The surging power of Level 11 washed over Kael, immersing him in the overwhelming might of mana. The wind element had become one with him—his body now weightless, as if he could ride the wind at any moment.
"This is the power of Level 11... This is it!" Kael clenched his fists, exhilarated by the sheer magnitude of his newfound strength. The gap between Level 10 and Level 11was like heaven and earth, and only now, standing firmly within the threshold of Level 11, did he truly grasp its profundity.
The elements of the world resonated of their own accord, as if paying homage to Kael. He could feel the wind element's unparalleled affinity for him, while both wind and fire now swirled around his body, saturating every inch of his being. His mana channels brimmed with elemental energy.
"With my current strength, defeating Netherghosts would be effortless. But how do I compare to veteran Level 11 powerhouses? I'm probably still slightly lacking, given that I've only just entered the early stage of Level 11..." Kael mused silently.
Above the Tower of Hope, mana gathered and pressed down like a tidal force, forcing every mage in Laifei City to look up in awe. Their staffs trembled violently, emitting resonant hums—almost as if bowing in submission.
Witnessing this phenomenon, the mages were struck with dread. Even when ordinary Level 10 mages advanced to Level 11, such a terrifying spectacle was unheard of. This could only mean one thing: Kael's foundation was incomparably profound, his breakthrough so monumental that it stirred the heavens themselves.
"Laifei City's future is unshakable. It has the potential to become a dominant force on the continent!" someone murmured in awe. With Kael at its helm, Laifei's rise was inevitable.
"City Lord Kael has already broken through to Level 11? That's terrifying… I wonder if even the legendary Star Sage Orlando advanced at such a monstrous pace..."
Whispers of amazement spread through the crowd, the sheer magnitude of the moment sending chills down their spines. They had just witnessed history—Kael's ascension to Level 11.
In the distance, Ella, Grace, Amelia, Lone Wolf, and Finn—Laifei's core leadership—stood equally stunned. Ella, who had been overjoyed moments ago at reaching Level 5 Mana Oscillation, widened her eyes and laughed bitterly. "I thought I might barely keep up with him… Yet the moment I catch a glimpse of his back, he's already stepped into a whole new realm."
Lone Wolf's face burned with excitement. At this moment, he felt nothing but gratitude for his decision to pledge loyalty to Kael. His path to vengeance had never been clearer.
"Now that I've reached Level 11, perhaps it's time to visit the Emerald City in the Southern Continent," Kael mused. "Back then, Cole tasked me with finding someone called Sage there... And coincidentally, my mentor Ethan seems to be in the Emerald City as well. Once the Ghostfire Tower matter is resolved, I should pay a visit."
He retrieved a scroll—the very one Cole had given him when he first entered the Flamestar Academy. The sole condition for Cole granting him Moonlight Dusk had been for Kael to deliver this scroll to a person named Sage in the Emerald City.
The Emerald City was the sacred land of magic in the Southern Continent, a legendary holy city that had existed since ancient times. Countless prodigies of magic had left their marks there.
Previously, Kael hadn't been strong enough to consider going, but now, as a Level 11 Mage, it was time to explore.
As Kael descended from the Tower of Hope, the crowd watched him with bated breath. With every step he took, the surrounding mana trembled in resonance around him.
"Incredible..." Grace murmured, her eyes filled with admiration. If Kael had once been unfathomable, now he exuded a sharp, undeniable presence. When her gaze inadvertently met his, she felt as though she were staring into a bottomless ocean—his eyes so profound they seemed to contain a strange, mesmerizing power. Unconsciously, she took two steps back.
This was merely because Kael had just reached Level 11 and hadn't yet fully stabilized the surging mana within him.
"Everyone, you may disperse," Kael said with a faint smile, dismissing the gathered mages. Soon, only those he trusted remained—Grace, Amelia, and a few others.
Once the crowd had cleared, ten figures emerged from the surroundings. At their forefront stood a woman with an alluring, graceful demeanor—her every movement carried a mature charm. Compared to Grace, she was like a ripe, tempting peach, exuding an irresistible femininity. The other nine, both men and women, all had sharp, discerning eyes and formidable auras—undeniable experts.
