FALLEN ORACLE

**Chapter 9: The Strongest Mage (3)**

"Huh?"At that critical moment, Professor Cobb suddenly felt control of the Behemoth's body return to him."You? Mendes? You know Psionic magic too?" Professor Cobb looked at Mendes in surprise. The ring on Mendes's finger was glowing with a pale blue light—the mark of a Telekinetic Control spell."No... I don't. I don't know Telekinetic Control at all." Mendes was also startled. He had been reinforcing the barrier ahead, and his ring, which had been glowing white, suddenly flashed blue.As the two of them stood frozen in confusion, another Behemoth charged forward. Just as it was about to shatter the already cracked magic barrier, Mendes's ring flashed black. The Behemoth's face took a solid punch, leaving it dazed.A towering giant emerged from the ground."Clay Giant?""Not many people know that summoning spell."Other professors and students murmured in admiration.Chen Yi was the first to react. "It's Phil and Carl!""But didn't they go to get reinforcements? They're at least two hours away," Mendes said, puzzled.Professor Cobb suddenly understood. "I get it. It's the rings. So this is the true power of the ascendant Radik's ring set—'Friendship.'"When he had appraised the set before the Special Competition, Professor Cobb had noticed some kind of psionic resonance of unknown purpose.Now it seemed the effect was astonishing: it allowed the wearers, even far away, to transmit the spells they cast through the rings.Not only that, the timing of these two spells was so precise and well-coordinated. It meant that Carl and Phil, while fetching reinforcements, could fully sense the battlefield situation here through Mendes's ring.Though Chen Yi never regretted gaining knowledge, seeing this made him admit that giving away "Friendship" so easily because of the overwhelming power of "Destiny" might have been somewhat hasty.With "Phil" and "Carl's" help, the situation at the north gate saw a brief turnaround—but it didn't last long.An even larger wave of Blade Beetles had now reached the head of the Rongqi Bridge."Damn. This is endless.""I'm exhausted.""I should have practiced more practical spells."Seeing this, the faculty and students couldn't help grumbling. Worse, beneath their complaints lurked a faint, unmistakable fear.*Thud.* A trainee suddenly collapsed from overusing magic.*"Not good,"* Chen Yi thought."Hold on, everyone! Church reinforcements are coming soon. Victory will be ours!" Professor Cobb shouted hoarsely, but encouragement without substance had little effect.Just as morale was sinking, someone pointed ahead and exclaimed, "Look!"Everyone saw the Divine Radiance River ahead suddenly swell into towering waves. The next moment, the waves crashed down on the densest concentration of Blade Beetles.Amid the anguished cries of several Behemoths and hundreds of ordinary beetles, the waves shot into the sky, then suddenly dissipated. The poor creatures fell straight down, reduced to b****y, pulpy chunks on the ground.Until now, no one had achieved a single blow that could wipe out so many monsters. This was the power of the intermediate Wondrous-rank spell: *Tidal Strike.*"The headmaster! It's Headmaster Morin!"Someone in the crowd realized."Headmaster? Where? I don't see him.""Where else would he be? He's in the central tower, of course.""He... can cast such a powerful spell from that far away?"Rongqi Academy occupied a huge square plot of land along the Divine Radiance River. The teaching buildings, library, dormitories, and administrative offices were arranged in orderly fashion.At the very center stood a tower overlooking the entire campus—the ideal spot for powerful mages to cast spells.Even though it was daytime, everyone could faintly see the tower flashing with light.Chen Yi realized they were right. At this critical moment, the most powerful mage on the continent—Morin Lance—had finally entered the fray!As the effects of Tidal Strike faded, several pillars of fire erupted from the ground. The stench of burning beetle carcasses soon followed.Before the crowd could even cheer, a bolt of lightning struck down next, reducing a horde of monsters to ashes."Thunderstrike!""So this is the headmaster? He seemed so mild when giving speeches, but...""Rongqi Academy is the best!""Die, you beasts!"---Seeing the headmaster's overwhelming power, the defenders' fighting spirit reignited. But they didn't know that Morin was not only supporting the north gate.In fact, from the tower, the strongest mage was orchestrating the entire battlefield, his powerful elemental spells covering the ground from the southernmost to the northernmost edges of the academy.It was the first time Chen Yi had seen Headmaster Morin fight at full strength.To be fair, whether in casting speed, timing, transitions between spells, or raw power, Headmaster Morin lived up to his title—flawless in every aspect.Though blessed with Tiya's generous teachings, Chen Yi knew that even now, he was no match for the headmaster.But boosted morale was one thing; physical and mental fatigue was another.Casting magic consumed mental energy.To put it in terms: each spell was like solving a difficult problem in the sciences. Even if you eventually found the solution, your brain would still feel tired.Though the defenders' spirits were high, their endurance was being tested in what felt like an endless battle.---Just as everyone was beginning to flag again, a blue light suddenly appeared on the north gate's pillars, revealing a strange symbol.The moment the symbol appeared, almost everyone felt their cluttered minds, worn out by constant casting, suddenly clear.The fatigue in their minds dissolved. Not only that, they found their mana control smoother and their casting faster.This was almost unbelievable—and all thanks to the strange magic on the pillars."Who... cast this spell?" Professor Cobb asked.No one answered. The professor grew even more puzzled. He could clearly sense that the magic on the pillars was some kind of powerful Psionic spell.Among everyone present, only he had the strength to cast such a spell—yet he didn't even know it.