The evil god's power seemed to shake Ian's mind, dragging Ian into an endless abyss, making Ian a part of this evil god in his descent into depravity.
"No!" Ian roared, striking his forehead hard with his staff. The magic instantly brought him to his senses. He bit his tongue, drawing an ancient Protective Runes in the air with his blood.
The evil god, who called himself Set - Apep, tilted his head slightly, revealing an expression that was almost one of confusion. "How interesting. You are the only one who can resist the summons. Why? Why refuse eternal peace?"
"Because that's not peace, that's death!" Ian gasped, his robes soaked with sweat. "You devour their consciousness, absorb their talents, all to strengthen yourself. Your so-called 'equality' is nothing but a fig leaf for your dictatorship!"
For the first time, the evil god's expression changed. His perfect face twisted for a moment, revealing its hideous nature—beneath that handsome exterior lay a terrifying aggregate of countless struggling souls.
"You understand nothing!" Set - Apep's voice suddenly turned sharp. "Separation is the original sin, individualism is the curse! Only by uniting can true perfection be achieved!"
With his roar, all the kneeling worshippers in the city raised their heads at the same time and repeated in the same voice, "Unite as one, unite as one!" The voice crashed against Ian's eardrums like a wave.
Ian looked around.
He realized he might be the last person in the city to remain conscious.
Wizard, ordinary people, even street vendors and children—everyone's eyes reflected the same light, and everyone's expression was exactly the same.
Set - Apep regained his composure, the mask of perfect divinity donning once more. "Last chance, Ian Prince. Kneel and join us. You will retain your own consciousness and become my representative. If you refuse," he gracefully spread his hands, "You will become a part of me, just like everyone else."
Ian took a deep breath and suddenly smiled. There was no fear in that smile, only determination.
Do you know?
He said softly, his fingers stealthily reaching for a pocket at his waist, "I've been waiting for you to say that."
The evil god frowned slightly, seemingly sensing something amiss. But it was too late— Ian pulled a seemingly ordinary black stone from his pocket and crushed it forcefully.
The moment the stone shattered, the shadow of the entire city suddenly came to life. The sound of the black stone breaking was incredibly crisp, clearly discernible amidst the echoes of the evil god's incantation.
For the first time, a flicker of emotion crossed Set Apep's flawless face. He looked down at his golden body—the living shadows, like viscous ink, were climbing up his ankles.
"Hmm? You actually know shadow magic?" The evil god's voice was no longer majestic, but carried a hint of genuine surprise. "The dark priests of Ancient Egypt have long been extinct."
Ian didn't answer. He retreated rapidly, his wand tracing a series of complex paths through the air. It wasn't Ancient Egypt hieroglyphics, but a three-dimensional magical matrix composed of glowing lines—his " Counterspell Basic Configuration," which he had cobbled together after spending so much time in the Restricted Section at Hogwarts.
A wonderful fusion of Alchemy and Potions.
" All Spells End! Ultimate form!"
Ian chanted a clear incantation. A ghostly blue light burst forth from the shattered stones, resonating with the shadowy figure that entwined the evil god. In an instant, the shadows of the entire city began to writhe, peeling away from the bases of buildings and the feet of the kneeling worshippers, transforming into countless black spikes that attacked Set - Apep.
The evil god let out a shriek, and its wings of light suddenly unfurled. Blazing white light pierced in all directions like sharp swords, evaporating the first few dozen shadow spikes that approached.
But more shadowy figures followed one after another, searching for gaps in the wings of light as if they were alive.
"You think this trick can trap the sun?" Set - Apep roared, his entire body erupting with dazzling flames. The light was like solid lava, turning stone bricks into liquid and bronze into vapor.
Ian was prepared; his wand swiftly traced a complex zigzag pattern. " Ultimate Protego!!"
His naming skills had never been great. A silver shield composed of hexagonal magical units unfolded before him, but spiderweb-like cracks appeared the moment it came into contact with the flames. Ian's pupils contracted—this was his modified ultimate Protective Charm, ten times stronger than a normal Protego.
In the nick of time, he pulled a handful of silver powder from another pocket at his waist with his left hand and flung it into the air. "Phantom Manifestation! Ultimate Bloom!"
