On the Central Region's side, the composition of the Wizard alliance was rather complicated.
A chaotic mix of Wizards, apprentices, and even ordinary mortal soldiers had been gathered together in a disorganized mass, looking for all the world like a ragtag rabble.
And in truth, that was exactly what they were. Without the Guardian of the Realm or the various regional guardians to serve as a leadership core, this self-formed alliance had run into a host of problems. Orders failing to pass uniformly up and down the chain of command was the least of it—what was more troubling was that plenty of schemers were operating in the shadows, making the currents beneath the surface dangerously turbulent.
"Oh? Rumors unfavorable to me are already circulating in secret?"
Back in his own encampment, Lei Lin listened to Yilun's report, a half-smile playing across his face.
"No need to pay them any mind. Very soon, those rumors will collapse under their own weight!"
Lei Lin waved his hand with a faint smile.
Then, suddenly, his expression shifted as he gazed toward the northern sky. "It's here!"
A tiny black dot rose from the northern horizon, carrying with it a vast and irresistible pressure, descending in a stately manner before the two armies.
"Your Supreme Matronship!!!"
The ranks of elite Cave Frost Spider Knights stared with fervent eyes and dropped to their knees in salute.
Anya's body was traced with strange runes, and her breathtakingly beautiful face turned toward the Wizards' alliance encampment.
"Where is whoever's in charge? Tell him to come out and face me!" The voice was sweet as honey, yet laced with a bone-piercing chill—like a rose blooming amid a bloodbath, exquisitely captivating yet carrying mortal danger.
Along with the voice came a formidable pressure on par with a third-rank Wizard's, and it rolled ruthlessly over the allied encampment without a shred of restraint.
A great many ordinary mortal soldiers collapsed in agony on the spot, clumps of hair falling from their scalps, internal organs hemorrhaging.
This was the devastating effect that a high-level Wizard's casually radiated power could inflict upon the human body.
The apprentice-level Wizards all lost consciousness as well. Only formal Wizards and above could maintain a clear mind under that crushing pressure, but even their combat effectiveness was severely diminished.
Tendrils of visible green mist were drawn out from within the allied encampment, streaming through the air and converging upon Queen Anya hovering above.
"Pseudo-Withering Domain! The advanced Meditation Method that, according to legend, only Dark Elf Matrons can cultivate—a powerful innate ability that only manifests once Life Siphon advances to the third tier!"
Lei Lin's face lit up with interest. He turned to glance at the other high-level Wizards.
At that moment, inside the alliance's camp, the tents where the other high-level Wizards had stationed themselves had all fallen silent. Some even bore the faint fluctuations of spatial spells.
"They're already trying to flee before the battle has even begun?"
Lei Lin chuckled in disbelief, though he immediately realized it made perfect sense. After all, these Wizards had all assumed the Dark Elves' Grand Matron must have been gravely injured long ago. And even if that weren't the case, their own Guardian of the Realm would surely step forward.
But now?
"I suppose at this moment, those Wizards outside are all cursing me frantically in their hearts?" Lei Lin shook his head, his body likewise drifting up into midair.
"ROAR ROAR ROAR…"
A fierce, overwhelming aura — like that of an apex predator from some ancient era — erupted without warning.
The surging shockwave swept through like a tidal wave, throwing the opposing ranks into utter chaos. But what truly caught the attention of every other Wizard was that this aura was no weaker whatsoever than that of the Dark Elves' Rank Three Grand Matron!!!
"Bloodline Warlock Rank Three Innate Talent Wizardry — Terror Suppression, activate!!!"
Crack!
As though some seal and restraint had been shattered, Lei Lin's aura surged violently. In the blink of an eye, it surpassed the confines of Rank Two Warlock and entered a far more unfathomable realm.
This transformation made the Dark Elf Grand Matron's expression change drastically across the field: "Rank Three! You've already reached Rank Three!!!"
That was right! Long before slaying the Guardian of the Realm, Lei Lin had already secretly advanced to the Rank Three Warlock level.
With the aid of the Giant Serpent Breath potion and a massive supply of top-tier resources, Lei Lin's spiritual substance had long since condensed to the bright-silver stage, and his Spiritual Power could be directly bolstered with potions.
As for the third layer of the Comorin Eye? Lei Lin had possessed it all along — and with the Chip's supplementary data, it had only become more refined.
Coupled with the essence of the Wisdom Ancient Tree, a legendary substance said to illuminate the intellect and help Wizards break through their bottlenecks, shattering the barrier to Rank Three had been as smooth as water finding its course.