《Wizard》


 Chapter 1: Nidhogg

    Boom, boom, boom, a heavy knocking resounded through the thick wooden door.


    Inside the small hut, Nidhogg, sleeping under a worn quilt, was jolted awake. The numbing cold beneath his feet made him gasp, but he dared not delay. "Coming!" he shouted.


    Ignoring his already numb feet, Nidhogg swiftly donned his shabby clothes, grabbed the leather coat that doubled as a second blanket, and opened the door.


    The winter wind, laden with ice shards, made Nidhogg shiver.


    Outside, old Nero sat hunched on a rickety wooden cart, one hand gripping a whip, the other a pipe he puffed on. The cart left tracks on the bumpy, snow-covered ground.


    "Hurry up, the road is bad today. If we''re late, we''ll get a scolding," old Nero muttered, taking a deep drag from his pipe.


    "Got it," Nidhogg replied, closing the door. He quickly climbed into the cart, used to this routine. Ever since he started working with Uncle Ham on this steady job, he heard old Nero''s grumbling every day.


    Ham, not one for many words, took a last puff on his pipe before giving the horse a sharp whip. The old horse let out a low grunt and continued pulling the cart through the uneven snowy path.


    Leaning against the rickety cart''s edge, Nidhogg cast a weary glance at the gloom-draped sky and let his eyelids fall, seeking solace in a fleeting nap. From past experience, he knew that on snowy days like this, the old cart would take at least half an hourglass to reach the viscount''s manor in the city, just as dawn broke.


    Leaning on the cart, Nidhogg smelled the familiar scent of dry tobacco, feeling deep gratitude toward old Nero.


    Nidhogg''s earliest memory was of a winter with heavy snowfall; everything before that was a blank, as if he had appeared out of nowhere in this world. Since then, he had often wandered with a group of orphans in Bissel City, living off scraps until one day when the childless old Ham saw Nidhogg''s cleverness. Thinking of his lack of heirs, he took Nidhogg in.


    Old Nero chuckled, "When I die, these two huts and the old horse will be yours."


    Truthfully, these country huts and the old cart weren''t worth much, yet Nidhogg was filled with gratitude towards old Nero, viewing him as a second father.


    As for the job that sustained old Nero and Nidhogg, it involved reaching the viscount''s manor in the city each morning before dawn. After the nobles'' overnight revelries ended, they had to clean up the remnants of the festivities and dispose of the trash outside the city before purchasing supplies for the next night''s celebrations on the viscount''s estate.


    This round trip took up most of the day.


    Half an hourglass later, the ride became smoother as they hit the paved stone roads.


    Without needing any reminder from old Nero, the dozing Nidhogg naturally woke up, knowing they had arrived in Bissel City and were near the viscount''s manor. He quickly brushed off the snow from his body to tidy up his appearance.


    Even though the noble lords who partied all night would have mostly left by the time they arrived, and those who hadn''t wouldn''t spare a glance at two lowly servants, keeping up appearances was useless. Nevertheless, the viscount''s old butler was a tough character, always making things difficult for servants like Nidhogg to squeeze out some bribes. He had previously extorted silver coins from old Nero on the pretense of poor grooming.


    At the manor''s gate, two tall and tired guards scanned old Nero and Nidhogg, having grown familiar over the years, and ignored them.


    Old Nero smiled politely, while Nidhogg jumped off the cart, lowered his head, and hurried into the viscount''s manor, heading straight for the opulent hall that required thorough cleaning every day.


    Both Nidhogg and old Nero felt that something was off today. At the hall''s entrance, the old butler glared at them with his fierce triangular eyes, then hurried over.


    "Stand here quietly, block your ears, and close your eyes," the butler hissed.


    "Yes, sir," Nidhogg and old Nero responded promptly.


    Inside the grand hall came muffled sounds of a commotion, hard to discern but clearly a girl''s voice shouting angrily.


    Instinctively, Nidhogg and old Nero sensed this was a matter involving someone important.


    Nearly an hourglass later, as dawn fully broke, Nidhogg and old Nero stamped their feet against the cold, shivering.


    The old butler, stationed at the hall''s entrance, walked over with a sullen face, hissing, "If you can''t stand the cold, don''t bother coming tomorrow."


    Nidhogg and old Nero''s faces changed. After a few moments of hesitation, old Nero pulled a silver coin from his ragged clothes, tucked it into the butler''s hand, and repeatedly smiled, "We can stand it, we can."If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Hmph," the butler snorted, pocketing the coin with practiced ease, ignoring them, and waited anxiously at the hall entrance, peeking inside occasionally.


    Nidhogg mumbled under his breath, "Damn, he just took a bribe from us recently, and now this again!"


    "Ah, let it go, endure it. Many would kill for this job¡ªwe¡¯d be out in a heartbeat if the butler could have his way," old Nero sighed.


    Age had made him more accepting, no longer having the fiery temperament of youth.


    Just then, a girl in luxurious noble attire rushed out of the hall, her delicate face streaked with tears. She stopped beside Nidhogg and old Nero, shouting back into the hall.


    "I won''t go to that Lilith Cottage Wizard Academy, nor will I become a wizard!"


    With that, the girl pulled out a book and threw it furiously before storming out of the manor.


    "Outrageous! Outrageous! What are you two standing around for? Go after her!" a rotund noble yelled, his face flushed with anger, at two armored knights.


    What shocked Nidhogg was seeing the normally aloof viscount awkwardly trying to placate the corpulent noble, whispering something appeasing.


    "Hmph, what does she know? Giving up on the wizard I spent so much to hire for a little lover? Doesn''t she understand, in six months, it''ll be..." the viscount trailed behind, hurriedly leaving the manor with the noble, not sparing Nidhogg and old Nero a glance.


    Even the old butler and the guards trotted after them, disappearing into the snowy landscape.


    In a blink, the courtyard fell silent and deserted.


    Seeing no one around, Nidhogg instinctively reached for the book on the ground, only to have old Nero smack his hand with a pipe, cautioning, "Are you crazy?"


    Nidhogg winced in pain and whispered, "It should be fine, right? If anyone asks, we''ll say we threw it out while cleaning. After all, that noble lady just tossed it there."


    Old Nero considered, then seeing they were indeed alone, nodded in reluctant agreement.


    Nidhogg tucked the book into his clothes and nonchalantly followed old Nero to clean up the hall. After the nobles'' revelries, a large amount of trash was left to be loaded onto the cart.


    No one inquired about the book''s whereabouts before they left, and Nidhogg soon forgot about it. After all, often among trash were treasures the nobles discarded that servants cherished.


    Creaking, the cart loaded with garbage slowly left Bissel City.


    Sitting atop the cart full of trash, Nidhogg no longer felt sleepy. Suddenly curious, he retrieved the book he''d picked up.


    Frowning, Nidhogg, like most servants working for nobles, didn''t know how to read. But old Nero, having been an apprentice accountant in his youth, had learned to read and taught Nidhogg over the years.


    The book''s cover bore unfamiliar words not often used in daily life, which took Nidhogg some time to decipher.


    "Guide to Nasal Adaptation and Scent Atlas"? What''s this?" Nidhogg muttered, thinking it might be a minstrel''s novel popular among noble ladies and gentlemen, only to find it a peculiarly titled book.


    Wait!


    Nidhogg''s eyes widened in disbelief at a sudden realization.


    Could this be a book on mystical magic recorded by a wizard?


    Wizards were a topic only nobles dared to discuss, their existence shrouded in mystery. Common people might never encounter their elusive presence in a lifetime.


    To the ordinary folk, wizards wielded mysterious magic, exuding an aura of evil and enigma, often rumored to commit atrocities, like mass slaughter or using humans for sinister experiments.


    Yet wizards were revered for their ability to easily vanquish commoners and knights, wielding extraordinary power.


    Nidhogg had often fantasized about these mystical and powerful wizards. What secrets allowed them to harness such remarkable abilities, and why couldn''t ordinary people?


    If he became a wizard, wielding those majestic powers, he wouldn''t need to bow to the whims of noble masters anymore.


    Who would dare call him a lowly commoner then?


    Engrossed in these thoughts, Nidhogg quickly flipped through the "Guide to Nasal Adaptation and Scent Atlas," carefully reading each word, pondering unfamiliar terms, or skipping those he couldn''t understand.


    Gradually, a sense of awe crept onto Nidhogg''s face as a new world unfolded before him!


    The so-called scent is the differentiation of air-borne volatile molecules by living creatures'' olfactory systems. The most pungent odors dominate half of the discernible smells.


    According to the "Scent Atlas," normal humans could identify between 30 and 400 different scents, with some exceptionally gifted individuals discerning about 600.


    However, this range paled compared to other creatures!


    For instance, the Crying Chick, a creature emitting cries like a human infant, could differentiate at least 6,500 scents based on experiments.


    Similarly, the Stench Moth, a fascinating creature relying solely on scavenging odors, could distinguish over 8,200 scents...


    The book mentioned that the known creature with the highest scent detection capability was the Cerberus, a formidable beast even wizards feared, capable of identifying any scent a wizard could isolate, totaling 17,852 types.


    The Cerberus''s olfactory prowess reached an astonishing level!


    "Nasal Adaptation," discussed how wizards could enhance their olfactory perfection by modifying their senses akin to certain creatures.


    The magical experiments involved numerous peculiar materials and a term repeatedly appearing that Nidhogg couldn''t comprehend¡ªcells?


    "Nidhogg, Nidhogg!"


    Old Nero called twice before Nidhogg snapped out of the book''s magical allure, hastily stowing it away to help old Nero dump the garbage from the cart.


    After unloading the trash, Nidhogg followed old Nero to purchase supplies from the viscount''s estate for the noble''s evening feasts.


    It was evening by the time they hauled everything back to the viscount''s manor, collecting a few copper coins before returning to the countryside. On the journey, Nidhogg remained engrossed in "Guide to Nasal Adaptation and Scent Atlas."


    Old Nero glanced back at Nidhogg, sighing, "Child, you''ve been bewitched by that book today. Is it really that fascinating?"


    Nidhogg grinned but didn''t elaborate, only harboring a newfound fascination and awe for the mysterious world of wizards.


    Are there truly living mountains that move in this world?


    Rivers flowing from the sky?


    And what about those otherworldly realms?


    What is the principle behind wizards wielding powerful magic?


    A series of questions flooded Nidhogg''s mind, yet there was no one to provide answers.


    "Ah, you''re turning seventeen next year, right? Hmm, maybe we should remodel the house and find a suitable girl from nearby to marry you. I''d like to see my grandchild before I kick the bucket," old Nero mused.


    Nidhogg absentmindedly replied, "You''re kidding! You''ll live to a hundred, conquering the world isn''t even a problem for you."


    "Heh..." Old Nero chuckled, amused by Nidhogg''s jest, and continued driving the cart along the familiar path.

 Chapter 2: The Wizard

    Old Nero ultimately did not live to see the day Nidhogg married and had children; he passed away.


    It was early spring, the harsh winter winds were starting to soften. After finishing a day''s work, Old Nero and Nidhogg had bought a small barrel of malt beer and some cuts of meat from the town, planning to start renovating the house the next day and putting Nidhogg¡¯s marriage plans on the agenda.


    Unfortunately, the next morning, Old Nero could not wake Nidhogg up for work.


    Old Nero left with a smile on his face, whether from the fine food and drink the night before or because all his dreams came true in his sleep, no one knew. Even when Nidhogg hired a few locals to bury him, he still wore that carefree smile he had in life.


    Nidhogg also buried Old Nero¡¯s treasured smoking pipe with him.


    Old Nero¡¯s sudden departure left Nidhogg downcast for some time, but life went on.


    Nidhogg became the owner of the two huts, had an old horse, two gold coins, and seventeen silver coins¡ªOld Nero''s lifetime savings, now all belonging to Nidhogg. It was also everything Nidhogg owned.


    Of course, Nidhogg secretly hid the mystical book, "Guide to Nasal Adaptation and Scent Atlas," with the gold coins, and he would read it once or twice every night without using too much lamp oil.


    This book was a glimpse into the mystical world of wizards for Nidhogg.


    Summer came gradually.


    It was an ordinary day. After a busy morning, Nidhogg dumped the vast amount of rubbish left after the nobles'' revelry at the viscount''s mansion outside the city, then came to the viscount¡¯s estate to collect the supplies prepared for the viscount.


    Sitting on the cart, Nidhogg leisurely gazed at the blue sky and drifting white clouds.


    Beside the cart, a village girl named Mary was swiftly loading goods, doing better than most boys.


    Mary, in a hempen apron with a face full of freckles and golden hair, stole glances at Nidhogg as her heart raced.


    She liked this handsome man terribly, enjoying his unique scent like the fragrance of wild herbs.


    But Nidhogg paid Mary no mind.


    A year ago, by chance, Nidhogg learned from Old Nero that the girl fancied him, and Old Nero even planned for Nidhogg to marry her.


    Though he never expressed it, Nidhogg had to admit he felt nothing for this industrious but shy girl, regarding her only as a neighbor''s little sister.


    So after Old Nero¡¯s passing, he never reached out to her except for seeing her during the daily loading of goods.


    Seeing Nidhogg keeping quiet, Mary worked while discreetly observing him. As the goods were nearly all loaded onto the cart, she finally bit her lip and couldn''t resist speaking.


    "Nidhogg, this morning, a wizard passed through here asking for directions to Bissel City. Everyone was stunned; it was my first time seeing a legendary wizard."


    She feigned excitement, watching Nidhogg out of the corner of her eye.


    Hearing the word "wizard," Nidhogg, who had been sitting bored on the cart, suddenly perked up. "A wizard? Are you sure?" he asked incredulously.


    "Of course I''m sure. Many people saw him," Mary replied joyfully, seeing Nidhogg take interest.


    "What did the wizard look like?" Nidhogg asked, having never seen a wizard before.


    "Well... the wizard wore a wide grey robe and a tall hat. His face was obscured, like shrouded in mist, and he held a frog with red eyes. Oh, and he spoke with Ima at the village edge."


    Seeing Nidhogg''s eagerness, Mary told him everything she knew.


    "Thanks, that¡¯s great!" Nidhogg exclaimed, thrilled to finally have a lead on a real wizard since obtaining the mystical book six months ago.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    He hurriedly ran to Ima''s house at the village edge.


    Ima was a young woman in her mid-twenties with two children already.


    Her husband, a hunter named Sogla, was strong and straightforward.


    Sogla was surprised to see Nidhogg. "Hey, Nidhogg, what brings you here? Attracted by the aroma, I bet. Come on, yesterday we caught some wild game from the mountains to the east..."


    In the kitchen, Ima came out, her two kids curiously watching Nidhogg.


    Half an hour later.


    Nidhogg left Ima¡¯s house excitedly, murmuring to himself, "Bissel City, he really went to Bissel City!"


    In a hurry, Nidhogg drove the horse cart towards the city, fearing the old horse might drop dead from exhaustion and join Old Nero in the ground.


    At the viscount¡¯s manor gate, the arrogant old butler stood with four tall knights blocking the entrance.


    The butler¡¯s face was stern as he yelled at a dozen or so farmers gathered at the gate: ¡°The land you farm is granted by the Viscount. The Viscount can tax as he sees fit. Are you rebelling? I¡¯ll tell you all¡­¡±


    Nidhogg waited anxiously at a distance.


    Every year around this time, large groups of farmers would gather to protest at the viscount¡¯s gate, only to be dispersed by the knights after some scuffle, though the duration varied.


    ¡°Scum! Scum! How dare you talk back!¡± the butler roared. ¡°Chase them away!¡±


    Within moments, the four towering knights had beaten and chased away the farmers.


    The butler was furious, glaring angrily at everyone around.


    Nidhogg wasted no time, discreetly driving his cart into the manor as the butler shouted, ¡°Stop!¡±


    The butler glanced at Nidhogg and casually checked his cart. ¡°Why are you so slow? Do you still want the job?¡± he scolded.


    Nidhogg gritted his teeth, his anger building.


    This old man had already taken two silver coins from him this month alone, which was half of what Nidhogg could earn at the viscount¡¯s estate in a month. The high wages were barely enough to withstand this old man¡¯s extortion.


    ¡°Sir Butler, I was here earlier, but the farmers blocked the road,¡± Nidhogg replied defiantly, unlike Old Nero, who had a better temper.


    Instantly, the butler turned livid, pointing at Nidhogg furiously. ¡°You insolent scum dare talk back? Has the Viscount been feeding you for nothing? Fine! Don¡¯t come back tomorrow. Get lost!¡±


    With that, the butler stormed into the courtyard, warning the knights, ¡°If this scum shows up again tomorrow, break his legs, or you can forget about coming back, too.¡±


    Standing beside the cart, Nidhogg fumed, silently cursing the butler to join Old Nero tomorrow.


    Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. Gritting his teeth, he parked the cart under a nearby tree and ran to a blacksmith¡¯s shop in the small town.


    ¡°Hey, Sixth Brother,¡± Nidhogg called to an apprentice.


    Back when Nidhogg was a beggar in Bissel City, he begged with a group of nine. Nidhogg was the eighth in rank.


    Eventually, everyone found their path¡ªNidhogg followed Old Nero, the sixth brother became a blacksmith apprentice, and the second supposedly became a tenant farmer in the countryside. No news of the others.


    ¡°Old Eight!¡± The blacksmith apprentice¡¯s eyes lit up as he saw Nidhogg, striding over to pat him. ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    Standing over six feet tall, he reeked of sweat and masculinity, now much more robust than Nidhogg. His rugged beard and sunburnt face from years by the forge made his tough hands sting on Nidhogg''s back.


    ¡°Sixth Brother, I¡¯ve got something to ask. I heard a wizard came to the city?¡± Nidhogg asked quietly.


    The sixth brother¡¯s face changed.


    ¡°How did you hear? A wizard did come, supposedly to recruit students with wizard potential, but it costs a whole gold coin to test for that potential.¡±


    He gestured subtly at the old blacksmith behind him, saying, ¡°The old man took his son Ayi for the test, and he didn¡¯t have wizard potential. He¡¯s still brooding over the lost gold coin.¡±


    Nidhogg was a mix of excitement and worry. ¡°Where¡¯s the wizard?¡±


    The sixth brother¡¯s expression changed further, looking at Nidhogg in shock. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of going, are you? A gold coin isn¡¯t cheap; we can¡¯t waste money like that.¡±


    Nidhogg hesitated for a moment.


    Losing a gold coin would be a significant hit, given he had just over two gold coins in total.


    Yet, missing this chance might mean never having another...


    Finally, Nidhogg nodded resolutely.


    After a long moment of shock, the sixth brother said, ¡°He¡¯s at the mayor¡¯s mansion. I heard the mayor¡¯s precious daughter has been confirmed to have wizard potential. She¡¯s the only one in Bissel City.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Sixth Brother.¡±


    Nidhogg was so thrilled that he forgot the unpleasantness with the butler, his mind filled with thoughts of the wizard.


    He ran back to his two small huts, pulling out a box from its most secret spot, filled with coins.


    ¡°I must become a wizard! I must!¡±


    After counting out a hundred silver coins, he thought for a moment, then took along the "Guide to Nasal Adaptation and Scent Atlas," carefully hiding the box again before hurrying back to Bissel City.


    It was summer, with long days and short nights; luckily, it wasn¡¯t dark yet.


    The mayor was the highest noble in Bissel City and reportedly the only marquis in the region.


    Unless in another city¡¯s dominion, in Bissel''s realm, the mayor''s word was law, even the viscount obeyed.


