Chapter 1840 Third Generation Hecate was a peculiar magus, a figure with a history spanning more than 500 years. She had lingered in rank 9 for centuries, dedicating herself to the mastery of witchcraft and apothecary, delving into the darker aspects of magic. In her hundred years of tireless experimentation, Hecate had displayed an extraordinary talent for manipulating the forces of death. She had successfully relived three lives and three souls before achieving a pivotal breakthrough. This effort culminated in her consolidation of proficiency in the law of death, a feat few dared to attempt. Hecate's power and prowess were as follows: [Hecate] [Magus Realm: Half Moon Magus] [Battle Power 332] [Soul force 265] [Law of Death - 26%] But Hecate's mastery extended beyond the traditional confines of magic. In the last decade, she had uncovered a forbidden technique that allowed her to harness the accumulated souls of the dead. These captured souls found their dwelling in the mystical seal adorning her forehead. This unholy fusion of souls had granted her the ability to bolster her soul force significantly. As a result, her already formidable magic abilities became even more deadly. Her body was that of a Halfmoon magus, but her soul force surpassed even a full-moon magus, rendering her spells and powers exceptionally lethal. Seeing her power ascend into a higher realm, was enough to send shockwaves through the ranks of the Earth magus, save for one - the battle-frenzied gladiator, Thrax. "I will handle her!" Thrax declared with unwavering determination. Klea, however, intervened swiftly. She held the gladiator back and said, "No, Thrax, follow my lead." Hecate was not alone in her display of power. Among her group of seven magus, she was undoubtedly the strongest. The rest of her party consisted of four crescent moon magus, and two were notably distinguished as half moons: Triton and Heracles. These two individuals were shining examples of Kronos's third generation of magus, their talents and abilities standing out even among their peers. Triton, with his unique lineage, stood out among his peers as the most talented of over a hundred offspring sired by Magus Poseidon. His heritage included a rare blend of genetics, encompassing the bloodline of a legendary aquatic race. This unique lineage bestowed upon him distinct physical features that marked him as different from his peers: his skin was adorned with intricate, shimmering scales that glistened in the light. From a young age, Triton was privileged to access the very best resources that Kronos had to offer. He had made his entry into the prestigious ranks of the Magus Academy's privilege class two decades ago. However, Triton wasn't content with merely the privileges of his lineage and heritage; instead, he dedicated himself to years of rigorous training and battle experience. He often followed his father, the renowned Magus Poseidon, into the thick of confrontations and wars. It was through these battles that Triton's innate potential began to flourish. After many years of unwavering dedication and relentless pursuit of power, Triton had recently achieved a significant breakthrough. He had advanced to the rank of a half-moon magus, a remarkable feat that further solidified his place among the elite magus of Kronos. [Triton] [Magus Realm: Half Moon Magus] [Battle Power 345] [Soul force 221] [Law of water - 18%] [Law of spear - 4% Heracles, in stark contrast to Triton's noble lineage and privileged upbringing, had a more enigmatic and unconventional history. Born as a bastard child of Zeus, Heracles grew up on a humble, low-realm planet. He lacked the guidance and resources that privileged magus typically enjoyed. Despite these disadvantages, Heracles exhibited extraordinary talent from a young age. He spent most of his teenage years embarked on a perilous journey into the wild, where he hunted and conquered legendary beasts. His raw power and resilience were astonishing, and it soon became evident that he possessed a latent, untamed source of strength. Even his divine father, Zeus, was perplexed by the origins of Heracles' power. When the Kronos family eventually discovered this enigmatic youth, he had already outgrown the age for traditional academy training. Likewise, he was too barbaric to submit to the regimented faction guidance that younger magus adhered to. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞 However, Heracles's story took an unexpected turn when a legendary combat magus recognized his exceptional potential. This seasoned warrior became Heracles' mentor and protector, guiding him with wisdom and experience. For five decades, Heracles served as the combat magus's loyal apprentice, absorbing knowledge and skills that far surpassed the typical training provided by the academy. Over the years, Heracles transformed from an untamed force of nature into a formidable combat magus in his own right. His path was marked by arduous trials and intense training, culminating in his breakthrough to the rank of a half-moon magus. [Heracles] [Magus Realm: Half Moon Magus] [Battle Power 398] [Soul force 192] [Realm: Halfmoon] [Law of Earth -15%] [Law of Strength - 4%] The strategy they had formulated was clear: Thrax, being the strongest among them, would engage the four crescent magus. Chumo and Akahsa were assigned to deal with one of the half-moons each, while Klea, the second strongest, was tasked with holding Hecate at bay. At first, Thrax was resistant to the idea, objecting to the division of their strength. However, Klea's reasoning eventually convinced him. "Yes, Thrax," she said, "you are undoubtedly more powerful than those four. Defeat them swiftly, and then come to our aid." Their plan was simple yet effective. They would leverage their best fighters to overcome their weakest adversaries. Thrax would then help engage the two half-moons, and once they were dealt with, all four of them could unite to take on Hecate. While they strategized, the seven magus closed in around them, with Hecate, their leader, wearing a wicked smile as she taunted, "Just like pigs ready for the slaughter." Following the plan, Chumo advanced to challenge Triton, Akahsa confronted Heracles in the air, and Klea locked eyes with Hecate, silently inviting her to a duel. Thrax, brimming with enthusiasm, brandished his dark spear and bellowed, "Gae Bolg!" His dark armor took shape as he leaped into action, charging toward the area where the four crescent magus were positioned. With a thunderous challenge, he declared, "Let's fight!" The battle erupted with a flurry of spells, weapons drawn, and magic incantations. Thrax, using his formidable [Immortal Gate - stage 8] technique, managed to rapidly close the gap between himself and one of the crescent magus. In a swift motion, he grabbed the first magus and smashed him toward the second one. However, the remaining two magus swiftly produced chain-linked artifacts that, when unleashed, behaved like sentient serpents. These serpentine chains snaked around each of Thrax's arms, immobilizing them. Caught off guard, Thrax exclaimed, "What the hell is this?!!" Before he could attempt to break free, the other two magus produced identical chain-linked artifacts, and their living chains ensnared Thrax's legs. At that moment, it dawned on him that all four of these crescent magus had been working in tandem to immobilize him right from the beginning. Apparently defeating these four cresent magus was not going to be as straightforward as they had initially anticipated.