My Level Zero System-Chapter 298: Undercurrents

However, regardless of the socializing, the conspiracy, or the etiquette, none of these were the ultimate goal of this party.

In truth, this was a party to welcome the person coming from the highest authority in Kanzax—the Kanzax General-Commander, in their role as the game master for the upcoming resource distribution game.

Suddenly, the entire party fell silent, and everyone present instinctively turned their heads in one direction.

A new group of people entered the party.

Unlike the nobles who wore brightly colored, expensive clothing, this group was entirely dressed in the same pitch-black military uniform, with sharp, angular lines that looked formidable and intimidating—the true demeanor of soldiers.

Every single person wore a cold expression, not even glancing at the surrounding nobles, as if they were inconsequential.

Only the person leading this military detachment offered a slight smile and offered a greeting.

"General Cass, welcome to Adia."

The representatives of the noble families unanimously stepped forward to greet General Cass with proper etiquette, and he replied courteously. The two sides conversed with impeccable politeness.

Everything seemed perfectly normal, but beneath that normalcy, intense undercurrents were surging.

Especially Cyrus, who, as the patriarch of a noble family, was privy to a good deal of information and the current situation.

"General Cass, an extremely powerful high-class Magus, a highly capable subordinate of the General-Commander."

High-class Magus were naturally ranked in terms of power.

Similar to mid-class Magus, although the number of mid-class Magus was substantial, the number of those who belonged to the peak within that tier was significantly smaller. It was like a pyramid structure: the higher up you went, the narrower the base became.

Individuals like Kain and Mera currently, or Cody in the previous tournament, could be classified as mid-tier among mid-class Magus.

As for Cecilia, she actually only displayed the power of a high-tier mid-class Magus when in a rational state. Only when she shed her mental restraints and entered an unconscious state could she be called a peak-tier mid-class Magus.

And in that state, even if Kain's team of five fought with all their might, they would have been slaughtered in moments. They only won due to strategy, the rules of the tournament, and because Cecilia ultimately regained consciousness and decided to forfeit.

It must be said that Kain was extremely lucky in that match, even despite all his plotting.

If there was such a disparity within mid-class Magus, it was even more pronounced among high-class Magus.

A high-class Magus of the supreme tier, like General Cass, could completely defeat, or even kill, a large number of weaker high-class Magus. In terms of sheer power alone, he was an individual that the ten families in Adia could not afford to underestimate.

Not to mention his title: a General in the Akazac Empire's military, a subordinate under the legendary Kanzax General-Commander.

In short, even though the Kanzax General-Commander himself was not here, the ten great families in Adia should still receive General Cass with the highest protocol.

At the very least, all ten patriarchs of the ten families should have appeared together to welcome General Cass. Only then could they demonstrate their sincerity and respect for the head of Kanzax.

But no.

At this party, although the heirs of the families gathered to receive General Cass, their status was not sufficient.

That's right. Whether it was Jamie, Lion, or Nostragia, until they officially ascended to the position of family patriarch, they were not qualified to stand as equals to welcome General Cass.

It could be said that this demonstrated a great deal, even a subtle provocation and insult.

Despite this, General Cass appeared as usual, showing no sign of dissatisfaction. However, the soldiers behind him had even colder expressions.

Cyrus, standing in a corner, clearly saw their expressions, witnessing the tensed facial muscles that betrayed their resentment.

All because of the impending transitional period.

The seat of the Kanzax General-Commander was about to change hands because the term was ending!

Returning to the battle between Kain, Mera, and the two assassins.

To cope with the sharp attacks from Mera and the dense attacks from Kain, the assassin possessing [Earth Magic] was forced to reveal his true capabilities.

The ground was churned up, and bricks and architecture were torn away and flew up, all gathering into a giant earthen figure.

[Earth Golem].

A mid-class magic skill belonging to the [Earth Magic] system. It was the version of the [Earth Shape] magic skill pushed to the limits in the direction of increasing its sentience/control.

The giant Golem enveloped the earthen sphere, directly tearing through the lightning network Kain had woven. Its massive hand slammed down towards his position. But before it could do that, the Golem's hand was instantly cut off by Mera on the side, using her leather whip and [Air Magic] to form a slicing blade. Not only that, she sliced the Golem's hand into many pieces.

Kain also acted. Surrounding the Golem, a massive amount of lightning instantly materialized from the void, forming a network that covered every part of the Golem's body.

[Thunder Descend].

An upgrade of the magic skill [Thunder Summon], allowing Kain to summon a much greater amount of lightning. Only this could support the creation of higher-level magic skills.

Such as an array of [Thunder Spear]s.

And no example was needed, because at this very moment, from the joints and connection points of the Golem, individual [Thunder Spear]s quickly took shape and were activated.

The instant Kain activated the magic, the Golem was pierced through in the knees, shoulders, elbow joints, etc., by the immense power of the [Thunder Spear]s, causing it to fall with a crash.

And without giving the Golem a chance to recover, Mera lunged forward. The whip in her hand turned into a cutting vortex aimed at the Golem's torso. It couldn't even pinpoint which direction Mera was attacking from.

She called the combination of [Air Vortex] and [Air Slash] the serrated form due to its multiplied destructive capability. But for pure cutting force, Mera always preferred [Air Slash].

And she had been accumulating strength just to unleash this strike.

Slice!

A whip-crack, silent as the wind, yet sharp as the wind.

The Golem's body was sliced in half, and the earthen sphere inside the Golem was also cut in half, revealing the bodies of the two Magus inside.

In that fleeting moment for a counterattack, the [Earth Magic] Magus used the remaining body of the Golem to create a launching platform, forcefully propelling the remaining Magus straight towards Kain!