The Wizard of Fairy Tale World-Chapter 158: Maleficent’s Ally

Chapter 158: Maleficent’s Ally

“Even for a shape-shifting mage, there is still a true form. What you see before you now is my most genuine self,” Oz declared.

Gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd.

No one had expected the legendary, fearsome, and powerful Oz to be nothing more than a kindly, short old man.

Oz continued,

“In the past, I created an intimidating image, leading people to call me ‘The Terrible Oz,’ believing that I could make someone disappear in an instant if they angered me.

“But that is not who I am. It is not good for a ruler to have his people live in constant fear. Fear alone cannot sustain a kingdom.

“That is why I wanted you all to see me as I truly am.

“Look, I am no different from you—I have two eyes, a nose, and two ears!”

Hearing this, the sea of people below erupted in murmurs of admiration.

“We are grateful to the great Oz. He built this beautiful city for us, and now he humbly reveals his true self because he does not want us to fear him.”

Their love for their king only deepened.

Because “The Great and Terrible Oz” was not some monstrous entity—he was simply a gentle old man, just like them.

But among the crowd, one person couldn’t stand it any longer.

To Magrido, the praises and admiration for Oz sounded unbearably grating.

“He’s nothing but a fraud. A circus magician,” Magrido muttered in disgust.

He then deliberately shouted out,

“Oh great Mage Oz, would you be so kind as to demonstrate your magic for us?”

Magrido smirked to himself.

The moment Oz started performing, he—a real mage—would be able to see through the trick!

Then, he’d charge onto the stage and expose Oz’s deception.

Oz, however, simply smiled warmly and agreed,

“Of course.”

He clapped his hands gently, and two harps floated into the air, playing a melodious tune on their own.

Then, with a snap of his fingers, the flowers on the stage bloomed, filling the air with a mesmerizing fragrance.

The crowd erupted into cheers. Children jumped up and down in excitement, thrilled to witness Oz’s magic firsthand.

“Praise you, Oz! The great mage, the kind and just king!”

In the midst of the joyous celebration, there was only one person seething in frustration.

Magrido’s hair practically stood on end as he clenched his teeth so hard they made a grinding noise.

He had widened his eyes to their limits, scrutinizing every movement Oz made, desperately searching for the secret behind his illusions.

Yet, no matter how he examined it, no matter how experienced a mage he was, he couldn’t see through it.

From every possible angle, Oz’s performance was genuine magic.

“This… this is impossible! Oz can’t possibly know real magic!”

Panic surged through Magrido as he recalled the mission given to him by the Emperor of the Germanic Empire.

If he failed, His Majesty would never forgive him.

His mind raced.

“Could it be… Oz has always been a real mage? He’s been lying to me all along?”

“How powerful is he? Can I even challenge him?”

At that moment, on the stage, Oz looked over the cheering crowd and solemnly announced,

“All that I have today—the ability to open my heart and show my true self, the magic I wield—I owe it all to my teacher.”

“The Sage of Rose Kingdom—the legendary Mage Rhine!”

…What?!

Magrido’s mind went blank for a moment.

No way.

Oz’s teacher… was Rhine?!

Before he could process this revelation, a clear, melodious yet chilling laugh rang behind him.

“Found you, Magrido.”

A shiver ran down his spine. A wave of icy fear surged through his body, making his hair stand on end.

A bird swooped down behind him, its form shifting into a silver-haired young man amidst the mist.

“Time to settle old scores.”

Magrido spun around in terror, fumbling for the ring on his finger.

“Ring Spirit, help me!”

A humanoid figure emerged from the ring.

But the moment it laid eyes on Rhine, its expression twisted in fear. Like a mouse spotting a tiger, the spirit trembled and shrank back.

“N-no, my master. As a spirit attuned to magic, I can sense it—this mage is far more powerful than any you’ve ever faced! I am no match for him!”

It was the first time Magrido had ever heard his ring spirit sound so terrified. His legs went weak, nearly buckling beneath him.

Desperately, he tried every spell he could think of, reaching for every enchanted artifact he had brought.

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He attempted spells of attack, tried to seize hostages, anything to gain the upper hand.

Yet, Rhine remained unfazed. With just a glance, he immediately saw through every spell and countered them effortlessly.

The more Magrido struggled, the deeper his despair grew.

It was like an infant fighting an adult—utterly futile.

In mere moments, he was defeated.

His own collar came alive, constricting around his throat. Unable to breathe, he blacked out.

Rhine turned to the frightened citizens who had nearly been caught in the chaos and reassured them,

“There was an evil mage among you, but don’t worry—I’ve taken care of him.”

The people, still wearing their green-tinted glasses, spoke in unison,

“Thank you, great Mage Rhine!”

Aurora suddenly appeared beside them, her tone light and playful.

“Hmph. This wicked villain will finally get what he deserves.”

She looked down at the unconscious, dark-skinned man.

Rhine waved a hand, and the soldiers he had stationed nearby dragged Magrido away.

He had no intention of killing him just yet—there was still something he needed to know.

Had Magrido encountered Maleficent?

Did he know where she was?

—

In a dark, hidden canyon deep within the land once ruled by the Eastern Witch, a place no seer could ever locate…

A sinister, Gothic castle loomed within the shadows, exuding an ominous and terrifying aura.

Countless grotesque monsters roamed the area. Some had the heads of rats and the wings of bats, while others had the upper bodies of wolves but human legs.

This hidden valley and the fortress within were concealed by Maleficent’s magic.

Any ordinary person who wandered too close would suddenly remember something urgent and leave, forgetting the place even existed.

Inside the castle, Maleficent sat upon an obsidian throne, her face pale and her golden eyes burning with fury.

“Damn Rhine. Damn Aurora. I won’t let you get away with this.”

“You and everyone in Rose Kingdom… all of you must die.”

As a master of potions, she had almost fully recovered from her wounds.

Her dark creatures had just returned with urgent news.

“Rhine has appeared in Emerald City. And apparently, Oz calls him ‘teacher.’”

Maleficent’s lips curled into a vicious sneer.

“So… even the Land of Oz and its ruler are your allies now, Rhine.”

“From the sea witches of the Ocean Kingdom to the Queen of White Kingdom—you certainly have many friends, don’t you?”

“Last time, you had allies.

“This time… so will I.”

She would not fight alone again.

Turning to a darkened mirror on the wall, she began chanting.

The obsidian surface rippled, waves of darkness spreading outward.

Gradually, a shadowy figure emerged.

This was the only witch in the entire coven whose magic rivaled Maleficent’s—aside from the founder of the Witch’s Circle.

Maleficent addressed the figure in the mirror with a sinister grin.

“I need your help.

“Unleash your most terrifying magic upon the Land of Oz.”

Her once-beautiful features twisted with a madness that could no longer be contained.