Above the mage!

Chapter 596 Another Victory
A look of admiration flashed in Gao De's eyes.

Cecily's move was indeed brilliant, instantly establishing an "advantage".

But he immediately recognized its weakness: it relied on Cecily's focused attention to maintain.

Gao De's mind raced, and his tactical strategy became clear.

Facing a well-established third-ring mage, engaging in a direct confrontation of spell power is not the best option.

The advantages of a third-ring mage compared to a second-ring mage are mainly threefold:
Firstly, it is naturally the qualitative change brought about by mastering the Three Rings spell.

The most typical examples are the overwhelming air superiority brought by the [Flight] spell and the overwhelming power brought by the [Fireball] spell.

However, Cecily has only been promoted to the third rank for less than half a year, and currently only knows one third rank spell, namely [Flight].

However, the maneuverability advantage brought by "flying skills" has been neutralized by Boeing.

You can fly, and so can I. Although we rely on different means, that is the truth.

Secondly, the Third Ring Master possesses a stronger mental strength and more abundant magical power.

Putting everything else aside, because of the "Green Wood Longevity Scripture," at least in terms of mental strength, Gao De is no weaker than Cecily, and may even be stronger.

Thirdly, it grants an additional specialty, a more powerful and comprehensive elemental body, and the spell power bonus from Ascended Ring casting.

This is Cecily's only clear advantage at present.

Therefore, the apparent numerical differences are not as large as imagined.

In areas unseen by the public, Gaode Maps possesses unique advantages and strengths.

First, there is the depth and breadth of the spell library.

Even the most talented young mages, given limited time and energy, will have a strong tendency to choose which spells to learn.

In other words, they won't waste time learning "useless" spells, but will only learn spells within their own system.

However, Gao De is different from these young mages who specialize in one particular lineage. Instead, he accepts all comers and learns from everyone, mastering a large number of low-level spells that others consider "useless" or "unpopular".

This gives him the confidence to face various opponents and situations, and to choose from a variety of tactical systems.

Like a skilled chess player, one can possess a wider variety of pieces and combine them to create ever-changing tactics.

Secondly, the strange blessing from "Wind Spirit Moon Shadow" gives most of the spells he masters extraordinary additional effects, giving them an advantage in quality as well.

In terms of both the quantity and quality of his spells, he is in a class of his own among mages of this age.

Furthermore, the various physical bonuses that evolve from the first-level specialization [Adaptive] are, in a sense, equivalent to multiple specializations.

In addition, there are the True Ice Mana and extra bonuses from practicing two rare cultivation methods, the increased casting speed from Leomon's Magic Network, the overpowered power of the fourth-tier Ice Blade, and the top-tier support from Mandora's Eye.
All these accumulated experiences have given Gaode the confidence to challenge the established order with his second-level mage status.

His thoughts raced, but Gao De's actions did not falter for a moment despite Cecily's amazing performance; he had already cast the second spell.

A slippery, viscous magical grease covered the base of the thorn platform where it met the ground, as well as a large area at the bottom of the platform.

The spell itself posed no direct threat to Cecily, who was high above, but it severely disrupted the mechanical stability of the web of thorns.

The roots, which were originally deeply embedded in the soil and providing support, began to slip, and the rough surface of the vines also became slippery.

【The Art of Greaseiness】!
It is still a spell that does not have direct killing power, and it is even just a first-level spell.

But the results were surprisingly good.

"Hmm?" Cecily immediately felt the ground beneath her feet begin to tilt and shake unnaturally.

Maintaining the thorny form already required focus, and now she also had to contend with the instability of the base, inevitably causing her mind to momentarily wander.

And this is precisely the purpose of Gaode's "greasy technique": to disrupt focus.

However, it's not enough.

Without any pause, as if it had been planned in advance, Gaode lightly rubbed his right thumb and middle finger together, snapping his fingers crisply.

Magic trick, [Spark Spell]!
A tiny spark shot precisely from the resin at the base of the thorn.

boom!
The classic combination of 【Greasy Technique】 and 【Spark Technique】 instantly ignites a raging flame.

The orange-red flames spread upwards along the slippery grease, greedily licking the twisted vines, heading straight for Cecily's feet.

