The First Magic World War

Zimmerman swallowed two Divine Fragments, his aura surged wildly as he ascended yet another rank, stepping into the Intermediate Extraordinary level.

Charles felt no envy, but he obviously harbored more fear towards this "companion." He was a High-Level Transcendent, but still had to follow the steps in cultivating Bloodthirsty Fighting Spirit, which, though quicker than a normal Beastman, still couldn't skip the necessary phases of training. Yet Zimmerman's consumption of Divine Fragments allowed him to continuously raise his Extraordinary ranks, a feat beyond his "common sense."

Even in the world of Transcendents, there was some common sense that couldn't be easily broken.

All Charles could say was that he became more certain that this Zimmerman wasn't human—he was, ninety-nine percent likely, It!

Charles, holding his Two-Handed Battle Axe, casually spun it around, creating an arc. The Longsword at his waist had also been replaced with one of the first rank of Extraordinary Longswords, not standard issue from the Old Continent, which was why he didn't swap out his Two-Handed Battle Axe.

Zimmerman took a long breath and said, "I've finally become an Intermediate Transcendent." His expression was a bit strange, as if he recalled some past events.

Charles didn't dare let him reminisce and quickly interrupted Zimmerman, saying, "We've already cleared about a fifth of the monsters. If we purge all of the creatures in the Underground City, you might be able to become a High-Level Transcendent."

Zimmerman broke into a smile and said, "Isn't it a bit unfair that I monopolized all the Divine Fragments?"

Charles shook his head and replied, "A deal's a deal, there's nothing unfair about it. I need to clear all the monsters in the Underground City, and you need the fragments. We both have our needs."

Zimmerman gave Charles a complex look, his gaze slightly reproachful.

With an air of integrity, Charles didn't dare to play any tricks with this person.

If it weren't for his inability to leave, Charles would have long since parted ways with Zimmerman. He had to clear all the monsters and maze-ify this part of the City of Desolation in the Underground City before he could pass through this fourth Labyrinth and find an exit.

Zimmerman said indifferently, "Let's continue."

Charles led the way, leaving his back to Zimmerman. Soon, they encountered a group of creatures.

These monsters were incredibly fast and could spew venom, looking like oversized rats magnified hundreds of times. Upon seeing these creatures, Zimmerman's face paled slightly, but Charles remained unfazed, his Two-Handed Battle Axe whirling like the wind. Having grown accustomed to this weapon and learning the Axe Skill from his Hunchback Red Bear Warriors, he had reached a point of mastery. With three consecutive swings, each faster than the last, he chopped down three monsters. The remaining creatures let out piercing cries and scattered in all directions.

Charles did not pursue them, considering it inefficient to chase these skittering beasts since the Underground City was swarming with monsters. He planned to kill off most of the underground creatures first, then deal with these scattered smaller ones later.

Taking a glance back, Charles thought, "Why is Zimmerman becoming more womanly? Could it be that he suddenly comprehended the principle of Yin Yang Transformation and the generation of all things, opening the door to a new world?"

Zimmerman's cheeks flushed faintly as he said in a low voice, "I'm a bit scared of rats."

Charles hmm'd in response without engaging further; he didn't know how else to reply to such a statement. Should he go up and hug this individual—who was very likely on the verge of becoming an Evil God—while tenderly consoling him not to be afraid?

He wasn't that suicidal.

Now, it was he who was scared, wasn't it?

Could a rat really be as terrifying as the Evil God?

There was a brief moment of awkwardness between them, but it soon eased as a ghostly troop of knights began to emerge in the distance, their bodies hazy and translucent. Even from afar, a cold aura swept over them.

Charles whispered, "Ice Undead Knights."

"A rare breed."

Zimmerman said, "I'll deal with them."

As a Radiant Knight, he was a natural nemesis to the undead; his intervention was indeed much more appropriate than Charles's.

Charles stepped back. His Bloodthirsty Fighting Spirit was indeed less effective against the undead.

Zimmerman swung his two-handed greatsword. Though he looked like a delicate maiden, his swordsmanship was broad and forceful, filled with ferocity. The two-handed greatsword, imbued with Radiant Fighting Spirit, cut through the air like a tempest, cleaving an Ice Undead Knight in half as if it were nothing. While this Ice Undead Knight was immune to most physical damage, it was no match for the counteracting power of the Radiant Fighting Spirit.

Zimmerman made quick work of one of the Ice Undead Knights and seemed to do it with ease, but he was soon blocked by a second one. This undead knight was at the higher end of the intermediate rank, surpassing tenth grade. Even with Zimmerman's advantageous attributes, it was undeterred. After seven or eight fierce exchanges, more than twenty other undead knights surrounded him, entangling Zimmerman firmly. He rapidly found himself in dire straits.

Although Charles had hoped the Ice Undead Knights would give Zimmerman a hard time, reason told him they might barely scratch Zimmerman's "skin," and far from solving the problem, they could summon the real boss.

Charles didn't want to face Zimmerman with his memories restored. Seeing the situation unfold, he could not just stand by and watch. He swung his two-handed battle axe and joined the fray.

Of this troop of more than twenty Ice Undead Knights, there were four Transcendents. Besides the leader at the high end of the intermediate rank, the remaining three Transcendents, though low-level, were at least at levels five or six, and their combat abilities were fierce.

Charles adopted a tactic Zimmerman had used; he didn't tangle with the three Extraordinary-level Ice Undead Knights. Instead, he entered a Super Berserk State, and with one axe blow per knight, he first slaughtered all the rank-and-file.

After disposing of more than twenty regular Ice Undead Knights, Charles then dispelled the Super Berserk State. He fought and retreated, luring away the remaining three Ice Undead Knights.

With Charles's third-grade Bloodthirsty Fighting Spirit, it was impossible to take on and defeat the three level five or six Ice Undead Knights one against three. However, when he lured these three monsters to a distance, he smirked sinisterly, reverted from his transformation, and unleashed the power of Bloody Glory at the eighteenth grade, shattering the three low but high-ranking Ice Undead Knights with a single assault.

Charles twirled his two-handed battle axe with a flourish and said indifferently, "It seems I could use my real strength to flatten this Underground City!"

He was about to go "rescue" Zimmerman when he caught a glimpse of a faint glimmer within the remnants of the three shattered Ice Undead Knights. Approaching, he found three Divine Fragments and unhesitatingly collected them.

Using this tactic, Charles had killed hundreds of creatures. Naturally, he wouldn't give the Divine Fragments to Zimmerman when nobody was watching.

Charles had also collected over a hundred Divine Fragments by now. He had tried using them to cultivate. Despite his eighteenth-grade, high-level Extraordinary strength, it would still take a month or two to assimilate even one, and it only slightly increased the speed of his cultivation. There was no way it could be like Zimmerman, who could absorb them directly for an immediate advancement.