Chapter 281: The Waiting Game

Near the Death Volcano, the oppressive heat radiated off the cracked earth, and the air shimmered with intensity. Lucas stood at the center of a barren field, surrounded by a large cluster of mana stones, their surfaces gleaming with power.

These were no ordinary mana stones—they were the exact type being desperately sought after by the top elders of both the Necrovauld Academy and the Celestial Academy, and they were also made by Lucas using his vast mana storage.

A sly smile tugged at the corner of Lucas's lips as he gazed at the gleaming mana stones scattered across the barren ground. "Looks like we've produced quite a haul of these mana stones," he murmured, satisfaction dripping from his voice.

[Of course we have,] the system chimed in, its tone thick with arrogance. [You're welcome, by the way. Creating something this perfect obviously needed my superior guidance. Now all that's left is for you to sit back and wait. Shouldn't be too hard for someone like you, right?]

Lucas chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Wait? That's all I need to do? While the elders fall for this trap like the fools they are?" His grin widened as he crouched low, letting the shadows swallow his form.

[Exactly. Let those self-righteous morons scramble over their 'precious treasures.' They think they're so important, but you and I know the truth—you're the one playing them like puppets. They'll never see it coming.]

Lucas's smirk deepened, his expression a blend of satisfaction and mischief. "Stupid and arrogant. They'll walk right into this without a second thought. The best part? They'll believe they've won."

The system scoffed, shameless as ever. [Oh, I can't wait to see their faces when they realize they've been played. Priceless. You really are getting better at this whole manipulation thing, aren't you? Maybe you're finally learning something from me.]

"Learning from you?" Lucas raised an eyebrow, though his grin remained. "Please. This was my plan all along. You're just here to provide commentary, like a critic who never gets their hands dirty."

[Ha! Critic? I'm the genius here, making sure you don't screw up. You're lucky to have me, kid. Otherwise, you'd be fumbling around, probably getting yourself killed. Again.]

Lucas shook his head, unable to suppress a laugh. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

As his figure melded into the shadows, his gaze sharpened. He felt the tension building, the anticipation of what was to come. The stage was set, and now... it was time to watch the arrogant elders walk straight into their downfall.

Meanwhile, the suffocating heat of the volcanic landscape was suddenly disturbed by the presence of several powerful figures.

The ground trembled beneath their feet as Elder Feris, Elder Mirra, Elder Vorn, and Clan Leader Velkar of the Malachor Clan descended upon the area, their auras radiating dominance.

Their eyes immediately locked onto the mana stones scattered across the ground, their brilliance reflecting the molten glow of the surrounding volcano. The sheer purity of the stones made them sparkle like they were holding a power that transcended the ordinary.

Velkar's eyes widened, his breath catching for a brief moment. "This... this can't be," he muttered, his usually composed voice quivering with disbelief.

Elder Feris stepped forward, his sharp gaze fixated on the stones. "These mana stones..." he murmured, his voice filled with awe, as though he were seeing a relic from the heavens. "They're purer than anything I've ever encountered."

A quick, knowing glance passed between Elder Mirra and Elder Vorn. The disbelief on their faces quickly transformed into something far more dangerous—greed.

Mirra's lips curved into a slow, wicked smile. "We've found it," she whispered, her voice laced with satisfaction. "We've finally found the treasures we've been hunting for."

Velkar's smirk deepened, dark and menacing. His fingers twitched with anticipation, itching to claim what lay before him. "With these in our possession," he said, his tone filled with a quiet, seething excitement, "the Malachor Clan will rise to heights unmatched." Sёarch* The Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

But just as they took a step toward the stones, ready to claim their spoils, a sudden ripple of energy surged through the air. They froze. The smug smiles slipped from their faces, their eyes narrowing sharply as they sensed the approach of another formidable presence.

From the far end of the volcanic field, another group appeared—this time adorned with the insignias of the Celestial Academy.

Elders Darius, Aric, and Sylph strode forward, their expressions hard as stone. The oppressive heat around them seemed to pale in comparison to the raw power they exuded.

Darius's gaze swept over the scene, landing on the scattered mana stones, then flickering toward the Malachor Clan elders. His lips curled into a tight, knowing smile.

"Feris, Velkar," he began calmly, though his voice carried a lethal edge, "it seems you've stumbled upon something valuable. But surely you don't believe you'll be leaving here with it?"

Velkar's lips curled back into a sneer, his face darkening with disdain. "These stones belong to us, Celestial scum," he growled, his voice dripping with contempt. "You've no right to claim them."

A tense silence hung in the air for a split second, broken only by the faint hiss of volcanic steam.

Elder Sylph stepped forward, her eyes narrowing dangerously as sparks of mana flickered around her fingers. "We could say the same about you," she said, her voice sharp, like a blade ready to cut. "If you think we'll back down, you're sorely mistaken." Find your next read at m_v l|e-NovelFire.net

The two groups stood there, locked in a deadly standoff. Eyes narrowed, hands hovering near weapons, mana swirling in the oppressive air. The ground beneath them seemed to vibrate with the sheer force of their combined energy, ready to erupt into chaos at any moment.

Elder Aric's eyes gleamed with quiet amusement, though his words were as cold as the storm brewing inside him. "Perhaps you'd like to try and take them by force?" he suggested, his voice low and taunting, daring them to make the first move.

Velkar's gaze darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. "I'd be more than happy to teach you Celestial fools a lesson," he snarled, his voice barely contained rage. The Malachor elders stepped forward, their auras flaring, each ready to strike.

But Elder Feris raised a hand, signaling his companions to hold. "Patience, Velkar," he said coolly, though his eyes never left the Celestial elders. His voice was smooth, calculated. "We don't need to dirty our hands just yet."

Darius's smile widened slightly, his voice cutting through the tension like ice. "Oh? Trying to negotiate now, Feris?" His tone was mocking, laced with amusement, as if he already knew how this encounter would end.

The heat from the volcano seemed to intensify, the air itself crackling with anticipation. Both sides were seconds away from clashing, their mana swirling and crackling in the air, growing more volatile by the second.

From his hidden vantage point, Lucas watched the unfolding scene, his smile growing broader with each passing moment. His eyes glinted with satisfaction. The trap had been set. Now, all he had to do was watch as these arrogant fools tore each other apart.