Of course, this ordinary flame, ignited by external means, has a low energy level and is not enough to burn the thorny vines, which are full of natural energy and summoned by the Third Ring Mage.

Gaode's purpose is definitely not to cause damage through the flames themselves.

Cecily frowned.

Unlike the thorns she summoned, she couldn't ignore the burning flames.

The scorching heat wave hit her in the face, forcing her to take action.

Protect against energy damage: Fire!
She had to interrupt her focus, which she was just beginning to refocus on maintaining the Thorn Platform, and quickly cast a protective spell on herself.

At her mage level, casting this spell, which specifically targets energy damage, wouldn't take her long.

With every gesture, an invisible magical barrier, designed to protect against heat, enveloped her, shielding her from the flames.

However, this fleeting moment of distraction—switching from maintaining focus on the thorns to casting a protective spell—which is a normal reaction for any spellcaster when facing an attack, is precisely the ultimate goal pursued by Gao De in this series of interconnected actions:
Many persistent spells, especially those that require shaping, altering, or maintaining a certain unnatural state, require the caster to maintain mental focus.

If the caster is injured, experiences strong external interference, or actively casts another spell that requires concentration, the previous spell that requires concentration will be terminated.

"It's now."

Gao De's Mandora's Eye, which had been active from beginning to end, accurately captured Cecily's subtle mental break caused by the shift in focus.

His outstretched hand was already brimming with magical energy.

The next spell, which had been prepared long ago, arrived quietly.

[Entanglement Techniques+]!
A surge of natural magic spread out like ripples, covering the bramble vines at Cecily's feet, which had temporarily reverted to their wild state due to a loss of focus.

Generally speaking, the [Entanglement] spell can only affect unclaimed natural plants and cannot forcibly control magical creations shaped and maintained by another mage through magic.

But at this moment, Cecily temporarily relinquished control of the thorns in order to cast [Protection Against Energy Damage].

In that instant, these thorny vines temporarily degenerated from magical creations into wild plants brimming with magical energy.

Thus, under the magical catalysis of the [Entanglement] spell, these already aggressive vines seemed to be infused with a wild and untamed energy.

They were no longer orderly components of the platform, but rather twisted, lashed, and spread wildly, like dozens of awakened venomous snakes, baring their fangs and claws as they lunged at Cecily herself. Cecily's reaction was undeniably swift.

The moment she completed the fire protection, her mental energy surged back like a tide, attempting to take over these out-of-control thorns.

"Don't even think about it!" she thought to herself, her powerful will forcefully suppressing the backlash from the main vines closest to her.

However, the fundamental purpose of God's use of Entanglement was never to truly turn the tables and subdue Cecily with her own magical creations.

All he needed was this brief disruption; simply breaking up the web of thorny vines would suffice.

Gaode Maps has indeed gotten what it wanted.

Under the savage catalysis of the [Entanglement] spell and the tug-of-war between Cecily's regained control of her will, the originally tightly intertwined and supporting vine structure was destroyed and disintegrated.

"Oh no!" Cecily felt her feet slip and her body fall again.

The [Earthbinding Technique] energy that had been clinging to her like a malignant tumor suddenly lit up with a dim yellow light when it sensed that its target was flying again.

The binding force rose again, like countless invisible hands, pulling her downwards fiercely!
boom!
Cecily landed heavily on the hard ground from the height. Although the speed of the fall was not enough to cause serious injury, the huge impact still made her temporarily unable to breathe.

The focus required to maintain the Thorn Overgrowth spell was once again interrupted by this sudden and violent impact.

The thorns withered and quickly curled up, turning black, like withered plants.

Worse still, an extremely pungent stench, seemingly a mixture of rotting plants and some kind of sulfur, wafted from the thorns around her that had been affected by the [Entanglement] spell, suddenly piercing her nostrils.

This is an additional effect of [Entanglement+] after the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow skill points are added. It was originally intended to counter and interfere with enemies with keen senses.

But in Gao De's hands, it became a tool to harass Cecily's senses.

The stench, like an invisible poisonous fog, violently assaulted her olfactory nerves, causing her stomach to churn and almost making her vomit.

However, Cecily couldn't care less about the pungent smell at that moment.

She focused her mind, mobilized her internal magical power, and prepared to quickly cast a protective spell.

