The night was dark and heavy on the outskirts of Thebes. Dust swirled around the dilapidated barn that had once served as a secret meeting place for wizards, but was now the target of a raid by Temple Knights and priests.
The flames had been extinguished, and a palpable tension hung in the air.
A dozen Temple Knights in silver armor and carrying spears surrounded the wizards huddled inside. A high-ranking priest in golden robes with the emblem of Athena on his head strode slowly into the barn behind them. His gaze was cold and arrogant.
"Blasphemers!" he declared loudly. "You are engaging in unauthorized witchcraft, violating the sacred laws!"
"We were merely studying!" an elderly wizard protested.
"Silence!" the priest snapped, raising a hand and pointing. "Arrest them all! Burn everything here to the ground!"
The Temple Knights sprang into action, wielding their weapons to subdue the wizards one by one.
"Don't touch my books!"
The young witch screamed and struggled, only to be brutally kicked to the ground by a knight.
Chaos erupted instantly.
Inside the barn, time seemed to burn.
The tip of the Temple Knight's sword hovered a mere half-inch from the nearest wizard, while the priest's staff, etched with shimmering gold rune patterns, suppressed everyone's magic power. Despair hung heavily in the air. The Wild Wizards knew that capture by the Temple meant either burning at the stake or the dreaded "purification ritual."
"Stripping away the very right to wield magic..."
Just as despair threatened to engulf them all, a low, calm voice cut through the gloom.
"Cough, cough."
Though soft, the voice sliced through the heavy silence like a razor-sharp blade.
All eyes turned toward him. The black-robed man who had been standing in the corner was now meticulously adjusting his cuffs as if the looming danger were less important than the neatness of his attire. His silver-gray right eye glinted coldly in the dim light, and a faint, enigmatic smile curled the corners of his lips.
"If the Goddess of Wisdom despises wizards, then let her face me directly," Ian declared, his voice ringing with defiance. He harbored a deep loathing for this anti-wizard movement, seeing it as no different from a witch hunt.
The two were fundamentally the same:
Both persecuted wizards who sought the truth of magic.
It was obvious.
This reminded him of a forgotten truth: the gods might fear uncontrollable wizards, just as the Titans had feared them in the past. After all, the gods themselves had once been rebels.
They overthrew the Titans and seized dominion over the cosmos. Back then, the Titans feared not only the power of the Olympian gods, but also their uncontrollability and their willingness to shatter the established order and forge new rules.
Now, this ancient fear seemed to be resurfacing.
"Wizards wield knowledge," Ian murmured to himself. "And once knowledge awakens, it cannot easily be suppressed."
As he watched the Wild Wizards gather with such caution and restraint, he suddenly understood. The gods didn't simply despise witchcraft; they feared losing control of these powers.
Just as the Titans had once feared the Olympian gods.
Wizards do not rely on gods. They derive their power from understanding and deciphering the world's laws. If this trend continues, one day mortals will no longer need the protection of the gods and might even challenge their divine authority. This is not mere anxiety over hypothetical dangers, but rather the cyclical nature of history repeating itself.
Therefore, the gods cannot tolerate wild wizards operating beyond their control. Ian, a wizard himself, naturally found this unacceptable and stepped forward to address the Temple Knights and Priests.
All eyes instantly focused on the source of the voice:
Ian.
The traveler, who had been quietly listening to the discussion in the corner, slowly rose to his feet. He straightened his sleeves and swept his gaze like a blade across the Temple Knights and Priests.
There was no anger in his eyes.
Only contempt.
"Who are you?" the priest asked, frowning. His tone was laced with hostility. "How dare you obstruct the Holy Temple's enforcement of justice?"
The priest's voice dripped with arrogance. As the night deepened, the candlelight flickered in the barn, and the air hung heavy with tension and dread. The wizards, who had just been pinned to the ground, had only recently regained their freedom. Meanwhile, the Temple Knights had already reformed their ranks, their silver armor gleaming coldly in the dim light.
It was clear:
The Temple Knights intended to make an example of Ian by launching a cautious attack against this wizard of unknown origin.
Ian stood before the group, his expression serene, his gaze sweeping across the knights like a sharp blade.
"You've already lost," he said. "Don't you realize that yet?"
"Insolent!" A hulking knight roared, drawing his longsword and pointing it directly at Ian. "Let us teach you the meaning of reverence!"
With a thunderous shout, he charged forward, followed closely by several knights. Their swords flashed with an icy light, and their killing intent was palpable.
