The Golem Mage

The Shadow Mage

The Gordon Clan finally arrived at the banquet venue, held at the City Lord’s residence, and Draco wasted no time descending from the carriage, skipping any speech to the younger generation, as he saw no need for it

“Let’s go in.”

Agnes immediately stepped forward, taking the lead as though she were the one in charge after Draco’s speech, since Draco was showing no interest in guiding them, she decided she would, and this behaviour of hers seems to irritate Arthur.

As he knew she was doing it to prove, yet again, that she was better than Alec.

With her now at the Mid-Tier 1 mage realm, her arrogance had grown also, especially with Alec having promised not to use his golems in the banquet if a fight came up, all that was under the pretense of a fair fight he wanted to give and he said this in the carriage.

And she seemed convinced she wouldn’t lose to him without that support of his, and it showed in her every action.

Before Arthur could say anything, Alec tugged his hand and gave a slight shake of his head.

“It’s not worth it,” Alec murmured quietly, following behind the younger members of the Gordon Clan toward the banquet Hall, where a middle-aged man soon led them to the mansion’s backyard, where a sturdy stage stood as if nothing could topple it.

“This will be the Gordon Clan’s spot,” the man said, pointing to an area with enough comfortable chairs for all the younger members, without hesitation, Agnes went straight to the middle seat at the front.

She glanced back at Alec, clearly waiting for him to react or get angry.

However he only shook his head and offered a faint, almost disappointed smile at her childishness despite her age.

“Let’s go,” he said, choosing not to give her the reaction she wanted, and Agnes snorted when Alec and his group settled at the back.

“Hmph. Losers,” she sneered.

“It’d be better if you stopped underestimating their strength,” Knight remarked to her, because to him if those two always with Alec could detect his presence that easily then it was proof that they were far from the weaklings she assumed them to be.

Minutes later, other families and clans began to arrive, filing past them.

Different entrances led each group to their prepared seats, and all they had to do was take their places.

Once the disciples and descendants from the city’s clans and families had filled their designated areas, an old man with a straight, commanding posture stepped onto the main stage, instantly drawing the attention of every young mage present.

“I want to welcome all the young heroes who have travelled far and wide to be here, allow me to introduce myself—my name is Marcus Dragonmir, the city lord of this city,” he announced, prompting a wave of gasps from the crowd.

“Why does everyone seem so surprised?” Alec asked Arthur beside him.

“Boss, maybe you should stop locking yourself away all the time, just listen to what he has to say,” Arthur replied with a sigh, and Alec chose to follow his advice.

“Yes, I am from the Dragonmir Clan,” Marcus continued,

“But today is not about me, we are here to discover who among you stands at the peak of your generation. Challenge anyone you wish, even if you hold a grudge, the only rule is no killing.”

With effortless grace, the city lord bent his knees and leapt high, landing on a platform at the top of the hall.

“It seems that’s where all the clan and family elders are seated to watch the banquet,” Arthur whispered, nudging Alec with his elbow.

“Let the banquet begin!” the city lord’s voice boomed from above.

Almost immediately, a young man from the Heather family climbed onto the stage and challenged a member of the rival Lanzt family, both clans had their specialty known as wind elemental clans and there is a fierce competition for the title of the city’s strongest wind clan among them both.

The powers of the mages proved nearly equal, but the Heather family’s representative claimed victory, albeit battered and bloodied.

Before he could leave the stage, Sheila Lanzt stepped forward to challenge him, he accepted, only to be soundly defeated.

“Whoa, she’s already a mid-tier one mage!” someone from another clan exclaimed.

“Hmph, no way she advanced that fast without her family’s resources,” another muttered with open resentment.

It was clear she had recently broken through; because throughout the fight, she struggled to fully control her energy, revealing the instability of her new realm, the Lanzt family members wore smug expressions, certain their resources had played a part in this, resources gained from their last victory in the clearing of the remnant zombies from the Blood Moon War, even if they needed up to hold a gate station.

