Chapter 2


    Suddenly, the crowd gasped as vin leaped to his feet. His right fist clenched tightly as he hurled


    it towards Elder Jaslin. "For the second round! Take this punch!"


    To everyone''s amazement, the lightning that cloaked his body now converged into his fist, bursting


    with intense light. It was something impossible for a newly initiated Novice Mage to achieve.


    “Humph!” Elder Jaslin suddenly turned around, brushing past vin as she mmed her palm into


    his abdomen. vin spat blood and was sent flying backward, crashing down below the raised dais


    and tumbling over several times beforeing to a stop.


    "Could it be that he is at Stage II of Novice Mage?" Many onlookers assessed vin''s strength. To


    concentrate magic to such an extent was certainly not within the abilities of a Stage I Novice Mage.


    Thisd was indeed a prodigy, having reached this level through his own trials. At that moment, they


    even pondered, how powerful vin might be if he were not the son of a criminal. Could he be


    seriously trained by Cobalt Strike? s, fate had been cruel to him.


    Struggling to his feet, vin coughed up another mouthful of blood, wobbling unsteadily. His


    abdomen burned with fiery agony as if a fierce ze were consuming him from within.


    The crowd dispersed around him, and none stepped forward to offer assistance. However, a few


    impudent youths exaggerated their expressions as they scrutinized vin.


    "Well, did Master vin just give us a demonstration of a dog eating dirt? Come on now. Give a


    round of apuse, please. That performance was spot on."


    "Look at you, you are so bold! You actually tried tounch a sneak attack on an Elder."


    "Got what you deserved for your arrogance!"


    "You were so proud, weren''t you? So mighty, weren''t you? Howe you can hardly stand now?


    Need me to help you up?"


    "You came here to be a hostage, so behave and atone for your parents'' sins, and atone for the


    twenty thousand people of Stormcast."


    vin abruptly raised his head. His eyes reddened, sweeping over the crowd.


    The few Protégés shivered internally, immediately shutting their mouths as their gazes drifted away.


    They had sparred with vin often enough, and usually ended up bruised and battered. A fact that


    cast a shadow of fright over their hearts.


    Elder Jaslin descended the testing tform and faced vin. Her voice was as cold as her


    expression. "Crawl back to the storeroom and do your duty as a servant. Cobalt Strike will never


    train you; you''d best not show your face at any more trials."


    After a brief pause, vin dusted himself off and managed a bloody, carefree grin. "One day, I''ll


    earn the standing I deserve within Cobalt Strike, and it won''t be beneath you. Mark my words."


    The woman grasped vin''s shoulder. "If you were truly wise, you''d ept your reality and dutifully


    redeem your parents'' sins."


    vin shook off her hand and strode away. His bloodied mouth was a fearsome sight, causing the


    crowd to part ways for him, and not daring to block his path. But he hadn''t gone far when a group of


    noble-looking young men and women approached.


    Leading them was a handsome but haughty young man named Tyral, who held a significant status


    among the ordinary Protégés and was going to be Elder Jaslin''s chosen Elite Protégés. His favor


    wasn''t due to any exceptional talent but because his sister was already the Elder Jaslin''s beloved


    apprentice.


    This year''s Sanctum of Mystical Scrollspetition happened to be overseen by this same Elder,


    thus ensuring Tyral''s passage and entry into the Sanctum of Mystical Scrolls.


    "Isn''t this Master vin? Here to take the trial?"


    Tyral stood before vin, feigning concern as he surveyed him, while his eyes held more mockery


    than anything else. vin had bested him many times before, but from this day forth, their fates


    would finally diverge. Tyral was destined for the Sanctum of Mystical Scrolls, to inherit powerful


    Combat Magic and be an Elite Protégés, with limitless prospects ahead. And vin? He


    would continue tonguish in his storeroom as a servant.


    vin ignored him and continued forward.


    Tyral reached out to stop him. "Master vin, in a foul mood, are ya? Do you want to know why I’m


    feeling so splendid..."


    vin suddenly turned, raising his fist. His bloodied mien turned fierce.


    Tyral''splexion shifted, and he stumbled back in panic in full view of the crowd.


    But rather than strike, vin wiped the blood from his mouth and scoffed with contempt. "Elite


    Protégé? Don''t wet yourself. Move aside."


    Elder Jaslin saw this exchange and frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with Tyral''s conduct.


    Tyral noticed her look, and his face flushed with embarrassment. He was nearly ready to pursue a


    fight but was quietly held back by hispanions. The trial was more important, with hundreds of


    eyes watching. vin would be dealt withter.


    Watching vin''s retreating back, Tyral seethed with resentment. Now was the time he needed to


    shine, and yet he had been humiliated. "Hmph, vin, your reckoning wille."


    vin left the trial grounds and headed for the Cobalt Strike storeroom. Along the way, people


    bustled about, the Protégés of Cobalt Strike chatting andughing. The atmosphere was rxed


    and lively. When people saw vin''s bloodied mouth and unsteady gait, some ignored him, some


    pitied him, some shook their heads, and others mocked from afar. "Behave as the servant you are;


    it suits a criminal''s offspring. You’re always causing trouble, and it''s a wonder you''ve survived this


    long."


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    And as for his name, vin? It seemed to echo his destiny.