Above the mage!

Chapter 598 The First Guild Badge

After a brief moment of panic upon plunging into darkness, Leo immediately focused his mind and made a decision:
He immediately cast a protective spell, Shield.

Leo swiftly made a single gesture with his hand in front of him, and magical energy responded instantly, rapidly condensing in the air around him to form a constantly flowing, semi-transparent shield.

With the enhancement of Leo's Ring of Power spell, the shield was even thicker than the [Shield+] spell that God had just cast, solidifying it like a crystal wall.

Its surface has a dense grain pattern similar to that of ancient oak wood, exuding a calm and solid charm.

The Blindness spell only causes Leo to lose his sight; it does not affect his ability to cast spells that target himself.

"Although [Shield Spell] is only a first-level spell, its protective power is sufficient to temporarily withstand his attacks after being upgraded to the next level. Moreover, its advantage lies in its fast casting speed, allowing it to be completed instantly."

With the sense of security provided by the shield, Leo immediately mobilized his life force to once again attack and dissipate the alien magical energy entrenched in his eyes.

Although I don't know why I wasn't exempt from Gaode's [Blindness] spell, the suppression from my mage level is still there.

Therefore, even if the [Blindness Technique] takes effect, it won't last long and he will break through it soon.

As he had expected, with just one sprint, the darkness before his eyes receded like the tide, allowing him to see blurry light and shadow.

"It's so easy!" Leo was overjoyed, his confidence rekindled. "With the vitality of a third-ring mage, I can fully restore my eyesight in less than three breaths."

Even as he was desperately resisting the Blinding Spell, Gao De's spellcasting did not stop.

Just as Leo had predicted, the [Shield+] he cast upon ascending to the next level was indeed sturdy, and it would be no easy task for God to break through it with conventional attack spells.

—If Gao Deken were to use [Frozen Blade+], with the power of the fourth-tier ice crystal fragments, he could directly break through the shield, trigger the Guardian's Emblem in one fell swoop, and win this magic duel.

However, [Frozen Blade+] is one of Gaode's trump cards.

He was not prepared to use his trump card in such a relatively unimportant French duel, in front of everyone.

[Earthbinding]!
With a thought, Gao De suddenly raised his right hand.

The moment he raised his hand, the [Sleeping Spider Web] in the mana pool was quietly activated, and a subtle yet powerful earth energy flowed into the [Earthbind] spell model along with the mana.

A dim, yellowish energy beam shot from his hand, coiling towards Leo.

The moment the [Earthbind] technique left his palm, its internal structure and energy level underwent a qualitative change under the blessing of the [Sleeping Spider Web].

【Earthbind】 has no offensive power; it is a control spell and will not trigger 【Shield】.

The dim, yellowish energy rays instantly wrapped around Leo's body.

Leo was focused on dispelling the [Blindness Spell] when he suddenly felt a heavy force coming from his limbs, and his body began to fall as if it were filled with lead.

"It's [Earth Binding]!" He was startled, but remained calm.

The temporary loss of his flight ability is not fatal. As long as the [Blindness] spell is lifted, he can still control the battle with the powerful burst of energy of a third-ring mage.

He wasn't like Cecily, a newly promoted third-ring novice who had already mastered several powerful third-ring spells.

Moreover, if it weren't for the unexpected incident during his cultivation in the Wood Element Demiplane, he would already be a mid-stage Third Ring mage!
Just before Leo's feet touched the ground, the darkness completely dissipated, and the scene of the fighting arena came into clear view:

A pale golden light curtain, oily stains on the ground, and Gao De's calm gaze in the distance.

Leo was overjoyed to finally regain his sight, and his suppressed fighting spirit and anger surged instantly.

His magical power was already surging within him. His first task was to break free from this annoying "Earth Binding" and then launch a thunderous counterattack.

However, when Leo activated the powerful magic of a third-ring mage, attempting to forcefully push open the dim yellow energy on his body, an unexpected situation occurred.

The binding force was far stronger than he had anticipated.

His magical power surged forth as if it had struck a large, elastic, and sticky net. Most of the power was absorbed and dispersed, and the restraints remained completely unbroken!

"What's going on?!" Leo was horrified to discover that the [Earth Binding] he thought he could break free from relatively easily was actually so bizarre.