    Nidhogg had only ever seen the mayor¡¯s mansion from a distance. Normally it was heavily guarded by seven or eight knights, but now people were coming and going.


    Most of these people were shop owners or nobles from the city, bringing their descendants, often with expressions of disappointment.


    Nidhogg, knowing the wizard was inside, rushed in without a second thought.


    ¡°Halt! Pay a gold coin,¡± a boy about Nidhogg¡¯s age commanded him.


    Reluctantly, Nidhogg handed over a small pouch of silver coins. The boy gave him a disdainful glance before tossing the pouch into a box without counting.


    Nidhogg hesitated, sizing up the boy as another farmer¡¯s son who struck it lucky, wondering where his arrogance came from.


    Matching his disdain, Nidhogg followed the crowd into the mayor¡¯s mansion.

 Chapter 3: Strange

    The mayor''s mansion was far more luxurious than the viscount''s estate, Nidhogg thought to himself.


    The hall was crowded, and Nidhogg eagerly looked inside. There, a wizard in a wide gray robe sat at the highest point of the hall, his face obscured by a misty veil, just as Mary had described.


    In front of the wizard was a table with a crystal ball emitting a soft glow, enveloping the entire hall in a mysterious aura. Beside the crystal ball was a red-eyed frog, croaking incessantly.


    Is this what a wizard looks like?


    Nidhogg felt a surge of excitement. It was his first time seeing a wizard, one who wielded mysterious and powerful magic. In front of the wizard¡¯s crystal ball stood a chubby girl with brown hair, her eyes closed in nervous concentration as she touched the crystal ball.


    The crowd in the hall held their breath. There was silence for a long time, and Nidhogg finally noticed the children standing behind the wizard, three of whom were about his age.


    Is it her?


    The first girl Nidhogg saw was pouting, clearly unwilling. She was the one who had discarded the "Guide to Nasal Adaptation and Scent Atlas" at the viscount¡¯s manor during winter. Over the past months, Nidhogg had learned that she was the only daughter of Bissel City¡¯s mayor, possessing considerable power.


    It seemed that the rotund noble from before was indeed the great mayor of Bissel City.


    The other two appeared to be siblings, although Nidhogg couldn''t tell if they were brother and sister or simply looked alike, sharing similar features.


    The boy wore a proud expression, his chin held high as he stood behind the wizard, sneering at each person who came forward for the aptitude test, much like the fellow collecting gold coins at the mansion¡¯s gate.


    The girl seemed a touch shy, probably not used to such attention from so many people at once.


    "Could they be the ones tested and found to have wizard potential?" Nidhogg speculated.


    Nidhogg was correct; the siblings were indeed discovered to have wizard apprentice potential in the city before Bissel. Being singled out among hundreds if not thousands gave a sense of soaring ambition, and the nobles, usually so aloof, were now fawning over them, giving Yorkris the sensation that he was the center of the universe, the favored child of destiny.


    Yorkris scornfully regarded those eager to test their wizard potential. If it were so easy to become a wizard apprentice, how could it be that among the three cities visited, only he, his sister, and that dullard outside were chosen by Master Arnvolds?


    In this city, having the mayor¡¯s daughter selected was impressive enough, especially since her spot was secured through bribery.


    "Mental power 6, unqualified, next," the mysterious wizard announced.


    The chubby girl touching the crystal ball looked disappointed and, under the urging of those behind her, stepped away.


    "Sigh, another failure."


    "Yes, it seems there¡¯s little hope for us here."


    People who had held their breath sighed. After a day''s worth of aptitude tests, only the mayor¡¯s daughter had been found with wizard potential.


    If not for already paying their gold coin, many would have given up by now.


    "Mental power 5, unqualified, next."


    The boy before the crystal ball shrugged and left dejectedly.


    One by one, the hopefuls departed after their tests, and as Nidhogg edged closer, a sense of despair began to grow within him.


    It seemed becoming a wizard wasn¡¯t easy.


    The boy ahead of him, whom Nidhogg recognized as the son of the Moon Bay Tavern owner, was named Wade. Moon Bay Tavern was the most luxurious place in Bissel City, so undoubtedly, Wade had plenty of gold coins.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Wade stood nervously in front of the crystal ball, touching it and closing his eyes as the ball glowed softly.


    "Mental power 9, not... hmm?"


    Quick-eyed Nidhogg noticed Wade discreetly handing the wizard a pouch filled with strange stones, about two or three dozen of them.


    Astute as he was, Nidhogg quickly realized they might be bribes.


    "Alright, stand behind me," the wizard said after accepting the pouch.


    Wade beamed with excitement and gratitude. "Thank you, Master."


    Then he eagerly took his place behind the wizard.


    Nidhogg''s expression soured. He had nothing with which to bribe the wizard. Undoubtedly, this renowned wizard wouldn¡¯t be interested in the single gold coin left in Nidhogg¡¯s possession.


    Nidhogg, his thoughts in chaos, stepped up to the crystal ball, unsure of what to do.


    "Place your hand on the crystal ball and close your eyes," the wizard instructed.


    Following the wizard''s words instinctively, Nidhogg complied. Suddenly, he felt the hall grow silent, as if the world had been placed under a vast dome.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Nidhogg opened his eyes to find the people in the hall frozen in place.


    The mayor¡¯s daughter was mid-tear, with droplets suspended in mid-air. Yorkris was sneering with bared fangs.


    Turning around, Nidhogg saw the obnoxious boy who had collected the test fees, throwing a gold coin into the air, now suspended mid-flight.


    Everyone in the hall seemed to be frozen in time. Was this a different reality?


    Wait!


    Nidhogg noticed a table in the corner with plates adorned in intricate patterns, far too luxurious for common folk. The plates were filled with exquisite pastries and fruit, intended for the wizard aptitude test but more decorative than functional.


    Yet, above the fruit platter, two creatures with colorful, soft tentacles and multitudinous eyes floated like jellyfish, swaying gently.


    This... this was unbelievable!


    What were these things?


    Nidhogg felt himself trembling, his face likely pale. Although he had long yearned for the mysterious world of wizards, having the door cracked open just this little bit filled his heart with endless unknowns and fears.


    This was a world unlike the reality he knew.


    Gathering his courage, Nidhogg cautiously approached the bizarre creatures. But as he neared the table, they seemed startled and swam to the wall.


    The wall rippled like water as the creatures easily melded into it and vanished.


    Dumbfounded, Nidhogg was stunned by the creatures'' disappearance into the wall.


    Approaching the table, he noticed that among the four regular candles was one that seemed unusual.


    While topped with a burning candle, the candlestick itself was not the finely crafted ornament of aristocrats but a cooked pig''s head.


    Nidhogg puzzled over why initially this candlestick had seemed normal, and only upon closer inspection did it appear outlandish.


    Eerily, the pig¡¯s head¡¯s eyes moved, fixing intently on Nidhogg¡¯s, locking their gazes together.


    A creepy atmosphere pervaded.


    "Haha! Finally, I have reached the ultimate realm! Sky! Earth! Evil dragons! Nothing can stop me now!"


    Suddenly, a boisterous laugh echoed from this eerily silent world. Perhaps because Nidhogg¡¯s mind reaction was slowed, he felt no fear at the interruption, turning to look at the source of the voice.


    It was a novel, the kind noblemen read to entertain themselves when bored, detailing the adventures of a minstrel.


    The story followed a poor young man who fell in love with a noble lady, overcoming her family''s objections, and through various opportunities, defeating the world¡¯s most powerful evil dragon to prove himself and win her heart.


    In general, it was a clich¨¦, uninspiring tale illustrated with sketches showing the protagonist defeating evil foes.


    "Dear me, what¡¯s going on," Nidhogg stammered, looking at the novel.


    A small paper figure slowly rose from within the book, complete with human features and an exaggeratedly surprised expression, staring blankly around.


    The paper character was precisely the protagonist depicted in the novel¡¯s illustrations.


    While more detailed than the rough illustrations, with fine human expressions, it was still plain that its essence was merely a standing paper figure, the reverse side filled with printed words.


    "What a place is this, where I¡¯m not a god?" the paper figure shouted in panic, looking around in bewilderment.


    Suddenly, it noticed Nidhogg, a grave expression crossing its face as it drew a paper sword and pointed it at him.


    ¡°Who are you? A god from the divine realm?"


    "Who are you, a god from the divine realm? Who are you?" The floor tiles cracked, forming a lengthy fissure that opened and closed like a mouth, echoing the paper figure''s words.


    While Nidhogg and the frozen nobles stood above the fissure, none fell through.


    As if the mouth was an illusion, it parroted the paper figure''s words repeatedly.


    A scarlet tongue emerged from the pitch-black crack, slithering from beneath Nidhogg''s feet. Nidhogg could clearly see the tongue made from countless tiny serpents writhing together, swiftly ensnaring the dumbstruck paper figure atop the book.


    With a series of shrill cries, the paper figure was swallowed into the depths of the fissure.


    "This can''t be real..." Nidhogg shook on the spot, stunned.


    Suddenly, a dazzling light radiated from the crystal ball, and Nidhogg found himself whisked beside it. As he touched the crystal ball, the world around him resumed, and the sound of people talking filled his ears.


    "Mental power 12, impressive, stand behind me," the wizard instructed.


    Pale-faced, Nidhogg rose numbly and took his place behind the wizard.


    Glancing around, all the anomalies had vanished, even the noble reading the minstrel¡¯s tale remained unperturbed. The pig¡¯s head candlestick and floor fissure were gone, leaving Nidhogg to wonder if it had all been an illusion or a dream.


    "Damn it! How did this guy get wizard potential?" someone cursed.


    "Uh-oh, my kid used to bully him. I hope he doesn''t come back for revenge!" another muttered in panic.


    The hall buzzed for a moment before the wizard''s cold huff restored silence. Yet, the mayor¡¯s daughter and Wade, the tavern owner¡¯s son, glanced at Nidhogg in surprise, but seeing his servant¡¯s attire, they sneered, losing interest in conversation.

 Chapter 4: Cuisine

    The exquisite goblet was filled with fragrant wine.


    On the dining table in front of Nidhogg, there were nearly seventy to eighty types of sauces like foie gras and berry sauce, not to mention the various intricately crafted roasts he had never seen before.


    It was unbelievable that Nidhogg, upon his first visit to the mayor¡¯s mansion, had the honor of dining with the mayor himself.


    Of course, this was all thanks to the great wizard sitting nearby.


    "Nidhogg," the wizard suddenly called out.


    Nidhogg quickly set down his knife and fork, standing to bow. "Yes, sir."


    "Yes. What I want to say is, children whose mental strength naturally grows to 10 often sense their talents during the crystal ball test, which is crucial for your development as wizards in the future. Never forget what happened during the test. When you advance to become a wizard, you must leverage your talents for development," the wizard''s voice was somewhat neutral and hoarse, as if his throat had issues or maybe like a parrot mimicking inside his robe.


    "Yes, sir," Nidhogg respectfully replied.


    His talent? Those bizarre, strange phenomena?


    Nidhogg hardly thought those oddities could be allies or aids; given their peculiar nature, they seemed more likely to be adversaries.


    The wizard then turned his attention to the mayor''s daughter, Nina, and Wade, the son of the Moon Bay Tavern owner.


    "Neither of you has mental strength reaching 10, which usually disqualifies you from becoming wizard apprentices. However, for wizards, external conditions are merely auxiliary; wisdom is the true source of power. To a wizard, knowledge is more important than any so-called talent."


    "Yes, sir," they both answered in unison.


    "Haha, Master, you¡¯ve come a long way, so let me entertain you properly today. Come, Master, try these rare delicacies from the Southern Endless Sea," the mayor, dressed in grand noble attire, beamed as he beckoned. From afar, eight beautiful maids brought eight dishes, placing them before the mayor, the mysterious wizard, and the six wizard apprentices.


    Nidhogg looked at the dish before him, containing what seemed like a simple shell, frowning.


    This is a rare delicacy? How do you eat it?


    "Beauty Shell! Haha, the last time I tasted this rare delicacy was on a mission at the Southern Endless Sea over a hundred and twenty years ago, and I hadn¡¯t seen it since. I never expected to savor it again at the Eastern Coral Islands. Mayor, you¡¯ve gone to great lengths," the wizard seemed particularly fond of this strange food called Beauty Shell, as could be heard from his excited tone.


    "Haha, please."


    Besides the mayor, Nina, and the mysterious wizard, the remaining five wizard apprentices stared blankly, not knowing how to taste the so-called Beauty Shell.


    Nidhogg closely studied the mayor''s every move; he watched the mayor''s chubby hands, adorned with seven radiant rings, lightly lift the Beauty Shell from the plate and casually crack it open.


    The following scene left Nidhogg wide-eyed in shock.


    Inside the shell was indeed a lifelike miniature woman, though she appeared like a soft-bodied creature without any clothes or bones, curled up and sleeping inside the shell.


    However, once the shell was opened, the sleeping "beauty" inside began to slowly awaken, looking around in confusion.


    "Heh heh," the mayor smiled broadly, bringing the shell to his lips, and just as his thick lips puckered as if to suck the bewildered "beauty" into his mouth, the creature seemed to realize its plight. It desperately tried to crawl away, emitting shrill cries like a newborn mouse.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    However, with a forceful slurp, the mayor swallowed the cries into his mouth, and they echoed from his stomach.


    "Ah... truly wonderful."


    The mayor casually tossed the empty shell aside, closing his eyes in blissful enjoyment.


    The wizard and Nina had also consumed their Beauty Shells, showing no signs of concern.


    Seeing the five hesitant wizard apprentices, the wizard shook his head and said, "For wizards, deliciousness is secondary; the most important aspect of the Beauty Shell is its ability to purify fire elements. If any of you develop an interest in fire element research, the Beauty Shell could aid you significantly."


    Pausing briefly, the wizard continued, "Of course, there''s also a rumored curse of the sea associated with it. After consuming a Beauty Shell, your flesh might exude a scent particularly enticing to sea demons."


    Nidhogg was the first to act!


    Desiring to impress the wizard, Nidhogg closed his eyes, lifted his head, and, with great resolve, allowed the shell¡¯s beauty to slide into his mouth, down his throat, and into his stomach.


    He could even hear the desperate screams in his belly.


    Suppressing the odd sensations and overwhelming nausea, Nidhogg nonchalantly began eating fresh beef with foie gras.


    The other three boys, Yorkris, Wade, and Giron, looked grim but eventually swallowed their Beauty Shells, filling the hall with faint cries resonating from their stomachs.


    Only Yorkris¡¯ sister, Yorkliana, hesitated and ultimately pushed the Beauty Shell away.


    A bright young girl indeed.


    Overall, the banquet proceeded smoothly, and Nidhogg witnessed the true lavishness of nobility.


    According to Nidhogg''s estimate, the main course ingredients alone at this banquet would cost no less than two hundred gold coins. As for the Beauty Shells, such "rare delicacies" were beyond price.


    The next day, Nidhogg hurried to the viscount¡¯s estate to retrieve his old cart, drawing eye rolls from Nina and Wade behind the wizard. Was he really delaying everyone for that rickety cart?


    How much could that cart be worth?


    "Scoundrel, didn¡¯t you hear yesterday? Come back again and I¡¯ll break your legs!" the old butler yelled, seeing Nidhogg rushing over.


    Despite his anger, the butler hoped Nidhogg would relent and pay the bribe today because he realized yesterday he hadn''t found a suitable replacement.


    If the evening''s banquet at the viscount¡¯s estate wasn¡¯t prepared on time, it would be a serious problem.


    "Uh..."


    Nidhogg glanced at the estate¡¯s courtyard, spotting his cart. It had been pulled inside by the estate staff.


    "Sir Butler, I''ll just grab my cart and be on my way," Nidhogg said.


    Becoming a wizard apprentice was a monumental opportunity for him, so much so that he wouldn¡¯t mind leaving behind the gold coins at home, yet he was reluctant to part with the old horse.


    After all, it was Old Nero''s legacy, and Nidhogg felt a connection, not wanting to abandon it.


    "Uh..."


    The old butler froze for a moment, not expecting Nidhogg to say that, followed by a burst of fury.


    "Insolent scum! You peasant! Get out and take your cart with you. Skarda, throw him out!"


    The old butler truly intended to keep the cart for himself.


    Seeing the burly figure lumbering toward him, Nidhogg swallowed nervously. Just then, a cold voice called from afar, "A wizard''s dignity must not be violated!"


    A beam of black light shot toward the towering figure approaching Nidhogg. The knight, quick to react, dodged awkwardly, and the beam hit the gate of the viscount¡¯s estate, turning into a swarm of terrifying black insects.


    Each insect was as small as a fingernail, equipped with translucent wings and fearsome jaws, numbering in the thousands.


    Seeing this, the knight''s face turned pale as he shouted, "Mercy, Master Wizard!"


    "Hmph!"


    The wizard remained indifferent; for a true wizard, a knight was merely a larger, more easily dispatched insect.


    Unless this knight advanced to become a legendary knight, he posed no real threat to a wizard.


    Muttering an incantation, the wizard pointed a finger, and the pleading knight began to morph slowly into a pig!


    Beside him, Nidhogg was so shocked his jaw almost dropped. Had the knight really turned into a pig?


    The swarm of black insects surged forward, and with dreadful cries, the pig-knight was devoured completely.


    Meanwhile, the old butler was utterly horrified. Used to bullying servants and farmers, he was now dumbfounded by the screeching pig.


    Suddenly, a long tongue shot out with incredible speed, pulling the old butler from sight in an instant.


    "Gurgle gurgle..."


    A giant frog with red eyes gradually shrank to palm size, hopping into the wizard''s hand.


    Seeing this astonishing display of power left the onlookers in awe, staring at the mysterious wizard with fear. Nidhogg, too, was speechless, witnessing such bizarre acts of killing for the first time.


    A profound silence enveloped the surroundings, so still that a pin drop would be audible.


    Is this the power of a wizard? The dignity of a wizard must not be violated!?


    Indeed, for ordinary people, a wizard wielding magic was terrifying.


    Clenching his fists tightly, Nidhogg vowed that he, too, would become a wizard one day. When that day came, anyone who dared offend him would be erased without a trace!


    A deep yearning burned within Nidhogg.


    Regaining his composure, he swallowed and steadied himself, then led his old cart to the blacksmith¡¯s shop to say his final goodbyes to the wide-eyed Sixth Brother.


    "Hey, hey, Old Eight, is it true? Are you really going to become a wizard?" Sixth Brother asked for the seventh time, incredulous.


    Nidhogg gave a wry smile, "Just a wizard apprentice..."


    "Yeah, yeah, wizard apprentice... you''re really going to become a wizard?" Sixth Brother asked for the eighth time, and Nidhogg could only smile in response.

 Chapter 5: Knowledge

    After a day of traveling, Nidhogg finally learned that the mysterious wizard was named Arnovoz, and their destination was a wizard academy called Lilith Cottage.


    The journey to this wizard academy was very long, requiring at least two months of sea travel.


    "Before we reach Zeralto Harbor, we will visit two more cities. During this time, if you have any basic questions, I can answer one for free," Arnovoz said smoothly as they walked along the path.


    After a day of observation, Nidhogg noticed that among the six wizard apprentices, the one closest to the great wizard was Giron.


    It was understandable, as Giron had almost become Arnovoz¡¯s personal servant, attending to him diligently, and received several benefits from the wizard as a result.