This was an alchemical tool concocted after studying Fantastic Beasts. A giant Thunderbird made of silver-blue light flew out from the tip of the staff, its outstretched wings temporarily blocking the deadly flames. The clear cry of the Guardian Spirit brought a brief moment of clarity to the kneeling crowd around them, and several Wizard even clutched their heads in anguish.
Set - Apep's wings of light suddenly flapped, unleashing twelve intersecting light blades that instantly sliced the Silver-Blue Thunderbird into specks of light. But that brief moment was enough for Ian to react.
Ian vanished from the spot, leaving only a few drifting magical feathers behind.
"Teleportation?"
The evil god sneered.
"Where can you escape to in this world?" He raised his right hand, palm up. The temperature of the entire city suddenly rose, and countless golden specks of light appeared in the air. These specks of light quickly condensed into hundreds of miniature suns, illuminating every Street and every building in minute detail.
In a shadowy spot in the northwest corner of the city, Ian was forced to reveal himself. The spatial folds created by Apparition were exposed under the omnipresent light.
"Found you." Set - Apep's voice rang directly in Ian's mind.
Ian looked up and saw the evil god hovering directly above him, the shadowy restraints on his perfect body being burned away bit by bit. Even more terrifying, the evaporated shadow energy seemed to be absorbed and transformed by the evil god—wisps of black lines began to appear on the wings of light behind him.
"Not bad, mage." The evil god's voice regained its chilling gentleness. "Your extraordinary magic has indeed surprised me. Now, it belongs to me."
Ian felt a chill run down his spine. This evil god was not only immune to magical attacks, but could also absorb and evolve after being attacked, so he had to change his strategy.
All I saw was...
Ian plunged his wand into the ground, his hands forming complex hand gestures as he rapidly chanted Ancient Runes. The earth began to tremble, and the Nile River nearby suddenly boiled.
A waterspout shot into the sky, transforming into a giant water snake shape in mid-air.
" Water Snake Summon?"
Set Apep seemed amused, "Using the skills of my people against me?"
The water serpent opened its massive jaws to bite the evil god, but vaporized into a cloud of white mist the instant it touched the wings of light. The evil god didn't even move; he simply flicked his finger, and countless ice crystals condensed within the mist, raining down on Ian like a storm.
Ian swiftly brandished his wand, conjuring a massive Mithril shield in front of him. Ice crystals struck the shield with a series of explosive sounds, each strike comparable to a crossbow bolt. The shield was quickly riddled with holes, and one ice crystal pierced through the defense, leaving a trail of blood on Ian's left shoulder.
The excruciating pain made Ian's mind exceptionally clear. He realized that conventional magic couldn't harm this being at all— Set - Apep had absorbed too much of the Wizard ' talents, making him resistant to almost all known magic.
He must use something he has never seen before.
Ian suddenly put away his wand and pulled a small crystal vial from inside his robe, inside which churned a silvery liquid. Without hesitation, he drank the potion and immediately felt Magic Power surge through his veins—this was Super Magic Boosting Potion he had modified using Moonlight Flower and Mandrake Root.
" Magic Resonance!" Ian gripped his staff with both hands, the tip pointing towards his temple.
A visible ripple of Magic Power spread from his body, and wherever it passed, the kneeling Wizard suddenly convulsed— Ian was forcibly resonating with their Magic Power cores.
"What are you doing?" Set Apep asked, his expression turning wary for the first time.
"You absorbed their magic, but the Magic Power connection remains." Ian's eyes gleamed with silver light. "Now, feel the backlash of magic!"
A dozen or so controlled Wizard screamed in agony at the same time.
Their wands flew into the air automatically, forming a circular array. Each wand began to unleash its original owner's most powerful spells—fireballs, lightning, poison mist—but all of these spells were redirected towards Set - Apep. The evil god was forced to raise his hands to create a defense, his perfect face showing signs of strain for the first time.
As expected, the absorbed magic could harm him, because the absorbed magic turned against him, meaning he lost that part of his knowledge. Various spells exploded on the wings of light, causing no real damage, but clearly slowing his movements.
"A clever trick."
Set Apep gritted his teeth and said.
"But you think that will solve everything—"
His words came to an abrupt end.
Because Ian had already taken the opportunity to prepare for his next spell. He pointed his wand at a pyramid in the distance and shouted, "Ultimate Transfiguration: Architectural Animation!"
The massive pyramid shook violently.
