Amidst the swirling layers of frost, the sharp and piercing extreme cold ice blades, the spinning ice spheres radiating a deep sense of despair, and the frigid veins resembling the northern aurora, the fusion of three second-stage resonances of the law domain coalesced into a blurred phantom of the ancient frost overlord, fierce and dominating.
Ronan swiftly advanced, treading on the intertwining black and blue frost and snow, as the massive head of the multi-headed serpent slowly lifted behind him, its crimson serpent eyes quietly opening. "Boom!"
Two terrifying deep blue Spell light pillars abruptly descended.
The fusion of three law domains, [Hekalto's Death Gaze]! Although it could not compare to the Four-Domain Fusion's [Hekalto's Ancient Devour], its power undoubtedly surpassed that of an ordinary three-stage law domain resonance Spell.
Inheriting the terrifying might of ancient frost, it pierced through most of the platform in an instant, executed by Ronan, who was at an unprecedented peak in all aspects, giving a sense of ease and mastery.
The two beams of Spell light, exuding a strong aura of death and cold, struck Serena but were firmly resisted by the golden light interwoven around her.
At the moment the two forces clashed, Ronan's figure ghosted forward to Serena, the runes of [Ancient Power] writhing on his body, bringing forth a vast ocean of physical might, infusing every cell and tendon.
"Ha—"
Ronan took a deep breath, his towering body like an ancient divine bow drawn to its fullest, the power of runes converging on his raised right fist, condensing into clusters of flickering black flames.
As he charged this punch to its utmost, an unprecedented massive aura suddenly erupted from Serena before him.
It was an indescribable terrifying aura, containing a dreadful might that Ronan could not comprehend. The only thing he could sense was the life energy radiating from Serena, which suddenly began to surge upward at a geometric rate, exceeding his own [Immaculate Body] by tenfold, even dozens of times. It was almost as if she were not a humanoid life form at all.
Ronan's brow twitched violently, and he punched forward fiercely, aiming at the source of that massive life energy explosion.
The power of the Spell fused from three law domains was almost instantly dispersed, and his right fist felt as if it struck an indestructible wall.
"Crack—"
Ronan seemed to hear the faint sound of his finger bones fracturing.
He was violently pushed back, swept away by the swirling frost and snow, and when he looked up, he was shocked to find that Serena had completely transformed!—
Her wizard's gown had turned into an incredibly luxurious golden armor, adorned with exquisite hollow patterns, with countless solidified golden streams flowing over it, forming one after another illusory, complex, mysterious patterns. A crown woven from golden olive leaves appeared on her forehead, and the golden rune at the center of her forehead stood out, connecting with the crown, resembling some ancient and noble headpiece.
This magnificent golden armor made Serena appear extraordinarily noble, exuding an aura that approached the terrifying essence of "Taboo" with every gesture, while the vast life energy that Ronan felt, akin to an ocean, was emanating from this armor.
"Magical Artifact. Dawn Magical Artifact."
Ronan was momentarily stunned, unable to help but murmur, "Dawn Magical Artifact set?"
Serena did not respond, her calm and indifferent expression seemed to speak volumes.
In that moment, Ronan's mind was shaken.
The second-tier Magical Artifact set [Land of Winter] that Soraya had gifted him had already amplified his ice magic power by tenfold or even dozens of times.
And now, Serena actually possessed a complete set made entirely of Dawn-Tier Magical Artifacts?!
What did this mean? A single Dawn-Tier Magical Artifact was enough to support a medium-sized wizarding force in the south.
Serena had an entire set!
At this moment, not only Ronan, but many onlookers, including those top wizarding geniuses from the south who had participated in the earlier rounds of the contest, were momentarily stunned.
In Serena, the wizards of the south felt for the first time the vast disparity in resource foundations between the southern and central wizarding realms.
"Even with a Dawn-Tier Magical Artifact set, a Mist Wizard's strength should not be able to unleash much of its power."
Ronan narrowed his eyes, calming his shaken mind.
He extended his bony, elongated fingers, resembling those of a demon, and slowly traced through the air before him.
