Chapter 527

Chapter 527: Turning the Tables

The Devouring Sound Orb was a creation of mechanical alchemy.

Though equipped with several small Defensive Magic Arrays to resist ordinary attacks, it contained no safeguards against tampering.

This resembled a fully armored warrior with immense defensive power yet utterly defenseless against mind-related abilities.

For an alchemy master like Midi, adjusting the magic frequency controlling the orb proved as simple as flipping a palm.

Among mind-related abilities existed a fundamental skill called "Telekinesis," enabling psychic users to move objects under one kilogram. Though basic, its practicality for remote manipulation remained unmatched.

During his fierce clash with Shelly, Midi had already mapped the orb’s internal structure. He then discreetly employed Telekinesis to reconfigure its miniature mechanisms and magic circuits. Having studied the orb’s blueprints in the Death Scorpion family’s mechanical workshop, Midi recognized the eastern temple’s modified version shared identical core principles.

With his master-level Mechanics expertise, converting Shelly’s orb into his own took negligible effort and time. The entire overhaul finished silently within five minutes – while Shelly still hurled ice arrows relentlessly.

By the battle’s fifth minute, Midi held absolute initiative. Even if overwhelmed or forced to retreat, reclaiming the orb and surrendering would ensure his safe exit. Yet with flawless control over events, why release Shelly now?

When Midi revealed this trump card, disbelief gripped not just Shelly but all watching Black Dragon warriors. When had this human tampered with the orb mid-bombardment? The motionless orb now hovering defiantly – ignoring Shelly’s orders and blocking her surrender – answered louder than words.

"This guy…" Ingman of Blue Lake City’s group gaped. Layman, their self-proclaimed strategist, flushed crimson and pale as Midi shattered his predictions. Fighters who’d anticipated Midi’s defeat fell silent before his total dominance.

Only Lilian laughed freely. "I knew my chosen man wouldn’t lose to such trash!"

Catherine’s face froze into glacial severity. Her murderous gaze could’ve slain Midi ten thousand times over. Yet Midi cared nothing for her thoughts – his style demanded total war against enemies, never half-measures. Having acted, he’d pursue maximum advantage. Mercy toward the Ice Queen invited only disaster.

What kind of person was the Ice Queen?

She was an arrogant opponent who wanted Midi out of the arena just because she disliked him.

Midi knew people like Catherine would never appreciate mercy—she’d only remember the slights.

For an untamable wolf like her, there was only one solution: fight!

Now, Midi intended to fight freely and seize everything through sheer power!

"What does your Eastern Temple think the Black Dragon Conference is? Your private garden to stroll in and out of?" Midi mocked, ignoring Shelly on the arena while taunting the Ice Queen Catherine. "Show me what your Ice Mages can do when cornered."

"Midi Asreks…" Catherine’s eyes burned with killing intent.

For countless conferences, temple fighters had always looked down on ordinary Black Dragon warriors.

Even against strong foes, they’d exploited rule loopholes like the Devouring Sound Orb to retreat unscathed.

But now, Eastern Temple members were trapped by Midi, unable to surrender—a humiliating blow to Catherine’s pride.

"Fight!" Midi declared, shifting into an offensive stance against Shelly again.

He didn’t attack while she faltered, instead advancing methodically as before.

"You…" Shelly choked back words.

Midi’s actions made it clear: she remained his Grinding Stone.

But this wasn’t mockery—Midi genuinely wanted to keep fighting.

A Level 68 expert with weak attack power, her patterns now familiar—he could predict the battle’s flow.

Such opportunities were rare. Needing growth, Midi would drain Shelly’s last magic before ending this.

Shelly knew his plan but couldn’t counter it.

Had she attacked full-force earlier when stronger, she might’ve crushed him.

But her caution backfired, letting Midi reach Level 66.

Now, against his boosted strength, her lack of explosive attacks left few openings.

Self-destruction remained an option—destroy herself rather than be his tool, maybe even counter-kill him.

But in the survival-obsessed Shaded Realm? Unthinkable.

Seeing her hesitation, Midi pressed his advantage openly.

Time deepened Midi’s Black Iron Dragon Flame, his aura swelling.

Shelly’s attacks grew sloppier.

Her Ice Spirit Bow, sword, and freezing spears lost coordination; the Death Ice River weakened.

Forced into endless offense under Midi’s pressure, Shelly strained.

Midi defended calmly.

His pure True Dragon bloodline and True Dragon Body Refinement Method granted superior recovery, outstripping her Ice Dragon lineage’s endurance.

As Shelly’s focus broke, the stalemate shifted.

"Level 66 small success stabilized. High-tier potions will secure mastery," Midi breathed.

Using Shelly’s pressure, he’d not only leveled up but also refined his bloodline rapidly.

Her mediocre attacks offered no further growth—this fight now wasted energy.

"Testing current power."

Midi vanished mid-whisper.

"He’s attacking!" the crowd realized as one.

Shelly snapped to focus.

Hours ago, she’d never imagined a Level 65 human Demon Swordsman cornering her, a Level 68 Eastern Temple expert.

Yet she refused surrender.

Her attacks couldn’t pierce his defense—but neither could his breach hers!

Ice Mages boasted supreme defense despite weaker offense.

CRACK!

Her layered Ice Shields shattered—two destroyed, two cracked, one remaining.

One strike breached her pride.

Not through raw power—Midi’s Black Iron Dragon Flame had seeped underground for hours, eroding her shields undetected.

Shelly’s Ice Dragon bloodline couldn’t sense the purer True Dragon flame’s corrosion.

When Midi struck, the shields were already hollow.

Shelly didn’t lose to strength—she lost to control.

An attack-focused Ice Mage versus a genius commander in endurance battle?

Suicidal folly.