Her tentacles wrapped around Oliver’s body, gently lifting him up:
"And, I haven’t abandoned you, have I? Everyone else has already fled."
Indeed, the cave was already empty.
Just before dawn, the middle-aged man in his thirties, who claimed to represent the "Eye of the Abyss," suddenly changed his expression and announced that the clearing troops were on their way.
He didn’t even notify the other members in the cave but disappeared through a secret passage.
The other Awakened, upon discovering this, scattered in all directions to save themselves; no one was willing to help Oliver, who had been drained by Cynthia.
Only Cynthia, for some twisted emotion or attachment to the Energy Spring, prepared to escape with Oliver.
At this moment, both of them simultaneously felt the terrifying wave of magical energy from afar.
"It’s time." Cynthia’s voice suddenly became solemn: "We can start leaving now..."
"Those mindless guys will only run in panic, not knowing that all passages to the outside have long been sealed off..."
Cynthia sneered, her lower body swelling rapidly, completely enveloping Oliver.
The tentacles, through continuous extraction, were now brimming with energy, rotating at high speed like some biological drill, digging deeper into the ground.
"They’re coming..."
Cynthia’s voice came from all directions, tinged with a hint of undisguisable fear:
"That massive magical energy... that’s... Vice Principal Hayek..."
......
Hayek hovered above the Edge Forest, his purple robe billowing in the wind.
His face was as calm as a still pond, but his eyes carried a terrifying brilliance like a stormy sea.
When this Moon Level Wizard looked down, the entire forest seemed to tremble under his aura.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
His voice wasn’t loud, yet it penetrated hundreds of meters, clearly reaching every Law Enforcement Officer’s ears.
"Yes, Vice Principal."
The Law Enforcement Team Captain stood respectfully, head bowed, not daring to look directly at this eminent figure:
"We have set up the blockade array, and all possible escape routes have been cut off."
Hayek nodded indifferently, not even sparing a glance at the captain.
In his eyes, these Law Enforcement Officers were no different from ordinary apprentices, insignificant cogs in the school system.
"Begin."
This Moon Level Wizard raised his right hand, deftly drawing a purple arc.
He took a deep breath and began preparing for super magic casting.
This preparatory action alone caused the surrounding air to twist, distant trees to move without wind, making a rustling sound, as if paying homage to this powerful being.
Without even chanting a spell, he lightly waved his fingers, causing the array to expand visibly, quickly covering the entire target area, forming visible energy ripples in the air.
The complex spell configuration left bright trails in the sky, with the array composed of countless micro-components interlocking.
Each component floated in the air with millimeter precision, forming a grand and complex energy structure.
Hayek’s expression was calm and unhurried, as if constructing such a complex spell was as easy as lifting a finger.
The Law Enforcement Officers looked up at the sky in horror, some less experienced were even stunned by the spectacular scene.
High-density energy flowed from Hayek’s fingertips, like a river, pouring into the spell structure, making its light even more dazzling.
The array in the sky began to rotate, emitting a piercing hum.
——Super Magic・Multi-Layered Superimposition!
With its magical power drawn, the spell configuration suddenly erupted with a thick dark purple beam of light.
With a diameter of hundreds of meters, it blasted directly toward the location of the underground cave.
Wherever the beam passed, the air was instantly ionized, forming countless tiny lightning bolts, enveloping the main beam like a spider web.
The ground trembled violently under this terrifying energy shock, everything around the cave—trees, rocks, soil, even moisture in the air—was instantly vaporized or decomposed by the high heat.
Within dozens of miles, all life was reduced to ashes by this strike, with no creature able to survive such an attack.
The earth’s surface was melted by the high temperature, forming a huge glassy crater, with gray smoke still rising from its edges.
Throughout this world-destroying attack, Hayek’s expression remained calm and indifferent.
Even amidst the continuous bombardment of the beam, he leisurely straightened the folds on his robe.
For this Moon Level Wizard, the spell he just unleashed, capable of destroying an entire region, was but a small display of his many techniques.
When the beam finally dissipated, he slowly landed on the edge of the massive crater, surveying the scorched earth with indifference.
"Continue the search, confirm if there are any remnants."
Hayek’s tone remained flat: "I’ve cleaned out the rat’s nest, the remaining cleanup is up to you."
After speaking, he didn’t even wait for the Law Enforcement Captain’s response, turning to leave, his figure gradually fading and disappearing into the air.
Leaving only the devastated ground, silently telling everyone about the terrifying power of a Moon Level Wizard.
At the same time, on the top floor of the Black Mist School’s workshop, Ron gazed at the colossal light beam in the distance, his mind equally turbulent.
Even from such a great distance, the destructive magical energy wave was still so clear.
The entire Black Mist Jungle seemed to hold its breath under that earth-shattering strike, all life instinctively recoiling in fear of that power.
"That’s the power of a Moon Level Official Wizard..." Ron murmured to himself, his eyes glimmering with endless yearning.
He may have a huge gap with those Elementary Apprentices, but that’s merely the difference between a carp and a small shark;
While the difference between Moon Level Wizards and apprentices like them is as vast as a deep-sea devourer whale compared to a shrimp in the shallows.
His gaze lingered, his mind churning.
If Vice Principal Hayek, a Moon Level Wizard, could effortlessly annihilate an area spanning dozens of miles, then how terrifying would the even more powerful Dark Sun Level be?
As for the legendary Great Wizards and the Witch King, what kind of existence are they?
Behind him came the soft sound of footsteps, Lilia approached, gazing at the sky that had returned to peace.
"Teacher, was that just now..."
"The Vice Principal’s clearing operation." Ron explained simply: "It seems the ’Eye of the Abyss’ hideout has been completely destroyed."
Lilia shivered slightly: "That kind of power... is simply unbelievable."
"Yes, unbelievable." Ron turned, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes:
"But this also reminds me that we have a long way to go and much to learn."
Lilia seemed to feel the determination in his words, nodding seriously: "Yes, teacher."
Back inside the workshop, Ron unconsciously took another look at the distant place, his thoughts once again drifting far.
This extermination operation will undoubtedly have a major impact on the situation in Black Mist Jungle.
Where will the members of the "Eye of the Abyss" who managed to escape go?
Are Oliver and Cynthia among them?
The terrifying power displayed by the Vice Principal, what level of strength does it represent?
Can a Moon Level Wizard truly count as a strong enough to be a formidable force on this endless world chain?
These questions flickered like stars in Ron’s mind, but he knew he wasn’t yet qualified to seek these answers.
What he needed to do was continue honing each of his skills, improving every attribute.
Until one day, he could truly stand at that supreme height, overlooking all life.
"Per aspera ad astra (Through hardship to the stars)"
This is a famous adage in the mystical world, engraved on the stone tablet in the Central Hall of the school, its origin long lost, but its meaning undeniably profound.
Many have tried to interpret this ancient phrase, and Ron has his own understanding:
"No matter how small, the road to the stars will ultimately have an end."
With this thought, he pulled back his wandering thoughts and returned to his work at hand.