The air froze, dust hung suspended, even the surface of the continuously writhing giant cocoon suddenly stopped moving, as if encased in transparent amber.
Ron did not hesitate in the slightest, immediately unleashing the terrifying magic recorded in the Thousand Transformations:
——Record·Phoenix Breath!
A lifelike firebird flew from his palm, every feather detailed and lifelike, every inch of flame burning with pure destructive power.
That was no ordinary flame, but a fluidized high-energy polymer, containing a terrifying power far beyond Ron’s own abilities.
The firebird drew a beautiful arc through the air, rushing directly toward the giant cocoon trapped by Time Stasis with unstoppable momentum.
On the surface of the cocoon, an eye burning with crimson flames appeared to peer out.
That eye carried an icy and frenzied intent unlike that of humans, yet as it saw the approaching firebird, a flicker of undisguised fear passed through it.
The entity within the cocoon seemed to want to break free from its binds, but it was clearly unable to counter the force of Time Stasis.
Being in the midst of transformation, it was caught in the most fragile intermediate state,
like a fly trapped in amber, helplessly watching the impending catastrophe.
"No—"
A distorted yet familiar voice came from within the cocoon, filled with despair and unwillingness.
But the firebird could no longer be stopped.
At the moment it collided with the cocoon, the entire crystal platform seemed to be torn apart.
A blinding white light exploded from the point of contact, intense enough to scorch one’s eyes.
After the white light came a strange silence, as if time and space had frozen at that moment.
Then, the thunderous boom!
A massive explosion, akin to a meteor impact, swept through the entire area.
Invisible shock waves spread out in all directions from the cocoon.
Wherever it reached, crystal pillars shattered, the ground cracked, and even the air itself seemed to ignite, forming rings of scorching energy.
Following this was a scarlet fireball over several meters in diameter, its internal energy concentration so high it distorted the surrounding light, creating a peculiar gravitational mirror effect.
Within the fireball, various bizarre shapes flickered in and out—faces, claws, tentacles, eyes...as if countless lives were being torn apart and reassembled at the same moment.
At the instant of the explosion, Ron initiated the Flowing Shield Wall, completely encasing himself within it.
Even though he was over a hundred meters from the explosion’s center, the terrifying shockwave nearly caused his defense to collapse.
The shield wall compressed to its limit, its surface developing thousands of cracks, looking as if it could shatter at any moment.
Within the shield wall, Ron could clearly feel the astonishing heat and pressure from outside, as if he were inside a giant furnace.
His skin reddened from the heat, and sweat on his forehead evaporated before it could fall.
His lungs felt as if filled with lead, each breath becoming incredibly difficult.
The aftermath of the explosion lasted nearly thirty seconds, its intensity and destructive power far exceeding any magic effect Ron had previously witnessed up close.
When everything finally calmed, the entire crystal platform was unrecognizable.
The once smooth ground had turned into a massive crater nearly a hundred meters in diameter, with countless crystal pillars collapsed and broken along the edges, the previously orderly enclosure structure obliterated.
The crystal in the center of the crater was completely melted by the high temperature, forming a thin, glass-like substance, emitting suffocating heat.
Ron slowly released the protection, cold sweat soaking through his clothes.
If he hadn’t activated the strongest defense in advance, that previous strike would have completely annihilated him and everything within a few hundred meters.
"Is this the power of an Official Wizard’s strike, and it’s only at the peak of Morning Star level, not yet reaching Moon level..."
Ron murmured to himself, his eyes showing both shock and a hint of longing.
Ending the superfluous thoughts in his mind, he began to cautiously inspect the battlefield.
Nothing remained in the explosion’s center, not even a trace of energy fluctuation.
"Did it succeed?" Ron exhaled, yet he maintained a high level of vigilance.