    However, this had made Giron disliked by the other five wizard apprentices because of his disdainful and arrogant demeanor towards them, as if he were superior to the others.


    "Master, you are truly great. I find the spiritual meditation technique you taught me the other day quite profound and difficult to understand..." Giron said, carrying a large bundle filled with the wizard¡¯s odds and ends, being the first to consult the wizard due to his closeness.


    Wade, who also wanted to ask the wizard questions, cursed under his breath, "Damn, such a sycophant."


    With a disdainful sneer, Wade silently followed behind.


    Yorkris, walking further back with his sister Yorkliana, watched the two vying to consult with the wizard and scoffed, "Hmph, two fools without wizard talent. When I become a great wizard at the academy, they''ll just be licking my boots."


    His sister Yorkliana remained silent, seemingly a girl with no opinions of her own.


    Nidhogg did not rush forward to ask the wizard questions. The two things he truly wanted to know were what the wizarding world was really like and the reasons behind wizards¡¯ mastery of mysterious magic. Since the wizard would only answer one question, which would he choose?


    He took particular note of the word "free" that the wizard used. Did this imply that at the wizard academy, apprentices would have to pay to consult with formal wizards?


    Wanting to make the most of this free opportunity, Nidhogg turned his attention to Nina, who was trailing at the end of the group, looking sullen.


    Nina, the mayor¡¯s daughter from Bissel City, was the only one among the six apprentices who had not volunteered for this path; she had been forced by her father to go to Lilith Cottage. Perhaps she knew more about the wizard academy than the others.


    Nidhogg was most curious about two things: what the wizarding world was truly like and the reason behind wizards'' mastery of mysterious magic. The second question seemed deep, but regarding the first, surely the mayor''s daughter knew something.


    So, Nidhogg quietly drifted toward Nina.


    "The wizard world?" Nina, lost in her sorrow, glanced at Nidhogg in surprise.


    When he approached her, Nina assumed he wanted to get close, as interactions among nobles were common, and she had experienced many seemingly accidental encounters as the mayor''s daughter.


    Though Nina disliked aristocratic sycophants, she disliked commoners even more and would usually not give Nidhogg the time of day. Yet, considering the life awaiting her...This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Biting her lip, she looked at Nidhogg''s eager and longing expression, and her delicate face showed sadness as she sighed.


    "In truth, the wizarding continent is not as beautiful as you imagine. First of all, whatever status you have here is meaningless there because you might never return in your lifetime."


    Nidhogg was greatly shocked. Never return in a lifetime? Was it imprisonment?


    Seeing that Nidhogg had misunderstood, Nina softly explained, "Before becoming a formal wizard, we will live in a place called the wizarding continent, a vast region beyond imagination. Don''t try to grasp its size¡ªit''s far larger than you think. Wizards are supreme there, or more accurately, the power they wield is supreme..."


    Half a day later, Nidhogg was deeply shocked by all Nina had shared. If the wizard world was as she described, it was certainly not the idealized world he had imagined.


    "In the wizard world, without power, magical stones, or a background, it''s best to remain low-key and do what you''re supposed to do, or death will be an all too common occurrence," Nina said coldly.


    Nidhogg swallowed, gradually coming to terms with this harsh reality. He began to waver, pondering if he should back out entirely.


    After all, Nina¡¯s depiction of the wizard world was terrifying¡ªwhere life seemed worthless and no nobility reined in those wizards. As a mere apprentice, he might one day be erased from existence by a more powerful wizard.


    He was just a commoner who hadn''t seen the world.


    Nina, noting Nidhogg''s fearful demeanor, decided not to crush his spirit further, shaking her head.


    "Of course, the wizarding continent isn''t as terrifying as you think. It has its own rules, governed by wizard academies with unimaginable power."


    Silently moving with the group, Nidhogg finally raised his head after a long silence, his gaze resolute.


    If fear made him retreat, he might return to a comfortable life in Bissel City but would also lose the only chance to truly see this wondrous world!


    Moreover, recalling the viscount''s butler''s face or how he and Old Nero were bullied by knights...


    Now that he was a wizard apprentice, even the esteemed mayor treated him with respect¡ªthat was the difference...


    Seeing Nidhogg''s resolve, Nina sneered.


    "Hmph, fortunately, you made the right choice. I¡¯d bet that if you dared tell Master Arnovoz you wanted to quit, he¡¯d deal with you on the spot. Look, like over there."


    Trailing behind the group, both Nidhogg and Nina glanced where she pointed, leaving him utterly shocked.


    Ahead, the bodies of seven or eight ragged bandits lay sprawled out, terror etched in their eyes. The wizard acted so swiftly that Nidhogg hadn''t realized the group was under attack before most of the attackers were dead.


    Boom!


    The red-eyed frog, seven or eight meters tall, fell from the sky, landing on the last fleeing bandit.


    With a sickening crunch, the bandit was reduced to a bloody pulp. Yorkris, consulting the wizard beside Arnovoz, was utterly stunned, his legs trembling.


    Nidhogg felt his own legs turn to jelly, knowing his face must be ashen¡ªlittle better than Yorkris.


    Nina, though pale, maintained her composure.


    Gurgle, gurgle...


    The frog shrank back down, hopping onto Arnovoz¡¯s hand, as the wizard continued leading them as if nothing had happened.


    An hourglass later, Nidhogg stood respectfully beside the wizard, ready to ask his question.


    "The principles behind a wizard¡¯s magical power? Hmm, that¡¯s a good question."


    Arnovoz surprisingly praised Nidhogg, adding, "Very good!"


    Nidhogg looked at the wizard in surprise.


    "I have mentored many wizard apprentices, more than 90% ask me to teach them killing spells, ignoring the essence of wizardry. The remaining few ask disorganized and aimless questions. None have ever asked such an insightful question."


    Insightful question? What insight?


    Nidhogg didn''t quite understand.


    Arnovoz suddenly tossed him a book.


    "To answer your question with words of a great wizard: give me endless knowledge, and I shall move the infinite worlds, using myself as a fulcrum. For a wizard, true power lies in the knowledge they possess and their own magic. But ultimately, you will find that all of a wizard''s power sources from the knowledge they hold."


    Arnovoz pointed at the book in Nidhogg''s hands, "This ''Guide to Meditation'' is my gift to you, containing some of my insights."


    Nidhogg stared blankly at the "Guide to Meditation," disbelief in his eyes.


    "Using one''s own magic as a fulcrum and infinite knowledge as a lever to move the infinite worlds? If both personal magic and acquired knowledge are foundational to a wizard''s power, why does Arnovoz claim that knowledge is the ultimate source of wizardry?"


    One question after another left Nidhogg feeling bewildered.


    However, seeing Arnovoz already walking away, having answered one question per person, Nidhogg dared not press further.


    What Nidhogg didn''t realize was that these questions, if answered, would form the knowledge of the wizarding world.

 Chapter 6: Harbor

    Half a month later, Nidhogg and his group finally reached the renowned Zeralto Harbor.


    The group had gained another wizard apprentice named Binhansen, chosen by Wizard Arnovoz for his potential from thousands tested in the past two cities.


    Unfortunately, Binhansen turned out to be a chatterbox, and Nidhogg found himself stuck listening to him.


    The reason was simple.


    During the apprentice aptitude test in Tambrossen City, Binhansen was declared by Wizard Arnovoz to have the potential to be a wizard apprentice in front of a packed audience. Overjoyed, he caused quite the uproar, shouting and disrupting the solemn atmosphere to the point that he didn''t even hear the wizard''s call for silence.


    With no other choice, Nidhogg, who was closest to him, managed to calm him down and had him stand by his side.


    That simple action had cost Nidhogg dearly over the past few days, as Binhansen incessantly talked to him, making Nidhogg wonder if he might end up with burst eardrums.


    "Psst, let me tell you a secret, but don¡¯t tell anyone else: Sherry has a birthmark the size of a bowl on her butt. I saw it when I was on her roof watching her bathe. Haha. I''ve only told John, Aaron... you''re the twenty-seventh, so keep it to yourself."


    Binhansen''s voice tortured Nidhogg constantly.


    Since Binhansen joined the group seven days ago, Nidhogg had heard hundreds of such "secrets," and Binhansen spoke loudly enough for the whole group to hear, leaving Nidhogg with no real secrets to keep.


    Moreover, Nidhogg wasn''t familiar with any of the people featured in Binhansen¡¯s stories, and thus had no interest in them.


    Nidhogg asked casually, "Who¡¯s Sherry?"


    Binhansen looked at him in shock. "You don''t know who Sherry is? She''s Badara''s sweetheart I told you about the day before yesterday!"


    Nidhogg was speechless, wanting to ask who Badara was but fearing it would only lead to more trouble. He pretended to understand and nodded knowingly.


    Nidhogg figured another question might lead to his demise, given how his head already buzzed from all the chatter.


    Zeralto Harbor was one of the four major ports on East Mountain Lake Island, bustling with activity. Hundreds of ships were docked, including some massive ocean-going vessels over a hundred meters long.


    "Wow, so this is Zeralto Harbor? It¡¯s my first time here," Nina exclaimed joyfully.


    The half-month journey had taken Nina''s mind off the unpleasant thoughts of heading to the wizarding continent, and the sight of the numerous ships on the sea brought her some delight.


    Nina was tall and slender, standing about 1.75 meters, which was nearly the same height as Nidhogg.


    At that moment, Nina spread her arms wide toward the sea with her eyes closed. A belt at her waist accentuated her graceful and alluring figure, leaving the boys momentarily mesmerized, and Nidhogg even heard Wade gulp.


    Even Nidhogg felt his heart skip a beat.


    Suddenly, a voice shattered the serene beauty of the moment, causing Nidhogg, Wade, and Giron to silently curse.


    "Ah... Nina, I''ve finally realized you''re the goddess of love I''ve been waiting for, the guiding light of my life, the ultimate destiny of my fate. Your beauty captivates me beyond words. I''m willing to protect you for a lifetime, to die for you. Ah... please save me from this sea of suffering."


    Everyone turned to see Binhansen gazing at Nina with deep affection.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    His display was embarrassing, to say the least...


    Nidhogg couldn''t help but rub his forehead. Was this guy crazy?


    Who did he think Nina was to dare provoke her!?


    Even the others couldn''t help but await the spectacle, while the shy Yorkliana covered her mouth in shock, seemingly bewildered by this legendary "public confession."


    Sure enough, Nina turned around in surprise, only for her expression to darken as she stared daggers at Binhansen.


    He had been sharing those secrets with Nidhogg for days...


    "Hmph, hmph... to save you? Sure!"


    Nina muttered something under her breath and pointed at the enamored Binhansen. A vine sprang from the ground at his feet, wrapping around him seven or eight times until he was trussed up like a big dumpling, completely immobilized.


    "Magic!" the other apprentices exclaimed in surprise, unable to believe that Nina had already mastered a spell.


    "Mmph, mmph..."


    Bound by the vine and wanting to speak, Binhansen could only manage muffled sounds with his mouth covered.


    Many at the port watched in astonishment as the vine appeared and ensnared a person, pointing and whispering.


    Nina felt secretly proud.


    She owned two magical artifacts, both procured at great cost by her father. The spell she just cast was activated by channeling her magic through her enchanted earring.


    Nidhogg and the others had never encountered magical artifacts or had any real knowledge of wizardry, so Nina''s use of a spell had truly startled them.


    Through reading the "Guide to Meditation," Nidhogg learned that to cast any spell, the basic requirement was magic power, determined by one''s mental strength.


    Though Nidhogg had been trying to meditate and condense magic power, he had yet to succeed, making Nina''s ability to cast spells quite impressive.


    But it was understandable; Nina wasn¡¯t a commoner. With her family¡¯s guidance, she had likely been exposed to some wizard knowledge long before, evidenced by her possession of the "Guide to Nasal Adaptation and Scent Atlas."


    After a moment, Nina withdrew the spell, and the vine vanished.


    The group continued to travel with Arnovoz. Just then, a team of thirteen knights approached swiftly to greet the wizard.


    "Welcome back to Zeralto Port, Master Wizard. The Duke has already prepared a banquet," the lead knight said respectfully to Arnovoz, sitting astride his warhorse.


    "Mm," Arnovoz replied indifferently, leading the seven apprentices along with the knights, unconcerned with the murmuring from the port¡¯s civilians and merchants.


    The banquet was grand, but after traveling through several cities, such lavish dinners had become routine, allowing everyone to grow accustomed. Even Nidhogg had picked up some noble manners, mingling with the local young nobles attending the banquet.


    This Duke was evidently more distinguished than the marquises of previous cities and seemed familiar with Arnovoz.


    The Duke casually ate thin slices of rare beef with blood droplets, dipped in caviar and mustard, savoring each bite.


    Arnovoz, on the other hand, appeared to lack appetite, stirring a broth with an ornate metal spoon, causing colorful mushrooms to float to the surface.


    "What''s troubling you?" the Duke jokingly asked, noticing Arnovoz¡¯s distraction.


    Arnovoz shook his head, sighing. "Things are getting more chaotic over there, with rumors of wizards disappearing. Perhaps you were right back then; no matter how chaotic it gets there, it won¡¯t reach here."


    The Duke scoffed, "How can you compare me with you? I have no hope of advancement, so I¡¯m here to enjoy leisure. You, on the other hand, still have hope of reaching higher levels."


    With that, the Duke popped another slice of beef into his mouth.


    "Seeing these young ones so excited reminds me of myself. I wonder how many decades from now will still follow the path of wizardry. If by chance one advances to a wizard a century later, I wonder if they''ll return to visit."


    Arnovoz glanced at the seven apprentices, eating and socializing with local young nobles, and shook his head.


    "What''s there to see on East Coral Island? Right, which wizard will escort these kids?"


    "Dylla," the Duke answered indifferently.


    "That guy, huh? Well, these kids might have it easier for the next two months. After all, at Lilith Cottage, our benefits for wizard apprentices are decent compared to other academies; the competition isn¡¯t as fierce."


    Arnovoz continued, "I plan to visit the Underworld. Word is, a new world fissure has been found there..."


    After the banquet, Nidhogg was led by the Duke¡¯s servants to a quiet manor.


    All seven apprentices received the same treatment, as they would need to wait for a full seven days at the port.


    After seven days, a special ocean liner from Lilith Cottage Wizard Academy would arrive to take everyone to the academy.


    Opening the window, Nidhogg let in the slightly fishy sea breeze. Just 300 meters from the manor was the ocean, with a steep cliff dropping seventy or eighty meters below.


    "Sigh, the wizard continent..." Nidhogg sighed. The more he learned from Nina about the wizard continent, the more anxious he felt. Nina had made it sound like a terrifying slaughterhouse overrun by wizards, explaining her reluctance to go.


    Shaking his head, he closed the window against the humid night air.


    He then turned to the table in the room and lit all the candles before taking out the "Guide to Meditation," diving once more into its study.


    In recent days, Nidhogg had begun to grasp the technique for converting mental strength into magic power. Perhaps he should take advantage of these quiet seven days to study further.

 Chapter 7: The Dark Well

    "Channeling mental power to stimulate one''s own magic?" Nidhogg murmured to himself.


    "Magic is a non-attribute energy that can be directed and controlled by a wizard, a special energy... So, magic itself doesn''t have any combat strength?"


    It was the fifth day for Nidhogg and his group at Zeralto Harbor, and just that morning, Nidhogg had successfully activated his magic using the "Guide to Meditation."


    This success kept Nidhogg excited all day long.


    However, he soon faced another problem: if a wizard apprentice doesn''t understand magic knowledge, possessing magic power is useless.


    A wizard''s magic is a wondrous energy with unlimited plasticity, capable of directing any known energy.


    Yet, by its nature, magic is a gentle and harmless energy, making it difficult to directly use in combat or to cause destruction.


    "Knowledge... How can I gain knowledge?"


    This question puzzled Nidhogg, making him tug at his hair in frustration as he lay over the table.


    After Nina had cast a spell, Nidhogg and the other wizard apprentices were indeed motivated, filled with a desire for wondrous wizardry.


    What is a wizard apprentice without mastery of spells?


    "Nidhogg, Nidhogg!"


    A loud voice called from the manor''s courtyard, and it didn¡¯t take a glance to know it was Binhansen.


    Nidhogg felt a headache coming on; he''d never encountered someone with such a penchant for talking before. It was to the point where just hearing him talk made Nidhogg''s head hurt.


    However, since he was already troubled about learning magic, he figured he might as well see what Binhansen wanted this late.


    "I''m coming."


    Nidhogg put away the "Guide to Magic," extinguished the candle, and stepped out.


    "What is it?"


    Nidhogg straightened his clothes and asked in surprise.


    In the cities he¡¯d passed through over the recent days, Nidhogg had managed to acquire some nice things and had now bought two sets of fine-fitting clothes for himself.


    Clothes make the man. His golden curls hung freely behind him, a deep and brooding look between his brows. Coupled with a hint of wildness from his days among beggars, he had a unique charm that even Nina and Wade in their group no longer shied away from.


    "Hehe, have you heard of Zeralto''s Dark Well?" Binhansen asked mysteriously.


    "Hmm? Dark Well? What''s that?"


    Nidhogg hadn''t left the manor much in recent days, focusing entirely on studying the "Guide to Meditation," which is why he had managed to awaken his magic.


    "Good if you haven''t heard of it. Come, let''s go. You''ll never forget it once you''ve been there."


    Binhansen grabbed Nidhogg and rushed outside as if worried he might escape.


    Nidhogg''s designated manor was in a relatively quiet area of Zeralto Harbor, surrounded by a dozen or so scattered manors. Owning a manor here meant being either a wealthy merchant or a noble, and the area was peaceful.


    Nidhogg found it odd that Binhansen, being the son of a baron, should have seen much of the world, yet something about this had him so secretive.


    After passing through a bustling market, it had to be said that Zeralto Harbor''s prosperity far surpassed Bissel City.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    The shouting of vendors was ceaseless, lights were bright, and people moved about even at night. There were many overseas trading goods, and the attire of the girls was much more open.


    Unlike Bissel City, where the streets were empty at night, save for the large banquets held among nobility.


    Panting, Binhansen led Nidhogg to a large estate filled with dense trees. It was much larger than Nidhogg''s assigned manor, with groups of young people often coming out, looking surprised and delighted.


    Binhansen took Nidhogg to a small, mysterious house. Moonlight filtered through the giant trees, casting shadows that swayed with the breeze, creating a rather oppressive atmosphere inside.


    After Binhansen handed over twenty gold coins, a wrinkled old woman inside shakily gave him two transparent stones, her cloudy eyes glancing at them, revealing uneven yellow teeth.


    "Enjoy," she said.


    Nidhogg was still confused as Binhansen handed him one of the stones with a mischievous smile, "You see those wells over there? Those are the Dark Wells. Just throw this Dark Stone into one, and you can ''meet'' beings from other worlds. Of course, some aren''t so lucky and encounter some strange creatures, but overall it''s quite thrilling."


    Meeting beings from other worlds?


    Intrigued by the novelty, Nidhogg was curious.


    There were about seventy or eighty Dark Wells in the courtyard, half of them occupied by people whispering to the wells, occasionally laughing quietly.


    Watching Binhansen eagerly run to one, Nidhogg tossed the stone in his hand as he walked towards a well with no one around.


    The water level was high, just seventy centimeters from the top, calm like a mirror, with the dim moonlight adding to its mystery.


    Excited and anxious, Nidhogg tossed the Dark Stone down, hearing a soft splash as ripples spread and faded, the water gradually returning to calmness.


