Heavenly Punishment

A colossal Hexagram Array over ninety feet in diameter slowly rose behind Yu Sheng'an.

Like a sun!

Before the horrified eyes of countless Willis citizens, a Lava Giant sixty feet tall and covered in dark red magma stepped out of the Hexagram Array.

"Marchie, if you dare destroy my people's food, then I dare destroy your Magic Plantation! Smash it!!!"

The furious declaration echoed throughout Willis City.

"Roar—"

The Lava Giant threw back its head and roared, swinging its fists down viciously at the Magic Plantation.

"Buzz!"

A pale cyan magical barrier sprang up in response, appearing above the Magic Plantation like an overturned celadon bowl.

"Boom!"

With a tremendous crash, its fists, made entirely of rock and lava, smashed fiercely against the barrier, sending rippling waves across its surface!

Shockwaves surged outward toward the edges of the shield.

Like sound waves compressed into a Sound Barrier, it shattered explosively upon reaching its limit!

In an instant, the unleashed force became a shockwave that sent rocks and sand flying into the sky!

Having shattered the magical barrier, the Lava Giant did not pause. It strode into the depths of the plantation, reducing countless precious plants to ashes beneath its feet.

Great gouts of scorching magma dripped from its body, crashing onto the Magic Plantation like an aura of destruction. Wherever they fell, not a blade of grass remained.

In an instant, flames stretched on without end, and ash covered the land for miles.

The rumbling stomps left the crowd following behind in deathly silence.

"What... is that?"

At that moment, everyone in Willis City was dumbstruck with terror.

Their eyes were wide and their mouths hung open. They had even forgotten to scream, forgotten to run for their lives.

By the time they came to their senses, there was no need to run anyway.

They could only stare in horror and dread at the enormous figure ravaging the plantation and the young man standing before it.

Of course, some were so shaken that their faces flushed red, as a seed of longing for power quietly took root in their hearts!

At this moment, not only the citizens of Willis, but even the well-informed Magic Apprentices stood frozen in place, their legs trembling and sweat pouring down their bodies.

In everyone's impression, Asheff had appeared out of nowhere and was certainly mysterious, but his temperament had seemed remarkably gentle. He resembled Doman, the Son of the Forest, and looked like the scholarly type of mage.

Many had even regarded him as another Doman.

Yet no one had expected Asheff to be a Summoning Mage. This Lava Giant practically confirmed his identity as an Archmage!

What shocked them even more was that his personality was so violent and aggressive!

Because a single wild vegetable had been destroyed, he had immediately gone and smashed someone's plantation!

This was a Magic Plantation—calling it a gold mine would not be an exaggeration.

Cutting off someone's source of wealth was like killing their parents. This feud would likely end only in death.

As for Erin, the person directly involved, it was as though she had been struck by lightning!

Her body began to tremble uncontrollably—not from fear, but from an indescribable thrill that shook her to her core.

Mr. Asheff actually smashed Mentor Marchie's Magic Plantation for me?

Erin looked at Mr. Asheff's calm face, and a feeling best described as I would die for one who truly understands me quietly began to sprout within her.

Willis Magic Plantation Federation · Headquarters · Villa Hall.

"Marchie, I heard you humiliated Asheff's assistant?"

"How did you know?"

Marchie looked at his friend Arthur in astonishment.

"This has spread all over the academy Forum! I'm saying you were far too impulsive. Why make things difficult for a mere Magic Apprentice in public? Not only did you damage your own reputation, you also offended Asheff."

"What reputation? I've figured it out: as long as you possess absolute power, who would dare wag their tongue? Did Dendall have a good reputation before becoming a Magic God?"

Marchie looked utterly unconcerned as he added, "As for Asheff? Hmph, he's just one of Dendall's dogs. What is he worth?"

Quite a few Federation members subconsciously nodded in agreement.

Marchie's words were crude, but they made sense!

"Everyone, judging from Asheff's attitude, Dendall's appetite is probably not small. What do you think we should do?"

"If it comes to it, we can seek Lord Bell's protection!"

"People can leave, but the land can't..."

As everyone discussed the matter, a wave of sound pierced through the villa's countless defensive spells and reached every ear.

"Marchie, if you dare destroy my people's food, then I dare destroy your Magic Plantation! Smash it!!!"

As the words fell, everyone instinctively looked toward Marchie.

Marchie's expression changed drastically. He had just risen from the sofa when a terrifying boom rang out.

"Was that outside the city?"

"This is bad. From the sound of it, it seems to be... coming from Marchie's Plantation."

Everyone turned to Marchie again, their eyes filled with astonishment.

Marchie could no longer sit still. He cast Levitation on himself and rushed out as if his hair were on fire.

The others exchanged glances and hurried after him.

Almost everyone present was a Red Robe Archmage, with even a few Purple Robe Grand Archmages among them.

When they rose into the air and saw the scene at Marchie's Plantation beyond the city, even with their experience, every one of them was left staring in shock!

Marchie's eyes turned bloodshot, veins bulging across his forehead!

"Asheff, I'll kill you!"

Marchie roared hysterically, his figure shooting toward the outskirts in a flash. With a casual wave of his hand, countless "stars" abruptly lit up around him.

The stars rapidly expanded, transforming into unstable, violently crackling spheres of lightning.

It was Lightning Magic—Ball Lightning!

"Go die!"

Countless lightning spheres whistled toward Yu Sheng'an!

Before those lightning spheres could reach Yu Sheng'an, they were blocked by some mysterious presence. Dense lightning flashed through the air, vaguely outlining several Flesh-Winged Demons.

At the same time, the onlooking crowd that had followed behind discovered in astonishment that the sky was gradually dimming, growing darker and darker!

Like the darkness before a storm.

Looking up, they saw that at some unknown moment, vast black clouds had surged in from every direction, pressing down over the city. Countless bolts of lightning brewed within them, like glimpses of a thunder dragon's scales and claws.

Countless people were terrified.

Everyone scrambled toward the city, though some of the bolder ones remained where they stood.

"This is... sixth-tier Magic, Heavenly Judgment!!!"

Erin's pupils dilated as she stared at Asheff in horror. Her expression clearly showed that she was worried about him!

Summoning Magic was extremely powerful. With sufficient preparation, it could often create a situation where one fought many.

It was entirely possible for one person to defeat several mages of the same rank!

But without proper preparation, it could be exceedingly awkward, because Summoning Mages themselves were too fragile. After all, this was Special System Magic, with very few spell types and naturally limited responses.

Just as Erin looked toward Yu Sheng'an, the heavens and earth suddenly lit up.

Two incomparably dazzling Light Pillars made countless people instinctively close their eyes.

In the fleeting glimpse before their eyes shut, they saw the black clouds roar as they fired down two pillars of lightning.

One struck at the Lava Giant;

One struck at Yu Sheng'an!

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

The world fell into dead silence.

When the world-shaking light suddenly receded, everyone instinctively looked toward where Yu Sheng'an had been standing.

"This is—"

Amid the belated rumble of thunder, everyone's minds went blank at the sight before them, as though their souls had left their bodies!