Trial of the Ice-Fire Elves

Terrifying magic power surged like tidal waves.

As the surrounding mountains and earth collapsed, this terrifying mountain gradually began to glow. It even slowly floated above the crater in the ground, standing there like a massive underground fortress city.

Though that terrifying magical power had only flashed by for an instant, Julius Novachrono, the twenty-eighth Wizard King, who had been reading through various magic tomes in the Clover Kingdom Capital, suddenly raised his head.

The grimoire above his head flipped nonstop like a prayer wheel, creating an extremely exaggerated and terrifying sight.

Just from the densely packed magical contents that kept awakening, one could tell just how powerful Wizard King Julius truly was.

Julius frowned, then slowly lowered his head again.

At the same time, among the nine Magic Knight Squads,

nearly everyone whose magical power had reached captain level sensed that fleeting wave of magic power.

William Vangeance immediately frowned.

This feeling...

It was immensely dangerous, yet inexplicably familiar.

He did not know why such a strange feeling had arisen within him.

Perhaps it was time to send someone to investigate.

It was just that choosing who to send immediately plunged William Vangeance into thought.

Meanwhile, Yami Sukehiro of the Black Bulls was sitting on a toilet, fighting for his life.

The instant he sensed that aura, the Dark Magic around him flashed as though in a stress response.

The next moment, his gaze lowered again as if nothing had happened.

Of course, this powerful magical fluctuation had not only caught the Clover Kingdom's attention.

Far beyond the Clover Kingdom's border, within the Diamond Kingdom camp,

the Diamond Kingdom's commander—Lotus Whomalt—was shrouded in smoke.

That smoke swirled everywhere as though it could seep through any opening, eventually condensing into a huge gray throne.

Lotus sat upon it and looked down at Mars, a magic knight whose body likewise radiated crystalline Diamond Magic.

He snorted and said,

"The Clover Kingdom truly is a place full of hidden talents."

"We should go take a look as well. Perhaps it has something our Diamond Kingdom needs."

"We can't let them keep all the benefits for themselves, can we?"

Mars remained silent.

The mineral embedded in his forehead seemed fused to his scalp, producing a metallic clanging sound amid the silence.

After a moment, he answered in a low voice,

"Yes, sir."

Ice-Fire Lake had now completely turned into a living hell.

The collision between ice and fire was not one of mutual incompatibility.

Instead, under a certain unique rhythm, the danger and killing intent contained within multiplied exponentially.

Even with the magical protection provided by the four women, such a defense clearly would not hold for much longer.

Unless—

Charlotte could completely recover her strength at this moment. Otherwise, facing them head-on would still be incredibly troublesome.

The group did not yet know of the changes in the underground fortress city brought about by the Ice-Fire Elves' miserable howls.

But the fluctuation within that anguished cry, one that clearly carried the meaning of summoning and sacrifice, had been incomparably distinct.

Though Charlotte's strength had been sealed, her judgment remained sharp.

At this moment, she continuously reinforced the defensive barrier around them.

And at last, the "remnant souls" of the Ice-Fire Elves appeared.

They were two breathtakingly beautiful elves.

They had pointed ears.

Yet their expressions were now vicious and ferocious.

The baleful aura and resentment surrounding them had nearly condensed into physical form.

Seeing the defensive light barrier, still unbroken but already on the verge of shattering,

the two elves grew increasingly furious.

"Humans... all deserve to die!"

"If not for humans, how could we have fallen to this state?"

"The hearts of humans are filled with greed.

A race without love deserves nothing but destruction."

The elves' words, like murmurs, fell into everyone's hearts.

Carl immediately frowned.

These two elves seemed to have an unspeakable story behind them. She stepped forward and looked up into the sky.

"Whatever grievances you have, you can speak them out."

"There is absolutely no need to drag innocent people into this."

Upon hearing Carl's words, the two elves' auras immediately became even more violent.

The rate at which they burned their remnant souls accelerated once more, and the defensive formation formed by the four women was nearly on the verge of complete collapse.

Yet Carl appeared exceptionally calm at this moment.

"If you have something to say, say it."

The elves roared,

"Human, do you know what love is?"

"If not for your betrayal, how could we have become like this?!"

"Since you claim to possess love, since you pretend to rely on one another just to provoke us,"

"Then prove to me that you have the courage for true love!"

With the furious roar of the dual-element ice-and-fire elves, the magic power erupting from their bodies increased exponentially.

Even more terrifyingly, their figures began to gradually dissipate.

Yet they appeared utterly unconcerned.

The pressure bought at such a price was terrifying beyond measure.

The defensive light barrier formed by the four of them cracked apart inch by inch.

Earth and stone exploded, while thorns withered. Even Noelle's Water Dragon Defense shattered in an instant.

Vanessa even coughed blood from the corner of her mouth.

Fate Creation Magic—Synchronous Resonance now seemed to have erected an invisible barrier high in the air.

Though its power was astonishing, under the two elves' frenzied attacks without regard for the cost, Vanessa ultimately suffered magical backlash.

Crack—

Everything around them completely shattered.

Terrifying pressure blanketed the area like rolling giant waves, crashing down viciously upon everyone.

In an instant, they all groaned at once.

Even Carl clearly felt that utterly domineering power.

This was no longer a mere balance of ice and fire, but a truly destructive magical attack.

Carl took a deep breath, stepped to the very front, and faced the Ice-Fire Elves directly.

A faint white mist rose from her body as she forcibly resisted the erosion of ice and fire.

A strange gleam flashed through the elves' eyes.

Then they pointed at Carl and said coldly,

"Man, step forward."

"As a male, since you can stand shoulder to shoulder with them, do you dare use your life to protect them?"

Mockery appeared in the elves' eyes.

"So long as you can endure our trial, we will acknowledge that you are not like those vile people."

"Otherwise—your body and soul will be reduced to ashes."

Carl did not answer immediately.

But seeing the state of those behind her, she knew full well that if this continued, the outcome would only grow worse.

Rather than collapse passively, it was better to fight proactively for time.

Carl took a step forward.

The women behind her were almost all stunned at once.

Among them, Sol Marron's emotions were the most complicated.

She had never imagined that this man, who made her emotions fluctuate so wildly—someone she hated yet could not ignore—would stand so resolutely at this moment.

As though there was not the slightest hesitation in his heart.

Sol Marron's expression trembled slightly.

An emotion she had never felt before quietly took root in her heart.

"Big sister...

Why does my heart feel so unsettled...?"

Charlotte gave a bitter smile.

Carl's charm truly was difficult to ignore.

Though he had not awakened magic power for long, his perseverance and tenacity had already, without anyone noticing, been engraved into everyone's hearts.

Listening to the favorability notifications ringing almost simultaneously in her mind, Carl bared her teeth in pain, yet still smiled.

"Go on."

"How do you want to test me?"

The Ice-Fire Elves clearly had not expected Carl to be so decisive. Looking at Carl's body, sculpted as though by knives and axes, they exchanged a glance.

The next moment, one of the elves said coldly,

"Then we shall temper your body with ice and fire."

"Endure the burning,

and you may be reborn from the flames, your strength rising another step."

"And we will dissipate thereafter."

"But if you cannot endure it—then you will be completely reduced to ashes."

"Of course, you may also beg for mercy midway through."

"You need only let those behind you share the burden for you."

The elves' eyes were full of anticipation.

As though they were waiting for Carl to regret it on the spot.

Charlotte immediately shouted in fury,

"No, Carl!"

"This is an open scheme!"

"Your physical strength absolutely cannot withstand this level of magical torment!"