Chapter 161: The Mantis and the Sparrow

Chapter 161: The Mantis and the Sparrow

"As expected, even a dying camel is bigger than a horse. Despite being reduced to just two members, the Cape family still has a deep foundation."

Upon returning to his shop, Karl pondered deeply.

"I've already achieved the strength of a mid-Rank 1 warrior, yet I still sensed danger from Milly..."

"She must possess a powerful Heritage Artifact!"

"And..."

"There's also a certified wizard hiding nearby!"

"No wonder they dared to show themselves. Even if I had turned against them, they would still have the confidence to control the situation."

"And there's also Saint Lance Bardo, who might not be part of their group but definitely has connections with them. Otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen to meet me there."

"However..."

"None of this concerns me!"

Placing the package on the table, Karl smiled as he took out several thick books.

Potion manuals!

The Cape family had ruled over the Leipzig Marketplace for hundreds of years, and apart from their formidable heritage, they also had a team of knights that roamed the marketplace and its surroundings.

Led by a legendary knight and commanded by grand knights, this force numbered in the hundreds.

To cultivate so many knights, potions were indispensable.

In fact, every major family collected various potion formulas, weapons, and magical techniques.

This was the foundation of their family's legacy.

However, with the Cape family no longer in the picture, these resources were of little use to Milly and her companion.

Of course, the trade only involved common potion formulas; special potions were not so easily offered.

"Life Elixir!"

Flipping through one of the books, Karl couldn't help but sigh.

"Once upon a time, I struggled to obtain a single Life Elixir, but now it's not even worth a second glance."

"Vitality Elixir, Divine Blood Elixir, Holy Elixir..."

"Hmm?"

"Concentrated Life Elixir!"

His gaze paused on a particular potion formula, and after reading it carefully, a smile appeared on his face.

"This is perfect!"

The Divine Demon Transformation required a massive amount of life energy, and the Life Elixir was undoubtedly the best choice.

Unfortunately, the Life Elixir, which could promote a knight's attendant to a knight, contained too little life energy for Karl's needs.

To temper his body, he estimated that he would need to consume at least a dozen potions daily.

A dozen potions! That would be several hundred potions per month and thousands per year, and this was a conservative estimate.

Setting aside the cost of Magic Stones, which he couldn't afford, such a quantity would also attract unwanted attention.

"The Concentrated Life Elixir contains ten times the life energy of a regular Life Elixir, and the key is..."

"Most of the ingredients required to craft this potion can be found in the Foreign World, primarily the cores of Second Tier creatures."

"Hmm..."

"The Andrew Family's Beast Arena should have cores from Second Tier creatures, right?"

Putting away the items in his hands, Karl once again stepped out of the shop. When he returned, he had an ant nest in his possession.

Beast Control!

This magic technique theoretically allowed him to control creatures of the same tier as himself, but since Karl was still a novice, he could only control lower-tier beings, and even manipulating magical creatures was challenging.

However, this was preferable.

Ordinary beasts were common and less likely to arouse the suspicion of other wizards.

Additionally, constructs were often secretly left with backdoors by their creators, but this wouldn't be an issue with regular beasts.

In the memory of the Bloodclaw Assassin, there was a technique to attach one's spiritual power to ordinary creatures.

Karl followed this method, splitting off several thoughts and placing them within the ant colony. He would find an opportunity to discard them near the Beast Arena.

Next.

It was time to watch the show.

...

Half a month later.

"Crackle!"

A faint flash of lightning flickered in the air, and Karl's figure flickered before reappearing over a dozen meters away.

His speed was akin to teleportation.

First Circle Spell - Thunder Wings!

"Huff..."

Karl exhaled, his face filled with joy.

"I've finally mastered it!"

Unlike other First Circle spells, Thunder Wings had a more intricate spell model and required a deeper understanding of various theories, making it an advanced version of the Flight Spell.

Of course.

The speed after mastering it was even faster!

"Finally, I won't need to rely on a Magic Carpet for flight. My current speed should be comparable to a mid-Rank 1 wizard using the Flight Spell. The key is to be agile and unpredictable, which will increase my chances of escaping from powerful enemies."

"As for the Divine Demon Transformation, progress is slow."

Karl had underestimated the transformation's life energy consumption or overestimated the potency of the Life Elixir.

If he wanted to continue his relentless cultivation, he would need to consume at least twenty Life Elixirs daily.

Twenty potions! That would be forty Magic Stones.

Relying solely on the income from the High Tower's rewards to the shopkeeper wouldn't sustain him for long, making it impractical.

"It should be soon!"

Turning his head, Karl glanced at the location of the Andrew Family.

A few days ago, a Second Rank wizard from the Andrew Family had arrived in Leipzig Marketplace to oversee the family's affairs.

This wasn't a good sign!

It indicated that even with a Second Rank wizard, they were struggling to maintain control.

However, the Andrew Family managed multiple marketplaces and couldn't dedicate most of their resources to this one.

Sooner or later, that Second Rank wizard would leave.

