Chapter 9: Sanctuary
2023-10-23 Author: Rowing Without Oars 233
In fact, the Light Energy Cannon Orin Vale developed was already much weaker than the original version.
If he were to transform and release the Specium Ray himself, the average temperature would be around five hundred thousand degrees. The power of the light ray primarily came from the Ultraman Race's proprietary "Specium Matter" contained within. While temperature didn't necessarily represent its power level, it could still reflect the strength of the light ray's output.
For example, the maximum output of the Light Energy Cannon was only a little over one hundred thousand degrees, far less powerful than when he fired it himself.
But it was already enough to somewhat surprise the nine-thousand-year-old senior beside him.
On the surface, the Old Man was as steady as a rock, wearing a calm expression that seemed to say, "I am Wizard Shazam, what grand scene haven't I witnessed?" But deep down, he was anything but calm.
In his prime, he could, of course, cast magic of equal or even greater power. After all, he had once been a top-tier mage.
But since when could a mortal possess such immense power?
The Old Wizard glanced at him without a word, then turned and pressed himself against the dead-end wall, patting it all over like a drunkard who had dropped his car keys.
"Did you lose something?" Orin Vale asked.
"Hah! Who do you take me for? I am a wise wizard, possessing the world's greatest wisdom. Would I lose things?" the Old Man grumbled, puffed up with pride.
But after a pause, his tone deflated slightly.
"...It's just that I'm old and occasionally misplace things."
Following the coordinates marked by his bracelet, Orin Vale silently walked to one side and pressed his hand against the seemingly empty wall.
A faint, transparent halo of light immediately appeared on the wall.
"I'm guessing you're looking for this?"
The Old Man's eyes widened, seemingly surprised that Orin Vale had found the forgotten gate so easily.
But he quickly hid his surprise and coughed lightly twice.
"Ahem... I knew it was here," the Old Wizard grumbled. "I was just confirming the safety of the surroundings."
"I thought as much," Orin Vale said with deep conviction.
"This is the gate to the Rock of Eternity, the throne that guards all the magic of the Current Reality." The Old Wizard walked before the gate. "Demonic beasts and evil spirits scheme to usurp that position while my magic power is weak. When that happens, the entire world will be dragged into utter chaos, and all mortals will be plunged into a purgatory-like panic.
Right now, the Sanctuary has been occupied by a large number of dangerous Demon Spirits, but they will never succeed."
Orin Vale's eyes lit up at his words.
Didn't that mean there were bags of experience waiting behind this gate?
The Wizard strode through the portal into a stretch of the Void. He landed on unseen, solid ground. All around him was a seemingly identical expanse of Chaos, making it impossible to discern any direction or distinguishing features.
The Old Wizard turned his head and saw Orin Vale, who had come through the gate with him.
"I will handle what's ahead. Thank you for your good intentions, but you may leave now."
Orin Vale smiled. "Are you sure?"
*Who was it that was just forced to the brink of self-detonation by a single, lowly demon spirit?* he thought.
"Of course!" The Old Man said proudly. "I am no ordinary wizard, but *The* Wizard.' I have guarded the Sacred Text alone for nine thousand years and have never needed help!"
Wizard Shazam did have the right to be proud. He was a top-tier wizard, a high-level powerhouse of magic...
Or rather, he used to be.
Now, he just looked like a prideful, cranky old man.
"Alright then, I'll just follow along and watch, broaden my horizons," Orin Vale said with a smile.
"Hmph, suit yourself."
A few minutes later.
The Old Wizard was running for his life, yelling angrily, while two ferocious Demon Spirits pursued him as if he were kiting them. He continuously hurled all sorts of magic sigils with flashy special effects at the two monsters, but they were as useless as fireworks.
On the downside, it seemed his current level of magic had declined even more severely than he had imagined. He couldn't even break the defenses of these Demon Spirits, which he would have dismissed in the past.
On the bright side, his body was still quite sturdy. He had run several laps as if he were flying and still hadn't been caught—quite impressive for a nine-thousand-year-old man.
As a kind and friendly Ultraman, Orin Vale was just too soft-hearted.
