Chapter 1020: 318. Hullabaloo
[System Message:] noveldrama
[You have consumed 550,000 Points of Energy to launch Deconstruction on multiple targets.]
[Deconstruction Successful!]
[You have obtained the following Deconstruction Results:]
[1. Panel Information for “Saint Tier Shadow Magic: Summoning Technique”.]
[2. Panel Information for “Saint Tier Shadow Magic: Shadow Energy Burst”.]
...
[3. Panel Message for “Saint Tier Shadow Magic: Dark Shadow Multi-headed Snake Summoning Technique”.]
[4. Panel Information for “Shadow Wild Magic: Dark Sovereign’s Barrier”.]
From a distance, Noland Lee targeted the “half-shadow with dual blades”, the “Shadow Fireball with at least a three hundred meter diameter”, the “Dark Shadow Multi-headed Snake”, and the Magic Barrier protecting the top layer of the Upper District, and launched Deconstruction.
The half-shadow floating in the air, swinging huge dual blades towards the Upper District, had been summoned by using a Saint-level “Summoning Technique”.
Its summoner was Lord Sorel of the City of Exiles.
The fighting against the half-shadow, engaged by the “Shadow Fireball” and the “Dark Shadow Multi-headed Snake”, was controlled by the two Deputy Mayors of the City of Exiles.
These three forces entangled in chaos, the latter two attacking the half-shadow, and the half-shadow facing them both without falling behind.
Initially, the Lower Town suffered only from falling rocks smashing the streets and houses, but as the battle intensified, the conflict swiftly spread from the air to the ground level.
The vast majority of the Lower Town, like a giant cauldron, was shattered by the brutal shadow energy, with buildings and urban walls collapsing one after another.
That Mayor named Sorel, completely out of his mind, did not care about the fate of the Lower Town at all.
No matter where the Dark Shadow Multi-headed Snake slithered to, the half-shadow kept slicing without missing a beat.
With each swing, shadow energy burst forth from the blade, and the dual swords easily split the houses used by the Dark Shadow Multi-headed Snake for cover.
The Deputy Mayor controlling the Shadow Fireball took the opportunity when the Dark Shadow Multi-headed Snake distracted the half-shadow and fired a series of Shadow Meteors at the half-shadow.
“Boom boom boom—”
“Beep beep beep—”
The explosions roared, the earth shook, accompanied by the grating noise of the universe.
Noland Lee, merely using “Mental Vision” to observe from far away, could feel the tension of the battle; it was hard to imagine just how violent the energy fluctuations inside the City of Exiles were.
“Interesting. The Mayor and the two Deputies are infighting.”
Noland Lee stroked his chin and gazed into his Magic Vision, lost in thought:
“The three are fighting so fiercely that most of the town has been destroyed, yet the topmost buildings of the Upper District are unharmed. That thing called ‘Dark Sovereign’s Barrier’ has protected the top layer, and that place is precisely the source of cosmic noise…”
Noland Lee touched his head and opened the Magic Panel for “Dark Sovereign’s Barrier”.
[Name] Dark Sovereign’s Barrier
[Type] Shadow Faction Magic Barrier, Wild Magic
[Level] estimated to be Level 115
[Effect]
Protects the target, immune to all negative effects below Level 115, and uses shadow energy to negate damage received at a ratio of 1:1150.
[Explanation 1]
This Magic Barrier was laid down by a Shadow Wizard with Transcendent-level Strength.
It will remain in place forever until its power source is destroyed or its energy is exhausted unless someone shuts it down from the inside.
[Explanation 2]
This Magic Barrier was summoned using Night Shadow Magic.
Upon increasing the supply of shadow energy, it will negate damage at a higher ratio and become immune to even higher-level negative effects.
[Weakness]
(Currently omitted)
…
Wild Magic!
Shadow Wild Magic!
And it’s a specialized defense barrier spell at that!
Noland Lee’s breath caught.
This must be the first time he had seen Wild Magic deployed by someone else.
No wonder that Magic Barrier could withstand the shockwaves from the battle of three Saint Tier Combat Wizards; it was extraordinary on its own.
“Beep—beep—beep beep ba-boop ba-beep boom—beep—”
The noise in his ears suddenly grew louder, and Noland Lee snapped back to reality.
“Now is not the time to think deeply. Cosmic noise typically indicates a ritual that communicates with Outer Space, and nine times out of ten, such rituals give rise to Pollution Zones. Hence, I need to move somewhere where I can’t hear the cosmic noise.”
Noland Lee temporarily put aside the desire to investigate the cause of the Mayor’s internal conflict.
Every place where the cosmic noise can be heard falls within the range of a Pollution Zone.
Noland Lee was unsure about the nature of the impending Pollution Zone.
He could only prioritize safety and quickly implement a strategic retreat.
Noland Lee closed the Magic Vision observing the City of Exiles.
He activated the “Tracking Marks” he had placed all around the Stone Forest and began to release “Mental Vision” one by one.
The situation was a bit dire.
To his current location’s east, about 40 kilometers away, there was one “Tracking Mark”.
This mark was roughly 70 kilometers away from the City of Exiles.
Even at such a distance, Noland Lee could still hear the cosmic noise.
Fortunately, the cosmic noise heard by that mark was very faint.
It is estimated that moving further east for about ten more kilometers would completely avoid the cosmic noise.
Noland Lee ended “Mental Vision” and said to Nolin through “Mind Induction”:
“Command the Mechanos to take away the key materials for the Magic Barrier and then recall all the Mechanos; we need to leave here.”
“Yes, Sir.” Nolin immediately carried out Noland Lee’s command.
The Mechanos surrounding the Temporary Base sprang into action, heading for the Magic Circle constructing the Magic Barrier.