The surface stones wriggled and rearranged as if alive, transforming in the blink of an eye into a sphinx a hundred meters tall. But unlike ordinary Transfiguration, this statue's eyes were inlaid with two huge rubies, and its chest was covered with Ancient Runes.
Ancient Guardian Magic?
The evil god recognized the Ancient Runes.
Where did you learn that?
No one responded to his words.
The statue opened its gem-like eyes, shooting out two blazing beams of light, while simultaneously slamming its massive forepaws towards the evil god in the air. This attack was clearly different from before—the air itself was ionized wherever the beams passed, crackling and popping. This time, Set - Apep didn't take the attack head-on; instead, he dodged it with unimaginable speed. With his wings outstretched, he appeared atop the sphinx's head, placing one hand on the Ancient Runes on the statue's forehead.
" Spell Analysis," the evil god said softly.
A chilling scene unfolded—the magnificent stone statue rapidly crumbled from the point of contact, the Ancient Runes extinguished one by one, and in the blink of an eye, it turned back into a lifeless pile of stones, collapsing into a desolate ruin. On the wings of light behind the evil god, another set of Ancient Runes appeared.
"How many more tricks do you have up your sleeve, mage?" Set - Apep looked down at Ian, his voice laced with the pleasure of a cat toying with Rat. "I'm enjoying this process. Every attempt you make makes me stronger."
Ian's breathing became heavy. Casting high-level spells continuously had begun to deplete his Magic Power. Worse still, the evil god was right—every failed attack seemed to be providing the opponent with new power. The entire city was unrecognizable. The Nile River's water level had dropped due to evaporation from the high temperature, several pyramids had turned into ruins, and the stone slabs paving the Street had all melted.
The kneeling crowd was miraculously unharmed; they maintained their devout posture, only their faces had turned ashen—the evil god was draining their Life Force to replenish itself.
"Give up, Ian Prince." Set - Apep slowly descended to Ian's level. "Look around. What's the point of your resistance other than causing more destruction?"
Ian looked around, his heart clenching as if gripped by an invisible hand. He realized that the evil god was right; the city was heading towards destruction under his "protection."
Your magic can't save anyone.
The evil god continued, his voice as sweet as honey, "But if you submit to me, I can restore everything to its original state. You will act as my representative, guiding these lost souls towards the light."
Ian's vision blurred.
Not out of fear or despair, but out of anger—pure, burning anger.
You have no idea what light is.
Ian hissed, his wand creaking from the strain of his grip, "Light should not deprive people of their right to choose, nor should it devour the will of the individual."
"Your 'light' is just another form of darkness!" Although somewhat swayed by the evil god, Ian remained steadfast in his convictions, knowing he was doing the right thing.
Set Apep sighed, his expression like that of someone looking at a stubborn child. "Poor little mage. You're still clinging to that illusory concept of 'self'."
He spread his arms wide, the wings of light behind him unfurling to their fullest extent. "Without 'me,' there is no pain. Without 'you,' there is no conflict. True bliss is when all souls are united as one."
As he spoke, a powerful mental wave swept over him. Ian felt the edges of his consciousness begin to blur, and his memories faded like the receding tide.
He saw his first day at Hogwarts, his dormitory in the Gryffindor Tower, the dust in the Restricted Section of the library. These precious memories were being pulled apart by some force.
I want to remove it from his mind.
"No!" Ian bit his tongue, the sharp pain keeping him temporarily conscious. He stared intently at the evil god's perfect face and suddenly discovered a terrifying truth—on that face, he saw countless familiar faces flashing in turn. The features of the Wizard who had been devoured were subtly reappearing on the evil god's face.
"I understand." Ian gasped, then suddenly laughed. "You're not a god at all. You're just a pathetic amalgamation, a monster who can't even remember what he truly is!"
Set Apep's expression froze.
A hint of ferocity flashed beneath his perfect face.
"What did you say?"
This is clearly a breach of defense.
I'm telling you, you're a liar! You even lie to yourself!
Ian shouted, pointing his wand directly at the evil god.
"Your so-called 'oneness with all beings' is nothing but a result of your complete ignorance of who you are! You've devoured too many souls, and now you can't distinguish which are yours and which belong to others!"
These words were very damaging.
The wings of light behind the evil god trembled violently, and the faces being absorbed began to scream silently. The sky over the entire city flickered between light and darkness, like a faulty light bulb.
(End of this chapter)