Chapter 215 A close call.
"Please wait a moment; I'll inform the headmaster."
After leading William and the others into the magical formation, the middle-aged mage entered the wooden hut.
William's eyes narrowed slightly, noting the magic hat with the mysterious runes left by Merlin embedded in Kyle's forehead.
This magical hat, adorned with mysterious runes, was once Merlin's possession.
Its purpose is to store magic and wisdom, passing them on to the next chief mage.
For over two millennia, each generation of mages has infused their magical abilities into it. Possessing this emblem, Kyle's magical energy seemed inexhaustible, and it even contained Merlin's magical power.
It's said that Merlin had received legacies from ancient gods and dragons. Zoey had only inherited one energy-enhancing technique from William, and her actual combat mainly relied on her physical skills. If she were to truly battle Kyle, she'd likely be at a disadvantage.
Lately, William had bypassed all magical barriers, inspecting several nearby hills.
Apart from Ravenwood's mages, hundreds of Soulmancers had now gathered. About sixty or so were still wandering in the nearby Glacier National Park, while the rest had settled on Mystic Peak. Many guest rooms were on Mystic Peak, where the visiting Soulmancers of the Arcane Society were accommodated.
After a short while, Kyle and the others finally emerged.
"Mr. Garcia, have you not retrieved the item yet?" Zoey immediately inquired to an older, plump man standing next to Kyle upon seeing him.,the previous Director of the 13th Bureau, Steven Garcia.
The chubby old man, wearing a blue coat and sporting reading glasses on his small eyes, responded with a smile, "Zoey, I've asked Kyle, and he doesn't have it."
"Nelson claimed it's with him!" Zoey stared at Kyle, her internal energy already circulating, causing a slight distortion around her fists.
Kyle, with his full head of white hair, long beard, and bright eyes, glanced at Zoey and murmured, "Is this the Warrior God Constitution?"
Steven didn't further explain to Zoey. Instead, he turned to Kyle, smiling, "Mage, as you see, the 13th Bureau isn't under my control anymore. This young lady is rather stubborn. I hope you'll show some restraint."
Garcia was an experienced, cunning man. He was willing to trust Kyle, but the artifacts from Mount San Juan Teotihuaca had some connections to the Arcane Society. Nelson was found at the scene, and later he directly accused Kyle of taking those artifacts.
What if Kyle really had them?
If Zoey intended to make a move, he certainly wouldn't stop her!
Furthermore, he was curious about Kyle's capabilities.
"Little lady, talking won't help us here. Let's settle this according to the rules of the Soulmancer community: whoever wins gets the final say!" Kyle surmised that if his companion, Nelson, was trying to pin the theft of the relics on him, it must be because he had taken those items from Mount San Juan Teotihuaca.
Based on the photos Steven showed him, those items were of significant origin and not fit for a museum display.
If Nelson indeed took the items, there was no need for Kyle to explain himself.
The rules in the Soulmancer world are straightforward: he who possesses the greater power has the final say.
"Alright!" As soon as Zoey spoke, she had already appeared in front of Kyle, throwing a punch with unparalleled power, surging towards him like a massive tidal wave.
Kyle calmly extended his palm.
What seemed like a thin and frail hand swiftly conjured a magical barrier, mitigating the force of Zoey's punch. Surprisingly, Kyle managed to grab her fist.
The punch, strong enough to kill a giant elephant, was effortlessly blocked by him, causing no disturbance whatsoever.
As Zoey prepared to launch another attack, Kyle gently pushed his palm forward, emanating a dim purple light from between his fingers.
"Hmph!" Zoey grunted, sent flying backward, crashing to the ground like a ragdoll, and passed out.
Steven gasped in astonishment. "Is this the true power of the Arcane Society's chief mage?"
He initially thought that Zoey could at least match Kyle in strength. But with Kyle's counter, using what appeared to be a mundane attack, he knocked Zoey unconscious in one move. It was utterly mind-boggling.
Kyle said nonchalantly, "Don't worry, she's not hurt. Has she exhausted too much energy recently? This isn't quite like the rumored Warrior God Constitution."
William slowly approached to help Zoey up without uttering a word.
Holding her hand, he instantly replenished her internal energy. During her brief unconsciousness, Zoey seemed to awaken a new superpower passed on from William.
It was merely the rudimentary form of a superpower, as the full extent of the ability William held was so immense that a slight misstep could destroy an entire city.
Although Zoey's eyelids had been heavy, they suddenly shot open, brimming with energy and a dazzling glow. She firmly looked at Kyle and declared, "Let's go again!"
"Hmm?" Kyle responded with astonishment, "I've heard that those with the Warrior God Constitution are blessed by the cosmos, able to gradually recover even if their internal energy is drained. But your speed... it's as if you've instantly recovered!"
Zoey didn't have any distinct superpower skills before. However, during her fainting spell, it seemed as if a certain telepathic force invaded her mind, forcibly imprinting the methods of using some superpowers into her memory.
Cosmic Palm!
She was consumed by a strong desire to test out this newfound superpower.
As Zoey followed the new method engraved in her memory, concentrating her internal energy into her palm, she felt an overwhelming force accumulating at the center of her hand, as if it could obscure the entire sky.
Suddenly, the sky above Ravenwood was filled with gusty winds and surging clouds, darkening the day. A colossal black hand overshadowed an area spanning several hundred miles.
"I..." Kyle looked up, rendered speechless by the sight. He could sense the terrifying energy emanating from the massive black handprint.
If this hand were to descend, it might entirely devastate the land surrounding Ravenwood for hundreds of miles!
At this moment, the tourists at Ravenwood were pale with shock, the scene before them surpassing their wildest imaginations. The intense magical fluctuations emanating from the sky felt like the harbinger of the apocalypse. Some were so frightened that their legs trembled uncontrollably.
The looming threat of death left no room for leisurely photo-taking.
"Protective magic circle!" Knowing time was of the essence, Kyle chanted softly, and a golden glow began radiating from him.
From the main peak of Ravenwood, an ancient magical crystal ball flew out.
It was a precious magical relic passed down from the legendary magician, Merlin. The crystal ball spun in mid-air, emitting a powerful magical aura as if it intended to create a magical barrier.
Simultaneously, a complex magical symbol flashed on Kyle's forehead, harmonizing with the glow of the crystal ball, together forming a formidable shield, attempting to fend off the terrifying giant hand.
"Zoey, have you lost your mind? Stop now!" Steven hadn't anticipated such ferocity from Zoey. He recalled that she had only ever been proficient in hand-to-hand combat, lacking even the methods for ranged attacks.
Her sudden display of power was utterly shocking.
Zoey herself was stunned. Was this the Cosmic Palm?
It seemed... incredibly powerful!
But... she didn't have enough energy within her to sustain this strike. As her internal power rapidly depleted, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted once again.
William gave an awkward smile from the side. He had made a mistake, a grave one at that. Bestowing such a world-shattering superpower was clearly reckless.
Supporting Zoey, he pointed a finger towards the sky. The massive hand that had formed vanished in an instant, the oppressive aura dissipating without a trace. Sunlight streamed down once more as the dark clouds scattered, making it seem as though nothing had ever transpired.
It was but a mere scare after all!
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