Chapter 33: Resurrection

Chapter 33: Resurrection

Where the dazzling light converged, a colossal mountain giant knelt on one knee.

Its towering nine-zhang-tall frame created a vast shelter, shielding Yu Sheng'an, Eileen, and even Doman—who had been wrapped into a plant-like sphere and sunk into the ground—from the strike of Heavenly Punishment!

Laymen watched for spectacle, while experts discerned the essence.

While the citizens of Willis City were awestruck by the mountain giant, which was three times larger than the lava giant, the mages had already paled in shock!

Summoning a lava giant was terrifying enough.

Who could have imagined that Ajef had also contracted a mountain giant?

Just how vast was his Soul Power?

Even more inconceivable was the fact that the lava giant, which had been blasted into a mass of magma, was visibly reassembling and recovering at a rapid pace as everyone watched.

This scene defied all conventional understanding of lava giants among the mages.

After all, lava giants were born from magma, dwelled in magma, and within magma, their combat prowess rivaled that of a demigod—nearly unkillable.

Of course, this didn’t mean lava giants were invincible.

If subjected to a devastating attack that caused instantaneous bodily collapse, they could still perish.

Even if a wisp of their remnant soul survived within the magma, relying on its protection, reforming their bodies would take centuries, if not millennia, of painstaking effort.

Let alone a lava giant outside of magma.

That was supposed to be a death sentence!

Yet Ajef’s lava giant had ruthlessly trampled their magical knowledge into the dirt!

"ROAR—"

The lava giant roared at the sky, opening its maw to spew a torrent of scorching flames toward March, who still hovered in the air.

March hastily dodged, his face twisted in terror as he looked at Yu Sheng'an.

As an Archmage, the most powerful spell he possessed was the sixth-level magic—Heavenly Punishment, and that was his only trump card!

If even Heavenly Punishment couldn’t harm Ajef, what else could he do?

Rely on an endless barrage of third- and fifth-level spells to create an opening?

Gritting his teeth, March was about to resort to the most dangerous close-quarters combat when a sudden chill seized his legs!

Instinctively, he activated Levitation and dodged to the side, glancing down—only to freeze in horror at the sight of his severed legs, the stumps plummeting straight down.

In the spot where he had just been standing, a shadow demon licked its bloodstained claws with a vicious grin before fading into the air.

"No—!"

March lunged desperately for his severed limbs, trying to retrieve them.

But just as he drew near, his world abruptly darkened.

A colossal palm descended from above, slamming him violently into the ground.

To onlookers, it appeared as though the kneeling mountain giant had slightly raised its knee, adopting the stance of a sprinter at the starting block.

In the blink of an eye, it surged forward, leaped high, and brought its palm crashing down on March!

"BOOM—!"

March was smashed deep into the earth, leaving a massive human-shaped crater in his wake.

A shadow demon materialized beside the crater and hauled his limp body out.

By now, March was long unconscious, his head lolling weakly, his body as limp as a ragdoll—clearly, every bone in his body had been shattered.

If not for the formidable Soul Power and magic reserves of an Archmage sustaining him, he would have been dead long ago.

The wind swept through this corner of the world, carrying a hint of oppressive heat.

That was the scorching aura radiating from the lava giant.

The world fell silent.

Countless people watched the scene in horror, gaining a visceral understanding of the power of an Archmage.

When they looked at Ajef again, their eyes brimmed with fear—especially the members of the Willis Magic Plantation Association.

They realized that unless they could kill Ajef in a single strike, none below the God of Magic would stand a chance against him and his terrifying summoned creatures!

And yet, such a terrifying figure was someone they had offended?

Despair washed over them, leaving them utterly speechless.

"Ajef, mercy is a virtue. The mistake he made has already been paid for with his plantation. Let him go."

A calm, measured voice drifted over.

Only then did the crowd notice in astonishment that Dandell, the God of Magic, had appeared atop the city wall, his black robes fluttering in the wind.

Disbelief painted their faces.

Not only had Ajef destroyed March’s plantation, but he had also beaten him to the brink of death.

