Chapter 202: Talking Alliances While Going God Mode
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 202: Talking Alliances While Going God Mode
After making my way over, I couldn't help but marvel at how quickly the students from the Dragon Blood Academy had gathered here at the Living Volcano.
Even though the Dragon Blood Academy and its affiliated academies weren't technically the same school, they were close enough for all intents and purposes.
Aside from the one I’d run into earlier, there was the one leading me now, plus the "Boss" they kept mentioning—had they all met up already?
"You guys gathered really fast," I remarked. "The Living Volcano area is pretty huge, isn't it? How did you all link up so quickly?"
"I can't tell a Witch that."
"Fair enough~"
I waved it off. If he wouldn't say, it was a secret. It couldn't just be luck, right? Why didn't our Witch Academy have that kind of luck? Was the Central Ancient Battlefield just too big?
As I approached the ritual site, before I could even clear the sheltering hills to see the setup, a figure blocked my path.
"Who are you! Wait, a Witch? I told you to go on patrol—why did you bring an enemy into our heartland!"
"Boss Yin Wenhao, this... this Witch is here to form an alliance... I saw that she didn't... didn't..."
The guy who had led me here was trembling all over, his voice shaking as he spoke. Was this that "bloodline suppression" I’d heard about?
"An alliance?"
The Dragonkin called Yin Wenhao looked at me with deep suspicion, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of intense curiosity.
"Hello. I hope you don't mind the intrusion," I said.
I looked at this guy. He was almost fully transformed into a dragon. His cold, hard dragon scales were on a completely different level compared to the two beside him. The dragon wings on his back were also quite exaggerated; with every slight movement as he spoke, they looked ready to beat the air and take flight at a moment's notice.
He could fly and had high mobility. No wonder they could set up a ritual here so quickly.
"I mind very much. We of the Dragon Blood Academy don't need help from other schools. Get lost! I see you're a girl, and I don't make a habit of attacking women first. Leave now, and don't make me repeat myself!"
"There's really no need for that. Isn't mutual benefit a good thing?" I said, tilting my head to gesture toward a distant pillar of light. "You aren't the only ones preparing a ritual right now. I can lend a hand with your Dragon Blood Feast Ceremony. In exchange, the Witch Academy wants to hold a Witch Tea Party on the Ancient Dragon remains. As you know, our Tea Party ritual has very strict location requirements. Without cooperation, it’ll be nearly impossible for us to compete for the academy rankings."
"Nice try, but we don't need you!"
Despite my long-winded explanation, all I got was a rejection—and an attack.
"Violence doesn't solve everything." Facing his strike, I fired a single Fireball Spell that forced him to a dead stop.
Initially, he hadn't cared, intending to tank it with his dragon scales. After all, a spell cast that quickly usually lacked the power to break through a Dragonkin's legendary defense. He soon realized his mistake.
The intense heat released by the explosive Fireball Spell instantly turned his scales cherry-red. The concussive force of the blast also caught him completely off guard.
But he wasn't about to back down from just that. With a roar, Transcendent power fueled by dragon blood erupted outward in a shockwave of sound.
"Sheesh... you've got a loud mouth."
After taking that hasty "Dragon Roar" head-on, I realized some attacks could bypass my current defenses. I’d been careless. If he were more practiced with that ability, he might have literally screamed me into oblivion.
But the moment he tried to press his advantage and take me down, I showed him I wasn't a pushover either. After several Evocative Magic spells completely cut off his assault, he began gathering strength for another roar.
"Silence."
The moment my spell hit, he looked like he had phlegm stuck in his throat that he couldn't spit out. It looked incredibly uncomfortable.
The fury in his eyes burned even brighter.
However, after a few more exchanges, a Binding Spell pinned his upper limbs, giving me a marginal victory.
I wasn't using my full strength, but he was genuinely seeing red. Still, this gave me a good idea of what his standard combat power looked like.
"Stop. I've shown you my strength. Don't you think I'm worth teaming up with? You can tell I'm holding back, right?"
"Tch... spells are such a pain. But I want to see just how much mana you have left to keep this up!"