【Sleeping Spider Web】 can increase the power of earth spells of level 3 and below by 1-2 times, with the amplification effect particularly focused on spells with the attributes of "control", "bind" and "structural change".

Therefore, the bonus from [Earthbound] is twice that of the top row.

With such a significant increase in power, even for Leo, a third-circle mage, it would be impossible to easily break free from [Earth Binding].

This is the source of the power of elemental species!
What shocked Leo even more was that a deep, indescribable weariness, accompanied by the feeling of his strength quietly draining away, was seeping into his body and mind from the binding energy.

The basic buffs and special effects of [Sleeping Spider Web] are now fully unleashed in their power.

Because Leo arrived in a hurry, he did not obtain specific information about Cecily's defeat and was completely unprepared for God's enhanced version of [Earth Binding].

So he made the same mistake and suffered the same loss as Cecily: he didn't take the [Earth Binding] seriously.

Just as he was jolted by this sudden turn of events and his movements inevitably faltered, his feet landed firmly on a patch of incredibly slippery grease.

This was precisely the "Greasy Technique" that Gao De used to accurately predict Leo's landing point and execute it at the same time as he fired the "Earth Binding Technique".

One link after another.

"Oh no!" Leo's expression changed drastically.

He landed heavily, unable to leverage the effects of the "Greasy Technique," and instantly lost his balance, slipping backward in a disheveled state.

He gritted his teeth, struggling to fight against the eerie weariness that was constantly eroding his spirit, while also trying to stabilize the flow of magical power within his body, which was on the verge of dissipating due to his physical imbalance, and to refocus his concentration on casting spells.

How did we end up in such a terrible situation? Leo felt anxious, angry, and a little panicked that he didn't want to admit.

He must counterattack! He must counterattack immediately!
The brief opening that Gao De had carefully created was enough for him to complete his next spell.

Gao De extended his right index finger.

A ball of orange-red flame suddenly appeared out of thin air above his fingertips.

It doesn't burn wildly, but rather pulsates and coalesces gently, as if tamed by an invisible force.

"Go!" With a low shout from Gao De, the tamed flame suddenly erupted.

It transformed into a fan-shaped torrent of scorching fire, like a river of flames bursting its banks, gushing forth from his fingertips and sweeping straight toward the staggering Leo.

First-circle Evocation spell, [Burning Hand].

scoff!

The scorching flames violently struck the translucent, wood-grained shield surrounding Leo, producing a piercing sound of burning and energy annihilation.

Leo's previously cast Shield spell remained sturdy, splitting the fan-shaped torrent of flames like a reef. Most of the scorching energy was deflected and absorbed by the shield.

However, the Burning Hand was not without its merits.

The countless orange-red sparks, forcibly dispersed and shattered by the shield, splashed down, carrying their residual heat.

It covered the area created by the [Greasy spell] right under Leo's feet.

boom!
It was as if a spark had fallen into a pot of oil, instantly igniting the slippery grease!
A low but wide wall of flames suddenly shot up from the ground, completely engulfing Leo, who had not yet found his footing.

This is not a direct attack by magic, but rather an effect caused by the clever linkage of two first-level spells.

It bypassed the [Shield Spell]'s absolute defense against targeted attacks, creating a fatal pincer attack on Leo!

Yes, the [Greasy Technique] is not only for further controlling Leo, but also for linking up with the [Burning Hand] that is cast later.

This spell combo has been used by God of War in actual combat many times, and it has never failed.

The techniques may become outdated.

Leo was caught off guard and felt a scorching wave of heat rushing towards him, carrying with it a fiery aura.

Despite his shock, he remained calm and quickly circulated his internal magical power, granting himself the "Endurance Environment" buff to protect himself from the damage caused by the fiery environment.

Then, he pressed down hard with one hand.

A powerful ring of air burst forth from his body, instantly dispersing the surrounding flames.

Magic trick, [Dance of the Wind].

But in that brief moment of dealing with the ground flames and simultaneously resisting the bizarre effects of [Earthbind], his spellcasting rhythm was completely disrupted.

The moment he blew away the flames and his vision cleared again, Leo saw that powerful magical energy was surging from God's hands.

