A mysterious woman with silver hair and piercing blue eyes emerged from the shadows, her ethereal aura casting a soft blue hue around her. She scrutinized him from head to toe, her gaze searching for something that seemed to elude her.
Joshua was confused by the woman's scrutiny, unsure of what she was searching for.
"What do you mean?" Joshua asked, his confusion clear in his voice.
The woman, still not identifying herself, stepped closer. "Mages typically cast spells through mediums such as wands, incantations, or runes. Yet, your spell radiates power without the need for such tools."
Her gaze searched his attire and his weapons, looking for any sign of a medium.
"But I see none of those on you," she said, her voice filled with intrigue.
Joshua's eyes widened, but his expression remained calm. He offered a small smile, his teeth visible through his beard.
"I learned differently," he explained.
"I've been isolated for a long time, so my methods might seem unorthodox to you."
Joshua's eyes widened but remained calm as he spoke, his smile never faltering. The silver-haired woman chuckled lightly, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. As she also see that he had altered his body, as most mages rarely do that.
"Indeed, your power is intriguing," she said, "but I can't simply let an unidentified mage wander the Tower unchecked."
With a flick of her wand, she cast a spell, and suddenly, ropes of pure energy coiled around Joshua, binding him tight. The magic was unlike anything he had encountered before, but his calm demeanor never wavered.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked, his voice steady despite the situation.
The silver-haired woman's smile faded, and she replied, "Trust is a luxury we cannot afford in these troubled times, especially with the secrets that you holds."
Readying another spell, the silver-haired woman's eyes narrowed, her lips moving in an incantation that promised a powerful attack.
But before she could complete it, Joshua's muscles bulged, and with a roar, he tore through the magical ropes as if they were mere threads. The sudden display of brute strength took her by surprise, and she took a step back, her hand hovering over her wand.
The Tower Spirit reappeared, her eyes wide with astonishment. "The spells I placed on you should have held even the most powerful of gene mark knigths," she murmured, "but you've broken free without even using any counter magic."
Joshua stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. "My training is... unconventional," he said, his smile growing.
"But my power is real."
Joshua quickly rushes toward the woman, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the vast chamber. She recovers from her surprise and lifts her wand, unleashing a bolt of lightning that crackles with energy. The air around her snaps with power, but instead of fear, Joshua's eyes light up with excitement.
"Ah, a lightning spell," he murmurs, a smug smile playing on his lips.
He raises his hand, and his body is enveloped in a shimmering golden light. The [Golden Body] technique from the Shengti Gonyi sect, one of the many spells he'd studied during his free time in the Immortal World, activates. The lightning bolt strikes him, but instead of pain, he feels an odd tingling sensation as the energy is absorbed into his skin, which now resembles a living, golden statue.
Joshua had a smug smile on his face, his heart racing with the thrill of finally putting his long-dormant spells to the test.
His time in the Immortal World had been a whirlwind of knowledge and power, but here, in this frozen land, he was reminded of how much he had learned and how much he had yet to master.
Each spell from the all the different sect could be use here to counter these Mages.
Joshua cast a spell called [Earth Shift]. The ground beneath him trembled, and with a mighty heave, he sent chunks of earth hurtling towards the silver-haired mage. She was quick to react, her wand slicing through the air as she conjured a barrier of crackling energy. The debris smashed against it, the force causing her to stumble.
Before she could recover, Joshua seized the moment by using the spell [Earth Shift] as a booster. The ground rumbled beneath his feet, propelling him forward like a projectile. He flew through the air with surprising agility, his body a blur of motion. The silver-haired mage's eyes widened in shock as she realized his intent.
With lightning speed, he cast [Aqua Bending] upon reaching her. Water surged from the surrounding environment, coalescing around her in a whirl of liquid force. She struggled against the watery binds, her eyes narrowing with determination. But the spell was too strong, and she was unable to resist its grip.
"We can speak peacefully," Joshua repeated, his voice echoing through the chamber as he landed gracefully before her.
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"I have no wish to harm you."
The silver-haired mage spat out the words like they were poisonous.
"You dare speak of peace, demon worshiper?"
The silver-haired mage's voice was a snarl as she thrashed against the watery bonds.
"You will not corrupt the purity of the Tower with your foul presence," she spat.
Joshua sighed, his eyes rolling upward in exasperation. He had hoped for a reasonable conversation, but it seemed that was not to be.
"Very well," he said, his voice calm and measured despite the woman's insults.
"Let's talk without the theatrics."
The words left his mouth before the silver-haired mage could unleash another barrage of accusations.
He hadn't come here for a fight, but if this mage was going to insist, he had no choice but to respond.
He raised his hand, his fingertips glowing with a soft, golden light. The spell [Hypnosis] was one he had commonly used and practiced a lot, and now he can use it with ease.
But something was off, she resisted with an unprecedented strength. His eyes narrowed, realizing that she had some form of protection against mental intrusion.
"Your defenses are formidable," he murmured, admiration tinting his voice. "But let's not make this more complicated than it needs to be."
With a flick of his wrist, he cast [Hypnosis], expecting to see her gaze glaze over with obedience. Instead, she staggered back, a look of fierce determination etched on her face. Her eyes flashed with a light that seemed to cut through the very fabric of the spell, and with a sudden burst of speed, she launched herself at him.
