Chapter 617: Supreme Beholder's Indulgence and the Title of Eye Demon Wizard! |
The light explosion erupted on the arena. The wizard serving as referee snapped his fingers, and an Abjuration School magic enveloped it, sealing all the light explosion within the arena's range while not affecting the explosion's power in the slightest.
Antoine and Locke rushed out from the light explosion. Both quickly retreated, standing at opposite ends of the arena.
At this moment, the outermost magic robe on Antoine's body was already damaged, revealing an expensive magic robe woven from Titan gold thread underneath. Just looking at its material, one could tell it came from a master's hands—if not the work of a magic weaver from Bonifacius University, then a masterpiece from a magic weaver in one of the most renowned workshops in the Three Marsh Lands.
It was because of this magic robe that Antoine emerged unscathed from the light explosion just now. However, his outermost magic robe that served as wizard robes had already been seriously damaged.
Although Antoine had previously been caught in some attacks, such as when facing Witch Preston when he suffered some fatal attacks, at that time he used substitute witch porcelain to transfer the damage. Since substitute witch porcelain had a long production cycle and expensive price, he hadn't had time to replenish it.
In that battle, he had also expended some trump cards.
And now, this was the first time in the Spell Combat Tournament that Antoine appeared so disheveled.
A trace of impatience appeared in Antoine's eyes.
At this moment, the creation chains around his body were forcibly manifested because they no longer had prophecy magic's concealment.
It was the existence of these chains that allowed him to completely control the entire field.
Antoine sneered, "Everything in this world should be mine. All things exist revolving around me. I was born sacred, I was born great. Sun, moon, and stars, heaven and earth and all things—all rotate with me as the center."
"Locke, you went to great lengths only to damage one of my magic robes. Laughable."
The next moment, Antoine manipulated six daggers. Each dagger flickered with a different color of magical radiance. Each magical radiance was powerful and forceful.
One dagger after another, under the manipulation of creation chains, attacked Locke along complex trajectories.
But the next moment, the magic eye on Locke's forehead rapidly rotated. Under the enhancement of Beholder's Power, the Three-Eyed Tiger Cat's magic eye received maximum enhancement. Plus with the creation chains now forcibly manifested, Locke directly used his magic eye to observe all the opponent's attack trajectories.
Locke summoned an Abyssal Devourer Body Sea Gold Sand and used Golden Sand Torrent. Immediately, waves of golden spore powder transformed into a sandstorm that collided with those six daggers. At the same time, the golden spore powder rapidly combined together, becoming six small golden sand coffins.
This was Sand-Cast Holy Coffin.
Antoine froze for a moment. 'Even without prophecy magic's concealment, my creation chains are so complex, with such variable trajectories. Compared to ordinary wizards using magical artifacts, it should only be more formidable and changeable, not simpler.'
'It's that magic eye. That magic eye predicted all my attacks.'
'He didn't have such powerful insight before. Did he only recently obtain it?'
The two Wind-Thunder Twin Wheels, under the control of creation chains, suddenly emerged from behind Locke at an incredible angle and attacked his back.
However, the magic eye on Locke's forehead glanced backward. Immediately, a large flowing gold hand condensed behind him and grabbed the two soul magical artifacts attacking from behind.
Just as Locke wanted to use the same method to seal these two magical artifacts, Antoine used the Void Walking necklace to teleport beside Locke, his wizard sword stabbing toward Locke's chest.
Moreover, an iron wire as fine as a strand of hair swept through the air toward Locke's neck.
Facing these attacks, Locke summoned a second Tyrant Devourer Body Sea Gold Sand and used Flowing Gold Fern Spear to block the wizard sword in the opponent's hand.
At the same time, his magic eye blinked again, locking onto the almost invisible wire-type magical artifact in mid-air that also had Enchantment School optical invisibility.
Locke's entire body leaned backward, narrowly avoiding that wire.
"You can actually dodge even that. Not bad." Antoine frowned.
With a wave of his hand, he used the final killing move of an object controller.
Eighteen iron balls like peach pits flew from his sleeves toward his face.
This was a magical artifact set specially crafted for object controllers. It needed to be used in combination to display full power. Each iron ball possessed part of a formation array's magical component. When used in combination, it could summon the formation array's power.
But if used separately, it might not even be as effective as a single ordinary magical artifact's normal function.
In other words, ordinary wizards using this kind of magical artifact would find the effect very poor.
Would feel it wasn't as good as ordinary magical artifacts.
Eighteen magical artifact iron balls attacked Locke's face at extremely short range. Locke immediately sensed danger. The eighteen magical artifact iron balls formed groups of three, pairs of two groups, three pairs total.
