Chapter 420: Radiant Convergence Cannon (Patreon)

Chapter 420: Radiant Convergence Cannon

The knowledge of the Evocation School played a significant role in Richard's development of radiation-based rules.

However, this doesn't mean Richard relied solely on Evocation principles to create these rules.

The radiation rules granted Richard the ability to emit high-energy radiation—a power that, if applied correctly, could be devastatingly effective.

Unfortunately, the intensity of the radiation Richard released was excessively high. Even with his control over radiation, he could barely protect himself from its harmful effects.

For a long time, this ability was treated by Richard as a field-based spell.

But later, he had a sudden realization: if he couldn’t restrain the high-energy radiation himself, why not find something else to do it? As an Alchemist Wizard, crafting Magic Equipment to help contain the radiation wouldn’t be too difficult.

Thus, the Radiant Convergence Cannon was born.

Richard installed a radiation containment device on his Personal Armor, allowing the high-energy radiation he released to be concentrated, thereby enhancing its penetrative power.

At the cannon’s muzzle, he also incorporated a Crystal Floating Cannon design, further boosting the radiation’s piercing capability.

Unfortunately, containing high-energy radiation placed extreme demands on materials and enchantments. Even now, Richard had to replace the containment chamber after every five uses of the Radiant Convergence Cannon.

But that was enough.

A single containment chamber was sufficient for Richard to eliminate one enemy. If one chamber couldn’t do the job, then even replacing it wouldn’t make a difference.

...

A beam of radiation, as thick as a sea bowl’s mouth, shot out like an aurora from the crystal at the muzzle on Richard’s arm, instantly piercing through the deceleration field.

A field that would leave a Third Circle Wizard feeling as if trapped in quicksand seemed nonexistent in the face of this radiant beam.

Belert’s instincts screamed in alarm, a surge of extreme danger flooding his mind. Without hesitation, he raised a Magic Barrier and summoned the same shield he had used to block Stio’s hammer strikes.

But it was all futile.

Zzzzt—

The Magic Barrier might as well have been air before the radiant beam, and the shield—capable of withstanding spells of ten thousand energy units—now bore a molten-edged hole.

Behind that hole, Belert’s left chest had been pierced through. Golden flames flickered as they worked to repair the gaping wound.

Belert’s eyes locked onto Richard, his nonexistent heart pounding as if it still existed.

The penetrative power of this spell had reached thirty thousand energy units! Every defensive measure he had was like paper against it.

For the first time, Belert felt death looming so close.

Had the beam deviated just three centimeters to the right, his Elemental Core would have been pierced just like his current body.

But luckily, he had dodged it.

Such a terrifying attack was undoubtedly this nobody named Richard’s trump card.

Having survived this strike, what came next—

Before Belert could finish the thought, his expression twisted as if he’d seen a ghost.

Again?! Seeing that Belert hadn’t been teleported away, Richard didn’t hesitate to fire a second radiant beam.

For him, releasing high-energy radiation wasn’t overly difficult. As long as he controlled the intervals between uses, he could unleash it without any strain.

A cyan-green beam of radiation flashed by, striking Belt's chest squarely.

In the next instant, Belt's figure vanished within the delayed force field.

"See? Problem solved," Richard turned and smiled.

Behind him, Stio stood dumbfounded, unable to believe what he had just witnessed.

Hadn't Richard only recently advanced to the Third Circle? How could someone who'd just advanced possess such combat prowess? Richard snapped his fingers, summoning his guiding sprite.

"Sprite, how many points do I have now?"

"Your current point total is fifty-two, ranking you third in the regional leaderboard and seventh in the overall standings."

"Damn," Richard couldn't help but whistle at the number fifty-two.

He himself had only earned ten points over the past two days. That Wizard called Belt had contributed forty-one points all by himself.

Which meant Belt had eliminated at least forty Wizards.

"If that guy had been more careful, this fight could've gone very differently."

Without the delayed force field, Belt would never have chosen close-quarters combat. In a spellcasting duel, given Belt's capabilities, Richard would have stood no chance of winning except by catching him off guard with the radiation beam cannon.

Of course, this was all assuming Richard didn't cheat by deploying all his Crystal Floating Cannons plus the Floating Mother Unit.

If Richard had brought out the Mother Unit, he could have walked through this competition sideways without any issues.

But Richard would never do that.

Although both the Mother Unit and the floating cannons were Richard's personal property and could be freely used in this selection tournament.

If Richard actually used the Mother Unit to bulldoze through the competition, it would definitely draw the military's attention.

Then, being accused of disrupting the tournament would be the least of his worries - the real trouble would be if the military seized his Mother Unit under some pretext.

When it came to violent institutions backed by the Council of Truth, Richard had serious doubts about their moral bottom line.

When an organization holds both power and violence, they no longer need to follow rules - because they become the rules themselves.

...