The energy gathered was far greater than ever before, and the air was filled with the restless aura of fire element.

Clearly, a more threatening spell was brewing in his hands.

"We can't let him continue like this!" Alarm bells rang in Leo's mind.

Being suppressed by Gao De's incomprehensible "Earth Bind" and continuous combo attacks not only brought him immense shame and anger, but also raised his vigilance to the highest level, and even gave rise to an unprecedented sense of crisis.

He instantly abandoned the powerful wood elemental spell he was about to cast.

Having cultivated in the same wood-elemental demiplane, Gao De must know that his cultivation method is wood-based, and he is skilled in wood elemental and plant magic.

The fundamental rule is that these two types of spells are countered by fire elemental spells.

It is clear that Gaode has carefully created a predicament to restrain itself.

Therefore, if I use wood-based spells that are severely countered by fire, I will most likely play right into Gao De's hands.

Tactics must be changed.

Leo's selection as the third gatekeeper mage of the Soron Magic Academy was certainly influenced by his "general father" in the Rockwind Guard, but his own formidable combat strength was also undeniable.

Faced with the already apparent disadvantage and Gao De's intricate schemes, he did not stubbornly charge forward, nor did he lose his composure due to anger. Instead, he demonstrated the decisiveness expected of an excellent mage.

Leo decisively analyzed the situation and immediately adjusted his strategy!

He took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress the scorching air and the distracting thoughts in his mind. His gaze, sharp as an eagle's, pierced the distance between the two men and locked onto Gao De's figure.
The next moment, a surge of spiritual power erupted from Leo's mind, transforming into an invisible and intangible yet heavy shockwave of will that ignored physical distance and crashed directly into the depths of Gao De's consciousness.

Second Ring Enchantment Spell: Human Freeze:
Designates a humanoid creature within your casting range that you can see. The target must engage in a mental confrontation; if the confrontation fails, the target will be paralyzed for the duration of the spell.

This force struck directly into the depths of Gao De's consciousness.

"It's over." A cold glint flashed in Leo's eyes, and he had already made his judgment in his heart.

He firmly believed that his mental strength, which surpassed that of the opponent by an entire mage level, was sufficient to ensure that the spell would take effect.

Even with Gao De's strong will, he would at least momentarily freeze and become dazed.

The spell that Gao De was casting would be interrupted by this momentary lapse in concentration.

Then, he will seize this opportunity to secure the victory.

This is a direct clash on a spiritual level, a judgment by the strong against the weak with the arrogance and directness of the latter.

I don't care about your tactics or spellcasting strategies. I'll just use level advantage and see what you can do about it.

Faced with an absolute power gap, any fancy tactics and strategies seem pale and powerless.

However, the scene he had envisioned—Gao De's body stiffening and the magic light dissipating—did not occur as expected.

Gao De's eyes maintained a chilling clarity throughout.

He did indeed clearly perceive that cold, viscous, and extremely aggressive mental fluctuation.

It was as if countless invisible tentacles of the soul were brutally piercing his mind, trying to forcibly freeze his thoughts and strip him of control over his body.

However, Gao De's mental strength had already surpassed the limits of a second-ring mage, and even exceeded that of most mages in the early stages of the third ring.

Therefore, facing Leo's seemingly inevitable attack, God's consciousness remained as steadfast as a rock that had withstood the pounding of the waves.

The surging tide of emotions crashed against him, bringing immense pressure, yet it failed to shake him in the slightest.

"What?!" Leo's confidence froze instantly, turning into incredulous horror.

His supposedly invincible advantage of superior level had failed?!
In that split second when Leo lost his composure, God's long-awaited spell was finally completed and released.

Gao De then cupped his hands together and pushed forward.

It was not a violent throw, but a precise placement.

The next moment, less than fifteen feet in front of Leo, a dazzling bright red light appeared out of thin air.

It then frantically absorbed the fire elemental energy from the surrounding space, instantly expanding into a stable, burning spherical flame with a diameter of nearly two meters.

It was not a simple ball of fire; its edges were clearly defined, and its interior seemed to have lava slowly flowing inside, radiating a high temperature that stung the skin and distorted the surrounding air.

Second-circle spell, [Blazing Fireball].

(End of this chapter)