At that moment...

It seemed like something unexpected was about to happen.

The Nelson family, on the other hand, had been unusually quiet lately, with all their wizards staying indoors.

"Hmm?"

Karl's eyebrows furrowed in thought as he found a secure spot to sit and activated a spell.

Instantly, an ant near the Beast Arena raised its head, and everything its compound eyes saw was projected into Karl's vision.

"Boom!"

Three massive fireballs descended from above and exploded upon impact, spreading flames throughout the arena.

Seal—Cascade of Fireballs!

It wasn't just one seal, but several in succession, as over a dozen fireballs rained down on the arena with a deafening roar.

"What the...?" Karl's lips twitched as he watched from a distance.

Even though it was the same type of seal, each person's craftsmanship would have subtle differences. With a single glance, he recognized it as one of his own creations.

'I've been using too many seals these past couple of years, and now they're being used against the Anderson family.'

'I hope they don't use them against me in the future!'

"Buzz..."

A burst of blood-red light erupted from within the arena, a dense wave of blood essence that instantly extinguished the flames.

A blood-red barrier enveloped the entire arena.

Barrier!

As one of the Anderson family's important businesses, it was only natural for the arena to be protected by a barrier.

However, the slow response in activating the barrier during the initial attack was a serious dereliction of duty.

But Karl soon realized the reason for the delay.

As the blood-red barrier was activated, it began to tremble violently and then shattered, followed by a furious roar from within the arena.

"Tulus!"

"You dare betray the Anderson family!"

Vincent's deafening roar echoed as powerful wizardry erupted from within the arena.

There's an insider! Milly and her group were indeed well-prepared.

"Boom..."

A blinding light flashed, and Karl lost sight of the arena, indicating that the nearby ant had perished.

However, it didn't matter.

He had placed numerous informants in the area, and with a quick spell change, the arena appeared again from a different angle.

This time, several masked wizard apprentices rushed into the arena, engaging in a fierce battle with the arena's guards.

"You have some nerve!"

The ground shook, and dirt flew as Vincent, wearing a pair of peculiar gloves, emerged from the chaos.

"Die!"

First Circle Spell—Energy Flood!

Visible currents of energy shot out from his hands, sweeping across the arena like a tidal wave.

Even a mid-stage First Circle wizard, weakened by previous injuries, could easily overpower the apprentices.

Just then, an invisible force field appeared before the energy flood.

Force Wall!

Milly, accompanied by a shadowy figure, stepped into the arena, brandishing a slender blue rapier that she thrust towards Vincent.

With a gentle tap of her rapier, countless tiny blue orbs appeared in the air. Although Karl couldn't identify them, it was clear that Vincent was wary, quickly retreating while summoning a seal with a flick of his hand.

"Boom!"

Before Karl could see what was happening, he lost sight of the arena again.

"This isn't just a probe; Milly has shown herself."

He had initially thought this attack was a test, but the current situation clearly indicated otherwise.

However, the Anderson family's Second Circle wizard was still present, so how dare she make a move?

Unless...

Milly was well aware that the Second Circle wizard wouldn't bother with her!

A thought struck Karl, and he abruptly turned his gaze towards the Anderson family's residence, just in time to see a bolt of lightning descend from above, striking the family's headquarters.

"Boom!"

The entire marketplace trembled.

Second Circle Spell—Heavenly Thunder!

"The Nelson family's Second Circle wizard specializes in shadow magic, so even if they advanced, they wouldn't have a Second Circle thunder spell. There must be another Second Circle wizard..."

"Looks like this is a major attack!"

Karl attempted to change spells, but failed repeatedly, indicating that the ants he had placed near the arena had perished.

When he finally reconnected, he found himself far from the arena.

Coincidentally, Vincent and his companions were still within view.

This time, in addition to Milly, two more official wizards appeared, and the three of them joined forces to surround Vincent.

However, they had already moved far away from the arena.

An opportunity!

Karl's heart raced, and he transformed into a bolt of lightning, rushing towards the arena.

Mid-air, he rubbed his face, and his skin and bones shifted, transforming him into a burly man with coarse features.

He extended his hand, and a colossal hammer, larger than his own body, appeared in his palm.

Gravity Hammer!

Soon after, Karl's figure appeared in the arena. With a mighty push, the wooden gate separating the inner and outer courtyards flew outward.

"Roar!"

Before he could step into the inner courtyard, the ground rumbled, and a legendary creature resembling a crocodile charged towards him.

The giant crocodile had a massive body, its mouth filled with sharp teeth. It lunged at Karl, its jaws wide open.

The creature's scales were thick and dense, with a faint aura of magic shimmering on the surface, suggesting it possessed formidable spell resistance.

"Hmm..."

Karl chuckled at the sight, brandishing his colossal hammer and meeting the crocodile head-on. The heavy hammer danced in his hands, leaving afterimages in the air.

"Smash!"

The sheer force of the blow drove the crocodile's head into the ground, its top scales flying in all directions.

Blood oozed from his head, flowing like a stream along the crevices.