"A few hundred units, give or take. Each spell costs me about one point. Are you sure you want to play the waiting game? Even if I hold back, your body won't last. And if I keep you tied up here, how are you going to finish your ritual?" I asked with a smile.
"You dare threaten me? Our ritual has already begun. The rest of the Dragon Blood Academy will be here soon. You're the one who should be panicking!"
"Don't be like that. Did you forget why I came here?" My smile widened. If everyone's strength was only at this level, wouldn't this be a total slaughter?
It was a bit of a shame, though—getting mobbed would still be tricky. I could only cast Silence on one person at a time. I hadn't expected the spell to be this effective here.
"Do you really just want an alliance?"
"The fact that I haven't killed you and run off already is the greatest sincerity I can offer, don't you think?"
"Fine... but you can't get too close to our ritual! I acknowledge your strength, and I'll explain the situation to the others when they arrive."
"Still don't trust me? That's fine, it's fine~" I said playfully. It was only natural he didn't trust me. I was just playing the long game to catch the big fish; I wanted to see how many people this ritual would attract.
I was curious, though—why hadn't the other Witches made a move yet? Surely someone must have spawned near the Forging Ancient City?
Or were they lost because they didn't know the terrain?
Or maybe they were already heading toward the Dragon Blood Academy?
But... there are no special notifications for rituals that aren't your own academy's. They probably wouldn't get involved in this.
In that case, I needed to speed things up.
I glanced at the rankings. The top spots were no longer at zero.
The contestants had started making contact, which naturally meant the killing had begun. I couldn't afford to be slow when the opportunity was right in front of me.
Maybe I should just do it now? If too many people showed up, I’d risk being surrounded.
Ultimately, I held back.
I stood silently at the agreed-upon distance.
Before long, I saw more Dragonkin flying in. Their wingspans were even larger than I’d imagined, kicking up gusts of wind as they soared through the sky. It seemed they used the wind to help them take off—perhaps their Transcendent power could manipulate or resonate with the wood or wind elements. That wind definitely wasn't natural.
I also noticed that one of the arriving Dragon Blood Academy students had a fully transformed dragon arm. His long, hideous, and powerful claws were clutching an unidentified creature as he flew toward us.
I quickly realized it was a local creature. The Ancient Battlefield didn't just refresh Phantoms of the Past; there were plenty of indigenous creatures too. For instance, the Land of Eternal Darkness in the Vampire territory was full of creatures that could be turned into Blood Slaves. That place was basically a ranch.
I felt a bit sorry for the students of the Blood Slave Academy. It felt like their role was about to be replaced by NPCs.
"Who is this! Yin Wenhao, you started the ritual preparations—why is someone from another academy here?"
"She's from the Witch Academy. We've made a deal. Mind your own business!" Yin Wenhao barked back, his aura not losing an inch to the newcomer.
I almost giggled on the sidelines. I thought he would give a proper explanation, but is this just how Dragon Blood Academy students talk to each other?
They were ready to start infighting right out of the gate.
"What deal! You'd trust someone from the Witch Academy? And she's that... that Yang Yuehan! Are you blind? I don't care how strong you think you are—you're leaving such a massive threat here while you wait for us to bring sacrifices for the ritual?"
"Does this Dragon Blood gentleman know me? I'm honored," I said with a slight smile. "But please, don't be so hostile. I came here in good faith. I just want to use the Ancient Dragon remains here once your ritual is finished."
So this guy recognized me. No wonder he didn't attack immediately. Are there actually cautious types among the Dragonkin?
Or has the dragon blood not turned him into a muscle-brained barbarian yet?
Only a few had arrived so far, and there were only a handful of Wyrmkin. It felt like a waste to strike now, but it wasn't impossible. I’d see how this guy reacted first.
"You aren't welcome here! Get lost! I don't care what Yin Wenhao promised you, as long as I'm here, you aren't welcome! The Dragon Blood Academy doesn't need to team up with Witches, we don't want an alliance, and we certainly won't lend you any Ancient Dragon remains, even if it's just a fake thing in a dream."