    To his amazement, a blurry figure appeared on the surface, gazing at him curiously from "the other side."


    It was a humanoid creature with a silver-gray horn on its head. Judging by human characteristics, it appeared female and seemed to possess its own civilization, its eyes watching Nidhogg with an assessing look, not like a mindless, violent species.


    "A human from the wizard world?"


    A somewhat unfamiliar voice echoed in Nidhogg''s mind.


    Though Nidhogg heard the voice clearly, he was certain it was not a sound perceived by his ears but rather some form of direct mental communication.


    "Who are you?" Nidhogg asked.


    The creature in the well furrowed its brow at his spoken words, then Nidhogg heard its voice in his mind again.


    "Human, are you unaware that communication with beings from other worlds uses the soul? The human wizard world is powerful, but it hasn''t reached us."


    Nidhogg frowned. The soul?


    As someone without basic formal wizard training, Nidhogg had no knowledge of deep concepts like soul usage.


    The language of the human wizard world was unintelligible to some beings from other worlds, and some strange lifeforms had no auditory senses, making verbal communication ineffective across different species.


    The creature seemed to sense Nidhogg''s difficulty and communicated again.


    "Okay, human, I''ll ask questions you can nod or shake your head in response. Is that all right?"


    Nidhogg nodded.


    "Are you a human from the wizard world? Nod if you are, shake your head if you''re from a world conquered by the wizard world."


    Nidhogg was startled. The wizard world conquering other worlds?


    Though he didn''t know about these matters, he firmly believed himself to be a native of the wizard world¡ªa basic fact he understood¡ªso he nodded.


    "Then, are you a wizard? If you are, what level are you?"


    Nidhogg shook his head emphatically.


    What a joke. He couldn''t even perform actual spells; he wasn''t even a proper wizard apprentice, much less a wizard.


    He sensed the creature''s disappointment.


    "Ah, just an ordinary human? I finally managed to exchange for the coordinates of the wizard world, only to find such a weak human."


    The starling shook its head.


    "All right, according to the principle of equal exchange between worlds, you may ask me two questions. But since you can''t communicate through soul, I''ll assume you want to ask the same questions. I am a Starlight from the world of Star Realm, also known as the Star Tribe, a fourth-level Star Spirit, with an energy level equivalent to a second to third-level wizard in your world."


    With that, the being dispersed entirely from the water''s surface, seemingly uninterested in spending time on someone as weak as Nidhogg.


    Nidhogg awkwardly scratched his nose and glanced over at Binhansen.


    Binhansen, full of excitement, was bent over a well, his head nearly in it.


    Moments later, Nidhogg and Binhansen joined the throng of whispering youths heading off. Binhansen was excited, "The snow spirit I met was surprised to see a human and asked if I was a wizard. Haha, I told her on the spot that I was a formal wizard!"


    "They could understand you?"


    Nidhogg looked at Binhansen in surprise, overlooking his "dishonest" answer to the creature.


    "Uh... what do you mean? Did your being not understand you?"


    Binhansen looked at Nidhogg with equal surprise.


    Back at the manor, Nidhogg revisited the encounter with the creature from the Dark Well in his mind. He had already learned that there were countless worlds beyond his own wizarding world, each with its own unique beings.


    If two beings from different worlds happened to meet in reality, they were often not friendly. This experience of communicating with a being from another world was fascinating and significant to Nidhogg.


    As for the strange entities that appeared during his wizard aptitude test, could they be from other worlds too?


    What kind of talent was this?


    Nidhogg was filled with endless questions.

 Chapter 8: Conflict

    The docks of Zeralto were crowded with cheering people.


    Standing at the edge of the ship¡¯s deck, Nidhogg and his group waved excitedly to the crowd below, bidding farewell, though Nina alone appeared downcast, her brows occasionally furrowed with a hint of sorrow. This departure might mean she would never have the chance to return in her lifetime...


    On the dock, the Duke of Zeralto, Arnovoz, and Dira stood together.


    Dira, the wizard responsible for escorting the children with wizard apprentice potential, looked different from the mysterious Arnovoz beside him, as though constantly shrouded by a thin mist.


    Dira''s wide gray wizard robes revealed a face that was slightly pallid in the sunlight, with a black eyepatch over his right eye, giving him the appearance of a one-eyed man.


    "Heh, I didn¡¯t expect you to be the one picking up these little ones. How¡¯s the situation on the other islands?"


    After exchanging wizard etiquette with Dira, Arnovoz asked.


    Gurgle, gurgle...


    The red-eyed frog on Arnovoz''s hand puffed its white belly and croaked a few times.


    Dira had a habit of floating slightly above the ground while conversing with others, to conceal his short stature.


    Smiling at the red-eyed frog, Dira produced a magic stone, which the frog''s tongue swiftly grabbed and made disappear, prompting Dira to smile at Arnovoz.


    "Not bad. There are more qualified wizard apprentices this year compared to previous years. It looks like I can make a good profit this time. Hahaha."


    Dira jested.


    "Yes, indeed more than in previous years..."


    Arnovoz sighed.


    Dira was not overly concerned with this issue and instead turned his attention to the Duke of Zeralto.


    "You old fox, every time I come here, you create such a big scene. Be careful those kids don¡¯t get too proud and lose their lives."


    The fuss Dira referred to was naturally the cheering crowd on the dock.


    Although part of it was arranged by the Duke of Zeralto, the opportunity to see the legendary wizards up close was an irresistible draw for the inhabitants of the remote East Coral Island.


    The Duke rotated the ruby ring on his right thumb with his left hand, his smooth face gently swaying.


    "Sigh... I''d rather they be proud than forget this place. If, decades later, one of them becomes a full-fledged wizard, maybe they''ll come back to visit."


    Dira chuckled softly, glancing at the wizard apprentices on the deck bidding farewell to the jubilant crowd, dismissively saying, "In past years, it''s been considered good if just a few from a ship became full wizards. These kids have little chance."


    Clearly, Dira did not have high hopes for Nidhogg and the others, knowing from experience how difficult it was to become a full-fledged wizard.


    Just then, Dira seemed to recall something and excitedly added, "By the way, there are two kids on board with mental strength above fifteen and innate visible talent. Even I am tempted to take them as disciples, if only they didn¡¯t have some backing over there..."


    On hearing Dira''s account, the Duke showed a somewhat surprised expression.


    Meanwhile, Arnovoz shook his head and noted, "For a wizard, knowledge is the foundation of everything."


    Dira shrugged. "Good talent doesn''t conflict with acquiring knowledge."


    The three of them talked for over half an hour, and realizing the crew had almost finished loading supplies, Dira knew it was time to set sail.


    Although wizards had normal human emotions, they had learned to control their base desires over long years, giving them a good degree of self-control, and thus they rarely showed much emotion.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    "Well then, farewell."


    Dira performed the farewell gesture of the wizards to the two.


    "Hmm, if my trip to the underworld goes smoothly, I''ll return to the academy in twenty years to see if those old folks have managed to teach some decent students for the Sanctum Qualification Battle."


    Arnovoz joked.


    Moments later, as the massive ship carrying the wizard apprentices slowly departed, the crowd on the dock began to disperse, though their conversations remained focused on the topic of wizards.


    It was clear that ordinary people were very curious and in awe of these mysterious wizards.


    Meanwhile, on the deck of the ship, amid the hustle and bustle of the sailors, the seven wizard apprentices soon realized during Dira''s reprimand that they were not the only apprentices on board...


    "First rule for you little ones: while competition is an unchanging rule in the wizarding world, at Lilith Cottage Wizard Academy, it is forbidden to kill each other. So anyone who dares cause a death on this ship will be dried on the mast for seven days before being fed to the sharks."


    Dira glared menacingly at them, leaving no doubt of his resolve.


    "Secondly, don''t disturb me unless there''s a death."


    Clearly uninterested in speaking much with these kids who weren''t even formal wizard apprentices, Dira headed toward the best cabin on the deck, calling out as he went.


    "Baron, assign these kids their room numbers and make sure they don''t wreck the ship."


    "Got it, master."


    A dark-skinned, tall figure on the deck shouted back.


    After Dira entered his room, this man named Baron approached.


    Nidhogg and the others noticed that although Baron was shirtless and appeared not to have much bulk, his sharply defined muscles were quite intimidating, and it was clear that he was not someone to mess with.


    "I''m a legendary knight. Although Master tells me not to bother him unless there are deaths, you can come to me if something extraordinary happens on the ship. Hmm, like if some little ones enjoy bothering the pretty girls..."


    Baron flashed a bright smile, glancing at Nina and Yorkliana.


    Nidhogg was shocked that a legendary knight would become the servant of a wizard.


    In all of Bissel City, there hadn¡¯t been a single legendary knight born, and they were said to be powerful enough to roam the wizarding world.


    Nina gave a cold snort.


    "If anyone dares bother me, I''ll throw them overboard."


    A burst of hostility filled the air, instantly petrifying one of the seven apprentices, drenched in cold sweat.


    Yorkliana blushed, unsure of what to do, while Yorkris, her brother, mimicked Nina with a snort, saying, "Anyone who touches my sister will have to deal with me first."


    He cracked his knuckles loudly.


    Among the seven, Yorkris was the most robust, standing at 1.8 meters with a solid build that could easily handle two opponents.


    Next in strength were Nidhogg and Giron, while Wade and Binhansen, being nobles, had never done much manual labor and lacked combat prowess.


    Baron seemed accustomed to such situations and wasted no time, reaching into a wooden box on the deck to pull out seven numbered tags, tossing them to the group.


    "These are your room numbers."


    With that, Baron left them to their own devices.


    The apprentices'' quarters were below deck, divided into five levels.


    Quickly, they discovered that the lower the level, the worse the conditions, with the environment in the lowest level being particularly harsh, having to share with the sailors, much to their displeasure.


    Clearly, the sudden change from luxury was hard to adjust to.


    Nina looked the most displeased, holding a tag for the lowest level. Her delicate face was nearly frozen with displeasure.


    Nidhogg didn''t mind, having drawn a third-level tag, which was neither great nor bad, and he was used to a simple life.


    Yorkris and Yorkliana were the happiest, having both drawn fifth-level rooms, a testament to their luck.


    With mixed emotions, the seven set off to find their rooms. Because Yorkris and Yorkliana were on the top level, they arrived first. As the others prepared to leave to find their own rooms, Yorkris''s shout echoed in the ship, drawing the attention of other wizard apprentices on the fifth level.


    "This is my sister''s assigned room, you need to leave!"


    Yorkris demanded coldly of a man occupying his sister''s room. Yorkliana clung to her brother''s sleeve, terrified, whispering, "Brother, maybe we should just let him have it. I''m scared."


    The man confronting Yorkris was equally large, with a smug attitude.


    Hearing Yorkliana''s words, he became even more arrogant, sneering, "Just because you say so, who do you think you are? Room tags mean nothing; first come, first served. Haha... besides, your sister can always share with me."


    He laughed, leering at Yorkliana, provoking Yorkris.


    "You''re asking for it!"


    Yorkris, ready to fight, swung a punch at the man.


    Soon, Yorkris and the man were brawling.


    Unable to stand by, Nidhogg and Binhansen intervened. Although they didn''t see eye to eye with Yorkris and Giron''s arrogance, they felt compelled to step in, having shared the journey.


    Wade, on the other hand, was too stunned by the brawl to move.


    Giron, meanwhile, was unbothered, muttering, "Not my problem," as he walked away without a backward glance.


    "You coward, running away now! Just wait until I see you next time!" Wade shouted at Giron''s back but made no move himself.


    Nidhogg and Binhansen finally managed to separate Yorkris and the man. Yorkris, it turned out, was exceptionally strong, having already left the other''s eye swollen.


    Nidhogg was surprised; perhaps Yorkris had been trained?


    "Fine, call someone, get backup, go ahead. I can call backup too! Boss, Rat, stop watching and help me out!"


    The man, eye swollen, shouted into the ship, glaring at Yorkris with a murderous look. Yorkris was unfazed, laughing scornfully, "Go ahead, call them. I''ll take all three of you!"


    As the ship''s interior grew noisy, Nidhogg glanced back, chilled as he realized, "This is bad, Yorkris is in trouble..."

 Chapter 9: Rules

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    Yorkliana cried out in alarm, her face pale as she hurried to Yorkris''s side, helping him stand.


    Everyone turned to see a small giant, standing a full two meters tall, occupying the spot where Yorkris had been moments before. The man''s intimidating height provoked an indescribable pressure.


    His somewhat deformed face showed a delayed reaction, looking puzzled as he spoke in a muffled voice, "What? So weak..."


    "Oh my..."


    Nidhogg''s eyes widened, shocked at this sudden appearance of the "monster," and he couldn''t help but think, "Are you sure you''re going to wizard academy? Not knight academy or a human freak show? Did you grow up on giant meat?"


    Even Yorkris, who had been pushed away, was too stunned by the sight of this humanoid monster to speak, utterly shocked.


    "Haha, Andrew, not everyone has your strength," the guy who had faced off against Yorkris boasted, rubbing his swollen eye and glaring at Yorkris with malice.


    "This isn''t over!"


    At this point, a man about 1.6 meters tall squeezed through the crowd and ran to the side of the humanoid monster named Andrew, his triangle eyes darting around as he grinned lasciviously.


    "Not over? Haha, you¡¯re right. That guy''s sister is quite something. Baiyi, if you¡¯re still angry, why don¡¯t you just..."


    "Screw you!"


    Yorkris roared, charging at the sleazy man, who was clearly the "Rat" Baiyi had called.


    Bang!


    Yorkris was again sent flying by Andrew, the humanoid monster. He clutched his stomach, his face pale, body trembling, barely able to stand.


    The two were clearly on different levels of combat power. Yorkris was no match for the humanoid monster.


    "No fun, the wizard master said no killing," the humanoid monster lamented, cracking his knuckles, and added, "Weaklings like you want territory. Only the strong deserve to have their own territory."


    Though the humanoid monster spoke slowly, his mind was clear.


    Rat chimed in mockingly, "Today, the three of us brothers will teach you the rules of the wizarding continent¡ªa lesson that might makes right, forever."


    Baiyi looked extremely pleased, as if he himself had punched Yorkris senseless.


    "No way, this can''t stand. I''ve never been humiliated like this, and today I''m going to make her pay!" Baiyi, his eye swollen, angrily approached Yorkliana, his gaze as fiery as a bull.


    Yorkliana, terrified, clung to her brother, trembling. The other onlookers in the cabin wore expressions of detached interest, waiting for the show to unfold.


    On the first day at sea, Nidhogg and the others received a harsh lesson in the rules of the wizarding continent, leaving them all looking grim.


    "If you dare bully her, I''ll tell Baron on deck!" At the crucial moment, it was Wade, who had been too scared to step forward, who voiced the threat.


    However, at Baiyi¡¯s furious glare, Wade wilted instantly, waving his hands, "Uh... I was just kidding."


    Bang!


    Baiyi knocked Wade down with a punch, sneering as cheers erupted in the cabin: "Way to go! Oh yeah..."


    "Do it again..."


    Nidhogg and his companions stood in the passageway of the cabin, anxiously watching as one by one, heads emerged from cabin rooms, cheering at the unfolding drama. They couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of isolation.


    Was this really the rule of the wizarding world?


    Raw power reigned supreme, cold and unforgiving.


    Just when despair began to set in, a voice tinged with delight emerged from behind Nidhogg.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    "Haha, the strong claim territory? Why didn¡¯t anyone tell me this rule sooner? Great, big guy, I want your room. You can have this bottom deck room tag."


    With those words, a brass tag flew through the air, landing on Andrew''s bald head before clattering to the floor.


    Andrew and Rat both froze in shock, disbelief written across their faces.


    Was she crazy? Looking for death?


    Everyone turned to the source of the voice¡ªit was Nina!


    Nidhogg and his companions were suddenly reminded of something, breaking into delighted smiles. How could they have forgotten about her?


    With Nina stepping in, possessing the power of a spell, taking down a brute like Andrew wouldn''t be an issue!


    Sure enough, Nina muttered a spell under her breath, pointed at Andrew, and a massive vine swiftly wrapped around him seven or eight times, knocking him off balance and to the ground with a ''thud,'' where he let out muffled grunts.


    "Bastard, die!"


    Seizing the moment of Baiyi''s shock, Yorkris delivered a punch to his other eye, followed by a knee to the gut, flooring him.


    "Ah... sirs and madams, I was forced, have mercy!" Rat, seeing the situation turn south, pleaded with a pale face and anxious eyes, even breaking into a cold sweat.


    He hadn¡¯t expected one among them to have already mastered magic, binding Andrew and rendering him powerless.


    Nidhogg sneered, "Forced my foot, go to hell!"


    Using the street-fighting skills he''d picked up in his youth, Nidhogg dispatched him with a single punch.


    Silence fell over the cabin. Deathly silent.


    All eyes were on Nina. These apprentices, from the remote islands of East Coral, had never seen anything like it. Unaware that Nina had used a magical artifact to cast her spell, they were awed and intimidated by what they thought was her own mastery of magic.


    After all, it was the mysterious, transcendent power of magic!


    "Haha, awesome, now I can stay in the top deck cabin, no need to squeeze in with those sailors. Thanks, big guy." Nina happily entered her new room, closing the wooden door with a ''thud.''


    The spectators, sensing the show was over, retreated into their rooms, losing interest.


    Nidhogg glanced at the three now-powerless fellows, exchanged a brief word with Yorkris and Yorkliana, "All done here, so I''ll be off."


    "Thanks, I... uh..." Yorkris struggled to find the words, recalling his behavior over the past days with embarrassment and shame. He nodded awkwardly, unable to meet Nidhogg''s eye.


    Meanwhile, Yorkliana, understanding her brother¡¯s nature, looked with teary gratitude at Nidhogg and the others.


    "Thank you, we''ll never forget, and thank you, Brother Wade."


    She turned to thank Wade, who was equally embarrassed, with a black eye, merely nodding in awkward acknowledgement before leaving.


    Binhansen, on the other hand, burst into laughter, "The great people of Tambrossen can''t stand seeing their companions bullied. For them, we''ll brave any danger. It''s just a two-meter giant, even an Abyssal Demon..."


    Nidhogg rolled his eyes, striding off.


    "Hey hey, Nidhogg, wait up! That punch was the smoothest I''ve ever seen; so stylish! With the way you said ''go to hell,'' I bet Sherry would dump her boyfriend for you..."


    Binhansen continued to chatter in Nidhogg''s ear.


    Later, Nidhogg opened his room, a musty smell greeting him as he waved it away with a wrinkle of his nose.


    Fortunately, no one had taken his room, sparing him the need to fight for it.


    After all, had there been someone willing to take even a third-level cabin, Nidhogg was confident he could easily handle it.


    The room was small, just over ten square meters, with only a bed, a table, and a chair.


    At least the bed had bedding, and there was a candle on the table.


    "Sigh..."


    Nidhogg sighed. Despite the poor environment in the cabin, he had to make do for now.


    Lighting the candle and closing the door, he took out the "Guide to Meditation" and the "Guide to Nasal Adaptation and Scent Atlas."


    Regarding the "Guide to Meditation," although Nidhogg had, after more than half a month of effort, successfully awakened magic within himself, his understanding suggested his magic level hovered between a level 2 and level 3, considered an initial awakening state.


    According to the "Guide to Meditation," a wizard''s normal magic level should be a range around their mental strength multiplied by ten.


    So with Nidhogg''s mental strength measured at twelve, his peak magic level should be around 120.


