Chapter 321: Crossing the Boundary (VI) (CH - 340)

The sky, which had only just cleared, darkened once more. Thunderclouds rolled in thick and heavy, the winds rising as the sun vanished behind the gathering storm.

However, in contrast to the reaction that had followed Maverick’s rise to Warlock, this time, the aftermath was far less... noisy. Thanks to the formation the four founders had set up before Dumbledore attempted his breakthrough, as well as the undeniable fact that the magical reaction was a few degrees lower, the raging magical energy did not leave the area.

Yes, it was Dumbledore attempting his breakthrough from the rank of Archmage to the rank of Warlock this time. Apparently, after witnessing and experiencing Maverick undergo the process, the so-called ambiguous "epiphany" finally sparked within him, allowing him to break the shackle that had held him at the pinnacle of the Archmage rank for so long.

Maverick couldn’t help but grumble "cliché" under his breath, because it very well was.

That said, it wasn’t unheard of either. It was common practice in the current magical world, especially within large magical families, that whenever someone attempted a breakthrough in their rank, be it from mage apprentice to Magus or Magus to Great Mage, their juniors, family members, or even close companions would be allowed to observe the process, precisely in the hope that they might gain that same spark of enlightenment.

Of course, it wasn’t as simple as it sounded. Multiple precautions would be put in place, with wards and enchantments layered carefully to ensure the aftermath didn’t harm those observing.

As for Great Mages advancing to Archmage, the cases were too few to have any proper record. Moreover, the danger of an uncontrollable aftermath was too great for wards alone to be sufficient protection.

On top of that, all known Archmages had proclaimed their ascension only after their breakthrough, obviously carried out in secret. It wasn’t surprising either, because Archmages were simply the pinnacle of today’s known magical hierarchy, and one more would only mean more competition for the existing ones.

Humans, for all their sentience, were still predators after all, and predators did not tolerate rivals. If it could be dealt with before becoming a threat, they would undoubtedly take action and eliminate it before it did.

Anyways, after the Supreme Mage Merlin gave Dumbledore the advice to go through with it and assured him he would act as protection, Dumbledore did not argue and decided to attempt his breakthrough today itself as well.

Boom-crackle!

Overhead, thunder rolled without pause, and lightning tore across the sky like New Year’s fireworks, lighting up the entire island in flashes.

At a distance, hovering in the sky near the two Supremes and his student, Edward Garling swallowed hard as he took in the sight. He had experienced a similar, even more chaotic process just hours before, but the sheer, soul-deep pressure still made the hairs on his body stand on end.

The raging phenomenon of nature above was one thing, but what truly chilled his blood was the weight pressing against his spirit. It was raw and unfiltered, a feeling he had only known in his younger days when facing mages far above his rank. No matter how many times he encountered it, that sensation never changed, that quiet, undeniable reminder that the being before him stood on a level of life far beyond his own.

Without thinking, he lifted his arm slightly, his eyes catching the bead of sweat forming on his skin.

Am I... sweating?

He asked himself, but then shook his head. Coincidentally, at that moment, the sky opened and rain poured down. They stood within a magical construct sealed on all sides, so not a single drop touched their skin.

It must be the rain...

His arrogance, however, thought otherwise, convincing himself it was just a drop of water. He, Edward Garling, refused to believe that the old schemer Dumbledore could make him sweat, even if the old man were a whole realm above him.

"Teacher...?"

"Huh...?"

Edward snapped back to reality when Maverick called his name, then quickly cleared his throat.

Cough... "It’s really something, right?" he said to his student. "You know, little Rick, I never thought I’d see someone break through beyond Archmage in my life. Twice at that."

He raised his broad arm and gave a pat over Maverick’s head, ruffling his hair. Then, perhaps trying to mask what he was feeling, he changed the topic, putting on a thoughtful expression. "Will this change any of those schemes of yours?"

"Schemes?" Maverick tilted his head. What’s this old man on about?

"Teacher, if you’re asking about the plan commencing next month... then no. Nothing’s changed."

"Oh..." Edward’s eyebrows arched, but he didn’t press anything else. It was Maverick’s grand plan, and he would follow it either way. Besides, it was only a good thing they now had two ultimate powerhouses on their side.