"You're hurting my feelings. Yin Wenhao, are you really going to break our agreement just like that?" I turned the spearhead toward Yin Wenhao. Since their relationship seemed mediocre, I didn't mind stirring the pot.
"Sorry. Since someone objects, my hands are tied. Besides, I never actually made an agreement with you! And you haven't done anything to help us yet."
"If that's how it's going to be, I guess I have to show my hand?" I was a bit disappointed that they didn't split over my provocation. It seemed their bond was only shallow on the surface, but they were quite unified on matters of principle. Or maybe they just felt bold because it was two-on-one?
"Show your hand? I knew you didn't come here with good intentions!"
"Of course. We're Witches, after all. Did you really expect a Witch to come here just to give you warm fuzzies?" I laughed and clapped my hands. The sound echoed through the mountains, and soon, several figures stepped out from behind various peaks.
One, two...
"How is this possible? Your Witch Academy is targeting us right from the start? Why? we have no grudge against you!" They panicked as the figures appeared. Yin Wenhao was especially shaken; he’d seen my strength. With so many people, and Witches being mostly casters, they were about to be steamrolled!
"Tan Han! You're here too! You planned all of this, didn't you!"
"That's right, I planned it all," I said, mimicking a grand scheme. "I didn't expect the Dragon Blood Academy to be so cooperative as to start the ritual for us. Once I shatter this ritual, the other academies will turn their sights on the next biggest threat. Won't it be lovely for us Witches to hold our Tea Party here then?"
"Madmen! You Witches are all mad! You—argh!" Before he could finish, I closed the distance and backstabbed him with a "weapon" condensed from a Fireball Spell.
"You... you're... weren't you over..."
"Over? Over where? Over and out?" I blasted him away. The modified fire blade I’d left inside him exploded like a Fireball Spell.
"Sorry, I forgot to ask his name. But I'll remember yours, Yin Wenhao, right? Good name. It would suit our Witch Academy. Ever thought about becoming a dragon girl?"
Shocked by my swift and ruthless sneak attack, Yin Wenhao didn't even process what I’d said.
He just instinctively looked back at where I’d been standing. It was so far away... but wasn't there still someone standing there?
A clone?
"You! You dare humiliate me like this! Die!"
"Angry? Just like that? That won't do." I kept my smile, a fireball in my hand taking the shape of a weapon.
Though a fireball was lethal in any shape, turning it into a weapon felt more natural. Maybe I should look for a weapon-summoning spell later?
I realized I really liked close-quarters combat. I was becoming a battle mage. Actually, people who used transformation spells were technically battle mages too.
"Die! Just die! You set us up to ruin the Dragon Blood Academy, I'll take you down with me!"
"If you lose your head in a fight, you're destined to lose."
Through my Spirit Vision, I could see the dragon blood power rushing to his head. He was literally "hot-headed" now.
The flames in my hand, modified by my techniques, had vastly improved mana efficiency. If not for my mana shield, the heat would have at least curled my hair.
But even now, using this modified method, I could shave down his dragon scales.
"Silence, Binding, Blindness, Sensory Weakening... Heh, is that all you've got, you puny weakling?" His dragon scales were flying everywhere under my assault, glowing with a cherry-red heat as they hit the ground—a testament to what they’d endured before breaking off.
With just that one taunt, he lost it. I lost interest too and went straight for the finish.
"If you feel cheated, feel free to come find me for revenge anytime." I smiled at him in his final moments. After death, respawns were random; finding me again in a short time would be harder than climbing to heaven.
Having dealt with the two Dragon Blood Academy students who had gathered the fastest, only a few Wyrmkin from the affiliated academies remained.
I didn't let them off either, preparing to slaughter them one by one.
These were all points. I glanced at the rankings; I’d jumped straight to first place. It looked like I’d reaped the rewards of a mass cull. Paging through the rankings, I saw Tan Han. Her score wasn't zero either—looks like she’d started her own spree.
"Wait... wait! Great Witch..."
When only the last guy was left, I recognized him—it was the Wyrmkin who had brought me here. I didn't expect him to hide so well.
"Speak. I'll give you three seconds to impress me."