    "Too bad there''s no crystal ball, I can''t accurately assess my condition."


    Nidhogg regretted this, knowing crystal balls were the most common magical tools for wizards, with many functions, including assessing one''s state.


    The "Guide to Nasal Adaptation and Scent Atlas" contained knowledge far more advanced than the "Guide to Meditation," filled with professional wizard terms that Nidhogg, with no formal wizard training, couldn¡¯t decipher.


    But this magical book was essentially divided into two sections.


    The first was on nasal adaptation, which Nidhogg understood to be a spell for changing one''s nose, named "Nasal Adaptation."


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 Chapter 10: The Magic Stone

    It was dusk, and the giant ship of Lilith Cottage Wizard Academy sailed upon the waves stirred by the sea breeze.


    On the deck, two to three hundred wizard apprentices were shouting excitedly, pointing at an approaching ocean liner three hundred meters away.


    "Look, real pirates! It''s my first time seeing pirates."


    "Aren''t the pirates too timid? Why aren''t they rushing over?"


    The wizard apprentices chatted nonchalantly, and even the sailors appeared calm.


    It was no wonder there was no fear of these legendary pirates. As the ocean liner of Lilith Cottage Wizard Academy, even the fifty-plus sailors were all standard knights. Add to that the sailor leader and Dira''s servant, Baron, both possessing the strength of legendary knights.


    With such defenses, the average pirate ship stood no chance against this wizard academy''s vessel.


    Even if larger pirate ships attempted to plunder, the presence of Wizard Dira would dissuade them¡ªno pirate would dare board.


    Nidhogg gazed toward the distant pirate ship.


    That pirate ship was somewhat smaller, about seventy to eighty meters long, yet its deck, masts, and railings were swarming with people¡ªeasily numbering in the hundreds.


    These pirates were all men, clad in ragged clothing, some missing limbs, eyes, and wielding daggers, bows, and grappling hooks as they shouted wildly, bursting with energy.


    As for the absence of women on the pirate ship?


    Pirates believed that women would bring misfortune to their ship, attracting powerful sea monsters to capsize it and luring evil sea sirens to devour them, leaving only bones.


    All pirates were firm believers in this superstition.


    However, Nidhogg noticed that the pirate ship didn''t immediately approach the wizard ship. The reason was simple: the pirate captain had spotted something unusual through his spyglass.


    The ship... was filled with cheering, jubilant children?


    Suddenly, this seasoned pirate captain seemed to realize something, his face changing drastically, a layer of cold sweat forming on his brow, and his remaining eye betraying his deep fear. He shouted to the helmsman beside him, "Turn around, quick, turn the ship around!"


    The pirate captain''s abrupt command startled those around him, even sending his shoulder-sitting monkey leaping to the railing with a screech.


    As for the helmsman, he was already petrified, stammering, "Turn around?"


    Clearly, the pirate captain held significant authority.


    A metal hook shoved the helmsman aside as the captain, without a word of explanation, whirled the wheel with his remaining arm, steering the pirate ship and its hundreds of bewildered crew away at breakneck speed.


    On the other side.


    The door to the exclusive chamber of Wizard Dira on the Lilith Cottage ship suddenly opened, and two children, a boy and a girl, emerged curiously.


    The sight of two children, roughly the same age as the apprentices, stepping out of the wizard''s room left everyone on deck incredulous.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    The apprentices began to buzz with speculation.


    "Who are they to not stay in the cabins? I''m sick of the mustiness and mushroom soup!"


    "Who knows... maybe they''re the wizard''s offspring?"


    "Don''t make wild guesses. Those of us on deck heard Wizard Dira say those two are rare geniuses of the wizard academy, the likes of which come around only once a century..."


    The crowd murmured, pointing at the two children who seemed utterly unconcerned, their arrogance reminiscent of Yorkris back in Bissel City¡ªutterly irritating.


    The girl wore a white dress, golden hair cascading down, her amber-blue eyes appearing innocent and pure, with a charming smile like a little princess.


    Yet, the disdainful glint in her eyes as she glanced over the crowd revealed she wasn''t as innocent as she appeared.


    The boy, meanwhile, was busy playing with a white mouse, ignoring everyone on the deck, as if the mouse were more significant than anyone present.


    If a word had to describe them, it would be disdain.


    "Brother Yunli, look, those pirates ran away. How boring."


    The girl pouted, her golden hair blowing naturally in the sea breeze.


    The boy, toying with the mouse, didn''t even look up, scoffing, "I told you, no pirates would dare attack a wizard academy ship. You wouldn''t listen and insisted on coming out. The deck stinks; let''s go back."


    "Okay, but it''s so boring..."


    Ignoring the crowd''s angry glares, the girl and boy casually returned to the room reserved for wizards.


    On the deck, although the sailors took it in stride, the apprentices were furious, their outbursts echoing, their annoyance palpable.


    After all, who were they?


    To these children on deck, they were the elite, chosen from thousands as wizard apprentices, destined to become great wizards, proud of their status. What made those two think they were any better?


    The deck stinks...


    Then how had they endured the musty cabins?


    Many believed the pair merely had connections on the wizarding continent or knew Wizard Dira¡ªjust riding on their coattails.


    Including Nidhogg, everyone felt a surge of resentment toward them.


    But, despite the resentment, no one dared question Wizard Dira, and thus, the pirate episode came to an end.


    Three days after the pirate scare, Nidhogg was in his cabin, memorizing the "Scent Atlas" when he heard a knock on the door. He shook his head, assuming it was Binhansen again, who often dropped by unannounced.


    Yet upon opening the door, he found it was Yorkris and Yorkliana.


    Surprised, Nidhogg welcomed them in.


    Thinking for a moment, Nidhogg offered some juice he had been saving as a treat.


    The juice was preserved using noble methods, ensuring it stayed fresh for two months.


    It was evident that after the cabin brawl, Yorkris was no longer as arrogant, more composed and mature.


    While Yorkliana was still a bit shy, this time she spoke up first.


    "Brother Nidhogg, thank you for helping us. My brother and I are very grateful."


    Her voice was small, and even as a girl, she seemed embarrassed to say such humble words.


    "Uh... you don''t need to worry about it."


    Nidhogg brushed it off.


    Honestly, in that situation, despite previous displeasure with Yorkris, as fellow comrades in the same group, it was necessary to stand up, at least in Nidhogg''s view.


    Moreover, Nina played the decisive role in the end.


    "No, no, we truly are grateful, Brother Nidhogg. Really."


    Yorkliana hurriedly added, seemingly feeling her gratitude wasn''t adequately expressed. She then solemnly produced two stones from her clothes and handed them to Nidhogg.


    "This is a treasure my brother and I acquired by chance when we were younger. We later learned these are magic stones, currency among wizards. Over the years, we wasted some, and now only a few remain, so... we''re giving you these two magic stones as a token of our gratitude."


    Nidhogg was taken aback, staring at the siblings. They had wizard currency?


    These weren''t mere gold or silver coins; they were something the average person never saw. Nidhogg hadn''t heard of such things before.


    It turned out that these siblings had possessed such precious items all along, explaining Yorkris''s past arrogance. They were in possession of high-class goods.


    And Wade¡ªso he had bribed Wizard Arnovoz with a magic stone.


    ...


    Moments later, Yorkris and Yorkliana took their leave.


    During the visit, Yorkliana did most of the talking, while Yorkris remained silent, clearly affected by the earlier incident, feeling awkward around Nidhogg.


    As they were about to leave, Yorkris suddenly patted Nidhogg''s shoulder and said earnestly, "I was wrong before."


    Then he left without looking back.


    Nidhogg nodded politely, saying nothing more.


    Once the siblings departed, Nidhogg resumed his seat at the table, where two thumb-sized stones now lay¡ªthe legendary magic stones.


    Intrigued, Nidhogg picked them up to study. He knew that for a wizard apprentice, even a single magic stone was a significant treasure.

 Chapter 11: Shipwreck

    Carried by the turmoil of fate, his eyes perpetually radiated intense hatred, a hatred that had become a chilling force affecting others; anyone who ventured too close would feel an icy chill penetrating their bones.


    Therefore, he had to constantly disguise himself, only able to shed that facade in the darkness.


    Guillaume sat atop the mast, unmoved by the fierce sea winds battering him, perhaps because his heart was already more tumultuous, colder than the storm...


    Compared to Nidhogg, an orphan from the remote island city of Bisher, Guillaume''s fate was even more twisted and bizarre.


    Fifteen years ago, in a peaceful village on the Sorcerer''s Continent, a terrifying dark sorcerer descended upon this village one quiet night, slaughtering anyone who dared oppose his will.


    The dark sorcerer''s true aim was to gather his experimental materials¡ªliving humans.


    No one could comprehend a dark sorcerer''s psyche. They had strayed down a misguided path in their pursuit of magical knowledge, willing to go to any lengths for power, seeing weaker kin merely as stepping stones.


    Unbeknownst to them, magic and sorcery''s original purpose was to protect humanity from the plundering and enslavement by powerful beings from otherworldly realms!


    In a dark cage, Guillaume spent over ten years in complete darkness, witnessing, from his childhood, one family member after another being captured with irresistible force by the dark sorcerer and subjected to brutal human experiments. And later, batch after batch of new "experimental materials" were locked in the cage.


    Guillaume witnessed too many deaths¡ªsome were even excessively cruel and bizarre.


    Until one day, his fate took a turn!


    No one but himself knew why he survived the experiments repeatedly, where the chance of survival was only one in ten thousand. Not even the dark sorcerer could believe this miracle, yet Guillaume undeniably achieved it.


    And through repeated brushes with death, his eyes turned calm and icy cold, like the legendary black ice deep at the abyss.


    A few years ago, when the Demon Hunters from the Black Tower Academy slew the evil dark sorcerer and freed all the innocents held captive, Guillaume finally gained freedom after more than a decade.


    For this reason, Guillaume considered the Black Tower Academy his home.


    Meanwhile, with the joint efforts of many sorcerers at the Black Tower Academy, they discovered why Guillaume repeatedly survived the experiments. It turned out the academy had gained a true prodigy, one with a significant chance of winning the Holy Tower qualification battle.


    Soon, the Black Tower received intel about two rare innate talents emerging on distant East Coral Island. However, that was territory belonging to another sorcerer academy, Yssia¡¯s Cottage.


    Driven by ambition, the Black Tower Sorcerer Academy, a place governed by mutual competition, survival of the fittest, and natural elimination, launched a meticulous and detailed mission...


    "Goo goo..."


    A calm owl landed on Guillaume''s shoulder in the night. He seemed prepared, showing no surprise as he gazed at the owl with his dark eyes.


    "At your current speed, you should reach the target sea area by around seven tomorrow morning. Just sprinkle that thing in the ship¡¯s hold, and your task will be completed."


    The owl spoke in a low human voice.


    Guillaume replied in a deep voice, "Understood."


    As a violent sea breeze gusted, the owl wobbled as it flew into the distance, while Guillaume continued to sit calmly, his icy gaze looking into the endless darkness.


    "Guillaume? Solum?"


    ...


    These days, Nidhogg''s life revolved around two themes: studying magical books and fresh fish and mushroom soup.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Inside the cabin, it was hard to discern whether it was day or night outside, with only the spent candles providing an illusion of eternal light.


    Rubbing his eyes, sore and bloodshot, Nidhogg closed the book he had been reading for who knows how long, "On Nasal Transformation and Olfactory Mapping."


    Stretching, he murmured, "Bingham hasn''t come by in ages; I should get out for a walk."


    Perhaps from sitting too long, his bones creaked audibly as he stood, putting away the magic stone and book before leaving the cabin.


    "It''s morning?"


    Nidhogg murmured in surprise, having thought it was still night according to his sense of time.


    Boom!


    Suddenly, a deafening sound rang out, and as the five-story ship rolled violently, Nidhogg, heading for the deck, was thrown to the floor, feeling the immense ship rock drastically.


    His first reaction was that they had struck a reef!


    Before he could regain his senses, the cabin was engulfed in chaotic panic.


    "What happened? Did we hit a reef?"


    "Help! Sea monster!"


    Many sorcerer apprentices, panicked and disoriented, emerged from their cabins, trying to reach the deck to understand the situation. At that moment, a massive creature, standing two and a half meters tall, entered the deck exit.


    This giant creature had a humanoid upper body and a lower body like a snake, its entire body covered in blue scales. Holding a gleaming metal trident, it looked greedily at the dumbstruck sorcerer apprentices.


    The crowd gasped; without a doubt, this monster was beyond their capacity to handle!


    ¡°What¡¯s happening? What¡¯s happening¡­¡±


    In a room near the deck exit, a dazed sorcerer apprentice opened the door, trying to understand the commotion, only to be confronted by the massive creature.


    ¡°Oh my... am I dreaming?¡±


    The apprentice barely managed a curse before the sea monster¡¯s enormous trident pierced him, splattering intestines with the roughly made weapon and filling the cabin with the stench of blood.


    "Run! Sea demon! It''s a sea demon! The sea demon is killing!"


    The fifth-floor cabin erupted into chaos as sorcerer apprentices fled in terror, pushing and shoving, driven by the sight of their slain peer.


    Meanwhile, on the fourth floor, apprentices were caught in confusion, trying to see what was happening, causing a bottleneck that led to further chaos.


    ¡°Nidhogg, over here!¡±


    Yorkris beckoned Nidhogg, and nearby was Yorkrianna. Overjoyed, Nidhogg hurried over.


    ¡°Wait for me!¡±


    For some reason, Nina from next door also rushed over, seemingly feeling unsafe alone in her room, believing in strength in numbers.


    During this, two other panicked apprentices had also taken temporary refuge in Yorkris¡¯s room, all pushing against the wooden door.


    Everyone was in shock, and Nidhogg could clearly hear the cries and screams echoing down the corridor, suggesting there were more monsters than just one, massacring those too slow to escape.


    Yorkris brought over tables, the wooden bed, and anything else he could use to barricade the door, creating a momentary silence in the room, filled only with heavy breathing and rapid heartbeats.


    No one knew how many apprentices had fallen, but from the screams, it must have been at least twenty.


    Meanwhile, the sounds of human fighting and the unique raspy roars of the sea monsters began to echo, raising hopes that the powerful sailors were coming to the rescue.


    For the first time, the group found those rough, unclean sailors endearing.


    But despite the sailors¡¯ intervention, screams continued to fill the ship.


    Suddenly, a crashing sound followed by desperate screams came from next door, chilling everyone to the bone. It was evident that the terrifying sea monsters had broken in, unleashing a bloody massacre.


    No one in Yorkris¡¯s cabin dared make a sound, their eyes filled with despair.


    ¡°No worries, there¡¯s still hope. If Wizard Dira acts, he can definitely kill those sea monsters!¡±


    A male sorcerer apprentice who had taken refuge in Yorkris¡¯s room whispered.


    The group perked up; indeed!


    They all had immense faith in the mysterious and powerful sorcerers.


    Boom!


    Suddenly, the ship rattled again. The violent shaking alarmed everyone in Yorkris¡¯s room. Behind them, the sound of wood snapping echoed, followed by a barrage of splintering wood, reminiscent of a fierce sandstorm.


    They instinctively curled up and closed their eyes, and when they finally looked back, the room was bathed in bright sunlight.


    In shock, they turned around to see a nightmarish sight.


    A gaping hole, seven to eight meters wide, had opened in the ship¡¯s side, right at the center of Yorkris¡¯s cabin!


    Through the hole, a serpent-like dark creature was slowly crawling upward, its diameter over two meters, hinting at the terrifying size of the ¡°sea serpent.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    A female apprentice let out a gut-wrenching scream, and they looked down to see she was one of the two strangers who had taken refuge in Yorkris¡¯s room.


    The female apprentice had a wooden stick impaled through her abdomen, blood pooling around her as the stick protruded.


    With a desperate look on her face, she pleaded at the group, but all wore expressions of helplessness.


    Nidhogg too felt something amiss underfoot. Looking down, he saw his leg soaked in blood¡ªthe result of a splinter during the earlier wood wreckage striking his leg.


    Though the injury wasn¡¯t serious, it compromised Nidhogg¡¯s movement.


    ¡°No!¡±


    Yorkris, heartbroken, covered Yorkrianna¡¯s eyes, his expression crazed.


    A stick had not only scarred Yorkrianna¡¯s cheek but also pierced her eye. While not life-threatening, it was an unimaginably cruel injury for any girl.


    "Hiss..."


    Nina inhaled sharply, her face pale. Her left shoulder was bloody and ragged.


    In almost an instant of disaster, only Yorkris and the unknown male apprentice were relatively unharmed in the room.


    It seemed the noise from the room was noticed, as a metal trident suddenly thrust through the door, its bloody, sinister eyes glaring through the gap at the group.


    Everyone''s faces turned to despair...

 Chapter 12: Escape for Life

    "Roar..."


    The sea monster outside the door went into a frenzy upon seeing the group of people, relentlessly bashing against the wooden door with such force that it left everyone inside in disbelief. Through the cracks in the door, Nidhogg and the others could clearly see more sea monsters being drawn towards them from the distance, casting a shadow of despair over the group.


    In terms of combat strength, the wizard apprentices in the room could barely manage to kill a single sea monster, and that was only if Nina successfully executed her vine sorcery. Everyone pressed against the door, trying to buy time. Suddenly, the voice of a previously calm stranger among them shouted, "There¡¯s still hope!"


    Without delay, he dashed towards the gaping hole in the ship¡¯s hull. Almost instantly, everyone realized what he meant, and hope rekindled within them. They remembered the lifeboats densely hanging on both sides of the ship, secured with ropes connected to the deck''s railing. Their current location, being on the fifth level of the cabin, was only five or six meters from the deck, a distance they could climb using the ropes with their physical strength.


    The male apprentice led the charge, grabbing a rope and starting to climb. The others, snapping out of their stupor, mimicked his actions. Yorkliana, weakened by her frail health and the injury to her eye, was carried by Yorkris as they ascended. Despite his injured leg, Nidhogg''s climbing ability was unaffected due to his strength built from years of hard work, and the seven or eight meters seemed manageable to him.


    However, Nina, accustomed to a life of privilege and physically unfit due to her gender and a shoulder injury, could only cling to the rope with a worried expression, struggling to climb. The female apprentice with the wooden stick lodged in her abdomen was losing consciousness from blood loss, and the barricade they had erected with tables and beds was being pushed aside by the creatures outside.


    Yet, the sight that stunned those on the ropes came from a different direction. They witnessed three enormous sea "serpents" emerging from the depths, crawling towards the deck. The terrifying thought crossed their minds: were these enormous "serpents" part of a communal hunting group? Given the ship''s hull was over thirty meters high, the serpents'' length was unimaginable.


    Boom!


    A thunderous noise erupted from above the deck, and the temperature dropped noticeably. In horror, they saw the "serpent" climbing near them getting encased in a layer of solid ice that spread rapidly downwards.


    "Woooo..."


    As the ice spread, the ship shook violently, as if a gigantic creature was rising from the sea. With a turbulent crash, the ocean surface broke, revealing a monstrous "octopus" head that bellowed in agony, inciting towering waves around it.


    "An... giant octopus?"


    Everyone cried out in disbelief as they realized the "serpents" were merely the tentacles of an enormously large octopus. The implications were horrifying; how massive was this creature? For untraveled wizard apprentices, it seemed like a nightmare creature from legend.