"First Tier creature!"

Karl, wielding a colossal hammer, strode forward, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.

"With the resources of the Andrew family, it's not difficult to control some First Tier beings to guard the place. Especially here in the Beast Arena, where all sorts of exotic creatures abound."

"So..."

"Where are the remains of the Second Tier beings?"

At this moment, Karl possessed a First Tier mid-stage physique, having cultivated the Divine Demon Transformation to the second layer, making him equivalent to a top-tier legendary creature.

Combined with his formidable abilities, he charged through the Beast Arena's backyard, leaving behind a trail of exotic beast corpses.

"Boom!"

A nearby building was effortlessly shattered by Karl, who smiled as he observed several figures cowering inside the room.

"I'll ask a few questions. I'm a kind person, and if you answer honestly, not only will you be safe, but there will also be a reward."

"Or would you rather fall into the hands of others?"

The people of the Magic Forest were never lacking in adventurous spirit, and in reality, Karl's reserved nature was the exception. After a brief period of chaos, numerous individuals had already rushed into the Beast Arena to loot and plunder.

These individuals were far more ruthless than Karl.

Krahe, a Second Tier Life Mage, stood in the void, holding the Dark Moon Staff. He frowned, his expression darkening as he scanned the surroundings.

Here, he couldn't sense the Astral Plane, and even the elemental fluctuations in the air were in an extremely dormant state.

This significantly reduced the effectiveness of his spells.

"Dimensional Barrier?"

"Indeed!"

The void rippled, and several figures appeared one after another.

Among them was an elderly man with white hair and a wrinkled face, holding a peculiar staff as he gazed at Krahe.

"Old friend, we meet again!"

"It's you!" Krahe's eyes flickered:

"Magician Gite, I can't believe you're still alive."

"As long as the Andrew Family is here, how could I bear to die?" Gite grinned, his expression eerie:

"Krahe, there's no need to stall. We've investigated, and the other two Second Tier Wizards of the Andrew Family aren't nearby."

"As for the Sixth Circle Tower..."

He shook his head lightly:

"The reason the Tower remains high above is that they never involve themselves in power struggles between factions."

"It seems you've prepared well." Krahe's eyes narrowed as he looked at the person beside Gite:

"Duns, are you sure you want to oppose the Andrew Family?"

"I don't want to either." Duns, appearing much younger than the other two, sighed:

"But the Leipzig Marketplace cannot accommodate the Nelson Family. Since it's come to this, I have no choice but to take the initiative."

Duns!

A newly promoted Second Tier Wizard of the Nelson Family.

Today's scheme was a joint effort between Duns and Magician Gite, aiming to kill Krahe.

By eliminating Krahe, the Andrew Family would lose a Second Tier Wizard, making them hesitant to act recklessly.

"Haha..."

Gite burst into laughter:

"Krahe, you didn't expect this, did you? Duns took the initiative to contact us to counter your family."

"The Nelson Family's Dimensional Bracelet can even create a short-term dimensional barrier, isolating everything within."

"I know you're powerful, but here..."

He surveyed the surroundings:

"We have two Second Tier Wizards and four late-stage First Tier Wizards. You have no chance of winning!"

"Cough, cough!" Duns cleared his throat:

"Gite, the dimensional barrier can only be maintained for a short time, so... shouldn't we take action now?"

He glanced at Krahe from the Andrew Family.

"Of course."

Gite nodded:

"I'm just a bit too excited. After all, I've been waiting for over two hundred years for this moment!"

"Enough." Krahe's voice deepened:

"Let's begin!"

"Good!"

Duns nodded. He seemed eager, and with a wave of his hands, countless shadows spread out from him, targeting those in the arena.

Second Tier Spell—Shadow Strike!

This spell was perfect for stealth and assassination, but his choice of target surprised his companion.

Not Krahe,

but them!

"Thud!"

"Thud, thud!"

Instantly, two late-stage First Tier Wizards fell on the spot, while the remaining few managed to dodge, their faces pale with shock.

Gite roared in anger:

"Duns!"

He stared at Duns in disbelief, his eyes filled with fury, then turning to fear and despair.

How could this be?

"Gite." Krahe shook his head, his expression calm:

"Do you think the Nelson Family's Dimensional Bracelet came from nowhere? Do you think Duns could advance to the Second Tier without the Andrew Family's consent?"

"Indeed."

Duns, while controlling the shadows to hunt down a First Tier Wizard in the arena, spoke:

"Even the creation of the Vitality Elixir from the Spirit Butterfly is thanks to Mr. Krahe."

"The Andrew Family has long wanted to get rid of you. I lured you here with my own hands to deal with you together."

"I'm sorry!"

He spoke sincerely:

"I couldn't refuse Mr. Krahe's proposal."

"That's right!" Krahe, using a Second Tier spell, attacked the furious Gite, his voice calm:

"Cultivating a Second Tier Wizard within a family, settling the Andrew Family's long-standing grudges..."

"This deal is undeniably profitable!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end