Forming a special numerical pattern of three and six.
Each magical artifact iron ball possessed heavy power, using star-core meteorite iron discovered by alchemists from planetary cores, and employing Enchantment School spells to enhance their weight. It could be said that grazing meant injury, touching meant death.
And in combination, special effects appeared, manifesting layers of phantoms like a massive storm enveloping Locke's head.
All the spore powder summoned by Golden Sand Torrent was blown away in an instant.
In this danger, Locke instead began to feel extremely fortunate. His eyes turned into golden dragon pupils, and a crazed smile appeared on his face. Extreme battle intent caused his bloodline to throb.
"Hahahaha..."
Antoine froze for a moment. For a time, he actually didn't know which wizard was more arrogant.
This was the first time he'd seen a wizard more crazy and domineering than himself.
Locke took out a potion from his star realm ring—precisely the Tyrant Beholder potion. He directly drank this potion.
Under the abyssal spirituality activated by Tyrant Beholder.
The magic eye on Locke's forehead operated to its limit. At the same time, he superimposed abyssal energy on his magic pressure. In an instant, it violently collided against his soul barrier. His magic pressure didn't rise but instead continuously flowed away.
But the magic eye on Locke's forehead became even more powerful. In these layers of phantoms, his magic eye seemed to see through all illusions and the true trajectories of the eighteen magical artifact iron balls.
At the same time, Locke quickly retreated backward, used Plant Mimicry to dodge the first round of attacks, and flew into high altitude, continuously dodging all attacks.
Above the wizard world, the massive Supreme Beholder floated in the sky. "Madman. If I wanted to intervene, I could use the same trick again, and he would lose this match."
Supreme Beholder said, "No, that's wrong. Supreme Beholder cannot help another wizard win. Abyssal demons can only kill wizards, not help wizards."
"He figured this out and knows I won't stop him. Well then, let him use our beholder clan's insight to fight..."
"Our abyssal demons' power is very useful, hahahaha... Those who indulge in power will ultimately belong to that power, hahaha..."
Supreme Beholder's figure began moving away from the wizard world, no longer sensing the spirituality of Locke who had drunk the Tyrant Beholder potion.
On Arena No. 1, the innate magic eye on Locke's forehead, with incredible insight, saw through all the magical artifact iron balls' phantoms, saw all the magical artifact iron balls' trajectories, and dodged all the magical artifact iron balls.
Antoine was below, fully manipulating all the magical artifact iron balls.
'This is impossible. Even Second Circle wizards can only use brute force to destroy my iron ball killing formation. Eighteen iron balls, combined spell forming phantoms, creates over a hundred phantoms. Plus my manipulation, with infinite variations and incredible speed.'
'That guy... isn't he best at using sea gold sand?'
'How can he have such a powerful magic eye?'
'Grandfather guessed wrong? No, it's not Grandfather's problem. This wizard has progressed too much during this competition.'
Beside Arena No. 1, the audience members all looked at this match in astonishment.
The host wizard kept excitedly commentating beside them. "The level of this match is already fully up to the standard of the First Circle level Grand League of the Spell Combat Tournament. In fact, I even think I'm watching the peak championship deciding match of the Grand League!"
"Too exciting!"
"Antoine is actually an object controller and can simultaneously manipulate eighteen iron balls! Locke Augustine possesses an innate magic eye. His magic eye can completely perceive all the trajectories of the eighteen iron balls!"
"The battle between these two demonstrates Golden Crown Mountain's level!"
Beside Arena No. 1, many wizards were discussing.
"Those eighteen iron balls are completely object controller methods. And the most genuine object controller combination magical artifacts. This is the first time Antoine has openly exposed himself as an object controller. That level of magical artifact manipulation is truly genius..."
"His manipulation level is indeed genius among geniuses. Many Second Circle level object controllers are only at this level. He just lacks sufficient basic ability data on his stats. But did you notice Locke's terrifying insight?"
"Yes, if it were me, I absolutely couldn't dodge those magical artifacts. As long as I'm hit once, I'd fall into a state of continuous attacks. Then I'd immediately lose this match."
A wizard from the southeastern quadrant said in a low voice, "I think I may have heard of this wizard's reputation before. At that time, I was still a wizard instructor at a large wizard organization in the southeastern quadrant. Back then, he should have still been an apprentice. But in that period, he was already called the Eye Demon Wizard by black wizards."
"I didn't expect that meeting again in Cloud Marsh Wetland, he's already a researcher at a high-level Origin Academy, while I'm just a wizard from a small wizard organization."
"But today's battle made me understand what it means to be called Eye Demon Wizard."