    Suddenly, as the tentacle near them succumbed to the ice and slid back into the sea with a massive splash, Nidhogg felt a powerful gust of wind rock the rope, holding on with all his strength.


    "No, help!"Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    A desperate voice called as someone fell into the ocean below. It was the stranger who had climbed the highest. Falling into these vast waters was nearly certain death.


    Then, Nidhogg saw it wasn¡¯t just him; Nina had also been blown off the rope. Fortunately, she used sorcery to conjure a vine, clutching onto it to hang mid-air. But maintaining the magic required energy, and with Nina¡¯s limited power, she could only last a few minutes, leaving her in a precarious situation. Her usually vibrant face was pale, tears filled her eyes as she looked up at the group for help, though pride and fear kept her from voicing her plea outright.


    In that moment, only Yorkris and Nidhogg could help her. But, carrying his sister, Yorkris was already at his limit, leaving only Nidhogg. Seeing Nina¡¯s pitiful yet defiant look softened Nidhogg¡¯s heart. Though the young lady of the city lord¡¯s household usually held herself aloof and looked down on him due to his commoner status, she had unwittingly aided him in understanding much about the wizard world. Moreover, they were all heading to the mysterious wizard continent to study, where they might need each other''s help. With such thoughts...


    Nidhogg decided, gritting his teeth in resolve. He slid down to the lifeboat tied at the rope¡¯s end, quickly securing himself before pulling up the vine Nina had conjured. His strength from years of hardship came to aid him as he managed to pull Nina back from the brink of death.


    "Phew..."


    Breathless from his effort, Nidhogg leaned against the hanging lifeboat, while Nina stared at him, her eyes bright with tears. Unaccustomed to being so openly looked at by a beautiful girl, Nidhogg rubbed his nose awkwardly, trying to mask his embarrassment.


    Despite her haughty demeanor, which often irked him due to her disdain for commoners, Nina was indeed a rare beauty, the kind you couldn''t help but notice. This fact hadn¡¯t eluded Nidhogg and his companions back at Zeralto Port where they had quietly admired her charm.


    "Uh..."


    Just as Nidhogg was about to speak to lighten the mood, Nina suddenly lunged forward, enveloping him in a tight hug, sobbing, "I thought I was going to die; I thought you all would abandon me. I told my father not to send me to that dangerous wizard academy!"


    Feeling her warmth through her elegant form pressed against him, Nidhogg stood rigid, unsure whether to move or speak as his prepared words clogged his throat. Her tears trickled down his neck, but he dared not move.


    After a while, Nina calmed down and realized her lapse, releasing Nidhogg. With red eyes, she looked at him, and seeing his awkward, motionless state, she giggled, "What are you standing there for? Do you plan to hang on this lifeboat forever with me?"


    "Uh? Oh... no, not at all."


    Nidhogg stammered, embarrassed by his sudden attraction to her, which he found ironically amusing given his previous disdain. Before, he had disliked her snooty attitude, but now he felt a spark of something else.


    Shaking off these thoughts, Nidhogg recomposed himself, suggesting, "Let''s climb up quickly."


    Noticing her bleeding shoulder, he hesitated, "May I carry you up?"


    "Hmm!" Without hesitation, Nina nodded and wrapped her arms around Nidhogg from behind. Her body pressed closely, and he could feel her breath on his neck.


    Trying to quell his nervousness, Nidhogg took a deep breath and began climbing upwards with his additional burden.


    Meanwhile, seeing Nidhogg and Nina safe, Yorkris resumed his climb with his sister, reaching the deck quickly. Then he helped pull them up the rope.


    Exhausted, Nidhogg and Yorkris leaned against the railing to catch their breath, but upon seeing the carnage on the deck, they inhaled sharply, their fatigue momentarily forgotten. The vast hundred-meter deck was littered with the bodies of sea monsters and the remains of sailors and apprentices, some so mutilated that it was impossible to tell if they had been humans or monsters.


    Boom!


    A massive explosion drew their eyes to the cabin where Wizard Dira resided. Already in ruins, the cabin finally disintegrated under the octopus¡¯s latest attack, leaving only scattered debris. Dira, with an unnatural flush on his face and missing his black eyepatch, revealed a bizarre, rotating mechanical gear in its place, looking both eerie and terrifying.


    Underneath him, an icy-cold corpse of a sea monster lay, carefully preserved amidst the chaos. Even as the towering twenty-meter tentacle struck, Dira countered with sorcery, erecting a colossal ice shield to protect the frozen creature.


    With a loud crash, ice shards flew everywhere.


    Dira once again unleashed his sorcery, holding back the monstrous octopus¡¯s tentacle, fiercely guarding the frozen sea creature below him. Nearby, a few remaining sailors desperately defended the ship¡¯s cabin door...

 Chapter 13: Sorcery

    Among those defending the cabin door, four individuals stood out with their formidable combat prowess. One of them was the legendary knight Baron, who was shirtless, revealing his dark, muscular physique. He wielded an axe with ruthless efficiency, slaughtering the sea monsters attempting to breach the cabin.


    Another was the ship''s bosun, who, despite having witnessed the legendary knight in action many times, had never been seen fighting before. Armed with a huge sword, his strength was nearly on par with Baron''s, earning him newfound respect.


    The remaining two were wizard apprentices residing in the wizard''s quarters. Nidhogg had learned their names: the male apprentice was Y¨¹nli, and the female apprentice was Bibilianna.


    To Nidhogg''s astonishment, these two apprentices were not only casting legendary spells, but the power and mystery of their sorcery were beyond belief. The female apprentice, Bibilianna, appeared anxious in the face of the giant sea creatures. However, with the protection of numerous sailors, no monster could get close to her. She hid behind the sailors, her golden hair billowing, and a golden eye on her forehead cast a stern gaze at the encroaching sea monsters.


    This golden eye seemed to be an elemental energy construct, causing the surrounding air to ripple.


    "Drink!"


    With a soft, powerful command, any sea monster caught under the gaze of the golden eye screamed in agony. Their bodies would suddenly desiccate, turning into mummified husks. In just a few moments, Nidhogg and his companions witnessed at least five sea monsters succumbing to the eerie power of the golden eye.


    However, Bibilianna seemed unable to maintain this powerful sorcery for long, and after a brief period of panting, the eye dissipated.


    On the other hand, Y¨¹nli had a small white mouse perched on his shoulder, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding danger. Y¨¹nli himself appeared indifferent to the presence of the sea monsters, not out of arrogance, but sheer disdain and detachment towards everything around him. His eyes, cold and detached, surveyed the strange oceanic creatures with a hint of amusement on his lips.


    Yet it was Y¨¹nli''s mysterious sorcery that left everyone baffled. Without any visible signs or phenomena, the sea monsters around him inexplicably ended up with severed limbs or missing heads. One even vanished entirely, leaving behind only a twenty-centimeter snake tail that appeared as smoothly severed as a mirror, confirming the reality of what had just transpired.


    "This..."


    Nidhogg, Nina, Yorkris, and Yorkliana were left with their mouths agape, in utter disbelief. To possess such strange and powerful abilities is why these two resided in the wizard''s chambers.


    Against these wizard apprentices, not even Yorkris or Nidhogg, nor even Nina, who was already versed in sorcery, stood a chance. Nina¡¯s face darkened with the knowledge of her own capabilities. Her so-called sorcery was reliant on magical instruments her father had prepared, and she couldn¡¯t perform even the simplest spell on her own. She had another powerful magic artifact, but her mana was insufficient to wield it effectively. Even if she could, she knew she was no match for these two apprentices rumored to be prodigious talents.


    Nina, aware of some wizard secrets, understood that such potent sorcery could not normally be performed at their level of spiritual power unless they had what were called innate manifestations or accompanying talents.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Leaving the cabin entrance behind, the powerful Wizard Dira hovered about five meters above the deck. His expansive gray robes flapped wildly as though caught in a tempest. His face flushed strangely while the intricate gear over his eye spun rapidly, intoning a deep, mystical incantation that hinted at a preparation for some destructive spell.


    Elsewhere, two colossal black tentacles, each over thirty meters long, continually pounded the deck, adding to the destruction. The deck had already been ravaged, riddled with massive holes, and the cries of surviving apprentices echoed from below.


    Suddenly, everyone on deck felt a shiver run through them as if compelled by some unseen force. All heads turned upward, and under an indescribable pressure of the silent, darkened sky, they saw a gray flame ignite in Dira¡¯s hand. The flame was silent and unassuming, seemingly harmless, yet it compelled those who saw it to shudder uncontrollably, as if it could consume their very gaze.


    Even Y¨¹nli and Bibilianna, usually confident, paled and fixed their eyes on the gray flame in Dira''s grasp.


    "Death Soul Flame..."


    Dira¡¯s weakened voice carried an eerie charm, as it resonated in everyone¡¯s ears like a whispered incantation. The instant the gray flame touched a tentacle, the ocean below erupted with a wailing cry of agony far surpassing the previous ones. The giant octopus thrashed in torment, sending waves crashing across the vast sea.


    As if touching a scorching fire, all the tentacles snapped back suddenly, and the octopus''s head vanished beneath the waves.


    "Master Wizard!"


    "Great Wizard!"


    The sailors and few remaining apprentices let out joyous cries at witnessing the retreat of the monstrous entity. Dira raised a hand, suppressing his physical discomfort, and silenced them.


    His malevolent gaze swept across the many fearsome sea creatures on the deck, and amid the rustling of his gray robes, he descended to the deck.


    Wizards are known for being malicious and merciless to their enemies. Even the gentlest wizard, in the pursuit of higher knowledge, would inevitably extinguish countless lives.


    Dira looked at the ice-bound sea monster corpse beneath him, examining it intently. Suddenly, his eyes gleamed with delight, and he sneered, ¡°Heh heh, it¡¯s about time. Since you Urado sea monsters refuse to honor the pact with the human wizard alliance, prepare for the wizards¡¯ revenge!¡±


    At his words, the scales of the ice-bound sea monster began to wriggle. To the horror of all onlookers, the massive creature shriveled into an empty skin, as countless palm-sized purple-black centipedes poured out from its body.


    To add to the terror, each centipede had four pairs of transparent wings and a pair of vacant eyes on their backs.


    ¡°Finally, they are ready! Cackle... Urado sea monsters, savor the nightmare crafted by ancient wizards, designed specifically to devour you. After years of peace, you marine creatures may have forgotten the terror of human wizards. Embrace your nightmares, and tremble in them!¡±


    Dira cackled maniacally. These sea monsters could not comprehend human language, at least the lower-level ones, yet some innate instinct warned them that these insignificant purple-black insects heralded an overwhelming fear, prompting many to leap into the ocean in a panic.


    Bzzzz...


    As thousands of purple-black centipedes emerged and their wings hardened, they began taking flight one by one, instinctively swarming towards the remaining sea monsters on the deck.


    Strangely, they showed no interest in humans or the severed octopus tentacle that lay on the deck.


    Roars of horror erupted from the sea monsters as they realized their once-proud scales were as fragile as paper against these monstrous insects. One by one, the bugs bored into their bodies with relentless determination, even willing to sacrifice themselves to burrow inside.


    Some creatures tried to yank out the invading centipedes by their tails, but horrifyingly, even when torn in half, these centipedes continued their relentless journey inward.


    It seemed their sole purpose was to penetrate the deepest recesses of the sea monsters'' bodies.


    Watching the sea creatures howl in pain, Dira chuckled darkly, ¡°If these parasitic worms born from ancient wizard ingenuity could be easily killed, they wouldn''t be called the nemesis of the Urados, nor would wizards be known as the masters of many alien worlds!¡±


    Dira''s voice grew progressively more excited.


    ¡°They may only live for a day, but in that brief span, their sole mission is to lay eggs in every Urado body. And their eggs take only half a turn of an hourglass to mature...¡±

 Chapter 14: Attack

    The wizard apprentices who had narrowly escaped death gathered on the deck, their expressions grim. It was said that the fierce sea monsters had rampaged through the third floor before being intercepted by sailors rushing to the rescue, resulting in significant casualties among the apprentices on the fourth and fifth floors. In contrast, those residing on the lowest deck managed to escape unharmed.


    On the deck, Bin Hanson spotted Nidhogg and the others, exhaling in relief.


    "It''s such a relief you''re all okay! Damn, those sea monsters nearly scared me to death. I told myself, how could a great magic apprentice from Grand Tambrosen City get eaten by sea monsters before even reaching the wizard academy? I certainly don''t want to end up as their feces..."


    As he spoke, Bin Hanson gestured to the people behind him, saying, "Come, let me introduce you..."


    Nidhogg couldn''t help but marvel at Bin Hanson''s luck. Originally housed in the damp and humid second-level cabins, just slightly better than the lowest deck, this circumstance ironically saved his life this time.


    Shaking his head, Nidhogg sighed at his own misfortune. "I was just thinking of getting some fresh air on the deck when I reached the fifth floor. Then all hell broke loose. Usually, it wouldn¡¯t be unusual for me to stay indoors for days...¡±


    Despite searching around the deck, Nidhogg and the others couldn¡¯t find Wade, likely another casualty among the many. On the other hand, Kiran stood on the opposite side of the deck, looking at the distant sea, his demeanor detached and uninterested in speaking to them.


    Bin Hanson mocked quietly, "Hmph, always sucking up to Wizard Arowoz, a natural slave."


    Bin Hanson''s disdain for Kiran was unsurprising. On their journey, Kiran had been overly attentive to Wizard Arowoz, ingratiating himself shamelessly. After separating from the wizard, he barely acknowledged Nidhogg and the others, even ignoring a conflict between Yorkris and another apprentice by simply stating, "Not my problem," and walking away.


    Thus, Nidhogg and the group now had little interest in talking to him either.


    Yorkris, however, was not concerned with such trivial matters. Holding his sister anxiously, he whispered comfortingly as he looked at her empty eye socket. "Don''t worry, sister. Once we reach the wizard continent, I''ll definitely ask the most powerful wizard to heal your eye."


    Yorkliana tried to smile at her brother''s words, her pale face managing a faint expression of hope.


    "Brother, don¡¯t lie to me. I might be naive, but I¡¯m not stupid. Such powerful wizards aren¡¯t easy to meet. Besides... it¡¯s okay, brother. Look at Wizard Dira; doesn''t he also have only one eye?"


    Everyone glanced at Wizard Dira, who was busy counting the number of surviving apprentices on the deck, his eye replaced by a constantly rotating gear¡ªan eerie sight. The thought of Yorkliana undergoing a similar transformation was chilling.


    Yorkris quickly reassured her, "No, no, I will definitely heal your eye! I swear!"


    As for Nidhogg and Nina, both nursing their own injuries¡ªNidhogg''s leg and Nina''s shoulder¡ªthey found themselves leaning against the mast in a sort of unspoken camaraderie.


    Nidhogg, feeling awkward and conflicted about earlier events, remained silent beside Nina, who was similarly embarrassed at her own emotional outburst. Thus, silence reigned between them, marking their brief moment of closeness as if it were just a fleeting illusion.


    Later, word spread across the deck detailing the aftermath of the attack: thirty-two sailors had died alongside a staggering one hundred and seven wizard apprentices, most of whom had been on the fourth and fifth floors.


    Nearby, Wizard Dira stood with the bosun and the two legendary knights, Baron among them. The bosun appeared unscathed, while Baron bore a noticeable wound on his back but seemed unfazed.


    "Master, what¡¯s troubling you?" Baron asked Wizard Dira, surprised by the sorcerer¡¯s continued concern despite the monsters having been repelled or killed.


    Few could discern Dira''s worry. Wizards rarely displayed their emotions openly, and Dira¡¯s partially mechanized features further masked subtle expressions. However, Baron, having served him for decades, noticed the slight signs of distress.


    "There is something off about this sea monster attack..." Dira remarked, his sole eye casting a significant look at Baron.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Startled, Baron probed, "Could we have been targeted by another wizard?"


    Dira nodded slightly. "If my senses are correct, it''s quite possible."


    Baron''s dark complexion paled in fear. As a legendary knight on the wizard continent, he understood the terror of being targeted by an elusive wizard, especially isolated on the vast sea without any support.


    "Is it an enemy of the academy or someone after you?" Baron inquired, forcing the question with anxiety.


    "It could be either," Dira replied contemplatively, "but there¡¯s also a chance it could be for them." His gaze directed Baron¡¯s eyes towards Y¨¹nli and Bibilianna.


    Baron hesitated before replying bitterly, "For them?"


    Could these two apprentice geniuses inspire such a dangerous confrontation with Wizard Dira?


    "It¡¯s just a possibility," Dira admitted, "but there are secrets you don¡¯t understand." He paused, sighing. "Since the sea creatures have been driven back, and my mana is depleted, if anything does happen, it would likely be soon. We¡¯ll wait and see."


    Dira¡¯s eyes flickered with a sudden, dark resolution. "However, if indeed there is an enemy targeting them, Baron, I need you to do something."


    Baron knelt, "What are your orders?"


    Leaning close to whisper, Dira instructed, "Kill them both! These two are once-in-a-century talents, possessing extremely valuable innate sorcery. They are potential strong contenders in the Holy Tower qualification battles! If our Iis Wizard Academy cannot claim them, neither should a potential rival academy."


    ...


    The sea breeze blew fiercely as the sun climbed higher, casting heatwaves over the ship. Many retreated to the cabin, unable to withstand the scorching temperature, leaving only a few on deck¡ªNidhogg and Bin Hanson among them.


    Nina, Yorkris, and Yorkliana had already returned to the cabin.


    "Hey, Nidhogg, with Wizard Dira¡¯s room destroyed, where do you think he''ll sleep tonight? And what about those two guys?" Bin Hanson referred to Y¨¹nli and Bibilianna.


    "I don¡¯t know, probably somewhere on the fifth floor," Nidhogg replied indifferently.


    Yorkris chuckled, "That¡¯s my guess too. But with Yorkris, Yorkliana, and Nina all on the fifth floor, I wonder whose unlucky room will be taken over."


    Nidhogg shrugged, "Plenty of rooms from the dead on the fifth floor, why theirs?"


    Yorkris retorted, "Maybe, but many rooms were also damaged..."


    As Nidhogg and Bin Hanson bickered idly, a shadow suddenly covered them. They assumed it was a passing cloud, paying it no mind until the flapping of wings and an irritating cawing drew their attention skyward.


    Above them, an unseen multitude of black ravens blotted out the sun, forming a dark, obscuring cloud. Amidst this avian fog hovered a shadowy figure watching the ship.


    Though too distant to discern details, the figure''s mere presence exuded a terrifying magical aura. Everyone felt the cold grip of fear, as if the ship were about to collide with an iceberg.


    Their vision filled with an endless expanse of black crows.


    "Hey, wizards on the ship, come out," spoke the figure, their voice calm and rasping, like Arowoz''s, androgynous.


    Wizard Dira emerged from the cabin, staff in hand. His gray robes flapping ominously, he ascended to face the dark figure across the sky.


    As he discerned the newcomer¡¯s features, Dira¡¯s expression shifted dramatically. "A... a second-level wizard!?"


    "Heh, never seen you before, but I see plenty of promising students from Iis Small House Wizard Academy here. I''m taking over this ship... Consider yourself lucky, now scram."


    Dismissively, the wizard atop the raven cloud ordered, showing no inclination for a fight.


    Dira''s expression grew dark, almost like a storm ready to burst. As a respected pathfinder among the Seven Ring Holy Tower¡¯s Nineteenth District Reality Wizards, Dira was widely acknowledged to have the potential to ascend to higher levels.


