Chapter 321

Chapter 321: The Battle for the Nine Temples

So it finally began.

Midi’s heart tightened as he sent Star Exiles to scout. These level 72 magical entities were immune to mind-related abilities, undetectable by telepathy, and needed no food or rest—perfect scouts.

Soon, the illusion-altered terrain became clear. The second phase’s layout mirrored Octagonal Island: eight small temples at the corners, the Central Temple at the heart, linked to all eight competitors through passageways. He was completely encircled.

Though the Star Exiles helped, thirty weren’t enough. After barely defeating two Kings of Shadows to reach the Central Temple, Midi grimaced—it felt like stepping into his own trap.

How to fight this?

_Eliminate the strongest threat first._

The answer came quickly. The seventh temple’s trial participant was undoubtedly the biggest danger. They’d cleared the first phase just two weeks after Midi, giving them the second-longest preparation time.

Midi decided to crush the seventh temple swiftly, both to intimidate rivals and seize a strategic foothold. Scouts focused on gathering intel while his army readied to attack through the tunnel.

But the reconnaissance shocked him.

The seventh temple’s Heart-Seizing Demon army teemed with Undead. Only one person could be behind this—"Wiseman of the Hand of Nightmare."

The Necromancer was clearly enjoying himself. Worse, his magic user profession meshed perfectly with the Heart-Seizing Demon host. Unlike Midi, who couldn’t use Demon Swordman skills without a demon god in this body, Wiseman’s magic flowed freely. He’d transformed his Heart-Seizing Magician into a Heart-Seizing Demon Necromancer.

Judging by the skeleton army’s scale, Wiseman had spread his necromancy through the settlement. Heart-Seizing Demon Necromancers outnumbered elemental mages ten to one. Midi finally saw what happened when a madman like Wiseman ruled—he turned everyone else into lunatics.

Provoking such a foe was unwise, especially with seven other temples waiting to pounce.

“Let’s ally,” Midi projected across the border using telepathy.

No reply came.

_Would Wiseman actually fight me here?_

Midi’s eye twitched. It fit. Wiseman cared more about unraveling mysteries than strategy. In a deathless trial space? Nothing would stop him from challenging the strongest—Midi himself—for sheer curiosity.

If that thought had crossed Wiseman’s mind, Midi wouldn’t be surprised at all.

As Midi sighed deeply, a telepathic message finally arrived.

But he couldn’t decipher it—it was pure, meaningless noise.

"What’s happening?" Midi frowned, a theory forming in his mind.

After quick experiments, his suspicion proved true.

The nine great temples couldn’t ally.

More precisely, the trial participants couldn’t communicate. Words or telepathic messages became distorted noise in others’ minds, making real dialogue impossible.

Midi also noticed his Heart-Seizing Demons instantly clashed with enemy ones, eyes blazing red with ancient hatred upon meeting.

The supreme expert behind the Mind Maze had made his intent clear—no real-world connections or political alliances could influence this trial.

He sought only the strongest: one excelling in battle, mastering psychic energy, and wielding unmatched power.

Nothing else mattered.

With communication blocked, the only possible cooperation was the simplest kind—like the seventh and eighth temples attacking the same target from different directions.

The obvious choice for such attacks? The Central Temple.

Any assault there would be instantly detected by surrounding temples. Eight tunnels around it allowed simultaneous attacks without overlap.

Its vulnerable position and the trial’s rules made it prime target. Midi’s situation worsened.

Even thriving, facing eight temples at once meant instant defeat.

No time to wait.

Midi acted. He’d avoid tough targets like Wiseman, but others were fair game.

Leaving sword scars in the seventh temple’s tunnel as decoys, he mobilized 300 Heart-Seizing Magicians, 1,500 elite troops, and 30 hidden Star Exiles, striking the First Temple.

His opponent here was weak, unremarkable. The settlement’s unrepaired battle damage suggested they’d barely passed the first trial phase.

Midi held nothing back. Under his command, elites shattered defenses in half an hour, breaching gates effortlessly.

The fleeing trial participant needed no pursuit. After assimilating the Mind Crystal Pool, First Temple’s demons switched sides instantly.

"First Temple’s Mind Crystal Pool converted. Trial participant eliminated."

A distant scream echoed as the defeated participant vanished in smoke, his possessed demon collapsing dead.

Though gaining little strength from the weakened First Temple, removing one threat helped. Yet Midi felt no triumph—the real challenge began now.

True enough, after the First Temple’s fall, temples two through eight reacted. The testing phase ended; attacks on Midi commenced.

Second, Fourth, and Fifth Temples struck Central Temple from three sides.

Defending was pointless—it only delayed defeat. Ordering guards to hold at all costs, Midi led his main force against the Second Temple.

He quickly identified his enemy: the Scarred Man from Blood Purification’s Execution Team. His aggressive tactics and formation skills stood out.

But this executioner lacked large-scale battle experience. Against Midi’s genius, his flaws multiplied.

Midi feigned an attack on Second Temple’s empty base. Hearing the rumor, the Scarred Man abandoned his Central Temple assault, rushing back to defend.

Midi ambushed him en route, destroying most forces before finishing the rest at Second Temple’s gates.

"Second Temple host deceased. Trial participant eliminated."

The temple’s demons turned wild, resisting all invaders. With Central Temple crumbling, Midi couldn’t stay to convert their Mind Crystal Pool.

Central Temple’s location proved useful now—he returned swiftly via direct routes. Ignoring his city’s damages, he flanked Fourth Temple’s rear forces, aiming to crush them completely.