Supreme Spear Magus, Valerius sighed again, this time with a touch of frustration. “Kent’s aunt, Eila, is well-known among the high circles. As for Kent, he has unparalleled skill. But beyond his abilities, his motivations are harder to discern. He seems driven by something deeper, something personal.”
Supreme Flame Magus Pyrros leaned forward, his eyes blazing with interest. “We must find a way to bring him into our fold. His talents are too valuable to let slip away.”
Supreme Guqin Magus Selene strummed her instrument lightly, the sound resonating with the tension in the room. “Perhaps we need to approach this differently. If he values freedom, we must offer him an alliance, not subjugation.”
Supreme Serpent Magus Kriya nodded slowly, her piercing eyes thoughtful. “An alliance… that could work. But we must tread carefully. His aunt will not easily let us near him.
As the Supreme Mages continued their discussion about Kent, Supreme Sword Magus Elarian, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and fixed a penetrating gaze on Spear Magus Valerius.
“Does the young man you were talking about belong to the Eternal Sun Sect?” Elarian asked, his voice cutting through the ambient noise of the waterfalls.
Valerius’s eyes widened in surprise. “How did you know?” he asked, incredulity etched on his face.
Elarian allowed a small smile to play on his lips. “Of course, I have met him once personally.”
Supreme Staff Magus Ruchi, who always followed Elarian closely, was taken aback. “When did you meet him? You haven’t seen a single soul in years.”
Elarian’s smile widened slightly. “Not only have I met him, but you have also encountered him. Do you remember the 7,000 spirit stones you lost in a bet? He was the young man responsible for your loss.”
Ruchi’s eyes went wide with realization. “You mean to say that the boy who used to fight in second-rate city arenas is the same one who inherited the Storm God’s legacy?” She couldn’t believe that Kent, who had once fought against lesser competitors, had now bested the prime family fighters and disciples of major sects.
Elarian nodded. “Yes. And there is more. The Nimbus gauntlets worn by Supreme Fist Magus Nicole Porus are now with this young man named Kent. Our beloved Wand Magus, Allaric, sold them in exchange for a supreme mana mine.”
A collective gasp echoed through the room. The mages couldn’t believe that Allaric had sold the last relic of their fallen comrade Nicole to an outsider.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the room, and a figure materialized in the chair next to Supreme Serpent Magus Kriya. Wand Magus Allaric had arrived, his face alight with a wide smile. “Who is talking about me?” he asked in an excited tone.
But the atmosphere had turned tense. Supreme Saber Magus Morden stood up, his face contorted with anger. “How dare you sell the remnants of Fist Magus Nicole? Do you forget the sacrifice he made for our association? Where is your honor and ethics?” he roared, his voice filled with righteous fury.
Allaric raised his hands in a placating gesture. “I understand your anger, Morden. But consider the immense value we gained from this trade. The supreme mana reserves we received will benefit the entire Wizard Association.”
Supreme Ice Magus Glacia, her aura chilling the room even further, glared at Allaric. “You sold his memory for power. How could you?”
Despite the outrage, not all were against Allaric. Supreme Serpent Magus Kriya spoke up, her voice calm but firm. “Don’t forget that Allaric is the leader of wizard association. Allaric made a difficult decision, but it was for the greater good. We must think of the future of our association.”
Supreme Guqin Magus Selene added, her serene voice cutting through the tension. “Nicole’s sacrifice was not in vain. If these mana reserves can strengthen us, it honors his memory in a different way.”
Supreme Dagger Magus Thallic, ever pragmatic, nodded in agreement. “The benefits outweigh the cost. We have to be realistic about our needs.”
Sabre magus, Morden’s anger did not subside easily. “You speak of benefits, but what of our principles? What message does this send to our members?”
Elarian, still seated but commanding attention, spoke with authority. “Forget about it. We can’t change what already happened. We must remember Nicole’s sacrifice, but we must also adapt to the changing times. Kent’s potential could be a pivotal turning point for us.”
Ruchi, having processed the information, leaned forward. “So, what do we do now? Do we pursue Kent more aggressively? Do we try to bring him into our fold?”
Allaric, his smile now replaced with a look of determination, addressed the room. “Kent might a good addition. His alchemical skills alone are invaluable. We must show him that the Wizard Association is where he belongs, not as a subordinate, but as an equal.”
The room fell into a contemplative silence, the weight of the decisions ahead pressing on each mage. They knew that the future of the Wizard Association could very well hinge on their next moves.
–
Under the roaring tempest of Storm breaker Peak, Kent stood firm, his eyes closed, body brimming with the raw power of the storm. The rain lashed against his skin, each droplet crackling with residual lightning.
He is in the state of awakening, where he would hone his body into the ultimate weapon, a conduit for the elemental fury that surrounded him.
Kent began his training, recalling the body spells mentioned in the Storm God Tyrant Physique manual. His movements were deliberate and precise, his body a coiled spring ready to unleash devastating force. He took a deep breath, feeling the energy coursing through his veins, and then moved into the first stance.
Thunderclap Fist, Kent’s fists crackled with electricity as he assumed a low stance. He drove his right fist forward with explosive power, a bolt of lightning erupting from his knuckles and slicing through the storm.
His left fist followed, creating a deafening thunderclap that reverberated through the air. The force of the punches sent shockwaves through the ground, causing the very earth to tremble beneath him.
Storm Serpent Strike, Shifting his weight to his back leg, Kent extended his right arm in a fluid, serpentine motion. His fingers formed intricate mudras, channeling the storm’s energy into a concentrated burst.
A serpentine bolt of lightning shot from his fingertips, writhing and twisting through the air like a living creature, striking an invisible target with pinpoint accuracy.
–
Thank you for your support.