Many wizards looking at Locke's magic eye all had the illusion that everything about themselves had been seen through.
They felt chilled because of this.
The Second Circle wizards from the Tower of Transmutation looked at Antoine and Locke. The two Second Circle wizards looked at each other and smiled.
"Locke's insight is indeed formidable. However, he seems to be gradually learning how to use pupil techniques during the competition."
"Eye Demon Wizard... that's quite a good nickname. To already have this kind of nickname at the First Circle stage is truly impressive."
The other Second Circle wizard said, "This kind of insight is indeed rare. I've rarely seen it in my life."
At this moment, on Arena No. 1, Antoine continuously manipulated magical artifacts to use saturation mode attacks on Locke.
'Grandfather said Locke's combat mode is to first observe, then respond, then find the opponent's weakness. Steady and methodical, therefore afraid of sudden attacks, like an assassin's fighting style.'
'What Grandfather said can't be wrong—he's a Third Circle wizard. But the problem is, he also couldn't see Locke's growth.'
'Locke has already grown far too much during battle.'
'With such powerful insight, he can hardly be approached by assassin-style fighting anymore.'
Antoine's eyeballs kept shifting. For the first time in his life, he felt such enormous pressure.
Moreover, because this was the first time in his life exposing his true abilities before others, Antoine had a special feeling. This feeling seemed to be a competitive feeling.
A feeling of proving himself.
Wizard Fischer, as a Third Circle wizard, his elder, his voice appeared beside Antoine's ear. 'People like us don't need others' respect. Using our best side toward ourselves and our worst side toward others can save us a lot of trouble.'
But at this moment, the brutality in Antoine's eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by seriousness.
He had already sacrificed too much for the Council of Elders.
Reputation, temperament—all just to coordinate with the Council of Elders in delivering a sudden strike today.
Was his entire life serving that commercial street worth over a billion magic stones?
Was it?
Did he truly not need competitive opponents, truly not need reputation?
Antoine looked up at Locke, trying to find something in his opponent.
At the same time, his eyes kept tracking Locke's figure.
Locke's movement speed was too fast. What couldn't keep up was his eyes as an object controller.
This caused, although he could manipulate the iron ball killing formation to attack Locke with incredible speed and power, because his visual tracking ability was insufficient, this speed instead became redundant performance.
The next moment, Locke's figure suddenly disappeared from mid-air.
Locke appeared behind him. "I'm saying, even though you used Enchantment School's Eagle Eye spell on yourself, after fighting until now, your eyes should already be very fatigued, right?"
"Aren't they?"
'Impossible!' Antoine's pupils dilated. He instinctively turned around, his wizard sword stabbing toward Locke. The next moment, he discovered he had only stabbed a phantom.
He moved his fingers, launching a magical artifact wire toward Locke in his peripheral vision, but discovered that wire had also cut through a phantom.
The next moment, Antoine discovered that around him, eight afterimages of Locke had appeared.
Eight afterimages surrounded him in a circle. The Large Green Leaf Dragon Sparrow behind him, as the top-tier flying magical plant among First Circle, was playing an enormous role.
But most importantly was still that captivating magic eye on Locke's forehead.
"Insight is key." Locke's voice appeared in Antoine's ears. "My insight is above yours."
"Antoine, you can't distinguish who is real, who is fake. So even if you're an object controller, it's useless."
At the judges' seats, Wizard Fischer directly stood up. He hadn't anticipated that Locke, during battle, would bring his magic eye to such an extreme by taking potions.
All along Locke's path, while improving mental power, he always used abyssal type potions. Especially after the last Tyrant Beholder, he even directly devoured a Tyrant Beholder.
And this power now all transformed into his insight.
That insight was an object controller's most terrible nightmare.
Wizard Fischer's expression was grim, not because he worried Antoine would lose.
But because he worried Antoine would expose too many trump cards in this tournament. The real battle was the Plane Conquest Competition—that represented the highest honor of Cloud Marsh Wetland's younger generation.
It was battles with top-tier academies.
Not battles with geniuses from these third-rate small academies, or internal battles within Golden Crown Mountain.
Most critically, Antoine had a special constitution. If this dragged on, he didn't know what would happen.
At the judges' seats, several ordinary Third Circle wizards from the Academic Committee who came to watch showed surprise in their eyes.
They hadn't expected Locke could give them such a pleasant surprise.
Originally thinking it was just a desperate attempt, who knew that before even using Sacred Dragon's inheritance, Locke had already forced the secret weapon crafted by the Council of Elders to this extent.
Although Antoine also hadn't used the Council of Elders' inheritance.
