Chapter 826 - 552: The Three Sages’ Resolve and the Upcoming First Battle
Chapter 826: Chapter 552: The Three Sages’ Resolve and the Upcoming First Battle
It wasn’t because of the prophecy itself, but because of the precision of this intelligence.
The time, the location, the participating factions, and the strategic intentions.
This was no longer a vague prophecy; it was military intelligence terrifyingly precise in its details!
If this was true... then Mage City could lay an inescapable trap in a place the enemy least expected, delivering a thunderboltous strike!
The opening battle of this war of expulsion would commence with a resounding victory!
Mage Delin and Master Fran were already too shocked to speak. They stared at Raylo in astonishment, a storm of shock surging in their hearts.
Suddenly, they recalled all the past events.
The news of the Nine-headed Demon Serpent Hydra advancing to the World Destruction Level deep within the Jade Swamp?
After Hydra fled and its hiding place could not be found, wasn’t it also Raylo who suggested heading to the summit of the Barbaric World?
And in the Black Stone Mountain Range, whether it was Phillips’s Alchemy Workshop, the spatial rift to the Doomsday World, or many other precious treasures, Raylo seemed to have read the script in advance. In less than a month, he had practically hauled away several mountains of gold from the Black Stone Mountain Range.
So... so that was it!
At this moment, all the mysteries were suddenly solved!
"Little guy..." Ignis’s voice grew somewhat solemn. "You must know that if a war initiated in the name of the Sages fails due to false intelligence, the price... is not something you can bear."
Raylo met his gaze without any fear. "I guarantee the truth of my words with my life."
After a long time, Austin’s voice sounded again.
"Delin," Austin Sage looked at Mage Delin beside him. "Among those present, you have known him the longest. This ’talent’ Raylo speaks of... have you witnessed it in the past?"
Mage Delin’s heart skipped a beat. Austin Sage’s gaze seemed peaceful, but it carried the heavy pressure of tracing things back to their source, as if wanting to dig out every single detail from his memories and examine them under the starlight.
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. He thought, "This kid Raylo is truly bold! Throwing out such an astonishing ’prophecy’ in front of three Sages—this is no longer just walking a tightrope; this is simply dancing on the edge of a blade!"
Mage Delin forced himself to calm down, rapidly recalling every bit of his interactions with Raylo. From their chance encounter to their later alliance against the Nine-headed Hydra... Looking back on it now, there had been far too many abnormalities; he just hadn’t paid them much mind.
All those past incidents that seemed like strokes of "good luck" or "accurate intelligence" were now like pearls flawlessly strung together by the thread of the "prophetic talent" Raylo had just revealed.
The logic was completely airtight!
A sense of not knowing whether to laugh or cry flashed through Mage Delin’s heart.
"To answer you, Lord Sage." Mage Delin took a deep breath, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully. "I am willing to swear upon my ’Legend’ tier and honor as a Mage that Count Raylo’s words are true.
"In the past, Master Wendel and I have witnessed His Excellency the Count’s incredible ability on multiple occasions."
He concisely recounted the incident in the Jade Swamp where Raylo had precisely located the Nine-headed Hydra.
"At the time, we only assumed that it was due to the Count’s powerful intelligence network or sheer luck. Thinking back on it today, only the word ’foreknowledge’ can explain it." Mage Delin’s tone was incredibly sincere. "That level of precision has already exceeded the scope of mere intelligence and luck."
Master Fran, who was standing on the other side, also realized the implication. Although he hadn’t had much contact with Raylo, he had heard of the Black Stone Territory’s near-legendary combat achievements. Hearing Mage Delin’s explanation, he immediately chimed in.
"Lord Sage, Master Delin’s words are true. For the Black Stone Territory to rise in such a short period of time, Count Raylo’s near-prophetic ability played a crucial role."
The joint endorsement of two Legendary Mages carried immense weight.
The taut string in Raylo’s heart finally loosened by more than half. He had gambled right.
