Chapter 332 – Mind Magic

After exchanging taunts and threats, Ovakain and Punk began staring at each other with mutual disdain. However, deep down, both the black dragon and Punk understood—they were facing the most troublesome kind of rational powerhouse, where provocation and mockery had limited effect!

Seeing that Ovakain possessed more rationality than he had anticipated, Punk could only sigh inwardly. He had originally planned to use this “chance encounter” to probe the depths of this enigmatic dragon mage. Now, he could only hope the situation wouldn’t escalate to its worst possible outcome.

Within the silent consciousness space of Huai’en, the projections of the two powerhouses stood motionless, locked in a standoff. As time passed, the atmosphere between them grew increasingly perilous and icy.

Then… in the very next second, without any warning, Punk abruptly launched his attack:

“Master-Level Mind Spell—Mind Blade!”

In this battle on the mental plane, though Punk was forced to rely on mind spells—a discipline he was far from proficient in—he felt no fear. The battlefield was Huai’en’s mental space, and neither Ovakain nor Punk knew the location of the other’s true soul. Their attacks were solely directed at each other’s mental projections. Even if one’s projection were shattered, the backlash to their actual soul would merely result in a headache lasting a couple of days.

With no real danger at stake, Punk held nothing back. Of course, Ovakain was no different.

As Punk was unfamiliar with the “Mind Blade” spell, he couldn’t employ any metamagic techniques to enhance it. To ensure the attack’s potency, the moment the first “Mind Blade” was cast, he immediately and without hesitation began silently chanting to prepare a second one.

The “Mind Blade” soaring through the dark mental space wasn’t a physical blade; it appeared formless and minuscule.

Yet, in a battle of minds, size held no meaning. Ovakain’s massive form didn’t equate to formidable defense, nor did it make him an easier target.

Facing the “Mind Blade” that swept forward as lightly as a ripple across water, Ovakain—who had never let his guard down—promptly conjured a semicircular shield shimmering with faint ripples. Then… the “Mind Blade,” drifting like a weightless feather, plunged directly into the translucent psychic barrier. In the next instant, the blade that had gleamed with a chilling light moments earlier vanished without a sound. Punk even sensed that the spell energy constituting the “Mind Blade” had, in turn, reinforced the shield’s strength.

“Master-Level Mind Spell—Mind Fusion Shield”?

Witnessing this, Punk frowned slightly. This unique shield possessed the ability to absorb attacks of insufficient strength and merge their power with its own. As long as the mind spell’s offensive force didn’t exceed its threshold, low-cost, low-impact spells like “Mind Blade” could only become “sustenance” for the “Mind Fusion Shield.”

“This is troublesome. This fellow’s spellcasting prowess is quite formidable.”Seeing his spell effortlessly absorbed in an instant, Punk couldn’t help but feel a surge of inner shock. In theory, the “Mind Fusion Barrier” required time to absorb low-energy psychic spells. Punk’s original plan was to follow the first offensive spell with a second one to catch Ovakain off guard. However, witnessing the unexpectedly rapid fusion speed of Ovakain’s “Mind Fusion Barrier,” Punk had no choice but to abandon constructing the second spell.

There was no alternative—the first “Mind Blade” had already been fully absorbed. Releasing a second “Mind Blade” at this point would be adding fuel to the fire rather than delivering a finishing blow.

Noticing Punk forced to cancel his half-constructed spell, a faint smile flickered across Ovakain’s massive draconic face. While Punk had to abruptly halt his spellcasting, the dragon faced no such limitation. Once again defying expectations, Ovakain’s incantation speed surpassed Punk’s. Almost without pause, the dragon completed his second psychic spell.

“Master-Level Psychic Spell—Mind Roar.”

Deafening roars instantly reverberated throughout Huai’en’s entire consciousness. Huai’en’s soul, hiding in the Corner, was immediately shattered by the residual waves of the “Mind Roar.” Cracks spread like spiderwebs across the dark mental realm, and the entire psychic space teetered on the brink of collapse under Ovakain’s roar. The massive psychic tidal surge even caused fractures to appear across Huai’en’s physical skull in reality.

As Ovakain unleashed the “Mind Roar,” Punk initially intended to rely on his powerful psychic energy to withstand the spell. Based on his analysis, a single area-of-effect attack from Ovakain shouldn’t be capable of dealing fatal damage. As long as he endured this wave of “Mind Roar,” it would be Punk’s turn to counterattack.

Thus, facing the overwhelming psychic wave crashing down like a waterfall, Punk continued preparing his spell with an expressionless demeanor.

However… the moment the silvery-glowing torrent of Mind Roar struck Punk’s psychic projection like a tidal wave smashing against sand, his impassive expression abruptly shifted. To his horror, Punk discovered this terrifying “Mind Roar” contained something far more troublesome mixed within—

It was… draconic aura!

“Hahaha, mage, you can never comprehend the might of me—Ovakain Acidmaw!”

Watching Punk’s abruptly changed expression as he was helplessly swept away by the psychic surge, Ovakain abandoned his solemn demeanor and laughed uproariously.

From the very beginning, while Punk had been scheming against the dragon, Ovakain had his own offensive strategy. The wisdom he displayed was no less formidable than Punk’s, and now it appeared… Ovakain’s mastery of psychic spells surpassed Punk’s as well.

The wave of “Mind Roar” came and went swiftly. After completely shattering Huai’en’s psychic space, the power of Mind Roar finally began to dissipate.However, even though Ovakain’s attack power was unexpectedly formidable, it was impossible for him to instantly defeat Punk. Huai’en’s mental space was now jointly sustained by the spiritual power injected by both Punk and Ovakain. Since the portion supported primarily by Punk hadn’t collapsed yet, Punk’s spiritual projection naturally remained unvanquished.

In the dark, shattered mental space now woven only by shimmering silver threads, Punk’s voice—devoid of his projected form—coldly echoed:

“Dragon’s Might? Your spellcasting level appears higher than I anticipated. Fusing Dragon’s Might with mental magic is no ordinary feat for a mage. I must admit, in a one-on-one duel, I might truly be no match for you.”

“If you recognize the gap between us, then as an intelligent being, you should understand that the Dragon Roar Kingdom is not to be trifled with, nor are a dragon’s treasures for you to covet. Turn back now—I’ve no wish to ignite war.”

Ovakain didn’t press the attack. Even now, he still hoped to persuade Punk to relent, though he knew such hope was nearly nonexistent…

“Gap? Excellent—I like that word. It’s precisely gaps that make challenges worthwhile. And of course, I imagine the mighty Your Majesty Dragon will bring me even richer spoils.”

(End of Chapter)