An Academic Committee Third Circle wizard said in a low voice, "Perhaps Locke truly has a chance at victory."
Another Academic Committee sun ring wizard showed a puzzled expression. "If he wins, we in the Academic Committee haven't really cultivated him much? Isn't something not quite right about that?"
At this moment, sitting at the judges' seats, a Third Circle Throne Wizard from the Council of Elders watching the final result of the Spell Combat Tournament glanced at him, then said in a low voice, "Wizard Augustine is indeed a very excellent wizard. When participating in the Plane Conquest Competition, we can have him serve as Antoine's deputy, representing our Golden Crown Mountain in battle together."
"He won't win."
Witch Yekaterina's gaze looked at the Fischer family's true backer, this Third Circle Throne Wizard. Contempt appeared in her eyes. "As for the deputy position, Antoine is more suitable. Given his personality."
The two were at daggers drawn, their eyes flashing fire.
On Arena No. 1, Locke summoned two Abyssal Devourer Body Sea Gold Sands and used Flowing Gold Fern Spear. At the same time, he used [Same Qi Connected Branch] to fuse the two Flowing Gold Fern Spears together.
Then he used a trace of Myst's Power stored in his Four-Leaf Clover ring to enhance the fern spear.
Immediately, this terrifying Tyrant Fern Spear (abyssal enhanced version) directly stabbed Antoine's chest during Locke's high-speed movement.
The next moment, the Titan gold thread magic robe on Antoine's body violently friction with that Tyrant Fern Spear.
Spell lightning appeared wave after wave.
Then Antoine's entire body flew backward. A hole was stabbed in his chest, and large amounts of blood flowed out.
Antoine fell to the ground.
"You really pissed me off, Locke."
"I've never suffered such a huge loss." Antoine climbed up. Seeing Locke's Tyrant Fern Spear stab toward him, his pupils immediately contracted. At the same time, he closed his eyes and entered the No-Thought state.
'Don't think. Keep spirituality in a blank state. Let one's spirituality change with surrounding spiritual changes. Then see the fluctuations in those changes. Thus my palm will be able to destroy the world's most powerful force.'
Then he grabbed the Tyrant Fern Spear with one hand.
More accurately, he didn't catch Locke's Tyrant Fern Spear, but at the instant his palm touched the Tyrant Fern Spear, his spiritual fluctuation suddenly matched the Tyrant Fern Spear's spiritual fluctuation in a state Locke couldn't understand.
Then all the energy contained in his Tyrant Fern Spear was actually suppressed and hidden, actually held by a flesh palm.
Antoine spat out blood. Obviously using this special kineticist magic, he himself had to bear enormous magical risk, and his body had to endure tremendous pressure.
This caused the Tyrant Fern Spear to not harm him, yet he paid a certain price for this spell.
Antoine exhaled stale air, opened his eyes, and looked at Locke, saying, "I just wanted to try. I didn't expect No-Thought Crushing Fist I actually really used it."
"Locke, you made me expose my true face before others for the first time. You made me angry. I indeed believe that everything in this world should revolve around me. I am this world's master."
"So..." Antoine looked at Locke seriously. "As the first opponent to bring me such great pressure, making me feel challenged, wanting to prove myself, I will defeat you. Completely deny your existence, confirm that in my heart, my life can still follow the previous rules."
Antoine took out a stone from his star realm ring and kept it gripped in his hand.
At the same time, he kicked toward Locke. That was kineticist magic Hundred Splitting Kicks!
His legs and feet instantly became a hundred afterimages. Powerful kinetic energy was contained in his legs and feet.
The magic eye on Locke's forehead rapidly rotated. In this rapid kicking, he found the opponent's true attack trajectory. At the same time, wielding his Tyrant Fern Spear, by changing spiritual fluctuation, he broke the opponent's power to neutralize his Tyrant Fern Spear on the spiritual level.
'Kineticist School magic is a magic branch that directly manipulates kinetic energy, potential energy, and momentum. It can distort inertia, gravity, and elasticity. I see. He never used Kineticist School magic to fight me before. I'm also curious about one thing—where does he get such enormous total magic pressure?'
'All the magic he uses is based on having large total magic pressure. If ordinary wizards cast magic like him, they would have already forfeited from exhausting magic power!'
Antoine closed his eyes, attacking Locke with eighteen iron balls and magical wire artifacts. At the same time, utilizing No-Thought Crushing Fist's characteristic of capturing spiritual changes, he prevented Locke from suddenly attacking.
Using this method, he entangled with Locke.
He even used No-Thought Crushing Fist's characteristics to conversely suppress the magic eye, temporarily putting Locke at a disadvantage.