[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-510":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Above the Mage!",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2257514,4404,"Chapter 510: Heavenly Art","above-the-mage-chapter-510",510,"\u003Cp>The sneaking figure was the Storm Soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Concealed among the host of wind elementals, the Storm Soul, showing no aggression, went unnoticed by the mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With wind elementals surging at their faces, which mage would spare a hand to deal with a “law-abiding citizen” lingering passively at the periphery?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the wind elementals’ perception, the Storm Soul, entirely composed of wind elements, was unquestionably 100% one of their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this companion was somewhat lazy, slacking off and shirking work, thanks to the camouflage of wind elementals, none of them regarded it as an enemy, let alone attacked it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this state of mutual neglect, the Storm Soul became the sole neutral party on the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It quietly followed the edge of the second battlefield—the boundary where the green vortex met the magic crystal column—moving upward within its own safe limit, steadily consuming the leaking wind elemental energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though in this state of mutual neglect, Gao De, as the Storm Soul’s master, should have been constantly monitoring its movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the enhanced long-range vision granted by the Mandora Magic Eye, even though he was far from the Thorn Crown, he could see every detail on the ship clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at this moment, Gao De himself was in a state of utter self-preservation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because, as the wind elementals kept surging forward, the last Auriok crystal on his warship had finally been completely drained of magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The holy light shield enveloping the entire warship collapsed with a crash, like a burst soap bubble, leaving only faint ripples of magic drifting in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without this protection, all mages could no longer sit idly as artillery operators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De could no longer remain detached and play support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the holy light shield, wind elementals would launch indiscriminate attacks on the mages aboard the ship—not necessarily targeting any one mage, just bombarding the vessel relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These elementals, at most third-rank, posed little threat to the high-ring mage formation led by Mage Theodore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Gao De, a first-ring mage, even a single second-rank Wind Elemental could be considered a “boss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A third-rank Hurricane Spirit’s stray waves alone could easily plunge Gao De into danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, how could he afford to divert attention to the Storm Soul? He had to stay hyper-alert, monitoring every detail of the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, during earlier combat, through constant reporting, Gao De had already demonstrated his unparalleled observational ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the holy light shield vanished, the threat posed by the Stealth Phantoms multiplied—they could now creep closer to the mages on the ship with even greater impunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Gao De’s value even more critical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Value earned preferential treatment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, as the ship’s overall commander and a third-ring mage, Mage Ogr was the first to position himself beside Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your main task remains reconnaissance—don’t let the Stealth Phantoms ambush us. Also, watch out for yourself. I may not be able to protect you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mage Ogr spoke rapidly, without a single wasted word, finished his instructions, and immediately returned to casting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost every warship in the fleet was equipped with three Auriok crystals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, although each ship depleted its Auriok crystals at slightly different times, the difference was negligible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De’s warship was among the first to lose its shield, bearing the brunt of the fiercest assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp whistling suddenly pierced the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the holy light shield, the warship was seen by every wind elemental in the area as an easy target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds, even thousands of wind elementals formed eerie formations in the air—mostly first-rank Air Spirits, yet their sheer numbers made the scene terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All wind elementals in the formation glowed intensely with green light, generating interwoven air currents that instantly formed a massive vortex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Air pressure at the vortex’s center plummeted sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wood shavings, dust, and ice crystals on the deck were instantly sucked upward and drawn into the vortex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mages’ bodies began to sway; instinctively, they grabbed nearby supports to avoid being flung away by the winds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the vortex became a tornado.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the tornado’s base touched the sea, the immense suction forcibly pulled seawater upward, forming a churning water column.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the water column rose, fish and other sea creatures were dragged into it—and instantly crushed into blood by the high-speed rotation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This added a bloody hue to the water column, making it look chilling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The water column slammed straight toward Gao De’s warship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene was eerily familiar—these wind elementals had used this same tactic at the very beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, the spectacle had been even grander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the high-ring mages aboard the Thorn Crown had swiftly intervened and effortlessly destroyed every tornado.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, though only one tornado remained, no high-ring mage was left to save them—they were on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the highest-ranked mage aboard, Mage Ogr had to step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mage Ogr took a deep breath, bent his knees slightly, and steadied himself on the violently shaking deck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he thrust both hands upward, palms open, fingers trembling lightly—he first pulled his palms apart in opposite directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep blue glow hovered between his palms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, he slammed his hands together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blue glow burst outward from his palms, shooting forward and rapidly spreading through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A water wall, dozens of feet tall, appeared before the warship—directly in the tornado’s path—like a massive pane of blue glass, shimmering with ripples, tiny droplets sliding continuously down its surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A third-ring conjuration spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Water Wall】.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similar in form to Mage Theodore’s recently cast 【Fire Wall】, yet in visual impact and actual power, it was incomparable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But over the sea, in the rain, this water wall was the absolute limit of Mage Ogr’s capability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tornado, dragging churning seawater, roared like an enraged beast toward the water wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant the tornado struck the water wall, a deafening collision echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tornado’s immense force caused the water wall’s surface to churn violently, spraying water dozens of feet high, warping and deforming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The water wall was resilient—it did not shatter immediately; any warped or deformed sections were instantly repaired by flowing water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as time passed, under the tornado’s relentless assault, cracks began to appear across the water wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the cracks, water gushed out like a breached dam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mage Ogr gritted his teeth, his magic draining rapidly, his hands moving frantically to reinforce and repair the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet his efforts could not alter the outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this tornado had been formed by the combined power of countless wind elementals, including several third-rank Hurricane Spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the water wall shattered completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless droplets and streams scattered in all directions, instantly merging with the unceasing