They aimed to make an example of this challenger to divine authority, crushing him in the most brutal way to terrorize all Wild Wizards and show them the price of rebellion!
However,
They had underestimated Ian.
Just as the first sword was about to fall, Ian gently raised his right hand.
"You..." he began softly, his voice smooth as jade yet carrying undeniable authority. "How dare you attack a Legendary?"
"Enough talk."
In the next instant, the air froze solid.
The Knights' movements seemed frozen in midair by an invisible force. Their sword tips were mere inches from Ian's throat but couldn't advance even a fraction of an inch further.
The entire barn fell into a deathly silence.
Ian slowly rose to his feet, taking measured, deliberate steps. He walked to the leading knight and gently pushed him.
Bang!
The knight, like a puppet with severed strings, was sent flying backward and crashed heavily into the wall. Blood gushed from his mouth, and he instantly lost consciousness.
The other knights collapsed to their knees as if crushed by an irresistible force.
"Is this your so-called sacred martial power?" Ian said coldly. "To me, you're nothing more than a pack of fattened lapdogs favored by the gods."
He swept his gaze across the room, his voice low yet carrying clearly to every ear. "You stand before a true legendary wizard. How dare you attack me with such pathetic displays of skill?"
Ian intended to make an example of these knights and send a clear message to the gods. His actions had to be decisive, precise, and merciless, leaving no room for pity. Only such a ruthless demonstration could shake the gods' confidence.
He was certain the gods were watching.
"Damn you!"
The Temple Knights scrambled to their feet, drenched in blood. Their bodies radiated the power bestowed by the gods, a transformation born from consuming rare celestial treasures.
Their faith in the God remained unwavering.
Witnessing Ian's blatant blasphemy, even the gravely wounded Temple Knights erupted in fury. Reinforced by the priest's magic, they once again brandished their weapons and charged at Ian.
"Stubborn fools!"
Before the words could fully escape his lips, an invisible storm of magical power erupted!
The air in the barn seemed crushed by an enormous, invisible hand. The Temple Knights' silver armor twisted and contorted instantly, emitting piercing metallic shrieks. As if struck by a giant's hammer, the knights were hurled backward and slammed into the walls, some becoming embedded in the wooden planks!
"Aaaah!"
Agonized screams filled the air. The knights spat up blood and were unable to grip their swords. They collapsed to the ground, paralyzed with terror, and stared at the black-robed man who stood motionless and didn't lift a finger.
He hadn't cast a single spell!
He hadn't moved at all!
With just one word, he had annihilated the temple's elite knights!
The Wild Wizards stared wide-eyed, some instinctively taking a step back as if the figure before them were not human but an ancient beast in human skin.
The observing wizards were utterly stunned. They had never seen anyone dare confront the Temple Knights head-on, let alone take on their entire Clerical Force single-handedly!
"This...this is impossible," the young witch murmured. "Who exactly is he?"
"He must be insane!" another wizard exclaimed, his face incredulous. "Daring to provoke the Temple directly and calling himself a 'Legendary Wizard'?"
"But he actually did it. That magic power was colossal."
An older wizard watched the trembling knights, a complex mix of emotions flickering in his eyes. "He wasn't bluffing. He truly possesses that kind of power."
"Could it really be the legendary wizard?" someone whispered, their voice trembling. "How could the legendary wizard attend such a small gathering like ours?" The priests' faces turned ashen as they glared at Ian. The divine sigils on their staffs flashed wildly in a desperate attempt to resist the invisible magical power suppressing them.
Ian paid them no heed.
He clenched his fist.
Countless tiny gold runes materialized in the air, swirling and dancing like stars. They orbited the wizards, and at the slightest touch, the chains binding them shattered.
"Now," Ian said calmly.
"You have two choices: leave or vanish." After freeing the wizards, he turned his gaze to the temple personnel, who had lost much of their arrogance.
The Knights exchanged uneasy glances, some backing away instinctively.
The priest gritted his teeth and roared. His voice, amplified with divine magic, carried an overwhelming authority.
"Arrogant fool!" he bellowed. "Legendary wizards are nothing before the gods! Do you truly believe you can defy Athena's will?!"
"Is that so?" Ian chuckled softly.
Finally raising his hand, he casually snapped his fingers.
Snap!
The priest's scepter shattered instantly, its gold rune fragments crumbling like brittle glass.
"Agh…!"
