Chapter 627: Towering Pillar
Chapter 627: Towering Pillar
"You? What do you mean?"
Taken aback by Charles’s words, Cardinal Damian gave him a surprised look.
Although he had always known Charles to be powerful and enigmatic, something in his tone sent an unnatural chill down Damian’s spine.
Instead of answering, Charles turned his gaze toward the distant southern woodland and asked,
"Whenever the entrance to the Star Tombs appears, is there usually a towering pillar involved?"
"A towering pillar?" Damian echoed, his brows furrowed.
He paused for a moment, then shook his head solemnly.
"No. According to ancient records, a massive metallic gate manifests, five meters tall, once every hundred years. When it opens, it unleashes wild magic that ripples across the land. Around it, dozens of cave-like structures serve as portals through which magical beasts and otherworldly creatures flood. Their numbers can reach the tens of thousands. While most of these beasts hover around Rank-4, their overwhelming quantity poses a serious threat. Even legendary figures have fallen in these beast waves when they let their guard down."
As Damian spoke, a grim seriousness settled over the group. Charles listened carefully, absorbing the gravity of the situation. The idea of facing wave after wave of otherworldly monsters wasn’t new, but something felt off this time.
"Hmm," Charles murmured, brows knitting. "Something’s different. We should prepare for the worst-case scenario."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a blinding light tore through the sky.
It descended like a holy spear from the far southern horizon, illuminating the land in a radiant glow. A powerful surge of magic pulsed outward, distorting the air, warping the very fabric of reality.
The explosive wave of energy sent shockwaves across the area, jolting Damian and stirring gasps from the gathered crowd. It wasn’t just the Sun Church’s followers who were stunned—envoys from other churches and powerful families stood frozen, awestruck by what they witnessed.
As the light faded and the dust settled, all eyes turned toward the southern horizon.
There, amidst a lingering magical haze, stood a structure that defied logic.
A tower.
A massive, impossibly tall tower that seemed to stretch into the clouds themselves. Its presence dwarfed everything around it, casting a dark and ominous shadow across the land. Its architecture was unnatural, covered in spiraling patterns and intricate carvings that shimmered with mystical energy. It exuded an eerie, unknowable aura, as though it didn’t belong in this world.
Thousands of meters high, the structure loomed like a gateway to another realm.
"What the hell is that?" Damian muttered in disbelief. Slowly, he turned his gaze toward Charles.
"Just how strong are you, Zephyr?"
In that moment, he realized the truth.
This wasn’t just a man hiding his strength—this was someone who could see the future.
"Strong enough to survive," Charles said with a faint smile. His gaze drifted to the city wall on the right.
At that pivotal moment, an elderly figure stepped forward to the edge of the wall.
Dressed in elaborate, regal garments, the 80-year-old man radiated presence. His long white beard flowed down his chest, and his steady steps exuded a sense of wisdom and authority.
He lifted a telescope-like artifact to his eye and focused on the distant tower.
Though aged, he moved with calm dignity. He stood roughly 170 centimeters tall, lean but firm. His fair-skinned face was lined with the signs of age, his forehead bearing a unique, intricate star symbol glowed faintly with divine energy.
He wore the papal attire—a red cassock, mozzetta, and sash—along with an amulet engraved with the image of a goat’s head. Topping it all was a ceremonial miter, marking his identity beyond any doubt.
"His Holiness is here!" someone in the crowd shouted.
The crowd fell silent instantly.
All eyes turned to the old man standing atop the wall. Even Charles and Cardinal Damian couldn’t help but straighten up in reverence.
It was Pope Silas, the supreme leader of the Order Church.
Lowering the telescope, Pope Silas stared at the towering anomaly in the distance. He had seen many Star Tomb entrances in his lifetime, but never something like this. Never a structure so grand and mysterious.
With a calm step, he descended—literally stepping onto the air.
He floated downward, robes billowing, and landed at the city’s edge. The crowd respectfully parted to make way as he walked forward.
He raised a finger toward the tower and addressed the gathering.
