Chapter 27: Combination Spells (Please Keep Reading!)

Chapter 27: Combined Magic (Please Follow!)

Li Wei and Gu Ze chatted for a while, but by then the situation on the arena had already turned grim.

Lyle took out a mana recovery potion and drank a sip to replenish his drained magic.

He had already defeated seven apprentice mages.

Under the absolute dominance of casting speed, no trickery could alter the outcome.

Seeing Lyle’s mana depleted, Elr immediately sent his disciple, Doug, forward.

“Doug, you’re up.”

Hearing this, Doug hesitated inwardly.

In his eyes, Maple City Mage Tower had already lost—utterly and completely.

And Master Elr’s tactic of sending challengers one after another was nothing short of dishonorable, dragging the tower’s dignity through the mud.

Though reluctant, Doug nodded. “Yes, Master.”

Still, he couldn’t understand—how could Lyle be so powerful when they were both mere apprentices?

Elr stopped Doug before he stepped onto the stage. “Cast *Magic Shield* first, then go.”

Doug couldn’t help but protest, “Master, that’s not quite proper.”

Elr replied calmly, “It follows the rules of challenge.”

Alan burst into laughter. “Brother, just like you! Hahaha…”

The audience in the stands averted their eyes, embarrassed for Elr.

Doug wanted to say more, but meeting Elr’s stern gaze, he swallowed his words with resignation.

With a quiet sigh, he cast the zero-tier *Magic Shield*, then stepped into the battle zone beneath its shimmering veil.

Lyle looked at Doug and smirked, a triumphant curve lifting his lips.

“So you’re the last one? Maple City Mage Tower is truly nothing special!”

Doug stared solemnly at his opponent, ignoring the taunt. “Apprentice mage of Maple City Mage Tower—Doug.”

“Apprentice mage of Polar Night City Mage Tower—Lyle.”

Names exchanged, the duel began.

Doug cast instantly. He knew he couldn’t match Lyle’s casting speed, but his *Magic Shield* could withstand at least two zero-tier spells.

That was his only chance.

Lyle didn’t underestimate Doug. In five seconds, he erected his own *Magic Shield*.

Only then did he launch a *Small Fireball* at Doug.

By the time Lyle completed his second spell, Doug had barely finished his first.

*Boom!*

The fireball struck Doug—the full force absorbed by the shield.

The barrier thinned, flickering faintly.

At last, Doug’s spell reached completion.

“*Mist Veil!*”

Thick fog erupted around him, spreading rapidly until it shrouded the entire battlefield.

The crowd gasped in surprise—none expected Doug to master a non-offensive spell like this.

Within the mist, Lyle lost sight of Doug. His spells could no longer lock on.

Seeing this, Elr finally allowed himself a faint smile.

His disciple naturally possessed skill.

Lyle searched blindly through the fog, the fireball hovering in his palm, unable to release.

Doug kept moving, then abruptly halted.

“*Freezing Rain!*”

A dark cloud formed above Lyle, drizzling icy droplets.

As the rain entered the mist, each drop froze into centimeter-long ice shards—like countless daggers plunging down upon Lyle.

His *Magic Shield* flickered wildly under the assault.

Lyle’s expression shifted—he fired the *Small Fireball* blindly in one direction.

It struck the arena’s protective barrier, missing Doug entirely.

Gu Ze chuckled. “Doug might actually have a chance. Combining *Mist Veil* with *Freezing Rain*—it’s producing an effect akin to the second-tier spell *Icebound Skies*.”

“It’s a weakened version, of course, but enough to handle Lyle.”

Li Wei listened, curiosity sparking in his eyes.

Could two zero-tier spells really combine into such power?

Neither spell offensive on its own, yet together they unleashed strength beyond anyone’s expectation.

Alan glanced at Elr. “Brother… is this the spell combination you’ve been researching all along?”

Elr smiled, satisfied by Alan’s astonishment.

“Alan, never underestimate the traditional mages.”

Alan merely smiled back, saying nothing.

Lyle shifted tactics. He raised his hand, releasing a spell—a glob of pitch-black oil plummeted from above.

“*Grease!*”

The oil spread swiftly across the ground.

Lyle ignited it with a *Small Fireball*. Instantly, flames roared to life, engulfing the battlefield.

The mist evaporated in moments, burned away by the heat.

Doug was forced into the open.

Lyle launched another *Small Fireball*.

Doug twisted desperately—but the spell struck true.

*Boom!*

His *Magic Shield* shattered. A flash of white light glimmered over his body.

Doug lowered his head. “I lost.”

He had been so close.

Never imagined Lyle too could combine spells.

Elr stared at Lyle in shock—then suddenly turned, eyes locking onto Alan.

“You…”

Allen burst into laughter. “Brother, how many times must I say it? Let go of your outdated dogmas. Stop clinging to the old ways of traditional wizards.”

“Your so-called combined spells have long been exhausted and overused within the Weave.”

“You always claim the Weave kills a wizard’s creativity, yet look—how many new applications and combinations has it inspired in countless others?”

“Stop isolating yourselves, hoarding knowledge like broken brooms!”

El sank heavily back into his chair, as if ten years had suddenly weighed upon him.

He closed his eyes and whispered helplessly, “Is there truly no future for traditional wizards?”

El had become a second-rank wizard before Allen.

Yet even now, he remained second-rank, while Allen had long ascended to third-rank.

Barring misfortune, becoming an Archmage was only a matter of time.

The path of the Circle Mage was far smoother than that of the traditional wizard.

Guzer sighed. “He lost.”

“Afraid so. Low-tier Circle Mages hold a clear advantage over traditional ones. Defeat was inevitable.”

Li Wei recalled something and asked curiously, “Master, after all these years stuck at first-rank wizard… didn’t you ever consider becoming a Circle Mage?”

Guzer glanced at him. “I did.”

Then he explained, “But the path of the Circle Mage is a one-way road. As a traditional wizard, you may always turn to the goddess of magic and join the Circle.”

“Yet once you become a Circle Mage, to abandon the goddess, to sever yourself from the Weave—is to lose all power.”

Guzer countered, “Tell me, who do you think is stronger—a novice wizard or a first-rank Circle Mage?”

Li Wei pondered briefly. “The first-rank Circle Mage.”

Guzer shook his head. “They’re evenly matched.”

“But a true first-rank traditional wizard is unquestionably superior. Circle Mages advance through the Weave. Without the goddess’s blessing, they cannot awaken supernatural traits.”

Now Li Wei began to understand why so many still clung to the path of the traditional wizard.

Circle Mages were strong early on; traditional wizards peaked late.

Beyond doubt, the higher their rank, the more supernatural traits traditional wizards gained—and their strength would far surpass that of their Circle counterparts.

Considering his own nature, Li Wei felt the traditional path suited him better.

Guzer smiled. “Do you know what traditional wizards used to be called?”

Li Wei asked, intrigued: “What were they called?”

“Old Masters,” Guzer said. “*Fa-ye*.”

Tuesday update! Weekly reads on Tuesdays determine next week’s recommendations. If you’re following this story, please check in at least every Tuesday.

(End of Chapter)