Chapter 47
vin returned to his quarters, having refrained from training for the day. He sat beneath the
ancient oak in the courtyard, pondering the challenge that awaited him in a month''s time. He
admitted to himself that Galos was formidable, far stronger than the average Stage VII mages, and
being a favored champion of the Grand Elder, meant Galos would just be ruthless enough to aim for
crippling blows in the uing duel at the Battlegrounds.
vin had already solidified his power at the Fifth Tier, and with a month of dedicated training, he
believed he could reach the peak of this stage. If hemitted fully, he could stand toe-to-toe with
Galos. Winning was uncertain, but at the very least, he could ensure he wouldn''t lose.
The problem was that vin didn''t want to use the Grand Arcanum of the de within the ranks of
Cobalt Strike, not yet anyway. Without the Dawnedge de and the Arcanum, how could he ensure
he''d be thest one standing?
"Goliath Force!"
After much contemtion, vin''s thoughts kept returning to Goliath Force. His greatest advantage
lay in his physical constitution, and it was said that Goliath Force could amplify one''s strength to its
ultimate limit, potentially up to fivefold.
With the Restoration Mantra to condition his body and Goliath Force to enhance his explosive
power, a month''s worth of refinement should leave Galos bleeding, at least a bit.
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"Tomorrow, I shall visit the Sanctum of Mystical Scrolls. If there''s no better Combat Magic to be
found, I''ll choose Goliath Force."
With that decision made, vin retired to his quarters for a restful sleep, nning to visit the
Sanctum the next day. He was neither anxious nor worried, but instead filled with an eager
anticipation for the confrontation thaty a month ahead.
In the deep of night, all was silent and peaceful. Yet again, from the depths of the Botanic Haven, a
hoarse roar shattered the calm, like thunder rolling across the sky, jolting the denizens of Cobalt
Strike from their slumber, and awakening thousands of Protégés.
This time, the roar was not as wild, nor did it bring the violent quakes of before, but it was still
enough to send shivers down one''s spine, as if some terrible beast was trapped and could, at any
moment, break free from its chains.
The Protégés of Cobalt Strike restrained their curiosity, staying within their dwellings without
emerging to specte.
The sound of shing chains echoed from within Botanic Haven, sharp and resonant, adding a
sinister feel to the night as the noise reverberated through Cobalt Strike.
vin stood in the courtyard, gazing toward Botanic Haven through the thick veil of night. The deep
and raspy roar was unclear; it was hard to tell if it was a person''s cry or the struggle of a Magi-
Monster, lingering long into the night.
Inside, vin felt an inexplicable calling; the roaring seemed to be conveying something. His de,
Shadowbringer, vibrated as if in response.
"What exactly is imprisoned there? If it''s truly a fearsome entity, why hasn''t Cobalt Strike simply
destroyed it?"
Puzzled, vin left his quarters in the dead of night and made his way to the foot of Botanic Haven.
"ROAR!!"
"ROAR!!"
Suddenly, the roaring intensified, and the entire Botanic Haven seemed to tremble. The deafening
roars transformed the mysterious and beautiful haven into a ce of horror and dread. The sound
of chains persisted, as if desperately trying to contain whatever was held within.
Within vin''s Energy Core, Shadowbringer shook violently. The energy within him swirled and
churned, leaving him feeling his own vitality tossed about.
The feeling of being summoned grew stronger, as if a force was about to surge down from the
mountainside hundreds of meters high and pounce toward vin.
"Human? Monster? What could it be?" vin wondered in awe, slowly retreating as he stared
intently at the mountainside where shes of golden light and the shadows of chains danced in the
mist.
"Who goes there?" A woman of unparalleled beauty appeared like a fleeting apparition. Her
presence seemed light and ethereal. d in snow-white robes, her face was obscured by the cold
mist that enveloped her, and her presence radiated a chill.
"Just curious, came to have a look," vin said, casting onest nce at the mountainside before
turning to leave.
"Are you vin?" Her voice was cool and detached.
"Hm?" vin turned back, peering into the darkness at the semi-visible figure of the woman.
"This is not a ce for you. Leave," she said, not making things difficult for him, but gesturing for
him to depart quickly.
Was that Mari, the Elite Protégé of Botanic Haven? vin faintly remembered her, from a time
when he had ventured close to Botanic Haven.
No sooner had he left than several Protégés burst forth from the nearby woods and bowed to the
woman, "Mari, did someone approach?"
"Nobody. Return to your posts, be vignt, and let no one near Botanic Haven."
"Yes!" The Protégés dispersed. Ever since the strange urrences at Botanic Haven began, they
had been on high alert, guarding day and night, forbidding anyone from approaching.
Mari was about to ascend the mountain when something strange happened; the roaring stopped,
and the chains fell silent. She looked back in the direction vin had left, her eyes filled with
questions.
In the sanctified halls of Sanctum of Mystical Scrolls, nestled within the mighty stronghold of the
Cobalt Strike,y nearly every spell of battle magic known to that esteemed conve of Mages. It
was said that over three hundred unique incantations spanned from the rudimentary cantrips of a
green apprentice to theplex arcana wielded by the most seasoned archmages. This library was
the hallowed ground in the hearts of all Protégés, yet only those personally mentored by the Elders
and the esteemed Golden Protégés were allowed to roam its aisles freely. Aside from being granted
a basic Combat Magic initiation, ordinary Protégés were forbidden from stepping foot within its
sacred bounds.