"Nothing changes in the plan," he said firmly. "But the appearance of this structure introduces a new variable. Be cautious once you enter the Dungeon. The beast wave will begin in five to ten minutes. Celestial Keyholders and participants, proceed."
"Yes, Your Holiness," came the synchronized response.
"Now, go. A squad of elite Holy Knights will follow you and deal with any beasts obstructing your path."
Without wasting a moment, Cardinal Damian sprang into action.
He rose into the air, golden flames sprouting behind him like wings as he activated his divine spell, Sun’s Wings, and streaked across the sky like a bullet.
Tucker, Jett, and several high-ranking church members—three Archbishops and three Head Deacons—followed close behind.
The other eleven groups, each composed of elites with unique powers, used their own flight or movement spells to follow suit.
I should move too, Charles thought.
Calling upon his wisdom power, he lifted himself effortlessly into the air and shot forward, matching the others in speed.
As they approached the massive tower, the grassy plains below gave way to dense, dark forests. Charles released his power and scanned the entire region.
What he discovered shocked him.
Around the tower’s base were seventy-two caves, and from them poured magical beasts—not Rank-4, as expected, but Rank-5.
Only a hundred or so had emerged, but Charles knew this was only the beginning.
And worse...
A Rank-6 Magical Beast stood guard at the base of the tower.
His brows furrowed. This wasn’t good.
As he flew, Charles noticed a few groups slowing down—clearly hesitant.
Some influential mystics had likely sensed the threat and decided to let others clear the way.
With a grim look, Charles touched the silver bracelet on his wrist. In a flash, golden light enveloped him, forming full-body armor. Even his face vanished behind a helmet—his identity now hidden.
Though a few noticed his transformation, no one reacted.
Just another participant. Another hidden powerhouse.
At that moment, many flying type magical beasts like Griffons, Wind Howling Wolves, Harpies, Gloom bats, and many unique beings emerged from the caves and started flying in his direction.
"I should speed up, too."
As he spoke, two eerie wings of blackish flame unfurled behind him, flapping as though alive.
Before anyone could recognize him, Charles shot forward, overtaking group after group.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Damian and others from the Sun Church were engaging in battle against harpies and griffins. Though most of the Magical Beasts were only Rank-4, with their leaders being a Rank-5, they still posed some serious threat to Damian and others.
Tucker and Jett faced off against a Rank-5 Harpy Leader with multiple eyes on its forehead at that moment.
’Hmm, they should be able to handle that beast independently.’ Charles shifted his gaze towards Damian, facing off against a White Griffin with rainbow horns, and was surprised by how calmly he suppressed the magical beast.
Charles’s attention was slowly moved towards the rest of the members.
At that moment, each one was battling more than ten Rank-4 magical beasts and was trying their best not to get injured.
That was an impressive feat itself!
’They can easily battle against a Rank-5 being alone!’
’I should help them.’ Charles calmly raised his hand and pointed his finger at one of the Griffin magical beasts attacking a Head Deacon.
The next second, a crimson ray of fire came out of Charles’s fingertips and moved towards the griffin at an incredible speed.
Although this Griffin was merely a Rank-4 Magical Beast, it had survived in the wild for centuries and sensed the upcoming danger.
It instantly tried to cast a defensive Bloodline Spell to protect itself from the attack.
Or so it thought.
But just before it could activate the bloodline spell, it suddenly forgot how to cast the Defensive spell!
The griffin’s head exploded a moment later, and the headless body fell from the sky lifelessly.
Charles then sent out multiple fire rays in different directions and attacked most of the Rank-4 Griffins and Harpies.
More than ten Magical Beasts fell from the sky in a few seconds.
Chaos appeared in the sky!
Head Deacons and the other Archbishops utilized this chance to attack the remaining flying magical beasts.
One by one, they started killing the rest.
Meanwhile, Charles flew ahead, caught up with Cardinal Damian, and shouted over the rushing wind:
"A Legend Rank Magical Beast is guarding the entrance!"
Damian turned sharply toward him, eyes narrowing at the black wings.
"I didn’t expect you to finish two-thirds of the magical beasts by yourself, Mr. Zephyr. Why didn’t you say you were a Fire Mage?"