A torrent of law domain energy surged forth, summoning one ice spell after another.
He stepped forward, and the void beneath his feet spread out like frost flowers, inscribing Spell patterns.
The energies of four extraordinary law domains rapidly fused, gathering countless frost, condensing into a faint phantom of an ancient multi-headed serpent's head.
He spread his arms wide, his figure merging with the massive shadow of the soul behind him and the Spell-formed serpent head, as if they had become one.
Dark, heavy frost surged around him like a tide, and the temperature on the platform dropped to a level that even an ordinary third-tier wizard would find unbearable.
But on Serena's side, it was a scene of golden light illuminating everything, a spring-like warmth.
"[Hekalto.]"
Ronan raised his hand and pointed at the distant Serena.
"Crack, crack, crack—"
Only he could hear it, the faint sound of a Soul Rune inscribed within a Mental Power Crystal in his consciousness space, cracking under the strain.
When this cracking sound reached a certain extreme.
Ronan's finger finally fell.
"[Four Heads. Ancient Devour]!"
"Boom!"
In an instant, the dark blue frost swirling across the platform seemed to thicken several times.
The already cold temperature plummeted to an unprecedented freezing point.
In the void, the ancient multi-headed serpent Spell phantom, which had originally only formed one head, suddenly revealed three more serpent head outlines.
Four serpent heads opened their mouths, and in that moment, several bolts of dark blue lightning fell from the sky, the Spell energy in the void approaching "Taboo" thickening to an unprecedented degree.
The terrifying might of this Spell made many onlooking wizards change color in fear.
[Multiple Mirror Image]! This was Ronan's first attempt to use [Multiple Mirror Image] to replicate the secret technique of law domain fusion, and it was his most powerful Four-Domain Fusion's [Hekalto's Ancient Devour]! The terrifying Spell energy after Four-Domain Fusion had clearly far exceeded the replication limits of [Multiple Mirror Image]. Just a hint of its aura was enough to nearly shatter the entire seal, but it also elevated the Spell's power to an unprecedented height.
Under the bites of the four serpent heads, the entire platform was almost completely transformed into a domain of frost, a tsunami of dark blue engulfing the area occupied by Serena, swallowing the layers of golden light.
However, facing such a terrifying Spell power, Serena merely made a casual gesture with her staff.
In an instant, a massive barrier woven from countless golden lights took shape in the arena.
"Boom, boom!"
The four serpent heads crashed against the golden light barrier in succession, the energy waves they stirred up like a tsunami, causing the entire void to tremble.
Ronan's eyes burned with intensity, and he found himself at the boundary where the dark blue frost and golden energy intertwined.
"Congeal!"
He exhaled lightly, releasing a vast amount of space stagnation power.
The large duel platform instantly fell into absolute stillness.
Wrapped in the black light of the [Ancient Power] runes, green Spell Breaking Flames surged from Ronan's arms, and he pierced into Serena's domain like a sharp blade.
The golden Spell barrier was torn apart, and he continued to close in.
The Spell Breaking Flames in his hands rapidly condensed, transforming from a fiery form into a flowing liquid-like state, finally solidifying into a crystal-like green solid.
Ronan made a punching motion, aiming at the center of Serena's forehead.
He broke through layer after layer of Spell force fields, the power of the runes attached to his arm rapidly depleting, the green Spell crystal growing thinner and thinner, followed closely by the black light of the [Ancient Power] runes on his hand. When Ronan approached within five meters of Serena, the black light of the [Ancient Power] runes on his fist nearly vanished, revealing the muscular form of his arm, covered in countless serpent-like scales.
"Crack—"
Four meters.
The runes of [Ancient Power] on Ronan's hand completely disappeared.
Three meters.
Ronan's arm skin ruptured, tearing and squeezing out numerous small gashes, blood flowing out.
Two meters.
One meter. When Ronan's fist finally neared Serena's face, the flesh on his punching hand had nearly eroded away, leaving only intertwined tendons and a blood-red skeleton.
