Chapter 1209: Corporeal Illusion
The interior of the pyramid lay in ruins. It was an utter and complete wreck. Broken stone blocks and collapsed walls littered the floor, covered in dust, debris, and dried blood.
Massive green feathers, torn and bloodstained, were scattered across the chamber. At the center lay the corpse of the giant feathered serpent. Its body stretched across the ruined hall, its scales cracked and shredded.
A few plumes of feathers still drifting in the air painted a macabre and gory scene. It was something Edward had never witnessed in his life before. Pools of blood had seeped into the cracks of the stone floor, staining everything in a dark red.
The air, which was already oppressive and heavy to begin with, now felt utterly suffocating. Broken carvings and shattered statues were half-buried beneath the rubble, as if the very pyramid itself had collapsed under the serpent’s final moments.
Edward had witnessed it all, from the very beginning up until the moment the feathered serpent breathed its last. Oh, what a glorious battle it was. He had never seen something so spectacular before.
A battle between Mana Core Magi... It was his first time witnessing such a breathtaking scene!
He watched Berger expertly weave illusions in the air, scenes that were indistinguishable from reality. He saw Blackie shrouded in darkness, slipping in and out of shadows.
Finally, he witnessed the might of the feathered serpent. It was a grand battle to behold. Yet the serpent could not hold its own against the combined might of Berger and Blackie.
Truth be told, Edward knew that the gnome had majored in the School of Illusion and thought that it was one of the weaker branches of magic.
But after witnessing how Berger had fooled the senses of the serpent on more than one occasion, allowing Blackie to deal successive critical blows, he realized something very important—something that deepened his understanding of magic.
There were no strong or weak Schools of Magic, only strong or weak Magi.
"Boy, come out here," the gnome suddenly called out to him.
"Y-yeah!" Edward snapped out of his daze and came out of hiding.
He walked across the ruined chamber, his gaze shifting from blood-stained feathers to ripped-out scales.
Finally, he arrived before the unmoving corpse of the serpent. Sitting atop it, Berger casually smoked from the pipe, almost as if he hadn’t just taken care of a might Mana Core-level beast.
As for Blackie, he was devouring the flesh of the serpent with great relish. It wasn’t every day that one got to dine on the meat of a Mana Core-level beast, after all.
Edward couldn’t hold in his curiosity any longer and asked, "Old man, how did you do it? How did you turn your illusions corporeal?!"
Berger arched an eyebrow. "Did you witness the entire battle?"
"Of course, I did!" Edward grinned from ear to ear. "A battle between Mana Core-level beings? I wouldn’t miss it for the world!"
The grumpy old gnome shook his head in disappointment. "Looks like you’re unafraid of courting death. Or perhaps you’re just ignorant."
He paused for a moment, took in a long drag from the pipe, then added, "Always remember, Eddie, the mere shockwaves from a battle between Mana Core Magi are enough to gravely injure others, even if they’re Mana Vortex Magi."
"Yes, yes, of course." Edward nodded, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "Anyway, how did you do it?"
"I really need to beat some discipline into you," Berger scoffed. He inhaled another drag, savored the flavor of tobacco, then exhaled to the side.
He then continued, "Ideally, illusionists use shadow magic to turn their illusions corporeal, but I use smoke. It’s something that I’ve researched and developed over the years. I suppose, you could call it smoke magic."
There was a hint of pride in the elderly gnome’s eyes as he waved his hand and conjured a large pipe made out of nothing but the smoke he’d exhaled. With another gesture of the hand, the pipe flew towards Edward and smacked him in the head.
Edward didn’t have time to express his grievance. He was completely fascinated by the application of smoke magic and how the model component of the spell transmuted the state of matter from intangible to tangible.
"Principles from the School of Alteration?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity.
Berger replied with a faint nod. "Indeed."
Right at that moment, Blackie’s voice echoed in the dimly lit chamber. "Found it."
The gnome turned towards him, his eyes flashing with hints of excitement. He saw a glowing sphere clutched between Blackie’s jaws and couldn’t help but reveal a smile.
"After our work here is done, I’ll set up a ritual magic, and then we can absorb the mana from the core. What do you say?" Berger asked as he hopped down from the giant snake and walked towards the wolf.
Blackie threw the mana core at the gnome, then said in an even voice, "You should absorb all of it by yourself. You need to consolidate your rank."
"Are you sure?" Berger was slightly taken aback.
Blackie nodded. "My mana absorption rate is significantly higher than yours. Absorbing the mana from the core or not makes little difference to me."
The gnome deeply looked at his old friend, then nodded. "Very well, then."
At that moment, Edward cleared his throat and shamelessly said, "Old Man Berger, if you’re so intent on sharing the mana core with someone, then how about including me—"
Pow!
"Fool! The mana inside the core is too potent. It’s not something you can absorb," Berger reprimanded.
"Gahh!" Edward grimaced with tearful eyes. "Why can’t you use words? Damn it! Must you always resort to violence?"
The gnome rolled his eyes, then turned around. He gazed at the giant arched door that seemed to lead further underground. Conveniently, the door was also just big enough for the feathered serpent to move through.
Gesturing at it, Berger said, "The flow of mana there is... odd."
Blackie nodded with a solemn look in his eyes. He then turned to the gnome and asked, "It’s likely the portal is down there."
Then, his expression turned even more grim, and he added, "And it’s likely there’s another enemy down there. We must be vigilant."
"Portal?" Edward asked in confusion as he gently rubbed his forehead. "What are you two talking about? What portal? And there’s another enemy down there?"
The gnome did not answer for a long time. He intently looked at the giant doorway, his eyes flashing with a calculating light.
At last, he turned around and instructed the blue-eyed youth:
"I’ll tell you everything. But first, dissect the corpse. I need the scales, the flesh, and the internal organs separated. The entire body is filled with valuable medicinal ingredients. Nothing can be wasted. Understood?"
"What? Why me—" Edward was extremely aggrieved. But before he could complain any further, the smoking pipe of judgment had viciously landed on his head.
Pow!
"Unruly child!" Berger roared. "If not you, then who? Get to work!"