All Chapters of 《The Arcanum Algorithm》 : Chapter 131
- Chapter 140
153 chapters
Chapter 131 : Crater of the Fallen
The wind howled across the barren expanse of the Red Ember Mines. A band of twenty sorcerer apprentices stood gathered beneath the crimson glow of the setting sun. At their center stood one of the ten strongest prodigies of the Umbral Realm Academy—a presence so sharp and commanding that even seasoned apprentices dared not meet his eyes for long.“Who’s in charge of this resource point?” he demanded.Lafey stepped forward, her voice steady. “I am. Lafey of Blackstone Spire Academy.”The apprentice from Umbral Realm Academy turned his gaze on her, and for a heartbeat, his composure faltered. She carried herself like a queen—arrogant, imperious, and dazzling. Years ago, her beauty had been marred by the ravages of an alchemical mishap, but now her once-desiccated skin had fully healed, her regal aura restored. Time and hardship had tempered her arrogance, leaving behind a quiet steel beneath her poise.The man unfurled a worn map, his tone grave. “In five days, you’ll take your people t
Chapter 132 : The Alliance Before the War
The sloping hillside spread out before them like a mosaic of smooth, solid stone plates. Lafey led her party in a swift, fluid descent, their boots skimming over the inclined slabs until they reached the basin below—the so-called “Crater.”This natural hollow, known to all as the Valley of Sacred Traces, now served as the main encampment for the apprentices of the six great academies from District Twelve. With the final confrontation drawing near, the number of sorcerer apprentices gathered here had swollen to well over thirty thousand.“Hold!” Lafey’s voice cut through the rush of wind as she raised a gloved hand. The group halted in unison, turning their eyes skyward at her silent command.From her back unfurled a pair of translucent, leaf-like wings. They shimmered faintly as they beat the air, lifting her a few feet above the ground. “They’ve already sensed our presence,” she said calmly, scanning the open skies. “Let’s wait here. Someone should arrive shortly to verify our allegi
Chapter 133 : The Hunt for Badges
The decisive battle had finally erupted, pitting the sorcerers of District Twelve against those of District Nineteen under what both sides hoped would be ideal conditions.District Twelve, defending their territory, had every advantage on paper: overlapping wards and barriers blanketing the terrain, the natural defenses of the low hills, the individual strength of seasoned sorcerers, subtle tactical deployments, and even a few hidden operatives embedded among the enemy lines. On top of that, their academy’s elite Guardians had more sorties to deploy than their adversaries.Yet reality proved stubbornly contrary.District Nineteen’s sorcerers were gaining the upper hand, forcing District Twelve’s defenders into a reactive stance. The reason was simple: sheer numbers and cohesive formations. Nineteen’s sorcerers moved as one, a synchronized phalanx under unified command, executing offensive and defensive maneuvers with terrifying precision. Even the “strongest alliance” squads of Distri
Chapter 134 : Heart of the Shadow Sorcerer
Grimm had quietly slipped away from the main battlefield, preparing to leave the chaos behind. Yet just as he was about to disappear from sight, a shockwave of arcane energy rippled across the sky above the warfront. From the tumult emerged a staggering array of sixteen elite guardians from District Twelve’s academies. Night Owls, Bloodsucker Bats, Ominous Crows, Carrion Vultures… each guardian bore its focus with deadly precision, streaking through warped pockets of space toward the five most crucial leaders among District Nineteen’s sorcerers. By calculation, each leader was about to endure a full-force assault equivalent to that of three first-tier physical sorcerers recklessly throwing themselves into combat. Spurred by the guardians’ onslaught, the previously retreating District Twelve sorcerers abandoned their defensive wards, surging forward to strike the faltering lines of District Nineteen. The battlefield’s momentum shifted in a he
Chapter 135 : Devouring the Hatred
“Who are you?” A female sorcerer, her green eyes sharp and unyielding, stared Grimm down. Around her, over twenty sorcerers had formed a tight circle, completely enclosing him. Grimm sighed inwardly, uncertain what had given him away. He had spoken sparingly, rehearsed his lines meticulously, and entered this resource point under the guise of Rosen—a figure known here but not intimately familiar to anyone. Nothing should have raised suspicion. Yet the moment the green-eyed sorcerer appeared before him, he had barely started to lower his head and move on when she stopped him, declaring outright that this “Rosen” was an imposter. Over twenty sorcerers, all in their own resource point, and all now suspicious of him—it was a dangerous situation. Grimm steeled himself and replied, his voice low and steady, “I don’t know what you mean. I am Rosen.” The words had an immediate effect. Th
