This was what conquest across domains was like. These strange creatures were actually quite agreeable to the eye.
There was no need even to cross domains. Some worlds within their own domain were much the same, full of bizarre creatures that might not even be humanoid. Of course, other domains often held greater surprises. Ruger had read in a book about invisible enemies, and even worlds that destroyed themselves. After one world inexplicably perished and the Wizards returned to the Underground Caverns, that vanished world and its so-called invisible enemies had followed them back in another form, silently trailing every Wizard. These were all strange anecdotes from the age of conquest.
Ruger quietly watched the pit, probing every detail with his senses to make sure nothing could rise from the ashes.
The two figures in the distance stared blankly at first, then cautiously approached and stood at the edge of the pit to look inside.
Standing beside the pit, Ruger glanced at them.
Of the two, only the injured Mushroom Person, Gubo, still had any fighting strength.
The uninjured Old Wizard, on the other hand, could not wield his power reliably. Ruger had already noticed this while secretly observing them earlier. The Old Wizard's condition was strange. He often could not cast spells, sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing. He had not lost his ability to cast; rather, his attempts failed in great numbers.
Ruger had heard of spellcasting failures since his days as an Apprentice, but apart from one occasion when he had been interrupted, he had never experienced one himself.
This was already a serious problem. In principle, anyone capable of becoming a Formal Wizard should not suffer spellcasting failures except under special circumstances, such as when casting a newly created, unfinished spell.
"Really... dead..."
One of them shed