Chapter 213: Fierce Battle in the Tower
In the instant before the pillar of fire was about to strike Wagner's head, the Hold Monster spell's light film on his body finally shattered, but the breath was already so close that evading was impossible.
Several defensive spells activated simultaneously, layers of black mist enveloping his body, but they still could not stop the extreme heat of the blazing light.
The pillar of fire, like a hot knife through butter, instantly pierced the paper-thin spell shields. Despite Wagner's efforts to turn his head, the pillar of fire engulfed his hooded head, along with his neck and much of his shoulder.
However, this was not the end.
Cassius was not like a boss from a story who would fail to finish the job; facing an archmage who had lurked for centuries, he had to seize the chance to utterly destroy him, leaving no room for escape.
The massive red dragon eagerly opened his maw, revealing not only a faint glow from his chest but also the terrifying blazing white flame brewing in his throat, like a miniature sun that lit up the dark interior of the tower as if it were broad daylight, before pouring forth the accumulated energy.
[Maximized Fire Breath]
An even thicker, more brilliant pillar of fire spewed forth, engulfing Wagner's torso.
The two pillars of fire intertwined, continuously scorching the broken body.
Even after doing so much, Cassius was still not at ease; he kept spewing flames, as if to burn everything to ash.
The flesh, modified multiple times by dragon blood, rapidly carbonized under the extreme heat, eventually turning into a brown pillar of salt that crumbled to the ground, resembling an ordinary patch of sand in a desert.
"Hah, could it have ended just like that?"
"Wagner."
Only then did the red dragon slowly close his jaws. Due to the overloaded energy output, his scales had become scorching hot, with tendrils of sulfurous smoke escaping between his teeth.
But his eyes remained locked onto the heap of salt, not daring to relax in the slightest.
He would not risk assuming that the archmage, who had survived for centuries, had no backup plans. He had to be as thorough as possible, preventing any unexpected circumstances.
"There is absolutely no way he should be allowed to escape."
After pondering for a moment, Cassius flapped his wings and moved to the pile of salt, stamping it under his claw, repeating the action several times.
"Boom!"
The ground shook, dust and ash flew into the air, creating an effect as though he was scattering someone's ashes.
Meanwhile, the red dragon did not forget to swing his sharp claw, using [Raking Claws] to create a powerful claw-shaped magical force field, severing the ghastly limb chains and freeing Langpu, who had been trapped by [Dragonblood Shackles].
The Dragonblood Ogre broke free, becoming exhilarated at the sight of flames everywhere and ashes scattered across the ground.
He clumsily knelt, tears streaming down his face as he said, "Master, that so-called 'Dragon-Mad Black Mage' truly was nothing before your great power."
The red dragon remained unmoved, his expression solemn as he said, "Langpu, don't get too excited yet. Keep an eye on that salt."
"I don't think things are that simple."
Langpu immediately snapped back to his senses, hastily bowing and replying, "Yes, Master."
The tower instantly fell silent.
The image in the Cataclysmic Dragon Eye became unstable.
Sure enough, in the silence that allowed even a pin drop to be heard, an eerie laugh echoed.
At first, it was a faint sound, like wind blowing across salt, drifting like a ghost. But then, the sound grew louder and eventually turned into maniacal laughter.
Cassius abruptly raised his head.
—Only to see the flesh, turned to fine sand, swirling in the air and gradually forming a twisted, illusory face—that of Wagner.
The face stretched its mouth open to a bizarre extent, showing a chilling grin.
"I know you, Cassius Claudius Norrixius, Tiamat's favored one—"
"Hahahaha, so you really came!"
"You will be the most exquisite material in my grand path of evolution!"
Cassius was not alarmed by this; he just looked on indifferently, murmuring to himself:
"Soul transfer techniques?"
"Tsk, as expected, Wagner still has some tricks up his sleeve."
Beside him, Langpu roared, summoning a searing fireball and scattering the dust once more.
But Cassius just shook his head, saying, "Stop, Langpu. His actual soul must have already fled. That face is merely an illusion manipulated by mental power."
Langpu knelt again before the red dragon, sweat beading on his forehead. "It was my failure, Master. My negligence allowed him to escape."
"If—if I could find the sixth-tier spell [Soul Cage] described in the records, I would be able to kill Wagner once and for all."
His voice was dull, tinged with gritted frustration.
The red dragon gave no response, simply using Mage Hand to idly pick up the salt on the ground.
"Indeed, the scent of dragon blood is strong. Even melted, I can still sense the magical essence. This must have been his true body, not just some random flesh construct."
He pondered for a moment before casually asking:
"Langpu, what kind of body do you think he would seize?"
Cassius's tone paused slightly, then he gave a cold chuckle.
"Moreover, I, the 'most perfect experiment,' personally descended. Do you think Wagner, with his personality, would be willing to abandon all his experimental achievements and flee so easily?"
Langpu only needed a moment of thought to understand Cassius's point.
"He's completely insane. For the so-called 'art piece', he would even take a fatal spell head-on. Since you came in person, with his blasphemous madness, there's no way he would simply flee; he's likely plotting to take us down."
"And his body..."
"He once mentioned that his 'most perfect creation' was the one called 'Valenna'—or rather, a monster transformed from his biological daughter Valenna. A body with a familial connection is the best vessel for a wandering soul. It is said that ancient ghosts who have lost their will often do such things."
Cassius nodded slightly, his tone firm as he said:
"Find him and obliterate everything about him."
"Yes, Master."
In a corner of the first floor of the Polar Night Demon Tower, which was also the location of the "Cabin in the Snow".
It was cold and dark here, with walls stained with blood, though signs of cleaning were evident.
Neatly piled bones were scattered in the corner—leftover from Valenna's lifetime habit. Trapped in a chamber since childhood, she would always organize things neatly, then sit obediently on her bed, waiting for her family to return.
This place, formed from the only bit of will Valenna had left, was a beautiful illusion of longing, but it had been transformed into a deadly trap by Wagner.
Any uninvited guest who entered would fall into Valenna's monstrous hands, becoming an experiment for inhuman torment. The lucky ones would at least become food for the monster.
And at this moment, a familiar guest entered.
—It was none other than Wagner's wandering soul.