Chapter 602: Domain Judgment

Rod had once asked Lady Kali about the difference between a Ninth-Rank Mage and mages below the Ninth Rank.

The Elven Young Lady, as per her usual custom, first mocked him twice for being unlearned and incompetent.

Then, during the next spell lesson, she specifically summoned Rod over to explain this matter in detail.

The distinction between the Ninth Rank and those below it.

Regarding the mage profession itself, the most conspicuous feature is undoubtedly the Ring of Truth that manifests around them when casting spells.

This is a natural phenomenon that appears once mana reaches a certain level and forms a natural connection with the spiritual energy of the continent.

And from the Ring of Truth, mages have identified two behaviors exclusive to the Ninth Rank.

【Spell Metamorphosis】 and 【Truth Immunity】.

The former is quite simple: forcibly elevating a Seventh-Rank or lower spell by two tiers.

Mages below the Ninth Rank can indeed enhance spell effects by increasing mana input.

But these are all quite limited methods.

A Sixth-Rank 【Acid Fog】 spell, even with increased mana input to affect its effect, will never, no matter how much it is enhanced, become a spell comparable to a Legendary spell that covers the sky and earth.

【Spell Metamorphosis】 is different.

A Sixth-Rank 【Acid Fog】 is directly metamorphosed into an Eighth-Rank spell; the mana structure and frequency are catalyzed by the Ring of Truth using the continent's natural spiritual energy, pushing the effect to its absolute maximum, easily covering an entire town.

The effect of 【Truth Immunity】 is somewhat more straightforward.

It can forcibly turn a failed save into a successful one, regardless of whether the relevant stat meets the requirement.

Simply put.

The Ring of Truth can mobilize the native spiritual energy of heaven and earth to assist in spellcasting, and can also utilize spiritual energy to substitute for the caster themselves to resist skills.

Of course.

Such an overpowered skill naturally has usage restrictions.

Generally, for a mage of the Ninth Rank, Initial Stage and above, these effects can be used three times and once per day, respectively.

But such a somewhat precious skill naturally cannot be used too early.

Domain Ability.

It is also an important means for a Ninth-Rank Mage.

Gray-white light fanned downward from the half-sky like tassels, exploding like a firework ball; the white fireworks turned into refining rays, shooting fiercely toward Rod's figure below.

Their approach was extremely fast, their number immense, pouring down like a torrential rain to cover the sky and earth.

"Accumulating Honor Points?"

【Glory Staircase: The Home Gladiator gains 'Honor Points' after striking the Away Gladiator.】

One of the effects of the Beast Arena's treasure.

Once Honor Points reach a certain threshold, they can even ignore defense, which is considered a counter to Rod's 【Dragon Scale Technique】.

He certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to take the hit.

【Agility Boost】, 【Reflexive Dodge】, and 【Prey's Desire】 provided super-high agility, plus the absurd thrust of 【Repulsion Spell +38】 allowed him to break away quickly.

He failed to move.

Rod's expression was one of surprise; he felt a counter-force generated throughout his entire body, opposing his muscles.

Even the vertebrae in his neck twisted his head backward.

Directly freezing him in place.

"A Domain?"

Activate 【Dragon Scale Technique】 first.

Ding-ding-dang-dang—

As the light landed, Rod finally saw clearly that they were gray-white bone spikes with blood grooves.

The bone spikes were brittle; their power was not bad, and they were dense and numerous, but for the +18 【Dragon Scale Technique】, they were naturally useless.

Upon hitting his body, they turned to powder.

【Honor Points: 37】.

"How does it feel to have your bones controlled?"

Vincent stood motionless, a mocking smile on his face.

"Not bad."

Rod was not in a hurry; he scanned with 【Insight Demon Eye】 while simultaneously countering with the Grass Domain within his body.

【Insight Demon Eye observes Domain confrontation!】

【Grass Domain · Green Vines Mutual Healing (Rod): 41】

【Bone Spike Domain · Bone Thorn Burst (Vincent): 57】

【Result: Failure!】

"Yo-ho."

Although it was a failure, it did grant Rod some degree of mobility.

【Repulsion Spell +38】 erupted, exploding with a "Boom" of white mist, pushing Rod out of the range of the bone spike rain.

He stumbled.

Red magma streams, like the fires of hell, swirled wildly through his muscles.

