Chapter 99: The Dam Beneath the Storm (Third Chapter, 11,000 Words, Requesting Votes)

Mosodilka, in Dark Elf language meaning "Dam Bearing the Storm," is a city born with a special meaning.

Generally, two cities would never be built this close—partly due to functional overlap, partly due to resource conflict.

Escalating tensions easily turn into internal drain and strife, ending in mutual ruin.

If a so-called twin city does emerge, it is always for a special reason—such as mutual dependence, complementary roles, or shared origins, making them literal brothers in hardship.

"The birth and prosperity of Mosodilka is identical to Huicheng's—only older, because they lie closer to the Seal, and the Underworld needs this barrier more."

Huicheng, the underground ruin sealing the "Beast," and Mosodilka lie nearly in a straight line.

The Beast's Huicheng sits at the top, while the Dark Elf city rests at the bottom—both have become stoppers of the same bottle.

"The underground ruin, those monsters spawned by the 'Beast,' don't just hunt upward—they also dig downward. Due to the vastness of the Underworld, its inhabitants have always borne greater pressure."

Mosodilka is a fortress city "sponsored" by the deeper Underworld, a buffer between the vast subterranean realm and the "Beast."

In truth, many in Huicheng have long known of its existence, yet there has been no official contact—only occasional caravans passing through.

"So our goal this time is to go to that city and ask them what they mean by this?"

Li En felt this was almost like walking straight into death.

Should we expect them to honor the old rule—no killing envoys during war?

"Relax. Even if they did this, I can take you back."

Violet Rose patted her chest, assuring him this was no problem.

This wasn't just confidence in personal strength—her status was truly unique.

Even Dark Elves must show face to the "Beast," to the Seven Beasts Alliance. More importantly, to most outsiders, "Magic Girls" aren't Beast-Touched—they're not even targets.

In truth, they really aren't.

This lively girl, though born a Snake-Woman, has two legs—but she can also transform into a true Snake-Woman or a colossal serpent.

Perhaps the silent Qiyue snake on her staff, always hidden from outsiders, is her true essence.

"Magic Girls appear human, but are nothing but humanoid Beasts."

The same words were spoken atop the tower hall of Mosodilka, Li En's destination.

The noble Dark Elf wearing a crown was the city's theoretical supreme ruler.

As the countess who owned the city, she stood on the tower, watching the "girl" depart from the hall.

Yet her ceremonial smile held too many complex emotions—never kindness, never trust.

"She's finally gone."

That smile carried unease, anticipation, even fear and relief. As mistress of this city, she still felt unease and dread toward that monster wrapped in human skin.

"Hey!"

Though hundreds of meters away, the girl suddenly turned and waved thanks to the departing countess.

She was beautiful. Pure.

A nearly white girl—white robes, white hair, a face as innocent and childlike as snow, expressionless, with a tiny, adorable white "doll" floating beside her.

One hand gripped a staff of dead wood; two smooth antlers on her forehead glowed with pure white light.

"That monster," the countess muttered, forcing a smile despite her unease.

But the distant white girl suddenly puffed out her cheeks—as if furious.

Did she hear?

She seemed to raise her staff, ready to act—but her "good-luck charm" stopped her.

Yet the floating white beast—the little deer with a body of pure white and eyes utterly black—when it looked over, became even more terrifying.

"These monsters," beneath the countess's calm face, churned with genuine dread.

"The countess of Mosodilka will give me face."

At the same moment, the "Snake" Magic Girl Violet Rose was smugly saying the same.

Though Li En didn't know why she was so confident, she was a big shot—he'd take her word for it.

Theoretically, this journey shouldn't take long—it's just a detour geographically.

But after half a day underground, everyone knew the original plan was dead—they had to reassess the time needed.

"How many attacks now?" asked the mercenary, voice heavy with exhaustion—they hadn't rested since entering, barely half a day in.

"Seventeenth. The intelligent ones—sixth."

The attackers had begun to encircle them; the convoy halted again, yet the warriors kept fighting.

Li En took his battle position, watching the silent gray dwarves closing in—he abandoned any last attempt at communication.

"Evil."

After a low chant, holy energy gathered on the hero's blade.

Though Li En still wasn't a true mage, his study of spellcasting and energy manipulation had indeed elevated him in another way.

He was trying to rewrite the model of "Exorcise Evil."

"Exorcise."