Chapter 136 : The Fall of Gareth
High above the shattered plains of the Secret Realm, two figures faced each other in tense silence. Grimm’s pale mask bore a deep crack, exposing the cold line of his nose and the thin stretch of his lips. He studied the figure before him, a man as massive and imposing as a charging bull, lightning crackling faintly around his broad shoulders. His voice rumbled low and heavy as he acknowledged his opponent: “Thunder Axe… Gareth.” Gareth was a formidable presence, clad in blackened metal armor spiked with jagged protrusions, each channeling erratic elemental energy. Beneath his helm, only eyes glowing red betrayed his expression. Across his back rested a colossal axe, over five feet long, suffused with a blood-tinged aura that shimmered and shifted as though the weapon itself were alive. “Faceless Mask… Grimm? Never expected we’d meet again,” Gareth’s voice was subdued, yet laced with the barely restrained fury of a bull
Chapter 137 : Shattered Bonds
The brief but brutal confrontation between the twelfth and nineteenth district sorcerer apprentices had finally ended. Yet the air still trembled with residual elemental fluctuations. The battlefield was a fractured wasteland of trenches and gashes, the outer slopes of the dwarven hills scrawled with the scars of unleashed spells. Within the inner ring, however, the impact from the fall of an ancient Sanctum Sorcerer had seemingly reinforced the terrain. Here, even the most ambitious apprentices struggled to leave a mark, and tens of thousands of bodies lay scattered and broken. The majority—over ninety percent—were from the nineteenth district. Grimm’s eyes narrowed sharply from above. In the center of a massive crater, seven or eight academy guardians lay in grotesque disarray, their flesh mangled, limbs strewn haphazardly. Around them, layers of apprentice corpses formed macabre pyramids, blood ca
Chapter 138 : The Twenty-Eighth Dominion
Nearly half a year of relentless pursuit had left the Fallen Sanctum Basin scarred by battle, the aftermath of the twelfth district apprentices’ methodical “sorting” of the nineteenth district still evident in every ravine and crater. Six months later, the academy heads responsible for oversight appeared, formally declaring the war concluded in favor of the twelfth district. All sorcerer apprentices in the Fallen Sanctum Basin were ordered to return to their respective academies, preparing for the Sacred Tower Trials three years hence. For the next century, all twelfth district academies would enjoy a share of the basin’s mined resources. Lafey’s squad bore heavy hearts. The absence of Yoric left Yorkiana strikingly alone, her presence a stark reminder of what they had lost—but no measure of grief could alter the world’s course. The journey back to the academies was far from peaceful. Numerous apprentices clashed over ba
Chapter 139 : The Enchantress’s Indulgence
On the third floor of Blackstone Spire, Grimm stood before the cluttered chamber of the eccentric sorcerer Sinruu—the same one who had sold him the Mask and the Blood Bat’s Kiss, and who had imparted the most rudimentary alchemical knowledge. “Ho? Hahaha! Grimm, you actually came to see me!” Sinruu paused mid-task, eyes widening. Grimm had once unwittingly boosted the old sorcerer’s reputation, ensuring that his name lingered in Sinruu’s memory. Grimm’s expression darkened. Memories of the interrogation room were far from pleasant, yet before a full-fledged sorcerer, he dared not show insolence. Bowing respectfully, he spoke, “Sorcerer Sinruu, I’ve come to request repairs on this mask. It was damaged during an ambush by a formidable foe. Additionally, I’d like your guidance on acquiring artifacts suitable for the Sacred Tower Trials three years hence. Ordinary sorcerer tools are nearly useless for top-tier apprentices like myself.”&n
Chapter 140 : Blackstone Spire: Fractured Realms (Part 1)
The sprawling plaza of Blackstone Spire’s Sorcerer Academy thrummed with anticipation as apprentices gathered beneath the watchful gaze of Headmaster Peranos. From the tower above, the venerable sorcerer orchestrated the proceedings personally. All apprentices who had collected at least one hundred emblematic badges now stepped onto the colossal scale that dominated the square. On one side of the scale, roughly ninety apprentices stood shoulder to shoulder. Among them was Soranm, ranked ninth among the academy’s top ten prodigies. The rising generation was represented by Amlock, Beyl, and Yunli, though Bibilyanna was conspicuously absent. Lafey, also injured, had yet to understand the reason for the delay in badge collection. The elder generation of top ten apprentices, save for the three who had fallen in previous conflicts, also assembled on the scale, eager to gain advantage in the Blackstone Spire Secret Realm. Among them were Aldas, the