Above the mage!

Chapter 286: Recruiting the Snowfield Guardians

Not only did the dark tentacles of [Energy Drain] disappear.

The moment Inquisitor Ryan turned into an ice sculpture, all the skeleton mages in the camp, who were still showing off their power the moment before, had their phosphorescent flames in their eye sockets extinguished instantly.

Then, these skeletons that had lost the fire of their souls began to make crackling sounds.

First their joints loosened, then their sternum and spine, until the entire skeleton collapsed and turned into lifeless bones scattered all over the ground.

The camp, which had been in chaos due to the sneak attack by these skeleton mages, returned to peace.

After drawing the bow and shooting the three fatal arrows that killed Ryan, Sunaifah's legs went weak and he almost fell to his knees in the snow.

An unprecedented feeling of weakness was filling her body.

The final method of killing Ryan seemed to be just three arrows shot at the same time, nothing special about it.

But in fact, the dangers and operations behind it are unknown to outsiders.

If three arrows could really easily kill Ryan across levels, why would Sunaifa have to waste so much time with Ryan? Wouldn't he have just used the "ultimate skill" the first time he armed himself with [Breath of the Wild]?
This isn't a drama. If the battle ends too quickly, it will affect the attendance.
The second of the three great rules of a wizard: Never let others know your spells.

During the previous chase, Sunaifa launched continuous attacks with the aim of finding out the background of the zombie monster summoned by Ryan.

Ryan's understanding of her magic was still limited to the icy arrows she shot, but he didn't know that she also had a "ultimate move" of shooting three arrows at the same time.

This is one of them.

The second is that although Sunaifa has figured out the background of the zombie monster, Ryan's background is still unknown.

Therefore, she could only wait for Ryan to launch a spell attack first, seize the opportunity when he was distracted and unable to cast defensive spells or life-saving spells, that is, the so-called "after-swing" time, and then launch her own "ultimate move".

Moreover, she must ensure that the magic attacks launched by Ryan have a magic trajectory, so that she can rely on the absolute speed of her Ice Arrow to come from behind and kill Ryan first.

Fortunately, she waited for this opportunity.

Just as she had judged, the zombie monster was unable to block her three arrows even if it tried to self-destruct.

Of course, operation and planning are one thing, but what really supports Sunaifah to kill enemies across levels is her powerful strength that is unrivaled in the four rings and the support of [Breath of the Wild].

Why is it so difficult to fight across the ring?
The biggest reason is actually the suppression of low-level spells by high-level spells.

No matter how powerful a fourth-ring wizard is, he cannot cast any fifth-ring spells.

This is a rule, an iron law that cannot be broken.

This means that when a fourth-ring mage faces a fifth-ring mage, he is inherently inferior due to the difference in spells.

This is like a martial arts master facing off against an elite special forces soldier with a gun. In terms of individual strength alone, the martial arts master may be superior to the special forces soldier.

But we can't stop them from having guns.

The fifth-ring spell is "gun".

that is it.

But Sunaifa is different.

Because she has [Blizzard].

[Blizzard] is the magic weapon of Boreas himself, and Boreas himself is an eight-ring wizard.

And [Blizzard] is an eighth-level magic weapon.

The power it can exert depends on the strength of the user.

Therefore, if Sunaifa is strong enough, even if she is only a fourth-ring spell, she can use [Blizzard] to perform attacks comparable to fifth-ring spells.

This is the basis of her cross-ring fighting.

[Breath of the Wild] is the last piece of the puzzle. The 62% reduction in mana consumption in the construct effect allows Sunafa to break through the limit and cast a "triple arrow" that normally requires five rings to shoot.

The level suppression of mages in this world is still too strong. Seeing Ryan turned into an ice sculpture, Gao Decai finally breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Sunaifa is undoubtedly the strongest among the four-ring mages, and he also has top-level magic weapons such as [Blizzard]. Ryan is obviously just a weak fifth-ring mage who has just advanced.

According to the novels he read in his previous life, for a "genius" of Sunaifa's level, it should be as easy as chopping melons and vegetables for him to cross a major realm and kill a little Karami like "Ryan".

As a result, it was only after being armed with [Breath of the Wild] that Sunaifah defeated Ryan with such difficulty.

Here.

After a short rest, thanks to the dual enhancements of physical strength and mana recovery from [Breath of the Wild], Sunaifa also recovered.

She walked towards Gode, her scales flickering, and [Breath of the Wilderness] fell off, returning to its original size and shape.

"My king." Sunaifa handed [Breath of the Wild] to Gaode.

