It turned out that this kid hadn't been going all out before!
Zev was utterly shocked, never imagining that Kael had been hiding his true strength all along. This kid was terrifying—to possess such overwhelming power right after advancing to the tenth level! There was no way Zev could match him now!
His confidence completely shattered by Kael, Zev watched as the tenth-level lightning magic roared toward him. Fear gripped his heart, his magic shield crumbling under the thunderous assault. A chill ran down his spine.
Too terrifying…
The true extent of Kael's power was horrifying. Zev doubted he could even withstand a single strike from him now!
Indeed, after witnessing Kael's unfathomable strength, Zev was consumed by terror. His fighting spirit had been utterly crushed!
BOOM!
There was no escape. The lightning struck Zev head-on, leaving him severely wounded. His body swayed unsteadily, his hair standing on end, wisps of smoke rising from his scorched form. He was clearly in bad shape.
"Don't kill me… please don't kill me…" Fear flashed in Zev's eyes as he finally sensed the threat of death. It turned out Kael had merely been using him as a whetstone!
Now that Kael had fully mastered the power of the tenth level, the whetstone was no longer needed—which meant Zev's demise was imminent!
Kael shook his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips as he observed Zev's terror. "Let you go? Do you really think that's possible?"
Kael had never provoked the Reynolds family. On the contrary, it was Lucian who had repeatedly obstructed him in the Water Dragon Secret Realm. And after Kael obtained the Water Dragon's legacy, it was Lucian who had sought him out, demanding to seize it!
Kael had no choice but to retaliate, killing Lucian—and thus incurring the wrath of the Reynolds family.
From beginning to end, Kael had only acted in self-defense. Yet the Reynolds family had been relentless in their pursuit of his life.
Narrowing his eyes, Kael knew there was no way he would spare Zev now.
With his last hope extinguished, Zev instinctively raised his staff, attempting to cast a defensive spell. But the staff felt unbearably heavy in his grip, his hands trembling uncontrollably. He couldn't even muster the courage to face Kael!
The sheer aura and power Kael exuded had stripped Zev of any will to fight back. Even if he survived, Zev knew he would spend the rest of his life in fear of Kael.
With a mere flick of his hand, Kael unleashed another devastating spell. His miniature world expanded, swallowing Zev whole.
A final scream tore from Zev's throat before his eyes glazed over, life fading from them as he collapsed, limp and lifeless.
With Zev's death, Kael slowly exhaled. Dealing with Zev had been well within his capabilities. Now that he had fully mastered the power of the tenth level, he was confident he could even hold his own against peak tenth-level experts.
After killing Zev, Kael looted his spatial ring before descending from the sky.
The battle between the Black Eagle Guards and the Lefay soldiers was still raging.
As Kael's figure touched down, the Lefay soldiers erupted in fervor at the sight of him, their morale soaring.
"Kael is back!" Finn roared, his voice infused with battle aura. "The City Lord has returned! Zev is dead! Brothers, charge!" His aura surged like a dragon as he carved through the battlefield, an awe-inspiring force.
Kael swept his gaze across the battlefield, spotting not only Finn but also Ella and Amelia fighting fiercely, drenched in blood. The Black Eagle Guards were already in retreat, their momentum broken—their defeat was inevitable.
Kael's arrival was the final nail in their coffin.
When the Black Eagle Guards saw Kael descend from the sky, holding Zev's lifeless body, their hearts filled with dread. In their eyes, Zev had been a god-like figure—yet Kael had slain him effortlessly. Just how terrifying was his power?
Instantly, their will to fight crumbled. Kael's killing of Zev had not only ended the battle but shattered the Black Eagle Guards' combat spirit entirely.
"Stay calm! Follow me and break through!" The Black Eagle commander bellowed, trying to rally his men. If they panicked now, annihilation was certain.
A cold glint flashed in Kael's eyes. So, this is their leader.
With a mere flick of his staff, a streak of light flashed, and a violet arc of lightning shot toward the commander.
ZAP!
Before the commander could even react, the lightning struck him, hurling him from his horse. His body convulsed briefly before going still.
Dead.
The Black Eagle commander had been at least an eighth-level expert—yet he couldn't withstand a casual strike from Kael.
For a moment, the battlefield fell into absolute silence. Not a sound could be heard—not even a pin drop. Every gaze was fixed on Kael, frozen in shock.
"Does anyone else wish to resist?" Kael's voice was calm, his gaze sweeping over the Black Eagle Guards. Cold sweat drenched their backs—none dared meet his eyes. The pressure weighing upon them felt like a mountain, crushing even the faintest thought of raising their weapons.
Having advanced to the tenth level, Kael naturally exuded an overwhelming mental pressure. His vast spiritual force bore down on the Black Eagle Guards, leaving them trembling and submissive.
Clang.
One Black Eagle soldier dropped his weapon. Then another. Soon, more followed, their eyes filled with nothing but reverence and fear. None dared to so much as glance at Kael.
Every last Black Eagle Guard had surrendered their arms...
Roughly two thousand remained on the battlefield, their expressions hollow with dread as they relinquished their weapons.
"Lone Wolf, handle the rest," Kael said indifferently.
Lone Wolf nodded. With over two thousand Black Eagle Guards captured, they could be repurposed—though their lingering loyalty to the Reynolds family would require significant effort to break.
Still, it was far from impossible.
This battle had ended in Lefay City's victory, and with it, Kael reaped immense rewards.
The five thousand sets of Black Eagle armor and weapons, along with their five thousand Goldenhorn steeds, amounted to a staggering fortune—enough to significantly bolster Lefay's military strength. In the shortest time, a new elite force would rise.
Moreover, the soldiers of Lefay Territory had gained invaluable combat experience, their battle prowess soaring. Under Lone Wolf's command, Lefay's losses had been minimal—fewer than a thousand casualties.
"If we can turn the Black Eagle Guards to our side, Lefay Territory's strength will rise to another level," Kael mused inwardly.
"Senior Brother, now that we've defeated Zev, what's our next move...?" Grace, who had been observing from the rear, finally stepped forward and asked.
"Of course, we uproot the Reynolds family entirely," Kael replied coolly. The Reynolds family had provoked him time and again—he was no pushover. If they wanted a fight, he would see it through to the end!
However, the Reynolds family still had one trump card—a peak tenth-level mage: Oke, the family head.
Oke had been a tenth-level mage for nearly a decade, wielding considerable prestige and power within the Maed Kingdom. Facing such an opponent, Kael had to proceed with caution.
It wouldn't be long before news of Zev's defeat reached the Reynolds family. Kael's mind stirred—this time, he wouldn't wait for them to strike first. He would take the initiative.
Grace nodded silently, her gaze drifting toward the battlefield as the cleanup began. The aftermath was a scene of devastation.
Amelia soon returned from the fray, breathing slightly heavily but otherwise unharmed, though her battle aura was noticeably depleted.
Kael quickly retrieved a vial of Aura Restoration Potion from his spatial ring and handed it to her. After drinking it, Amelia's condition improved significantly.
With the immediate aftermath handled by Jett, Finn, and the other officers, Kael turned his attention to assessing their gains.
When he opened Zev's spatial ring, he was momentarily stunned. Inside lay a trove of treasures—numerous ninth and tenth-level magic crystals, along with rare arcane materials.
But what truly surprised Kael were the spiritual herbs stored within.
"This is... Moonview Leaf..." he murmured, a flicker of delight crossing his mind.
"Moonview Leaf? What's that? Though... it looks delicious..." The little kitten perched on Kael's shoulder narrowed its eyes, licking its lips.