Chapter 251: The Chaos Deepens (Part 2)
"**Haya, Emily, let's get out of here immediately! This is way too dangerous.**"
Shirin's voice was tense as she watched the escalating conflict. The chaos between the two mage families, filled with Tier 1, 2, 3, and even Tier 4 mages, was utterly devastating. A single misstep or stray spell could easily wipe them out.
Her priority was clear: **distance meant safety.**
Emma, however, remained rooted in place, her face lit with a faint glimmer of hope. Shirin shook her head slightly.
"Emma, your teacher is a mage from the Arcane Dominion. They probably aren't even here in Dolan City. The first volume of the **Vastness Tome** may have attracted attention, but it's not significant enough to alarm the mages from those elite organizations. Why don't you return to my family with me later? I'll help you search properly."
Emma's eyes brightened at Shirin's offer, and a smile graced her lips.
"Thank you, Shirin. I'm not holding on to much hope, but I can't bear to let any opportunity slip by."
With that, Emma followed behind Shirin, retreating from the battlefield as the two families continued their ferocious struggle.
---
"**Merlin, what's wrong?**"
Lorenka's soft question broke Merlin's trance. Her puzzled expression mirrored her concern.
Merlin withdrew his gaze. A fleeting figure had caught his eye earlier—a silhouette that felt familiar yet slipped from his memory. When he tried to find it again, it was already gone.
"**It's nothing,**" he replied, shaking his head gently. His focus returned to the melee between the Shadison and Dorett families.
Despite the Dorett family having two Tier 4 mages on their side, Merlin could see that Gil of the Shadison family remained composed, brimming with confidence. Clearly, Gil wasn't an ordinary Tier 4 mage.
However, Merlin understood the deeper crisis at hand. The mere **rumor** that the first volume of the **Vastness Tome** might contain clues to the second and third volumes was enough to stir up chaos. Several Tier 3 mages in the crowd had already begun eyeing the Shadison mages with ill intent, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Worse still were the hidden Tier 4 mages. Should they act, even someone as formidable as Gil might struggle to defend against their combined might.
"**Merlin, are the patriarch and Gil in danger?**" Lorenka asked hesitantly, her large, expressive eyes filled with worry.
Merlin gave her a sidelong glance, pausing before answering in a solemn tone.
"**The Vastness Tome isn't something the Shadison family can hope to possess.**"
Lorenka's face fell. She understood the unspoken meaning behind Merlin's words. The Shadison family's decision to retain the **Vastness Tome**, even after sharing its spells publicly, had made them the target of a storm they couldn't weather.
Still, as Merlin's follower, Lorenka dared not ask for his help. All she could do was silently pray for her family's survival through this ordeal.
---
"**Do it now, Yubik! According to the agreement, the Tome is yours, but Gil must die, and the Shadison family must fall!**"
Dorett patriarch Sebas's icy expression radiated elemental energy as he prepared to unleash his most powerful spells.
Yubik, eyes glinting with greed, responded by summoning a whirlwind that enveloped his entire body. He shouted fiercely, "Kill!"
A black shadow darted forth from the crowd, hurtling toward Gil—it was Yubik's **alchemical creature**, kept hidden for this moment to catch Gil off guard.
"Kill!" Sebas added, pointing as crystalline ice shards materialized and shot toward Gil in a sharp barrage.
"**Fire!**"
Unperturbed, Gil remained steady. The Tier 4 mage's body radiated potent earth energy, forming a robust defense spell, while flames erupted from his hands, warping the air with intense heat.
The clash between the Tier 4 mages was cataclysmic. Their spells obliterated the surrounding terrain, reducing the area to scorched rubble and wreaking havoc on anyone caught in their wake.
---
"**Rheint, your Shadison family is doomed today! Kill them all!**"
Raimondo, Dorett's patriarch, seized the moment to direct his forces. Waves of spells flew toward the Shadison defenders as hundreds of mages unleashed their full might.
For Merlin, the scene was both harrowing and awe-inspiring. Even the battle between Weiss and the Wright family in the Floating City paled in comparison. This was **war**, mages locked in unrestrained combat that tore apart the battlefield.
The Shadison estate became a war zone as Dorett threw everything they had into the fray. The rumors surrounding the **Vastness Tome** had also drawn opportunistic Tier 3 mages to join the attack, plunging the Shadison family into peril.
---
"**Hmm? Someone else is moving!**"
Merlin's sharp senses detected two figures surging forward, their elemental energy unmistakable: one wielded fire, the other ice. Both were Tier 4 mages.
"**The Vastness Tome!**" one of them roared, unleashing a sea of flames that engulfed Gil, Sebas, and Yubik.
The two new mages had clearly been lying in wait, striking when the others were too preoccupied to respond effectively. The blaze forced all three to retreat, allowing the new arrivals to move unimpeded toward the Tome.
Gil, Yubik, and Sebas could only erect their strongest defensive spells to withstand the onslaught, leaving the **Vastness Tome** vulnerable. A gust of wind swept it into the air, tossing it from Gil's grasp.
"**Frozen Solid!**" one of the intruders shouted as both moved to claim the Tome, unleashing conflicting spells in their bid for possession.
The **Vastness Tome** tumbled to the ground with a resounding **thud**, skidding to a halt.
---
Amidst the chaos, a new figure emerged.
A striking woman with golden hair tied into a ponytail and thick leather boots strode toward the fallen Tome. A strange black hat adorned her head, complete with a single feather tucked into its brim.
Her face betrayed no emotion as she gazed at the **Vastness Tome** underfoot. Slowly, her eyes swept over the battlefield, as if searching for someone.
The warring mages paused, their attention drawn to the enigmatic newcomer. **Who was she?** And what role would she play in this increasingly chaotic battle?