Most importantly, he had violated Willis City’s law against private duels. Yet, Dandell spoke to him in a gentle tone, urging him to spare March?

Who was the God of Magic here—Dandell or Ajef?

Yu Sheng'an glanced at Dandell, pondering briefly before willing his summoned creatures to vanish. Beneath their feet, magic circles flared to life, their figures dissipating with the fading glow.

March, meanwhile, was unceremoniously dumped on the roadside by the shadow demon like discarded trash.

As the mountain giant and lava giant disappeared, the crowd collectively exhaled in relief.

If nothing else, the sheer visual impact of those two colossal beings had been suffocating.

Having done what he came for, Yu Sheng'an couldn’t be bothered to respond. He simply turned and walked toward Willis City.

Eileen quickly followed.

Wherever Yu Sheng'an walked, the crowd instinctively parted, their gazes filled with awe as they stared at this young face. A myriad of emotions flickered in their eyes—

Fear, reverence, fanaticism… and more.

Once Yu Sheng'an had passed, the Wood Spirit Magic apprentices from the Magic Forest hurried after him.

Under the scrutiny of Willis City’s citizens, they instinctively straightened their backs, chins raised, pride written all over their faces.

Thanks to the internet, their journey through the city became a spectacle, with throngs of onlookers crowding the streets.

The sheer number of awestruck stares left them flushed with excitement!

Look at us—we’re members of the Magic Forest!

By the time they returned to the Magic Forest, many of the apprentices still buzzed with exhilaration.

Even as Eileen assigned them tasks, they remained caught up in the earlier spectacle, chattering away while tending to their plants.

Without a doubt, this incident would shake Willis City—

Perhaps even the entire Keville Empire!

"Mr. Ajef, the experimental tasks have all been assigned," Eileen reported respectfully, her eyes burning with fervor alongside her usual reverence.

"Good. Keep an eye on things. I’m tired—don’t disturb me unless necessary," Yu Sheng'an replied.

"Yes!" Eileen nodded quickly, thinking, Commanding two giants in battle must be exhausting.

Little did she know—Yu Sheng'an wasn’t tired in the slightest.

Those summoned creatures were all brought forth by contract power, and the only price he needed to pay was a bit of Source Essence.

The reason he made an excuse to leave was that the lava giant had sent him a plea!

Yu Sheng'an left the underground laboratory and settled cross-legged in the side hall of the Magic Forest, entering Meditation.

In truth, his consciousness returned to his true form, and through the Divine Perspective, he observed the lava giant Qiuqi, who had rendered him outstanding service in battle.

At the edge of a volcano in the abyss, Qiuqi knelt on the viscous, semi-solidified lava, whispering prayers to the Internet God.

"Great Internet God, Your divine power is so mighty, Your strength so unfathomable. Qiuqi is willing to expand Your dominion, to let Your radiance illuminate the abyss!"

As an elemental creature, Qiuqi's intelligence was not low.

However, its long life in the volcanic depths of the abyss, filled with overly "simple" experiences, had made its wisdom seem somewhat rigid.

But rigidity did not equate to foolishness.

No one knew that the events of this day had thoroughly awakened its ambition.

To recount, when Qiuqi had been inexplicably summoned into a small black room, brutally beaten, and forced to sign an unequal contract, it had harbored both fear and hatred toward Yu Sheng'an!

Of course, that hatred had been buried deep within its soul.

Yet everything that happened today had completely dispelled that lingering resentment!

When that terrifying lightning pillar blasted it into fragments, Qiuqi's powerful soul stubbornly clung to survival.

But survival was not always a blessing.

An overwhelming terror corroded its soul.

It knew—it was doomed.

Despair, regret, fury, remorse, agony, helplessness... Countless negative emotions tormented it!

At that moment, it loathed Yu Sheng'an with every fiber of its being!

If not for Yu Sheng'an, how could it have faced death?

Yet just as it drowned in absolute despair, a surge of immense vitality suddenly flowed through the mysterious contract, pouring in from Yu Sheng'an.

It was revived.

Resurrected on the spot, far from the lava.

And in that very moment, elation flooded its entire being—while the near-death experience ignited the long-buried ambition in its heart!