Now that Gaode is in a superior position, it will inevitably launch a continuous offensive against itself, giving itself no chance to breathe.

The stench won't cause any harm to the body, at least.

However, just as her magic was about to enter the spell star sea and activate the spell model, a sudden, deep weariness swept over her limbs and bones like a tide.

That's a special effect of the [Sleeping Spider Web].

As a newly acquired elemental species, it has already been used by Gaode in actual combat.

It can control all earth-based spells of the "control" and "binding" types, and its effects also include invisible sleeping threads, causing the target to feel a deep weariness and loss of stamina.

【Earthbind】is a type of earth magic that belongs to the binding category.

"How could this be?" A sense of panic welled up in Cecily's heart.

The reason she allowed [Earthbind] to take effect was because the spell itself did not cause harm, and she immediately thought of a way to break it.

But just seconds later, his solution was countered by Gaode Maps.

What I didn't expect was that Gaode's [Earth Bind] was not just a simple [Earth Bind], but also had the effect of Sleep Binding Silk that comes with the Earth element.

Disturbed by the binding silk of slumber, Cecily felt her eyelids were as heavy as a thousand pounds, and a gentle lullaby seemed to be playing in her ears.

Her brain felt as if it were filled with lead, her thinking became incredibly sluggish, and the once smooth flow of magical power became extremely sluggish.

The spell that could originally be completed in a single breath now requires a significantly longer time.

The pungent stench still filled her nostrils, and a deep weariness repeatedly washed over her mind, leaving her feeling dizzy and disoriented. Cecily felt extremely uncomfortable, as if all her senses were being relentlessly tormented.

It is said that "never let others know about your magic" is one of the three great principles of a mage.

However, once a move is made, some of the strength will inevitably be exposed, and no mage can keep it completely secret.

Most mages choose to hide one or two key spells as trump cards.

The same applies to Gaode, but unlike other mages, he also has an additional spell effect.

You thought it was Entanglement, but it's actually Entanglement+. You thought it was just Earthbind, but it's actually Earthbind+Sleeping Web.

You thought you had seen through his magic, but you only saw the surface he wanted you to see.

In another sense, this is precisely the ultimate adherence to the rules of the Dharma Master.

Just as Cecily was caught in a dual dilemma of senses and mind, a sharp glint flashed in the eyes of God, who was suspended in mid-air.

A chilling surge of magical power had already gathered in the palm of his right hand.

"Shatter the sound waves!" Gao De silently chanted in his mind.

The second-circle Evocation spell, [Shattering Sonic Wave], bursts forth instantly.

He did not choose fire or frost rays that might be deflected by [Protective Energy Damage], nor did he use magic missiles that might be blocked by [Mage Armor].

Instead, it chose destructive energy, which is the most difficult to defend against using conventional methods and directly targets the essence of the problem.

"Buzz—Clang!!!"

A highly compressed cone-shaped sound wave, visible to the naked eye, suddenly burst forth.

It was not silent, but rather produced a piercing, ear-splitting bang, as if the noise of an entire clock tower had been compressed into a single point and released in an instant.

Wherever the sound waves passed, the air was violently disturbed, rippling like water, and even the ground beneath our feet was scratched with fine cracks by the dissipated energy!
The invisible sonic hammer struck the ground with perfect precision, just inches away from Cecily.

A deafening roar of thunder exploded in her ears. Although the violent sonic energy did not directly affect her body, the impact that was so close at hand, combined with the intimidating nature of the [Shattering Sound Wave] spell and her current dire condition, became the final straw.

"Ugh!" Cecily felt a ringing in her ears, her mind went blank, and her last will to resist was completely shattered by this perfectly timed sonic attack.

She felt dizzy and her body went limp. She could no longer maintain any spellcasting posture and staggered backward, her back hitting a piece of gravel heavily. Her vision went black, and she completely lost her ability to fight.

Gao De, who was suspended in mid-air, slowly withdrew his magic power. Looking at Cecily, who was unable to resist on the ground, his face showed no arrogance, only a calmness.

"Cecilie is incapacitated and challenges the mage; Gao Desheng wins!"

Edmund the Deacon, who had been suppressing his anger when Røim was defeated, now calmly and decisively announced the result.

(End of this chapter)