Caught off-guard by her resistance, he barely had time to react before she was upon him, her hands reaching out to grasp his shoulders. A moment later, he felt a jolting sensation, like a bolt of lightning had struck his core. The world around them grew hazy, and he realized with a start that she had invaded his soul.
Joshua's mind reeled as the silver-haired mage, her eyes now ablaze with a fierce light, stepped into his consciousness. The Tower Spirit's power had bolstered her, allowing her to perform a [Soul Raid], a spell that could temporarily leave her body and delve into the soul of her target. He had never encountered such a technique, and for a split second, he was unprepared.
"Foolish mortal," the silver-haired mage taunted, a smirk playing on her lips as she stepped into the void of his soul, "You dare to challenge me in my own sanctum?"
She mocked him, her laughter echoing through the confines of his soul like a chilling wind through a hollow cavern. She had perform this taboo spell, the [Soul Raid], a dozen times before, each incursion granting her a piece of her opponents' strength and knowledge. Her confidence was unshakeable, her eyes gleaming with the anticipation of claiming yet another victory.
But as she ventured deeper into the expansive void that was his soul, she found something utterly unfamiliar.
Most souls she had invaded were rich tapestries, vibrant with memories and emotions, each thread a testament to the lives they had led.
Yet, Joshua's was an empty expanse, a vast desert devoid of any discernible landmark. It was as if she had stepped into an endless abyss.
"What is this?" the silver-haired mage murmured, her confidence wavering as she gazed into the endless expanse of nothingness.
"Where is the essence of your soul, the core of your being?" the silver-haired mage whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she floated through the vast emptiness that was Joshua's soul space.
She had encountered many different soulscapes in her lifetime, but none like this. It was as if she had stumbled into a realm of oblivion. Some of the soul space she had infiltrated were like lush gardens, teeming with life and color, reflecting the vibrant personalities of their owners. Others were like treasure troves, filled with the accumulated knowledge and power of the mage's life.
But this? This was a vast, empty expanse that stretched out into infinity, a void that seemed to swallow all light and sound. Her eyes searched the darkness in vain, her heart racing with a mix of awe and terror.
"Where is your essence?" she screamed again, her voice echoing through the abyss.
The void was disorienting, a labyrinth of nothingness that stretched on forever. Panic began to grip her as the cold emptiness seeped into her being. She knew that if she didn't find his core, she would be lost in this infinite void.
"Show yourself!" she screamed into the abyss, her voice reverberating through the vast expanse.
The only way to end the [Soul Raid] spell is by locating and capturing the soul's core, but here she was, adrift in a sea of nothingness. She kept running, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum. The silver-haired mage could feel and hear her own heart even hough she was a soul form.
Then, as if a beacon of hope pierced through the darkness, she saw something shimmering from the distance. It was a small, flickering light, like a distant star in a black cosmos. She reached out to it, her soul form moving with a speed she hadn't known she had, but the closer she got, the further away it seemed to be.
Her desperation grew with every second that ticked away, feeling as if she was stuck in a never-ending nightmare. But she couldn't give up, not now, not when she was so close to exiting this place of the mysterious mage, No, better call him a Demon God.
Suddenly, she heard a sound, a voice that echoed through the vast emptiness. It was a deep, amused chuckle, one that seemed to come from every direction and none at the same time.
"Well, well, well," the voice said, "who do we have here?"
The silver-haired mage's soul form spun around, her eyes widening as she saw Joshua standing some distance away, a smile playing on his lips. The flickering light grew brighter, and she realized it was his soul, a beacon of power and wisdom amidst the emptiness.
"Mercy," she choked out, her voice a mere echo in the vast space.
"I'll give you anything. Just spare me!"
The woman's desperate plea echoed through the vast emptiness of his soul.
Joshua, watched her with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
"Very well," he said, his voice resonating through the void, "I accept your offer. Your eternal loyalty will be your payment."
The silver-haired mage felt a flicker of relief, but it was short-lived. She knew that pledging her loyalty to such a powerful being was not a decision to be made lightly. Yet, she had little choice. She nodded, her soul form trembling.
Joshua's smile grew, a hint of mischief in his gaze. The void around them began to shift and distort, as if the very fabric of reality was bending to his will. The mage's panic grew as she felt the ground beneath her dissolving into the abyss.
Her soul form began to rise, the emptiness closing in around her. She close her eyes, expecting the end of her existence. Instead, nothing happened, and she looked up and was met with a pair of colossal eyes, each one a swirling galaxy of stars. They filled the 'sky' above, looking down upon her with a sense of eternal wisdom and unyielding power.
"You will be my loyal servant," the giant in the sky spoke, its voice a thunderous rumble that shook the very fabric of her soul.
The silver-haired mage felt a surge of power pass through her, the stars in the eyes swirling faster as if in a celestial dance of dominance. The emptiness of the void filled with a warm, golden light that suffused her being, sealing her with the pledge.
Her consciousness wavered, and she saw the giant's smile, vast and knowing, before everything faded to black. The sensation of falling was replaced with a gentle tugging, as if she were being drawn back to reality.
