Chapter 938: Dak Daimon Still Writing (8k)
On the flying dragon carriage, Earl Stanley Longfellow stepped out, accompanied by a woman with a curvaceous figure serving as a guard.
Inside the carriage, there were other people, but their presence was masked by aura shielding, making it impossible to sense their number temporarily.
Dak withdrew his gaze and welcomed the addition of the Northern Territory team.
The royal spies were certainly not limited to just Stanley Longfellow and the female guard; they likely infiltrated the Northern Territory fighters or hid around using some concealment method.
Dak and Professor Metia represented the academy side, gathering with the leaders from the Church and the Northern Territory.
“There’s no need for more words,” Dak said directly. “In the journey ahead until we enter the Heavenly Court, I hope we can work together sincerely. Whatever conflicts existed before, let’s set them aside for now.”
Stanley Longfellow snorted coldly. “We don’t need you to remind us. Being stuck in grudges here is like playing with our lives and those of our companions. We’re not that foolish.”
Dak responded, “That’s good. Any items gained along the way will belong to whoever acquires them. If needed, we can trade. Blind greed will only lead to self-destruction unless absolutely necessary or if there’s a dispute over ownership, then we can discuss these matters after the operation.”
Gavin North waved his hand and said, “There’s no need to repeat this; everyone understands the current situation. For efficiency, we need to select representatives. My suggestion is to have one person from each side. When decisions can’t be made, we vote. Each person gets one vote, and abstentions are not allowed. Also, appoint a deputy who will step in if the representative cannot vote.”
Dak and Professor Metia exchanged glances and stepped back. Professor Metia said, “Then I will represent the academy, with Dak as my deputy.”
Bishop Sabrina Melville immediately followed up, “I will represent the Church, with Albert as my deputy, followed by Emily.”
Gavin North stated, “Then I will represent the Northern Territory, with Stanley as my deputy.”
Bishop Sabrina Melville glanced at the flying dragon carriage in the Northern Territory lineup and added, “Appropriate concealment is fine, but I hope it won’t hinder the team when real danger arises. I assure you, the Church will give it its all.”
Gavin North responded, “The Northern Territory will also do its utmost. Of course, before entering the Heavenly Court.”
Professor Metia nodded, “Although personally I hope we can continue cooperating after entering the Heavenly Court, it seems difficult now. Given that, let’s follow your suggestions. May we have smooth sailing.”
Bishop Sabrina Melville said, “The light of the Saints will protect us.” Gavin North added, “The God of the North Wind will equally shelter us.”
With that, everyone returned to their respective teams.
Dak and Professor Metia entered the carriage directly.
“Rest for fifteen minutes on the spot, then head towards the Mountain of Gods. They seem quite urgent,” Professor Metia said.
Dak commented, “It seems failing to collaborate with the Elemental Race isn’t entirely bad. Now, the Elemental Race is acting alone, and they’re clearly worried about being the first to enter the Heavenly Court.”
Professor Kazel warned, “Entering the Heavenly Court quickly is certainly good, but we shouldn’t rush. Personal safety should remain our priority. I think Altaire wouldn’t want anyone sacrificing themselves to rescue her. In any case, prepare for a long battle.”
Lily immediately agreed, “Leave the risks to me and Kazel! We’re professionals!”
Professor Kazel glared at her, “Especially you!” Lily pouted and fell silent.
The passengers inside the carriage quickly discussed the new information. Then, Professor Metia and Chris stepped out of the carriage, giving instructions to Marcus Landen and Dani Sophie before watching them return to camp.
Afterwards, everyone began summoning Mana Spirits.
Around the carriage, ten Mana Spirits appeared in total.
Nyxis, the Snake Goddess, had recently transformed and hadn’t mastered Mana Technology yet.
The maids, except for Chris, did not intervene. Though they could use Mana Cards, they weren’t proficient and preferred to conserve energy for when they needed to act.
Chris summoned a shadow creature for reconnaissance assistance.
Considering Mana consumption and the recent entry into the Mountain of Gods, the professors did not summon their ace Mana Spirits but chose third-tier nine-star Mana Spirits.
Aurora summoned a second-tier six-star Mana Spirit, a round, furry creature with dragonfly-like wings—a Fairy-type Mana Spirit called [Round Sprite].
[Round Sprite] had extremely short limbs attached to its round, fluffy head. Its eyes were large, cat-like vertical pupils, with pink fur and a circular mark on its forehead, making it quite adorable.
This Mana Spirit, crafted with Eralganie’s help, had a strong crisis detection ability, named [Danger Prognostication].
Under Aurora’s command, it stayed atop the carriage, keenly observing its surroundings. Once it detected danger, it would issue a warning.
Eralganie summoned her own Mana Spirit—a very thick, short snake.
This snake-like creature was roughly arm-length but as thick as a thigh, with angelic wings on its neck and a halo above its head—colored.
It floated in the air with its body limp but eyes lively, showing great curiosity.
Eralganie called it a [Sky Knowledge Snake], whose colored [Sky Knowledge Halo] could expand instantly, creating a stance similar to [Guard].
In normal circumstances, its [Sky Knowledge Halo] could enhance the mental capabilities of allies within range.
A Mana Spirit with a style reminiscent of the Intelligence Deity.
The [Sky Knowledge Snake] was also a six-star Mana Spirit but emitted a faint divine aura, indicating a probable elevation in rank.
After summoning it, Eralganie ordered it to fly onto the carriage roof, alongside the [Round Sprite], serving as a mascot.
Without hesitation, Dak summoned [Birlijion].