rain, indistinguishable from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mage Ogr shuddered violently, staggering backward several steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had no time to catch his breath—the true crisis had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tornado, having destroyed the water wall, slammed straight into the warship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warship had been designed to war standards, making it exceptionally sturdy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the tornado’s onslaught, though it groaned under unbearable strain, its craftsmanship prevented any structural fractures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet under the immense force, the warship began to shake violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mages on the deck were thrown uncontrollably; many were flung overboard, instantly swallowed by the raging sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were the lucky ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unlucky ones collided with hard objects on the ship—even with protective spells, the impact left them dazed, bones snapping audibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the tornado continued its assault, the warship tilted at a horrifying angle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these conditions, not just people, but all objects aboard the ship clattered into the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De reacted quickly—he seized the nearby mast and stabilized himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as the ship tilted further, he realized the vessel was no longer safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic surged through him like a tide; the 【Ocean’s Touch+】 spell model in his spell sea blazed brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His limbs instantly shimmered with magical energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine scales grew from his skin, gradually forming webbed feet and hands resembling those of marine creatures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Gao De unfastened the otter bag he always carried on his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Knowing full well this was a sea battle, how could he possibly leave Tuanzi behind?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his final safeguard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the otter bag opened, Tuanzi leapt out with a “plop,” diving into the water and splashing up a spray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De followed suit—he took a deep breath and jumped actively into the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to enter the water willingly than be forced into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a splash, the cold sea enveloped Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this coldness was an objective fact—not Gao De’s subjective sensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the entire warship erupted in a deafening roar, flipping over on the water like a collapsed tower, crashing sideways onto the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The water exploded like thunder, a massive spray of white foam surging dozens of meters into the air, forming a curtain of water that slammed down on the drowning men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it struck their heads, even water would surely cause skull fractures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De reacted instantly—he dove downward, forcing himself deep into the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom! Boom! Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The water wave shattered upon hitting the surface, instantly breaking into countless undercurrents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De opened his eyes underwater, watching various debris from the ship fall past him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tattered sails sank slowly like giant ghosts; broken masts plunged rapidly with sharp wooden spikes, and mages rolled and struggled in the seawater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right beside him, a chest was falling straight toward a mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De kicked off with his feet, swimming at incredible speed to grab the mage’s sleeve and yank him toward himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another figure shot like a cannonball into the falling chest, smashing it aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Round-headed and round-faced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Duanzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It spat a bubble and swam over to Gao De to boast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Save lives,” Gao De lightly touched Duanzi’s head, transmitting the command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he pulled the mage he’d just rescued upward toward the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he broke the surface, the mage gasped a deep breath of air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you,” he panted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De waved off his thanks and dove back into the seawater to rescue others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mages from coastal cities could all swim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But being able to swim didn’t mean they could remain calm in such conditions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De could do this only because of [Ocean’s Touch+] and his self-adapted water sensitivity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So there were surely many more mages who needed his help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only good news was that these wind elementals had been ordered by the Wind Dragon to attack the fleet—and they had limited intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the warships capsized, they didn’t pursue the mages who fell into the sea; instead, they turned to attack another warship whose magic crystals had run dry and whose shields had collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the third battlefield, as each warship’s Aurek crystal magic dwindled, they gradually fell into disadvantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ahead of Fengluo, the situation was no better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The high-ring mage formation, led by Mage Theodore, unleashed their strongest spells without restraint upon the wind element dragon within Fengluo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden light on Mage Theodore’s staff never ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Count Roland’s body crackled with lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other mages also cast their signature techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each spell, passing through Fengluo and striking the Wind Dragon’s massive body, sent clouds of wind element particles flying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Parts of the Wind Dragon’s body instantly dissolved under the spell impacts, leaving large gaps in its form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet whenever its blue crystal core in the head rotated slightly, the shattered wind particles, as if pulled by an invisible hand, reassembled and merged back into the dragon’s body, repairing the missing sections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the repaired parts remained insubstantial and ethereal, they were enough to let the wind element dragon maintain its shape and continue facing off against the Auklan magic crystal cannons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At most one more minute—the Auklan magic crystal cannons will run out of power,” Mage Theodore gave an exact time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t tell how long Fengluo and the Wind Dragon could hold out, but he knew precisely how long the Auklan magic crystal cannons could keep firing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Attack the crystal core—that’s the Wind Dragon’s lifeline!” Count Roland’s eyes bulged, nearly bursting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That solidified blue crystal core granted the Wind Dragon its unparalleled power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every mage present understood this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was, the blue crystal core lay deep in the head, dangerously close to the dragon’s mouth, from which it spat its blue vortexes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they attacked any other part of the dragon’s body, it would be too busy dealing with the Auklan cannons to react—forced to endure the hits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if they targeted the blue crystal core, the dragon merely needed to shift its mouth slightly, using the blue vortex to destroy the incoming spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an unsolvable problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, my lord, that’s—” Suddenly, a fourth-ring mage cried out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others were still lost in anxiety and despair; hearing the fourth-ring mage’s shout, they assumed he was simply venting his emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What passed by?” Only when the fourth-ring mage finished speaking did they snap back to attention and look forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, under the gaze of the high-ring mages, a humanoid blue figure crouched half-bent, its head swiveling left and right, stealthily slipping beneath the blue vortexes and vanishing into Fengluo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2202,"2026-06-19T14:28:50.414Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d3a66f1c5bef9eb22fe246f9b36edf32afc986708cf1e70ff01635e4768cf89d","above-the-mage-chapter-511","above-the-mage-chapter-509",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]