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.

with the one they were waiting for, they would be

36, and now

about 30 left near the end, but there were

quite a devastating death

the deaths mostly focused on the first two

three levels were still within expected parameters, but 80%

What happened?

they enter one of the extremely rare group trials with a

of trials were only open for Peak Ancestral Mages that had been in

only left

killed a lot of

But who?

one of the three remaining Initial Ancestral Mages. After all, an Early Ancestral Mage couldn't possibly kill

Mages talked to each other via voice transmission, trying to find out

the three Initial Ancestral Mages had been at that level for quite a time to accumulate power, and they

and noting down locations of trials to make a lot of money. She even had several deals with other Clouds. In exchange for her safety in the Wilderness Hunt, they would get a

which was why everyone

Mage was a

customer, and he

after the other, earning a lot of stuff which

certain

him to kill so many other Clouds since that

of the first two Clouds, they were

left the third

with light-blue hair,

Cloud that had asked the leading Bolt about the Deep

that she had joined just a couple of decades ago and that her powers

she had an Ice Affinity, but they hadn't seen her

that still held

single Cloud had seen

Initial Ancestral Mages also noticed all of this,

were thankful that they had traveled

could earn more by combining their