Heavenly Punishment

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

It resembled a blazing sun!

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

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

His furious declaration spread throughout Willis City.

"Roar—"

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

"Buzz!"

A pale cyan magical barrier sprang up in response, appearing above the Magic Plantation like an inverted piece of green porcelain.

"Boom!"

With a deafening crash, the twin fists made entirely of rock and lava smashed into the barrier, sending dazzling ripples racing across its surface!

Shockwaves surged and compressed toward the shield's edges.

Like sound waves squeezed into a Sound Barrier, it abruptly shattered upon reaching its limit!

In an instant, the unleashed force became a shockwave that hurled sand and stones into the sky!

Having smashed through the magical barrier, the Lava Giant did not pause. It strode toward the heart of the plantation, trampling countless precious plants into ash beneath its feet.

Gouts of blazing magma dripped from its body, splashing across the Magic Plantation like an aura of destruction. Wherever it fell, not a blade of grass remained.

In an instant, flames stretched on without end, and ash spread for miles.

The thunderous stomping left the crowd that had followed behind in dead silence.

"What... is that?"

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

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

By the time they came to their senses, there was no point in running.

All they could do was stare in fear and dread at the massive figure ravaging the plantation, and at the young man beside it.

Of course, some were flushed red with excitement, seeds of longing for power quietly taking root in their hearts!

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

In everyone's eyes, Asheff had appeared suddenly and was certainly mysterious, but he had always been mild-tempered, much like Doman, the Son of the Forest. He seemed like the sort of mage devoted to research.

Many had even regarded him as another Doman.

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

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

Because a single wild vegetable had been ruined, he had not uttered a second word before directly smashing someone's plantation!

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

Cutting off someone's livelihood was like murdering their parents. This grudge would likely end only in death.

As one of those involved, Erin felt as though she had been struck by lightning!

Her body trembled uncontrollably, not from fear, but from an indescribable thrill that shook her to the core.

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

Erin looked at Mr. Asheff's calm face, and an emotion known as "a man would die for one who truly understood him" quietly began to sprout in her heart.

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 surprise.

"This has long spread across the academy Forum! I'd say 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—so long as one possesses absolute power, who would dare wag their tongues? Was Dendall's reputation good before he became a Magic God?"

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

Quite a few Federation members nodded in agreement without thinking.

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

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

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

"People can leave, but land cannot..."

Just as everyone was discussing the matter, a wave of sound pierced through the villa's countless defensive spells and entered everyone's ears.

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

As the words fell, everyone instinctively looked at Marchie.

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

"Outside the city?"

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

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

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

The others exchanged glances and hurried after him.

Nearly everyone present was a Red Robe Archmage, and there were even Purple Robe Grand Archmages among them.

When they rose into the air and saw the scene at Marchie's plantation outside the city, even with all their experience, every one of them stood aghast!

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

"Asheff, I'll kill you!"

Marchie roared hysterically. His figure shot out of the city like lightning, and with a casual wave of his hand, countless "stars" suddenly lit up around him.

The stars rapidly expanded, turning into violent, unstable spheres of lightning.

They were none other than Lightning Magic—Ball Lightning!

"Die!"

Countless lightning spheres flew toward Yu Sheng'an in a swarm!

Before the lightning spheres could reach Yu Sheng'an, they were blocked by some mysterious presence. Fine arcs of electricity flashed through the air, faintly outlining several Flesh-Winged Demons.

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

Like the darkness before a storm.

When they looked up, they saw that, at some unknown time, massive clouds had surged in from every direction, pressing down upon the city. Countless bolts of lightning brewed within them, like the occasional glimpse of scales and claws from a thunder dragon.

Countless people were terrified.

Everyone surged toward the city in a mad rush, though naturally, some brave souls remained where they were.

"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 one-against-many situation.

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

But without preparation, it became exceedingly awkward, because Summoning Mages themselves were too fragile. After all, this was Special System Magic, with very few types of spells and naturally limited means of response.

Just as Erin looked toward Yu Sheng'an, heaven 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, everyone saw the black clouds roar as they fired down two pillars of lightning.

One struck the Lava Giant;

One struck 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—"

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