Published at 8th of April 2026 6:54 am

Chapter 1659 High on Power

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When Murphy received the emergency signal from Orion, he was quite alarmed.

Given the recent reports of supply routes, grain depots, and food warehouses being destroyed by the enemy, his reaction was warranted.

It wasn't surprising, though, that such actions would be carried out by the enemy. For they were in the middle of the war — arguably the greatest war to take place between the Haynam Empire and the Sovereign Union.

What truly surprised Murphy was the fact that Orion's life was in danger.

Orion was a Mana Core Magus, and the only threat to his life could come from another Mana Core Magus.

This was what alarmed him. He didn't think the Union — or the Twilight Brotherhood, for that matter — would be bold enough to send a Mana Core Magus deep behind enemy lines. Their Mana Core Magi were few in number, after all.

But the truth was clear to him. An emergency signal from Orion meant he was unable to handle it alone.

And thus, Murphy had answered the call since he was the nearest Mana Core Magus stationed in the region. He took to the skies at once, and within half an hour, he had arrived at Orion's battlefield.

Seeing the dense, dark clouds above the battlefield and the frequency at which lightning coursed through them stunned Murphy. Such a phenomenon was unnatural.

His gaze locked onto Orion and the enemy almost at once.

They were locked in a tense exchange. Orion lashed out with his whip, and the opponent defended with sharp and controlled movements. Then, in a brief opening, the enemy seized the moment and struck hard, sending Orion crashing away.

Murphy's eyes narrowed. He saw it clearly… Edward was closing in as lightning coiled around his body, ready to deliver the killing blow.

In that moment, Murphy descended from the dark skies without hesitation. He cut through the rain and storm in a straight line, speed building with every moment that passed.

And just as Edward's strike came down, Murphy finished weaving the spell components for the spell from the School of Abjuration, and…

BAM!

A mana barrier formed in front of Orion's unconscious body. Edward's lightning-coated fist slammed into it and stopped.

Finally, Murphy was able to catch a proper glimpse of the enemy. And what he saw… made his eyes narrow.

Beyond the mana barrier stood a young man who cut an extremely sorry state. His body was torn and bleeding, gaping wounds still open and blood running freely.

Yet that didn't stop the youth at all. He did not falter. Lightning coursed around him like armor, wrapping his figure in constant motion. It flickered across his skin, feeding him, protecting him, and shielding him.

Despite his haggard condition, the young man looked utterly ruthless and unrelenting.

"Arrggghhhh!!!" Edward roared at the top of his lungs as he exerted greater strength into his bloodied fist.

The mana barrier croaked and groaned, spiderweb-like cracks appearing across its shimmering surface.

Murphy's eyes slowly widened, shocked at the sheer strength and tenacity displayed by the youth. In one swift motion, he scooped the unmoving Orion in his hand and rapidly retreated.

Crash!

The mana barrier shattered like a mirror, bolts of electricity spreading out in all directions.

Edward's lips curled into a smile, and his blue eyes slowly rolled backward as he relished the feeling of the boundless strength coursing through his body.

He… loved it!

Standing several tens of meters away from the youth, who seemed to be high on power, Murphy's eyes narrowed.

This kid, no…

Murphy thought with a grim look on his aged face.

This man is highly dangerous!

He dropped Orion to the ground without much care. There was no time to check on him. Murphy's focus had already shifted to the enemy.

From the moment he arrived, he understood what he was dealing with. Magi in that state, driven by power and pushed past their limits, didn't care about taking damage anymore. They would absorb hit after hit if it meant landing one of their own.

And at this moment, Edward was exactly that!

Injured, bleeding, but still relentlessly advancing. Murphy adjusted his stance, his face a mask of utmost solemnity. Mana poured from his core and flowed smoothly through his pathways as he scarificed the material components for his spell.

Rank 4 Spell: Armory of Mistral!

The air around Murphy trembled. Wind gathered at his command, condensing and sharpening as it took form.

One by one, spears of compressed air materialized around him. Dozens of them hovered in place, their edges faintly visible as the currents twisted and tightened.

The pressure in the air rose, and then… they launched. The spears shot forward all at once, slicing through the space between the two Magi. They screamed and tore through the battlefield in a coordinated barrage, all aimed at Edward.

Still relishing in the well of power surging within his body, the Storm King suddenly felt warning bells blaring within his mind. His pupils lowered ever so slightly and turned sideways as they locked onto the incoming wind spears.

A low moan subconsciously escaped his lips.

And just as the incoming spears were about to tear into him, blue lightning flared violently around his battered body. His damp hair rose, every strand standing on end. And then…

He was gone.

Pushing past his limits, Edward became a streak of blue lightning, weaving through the storm of spears. Some still found him, however. They cut across his flesh and tore through him. But he didn't slow down. He didn't even react.

In a single instant, he broke through the barrage and appeared right in front of Murphy.

With an intoxicated grin on his blood-stained face, Edward's hand shot forward like a sharp blade!

Everything happened too fast for Murphy to even react.

One moment, Edward was in front of him.

The next moment…

He was already past him.

Shatter!

Murphy's defensive artifact broke apart. Blood burst from his shoulder as Edward's strike landed.

And a heartbeat later…

Boom!

A thunderous explosion roared behind him.

Murphy's spell was still active, the wind spears tearing through the space where Edward had been.

But Edward was already gone.

He had slipped through the barrage, shattered Murphy's artifact, and crossed dozens of meters in the same instant.

Far behind him, Edward hit the ground gracelessly as his body struggled to keep up with the speed he had forced out of it.

Murphy clutched the deep wound on his shoulder as blood poured out of it.

He slowly turned around, fear flickering across his eyes as his gaze landed on the youth who was emerging from a crater in the ground, lightning still streaking across his body.

Amidst blood and lightning, the Storm King's true potential was awakening!

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