Among the many fragmented images, there was also a figure very familiar to Leilin.
"Weilin?" A smile appeared at the corner of Leilin's lips.
...
"Are you sure it's here?" Weilin stared at the pitch-black cavern ahead, which resembled the gaping maw of some monstrous beast, and couldn't help swallowing hard.
At this moment, his aura had surged dramatically, faintly breaking past the limits of ordinary humans.
"I'm very sure. Right here dwells an ancient creature — the Cave Frost Spider King! Our Dark Elves' Cave Frost spiders have been continuously bred and multiplied through this place."
"This is the holy ground of our Dark Elf clan. Did you really think I'd risk death to bring you here just to play a prank on you?" Memphis rolled his eyes.
"As long as you can kill or subdue it! The Dark Elves' Cave Frost Spider Knights will immediately collapse, and perhaps this war can finally end."
Memphis said with a sigh.
"Then what level of strength does this Cave Frost Spider King possess?"
Weilin looked at the cave entrance and felt inexplicably uncomfortable, as if he were being stripped bare and examined.
"At the very least, it has the strength of a Second-rank Wizard!" Memphis spread his hands. "But fortunately, it's currently in a dormant period and won't detect you!"
"But I'm another matter entirely! Any Dark Elf who has signed a contract with a Cave Frost Spider will immediately wake it upon approaching!"
Memphis explained — not all ancient creatures possessed Morning Star-level strength. After all, even in ancient times, Morning Star Wizards were regional overlords. How could they be so common?
The plan between Memphis and Weilin was simple: kill or subdue the Cave Frost Spider King, deal a devastating blow to the Dark Elves' forces, and thereby bring the war to an end.
"...Fine!"
Weilin took two heavy breaths, then said to a massive chunk of flesh beside him: "I'm ready. Get on!"
Before him was something resembling a colossal fleshy poached egg. What made his scalp tingle with horror was that this "egg" was covered in densely packed eyes, all staring unblinkingly at Weilin.
"Let me warn you! Even though you've inherited my master's legacy and advanced to First-rank Wizard, you're nowhere near a match for a Second-rank opponent right now — even with me added in! We might not even keep our lives!"
All the eyes on the fleshy mass blinked in unison, producing a tender, childlike voice with a milky quality.
"That's an order!" Weilin's expression darkened.
"Fine, fine! You win! I finally find a new master, and turns out he's an idiot!" The fleshy mass shook helplessly.
After receiving the command, the mass shot rapidly onto Weilin's body, extending countless fleshy tendrils that merged with him.
Weilin's entire body swelled up a size, the flesh gradually hardening until it formed a dark crimson armor. On the armor's surface were over a dozen eye-shaped patterns, lending it an air of great mystery.
Once clad in the armor, Weilin's aura instantly shattered his previous limits, reaching the level of a formal Wizard.
"This is a map and talisman passed down through our family. Good luck!" Memphis offered his sincere blessing.
"Thank you!" Weilin responded, and a pair of enormous crimson metal wings unfurled from his back as he dove into the black cave.
Weilin and Jenny had encountered tremendous difficulties on their journey to return Memphis to his clan — they had even faced numerous dangers and pursuits.
But fortunately, they had managed to survive unscathed, and had even ventured deep into the Dark Elf Empire to deliver Memphis to safety.
Furthermore, during their travels, Weilin had obtained a special inheritance and advanced into an ancient wizard sub-branch — the Augmented Warrior!
After obtaining this inheritance, Weilin had progressed by leaps and bounds, finally advancing to the level of a formal Wizard.
And due to the Augmented Armor he had inherited, his strength even far surpassed that of an ordinary formal Wizard.
The instant he leaped into the cave — perhaps it was his imagination — Weilin felt the gold coin around his neck grow warm once more...
In the laboratory.
Leilin gazed at the golden crystal in his hand. The golden liquid inside now occupied half its volume, appearing even more resplendent and brilliant.
"As expected of the 'Child of Destiny' from the Dark Pole Domain. This rate of advancement — even I have to feel inferior!"
Leilin sighed softly.
Back then, he had naturally examined Weilin as well. The boy did possess wizard aptitude, but it was exceedingly poor — he had almost no chance of advancing to formal Wizard.
Moreover, Leilin had only taught him out of idle curiosity and amusement, never intending to burden himself by passing on actual wizard knowledge.
But now it seemed that fate was gradually being steered back onto its track. Weilin was continuously growing stronger, to the point where he could eventually influence the balance of the war on both sides.
In the ancient era, due to exchanges with various other worlds and the ancient wizards' spirit of inclusiveness and innovation, all manner of exotic wizard sub-branches had emerged in abundance.
Bloodline Warlocks, Elemental Singers, Brand Swordsmen, Steel Knights, and most recently, this Augmented Warrior.
Leilin recalled what he had read in old texts about the Augmented Warrior.
This ancient wizard sub-branch had a remarkably peculiar advancement path — it required the inheritor to simultaneously possess both knight and wizard aptitude.
Furthermore, they had to obtain an Augmented Armor!
Once a warrior obtained an Augmented Armor, their strength would experience an explosive boost. After the fusion, the armor would even autonomously modify its host, continuously driving the host's improvement.
Moreover, this Augmented Armor could be passed down. If an Augmented Warrior obtained armor left behind by a more powerful warrior, they would instantly receive an enormous power boost.
It had to be said, in Leilin's view, Weilin and the Augmented Warrior sub-branch were an excellent match.
"Fate, huh..."
Leilin smiled and left the laboratory.