The Legendary Mage (Alavin)

Hamund stood atop the peak of a grand mountain, gazing at the retreating search parties that ebbed away like the tide, finally allowing himself to breathe a sigh of relief. A violent cough wracked his body, and despite his efforts to contain it, blood surged from his chest, spilling forth. It had been more than a decade since he had sustained such grave injuries. His heart had nearly been shattered. He clutched his wound, his face a ghastly pale.

Word had spread to Cloudveil Woods. It seemed Celesse and the others had safely escaped. But what now?

The deep woods were abuzz with the news, and one could only imagine the uproar now seizing the Northlands. Not just the Eight Orders and the Five Lords, but also other powers were surely converging on Stormcast. One didn't need to be present in Stormcast to envision the scene that was unfolding.

Facing the formidable lords of the Northlands, who could break the stalemate? Was there a way to do so? Did Alavin truly have a plan, or had he simply seized the opportunity to flee?

"Watchful Shore... Watchful Shore..."

Hamund murmured softly. Were there secrets still hidden there? Although he had watched Alavin grow up, his focus had always been on nurturing Celesse, paying little mind to Alavin or the dealings within the Organization. If it weren't for Celesse, he might have left Cobalt Strike years ago to wander the world freely.

"Enough," he resolved, "I shall make my way to Stormcast."

No matter how the situation unfolded, Hamund was determined to save Celesse. This was his first apprentice, his only apprentice. He could not allow Celesse to perish in this chaos. As the Northlands were stirred, more and more powerful beings gathered in Stormcast.

The latest to join the fray were mages from nearby towns and organizations, who infiltrated Stormcast under the cover of the second night following the news. They raced through the chilly streets, heading straight for the city's heart.

But...

The Commander of Cobalt Strike had awakened, and his Mindfulness enveloped the town. Before the intruders could draw near, beams of intense light, like dragons emerging from the sea, burst forth, dragging a mighty radiance from the heavens, striking down those who dared to enter. Before the Mallister family even knew of an intrusion, these unfortunate souls lay dead outside the city's walls. Lucan and his companions were secretly awed. Worthy indeed was one of the overlords of the Northlands. Even grievously injured, his holy might was terrifying.

Helna hurriedly ordered all the medicinal herbs to be gathered and sent to the Commander of Cobalt Strike. Regardless of personal opinions, this man had the strength to protect the Mallister family. The more he recovered, the greater their hope for survival.

The Commander of Cobalt Strike needed none of those herbs. Life's Spring had seen him through the worst, and now he could heal on his own. In the dead of night, he unleashed his mighty holy power, and eight beams of energy shot from the depths of the citadel into the sky like a surging, swirling waterfall, or a spinning hurricane. The earth-shaking roars startled the citizens, as the bright light illuminated the heavens and the earth.

These eight beams of energy not only deterred the bandits outside but also steadied the hearts of the citizens within, as they, too, absorbed magic from the heavens and earth, aiding the Commander of Cobalt Strike in his recovery.

More and more people flocked to Stormcast, yet none dared approach, lurking instead in the nearby wilderness, silently observing.

Lucan and his peers breathed a little easier, but the weight in their hearts remained suspended. This was only the beginning. No one could be sure what calamity Stormcast might face. All they could do was pray.

Oda knelt before the graves of her parents, weeping. "Bless my brother, let him not return, let him escape. We... do not wish to burden him any longer..."

At the edge of Cloudveil Woods, the commotion from the Northlands had not yet reached, but another spectacle had taken its place.

"Open!" Godfred's hysterical roar as his surging soul power transformed into a titanic bear, slamming into the towering mountain before him. The furious impact shattered the rock. The bear, like a true Magi- Monster, majestic and immense, blazed with fierce black flames. After numerous collisions, Godfred's blood churned, but he had fractured the five-hundred-meter-tall mountain. As the mountain crumbled, dust billowed to the sky, and rocks and ancient trees tumbled down, flooding into the nearby woods.

Godfred controlled the giant black bear, rampaging through the collapsing mountain, forcibly clearing a path hundreds of meters wide. Without pausing for breath, he gulped down Elixir Herbs and Elixir Fruits to replenish his magic, then charged forward again, destroying woodlands, obliterating all that stood in his path. Behind him, Alavin's muscles were taut. His cells and joints were bursting with prodigious power, and his magic exploded into fierce lightning that cloaked his body. He strode wildly, unceasingly, dragging the immense light behind him.

With each step Alavin took, the ground shattered, sinking into the earth. Each stride dragged the heavy statue forward, leaving deep trenches in his wake.