Alan's earlier strike had only succeeded because they were caught off guard.
Now, with the three brothers combining their strength and activating the formation, they were confident they could even challenge a late-stage tier-bronze mage.
In their minds, Alan was as good as dead.
But just as they had this thought, the formation, glowing with intricate patterns, began to ripple as if disturbed by an unseen force.
The formation's boosts to their strength and speed suddenly waned, and the backlash even disrupted their mana flow, hindering their power!
Something was wrong.
A brief flash of panic crossed the brothers' minds. Before they could regain their composure, Alan struck again.
The scarred man instinctively tried to retreat, only to find a wall of earth-element magic materializing behind him, blocking his escape.
A mage!
The scarred man's eyes widened in terror.
He gathered the rushing magical energy within him to shield his neck, forming a protective barrier like a river.
But in a flash, Alan's sword ignited in flames, instantly evaporating the water element shield, and, in a single stroke, severed the man's neck.
Splat!
Blood gushed from the gaping wound on his neck, showering the small room in a grim, bloody rain. The remaining two brothers were struck with terror; without a second thought, they bolted like cats whose tails had been stepped on, fleeing in a blind panic.
Alan moved to pursue them, but their earlier setup, the Hidden Wolf Formation, suddenly exploded, unleashing waves of magical energy that shook the entire room.
Alan had no choice but to shield Isabella in his arms.
Boom!
The small room was left in ruins from the explosion.
Brass lamps fell from the ceiling, and planks and metal sheets from the walls scattered across the floor.
Once the tremors subsided, Alan carefully lifted Isabella and stepped outside, intent on chasing down the fleeing brothers.
But outside the door stood a squad of patrolling guards, led by a woman wearing a half-mask. Though young, the woman's lower face, framed by fair skin and graceful contours, hinted at an extraordinary beauty.
Seeing her attire, Alan grew more cautious—she was from the Church of Steam and Magic.
The Church of Steam and Magic not only controlled Railway City but also held influence over several guilds and industries throughout the Plantagenet Kingdom.
"Fighting is strictly forbidden in Railway City," she announced coldly. "Seize them both and flog them to death as a warning!"
Her beauty belied her icy tone, devoid of any warmth. The guards moved to encircle Alan and Isabella.
"My sister and I were only defending ourselves—they attacked us first!" Alan said, his brow furrowing as he looked at the woman.
But the woman showed no reaction to his words. Alan, sensing no other option, released a powerful wave of mind power that expanded outward from him, forcing the approaching guards to stumble back as if struck by a hammer.
"If I were a magus, could you perhaps show leniency?" Alan asked seriously.
The woman in the mask paused, then shook her head slightly. "Magus are indeed rare, but it is not enough compared to the rules of the Church."
Hearing this, Alan let out a wave of tangible soul energy toward her. "If a magus is insufficient, then what of the standing of a grand magus?"
Though Alan hadn't reached the level of a grand magus in elemental control, his mastery of the Infernal Visualization Technique, coupled with the Soul Grindstone, had elevated his soul to the grand magus level—a tangible force.
A smile of interest appeared at the corner of the masked woman's mouth. "If it's a grand magus in person, then courtesy is certainly due.
But I am curious, to which family do you belong, and who is your mentor?"
Alan squinted, shaking his head. "Just an unknown mage. Does the Church only recognize background, not strength?"
The woman hesitated before replying slowly, "Not at all. It's simply that your soul foundation is remarkably solid, which is rare for someone without formal training."
Magi were scarce, and grand magi even more so. Most mages of such skill had prestigious backgrounds or mentors; without guidance, breaking through alone was nearly impossible.
Alan's youth made his achievement particularly impressive, suggesting either an extraordinary teacher or an uncanny talent and perception.
Realizing that Alan did not want to pursue the topic, she refrained from probing further. Respecting a grand magus was essential.
"Bring me the two who just fled and flog them to death as a warning," she ordered coldly, directing her gaze at the guards. They nodded and swiftly pursued the brothers.
Turning to Alan, the masked woman said, "This room has been destroyed. If you and your sister don't mind, you may move to one of the deluxe rooms above."
A deluxe room! Reserved only for the elite!
"Thank you," Alan replied, careful to maintain his composure.
The woman nodded and led the way, introducing herself as they walked. "You may call me Annie. I am the acting captain of the Charlie No.1."
Alan was a bit taken aback to learn that this woman held such authority on the train—no wonder she could so easily grant them access to a deluxe room.
"My name is Alan, and this is my sister, Isabella," he introduced simply.
Annie murmured their names but showed no sign of recognition.
Soon, they reached room 99, the last available deluxe room. Annie briefly explained its amenities before leaving.
Entering the room, Alan and Isabella's first impression was one of awe—it was enormous! Almost like a luxurious villa, the room was spacious and bright, filled with fresh flowers and soothing incense.
Separate chambers with large, soft beds gave it the feel of an opulent hotel.
"No wonder it's called a deluxe room," Alan remarked.
In this world, everything was at the service of the strong. The strong received all comforts, while the weak were left with little.
This realization deepened Alan's determination to grow stronger.
If he hadn't intimidated them by posing as a grand magus, they wouldn't have let him off so easily, much less offered him an upgrade to the deluxe room!
With renewed resolve, Alan headed into one of the rooms and entered his personal hell realm to continue his training.
This time, his mysterious guide conjured a genuine tier-gold golem.
Although its speed was restricted, its combat power was formidable, pushing Alan to his limits. Under such pressure, Alan's control over the elements became increasingly refined.
…
With the stars scattered across the sky, Alan finished his day of training.
After a simple dinner brought by the maids, he decided to take Isabella to the top deck for a stroll.
Unlike the cramped lower and middle levels of the magic train, the top-level deluxe room deck was a vast open space, where one could gaze up at the starry night and enjoy the cool breeze.
The deck was filled with elegantly dressed individuals, some exuding an aura of elegance, while others radiated a domineering presence.
Amidst these elites, Alan and Isabella's simple attire stood out as modest, but they paid no mind, heading to the edge of the deck.
They gazed at the magnificent scenery below, stretching a thousand meters down, and the vast starry sky above.
"Who are you? I haven't seen you around before," came a voice from nearby.
A plump boy wearing a monocle, his clothes adorned with jewelry, approached them curiously.
"I'm Isabella. Who are you?" Isabella, being naturally curious, responded with equal interest.