    With centuries of amassed wizardly knowledge, he felt confident enough to challenge many longtime veterans. Yet, today, his adversary was a second-level wizard!


    A second-level wizard represented the managerial hierarchy of typical wizard academies, forming the core leadership. Nearly every academy director shared intricate ties with the upper echelons of the wizarding world.


    Moreover, the power disparity between wizard levels was substantial. Each ascension brought capabilities far beyond what typical spells or innate talents could counterbalance.


    Dira hesitated.


    Abandoning the academy¡¯s ship unprovoked, though a major responsibility, wouldn¡¯t irreparably impact Dira, given his status and potential to ascend to a second-level wizard.


    However, on this voyage were two once-in-a-century talented apprentices! And at such a critical point for the wizard continent...


    Dira spoke gravely, "Master may take the ship, but may I request to take two individuals with me?"


    "Hmph! I said leave now..."


    A snort of disdain interrupted, embedding a freezing anger in the voice from the cloud. "Courting death!"


    No one expected Dira to strike first, launching a surprise attack on a superior wizard.


    A spear of ice, radiating biting cold, shot forth like an arrow from a fully drawn bow, carving a frosty trail through the sky toward the heart of the cloud-bound wizard.


    But as the second-level wizard roared, an overwhelming magical force erupted, dispersing some of the clouds above and unleashing fierce winds that sent waves crashing in all directions.


    A faint chime, and the ice spear shattered into countless icy shards. Simultaneously, Dira mounted his staff, streaking toward the distant horizon.


    Yet a massive black cloud pursued him relentlessly...


    "You cannot escape!"


    The wizard¡¯s cry echoed from the cloud, their figures vanishing into the horizon.


    Only then did Nidhogg and Bin Hanson feel as though they were saved from drowning and began greedily gulping the fresh air.


    During the second-level wizard¡¯s power display, every apprentice on deck had felt an apocalyptic sensation, unable even to breathe.


    "Scared me to death! I thought we were done for!" Bin Hanson exclaimed, clutching his chest before adding in disbelief, "Damn, this life is unlivable, escaping death twice in a day, and we haven¡¯t even reached the wizard continent! Is that place even fit for humans to live?"


    Nidhogg inhaled deeply, wearing a grim expression. "Looks like there''s about to be a major upheaval."

 Chapter 15: Bloodshed

    The shocking news of Baron''s death at the hands of Y¨¹nli quickly spread among the wizard apprentices on the ship, becoming the most talked-about topic. No one understood why Baron suddenly attacked Y¨¹nli, but it was clear to all that Wizard Dira must have had a hand in it. Otherwise, Baron would not have attacked Y¨¹nli without reason.


    Y¨¹nli, as if prepared for the attack, engaged in a fierce battle with Baron. The clash of strange sorceries and powerful axe strikes lasted several rounds until suddenly, Baron''s head disappeared, the cut on his neck smooth as a mirror, and his headless body fell to the ground. Y¨¹nli remained indifferent, barely pausing for breath, and continued playing with the small white mouse, unfazed by the attack.


    Those who witnessed this battle were stunned, seeing Y¨¹nli not as a human but as a monster. No one dared to provoke such a terrifying being.


    A day later, a massive shadow enveloped the Iis Small House Wizard Academy''s ocean-going ship, drawing the apprentices out from their cabins to gape in horror at the sky, where a swarm of black crows formed the shadow. No one knew if Dira was alive or dead.


    A mysterious wizard descended from the cloud of crows, and as he landed on the deck, the countless crows transformed into two torrents, flying into the wizard''s wide sleeves, which seemed endlessly spacious, swallowing the cloud of crows in an instant.


    The wizard, landing in the center of the deck, was a sight that filled everyone with dread. His face was devoid of eyes, nose, or mouth, entirely smooth, as if a layer of skin covered his head, presenting a terrifying appearance.


    "Heh heh, little ones, welcome to the Black Sotha Wizard Academy!" he announced.


    This ship, originally headed for the Iis Small House Wizard Academy, had been hijacked by what seemed to be a more powerful and sinister wizard academy. The eyeless wizard scanned the crowd, resting his gaze on Y¨¹nli and Bibilianna, and wickedly introduced himself, "You may call me Nilmaza, or the Faceless Mask, heh heh heh, I don''t mind."


    Amidst the anxious group, a calm wizard apprentice stepped forward, handing a crow to the wizard and addressing him as "Master."


    "Well done," the Faceless Mask praised, as the crow disappeared into his sleeve.


    The apprentices glared at this student, understanding he had been an inside agent against Wizard Dira. Cold sweats ran down the backs of Nidhogg, Nina, Yorkris, and Yorkliana as they recognized the apprentice as Kiran¡ªthe one who had looked down on them.


    Even now, Kiran, or Solang as he was now known, ignored Nidhogg and the group, focusing his interest on Y¨¹nli and Bibilianna.


    The Faceless Mask had no interest in the apprentices'' thoughts. With a chilling smile, he declared, "The Black Sotha Wizard Academy is part of the Twelfth District of the Seven Ring Holy Tower. It believes in competition, survival of the fittest, and natural elimination!"


    As he spoke, he continued with a sinister laugh, "So, to help you adapt better to future academy life, and to eliminate some of the useless products among you, I¡¯ll establish a rule on this ship..."


    Every apprentice listened intently, fearing to miss a word.


    "From now on, every morning, I must find five people thrown into the sea, or else... heh heh, I will randomly kill ten of you!"


    After delivering this ruthless ultimatum, he pointed casually at a sailor in the distance. Without warning, the sailor exploded into pieces with a loud "boom," scattering blood and flesh across the deck.


    Terrified screams erupted among the apprentices, but the Faceless Mask ignored the chaos, calmly stating, "Just like that."Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    The apprentices stared at the wizard in horror, viewing him as a monstrous demon.


    He ignored their fear, laughing wickedly, "From now on, my word is law on this ship, unless one of you can defeat me or kill me! Heh heh heh, see you tomorrow, little ones!"


    With that, the wizard retreated to the tent set up on the deck¡¯s edge, signaling the bosun to join him as they seemingly planned a new course.


    Everyone on deck was on high alert, feeling a palpable unease. Nidhogg cast a glance at Yorkris, Yorkliana, and Nina.


    Yorkris, clutching his sister, asked hurriedly, "We''re not really going to do what the wizard said, are we?"


    "I don¡¯t want to die! We might have to," Nina replied, glancing at Nidhogg. Her statement shocked Yorkris and Yorkliana, but Nidhogg, deep in thought, accepted it as a harsh reality.


    Nidhogg pondered bitterly, realizing that if their voyage to Black Sotha took forty days, two hundred people would have to be thrown overboard. If it lasted sixty days, would he even survive?


    "Ah..."


    A scream broke the silence, drawing attention to a female apprentice stabbing a male apprentice in the chest with a knife, shouting, "If not for you, Rhea would still be alive! I''m going to kill you!"


    The female apprentice¡¯s face twisted with rage as she repeatedly stabbed the male apprentice. The crowd realized it might be a personal grudge, or perhaps an attempt to complete the "task" set by the wizard.


    Cautiously, everyone began leaving the deck. Nidhogg and his group decided to regroup in Nina''s room to discuss a strategy. Soon, only Y¨¹nli, Bibilianna, and Kiran remained on the deck.


    Given their prowess, Y¨¹nli and Bibilianna were formidable, and Kiran, now known as Solang, had proven his worth by aligning with the formidable wizard. Not wanting to get involved, the group retreated to avoid sparking deadly confrontations.


    "What should we do? I never imagined Kiran... or Solang, would betray us," Yorkris remarked, frowning at Nidhogg and Nina.


    Nina snorted, "What can we do? Take it one step at a time."


    She pulled out a small, ornate crossbow, adding coldly, "Although it''s not a magic artifact, the poison on this is enough to kill a giant elephant."


    Nidhogg quickly interjected, "Let''s not rush. We¡¯ll be at sea for a long time. Besides, Solang doesn¡¯t seem to view us as threats."


    Nina nodded, putting the crossbow away, and the group settled in for a tense night''s rest. Bin Hanson was nowhere to be found, off in the lowest deck somewhere.


    The next morning, a commotion brought Nidhogg and his companions back to the deck. Clusters of apprentices had formed, each keeping a safe distance from one another, wary and ready to act at the slightest provocation.


    The Faceless Mask stood idly, then remarked with a calm smile, "Heh, three fewer, still missing two? Then..."


    With four dismissive gestures, four apprentices exploded, drenching the deck in gore and creating chaos. Among them, one apprentice was part of the group closest to Nidhogg.


    A female apprentice in that group collapsed, screaming and crying uncontrollably.


    Nidhogg, Nina, Yorkris, and Yorkliana wiped the blood from their faces in shock. Nidhogg found a piece of flesh on his clothes, the heavy scent of blood confirming the grim reality of the situation.


    "Oh..."


    Nina and the Yorkris siblings vomited, while Nidhogg, though queasy, stood firm, watching the surrounding apprentices warily.


    The Faceless Mask paid no heed to the turmoil, his gaze seemingly resting on each person despite his lack of eyes.


    He sneered, "The Black Sotha Wizard Academy, part of the Seven Ring Holy Tower, adheres to its rules, under the wizard alliance¡¯s control, and won¡¯t slaughter human civilians. Heh heh heh... Remember, you¡¯re apprentices now, not civilians. The path to wizardry is fraught with obstacles."


    As he turned to leave, he added coldly, "Except for Bosun Lab, Solang, Y¨¹nli, and Bibilianna, any of you could be next unless five are selected."


    Solang and Y¨¹nli walked away without looking back. Bibilianna gave the crowd a cold glance, then a playful smile.


    Everyone on the deck was stained with blood and gore, looking like they had emerged from hell. But no one dared to clean up, knowing they had to decide on five sacrificial names or face the fear of a sudden death.


    "Kill!"


    A sudden roar erupted as the remaining sailors, driven mad, attacked a group of five apprentices with knives. The group, caught off guard, quickly fell to the skilled sailors.


    In moments, the five were killed, their screams echoing as their bodies were tossed into the sea, while the bloodthirsty sailors glared at the rest.


    The lead sailor spoke coldly, "No one wants to die, but the wizard world is cruel. From now on, you¡¯re no longer lofty apprentices here to boss us around."


    With a bloodied knife in hand, he continued, "From today, find five to sacrifice yourselves, or we¡¯ll do it."


    The sailors, exuding murderous intent, disappeared into the cabin.


    Nidhogg¡¯s group was pale, having been so close to the dangerous sailors. With Wade gone, Bin Hanson joining another group, and Solang elevating to a position of power, their group faced great change.


    Now, the apprentices were confronted with the dilemma: how to decide who would be sacrificed?

 Chapter 16: Elimination

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    To emphasize his anger, he struck the deck with his steel knife, embedding it with a loud "clang." The force demonstrated that he had some strength. However, most people looked on disdainfully, as the sailors had already left, and this display was merely posturing.


    Despite the disdain, many apprentices gathered around him, united by a common enemy. Deep down, the wizard apprentices looked down on the dirty sailors, believing themselves to be superior even though they had yet to become full-fledged wizards.


    Reflecting for a moment, those sailors numbered only about a dozen, which might allow the apprentices to remain safe for three days.


    "Since five have already died today, let''s leave it for now. Tomorrow we can..."


    The next day, the Faceless Mask wizard stood on the deck, counting the passengers. After a brief moment, he let out a sharp laugh. "Five are missing. It seems you are starting to understand the mindset of a dark wizard. Hehe, not bad, not bad. It seems I won''t need to intervene today."


    After speaking, he returned to his tent, leaving everyone else alone. Solang, Y¨¹nli, Bibilianna, and the bosun also departed, leaving two distinct factions on the ship: the sailors and the wizard apprentices.


    The sailors, although fewer in number, were strong and skilled in combat. Typically, three to five apprentices couldn''t match one sailor in a real fight. Meanwhile, the wizard apprentices numbered nearly four hundred, greatly outnumbering the sailors. However, they were divided into small groups, lacking unity.


    Sensing the tension, the sailors did not attack as aggressively as they had previously. Instead, the strongest among them stepped forward and taunted, "What¡¯s wrong? Haven¡¯t you prepared five sacrificial lambs yet?"


    "We won''t let our companions die. If anyone has to die, it will be you!" shouted the leading apprentice, his words inciting the others, though he himself did not step forward.


    Some naive apprentices, or those pushed from behind, rushed toward the sailors, creating a confusing momentum as those in the back pushed forward, unaware of what was happening.


    "You want to die!" roared the sailor, skillfully dodging one of the charging apprentices and swiftly beheading them with a grim smile.


    The apprentice''s head rolled into the crowd before the body collapsed after a few more steps. Watching four die in quick succession, the sailor leader''s gaze turned to the nearest wizard apprentice.


    Those at the forefront hesitated, fear halting their advance; after all, no one wanted to die needlessly.


    The apprentices behind, unable to see clearly, pushed forward anxiously, questioning if the sailors had been defeated yet.


    The sailor leader''s stare fell upon "Rat," an apprentice who had initially clashed with Yorkris.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Feeling the intense focus of the massive sailor leader, Rat was terrified. His axe trembled in his grip as he silently cursed whoever had pushed him forward.


    Looking back, no one seemed willing to advance further, and with his former protector Andrew killed by the real sea monsters, Rat had no one left to rely on.


    Desperation taking hold, Rat''s shifty eyes darted around before he suddenly swung his axe at a female apprentice behind him, killing her instantly.


    ¡°That''s five! We don''t need to kill each other anymore!¡± he shouted excitedly. The sailor leader, surprised by Rat''s decisiveness, hesitated before sneering and leading the sailors away.


    "Ah! Bastard, I''ll kill you!" roared a male apprentice, eyes red with rage as he glared at Rat. The male apprentice had a connection to the girl Rat had killed.


    Rat was startled, but the crowd restrained the vengeful apprentice. No one wanted conflict, as each apprentice was a valuable asset¡ªless death meant better odds of survival.


    No one wanted to let the five deaths go to waste, so they "kindly" stopped the vengeful apprentice.


    Another day passed, with Nidhogg and his group staying together. In these tense times, no one dared to be alone.


    The following day, the Faceless Mask praised them for completing the task and left. After a moment of silence, chaos erupted among the apprentices, centered on Rat and the avenging male apprentice, now with reinforcements.


    On one side, Rat called in support from Bai, who had previously clashed with Yorkris. The two sides soon erupted into a fierce battle.


    Despite Rat''s sly appearance, he showed no fear in this life-or-death struggle, and the fight was intense.


    However, a winner had to emerge. Minutes later, a scream marked Bai¡¯s fall, struck in the back, and he died under the combined assault of the opposing duo.


    In his last moments, Rat took one of them down with him, ending the duel with the vengeful male apprentice victorious.


    But before he could revel in his victory, a dagger pierced his back, emerging from his chest. The crowd parted, and the assailant vanished.


    Simultaneously, Yorkris roared, "You''re dead!"


    Someone had targeted Yorkliana in the chaos. Weak and injured, she had become an easy mark for those looking to fulfill the death quota.


    A man, about six feet tall and calm, had attempted the ambush. Failing, he quickly withdrew his dagger, blending into the crowd.


    At that moment, a giant vine erupted from the deck, ensnaring him. In his terror-stricken cries, Yorkris cleaved him with his axe.


    ¡°Bastard!¡± Yorkris cursed, his face spattered with blood as Nidhogg hurried over, glaring at those around them while pulling Yorkris back to safety.


    With five dead, peace reluctantly returned. Many glanced at Nina in shock, realizing that her magical abilities were formidable. Nidhogg¡¯s team wouldn¡¯t be an easy target in the future.


    The sailors, noticing Nina¡¯s sorcery, eyed her with newfound respect.


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 Chapter 17: Alliance

    "Nina, you''re the last one we''re waiting for. Come sit next to me," said a male wizard apprentice in a wide robe, greeting her warmly as she arrived. He gestured to an empty space beside him. His handsome face, deep eyes, and warm smile could nearly melt the heart of the other girl sitting nearby. Just like Nina, this male apprentice was strikingly attractive.


    Nina, however, ignored him completely and casually sat down elsewhere. Her exquisite face was icy as she glanced at the male apprentice. "Hmph, do I know you?" she asked coldly.


    "You..." The apprentice''s warm smile vanished, replaced by a cold tone. "Just as the rumors say, you have a sharp tongue."


    "Looking for trouble?" Almost escalating to violence, Nidhogg quickly intervened. He played with a sharp dagger in his hand, glaring menacingly at the male apprentice.


    "Fireball King? A Bruhn caster?"


    "Hmph, everyone smart enough to survive on this ship knows better than to insult us with fake smiles. It makes us feel like you''re treating us like those who got tossed into the sea," Nidhogg retorted.


    "What you think is your business..."


    With a cold snort, the apprentice turned his head away, adopting a distant demeanor.


    Yorkris nonchalantly brushed his teeth with his sword, showing off his robust physique, and echoed, "Exactly, no need for pretense."


    "Haha, I''ve heard that Nina has two fierce warriors at her side. This must be the valiant Yorkris, and the ruthless Nidhogg, I presume?" said another male apprentice with a noble demeanor, laughing.


    This apprentice, Amelande, was known among the apprentices for his commendable reputation. He wore the finest noble attire, complete with jewelry and a distinguished look. The most notable items were the two exquisite gemstone rings on his left hand, one blue and one purple¡ªclearly valuable, beyond what an average noble could afford.


    Nidhogg had made a name for himself over the past month, partly from his association with Nina, the Vine Caster, and partly due to his own cautious and ruthless nature, having silenced six who had targeted him.


    Nidhogg nodded curtly at Amelande, signaling no desire to get closer. On this ship, strength mattered most, not friendships, which had proven useless.


    "Amelande, tell us why you''ve gathered us here," said a girl with a doll-like appearance but a rough, wizard-like voice.


    Despite her innocent look, Imys, the Puppet Caster, was the most ruthless among them. Nidhogg once witnessed her white puppet brutally kill a group of apprentices, leaving a chilling memory.


    The last caster present remained silent, his face dark. Notably, he had an empty sleeve, having lost an arm during the sea monster attack. This Manipulation Caster, known as Weipimod, had intriguing magic, which Nina speculated involved mental illusions to temporarily influence others. She believed he was the only one among them who didn¡¯t rely on magical artifacts.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Together, Nina the Vine Caster, Bruhn the Fireball Caster, Amelande the Holy Sword Caster, Imys the Puppet Caster, and Weipimod the Manipulation Caster, formed the group known as the Five Great Wielders, revered by the frightened apprentices on the ship.


    A silence fell over the deck. Amelande surveyed the group before suddenly letting out a laugh, abrupt and unsettling, drawing frowns from those watching him.


    "My fellow casters, we may be called the Great Wielders by the apprentices, but we all know the truth," he began. "Aside from Weipimod, we rely on magical artifacts for our spells. To the ignorant, we seem invincible, but among real wizards¡¯ apprentices..."


    Amelande shook his head with a sneer.


    "Amelande, we know this already. Why did you call us here?" Imys interrupted impatiently.


    "The reason is simple: to consider our future," Amelande replied coldly, scanning the group. "Not just our time on this ship, but also at the Black Sotha Wizard Academy. If the conditions here are any indication, the academy won¡¯t be a kind place."


    As he spoke, he looked around. "Our small groups might end up like those thrown into the sea."


    The thought sent chills through the group, even surprising Nidhogg.


