Chapter 3: Cracking

In the deepest level of the castle lied an enourmous circle which had another fifteen circles inside it, forming layers. On each layer many unrecognisable words could be seen. Few words were inscribed on the innermost circle, with each layer the words on the circle grew with count and length.

Outside the outermost circle, there was still some space in the room. But the room wasn't only as it seemed. There were many doors on the nine walls that led to corridors. Not many knew what lied ahead of those corridors but Evior was one of the few lucky ones. He knew behind each wall lied a formation that reaches beyond the castle, almost covers the whole planet. His teacher created each formation with the knowledge he piled through decades, and they formed a mighty defense with each formation controlled an element with great power.

This was one of the reasons why not anyone could mess with Shifting Rift. Even if they leave the three combined element aside, with his teacher being familiar with the advanced elements of time and space, they were a tough nut to crack. His teacher could lock most of the people here or just shift his planet's position through the universe, even if it cost a great deal to achieve that.

But even though the years spent here were not long, Evior remembered this room which connects everything was empty.

Because of that, a shocked look could be seen on his face. He turned his head and said "Did you really connect all those formations to this one, master?".

Rhiharis nodded with his pride evident.

"Right. Even though I could translate almost nothing, when I enject mana to this formation I feel connected to the elements in the air somehow. This ancient formation is very deep a lifetime would probably not be enough to understand it. But..."

His eyes narrowed. "I can finally feel the doors to Tier 9 open for me." Continued Rhiharis softly.

Evior's eyes wide opened and a grin formed on his face. He quickly bowed to his teacher and spoke loudly. "Congratulations for finding your way, Master."

Evior was happy but his happiness couldn't be measured compared to Rhiharis'. Only he, himself, knew how challanging was to improve even a little bit from where he is.

After lowering his chin, it could almost reach the skies before, Rhiharis woke up from his stupor and spoke seriously to his student.

"There is more than one reason to not take the path of multiple elements. Even if you somehow reach Tier 8 with all of them, there is an almost impossible barrier beyond that. We may have finally found a way. If I can achieve this, it can also pave a way to the next generations. A legacy, so to speak."

Evior instantly sunk into his thoughts, myriad of possibilities, even his future crossed his mind.

But before his thoughts could reach far, he got interrupted.

****BOOM!!!!!****

All students stumbled, some even fell. All of them were holding their ears because of the deafing sound.

Some were out of the castle, doing some missions on the planet but all felt something amiss after the sound. They gazed to the sky and saw myriad of colors passing by.

Rhiharis' face sunk and immediately injected mana to the formation to probe other formations.

After a minute his frown deepened. His voice echoed through the castle, even from the emblems of their robes all students could hear his voice.

"We have visitors, not few at that. They came prepared, even the planet stopped rotating. Prepare for war."

After seeing Evior nod, with a gesture of his hand he made him dissappear.

He focused all his attention and mana to the formation of space but he felt suffocated immediately.

"They even locked the space, it seems they want this visit to be last time." muttered Rhiharis.

While Rhiharis was thinking he felt a tremor from formation of mist. It was made from the element created by combining water and fire. It was one of the layers which hid the planet.

"Anybody home?" A thunder like voice was heard from above the castle. A man with a messy beard and thick eyebrows were standing in the air with his arms behind his back.

Before anyone could say anything the man moved his arm and turned his palm to the castle. A dragon made of fire was sent towards the castle.

By that time Rhiharis pulled all his mana from the formation of space and sent it to the formation of water.

Seas and lakes around the castle stirred and streams of water moved towards the castle. By the time the dragon was formed, a barrier made of water was standing firm tightly guarding the students.

The dragon collided with the barrier and steam started to appear around the barrier.

After waiting a couple of seconds to see the outcome, all the students could see was a dense fog.

Rhiharis didn't wait for the outcome and already teleported himself outside the castle, his gaze on the man above.

"What is the meaning of this, Udelius?" said Rhiharis.

