"Interesting, it seems she's able to take on a beast form, adapt, and also be effectively immortal."

"What a truly impressive specimen," whispered Aurelius Venn.

The battle between Damon and the Wendigo was one of the highlights of the war games, his strength, technique, and overwhelming combat style leaving a mark on every spectator.

Grand Mage Amitabh stroked his beard, his large, polished antlers gleaming against his head of white hair. Though not of the Wendigo's kind, he was a beastkin of the deer variety, a grand master of magic from Aerona, the magic continent.

He observed the proceedings with keen interest, eyes narrowing slightly as he analyzed Damon's spell. Seated beside him was the old headmaster of the magic academy, a bald man with a scruffy beard, his posture slouched but his eyes sharp with scholarly curiosity.

"Interesting to think he actually modified the basic magic blast spell so thoroughly, weaponizing an otherwise simple spell."

He stroked his beard, watching Damon with a small smile.

The headmaster of the magic academy didn't seem too pleased to see such talent coming from Aether Academy.

"If I can even call magic blast a spell. It's just a blast of mana, nothing more."

Amitabh smiled, a flicker of amusement crossing his eyes.

"Its complexities increase with each level. First, it was simply creating and compressing the mana, then shooting it from his finger. But he evolved it further."

The old man from the Eldorian Magic Academy narrowed his eyes.

"It can easily be replicated. You simply need a large enough mana pool and... hmm, I suppose this magic arsenal spell has difficult requirements after all."

He stopped himself, realizing that saying more might make a learned scholar like himself lose face. It was more complicated than it appeared. While he knew how the spell worked, its finer details were what made it dangerous. Attempting to replicate it without understanding the flow of Damon's mana through his circuits could easily lead to disaster.

"You would also need an understanding of rune magic," Amitabh added.

"Tsk," the old man clicked his tongue. "I didn't know Aether had someone with this much talent for the craft. Rune magic takes centuries to learn, much less master. Before you can make any practical use of it, it could take even longer... except—"

Amitabh cut him off.

"If they learned its secrets in Lysithara... or happened to have learned from Paimon."

The possibility of Paimon, a demon lord, teaching them was slim. That much was obvious, especially since Damon and his party had already overcome Lysithara.

"Such knowledge should be spread across the world, don't you think, Grand Mage Amitabh?"

Amitabh smiled faintly, finding his words amusing.

"Why don't you start by sharing your magic scrolls and making them public knowledge?"

"Hohoho, you old deer, I was just making a statement. There's no need to be so aggressive."

Amitabh shook his head at the bald old man's nervous laughter.

"Besides," Amitabh continued, his eyes drifting toward the temple's pavilion with a distinct expression, "he doesn't strike me as the type of person we can pressure into selling his secrets."

It was only then that the old man realized Amitabh's attention had shifted.

"You don't mean..."

Amitabh chuckled softly and nodded.

"Yes, without a doubt, the temple will want to control the Armor of the Pale Crown. Just looking at it makes me want to steal it, so you can imagine how much they would want it."

The headmaster of the Eldorian Academy closed his eyes and exhaled.

"Tsk... too bad we can't do much about them, not with his awakening so close at hand. We can't even be sure we can trust each other."

"They want his armor more than ever. The armor of the ruler of Lysithara."

Amitabh nodded, intertwining his fingers.

"They would also want that Wendigo girl for their propaganda, in the name of the goddess, allegedly."

The old headmaster shook his head, smiling faintly.

"Is that blasphemy I hear from the mouth of the wise Amitabh? Someone is being reckless. I could report you, old friend."

Amitabh raised his gaze to the sky.

"I'm tired, Elon. Tired of all this fighting."

The headmaster of the Eldorian Academy, Elon, closed his eyes.

"It's the beginning of new era, Amitabh. And we are getting old."

Amitabh tried to smile, but it faltered.

"It'd be better to say we are at the end of an era."

These two were not the only ones who had seen Damon's spell.

Iris felt her blood boil as she witnessed the might of what had once been the magic bullet spell. Having learned and mastered the original version, she looked forward to learning the magic arsenal Damon had developed. She was certain he would teach it to her.

All around the arena, a single undeniable buzz spread like wildfire. Damon Grey was, without a doubt, the most powerful of the contestants, and with that belief came the calls for him to slay the evil Amon.

The crowd screamed and cheered, the sound echoing through the stadium.

However, Luna bit her lips anxiously, watching her brother. Though she despised demons, she did not want to see him die to one.

The battle with the Wendigos had put her on edge, her heart racing as she watched her brother cough blood. But he still wore that expression, the one that meant he wasn't going to give in.

Except this time, he looked more arrogant than ever.

By her side, the Grand Duke, who had insisted she sit beside him, laughed heartily. When Damon was winning, the old duke was nearly on his feet, ready to shout his cheers in excitement.

In fact, he almost did but Cassian stopped him time and time again.

When the battle finally ended, Damon somehow managed to bring the Wendigo under his control.

However, the broadcast suddenly froze, leaving everyone in confusion.

Then, after a few minutes, it resumed.

From the looks of it, Damon's trials were far from over. If anything, they were just beginning.

The way he stood now, completely depleted, his injuries flaring and his breath ragged, left everyone wondering would he even be in good enough shape to fight Amon?

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