Yet Ronan seemed to feel no pain from this destruction of flesh, his long hair billowing as he expressionlessly slammed his fist against Serena's forehead... against that mysterious golden rune.
With the support of an entire set of Dawn Magical Artifacts, Serena's strength had been amplified to a level he could hardly contend with.
Even the [Hekalto's Ancient Devour] enhanced by [Multiple Mirror Image] could not break through her Spell defenses, and his mid-level [Ancient Power] infused body still struggled under her Spell force field. His only chance to win lay in this moment.
This was Ronan's true, all-out strike.
However, just as Ronan's fist was about to touch the golden olive leaf crown on Serena's forehead, the Serena who should have been frozen in [Winter Mirror] suddenly lifted her face.
She looked at Ronan, her lake-green eyes still calm as ever, without any fluctuation.
In the next moment, however, a dazzling light burst forth from her pupils.
"Boom!"
Endless, brilliant golden light pierced through everything, and on the vast duel platform, the Spell phantom of the Ancient Frost Hydra and the tidal dark blue frost all melted away under this golden light, leaving no trace.
Ronan was forced to retreat continuously by this sudden surge of power, his heart devoid of joy or sorrow, as the eroded flesh on his naturally drooping right hand quickly regrew.
He squinted, trying to see Serena's figure through the golden light.
But all he could see were one brilliant point after another, like blazing suns.
Those were the "radiance" released by second-tier and above wizards' Mental Power Crystals.
Ronan's mind raced, and although the slim chance he had fought so hard for was obliterated by Serena's absolute strength, he did not give up completely.
But just as Ronan was preparing to seize another opportunity, he suddenly froze.
"Why... does she have ten Mental Power Crystals?"
As the surging golden light gradually faded, the vision of all the onlooking wizards became clear again.
They saw that, at this moment, the vast duel platform seemed to have completely fallen under Serena's dominion.
Brilliant golden light filled the entire space, and Serena stood at the absolute center of it all, the source of this brilliance.
Dressed in ancient, magnificent armor, she was surrounded by sparkling crystals, resembling a divine maiden of ancient legend, descending to the mortal realm.
In this moment, the grace Serena displayed left everyone spellbound, some murmuring as they counted the dazzling points surrounding her.
One... two... three... The number of brilliant points representing Mental Power Crystals was counted, and faces inside and outside the arena revealed expressions of disbelief.
"Ten?!"
"Why does Serena have a full ten Mental Power Crystals?!"
"The limit for a third-tier wizard shouldn't just be nine Mental Power Crystals?!"
Many found it hard to believe.
This was almost common knowledge among wizards.
When nine Mental Power Crystals reached perfection, they would begin to nurture the "Primal Spirit" and ascend to dawn.
Never had it been heard that a wizard could refine a tenth Mental Power Crystal in the third-tier realm.
Amidst the uproar, the wizards from Life Court, however, maintained their usual expressions.
"These southern wizards don't even know about the Mist Forbidden Zone."
The top geniuses from ancient wizarding forces gradually recalled the ancient rumors about the tenth Mental Power Crystal after their initial shock.
It was said that in ancient times, some exceptionally gifted ancient wizard geniuses would, upon reaching the end of the mist, step into a "forbidden domain" at the boundary between mist and dawn, a realm that ordinary people could not touch.
This was a manifestation of extreme talent excavation, where the deepest potential of the soul was released in advance, breaking conventions and refining a tenth Mental Power Crystal.
With the support of this tenth Mental Power Crystal, after stepping into dawn, the strength foundation of such wizards would far exceed their peers, and the Primal Spirit they nurtured would be exceptional.
The qualification to step into the "Mist Forbidden Zone" became a true mark of a genius-level wizard.
In the central region, every exceptionally talented genius with ambitions and expectations for the future would choose to pause at the final stage of the mist, attempting to step into this domain.
And Serena was one of the exemplars who successfully stepped into the "Mist Forbidden Zone"!
"Do you now feel the gap between us?"
Bathed in countless golden lights, Serena spoke softly.
