Chapter 429: Golden Mage

Cao Zhengren summoned a red magic circle at the fastest speed, blocking the altar with all his strength.

He cannot fall, because behind him is Li; even if a white mage is beside him, he must ensure Li's safety.

"Pop!"

The thunder swallowed everything, with incomparable power blasting Cao Zhengren several meters away; his body tumbled in disarray across the grass beside the altar several times, and all he could see was the golden thunder exploding at the altar's center.

"Absorb! (Absorb)"

Amidst the thunder that engulfed everything, a striking gold‑yellow magic circle suddenly appeared; Cao Zhengren narrowed his eyes, enduring the blinding white light, trying to see clearly what had happened.

After he grew accustomed to the lightning's brightness and looked toward the altar's center, he was astonished to see the golden magic circle bursting from the white mage's right hand rapidly absorbing the lightning and whipping up a violent gale.

In an instant, the wind around the altar shifted and converged at the magic circle's center; loose stones and sand were swept up by the gale, and the serpent‑like flashing electric arcs were pulled straight by that powerful suction.

The sight of countless lightning bolts encircling the golden magic circle was like a deity wielding thunder as a weapon—majestic and extraordinarily powerful!

What tremendous power! Cao Zhengren instinctively compared it to his magic dragon; strictly speaking, lightning is wind power, so using the wind element to counter lightning is perfectly reasonable—it only requires comparing his own magical strength.

But now the white mage's magic ring completely absorbed the opponent's magic.

Absorbing an element is not the same as absorbing magic; even in his most basic flame form, he can use a magic circle to draw in the surrounding fire and complete his transformation.

But it also depends on the level—defending against such violent lightning is already difficult, let alone absorbing it.

"Hahaha, as expected of the white mage who possesses the Philosopher's Stone—this trick can't do anything to you."

When all the lightning intentions had vanished, a mage slowly appeared beneath the surging night sky.

He wore a black‑gold top hat, a black cape behind him, his shoulders subtly arched upward, a black gem carved with gold stripes forming a face and mouth, and around his waist a black magic belt of the same style as Jiang Xia's.

He was clapping, apparently greatly admiring this method.

Golden Mage, Kamen Rider Sorcerer—Sorcerer means fangshi, just as wizard (male witch) and Wiseman (sage) can refer to various kinds of mages.

"Magical attacks don't do much to me; even without the Philosopher's Stone you couldn't hurt me." Jiang Xia lowered his arm, the hope magic ring transformed from the Philosopher's Stone now on his right hand.

He slowly raised his right hand, lightly feeling the Philosopher's Stone, and as Jiang Xia waved his hand, the Golden Mage's gaze followed his hand's movement, as if stuck to something.

Actually, it's not sticking; greed drives his gaze to follow Jiang Xia's hand, like fresh meat to a wolf.

But the Philosopher's Stone's attraction is far greater than those two; in a mage's hand it almost grants a wish‑fulfilling ability, except that the power source is energy.

"A greedy hound always covets what isn't its own, just like you." Jiang Xia fiddled with the hope ring, and his magical power began to rise.

They are clearly enemies now—killing them is the best option.

That immense magical power carried an indescribable oppression, pressing down on the Golden Mage like a mountain‑sea collapse.

The Golden Mage suddenly placed the magic ring at his waist; the clear yellow magic ring's triggering chant became piercingly sharp, and a huge magic circle appeared instantly.

Just how large is this huge magic circle? It can envelop the entire city.

Four square magic circles, like a sky‑covering canopy, with a purple‑green gale wrapped the whole city, and the blinding white light began to flicker at the circles' center.

The entire city's populace looked up at the shocking sight of the star‑spangled night veil twisted by auroras. The cracking sound ravaged the sky like a symphony, countless scarlet rifts swiftly replacing the heavens.

At the same time he summoned his own weapon, wanting to duel Jiang Xia one‑on‑one.

But in the next moment.

"Sizzle!"

A sharp whistling suddenly burst from the void—the sound of a blade slicing air at high speed.

The magic‑infused flute sword cut through the air, the blade‑light it drew as if carving a huge gap in the air.

By the time the Golden Mage sensed the incoming attack, it was already too late; his pre‑emptive defensive magic circle popped up, but was instantly sliced apart by that strike.

His black cloak was pierced in the raging wind.

The power surging from the flute sword was swiftly destroying the Golden Mage's body through this strike.

Jiang Xia never wastes words on enemies, nor needs any talk—he just cuts them down first.

He gripped the flute sword, drew it forth with tremendous force, swung it again in a diagonal cut, the tip striking the Golden Mage's magic driver; cracks spread with white light across the red‑black palm.

"Pop!"

The red magic belt instantly exploded, and amidst the blast's firelight appeared a ferocious beast's face.

The golden beast markings and the pair of upward‑curving horns on either side of its skull were entirely made of highly developed scales, covering its whole body like armor.

This ferocious, terrifying appearance also confirmed his true identity.

Mirage Drake, likewise not an orthodox mage, is a mage formed by a third means—an evil mage born when a despairing phantom transforms via a mage's belt.

Because Jiang Xia destroyed his belt, he was forced to reveal his true form.

"You bastard!" the Golden Mage raged—who fights like that, attacking the belt directly?

Losing the belt has a huge impact; although the belt can be remade, his fighting style will change dramatically, and those convenient magics cannot be used for a short time.

All magic requires an operator; no matter how vast its range or how strong its power, if the mage is defeated, it all vanishes.

As the Golden Mage suffered heavy wounds, that abnormal celestial phenomenon also seemed to lose its power source, gradually fading away.

However, Jiang Xia's attack wasn't over; he had no intention of letting the tiger go back to the mountain.

A magic ring was instantly placed on his waist.

"Yes! KickStrike! Understand? (Fierce Flying Kick Finish)"

A golden‑yellow magic circle sprang up on Jiang Xia's right leg, finally enveloping his leg completely. (Chapter End)

Almost at this moment, Jiang Xia leapt into the air, carrying unparalleled formidable strength, and launched a flying kick toward Derek. (End of chapter)