In the next instant, the holy sword surged uncontrollably in his hand.

The radiant holy energy on the blade didn't scatter randomly—it condensed into a stable blade shape, swelling into a radiant sword that became his fatal spike.

He thrust with all his strength.

"Whoosh!"

The light strike pierced the gray dwarf's shield effortlessly, pinning him to the ground.

"Aaaah!" The next moment, he roared, his second two-handed sword completing its charge.

The knight spun back, his glowing sword whirling like a top, cleaving through all life around him.

And this wasn't blind retaliation.

"Aaaah!" Screams echoed through the night—shadowy ambushers were dragged out one by one.

Too fast. The gray dwarves, trying to swarm and ambush after Li En exposed his weakness (weaponless), had no time to evade.

Some were grievously wounded; the unlucky were split clean in half.

Li En didn't stop—he kept swinging his sword, delivering steady finishing blows.

"Huh." Li En took another deep breath—only corpses surrounded him, yet he remained alert.

These stealthy "shorties" had cost him before.

"Boom!"

A sudden explosion three meters away jolted him into motion again.

"Die!"

In an instant, Li En stepped forward again.

As the blade fell once more, another kill was added to the tally.

"Should be done now…" Li En waited—but after ten seconds, the Holy Flame Aura found no new target.

Everyone says the Holy Flame Aura is useless—but when actually used, Li En found it quite handy, especially here.

After all, Underworld creatures all have stealth Tianfu —gray dwarves and Dark Elves alike—stealth and ambush are their standard tactics.

Li En finished his section of battle; the other defenders had also mostly cleared their zones.

He realized that with his spellcasting training, his "Exorcise Evil" had become more controllable, more adjustable.

Ultimately, these insights came not just from Kuku's remark—"Exorcise Evil is also evocation"—but because Li En differed from other divine users: he didn't believe in gods, nor did he see divine magic as sacred.

In Kuku and Li En's view, divine magic usually came from divine revelation—or grace.

"Kind of like a tool kit sent from a superior via QQ."

If a mage's spells are like code, divine magic is more like a compressed file—click and use.

Priests and paladins might use a divine spell their whole lives without understanding its mechanism; the devout never question the power given by gods, let alone improve it. But when Li En observed "Exorcise Evil" through a spellcaster's eyes, he saw it wasn't perfect.

It was merely the most standard, most universal template—how much radiant energy to allocate, where to apply it on the blade, how to detonate on impact—all pre-set.

You can adjust it, but only within preset limits—maxing out still counts as fine-tuning.

You can switch from automatic to manual—but without sufficient skill, you'll definitely mess it up. Yet experts customize their own base toolkits; strength is built from countless tiny details.

Su Er's "Exorcise Evil" was clearly not standard.

By paladin standards, Li En was still far from reconstructing his "Exorcise Evil" like Su Er.

But if viewed as an evocation spell, from a spellcaster's perspective, there was much he could do to fine-tune its energy output to better suit himself.

"Power clearly dropped—but it became easier to use." The holy energy output per unit time was limited; adjusting the radiant energy state naturally reduced damage.

Li En wasn't rejecting the classic model—he was modifying it to better suit himself.

Sometimes, the point isn't whether you can kill—but whether you can hit.

Many of Li En's ability components meant he didn't need to chase raw power—he needed flexibility, range, and surprise.

"Perhaps studying evocation spells could also boost the power of Exorcise Evil." Improving spellcraft and energy control was enhancing all his arts in another way.

Li En hadn't thought of this before—but remembering Kuku learning shamanic magic and demon arts, he realized these supernatural abilities had no essential difference.

This thought flashed through his mind—and was confirmed by Kuku.

But normal paladins had no need to study spellbooks just for minor control or damage boosts—they had other ways to improve.

Conversely, if he treated "Exorcise Evil" and "Holy Flame Aura" as spellcasting practice, Li En already had vast spellcasting experience.

"Looks like I can do it."

Controlling energy, controlling elements—perhaps it wasn't so hard. It was, after all, an instinct. At least for Li En, the dragon-blooded, it was an instinct he could eat.

Li En unconsciously recalled using Dragon Tongue spells—the way he'd instinctively commanded the elements.

I want it to come—it must come.

"Snap!"

Li En closed the book; the time was nearly up.

Though the time and place were precarious, he felt he had truly mastered his first one-ring spell and could now become a true mage.

(End of Chapter)