He had also now come to understand Merlin, the founders, and even the Sorcerer Supreme, and their involvement in the plan as well, that they would act only behind the scenes and mostly control the aftermath to avoid innocent casualties.

The front of the plan would still be carried out by Maverick and his team, or in other words, nothing had changed, and he had only come to understand that there were a few more layers of contingencies laid out by his good student.

And speaking of that, he was really holding back the urge to smack the kid on the head for hiding so much from him. It was fine to hide things, but telling Dumbledore and not him... that really pissed him off.

Who was the father-in-law here? Who actually mattered more Dumbledore, the bastard who probably hadn’t even seen a woman’s lower body, let alone have a descendant to his name, or he, Edward Garling, father of the woman this kid was seeing and the magical mentor since the kid awakened his freakish magic?

"Uh... Teacher... are you sure you’re okay? Your face really doesn’t look good?"

Cough cough. "I’m fine. I’m just... a bit overwhelmed by everything that has happened today."

Edward’s mouth twitched slightly, trying his best to keep a straight face. Can’t lose my cool in front of the big shots, he reminded himself. He had embarrassed himself already, and worse, did it in front of that Dumbest Albundore.

I must give this kid a profound beating when we’re alone.

Thinking that, he looked sideways at his good student, the corners of his lips twitching even more. Even if the kid was now stronger than him, he wouldn’t possibly fight back against his father-in-law, right?

Maverick: "..."

---

Two hours passed before the abnormal weather finally showed some changes. The churning clouds above slowed down, the winds calmed, and the violent magic raging like a hurricane showed signs of being subdued.

Presumably, the evolution of Dumbledore’s magic was coming to an end, but then suddenly, a dense, powerful, quite literally tangible wave of dominant spirit burst from Dumbledore at the center, condensing above the island and taking form.

"You’ve got to be kidding me?" Edward raised his arms over his face, bracing against the impact. And an impact it was, both spiritual and tangible, as the magical barrier did little to filter that power. His robes, along with the majestic mane of hair he was so proud of, whipped wildly as if a powerful gust of wind had struck him head-on.

At the same time, a screeching cry erupted like an echo, like the call of a majestic eagle, and in the astonished eyes of them all, it took the form of a colossal phoenix, raising its head high in proclamation, its enormous wings of energy flapping over the island.

It was a familiar sight to everyone except Maverick, and he couldn’t help but marvel at it. It was, for lack of a better word, cool as hell.

"Good. The final hurdle has passed..." Merlin remarked amid the loud cry and violent magic as the bird let out a roar of pure magical arrogance to the world.

"Supreme Mage, what form of magical energy is this...?" Maverick asked, turning his head slightly.

Merlin also turned slightly, then looked back at the magical phenomenon in the distance again. "It’s a sign, you could say. Proof that a mage has stepped beyond mortal limits. The ability to take what was once only felt, that unseen dominant spirit, and give it form... make it real."

"...The main difference is that before taking that step, the dominant spirit can only be used as mental or spiritual deterrence, while after, it can act on the material plane itself."

"Matter?" Maverick muttered, a bit puzzled.

From his experience, the dominant spirit was just an AOE fodder-clearing attack launched spiritually. Of course, he wasn’t underestimating that power, in fact, it was the one he liked to use most against fools who pissed him off. Even though it didn’t technically affect physical matter, it was, without a doubt, an overpowered form of attack.

Normally, a mage could use this power upon reaching the rank of Archmage, which, like him, they also used to intimidate lower-rank mages. Of course, he, the cheater, was not included, as he was able to spam the power from the rank of Great Mage itself.

But anyways, the subject here was normal people.

He still didn’t know what the use of being able to physically manifest that power was. Could it be that he could now hammer someone in the head with his dominant spirit... literally?

Seeing his puzzled and... slightly weird expression, Merlin continued his grandfatherly explanation. "By no means assume it is something inconsequential, young Maverick."

Maverick: I didn’t.

"Watch..." the old wizard said, raising his arm slightly and opening his palm. On top of it, two spheres of fire materialized, rotating around one another, while Maverick and Edward could immediately tell the source of the magic.

It was Fiendfyre.

"I suppose I don’t need to educate the two of you on this magic..." Merlin said plainly, while Maverick and Edward both nodded.

"Make some distance, and counter it with the same. Input the same amount of mana..."