Forcibly using the muscles to wrap and move the bones.

The long sword wrapped in black gold, a 【Giant Slash +26】, was stiffly swung over; the white spiritual greatsword collided with Vincent's motionless 【Sapphire Shield】, and in an instant, the greatsword shattered.

Rod raised an eyebrow, immediately realizing that this defensive spell had consumed one of Vincent's 【Spell Metamorphosis】 uses.

The problem arises.

Why didn't he just use a Ninth-Rank spell?

Very simple: Ninth-Rank spells are notoriously difficult to learn and slow to cast; for an average Ninth-Rank mage, mastering one or two is already considered good.

As for convenience, it's better to use what you're highly proficient with in daily practice.

"You can still move?"

Vincent was utterly stunned, watching the Slash Wave dissipate in midair.

Domain abilities are an overwhelmingly dominant force against low-rank individuals; ordinary Spiritual Arts and spells simply cannot counter them.

Unless

the opponent also possesses a Domain, canceling out part of his control.

"You have a Domain too? No wonder you're the one who could repel Asmodeus. Heh heh."

"Is this something very special?"

Rod looked utterly casual as the Ice Blade Domain beneath his feet rapidly spread outward, and two wailing Ice Trees had already grown.

【Wailing Ice Tree: Within the Ice Blade Domain, one "Wailing Ice Tree" grows every five minutes. Each tree increases Ice Blade strength by 5%. One may forcibly grow it by consuming 50% of the caster's Spiritual Energy.】

His bones being forcibly controlled made his movements sluggish.

He simply stood still, suddenly circulating the Spiritual Energy within his body 【Yudian's Ice Blade Domain】.

Under the effect of 【Ability Sublimation】, the proficiency bar for this Spiritual Art shot straight up, stopping at +10!

Bone spikes raining from the sky like a storm clashed continuously with the Ice Blades of the slowly expanding Ice Blade Domain, colliding wildly.

Crackling and popping.

Ice shards exploded and scattered; the drifting ice mist gradually obscured the vision of everyone in the spectator stands.

Thane, gripping the 【Soul-Trembling Blade】 tightly at his waist, stared at the scene in the arena with a face full of horror.

"That Rod can actually fight a Ninth-Rank mage to a standstill?"

Grand Commander Carter shook his head: "Those bone spikes—let alone Rod, even I could withstand them. Pierce Mage Vincent, one of the butchers in the Fifty-Year Fairytale Tragedy, won't have only these tricks."

The words had barely fallen.

Carter paused slightly; he sensed that the "traitor" disguised as an ordinary soldier behind him was emitting Spiritual Energy fluctuations that were hard to endure.

Tooth Fairy.

Oh ho! This new member of the Wind of Shadow Hunters is also one of the Fairies!

Carter slapped his forehead.

It was all because Rosalia's physique had absolutely no connection to Fairies, so he had simply overlooked it.

Then the reason this beautiful Young Lady joined the Wind of Shadow Hunters was self-evident.

He couldn't help but sigh.

Muttering to himself: Whether it's the current factional strife or the aftermath of the Fifty-Year Tragedy, please don't drag me into it...

Boom!

Another wave of Ice Blades and bone spikes collided and shattered.

The number of Wailing Ice Trees broke through ten.

"You chose Mana Recovery. With such petty skirmishes, you surely don't intend to play a war of attrition with me?"

Within the white cold mist.

The tall and handsome figure Gao Dayingjun patted the Ice Tree beside him.

Then he took a deep breath; visible Forest Spiritual Energy was sucked into his nostrils along with the soil and earth.

Rod's Spiritual Energy within his body instantly recovered by more than half.

【Child of Nature】 is no joke; even deep underground, far from any forest, as long as your feet touch solid ground, it still grants you an insanely high recovery speed.

"Heh heh..."

Vincent stood immovable, sneering darkly.

"Your defensive ability is indeed very strong, and I disdain using the extra effects of this coliseum. I naturally have my own way to ignore your Dragon Scales."

He raised his bone staff high; the gray-white Mana light was chillingly cold.

"【Blood Bone Spiral】."

Rod suddenly discovered his bones within his body undergoing mutation and regeneration!

Bone spikes inexplicably extended from his bones, transforming into high-speed rotating drills that drilled straight through the heart in his chest cavity.

(End of this chapter)