Sword God in a World of Magic

"Oh, hey! You're still alive!" One of the Peak Ancestral Mages shouted to a Mid Ancestral Mage with a smile.

The other Ancestral Mage floated over and nodded. "Yep, and I also made quite a bit this time. I completed three trials."

The first Mage let out an impressive whistle. "Impressive," he said. "Anyway, did you get Maruda?"

The second Mage slowly shook his head. "Couldn't find him."

"Huh, he's normally one of the first ones that return. I thought that you got him," the first Mage said.

"Nope," the second Mage said again. "It would suck if he suddenly dies. I wouldn't get my payment and his wealth."

"Speaking of," he added as he looked at the gathered Mages above the surface. "I also don't see my contractor."

The first Mage shrugged. "Maybe they're still in a trial?"

The other Mage just furrowed his brows. Then, he turned to Lucin, who was looking at the ocean. "Lucin, who are we still waiting for?"

"There's one more Peak Ancestral Mage. She's choosing her rewards right now. I don't think it will take longer than a couple of minutes," Lucin answered.

When Lucin said that, several other Mages raised their eyebrows in surprise.

Wait, basically everyone was already here?

They looked at each other and counted.

Twelve Peak Ancestral Mages.

Two Late Ancestral Mages.

Two Mid Ancestral Mages.

One Early Ancestral Mage.

Three Initial Ancestral Mages.

the one they were

36,

that there would be about 30 left near the end, but

was quite a

on the first two

within expected parameters, but 80% of

What happened?

enter one of the extremely rare group trials with a

only open for Peak Ancestral Mages that had been in the Wilderness Hunt several times

only left one other

had killed a lot of

But who?

remaining Initial Ancestral Mages. After all, an Early Ancestral Mage couldn't possibly

each other via voice transmission, trying to

three Initial Ancestral Mages had been at that level

deals with other Clouds. In exchange

detrimental to her business, which was why everyone

second Initial Ancestral Mage was a notorious serial

first Ancestral Mage's biggest customer, and he specialized in a wide

the other, earning a lot of stuff which he would then mostly sell

find certain extremely rare

would make no sense for him to kill so many other Clouds

the first two Clouds, they were not happy about

left the third

was a woman with light-blue hair, and they all remembered

had been the new Cloud that had asked the leading Bolt about

had joined just a couple

had an Ice Affinity, but

still

a single Cloud had seen

other two Initial Ancestral Mages also noticed all of this, and they moved closer to

they had traveled

see if they could earn more by combining their businesses this