"Udelius?" "A Tier 9 Fire Mage?" "What is a godlike figure like him doing here?" Students muttered with horrified faces.

Udelius laughed loudly and said "Hahaha, this is the day you die of course. We can also celebrate the anniversary, if you want us to. Nobody knew your birthday but your deathday will be remembered by many.".

"With just you? You underestimate our foundation too much, Udelius. I don't know how did you find enough Tier 8 Space Mages to help you lock us here but if you think you can erase us so easily, you are dreaming."

"No, Rhiharis. I don't underestimate you at all. Not one bit." The grin on Udelius' face was gone, and he spoke solemnly.

After those words more people appeared next to him, till they reach a total of 7 people.

Every student drew a cold breath.

Rhiharis' face fell. He understood by that time it was not one man job.

"What brings you esteemed mages to my domain?" said Rhiharis. He was yet to understand their motives.

"Rhiharis. A genius which took the all elements path, and actually managed to reach Tier 8 with all of them. You even look younger than the rumors." said an old woman. Her eyes were gauging him with interest.

"We're mainly here for the formation you got." said a bald old man. He was man of few words.

Rhiharis knew he couldn't take the pressure from so many Tier 9 Mages and simply accepted the situation he was in. He nodded and spoke lightly after a sigh escaped from his lips.

"You have my permission, you are always welcome to look and explore the mysteries of the formation. You can..."

"I think you misunderstood us. Nobody asked your permission. I didn't lie when I said this is the day you die." said Udelius, interrupting Rhiharis.

Rhiharis' face was as dark as it could be. A single word was heard from him with a slight anger. "Why?"

Udelius scoffed and said "Everyone knows how deep your knowledge on formations. Did you really think you could leave here alive? Did you really think we would let a variable like you to haunt us?".

Rhiharis' eyes went wide open, indeed he wouldn't leave someone which could danger his loved ones alive.

"What about my students in Shifting Rift?"

"More unnecessary variables." said Udelius with a distant voice. He spoke no more and started to move towards the castle.

"No, you won't."

Rhiharis' anger knew no bounds and all kinds of colors circled around him. But before he could execute his move, six people stood before him.

"Did you lose your minds all of you?!?" roared Rhiharis and all kinds of spells flew out from him. Ice dragons, fierce tornados, a tsunami...

But other than time and space, for every element there was a Tier 9 Mage present. If all those attacks were focused on one of them, they could be in a tough spot but dealing with him together was as easy as it could be.

A fierce battle started between those high tier mages but another one was ongoing at the castle. No, it couldn't be called a battle, but a slaughter.

It was like the descent of the hell, every single spot was on fire. After the barrier fell, not a single person was capable enough to stop Udelius.

Like it was not enough, Udelius started a meteor shower that erased almost everything. Only bodies of middle tier mages were left on the ground.

While he was dealing with six Tier 9 mages, Rhiharis' focus was divided. He had eyes on the castle all the time. He watched his students fall one by one. When the time it was all over, he finally saw the couple he promised to attend their wedding. Corpses of Ulore and Evior. Evior was hugging Ulore like he tried to protect her. But what was left was only two charred bodies.

Seeing the scene, Rhiharis first felt angry, then sad, then nothing. His face lost every single emotion and was just blank. An unknown aura radiated from him and started to flow towards the underground of the castle. A cold voice could be heard from Rhiharis.

"So it came to this. Then let us be together in the afterlife."

Every single mage felt something amiss. All Tier 9s and even the Tier 8s watching from outside the planet that was requested to lock the planet felt it.

"Stop h..." before they scream and do anything, the ancient formation underground lit up. A glow started from it and passed through the whole planet.

If a sound could be heard in the space, every citizen on nearby planets could go deaf.

Detonation of the main formation and many other painted a strange image on the skies of those planets.

Every powerful being that knew the plan to annihalate Shifting Rift came to the site.

But what remained was...Nothing. No Shifting Rift or mages could be seen. They disappeared like they never existed.

On that day everyone in the galaxy, mage or not, heard a sound. Something cracking.