She calmly looked at Ronan, the ten brilliant crystals orbiting above her head, resembling a crown representing supreme glory.
Ronan shook off his shock and daze, his gaze flickering as his figure suddenly vanished from sight.
Serena's expression remained indifferent as she casually raised her hand, five golden light orbs flew out, transforming into five streaks of light that vanished in an instant.
Soon, accompanied by a muffled grunt, Ronan's figure reappeared in a certain position in the void.
Five golden rings, seemingly crafted from gold, tightly bound his neck and limbs, pinning him firmly in the void.
"Crack, crack, crack—"
The black [Ancient Power] runes on Ronan surged, his muscles bulging, and the golden rings locking his limbs slightly loosened.
Serena walked toward him, stepping on golden vine-like light patterns.
As she walked, she spoke.
"What I said before still stands..."
"The secret method to purify mental and soul power, the way to step into the 'Mist Forbidden Zone' even includes the Herams inheritance you desire..."
Serena stopped about twenty meters away from Ronan, looking down at him calmly.
Like a transcendent deity, she gazed down at the mortal who was prostrating at her feet.
"Obey me, follow me."
"Ronan Damien, I can give you more than you can imagine."
"Crack—crack!"
A crisp sound of shattering echoed as the golden ring on Ronan's struggling right arm showed signs of cracking.
Ronan gasped heavily, reaching this point seemed to have consumed a significant portion of his strength.
But he continued to struggle, seemingly deaf to Serena's words.
A glint of cold light flickered in Serena's eyes as she quietly observed Ronan's actions, her beautiful face gradually turning colder.
She slowly raised her hand, countless golden lights weaving in her palm, quickly forming an incredibly exquisite golden bow.
Serena drew the bowstring, a pure golden beam of light appeared between her fingers, taking the shape of an arrow.
As Serena raised the bow, aiming the arrowhead at Ronan's heart.
In that instant, Ronan's struggling movements abruptly halted, and not just him, but all the wizards watching felt an inexplicable, immense sense of heart palpitations.
As if their hearts were being firmly pressed down by something, a faint pain began to emerge.
Everyone's expressions turned pale as they saw golden lightning-like light paths faintly appearing in the sky above Serena's head.
Even though this arrow was not aimed at them, even though they were merely spectators, countless wizards within the range of the Fairy Ancient City ruins fell into a collective agitation and unease.
Even those top wizarding geniuses who had reached the peak of third-tier strength, and even the southern Dawn Wizards who had remained hidden in the void, could not help but show expressions of concern, their gazes turning serious.
This was true power touching "Taboo."
Far beyond the so-called Spell might that Ronan, Anglie, and others had previously unleashed, all of which were merely approaching the "Taboo domain."
The arrow Serena was about to shoot was likely only a hair's breadth away from the legendary Taboo domain.
In every aspect, whether it be Spell mastery or mental power cultivation, Serena stood at the absolute pinnacle of the mist. The sharpness of her arrow had completely torn apart the boundary and barrier between mist and dawn.
At this moment, Ronan, who was firmly "nailed" in the void by five golden rings, felt his aura almost entirely dissolve under Serena's brilliance, like an ant facing the scorching sun, about to meet its ultimate judgment.
"Then let me."
Serena coldly looked down at Ronan, drawing the bow like a full moon, calmly speaking: "Completely shatter your pitiful and laughable pride."
With that, Serena released her grip.
In an instant, golden lightning converged and fell from the sky above her head.
The golden arrow on the great bow shone brightly, and the entire world seemed to be engulfed in a golden light.
However, at that moment, no one noticed that the golden ring binding Ronan's right hand had quietly shattered.
As he was about to be submerged by countless golden lights, Ronan's freed right hand pressed hard against his left chest, his fingers sinking deep as if grasping something, twisting forcefully
! "Crack, crack, crack—"
It sounded like something breaking, or like the sound of a key turning in a lock.
Ronan raised his face, facing the rapidly descending golden light, whispering softly.
"Before you completely take everything from me..."
"Help me win this match."
"Hekalto."
(End of Chapter)