocean of elements was more fitting—a vast hall storing all the elements known to wizards. They floated in the void, mimicking forms with magical luminescence, emitting enchanting radiance...
This itself was a powerful magic, the second layer of defense within the Control Chamber. However, as a Council member, Ogest naturally remained unharmed.
"Teacher, did Lord Fayz instruct you to come here? What are we doing here?" Rol sensed something amiss but was reluctant to believe his suspicions.
"We're here to take something..." Ogest said leisurely and then asked, "Do you know why the Council restricts the study of Psychic Magic?"
"To prevent the emergence of evil Psychic Wizards like Merk?" Rol tentatively answered.
"No, you're mistaken. Those legendary wizards did so to prevent the discovery of a secret." Ogest's expression turned somber, his voice becoming icy. "Psychic Magic is the foundation. There's no real difference between so-called gods and wizards. Or rather, the pinnacle of magic is theology."
The pinnacle of magic is theology?
Hearing Ogest's words, Rol felt a chill creeping up from his feet.
"The so-called Lord of Stars, the Goddess of the Moon, Aila—she was the first to transcend the limits of wizards..." Ogest patiently explained, akin to his previous lectures on magic to Rol.
"That's why the Council prohibits anyone from delving deeply into Psychic Arts, and they vie for the limited resources of the wizarding land—although harnessing the collective power of the entire wizarding land can only foster one new magical deity, yet here we have five legendary wizards..."
"They distrust, guard against, fear, and covet each other... None dare to take that step forward, preferring to confine themselves to this small wizarding land, vehemently preventing new wizards from ascending to legendary status..."
"But it's time for a change now..." Ogest's tone grew sharper, hinting at fervor. "From today onwards, all of Greenville will transform into a divine realm, and I will surpass all wizards, becoming the second... God."
Rol gazed at the familiar yet unfamiliar face before him, stepping backwards continuously until he stumbled and fell clumsily to the ground.
"You are not my teacher, Ogest... Who are you?" Rol's trembling lips shouted out. Perhaps the other party had used shapeshifting magic to assume this appearance.
"If you mean that teacher, the one who broke through to the Grand Wizard within four years, that indeed was me..." Ogest spoke nonchalantly.
His original body had aged, necessitating a search for a perfect, naturally gifted body.
He had chosen the young prodigy Ogest, already renowned within the wizarding land.
After faking his death and escaping, he had taken over Ogest's body, effortlessly breaking through to the Grand Wizard again, becoming Greenville's highly sought-after genius, and even smoothly entering the Council.
"Of course, you can also call me... Spirit of Elements, or the new God of Magic—Merk." Ogest declared, word by word.