The sudden appearance of seven nine-star Mana Spirits, excluding Chris, Aurora, and Eralganie’s spirits, drew attention.
These seven nine-star Mana Spirits made the academy’s single carriage lineup appear formidable.
The Church and Northern Territory observed the academy’s Mana Spirits, attempting to identify the fourteen individuals inside the carriage.
Mana Masters with nine-star Mana Spirits were rare. In fact, graduates from Saint Maryann Academy in the past two years were among the top Mana Masters.
With rapid development in Mana Technology, Saint Maryann Academy and the Secret Rite Academy led the way.
Thus, many seniors successfully created nine-star Mana Spirit cards.
However, despite the numbers, identifying individual Mana Masters through Mana Spirit stars was impossible. They could only discern identities through Mana Spirit types.
First identified was Professor Kazel, due to his distinctive [Gnome Alchemical Madman] Mana Spirit.
This small, old gnome sitting on the shoulders of a steel golem, legs crossed, was unmistakably linked to Professor Kazel, a Mana Spirit he had used multiple times.
The Church’s investigation records documented this clearly. Professor Kazel stood out even among the faculty of Saint Maryann Academy.
The Church had sent him over a hundred letters with increasing rewards, aiming to lure him to the Secret Rite Academy.
Unfortunately, their strategy failed from the start.
Had they initially helped Professor Didi Maxwell regain her youth to attract her to the Secret Rite Academy, Professor Kazel might have joined willingly.
But the opportunity was lost.
Now, Professor Kazel felt a sense of belonging to the academy, making him unmovable.
Bishop Sabrina Melville identified Professor Kazel’s Mana Spirit and informed the nearby [Twin Saint Knights].
In the unknown Mountain of Gods, the presence of a knowledgeable alchemist master brought comfort.
Her tense nerves finally relaxed slightly. Next, Professor Lily’s existence was naturally recognized.
She summoned the famous [Legendary Sprite·Lynx], a mythical little imp with a legendary reputation.
Its ultimate skill, [Sprite Treasure Chest], contained countless sprite treasures, unbelievable for a single ultimate skill!
Only Professor Lily knew that the [Sprite Treasure Chest] actually contained only ninety-nine sprite treasures.
Lily had grown bored of the ninety-nine treasures long ago and kept [Legendary Sprite·Lynx] in storage until recently when she dug it out to prepare for the Mountain of Gods.
[Lynx] was a tiny, leaf-dress-wearing sprite, smaller than a human but strikingly handsome with high recognition.
After Professor Lily, the Church and Northern Territory identified Professor Metia through another Fairy-type Mana Spirit, though they already knew her.
Professor Metia summoned a massive beast seemingly pieced together!
This beast, her war-time ace, was named [Zodiac Chimera], a chimerical creature formed from the symbolic species of twelve zodiac signs.
Though less capable than the [Zodiac Child] in manipulating zodiac powers, the [Zodiac Child] primarily assisted, while the [Zodiac Chimera] was a full-fledged war machine!
[Gnome Alchemical Madman], [Legendary Sprite·Lynx], [Zodiac Chimera].
The remaining Mana Spirits lacked distinctiveness.
Dak’s [Birlijion] aside, neither Sabrina nor Stanley could recognize it. They could only sense its obvious [Holy Sword] aura.
However, Wit Gold, the Hero’s Child, was currently an exchange student at the Secret Rite Academy and couldn’t be here.
Professor Shylph summoned a ground-type Mana Spirit, a [Mud Dragon], to hide her identity, confusing everyone.
[Mud Dragon], despite its name, was a lizard covered in mud, barely an underdragon with no dragon attributes.
Its true attributes were [Ground] and [Poison], able to absorb toxic gases and prevent sudden poison infiltration.
Overall, the [Mud Dragon] suited the current environment well.
In contrast, Professor Steven Harvey openly summoned an Undead-type Mana Spirit—an [Anguished Queen]!
The [Anguished Queen]’s ultimate skill could instantly overwhelm someone with sorrow, sinking them into life’s tragedies.
Under Professor Harvey’s control, this ultimate skill could cover mental abnormalities, offering a unique method against mental invasions.
This nine-star Undead was not rare.
Yet, Harvey remained so low-key that no one connected him to it.
Stanley Longfellow and Gavin North had seen him and didn’t realize he was a necromancer.
The academy’s last nine-star Mana Spirit was summoned by Ophelia.
She no longer used her eight-star [Blood Source Sword Saint] but opted for this new nine-star Mana Spirit.
Since returning from the Free City, Ophelia’s ‘confinement’ became nominal.
She and Hephaestus Dragone, her only ‘best friend’ in the academy, delved into Mana Technology, gathered materials in the dungeon, significantly boosting her power.
This newly unearthed nine-star Mana Spirit was proof—one of the demon races, the [Blood Offering Demon]!
Even among demons, there were benevolent ones, like the [Blood Offering Demon], which could be absorbed by any living being.
Its blood had powerful healing properties and caused no rejection. It roamed darkness, freely donating its blood to the wounded.
Low-level demons could even evolve after obtaining its blood.
Such was the nature of this demon.
Ophelia had no prior experience with this demon, making her identification impossible.
The ten Mana Spirits summoned by the academy seemed unrelated, but each served specific roles, addressing most emergencies—a planned choice.
[Today, I wrote eight thousand words. This part was really hard to write. I sat there all day, my mind a mess. Anyway, the power will be off until noon. I’ll sleep and then keep writing… Send me a moon ticket, love you.]