"Three seconds... how is three seconds enough! Wait! That guy! Dana! Why did he just watch the whole time and you didn't kill him!"
"Oh? Him?" I looked at the Illusion Clone that had been watching the show. I tapped my heel, and the Illusion Clone scurried over to me, kneeling at my feet with a fawning expression.
"See? Now you know why." I smiled and ended his life. I gave them a little "pre-death shock." I wondered if he’d ever be able to look at that guy named Dana the same way again.
The matter seemed to be over for now. My Illusion Clone shifted back into my appearance.
I didn't like my clones looking like that in front of me; my original face was much easier on the eyes.
Next was destroying their ritual.
This so-called Dragon Blood Feast Ceremony looked pretty pathetic. The sacrifices for the blood ritual were all bottom-tier.
Only the altar they’d built was somewhat interesting.
As I was admiring it, I felt another presence approaching from the distance. The massive dragon wings gave away their identity.
What is this, a conga line of idiots? Coming to the rescue one by one?
Just as I was about to get up and fight, the newcomer was ambushed mid-air. A spell struck him directly, causing him to lose balance and plummet.
"Oh?" I pulled out my broom and flew into the sky like a spectator, wrapping myself in a mana shield. I wanted to see who it was.
"Tan Han?"
I let out a small gasp of surprise when I saw her. Then I looked at the "Tan Han" on the other hill—that was my Illusion Clone. So this one was the real deal?
I watched as Tan Han systematically dismantled the opponent. I almost wanted to cheer. The fight between Tan Han's transformation spell and the Dragonkin was truly spectacular.
It got me thinking—I wondered if there were any Great Dragon transformation spells. There had to be, right? I kind of wanted one to play with.
The opponent was just a freshman injected with dragon blood, yet their combat power was terrifying. A Great Dragon transformation spell would probably be off the charts.
"Xiao Han, I didn't expect to see you here."
"Mm-hmm~ Tan Han, you're stealing my kills."
"Sorry. I'll pay you back when I get the chance. By the way, have you run into any other students from the Witch Academy?"
"No. Weren't we planning to hold the ritual at the Forging Ancient City? I thought you went there, so I came here to see the sights and wait for your ritual to start before heading over."
"I see. But you should be careful. I saw quite a few people coming this way to check things out. Let's destroy this ritual quickly."
"Fine. You do the heavy lifting. Consider it penance for stealing my kill. I'm too lazy to wait for you to offer." I shrugged.
"Okay." Tan Han didn't waste words. Before her transformation spell wore off, she stepped up and delivered a heavy blow to the ritual site.
The ritual was shattered, and the pillar of light vanished.
The disappearance of the light caught many eyes, but none were more shocked than the students of the Dragon Blood Academy.
A god-tier start, thrown away just like that.
"Alright, Tan Han. Since you're here, what's next? To the Forging Ancient City?"
"Well..."
"I think the Ancient Dragon remains here are pretty good. That massive dragon head is facing the Living Volcano. Don't you think it's a perfect spot for a Witch Tea Party?" Seeing Tan Han hesitate, I teased her.
"There?" Tan Han followed my gaze, a flash of surprise in her eyes. "That's a good choice. Let's start preparing for the Witch Tea Party then."
"Wait, what? You actually agreed? Our original plan was..."
"Plans change. We have to adapt. There's been no word from the Forging Ancient City, so something probably went wrong. Without a clear landmark, we can't gather the others. We might as well seize the opportunity here. Once they see the Witch Tea Party ritual start, they'll have a goal to move toward, rather than wandering aimlessly."
"I guess..."
"Besides, there aren't many places on the map suitable for a Witch Tea Party. A landmark can only host it once. We can't miss this chance."
"True enough." I shook my head, accepting the logic. As for this being Dragon Blood Academy territory... what was there to fear?
Did it have "Dragon Blood Academy" written on it?
No. And since it didn't, we could do whatever we wanted. I could throw a rager here and no one could stop me.
If they had a problem, they could try beating me first. Besides, I wasn't alone anymore. What was there to be afraid of?
Wait... hold on. Tan Han isn't the type to attract trouble, is she?