"It suits you very well. From now on, Breath of the Wild will belong to you." However, Gao De did not take Breath of the Wild.

This is a set of fourth-level rune equipment, which can only be equipped by at least a fourth-ring mage.

And he has just been promoted to the first ring not long ago, and is still a long way from the fourth ring.

Instead of letting [Breath of the Wild] remain in my possession, I would rather give it to Sunafa and let her make full use of it.

When equipped with rune constructs, Sunaifah can basically be regarded as half a five-ring mage.

And after Ryan was killed by her, there should be no more native five-ring mages in the North.

Translated, it means: "I, Sunaifa, am invincible in the North!"

Having such a first-class military force is very important for Sunaifa's vision of unifying the north.

Therefore, Gaode was not reluctant to part with a set of precious fourth-level rune equipment.

"Thank you, my king." A hint of joy flashed in Sunaifa's dark blue eyes.

Obviously, she likes Breath of the Wild very much.

She was not polite to Gaode. In her opinion, the entire Zhenbing tribe belonged to Gaode, so why should she be polite?

After solemnly accepting [Breath of the Wild], Sunaifa couldn't help but take another look at Gaode.

If her initial support for Goder as the new king of the Zhenbing tribe came from the prophecy of War Mother Oretia, which required her to hold on, then now, she had a new sense of identification with Goder, the new king, from the bottom of her heart.

"Ryan, the culprit of all this, has been killed. My king, should we go back to Phoenix next?" Sunaifa asked Gode for his opinion again.

"Go back to Phoenix?" Goder shook his head. "Of course it's not that easy."

"Since Rui'an has already been promoted to the fifth ring, and he did so through the necromancy practice method 'Ritual of the Dead', and he was able to ambush here in advance to launch a sneak attack, it is very likely that the Snowfield Guardians have been 'unified' by him."

He said something very cruel with a calm expression. "Ryan is dead, so there is no need for the Snowfield Guardian to exist anymore."

When Sunaifa heard this, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.

Obviously, Gao De's decision coincided with her thoughts.

After a brief repair, the battle damage had already been revealed.

A total of two three-ring Ice Mages, six two-ring Ice Mages, and eleven one-ring Ice Mages were sacrificed.

Most of them were caught off guard in the first wave of attacks and were approached by the Skeleton Mages who suddenly appeared from the snow. They didn't even have time to cast a spell before their heads were torn off and they died.

Relying on his familiarity with the geography of the snowfield, Ryan launched a night attack that only a necromancer could carry out, and the results were indeed remarkable.

If there are sacrifices, there must be corresponding gains.

Killing Ryan can only be considered as paying back a blood debt with blood, not a gain.

Therefore, when the sun rose the next day, the Zhenbing troops were ready to set off again towards the Icefield Temple.

After another four days of raiding, this time without any setbacks, accidents or obstacles on the road, the large army of the Zhenbing tribe finally stepped within 20 kilometers of the Icefield Temple.

The Zhenbing people did not hide their whereabouts, and it would be difficult to hide them. It would be difficult for such a large-scale troop march to escape the eyes of others in the vast snowfield.

Therefore, when the large army just stepped into the border of the Icefield Temple, the high-level wizard in the Icefield Temple had already been waiting there with all the members of the temple, anxiously and fearfully.

"War Mother, Lord Gode" Loychi, who was imprisoned by Ryan, had been released long ago because of his past interactions with Gode. At this moment, he was even elected as the representative of the Snowfield Guardian to communicate with Gode.

Loichi waved his hand, and the crowd behind him parted to both sides, leaving a wide passage.

Afterwards, a dozen captured mages were escorted out.
"These are some of Inquisitor Ryan's men. They all learned forbidden necromancy from Ryan. We put a lot of effort into capturing them, and there were even casualties. Some of them discovered that something was wrong and ran away. But we will definitely hunt them down as soon as possible and send them to Phoenix in person."

"As you said before, we just need to hand over Holy Judge Ryan and all his accomplices, and the Zhenbing Tribe will withdraw immediately after receiving them."

"Things are different now. Ryan ambushed us a few days ago and wanted to kill me and Sunaifah. His intentions are sinister." Godde's face was indeed calm, as if he didn't know Loichi. He didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

He also waved his hand, and the large army behind him split to both sides, and Ryan, who had turned into an ice sculpture, was carried out.

When Royci heard Gode's words, sweat broke out on his forehead, and when he saw Ryan's body, his eyes went dark.

Although they had already guessed that Ryan might have been killed when Ryan promised to personally deal with the Zhenbing tribe's army and leave the Icefield Temple, but the Zhenbing tribe's army did not stop, but now that he actually saw Ryan's body with his own eyes, he still couldn't believe it.