“I want to challenge the Gordon Clan mages,” Sheila Lanzt declared, pointing toward their section.

“Hahaha, that b***h finally can’t hide her eagerness after losing face at the south wall,” Arthur taunted from the back, making no effort to conceal his presence.

His words only fuelled Sheila’s anger, but Arthur didn’t care, he knew Knight and Agnes would jump at the chance to fight her, as Agnes is always eager for the spotlight, if she isn’t going herself then the one who would be going on her behalf is her trusted friend.

The rest of the younger Gordon mages thought the same, expecting Knight or Agnes to step forward since Sheila hadn’t specified a name and no ordinary member could hope to defeat her at with her realm.

“I’ll take you on,” Knight said, rising from beside Agnes and heading to the stage, intent on defending the Gordon Clan’s honour.

Not knowing if Alec and his group had advanced, Knight wanted the stage before any of them.

“You’re not my match,” Sheila sneered as he climbed onto the platform, releasing her cultivation aura in full to send him off in humiliation.

“Oh? Are you so sure?” Knight countered, unleashing his own aura.

Their clashing green and black elemental forces were enough to knock back low-tier one mages.

“Oh, that guy’s advanced to Mid-Tier 1 Mage,” someone in the crowd observed.

“Why does it feel like we low-tier ones are trash? When did advancing become so easy?” others muttered.

“I know right. Two Mid-Tier 1 mages right at the start of the banquet, what a rare sight,” another remarked.

Gasps rippled through the crowd as they took in the rapid rise of yet another mage in their generation, a reminder that their own painstaking cultivation felt pitiful in comparison.

“I’ve been waiting for you to attack first since you’re a lady, but since you’re not taking my invitation seriously, don’t blame me when I make the first move,” Knight said, drawing two short daggers from his waist as a black aura enveloped them.

“Bring it on,” Sheila replied, bracing herself as the wind around her intensified.

[]

Knight sank completely into the ground, disappearing into the darkness. Gasps rippled through the crowd, but Sheila’s expression only grew more serious, as she spotted a black shadow creeping toward her and began channelling mana to unleash her magic, only for another shadow to wrap around her legs, cutting her casting off.

[]

Knight had struck again, swiftly casting another shadow spell to bind her in place, She couldn’t break free before he emerged from her shadow, pressing his blade to her neck.

“You lose,” Knight said with calm authority.

“Wow, that’s so cool!”

“Knight dominated her! What a match!”

The younger generation of the Gordon Clan cheered wildly at their first victory, while the Lanzt family’s side grew dark and heavy.

“It seems it’s time for me to make an appearance,” Bryan Lanzt said, leaping onto the stage with a graceful landing.

“Brother!” Sheila exclaimed, shocked to see him join so quickly, as losing to a Gordon Clan member this early must have been too bitter for him to sit back and wait and he intended to take down this shadow mage before more of his family suffered defeat, as he was the only one who could match Knight’s realm apart from Sheila and she already lost. .

“It seems you’re walking the path of an Assassin Mage,” Bryan remarked.

“Less talking, more fighting. Get ready—I’m about to attack,” Knight replied, already casting his favourite spell.

[]

Bryan smirked. “Got you.”

[]

The wind blades slashed toward the moving shadow, however they passed harmlessly through, as It seemed magic couldn’t touch Knight while he was within the sinking shadows spell form, and his speed was unaffected despite the spell casted at him.

[]

He attempted the same restraining spell he had used earlier, but Bryan seemed ready for it, with a swift counter, he cast another wind spell.

[]

Bryan dashed away, skilfully evading the shadowy hands clawing from the ground, Knight finally emerged from the darkness, meeting Bryan face-to-face.

“I suspected you had a time limit for staying in the shadows, and it looks like

I was right. Now it’s my turn,” Bryan said, as multiple wind blades hovered menacingly around him.