The priest screamed in agony. His hand was mangled and bloody from the explosion. He staggered backward several steps, nearly collapsing to his knees.
"Run!" an elderly Wild Wizard suddenly shouted, his voice trembling with terror. "Young Legendary, you've brought disaster upon us! The temple will never forgive you!"
"Athena's wrath will descend upon this city! You'll doom us all!"
The other wizards wore expressions of abject fear. They were grateful for Ian's intervention but knew that offending the Temple was worse than death.
"There's still time to escape!" another witch urged, trembling. "Get out while Athena hasn't noticed us! Otherwise…"
"Otherwise?" Ian tilted his head slightly, a flicker of mockery in his silver-gray eyes. "What will she do?"
The priest, clutching his bleeding hand, grinned ferociously.
"You will witness true divine punishment!" he roared, his voice fueled by berserk piety. As he spoke, the priest suddenly knelt and raised his scepter high, beginning to chant a fervent prayer.
Great Goddess Athena, hear your servant's plea! Grant me the power to punish these blasphemers. Let them know the price mortals pay for challenging your might!"
The priest continued his fervent prayer.
Then, another priest turned to Ian, his face contorted with rage.
"Do you think you've won? Fool! I've already prayed to Athena! Her gaze will soon descend. You'll regret your arrogance! You will..."
The priest's voice cut off abruptly.
His companion had finished his prayer, and nothing happened. The god who had once responded so swiftly now remained utterly silent, as if the prayer had gone unheard.
His only reply was silence.
The wind continued to blow, the candles remained unlit, and the gods remained unresponsive. A deathly stillness blanketed the barn.
"How...how can this be?! It shouldn't be like this!" The priest's expression froze in disbelief. He craned his neck upward, staring into the void as if awaiting a divine response.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Athena offered no response.
No divine miracle descended.
Not even the slightest fluctuation of divine power could be detected.
The priest's face twisted from ferocity to bewilderment and finally to terror.
"No... impossible..." he murmured, his voice trembling. "Lady Athena...why?"
Ian sauntered up to the priest, looming over him. The smile on his lips deepened.
"It seems," he murmured, "your goddess isn't in the mood to meddle today."
Thud!
The priest finally collapsed to his knees, his face utterly shattered. The Wild Wizards stared in stunned silence, their worldview shattered.
A wizard...
A mere mortal...
Had actually rendered the temple priest's prayers completely unanswered? It was not only the priests who struggled to comprehend it. In an era when the gods fiercely guarded their authority, even these wild wizards found it inconceivable. They couldn't fathom this legendary figure's background.
Could he be a demigod?
A child of Zeus?
Some considered the most plausible explanations, but none dared to voice their thoughts aloud. The rescued wizards observed the scene and urged Ian to leave immediately.
"You should leave now," the wizards whispered. "You've angered the gods. Your fate won't be pleasant."
"Yes, flee while you can," another agreed. "Even if you win now, the gods will hunt you down later."
Ian showed no panic. Instead, he smiled faintly. "I don't fear the gods. I've always believed that wizards are superior to all else. The gods are just more powerful, unconventional wizards."
Slowly turning to face the priest who was still kneeling on the ground, he said coldly, "Do you think prayer will help? Do you think the divine will answer your cries? You're just a pitiful fool, blinded by faith."
The priest's head snapped up, his eyes blazing with fury. "How dare you question the existence of the gods?!"
"I'm not questioning," Ian replied calmly. "I'm certain that your gods don't care about you."
He approached the priest and looked down at the once-arrogant man.
"You can't hear her answer because she simply doesn't want to respond. She knows the consequences of angering me. Her father witnessed my invincibility firsthand."
Ian was showing off, but he was also telling the truth.
"You're talking nonsense!" the priest roared.
"I don't lie," Ian sneered. "The gods fear me, just as they fear wizards."
He raised his hand and flicked his fingers. An invisible force instantly enveloped the entire granary. The air seemed to freeze, and the temperature plummeted.
The knights felt a crushing tightness in their chests as if they were being forced to the depths of the ocean and struggling to breathe. The priests felt their magical power stagnate and their connection to the gods sever.
"Get out," Ian said calmly. "Otherwise, I'll show you true terror."
No one dared to stay.
The Knights helped the limp Priests and fled the granary in disarray, vanishing into the night. In this unbelievable scene,
The young Wizard turned back.
"Continue, everyone. I haven't heard enough of your little chat yet."
He addressed the group of weak, wild Wizards with enthusiasm.
(End of Chapter)
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