The teacher and student exchanged a look, then moved apart as instructed. Edward used his wand to summon the flames of hell, while Maverick, just like Merlin, summoned one over his palm.

Is this kid purposefully trying to make me look bad? Edward’s brow twitched again. It must be that damn Dumbledore who corrupted my good student.

"Uh... teacher... I think your emotions are a little off... try to lower the intensity of the spell."

Damn it. Cursing inwardly, then thinking of something calmer, the old Archmage finally matched the same intensity he was sensing from Merlin’s magic. Regardless, for wizards of their level, even Fiendfyre wasn’t a spell difficult to control.

With that, they awaited further instructions.

"Good..." Merlin gave a nod. His expression had been neutral from the very beginning, so even though he said that, the teacher and student couldn’t really tell whether it was praise or something else.

With the next nod, the three parties fired their spells. From Merlin, two bursts of flame launched and clashed against the magic of Edward and Maverick, and the two collided in a predictable explosion.

Boom!

It was expected. The power they had injected wasn’t much to begin with, so nothing noteworthy happened, and obviously, the point of the lesson was yet to come.

"Again..." Merlin said, and Fiendfyre materialized in the form of two separate small spheres again.

Merlin gave Edward, and Maverick... well, mostly Edward, a moment to match the intensity again, and soon, matching magical energy fluctuations emitted from the four sources of fire.

"Now watch..." the legendary mage said, nodding before knitting his brows as he looked at the conjured flames in his palm.

In the next instant, Maverick and Edward saw purple, lightning-like energy suddenly begin wrapping around the two spheres of Fiendfyre above his palm, like coiling snakes moving in random directions.

The two teacher and student had their eyes widen at the sight, not because of how it looked, but because they could sense that while the magical energy of the two spheres hadn’t changed at all, their nature, the feeling they gave off, had completely changed.

"By weaving this power into it, the magic changes at its core," Merlin explained, his pupils reflecting the purple lightning. "Not stronger in amount..." he said evenly, "but sharper, more vicious. Think of it, giving a will of its own... one that only knows... violence."

As they listened and felt the aura of the now familiar yet unrecognizable spheres of magic, Maverick and Edward had no doubt that if they clashed with their normal Fiendfyre this time, theirs would yield without question.

"Again..." the legendary mage muttered and fired, while Maverick and Edward also fired theirs.

And sure enough, when they met, it wasn’t even a clash. It was as if theirs had met no resistance at all, completely disappearing upon contact, vanishing without the slightest resistance, then hurtled straight toward them.

Woosh!

"Shit..."

Edward cursed under his breath, immediately summoning a powerful shield charm in front of him as his danger senses flared wildly, warning him he would regret it if he took that attack head-on.

Maverick also waved his hand and summoned a Protego in front of him. However, he wasn’t as alarmed as Edward. Surprised, yes, or rather... fascinated was the more accurate word.

What did this mean? Could any magic be used like that? What about the scale?

A smile inadvertently curled on his lips as he watched the incoming magic, which slammed into their shields with a loud...

Boom!

Edward was forced to take a couple of steps back. From his stance, arms outstretched, one hand supporting his wand arm, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, it was clear he had to put in effort.

He was no ordinary wizard, but one standing at the top of the magical hierarchy. And although Merlin was an entirely different kind of being, the spell he used was measured and controlled. But still, after infusing dominant spirit into that small conjured Fiendfyre, it showed just how powerful this new form of using magic was.

As for Maverick, the shield he conjured stood firm, and he didn’t even flinch. But Maverick was now a Warlock, so there was no argument there.

"What tyrannical power..." he couldn’t help but comment at the same time while waving his hand to dismiss the shield. Yes, he hadn’t shown much reaction to the impact, but he could clearly measure the difference between before and after.

It was, without a doubt, just as the legendary mage had said.

Violent.

It was then that their focus was drawn back to the matter at hand again when the tired voice of the Sorcerer Supreme came from the side.

"Is this really the time and place for you to dispense your education, Ambrosius?"

The three wizards turned their heads at once, and saw the bald auntie looking at them with clear exasperation.

She gestured lightly. "That child, I believe, has completed his evolution and is already in the process of reining the surging magic back into his magical core..."

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Author’s Note:

🔥 Drop those Power Stones! 🔥

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