He hadn’t directly thrown out an unfalsifiable "prophecy." Instead, he first used a half-true, half-false "talent" to rationalize all his past, logic-defying achievements, and then relied on a heavyweight "witness" like Mage Delin to confirm it.
By doing so, his credibility skyrocketed exponentially.
A brief silence once again fell over the sea of stars.
"Heh... Interesting, truly interesting." The "Star Forger" Ignis let out a low chuckle, a few sparks faintly dancing in his eyes. "No reliance on magic, no reliance on bloodlines—just pure, intuitive foreknowledge... It’s like certain unreasonable natural rules of the universe. I like it!"
"The Sea of Chaos beyond the world is full of infinite possibilities." For the first time, a trace of emotion colored the ethereal voice of the "Sea Gazer," Cassandra. "The threads of fate will occasionally tie a clear knot on certain special individuals."
Eventually, all eyes converged on the "Author," Austin. He was the ultimate decision-maker.
Austin slowly closed the ancient tome in his hands—a book that seemed to record the fate of all things—producing a soft THUD.
"If that is the case, the plan has changed." Austin’s decision was devoid of any hesitation. "Ignis, you are still to go to the Red Dragon Empire, but not to negotiate a partnership. You will directly inform them of our decision and invite the Red Dragon Emperor to observe the battle. If he wishes to enter the game, he must show his sincerity.
"Cassandra, your mission with Nancy to the Doomsday World remains unchanged, but you must speed up your progress.
"As for the Giant Dragon Realm, I will personally make a trip there."
His gaze turned to Mage Delin. "Delin!"
"Your disciple is here!" Mage Delin immediately bowed.
"I authorize you, starting immediately, to coordinate the forces of Mage City." Austin’s voice echoed through the Courtyard of the Sages. "For this battle, you may summon ten Catastrophe Level Mages of Mage City, along with an unlimited number of Mages of other levels!
"Resources will have no upper limit!
"There is only one requirement." Austin’s gaze was as sharp as a sword. "In this battle, the Holy Fleet of the Light Holy See must be completely annihilated! We must let the entire world hear the first roar that Mage City has let out in a thousand years!"
"Understood, Lord Sage!" Mage Delin felt his blood boiling. He used all the strength in his body to let out a shout.
This wasn’t just an authorization for a battle; it was the Sages personally handing him the prelude to a war that concerned the fate of the world!
This trust was as heavy as a mountain!
With Austin Sage’s final decision set, the sea of stars constructed by the wills of the three supreme beings began to fluctuate violently. The magnificent wills were receding; the stars dimmed, and space began to distort.
"Little guy." Just as they were about to leave, Austin Sage’s gaze landed on Raylo one last time. This time, there was a trace of appreciation in his eyes. "You’ve done very well. War doesn’t just require power; it requires wisdom and... eyes that can see the future."
He raised his hand and tapped a finger. A wisp of starlight flew from his fingertip, drifting toward Raylo like a fluttering butterfly. Raylo did not dodge, allowing the light to sink into the center of his brow.
In an instant, Raylo felt an incredibly complex mark appear in his spiritual sea. It seemed to be composed of countless miniature runes, exuding a faint coolness yet containing massive information sufficient to commune with heaven and earth.
"This is my ’Sage’s Seal’." Austin’s voice rang directly in Raylo’s mind. "Activate this mark, and no matter where you are, I will be able to sense your location. If you foresee anything important, activate this mark, and I will teleport you to my side.
"Furthermore, I appoint you as a staff officer of Mage City, granting you the authority to meet and communicate directly with the three of us."
Raylo’s heart shook violently. The value of this seal and the identity of a staff officer was immeasurable!
This was equivalent to giving him an all-access pass to the highest echelon, thoroughly transforming him from a fringe collaborator into one of the core members directly participating in the war between Mage City and the Light Holy See!
"Thank you, Lord Sage!" Raylo placed a hand over his chest and bowed with absolute sincerity.
"There is no need to thank me." Austin Sage’s voice gradually faded away. "I just hope your ’eyes’ will always see clearly."