Just then.
Several other Phase Floating Spirits phased through the protective shield and landed on the deck.
They didn’t attack immediately, but instead seemed to be "sniffing" the air.
The faint blue orbs of light quivered slightly, then turned in a specific direction.
Toward Ian.
The next second, five Phase Floating Spirits accelerated simultaneously, lunging at him!
Their speed was immense, their trajectories erratic.
They had "smelled" it.
They had smelled the overwhelmingly rich aura of the Star Rule emanating from the Seed of the Stars within Ian’s Sea of Spirit.
For energy-based lifeforms, it was an irresistible temptation.
Everyone on deck instantly focused their gazes on Ian.
Some looked on with pity, some with relief that they weren’t the target, and some with indifference.
Ian stood his ground, motionless.
Beneath the shadow of his hood, his eyes were as cold as iron.
"They’re courting death."
He raised his right hand, his five fingers curling into a loose fist.
The first Phase Floating Spirit was already three meters away.
Its faint blue light was about to touch the hem of his robe.
"Gravity Anchoring."
Ian’s voice was soft, so soft only he could hear it.
But his movements were as fast as lightning.
VWOOM!
A black sphere the size of a quail’s egg instantly coalesced in his palm.
The sphere’s surface had no luster, only a pure, unadulterated "suction."
The light around it distorted, and the air was sucked dry.
A miniaturized version of the Gravity Collapse Ball.
The black sphere shot from his hand, striking the first Phase Floating Spirit with perfect accuracy.
It didn’t pass through it, nor was there any impact of energy.
There was only an invisible, terrifying Gravity Field that completely locked down the space around the Floating Spirit!
The Phase Floating Spirit’s faint blue body twisted violently, letting out a silent shriek.
It tried to phase-jump and escape.
But the Gravity Field was like an invisible hand, gripping its very "existence" in a death lock.
It ignored the spatial displacement, forcibly dragging it back to reality from its intangible phase!
"Now!"
Ian barked.
A Level Two Wizard beside him reacted instantly, unleashing a blazing white Thunder Spear!
CRACKLE!
The Thunder Spear pierced the anchored body of the Phase Floating Spirit.
This time, it didn’t miss.
The faint blue orb shattered like glass, exploding into a shower of light motes.
Complete Annihilation.
On the deck, everyone’s eyes widened.
"It worked!"
"He can anchor them!"
"Quick, help him!"
As the second Phase Floating Spirit arrived before him, Ian raised his left hand.
A second Gravity Collapse Ball was instantly cast.
The black sphere traced an arc and hit its mark precisely.
"Focus fire!"
This time, three Witchcraft spells struck it simultaneously.
A Fire Pillar, an Ice Storm, and a Wind Blade.
The Phase Floating Spirit was annihilated.
The third, the fourth, the fifth...
Ian hadn’t moved an inch.
His hands rose and fell in alternation, sending out one black sphere after another.
His rhythm was terrifyingly steady.
The interval between each Collapse Ball’s release was no more than 0.2 seconds.
And each one precisely locked onto a Phase Floating Spirit’s Energy Core.
The Level Two Wizards on deck went from initial hesitation to scrambling over one another.
They even began to fight for a chance to attack.
"This one’s mine!"
"Don’t fight me for it! My Thunder Element is super effective!"
"Get out of the way! My Witchcraft Tool needs to be charged with energy!"
...
Amid the chaos, there was an absurd liveliness.
In less than three seconds.
All thirteen Phase Floating Spirits that had made it onto the deck were anchored and killed.
Not a single one escaped, and not one managed to release its pheromones.
For the moment, the deck was safe.
But outside the shield, over thirty more Phase Floating Spirits were approaching.
Herbert’s voice rang out.
"That’s enough."
He pressed his palms together, and a silver-gray ball of light between them expanded rapidly.
Complex Space Runes flowed across the sphere’s surface, emitting a heart-pounding fluctuation.
"Everyone, prepare to focus your fire."
"I will count to three."
"One."
The silver-gray sphere left Herbert’s palms and floated above the deck.
"Two."
The sphere abruptly expanded, transforming into a translucent silver Light Curtain that enveloped the entire airship.
"Three."
The Light Curtain contracted inward.
Every Phase Floating Spirit that touched the Light Curtain froze simultaneously!
Their faint blue silhouettes twisted violently, as if being brutally yanked out of the "in-between" by an invisible hand.
Their phase displacement was forcibly corrected!
All thirty-odd Phase Floating Spirits were squeezed back into the physical plane!