In the palace complex, eliminated Wizards gathered together, much like their previous social gatherings, chatting about recent events or discussing problems they'd encountered.

Having been knocked out, this gathering was truly just a casual meetup for them.

The air in the palace suddenly distorted.

The next moment, a stunned Belt materialized in the hall.

He touched his chest - when he'd been teleported out, that radiation beam had been less than a millimeter from his Elemental Core.

And he'd been completely powerless to stop it.

That hair's breadth from death had nearly made him break down in tears.

But then excitement took over.

"That Richard is no ordinary nobody! He's definitely someone special!"

Hearing Belt's exclamation, the surrounding Wizards paused momentarily before bursting into laughter.

"My friend, you've spent too much time in the lab," one Wizard chuckled at Belt. "Richard is far from a nobody - in recent years, he's been one of the most prominent figures in the Fourth Circle Tower of Truth."

"He's practically a household name across the entire Wizard World."

Belt looked dumbfounded and quickly asked, "Which Great Wizard's direct disciple is this Richard? How did he become so famous?"

"Ah, friend, you're mistaken there," the Wizard replied. "While the Great Wizard's students are formidable, none can match Richard's reputation.

The Richard you encountered is Chairman Richard Jolod, founder of the Richard Jolod Chamber of Commerce and creator of the Magic Support Vehicle.

In today's White Wizard Legion, four out of ten units are equipped with alchemy weapons from their chamber."

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Belter instinctively responded, "Four out of ten? Such precise statistics? Did you conduct a special survey?"

Years spent in laboratories had made him particularly sensitive to data.

The Wizard showed no irritation at this—laboratory-dwelling Wizards often spoke without filtering their thoughts.

He continued with a smile, "I haven't finished. The remaining six legions would equip them too, if only their orders to the Richard Jolod Chamber weren't still backlogged."

At these words, the flames around Belter's body flickered violently.

He hadn't expected the Wizard who defeated him to hold such a distinguished position.

"Truly, beyond mountains are higher peaks; beyond skies, vaster heavens," Belter murmured to himself. "I thought consuming that fragment of the solar core had made me exceptional among Third Circle Wizards.

But now I see I've been like a frog at the bottom of a well."

Though his words carried disappointment, an irrepressible smile spread across Belter's face.

"The days ahead promise to be fascinating indeed."

......

In the fourth competition zone, the ice-like figure of Aurel stared at the shifting leaderboard, surprise flashing in her eyes.

"Belter actually lost?"

Since the military only recruited the top hundred on the points board, all Black Wizards could view the overall rankings to check their eligibility.

Aurel knew Belter's capabilities well. They'd once fought in a foolish battle—though she emerged victorious, his strength had left a deep impression.

After consuming that solar core fragment these past years, his combat power should have advanced by leaps and bounds.

Yet he'd fallen to another Wizard before even reaching the core zone.

"This Richard..." Aurel mused thoughtfully, "must be that Richard."

Unlike some who remained perpetually buried in laboratories, she'd kept somewhat informed about developments in the Wizard World.

The only Richard capable of defeating Belter would be that Chairman Richard.

"Magic Essence truly is remarkable," Aurel sighed softly. "A newly promoted Third Circle Wizard actually bested Belter. That fool Gano couldn't seize his opportunity—demanding such precious compensation for a minor vein.

Now if we tried to establish connections, we probably couldn't even get an audience."

With another slight sigh, she casually tossed an ice crystal to the ground.

Instantly, it grew at tremendous speed into a carriage complete with driver.

Entering the compartment, she watched as the crystalline coachman cracked his whip, directing the carriage toward the military's newly designated grounds on the map.

......

Three days passed swiftly. Any Wizards failing to reach designated zones in time were teleported by sprites to the palace complex.

As the battlefield shrank, encounters between Wizards grew increasingly frequent—and with them, battles multiplied.

Bang! In the dense forest, Richard swung his World Tree staff, coldly sending the stone Wizard before him back to the palace.

Beside him, Stio brandished his hammer staff, manipulating a storm of metal as he fiercely battled another Wizard who had transformed himself into a swarm of bees.

To make it to the end, the Black Wizards had begun forming alliances.

Seeing Stio still engaged in combat, Richard flicked his staff, sending radiant fireballs streaking toward the swarm.

Boom!

The fireballs exploded, the scattered flames instantly decimating most of the swarm.

Faced with such losses, the swarm Wizard had no choice but to forfeit the match, letting the sprites teleport him away.

"Whew, these Wizards in the later stages are no pushovers," Stio panted.

"What, thinking of dropping out?" Richard calmly absorbed Magic Essence, restor

ing his Magic Power.

"Not a chance," Stio chuckled. "At the very least, I have to make it to the final circle before I’ll be satisfied."

"But I think it’d be best if you left early."

A voice suddenly came from behind them.

Richard spun around to see an unassuming old Wizard in black robes slowly approaching.