"War has begun."
Mayer leaned against the corridor wall, adjusted his Wizard Robe, and sighed softly.
"It has already begun." Sovoc exhaled, turned his head to glance at Colin and the other person, and said slowly, "I hope after this battle, I can still see both of you."
After finishing, he nodded as a gesture of farewell and then briskly walked forward without hesitation.
"Sir Sovoc, why walk so fast..."
Mayer was slightly startled and hurried to catch up while calling out.
Colin calmly watched them leave, then turned and walked to the window.
Outside, the moon seemed absent; the pitch-black sky merged seamlessly with the dark sea. If not for the occasional crashing waves, it would have felt like being in a silent black space.
Whoosh!!
A blinding bright light suddenly appeared, turning the world from pitch black to pure white!
Colin squinted his eyes slightly, his face illuminated by the white light, expressionless.
He gently exhaled and didn't linger any longer, quickly returning to his room.
Boom, rumble!
As he turned around, the bright light faded, replaced by thunderous rumbling sounds.
Creak, creak.
The shockwaves, carrying along the waves, made the steel battleship tremble, but his figure remained unaffected, like a sturdy pine in a fierce wind.
He shut the door.
Pale golden particles converged in front of him, and an ancient-looking Golden Paper slowly emerged, blurring between reality and illusion.
He took out the Magic Stone, watching it gradually turn to gravel in his hand, Colin's heart grew more tranquil.
The unknown supportive witchcraft of that elder Wizard was unbelievably powerful!
If he hadn't miscalculated, he might receive blessings throughout the night.
Moments later, as the Limit Breaking Point value jumped to exactly ten thousand, the ↑ symbol behind the Fireball Technique also faintly lit up.
He gathered his thoughts, focused his Spirit, and firmly pressed the ↑ symbol.
Bam.
A myriad of complex knowledge instantly flashed through his mind, clashing and merging.
Soon, a form of witchcraft, greatly different from the original Fireball Technique, slowly surfaced in his mind.
Colin opened his eyes and quickly scanned the Golden Paper.
"First Rank Upper?!"
After four Limit Breakings of the Fireball Technique, it had directly reached First Rank Upper?
Colin put away the Golden Paper, suppressing his astonishment.
Time was running short; the urgent matter now was to engrave the thrice Limit Broken Fireball Technique into his Spirit Sea!
He closed his eyes again.
Rumble.
In the distance, Gubier Island continued to emit loud sounds from time to time.
It was now deep into the night, the pitch-black sky was without stars or moon, and the seabirds had long since returned to their nests.
The dark, tumultuous sea was crossed unwaveringly by a fleet of gray-blue steam iron ships.
About ten minutes later.
Sharp beeping noises emanated from all the gray-blue ships.
Ahead of them, beyond the deep churning waters, a massive island emerged—
Gubier Island had arrived.
On the ship Colin was on, through a witchcraft broadcast, Ciritha's voice slowly transmitted.
"All Official Wizards, proceed to the deck, find your leading Wizard, and assemble in lines."
Inside the room, Colin suddenly opened his eyes and let out a long, murky breath.
'That was close, almost ran out of time.'
Listening to the broadcast, he quickly stood up and walked toward the door.
Opening the door, he immediately saw Mayer and Sovoc.
They glanced back at Colin but said nothing.
Colin quickly caught up with them, together they silently and swiftly walked towards the deck.
All the Wizard Apprentices had been ordered to stay in their rooms, and the number of Official Wizards was not large compared to the size of this iron battleship.
In the empty, gray-blue corridor, the air was silent and tense, filled only with the sound of hurried footsteps.
"Line up! Follow your lead Wizard, assemble in groups of at least four, activate Supersensitive Vision, and freely engage any Divine Believer above Priest Level on the island!"
As he stepped onto the deck, Ciritha's incessant repeat of instruction could be heard.
Wizards searched for their team leaders, swiftly forming lines.
"Lord Margaret is over there!" Mayer exclaimed as he swept his gaze around.
Perhaps infected by the pre-battle atmosphere, his voice trembled slightly.
The three quickened their steps, converging where Margaret stood.
At that moment, Margaret, with her back to them, gazed solemnly at the island.
The flickering firelight tore through the curtain-like darkness!
Shouts, roars, and cries mixed with the sounds of witchcraft came through the wind, agitating everyone like boiling water.
Sensing the footsteps of the three approaching from behind, Margaret shifted her gaze and slowly turned around, staring at Colin and the others as she spoke:
"After we land on the island, follow my lead..."
"Ah—!!"
"Sly Wizards!!"
Before she could finish, a thunderous roar suddenly erupted from the clouds above!
"Great Poisonous Fury Lord, I beseech you..."
"Be careful." A few whispers, likely from the Wizards' side, faintly emerged from the clouds.
Moments later, as the believer's words concluded, the sky thick with dark clouds suddenly emitted a perilous red light as if heralding an apocalyptic end.
The red light flickered uncertainly within the dark clouds, seeming to be birthing some terrifying entity.
The Wizards aboard the vessel, drawn by the sudden anomaly, all looked up at the sky.
The pale red glow grew stronger, casting the world in a blood-red veil.
The next moment,
the red light intensified!
The deep red brilliance peaked and then explosively dispersed, sending numerous beams of red light scattering through the dark clouds.
Following the light, a vague, indescribable figure gradually emerged...
Majestic...
Angry...
Fury!
An endless fury from unknown origins almost burst their chests!
'This isn't right...'
"The projection of the Poison Fury God... what use is your hasty summoning, Bishop in red? It's merely a wasted effort!" A voice chuckled from within the clouds.
'It's that elderly Wizard who enhances witchcraft...'
"First Rank Wizard, close your eyes! Avert your gaze!"
Just then, Ciritha's urgent shout rang out.
Colin took a deep breath and quickly lowered his head.
As the vague figure disappeared from his view, the anger within him dissipated as well.
But the other Wizards nearby didn't have his resistance.
"Panting—"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sounds of heavy breathing and continuous rumbling from the sky echoed beside Colin's ears.
Shush!
Light radiated from Ciritha's hands, illuminating the Wizards.
Upon contact with the light, Colin immediately felt a coolness spread from his heart, as if ingesting mint.
He slightly raised his head and scanned the surroundings.
Most faces were still unsettled.
"Lord Mayer?"
Sovoc suddenly called out in a low voice, by his side.
Colin was startled and quickly shifted his gaze to Mayer.
Mayer was still gasping heavily, his eyes bloodshot and his facial muscles tense, giving him a fierce appearance.
"I'm fine..."
After a moment, Mayer shook his head vigorously and took a deep breath, regaining his composure.
"It's time to land on the island, Wizards. Don't worry, the seniors have prepared completely, we will surely win this battle!"
Ciritha spoke again:
"After we land, stick together in groups of at least three.
Approach and slay any isolated Priest-level believers you encounter. If there are three or more, call more comrades to join the fight... Spare other believers where possible, leave them as a trial for the Alus Association."
"Yes!" the Wizards responded.