"Attack!"
Herbert commanded coldly.
On the deck, all the Level Two Wizards’ Witchcraft erupted at once!
A sea of fire, a prison of lightning, an Ice Storm, a meteor shower...
The torrent of Tier Two Witchcraft converged into a devastating tide of energy.
It took only a single second.
Over thirty Phase Floating Spirits were completely wiped out.
Motes of faint blue light exploded like fireworks, illuminating the dim Void.
Farther back, the massive orb of the King of Floating Spirits trembled violently.
It let out a silent roar, the surrounding Void distorting as if it were about to act personally.
But another, equally vast aura rose from the depths of the airship.
Another Level Three Great Witch.
The aura locked onto the King of Floating Spirits.
The powerful auras began to probe each other... a standoff.
Ten seconds later, the King of Floating Spirits slowly retreated.
Taking the few remaining Floating Spirits with it, it sank into the gray fog deep within the Rift Valley.
And vanished.
The airship’s crisis was averted.
The deck was a complete mess.
The metal ground was scorched black, frozen over, corroded, and covered in cracks.
But no one had died, save for the unlucky Wizard who was devoured at the very beginning.
Everyone else was alive.
And everyone’s gaze, without exception, turned in the same direction.
Ian stood there, his dark gray long robe stirring slightly.
At some point, his hood had fallen back, revealing a world-weary but calm face.
On his shoulder, a black Raven perched quietly, its mismatched eyes scanning the crowd.
Herbert walked up to Ian.
The old man in the gray robe looked at him with unconcealed admiration.
"What is your name?"
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried to every corner of the deck.
Ian bowed slightly.
"Gray Moon."
"Gray Moon Wizard."
Herbert repeated the name, then nodded.
"Thanks for stepping in."
Four words, very brief.
But aboard this airship, they carried the weight of a mountain.
Every Wizard on deck understood.
This young Wizard had made his name in a single battle.
Collins Hawke Wood stood not far away, his expression unreadable.
The initial coldness in his eyes had mostly dissipated, replaced by contemplation and calculation.
He glanced at Elder Grey Vulture beside him, who shook his head slightly.
The meaning in his eyes was clear.
Collins took a deep breath and finally looked away.
There was no apology, no gesture, but the confrontational hostility had clearly faded.
Scions of great families might be arrogant, but they were never stupid.
To fight to the death here with an opponent who had immense potential and the favor of a Level Three Great Witch?
It wasn’t worth it.
Aidele watched Ian, the corners of her mouth curling up ever so slightly.
Her expression was one of relief and gratification.
Delia stood beside her, her gaze gentle as she nodded slightly.
Whispers began to spread across the deck.
"That black sphere just now... what kind of Witchcraft was that?"
"I’ve seen this Witchcraft System before, but I don’t think it was ever this terrifyingly powerful..."
"Thirteen instant casts in a row... just how deep are his Spiritual Power reserves?"
"Judging by the fluctuations of that Witchcraft, it carries a dense stellar aura. I’m afraid his Elementalization process is already more than halfway complete..."
Ian had felt he had no choice. He hadn’t planned on intervening, as it would expose some of his Witchcraft’s secrets.
He ignored the stares and turned to walk toward the ship’s cabin.
On his shoulder, Gaga transmitted through their Soul Link:
"Ian, inside the King of Floating Spirits just now... there was something."
"Mm, I felt it too," Ian replied without breaking his stride.
"The Seed of the Stars resonated with it. It feels a lot like... a relic of the Abyssal Ancient Race."
Gaga’s small eyes lit up.
"So... are we coming back for it later?"
"Perhaps."
Ian pushed open the cabin door and stepped into the dim corridor, the clamor from the deck gradually fading behind him.
He leaned against the metal wall and slowly exhaled.
The slight tremor in his right palm finally subsided.
Instantly casting the miniaturized Gravity Collapse Ball thirteen times in a row hadn’t consumed much of his Spiritual Power or Rule.
Although he had revealed some of his trump cards, it wasn’t a total loss.
Not only had he resolved the crisis, but he had also earned Herbert’s public approval.
If certain enemies were to target him based on the abilities he had just displayed...
Ian’s eyelids drooped. ’Now that would be interesting.’
He glanced at the yellowed animal hide deep within his Dimension Ring.
The burst of energy from the probe between the King of Floating Spirits and the Level Three Great Witch just now...
...was extremely similar to the aura on the animal hide.
Or rather, it came from the same source.