"These aren't just the Resistance fighters!"
Weilin took in the sight of the numerous black-robed wizards, and his expression darkened further.
"Haha... of course!" At this point, Lombarton no longer had any need for restraint.
"The Matron Mothers of the Dark Elves have also infiltrated this area. Before long, rivers of blood will flow here — and the Dark Elves will at last rule the underground world!"
A flush of manic excitement had crept across Lombarton's face.
"You madman!!!" Weilin roared, charging toward Lombarton.
"Life Siphon!"
Lombarton uttered a soft incantation, and a massive spectral spider materialized behind him.
Compared to the previous encounters, the phantom behind him was not only far larger but also suffused with a terrifying aura. From the spider's compound eyes emanated an almost human-like glow, as though it had gained its own intelligence and become a living, breathing creature.
"Aru!" Weilin let out a piercing cry, and a golden phantom burst through a gap in the spectator stands, landing on the ground. Its body surged in size with the wind, swelling to the height of a two-story building in the blink of an eye.
It was a colossal golden Cave Cold Spider, the markings on its body radiating an air of regal splendor. It roared ceaselessly at the spectral phantom behind Lombarton, as though its very dignity had been affronted.
"The Cave Cold Spider Emperor! So you really are the thief who stole the sacred relic!"
The cold light in Lombarton's eyes blazed as several streams of ashen-green energy continuously seeped from his body.
"Ah!" "Ah!"
Two short, piercing screams rang out — from two unfortunate Wizards standing at the edge of the battlefield who had been caught in the crossfire. The moment they came into contact with Lombarton's ashen-green energy, their entire bodies withered in an instant, shriveling into desiccated corpses and perishing in the most wretched manner.
"You recklessly devour life force that was never yours to take — sooner or later, you will suffer the backlash!"
Weilin's expression was grim as he mounted the Cave Cold Spider Emperor, looking for all the world like a valiant and indomitable Knight.
"What would you know of the brilliance of Life Siphon?" In response to Weilin's accusation, Lombarton merely offered a cold reply. At the same time, the colossal spectral spider lunged forward, its eerie energy streams pulling at the Life Energy within Weilin's body like a black hole — powerful and ravenous.
Weilin's face was grave as he slapped the back of the Cave Cold Spider Emperor beneath him, and the two became locked in a frenzied clash with Lombarton.
The clash between the two Second-Tier Wizards sent violent waves of energy particles rippling outward, blasting several unlucky bystanders flying and leaving them gravely wounded.
Amid the swirling gray-green vortex, a Knight mounted on a colossal golden spider — radiant with crimson light — charged toward the heart of the maelstrom like an ancient prince slaying a dragon, ferocious and unrelenting.
The battle shifted locations ceaselessly, reducing several of the arenas to utter ruin.
With all nine judges trapped, the Second-Tier Wizards were now the peak fighting force inside the contest plaza.
And the outcome of Weilin's duel with Lombarton could very well determine whether every Wizard in the entire plaza lived or died!
For that reason, even in the thick of their furious clashes with the Revolutionary Army and the Dark Elves, a number of Wizards kept casting anxious glances toward the raging battle.
What drew their attention even more, however, were the nine ice sculptures on the elevated platform!
Every one of these Wizards understood with grim clarity that their chances of survival today rested partly on Weilin, but in far greater measure on whether those nine Second-Tier Wizards could break free from their confinement.
The combined power of nine Second-Tier Wizards working together would crush even Lombarton into dust in his current state.
"Hah! Wake, my Lords!"
At that moment, a flash of light erupted in some corner, and a gray-haired Wizard appeared.
He murmured an incantation, and a massive fireball hurtled into the nine statues, engulfing the gold-and-silver award podium in a roaring sea of flames.
Moments later, the Wizard watched in despair as the blazing fire was smothered beneath a creeping layer of white frost. Thick, freezing mist coiled outward, locking the entire podium in a wintry wasteland.
Not a single corner of the nine ice sculptures had melted in the inferno.
"A futile effort. This is the Abyssal Cold — even a Second-Tier spell can only hold it back for so long," Lombarton sneered at the sight.
Before he could even issue an order, several Dark Elf shadow guards in black robes rushed forward and engaged the gray-robed Wizard in a brief, brutal fight before driving a sharp dagger into his chest.
Witnessing this, the Wizards who had still harbored hopes of a rescue fell silent, abandoning any thought of freeing the judges.
Most of them simply wanted to break away from their opponents and escape this place.
In an instant, the fighting within the grounds grew even more savage and desperate.
And outside the contest arena, everything was far from calming down.
Leap! Leap! Leap! Leap!