Chapter 154


    “You didn’t have to fight so hard,” Mari said to vin. He could have easily used the mysterious


    Combat Magic ‘Shadowlord’s Wrath’ right from the start instead of waiting until the bitter end to


    employ it.


    “I wanted to test my limits.” vin sought not only to win the tournament but also to push his


    potential, looking for an opportunity to break through. As a Stage VIII Novice Mage, he might’ve had


    to settle for the top ten, but reaching Stage IX could give him a shot at the top five, and he was well


    aware of that.


    "The sh of Eight Orders is a tournament, not a fight to the death," Mari said, at a loss for


    words with him.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Balder nced at Mari, intrigued. Was there a rtionship between this aloof beauty and vin?


    Not only had she stayed here for half the day, but she also initiated a conversation with vin—


    quite rare indeed.


    "How did you two fare?" vin inquired of Mari and Cedrick, noting that Cedrick seemed more


    severely wounded.


    Balder interjected with a grin, "Mari won and willpete in the third round tomorrow for a spot


    in the top ten. Cedrick single-handedly challenged three Protégés from the Ster Precepts and


    advanced to the top ten ahead of time."


    "Oh?" vin was surprised. Cedrick took on three? And all from the Ster Precepts?


    "It''s a shame you won''t be in the final matches. Otherwise, I''d relish a bout against you," Cedrick


    said as he got up and left the room.


    "Rest well, you''ve already made it to the top ten. You''ve reached your goal, and there''s no need to


    overexert yourself any further." Mari left him with these words before she, too, exited the room.


    That evening, the lord''s manor hosted another banquet, inviting Protégés from various


    Organizations.


    vin, citing his severe injuries, did not attend and locked himself in his room, drawing in the


    Restoration Aether from the world around him to heal his wounds. His injuries appeared grave,


    seemingly ruling out any participation in the final battle for the top five, yet he was confident he


    would recover by night''s end.


    He was determined to partake in the ultimate showdown!


    Late at night, in the stillness of his quarters, vin fully opened his energy channel, free of


    distractions, drawing in the Restoration Aether toward the lord''s manor.


    The window creaked open gently, and the little fox slipped in once more, intoxicated by the


    abundant Restoration Aether in the room. A human-like smile had spread across its face. It tiptoed


    onto the bed and curled up on vin''s legs like afortable fluff-ball resembling a snowball.


    vin had a fondness for the little fox and did not shoo it away, continuing his practice of the


    Restoration Mantra.


    He tore off all the bandages, revealing ghastly wounds that bled profusely. Yet under the nurturing


    of the Restoration Mantra, rich Restoration Aether flowed through his body, umting at the


    wounds, visibly fostering new flesh and closing the injuries as the torn skin slowly knit back


    together. What should have been a horrifying sight became miraculous.


    vin’s heartbeat grew stronger and more vigorous, and his life force surged back to life.


    E of the Bloodlore watched from the window, intrigued by the scene unfolding in the room and


    feeling the ceaseless flow of life''s vigor from the world outside.


    The talk of the banquet that night among members of various Organizations was none other than


    vin.


    vin, Stormcast, his status as a servant, Azure Mountain, and more were all topics of discussion,


    with a true story being pieced together and spread among Protégés and Elders alike.


    vin truly was a servant.


    He had indeed been mistreated.


    vin had genuinely broken through to Novice Mage on his own.


    Since his breakthrough, vin had less than one year of experience.


    vin had been relentlessly exploited by Cobalt Strike but remained stubborn and proud.


    Various deeds were shared, though it was unclear who had spoken them or who hadpiled the


    tale.


    E stood outside, and her interest piqued as she sized up vin. What strength of will did he have


    to endure eight arduous years? What resilience of character to never submit, and what prodigious


    talent to break through to Stage VIII within a year? What intrigued her most was that the Elders and


    Protégés of Cobalt Strike were oblivious to vin''s Combat Magic, and she was certain that vin


    had never before disyed his swordsmanship or Shadowlord''s Wrath there. Moreover, he could


    attract Restoration Aether, winning the favor of the fox.


    E smiled, leaning on the windowsill, contemting the vin within.