And the woman leading them? Kael recognized her—Sophia, a Five-Star Executor of the Dark Sanctum, whom he had met on several occasions before.
"Sophia and the ten Executors of the Dark Sanctum pay our respects to the Lord!"Sophia and the others bowed deeply in unison, offering their formal greetings to Kael.
Lone Wolf's expression shifted slightly. "Members of the Sacred Council!" he thought inwardly.
These ten Executors of the Dark Sanctum had been stationed in Laifei City under Zorath the Silent's orders, guarding against unforeseen threats. The commotion from Kael's breakthrough had alerted them, prompting their swift arrival. Among them, Sophia stood as their leader.
Witnessing Kael's ascension to Level 11, a flicker of astonishment passed through Sophia's bright eyes. This young man before her was nothing short of a legend within the Sacred Council—despite his youth, he had defeated Einar and risen to the unprecedented position of Vice-Hall Master of the Dark Sanctum.
"Congratulations, Vice-Hall Master, on your breakthrough to Level 11!" Sophia smiled gracefully, her heart swelling with reverence. A Level 11 powerhouse in his twenties—such talent was destined to shine brightly on the path to godhood.
Kael waved his hand dismissively. "Any news from the Sacred Council?" He remembered clearly that Sophia, in addition to her formidable strength, was also in charge of intelligence within the Dark Sanctum.
Sophia chuckled. "Rest assured, my Lord. Hall Master Zorath the Silent has already received word and is on his way. In fact, he might be arriving any moment now."
No sooner had she spoken than a resounding dragon's roar pierced the skies, its echo shaking the heavens and earth—even Kael felt a tremor.
Looking up, the crowd saw a blue wyvern-drawn carriage, its colossal wings spanning over fifty meters, blotting out the sky. The sight left countless citizens of Laifei City awestruck. The dragon's cry was so mighty that weaker magical beasts in the city trembled and prostrated themselves in fear.
Many recognized it as the Sacred Council's wyvern carriage, and their expressions shifted. Rumors had long circulated about Kael's deep ties to the Sacred Council—some even claimed he held a high-ranking position. Given this spectacle, those whispers now seemed undeniable. After all, within the Sacred Council, only figures of the Twelve Senators' caliber were permitted to ride wyvern carriages.
Kael smiled faintly. Zorath the Silent had indeed arrived—and judging by the presence aboard the carriage, he hadn't come alone. Had he brought reinforcements?
As Kael pondered, the wyvern carriage descended smoothly into the City Lord's Mansion.
"Hahaha! Brother Kael, I came the moment I got your message! Pretty prompt, eh?"Zorath the Silent's hearty laughter rang out as he stepped down, followed closely by Arjun—the very messenger Kael had dispatched to deliver the news.
Arjun had clearly completed his mission flawlessly.
However, Zorath the Silent's laughter quickly died as his gaze swept over Kael. He froze for a moment, a flicker of shock flashing through his mind.
"Damn it, Brother Kael... your strength—!" Beads of cold sweat instantly formed on Zorath the Silent's forehead, his eyes widening in disbelief.
The ten Executors of the Dark Sanctum noticed his stunned expression and couldn't help but smirk faintly among themselves.
Kael nodded. "That's right. I've reached Level 11."
Zorath the Silent slapped his own forehead, his eyes glinting with a strange mix of awe and exasperation. Finally, he shook his head with a bitter chuckle. "Ah, you... you really defy all logic. And here I went through the trouble of bringing reinforcements—should've known it'd be unnecessary." Words failed him when it came to Kael—this guy was simply too monstrous, advancing to Level 11 in what felt like the blink of an eye...
Following Zorath the Silent's words, Kael's gaze shifted to the figure standing behind him—a tall, lean man clad in black. His expression was stern, lips thin, eyes sharp yet restrained, his aura perfectly contained. This was someone Kael knew well.
Bloodshadow, the Vice-Captain of the Sacred Council's Divine Martial Knights—a peak Level 11 powerhouse!
Kael's heart surged with joy. Zorath the Silent had actually brought Bloodshadow along! With him joining the operation against the Ghostfire Tower, their chances of success had just skyrocketed.