Ryan is a five-ring necromancer? How did he die in their hands?
"Mother War, Lord Gode, this matter really has nothing to do with us. We all abide by the teachings and have never been involved in anything inappropriate."

"All those bad deeds were committed by Ryan and his men. We were neither aware of them nor participated in them. In order to establish his own authority, Ryan even brutally killed Archbishop Rune who did not support him."

Roych quickly began to explain that what Ryan did had nothing to do with the Snowfield Guardian.

His tone was urgent and sincere, and the expressions of the Icefield Temple mages behind him were the same, fearing that they would be angered.

"Whether it matters or not is not up to you to decide." However, Gao De's face was still as cold as ice, without any emotion.
Looking at Gode's cold face, and then at Sunaifa standing beside him with an attitude of following Gode's lead, Loic felt a headache and cursed in his heart those senior executives who pushed him out to communicate. Is this a job that a human can do?

But for the sake of the sect, he could only grit his teeth and continue to make amends:
"I wonder what we, the Snowfield Guardians, can do to appease your anger and make up for our mistakes?"

"From now on, there will no longer be a Snowfield Guardian sect. All the assets of your sect, including all resources, all members, and your many branch churches in the north, will belong to Phoenix." Gode said lightly.

As for how to deal with the Snowfield Guardian, he had already made a decision on the way here:
Incorporated.

As soon as Gode finished speaking, Loichi and all the Icefield Temple mages behind him changed their expressions drastically.

"Well, well, our doctrine is to protect the snowfield, which does not allow us to surrender to a northern tribe." Loychi was speechless for a moment, wiping the non-existent cold sweat from his forehead, not knowing what to say.

"You were forced to surrender to Ryan under his military force, which shows that your doctrine is not inviolable."

"Do you think that we who can kill Ryan are not as strong as Ryan?" God interrupted Loychi before he could finish his rhetoric.

His words were very direct, it was pure oppression by force.

Surrender or die.

The Snowfield Guardians originally had a total of three fourth-ring mages. Ryan was promoted to the fifth ring and killed Archbishop Rune, who was also a fourth-ring mages.

And now Ryan was killed by Sunaifa.

In a short period of time, only Chief Quentin, whose whereabouts are unknown at the moment, was left among the three powerful leaders of the Snowfield Guardians.

How can such a guardian of the snowfield fight against the large army of the True Ice Tribe led by Sunaifah who is armed with rune constructs?

"Lord Gode, this is not a matter I can decide. Archbishop Rune was killed by Inquisitor Ryan, and he died in your hands. Now the only person with the decision-making power in the sect is Chief Quentin, but I don't know where Chief Quentin is now. Why don't we wait for him to come back?" Roych was still struggling.

"I don't have the time to wait for him to come back. If Chief Quentin finds out about this and has objections, he can go to Phoenix to argue with us."

Gao De said it calmly, only slightly emphasizing the word "theory".

"Now, I give you two choices. Within ten breaths, either surrender to Zhen Bing or die." He didn't have the patience to talk to these people anymore.

Since you have absolute power to suppress, why do you need all these twists and turns? Just run over it.

As soon as Goder finished speaking, an Iceborn mage stepped forward and began to count down in an emotionless tone.
"ten"

"Nine"

"."

"three"

Every countdown was like an invisible sharp blade, cutting the last bit of resistance in the hearts of everyone present.
"I am willing to submit to Zhen Bing." When the count reached three, someone finally began to kneel down.

In fact, they had wanted to surrender a long time ago.

Two of the three highest ranking members of the sect have died, and the sect’s decline is inevitable.

Inquisitor Ryan took the lead in practicing forbidden necromancy and doing evil things. From this perspective, the reputation of the Snowfield Guardian over the years has actually been largely ruined.

The Zhenbing Tribe is the number one tribe in the North. It is not a loss of points to surrender to such a being, so why would you throw away your life in vain?

The reason why I knelt down and surrendered only now is that I thought that if I delay it a little longer, until "three", at least I will appear to be more principled. Kneeling down and surrendering at "ten" would make me appear to be too cowardly, right?

The appearance of the first person to surrender was like opening Pandora's box. The psychological defenses of the other Icefield Temple mages who were still hesitating collapsed in an instant, and they all knelt down at once.

"two"

As the word "two" echoed, Loichi gritted his teeth, and finally knelt down and lowered his head.

Before the word "one" came out, there were no more Icefield Temple mages still standing.

(End of this chapter)