After watching the Old Man run two more circles, he used Blink to appear before them and threw two consecutive punches.
The two Demon Spirits didn't even see what happened, only catching a flicker of a figure before their eyes. *Bang! Bang!* Without even seeing the punches, the two Demon Spirits were sent flying backward side-by-side, slamming into the wall so hard they couldn't be pried out.
The Old Man collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. Pouting, he muttered, "Such a meddler... Everything was under the control of me, Wizard Shazam..."
Orin Vale was amused. *Good grief, this guy's mouth would probably be the only thing left after cremation. It's tougher than a stale biscuit.*
*So, if I hadn't stepped in, was your plan to run those two Demon Spirits to death?*
But his expression remained unchanged. Instead, he nodded earnestly and said with sincere gravity, "You're right, I was being meddlesome. The name of Wizard Shazam is renowned; surely there is nothing you cannot handle."
"I just remembered I left the fire on the stove at home, so I'll be taking my leave. I'll await your good news."
As he spoke, he turned as if to really leave.
The Old Wizard grew anxious. "Hey, wait a minute!"
Orin Vale paused and turned back to see the Old Man's face flushed red. After huffing into his beard for a long moment, he finally managed to stammer, "Uhm... although the situation is completely under my control, if you insist on staying to watch... I suppose that's not out of the question."
"No, no, I don't insist at all. I wouldn't want to trouble you."
The Old Man became even more frantic. Finally, as if throwing all pride to the wind, he yelled, "Wait! Alright, I admit it! I'm weaker than I've ever been. I've never felt this powerless."
"The Sanctuary needs its guardian, and the demons must be driven out. But to be honest, I'm not very confident I can do it."
"So I might... indeed need a little... uh... he... hel..."
Watching his old face grow redder and redder, he couldn't seem to force out the word.
"Help?" Orin Vale offered.
The Old Man huffed into his beard again, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
"You said it, not me."
Orin Vale: "..."
A moment later, inside the Sanctuary on the Rock of Eternity.
"So, Wizard Shazam is nothing more than this!"
A minotaur-like Demon Spirit walked toward the throne in the center of the Sanctuary, its face full of unconcealable pride.
"If you want to live, stay away from there," a tall, shadowy figure said coldly.
The minotaur Demon Spirit was startled and hastily recoiled from the throne as if it had been electrocuted. It looked at the tall, shadowy figure with a bewildered and terrified expression.
"That is the place of That Lord," the tall, shadowy figure said coldly. "When That Lord returns, if he finds out you sat in his seat... just imagine the consequences."
The minotaur Demon Spirit shivered and quickly ducked its head, falling silent.
The old bull was arrogant about many things, but not this. He was well aware of the terror of That Lord; being blamed by him was no laughing matter.
The next moment, the great doors of the Sanctuary were suddenly blasted open from the outside.
Wizard Shazam stood tall in the doorway, wreathed in arcs of electricity. His gaze immediately fell upon the tall shadow among the Demon Spirits.
That Demon Spirit was shrouded in an eerie darkness, and its aura alone revealed that it was on a completely different level from the others.
"Hah, Demon Spirit Feituosi. I should have known you were leading this pack of rabble."
"Well, well, if it isn't the Wizard," Feituosi said unhurriedly, sneering at him. "Not much longer to live, have you?"
The Old Wizard stood ramrod straight. "I am Wizard Shazam, Guardian of the Rock of Eternity, the Supreme Powerhouse of Magic! You despicable rabble, as long as I draw breath, I... I... I...
I can't keep this up. Young man, when are you planning on making your move?"
"Huh?" The crowd of Demon Spirits was momentarily stunned.
The next moment, a sacred, radiant light illuminated the entire great hall.
The Demon Spirit Feituosi turned its head, its pupils contracting sharply.
It saw a fist.
An incomparably massive silver fist, larger than its entire body.
Trailing a brilliant radiance, it crashed down like a meteor from outer space.
The mind of the Demon Spirit Feituosi went completely blank.
Only a single word remained.
Danger!
(end of chapter )