"These three Magical Items are definitely components of a higher-grade Magical Item, or even a Magic Weapon!"
The second-rank Wizard sitting beside Leilin declared.
"That's what I think too!" Leilin smiled and nodded, but his gaze grew faintly fervent.
Inside the secret realm.
Three figures clashed violently, the Magical Items in their hands radiating brilliant light that reduced the surrounding grassland to utter ruin.
"Kill!"
Ailin and Weinasi exchanged a glance and simultaneously channeled maximum Spiritual Power. The silver sword hilt and the central blade thrust toward Aosini.
"Chains of War!" Just then, a strange expression flickered across Aosini's face, and a black iron chain covered in runes flew from his bosom, wrapping around both Ailin and Weinasi.
"You thought I'd be foolish enough to face both of you alone?"
Seeing the chain shoot out, a triumphant smile finally appeared on Aosini's face.
"This is a secret Magical Item of the Helen School — it can bind two half-elementalized Wizards for at least ten seconds. I didn't expect it to end up on that Wizard! They've lost!"
Some Wizards outside the secret realm recognized the Magical Item.
But then, they opened their mouths in shock.
Weinasi smiled faintly and split another "Weinasi" from her body. The other Weinasi's face took on a determined expression as she lunged toward Ailin.
With a flash of light, Ailin — previously bound by the chains — appeared in midair, while the original Weinasi clone took his place, bound by the chains.
"Now! Go!" Both Weinasis spoke at once. The tightening chains shattered the defensive runes on Weinasi's body one after another.
"A clone! Using a clone to break free from the Chains of War's binding? That's quite a subject worth studying!" A white-bearded Wizard stroked his beard.
Seeing Weinasi coughing blood, Ailin seemed to be triggered by something. He roared and charged straight at Aosini.
Aosini was manipulating the chain bindings, which had clearly consumed a vast amount of Spiritual Power and mana. He was caught somewhat off guard by Ailin's sudden assault.
After several exchanges, Ailin — eyes bloodshot — deflected the sword tip and drove the hilt into Aosini's chest.
The expression on Aosini's face was very strange. He seemed to be crying and laughing at the same time, and didn't activate the escape formula on his body.
"What's going on? Is the escape formula malfunctioning? External activation!" one Wizard immediately ordered.
But the milky-white light did not appear.
"Cough… cough…" Aosini coughed, and large amounts of blood surged from his mouth.
"You… you won!" Aosini struggled to speak.
"Why? Why didn't you escape?" Ailin found it hard to believe.
"Hehehe! Why would I run?" The expression on Aosini's face shifted continuously, as if he had instantly become a different person.
"D-don't kill me!" Then, an expression of overwhelming fear flooded Aosini's face.
But as blood loss mounted, these expressions gradually faded, reverting to the original state.
"Be… be careful of the mastermind behind this, my brother. I saw…"
Aosini trembled as he handed Ailin the tip of the Falling Star Sword and a black notebook. His eyes suddenly turned completely white, and without finishing his final prophecy, he lost all trace of life.
Thud! Aosini's body crashed to the ground.
Crack! With Aosini's death, Ailin felt a mysterious force emerge from the body and enter his own. The Holy Light Candlefire spun rapidly, as if absorbing something.
After a moment, he broke through the half-elementalization barrier and reached the peak of the first-rank Wizard tier. But Ailin felt no joy whatsoever.
"Let's go!" He picked up the gravely wounded Weinasi and vanished into the milky-white pillar of light.
Today's events had given him far too much to ponder, to the point where he had lost interest in the final showdown between Weilin and Longbadun.
Outside the secret realm, Leilin stroked his chin, a contemplative look on his face.
"Dissociative symptoms growing worse — he's developed multiple personalities of good, evil, and cowardice, along with strong suicidal tendencies! This test subject is ruined! Even if he's still alive, he's useless!"
A hint of regret crossed his face.
Then he turned to the last screen: "The fated first clash has begun!"
Inside the secret realm, most of the Wizards had already been eliminated. Only Weilin and Longbadun remained, and between them they held over forty points combined.
Moreover, the two were drawing ever closer, about to converge.
"If nothing unexpected happens, this time's champion will emerge from these two Wizards. Let's wait and see!" the announcer Wizard declared excitedly. On the field, the screens continued to merge, eventually splitting into two enormous screens, each displaying the situation on Weilin's and Longbadun's respective sides.