    Amelande¡¯s foresight awakened them to the reality¡ªthey would continue their lives at the academy, which could be even harsher than the ship.


    "So, I propose we form a new alliance from the surviving apprentices on this ship, to stand together at the academy," Amelande suggested, piquing everyone¡¯s interest.


    Nina frowned. "It¡¯s a good idea, but how do we form this alliance? Here, the rule is to kill each other. Everyone besides our closest allies is an enemy."


    Her question echoed the concerns of all present, prompting them to look at Amelande.


    Amelande, appreciating Nina¡¯s insight, looked at her. Despite rumors labeling her a pretty fool, Amelande saw her as intelligent and capable of managing her subordinates well.


    "Indeed, there are irreconcilable differences within the alliance. But we all understand the true source of conflict isn''t within, but rather from that wizard..." He glanced at the Faceless Mask''s tent. "The great Faceless Wizard''s will. Thus, our alliance can be formed under certain conditions."


    Weipimod, who had remained silent, let out a cold laugh. "If joining the alliance still means killing each other, what¡¯s the point?"


    Amelande focused on Weipimod, speaking deliberately. "At least we could first target those outside the alliance!"


    Weipimod was taken aback. "You mean..."


    "Exactly. The sailors! There are seventeen, enough to save seventeen of our members, granting us safety for three and a half days. This should be incentive enough, whether for establishing dominance or mutual gain."


    He paused before continuing, "All present will be the first elders of the alliance. Future hierarchy will naturally favor the strong."


    "If we can defeat the sailors, that¡¯s fine. But if we lose, the alliance is a farce. I agree, though."


    "Good, I also agree!"


    "Count me in!"


    "Support..."


    The next day, the Faceless Mask conducted the usual headcount, confirmed five were missing, offered some grating encouragement, and returned to his tent. Solang, Y¨¹nli, Bibilianna, and the bosun left without unnecessary words.


    The deck, once overcrowded, was now sparse, with each person keeping their distance, eyes cold, weapons ready, showcasing their strength. Those who survived were formidable, having withstood trials and hardships.


    The apprentices habitually tested each other, but with each passing day and growing cunning, reaching the daily five-death quota had become a prolonged ordeal, often taking until noon to select the unfortunate victims.


    None wished to die, so all protected themselves while seizing chances to eliminate others¡ªpreferably those without backing. Attacking "The Five Great Wielders" was discouraged by consensus.


    "Listen, everyone..." Amelande stood among the tense apprentices, his voice commanding attention. The other four wielders joined him, drawing focus from all.


    The presence of the Five Great Wielders had the greatest impact, and all eyes were on them.


    "Today, I announce the formation of the Blood Sail Alliance, backed by the five wielders. We unite to face external threats. The initial members will only include the ship''s survivors. Future membership will require sponsorship from existing members."


    Shortly after, news of the "Blood Sail Alliance" spread among all the ship''s apprentices.

 Chapter 18: Journey

    For thirty days, the sailors on the ship maintained a tense peace through their show of force, but Ikyidan, the leader of the sailors, never allowed himself to relax. Though currently, the sailors with their knightly prowess were strong compared to the wizard apprentices who had yet to learn sorcery, he worried about the future.


    Once these wizard apprentices truly learned magic, they would easily be able to kill any knight, and they held endless potential for development¡ªa fact clear to all apprentices. As for the sailors, even if they were lucky enough to advance to legendary knights, they would still only be the servants of powerful wizards, seeking greater power, like the former legendary knight Baron and the current legendary knight bosun, both of whom served great wizards. After all, this was a world dominated by wizards!


    Understanding this reality, Ikyidan knew that despite their current superiority, the wizard apprentices fundamentally looked down on and rejected them. This was a natural aversion to those unlike them. Therefore, Ikyidan dared not be complacent, especially with the Five Great Wielders among the apprentices. Even though the so-called ¡°Five Great Wielders¡± possessed magic that would amuse true wizard apprentices, they could still easily kill an ordinary knight.


    So, when Amelande announced the formation of the "Blood Sail Alliance," Ikyidan¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    This was bad!


    Acting almost without thinking, Ikyidan drew his sword, disregarding the sailors behind him who hadn¡¯t yet reacted. He roared, ¡°Damn it, what Blood Sail Alliance? Without the consent of the sailor group, your Blood Sail Alliance won¡¯t be established today!¡±


    Glaring menacingly at the hesitant wizard apprentices, he added, ¡°Anyone who joins will be killed by the sailors!¡±


    Though his heart trembled with fear, Ikyidan maintained a fierce facade, knowing that while he might not prevent the alliance forever, he had to stop it now, or the sailors would be doomed.


    The sailors behind him finally reacted, grabbing their weapons and standing beside him, glaring fiercely at the apprentice faction.


    On the other side, the Five Great Wielders stood at the forefront of the wizard apprentices, their respective followers behind them, drawing weapons and staring back at the sailors.


    Amelande met Ikyidan¡¯s gaze and said coldly, ¡°Five of your sailors must be thrown into the sea today! With the five of us together, you¡¯re bound to lose!¡±


    ¡°Try me,¡± Ikyidan retorted, showing no sign of backing down.


    ¡°Hmph! You think the apprentices on this ship are still the same kids from a month ago?¡± Amelande retorted with a cold snort. His blue gemstone ring flashed briefly, and with an incantation, a shimmering magic sword appeared before him, vanishing in an instant.


    With a slick movement, the sword grazed Ikyidan¡¯s right shoulder, leaving a bloody mark, just as a white puppet swiftly extracted the sailor leader''s heart.


    The puppet was just over half a meter tall, its entire body gleaming white with an almost pure aura. Yet it held a bloody, still-beating heart in its hands, giggling with childlike innocence as it dodged the furious sailors rushing at it, then escaped like a mischievous child caught stealing candy.


    With a thud, the heartless sailor leader collapsed.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Elsewhere, Nidhogg and Yorkris coordinated seamlessly to attack a sailor bound by vines. Yorkris blocked other sailors attempting to rescue him, while Nidhogg, eyes glinting coldly, swiftly slit the sailor¡¯s throat with a dagger.


    Boom! A blazing fireball...


    Moments later, the remaining sailors found themselves surrounded by wizard apprentices, many of whom felt a rush of excitement. Not only were the apprentices relieved to avoid further risk for the next three days, but they also glimpsed the powerful force some among them wielded.


    This was wizardry¡ªa force knights couldn''t defy. A handful of the weakest apprentices and about twenty helpers had easily overpowered more than twenty robust sailors!


    Having endured life and death trials, these apprentices would soon reach the academy and use their most effective methods to enhance their strength, reborn anew. No one doubted this.


    In the battle, four sailors died, seven were seriously injured, nine lightly wounded, and one knocked unconscious. The surviving sailors were tied up by the apprentices.


    The apprentices paid a price, too. Nidhogg was unharmed, but Yorkris suffered minor injuries, and a few careless team members died, as the sailors, driven to desperation, fought fiercely in the end.


    Watching many apprentices eagerly join the Blood Sail Alliance, the Five Great Wielders couldn¡¯t help but feel a significant sense of accomplishment.


    Amelande sighed, ¡°It¡¯s a pity, five more than necessary died.¡±


    The others were taken aback but didn''t dwell on it. Among the core members, a few relatively weaker female apprentices recorded the names of those joining the alliance and informed them of their responsibilities and obligations.


    Laughter occasionally erupted on the deck from the apprentices, a rare break from the oppressive atmosphere on the ship.


    ¡°Haha, weren¡¯t we called pigs to the slaughter? Why aren¡¯t you boasting now? Hahaha¡­¡±


    The next morning, the Faceless Mask wizard¡¯s shrill laughter echoed again.


    ¡°Hehehe, it seems there¡¯s been quite a change on the ship. Not too bad, ten fewer this time.¡±


    The apprentices were full of spirit and confidence, no longer as cold and ruthless as before, united by some force, however tenuous it seemed.


    Y¨¹nli and Bibilianna remained unfazed by the unified apprentices. To them, their talents were treasures to be cherished by the wizards, and their abilities to easily kill others meant they never experienced the harsh realities of the lower-level apprentices.


    Solang, always mysterious, watched the new alliance with curiosity, occasionally glancing at the Five Great Wielders.


    The bosun looked grim, seeing his former subordinates, the sailors, bound and at the mercy of the apprentices, who could throw them overboard at any time.


    Amidst the various feelings, the Faceless Mask suddenly announced to the Blood Sail Alliance apprentices, ¡°Now, for some bad news¡­¡±


    Drawing out the word "bad," he caught the attention of the apprentices, who stiffened, bracing for something outrageous.


    They instinctively distanced themselves from their peers, fearing unexpected chaos.


    ¡°The bad news is¡­ hehehe... hehehehehe¡­¡±


    In the wizard¡¯s eerie laughter, with the apprentices on edge, the Faceless Mask declared, ¡°We¡¯ll be reaching Black Sotha Wizard Academy on the wizard continent by this evening, so those sailors you captured are probably ¡®useless,¡¯ hehehe, hehehehehe¡­ Disappointed?¡±


    Hearing this, nearly all apprentices felt a surge of frustration. If they had enough power, some hot-headed individuals might have charged at the old sorcerer.


    However, upon cooling down, they were excited about finally arriving at the wizard academy.


    Each apprentice had vowed to themselves to learn powerful sorcery and control their destiny after watching others being tossed into the sea over and over.


    The brutal survival battle on the ship for over a month had left an indelible mark on all the apprentices. Yet, through this struggle, the survivors were honed and aware of both the cruelty and value of the path of a wizard. They were destined to go further than others who hadn¡¯t faced such trials.


    Throughout the day, the apprentices kept an eager lookout from the deck. As time passed, more ships appeared, and the horizon slowly began to change...


    By evening, as the sun set, the bosun expertly anchored the vessel, which had sailed for over two months across the endless sea, at an unfamiliar port. Amidst the uncontrollable excitement of the apprentices, the robes of the Faceless Mask wizard suddenly released countless black crows, gently lifting him into the air.


    ¡°Hehehe, little ones, welcome to the great Black Sotha Wizard Academy on the wizard continent!¡±

 Chapter 19: Tablet of Knowledge

    The wizard apprentices disembarking from the ship caught everyone''s attention at the port, mainly because the ship was in such a dilapidated state. It was a wonder it had survived the battle between a wizard and a nightmarish giant octopus without sinking. As soon as the ship docked, the apprentices eagerly rushed ashore, taking deep breaths of fresh air and displaying expressions of joy. Finally, they were off that hellish ship!


    Their joy, however, drew mocking remarks from other apprentices passing through the port.


    ¡°Another bunch of country bumpkins from the outlying islands, thinking they''ve become wizards just because they''ve reached the wizard continent. Such laughable ignorance, hmph¡­¡±


    This apprentice assumed that the Blood Sail Alliance members were excited simply because they had arrived on the wizard continent.


    ¡°Master,¡± the group of apprentices at the port greeted the Faceless Mask wizard with respect. The Faceless Mask ignored them, casually instructing the newly arrived apprentices, ¡°Don¡¯t wander off.¡±


    Just then, a figure appeared in the distant sky. Moments later, an old witch riding a broom landed in front of the group, paying no attention to Nidhogg and the others, instead focusing on Y¨¹nli and Bibilianna behind the Faceless Mask.


    ¡°Yuck, yuck, these are the little darlings discovered by Iis¡¯ Cottage, right? Indeed, their soul waves are quite unique.¡±


    The old witch''s face was so wrinkled it resembled gnarled tree bark, and she laughed with a mouth full of blackened teeth, an unsettling sight. Many in the Blood Sail Alliance instinctively backed away from her.


    Nidhogg couldn¡¯t help but wonder if all wizards had such eccentric appearances. If he became a wizard, would he end up like this? The thought sent a chill down his spine. He glanced at Nina¡¯s tall, beautiful form and imagined her in the witch''s place¡­


    ¡°Am I pretty?¡± Nina suddenly turned, facing Nidhogg with a deadpan expression, as if making a cold joke.


    Caught off guard, Nidhogg hurriedly replied, ¡°Uh¡­ yes, very.¡±


    Nina looked at him, surprised. Normally, Nidhogg would have turned away coldly at such a question. Perhaps being off the ship had made everyone relax a bit, even Nina, who hadn¡¯t expected herself to ask Nidhogg that.


    After a moment of surprise, Nina laughed, ¡°Can I take that as a confession? Hmph, considering you risked your life to save me, I¡¯ll consider it seriously.¡±


    With a satisfied smile, she turned away from him. Nidhogg stood there momentarily stunned.


    He remembered clearly when he was at the Viscount''s mansion in Biser City, this young lady had thrown out a book called "The Reconstruction and Olfactory Map of the Nose," shouting the name Eiron.


    Meanwhile, the Faceless Mask wizard atop the mass of crows said, ¡°Alright, don¡¯t scare these little ones. After over a month of trials, they¡¯re probably terrified of the academy.¡±


    ¡°Yuck, yuck, what do I care about their thoughts? They can¡¯t even enter the Seventh Ring Holy Tower. Our targets are just these two.¡± The old witch gestured for Y¨¹nli and Bibilianna to come forward, then complained to the Faceless Mask, ¡°If I had taken this assignment, it wouldn¡¯t have taken a month.¡±


    With that, she left with Y¨¹nli and Bibilianna.


    ¡°Hmph! She wouldn¡¯t have made it in a month unless she could make the ship fly,¡± Yorkris grumbled after the witch disappeared. His sister Yorkliana tugged his sleeve, signaling him to stop speaking before he got into trouble.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Fool, she meant abandoning us or outright killing us,¡± Nina said coldly.


    Nina¡¯s explanation sent a chill through Yorkris, Yorkliana, and Nidhogg. They were relieved that the old witch hadn''t been the one to take on the ¡°task.¡± Some even began to feel nostalgic for Wizard Dira. If they had reached the Iis Cottage Wizard Academy safely, their fate would have been different.


    About fifteen minutes later, several panting wizard apprentices arrived. Seeing the Faceless Mask wizard, they quickly saluted despite their fatigue.


    Impatiently, the Faceless Mask said, ¡°Alright, there are still two weeks until school officially starts, but these apprentices won¡¯t need further arrangements. Assign them living quarters directly at the academy; you handle it.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± the apprentices responded respectfully. The Faceless Mask took Solang and flew away, surrounded by a cacophony of cawing crows that filled the sky with an eerie, ominous atmosphere.


    Once the wizards left, the newly arrived apprentices sighed with relief before turning their attention to the newcomers from the ship. After more than a month of battles and sea monster attacks, their numbers had dwindled to fewer than three hundred.


    ¡°Well, it seems you country bumpkins have some sense, unlike the idiots from our year. Your master trained you well,¡± a sarcastic voice cut through, souring the apprentices'' initial hopeful mood. They quickly realized the Black Sotha Wizard Academy wasn¡¯t going to be a welcoming place.


    Not all apprentices were like that, though. A female apprentice stepped forward. ¡°Alright, you newcomers, listen up. Not everyone who enters the Black Sotha Wizard Academy is called a wizard apprentice. Only those who can independently cast three spells earn that title. For now, you¡¯re just called initiates, or newcomers.¡±


    Pausing, she continued, ¡°So your tasks are twofold: continually enhance your spiritual power and learn new magic.¡±


    ¡°Enough, Silia, stop playing the good guy,¡± interrupted another apprentice with an aggressive manner¡ªa large, bald man with a scar on his forehead.


    ¡°Listen up, newbies. Although killing is forbidden in the academy, rules are dead things. If you kill and aren¡¯t caught in the act or leave evidence, the enforcement team won¡¯t bother with it. So, if you want to live longer, behave yourselves!¡±


    He warned them harshly.


    ¡°And just because you¡¯ve reached the wizard continent doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re wizards. I¡¯ve seen enough of you arrogant fools from remote islands. To me, you bumpkins are nothing but trash!¡±


    Members of the Blood Sail Alliance listened in silence, simply watching the speaker with calm eyes. In the past, such taunts might have sparked heated responses or idle retorts from prideful individuals. But after a month of trials, those who didn¡¯t understand the reality had already been thrown into the sea.


    Surprised by the lack of reaction, the bald apprentice rubbed his head, feeling both disappointed and annoyed, and shouted, ¡°Let''s go!¡±


    The eight apprentices led the way, followed by nearly three hundred Blood Sail newcomers. They passed through a not-so-flourishing harbor to reach a towering, steep mountain.


    The mountain loomed vertically at over eighty degrees, with layers of dark chains covering it, giving the unsettling impression of a ¡°living¡± presence. As night fell, the mountain''s silhouette was barely visible.


    Seeing the leading eight apprentices continuing forward without pause, the Blood Sail apprentices wondered if the Black Sotha Wizard Academy was atop this mountain. How could they climb such an imposing structure, with its jagged rocks and menacing vegetation?


    ¡°Goo goo¡­¡± A silhouette periodically flew across the dark sky¡ªit was an owl. Suddenly, the bald leader turned with a harsh reminder, ¡°Listen, don¡¯t interfere with any owls near the academy or its grounds. If the enforcement team investigates, it won¡¯t be pleasant.¡±


    The apprentices were puzzled, unsure why he was warning them.


    Arriving at the foot of the mountain, the group saw massive trees, forty to fifty meters high, growing from the jagged cliff. How many years had these giants lived?


    In the rustling of branches and leaves, the atmosphere felt eerie. The bald apprentice stood respectfully before one of the giant trees. ¡°Please open the passage.¡±


    To the astonishment of many apprentices, the tree¡¯s bark began to shift, revealing a human-like face that scanned everyone before reverting to bark.


    With a rumble, a massive boulder was lifted by black chains, revealing a hidden passage.


    After following the tunnel for some time, they suddenly emerged into daylight. Countless illuminated buildings appeared before them, the most striking being a colossal tower in the distant horizon, standing proudly countless meters high!


    ¡°Is that¡­ Black Sotha?¡±


    While everyone was captivated by the towering structure, Nidhogg noticed an unremarkable grey stone beside the tunnel.


    The stone itself didn¡¯t stand out and showed signs of weathering. However, the words carved into it were etched with a force that seemed to defy time, standing eternally against the wear of ages.


    Nidhogg silently read the inscription aloud:


    ¡°Give me endless knowledge, and I shall use myself as a fulcrum to move the infinite world.¡±

 Chapter 20: Clearing

    The Blacksword Tower Wizard Academy is perched on the edge of the Wizard Continent. To the east stretches the vast and mysterious Wizard Continent, blocked by the Thorny Forest, while to the west lies the endless ocean and a sea known as the Gem Sea, similarly obstructed by the Blacksword Mountains.


    Thus, Blacksword Tower is a relatively expansive wizard academy.


    Of course, the so-called barriers of the Thorny Forest and Blacksword Mountains apply primarily to the average wizard apprentice. For official wizards with the ability to fly, these do not pose much of an obstacle.


    Half a month later, Nidhogg finally completed his tour of the Blacksword Tower Wizard Academy, gaining a thorough understanding of its layout and structure.


    In general, the Blacksword Tower itself serves as the true core of the entire wizard academy. However, for most wizard apprentices, only the lower seven floors of the Blacksword Tower are accessible. The nearly hundred levels above are shrouded in secrecy, accessible only to the most powerful wizards.


    Aside from the Blacksword Tower, the wizard academy offers three main gathering places for the vast number of wizard apprentices: the Teaching Hall, the Library, and the Bounty Loft.


    Today marks the once-a-decade recruitment day for apprentices at the Blacksword Tower Wizard Academy, aligning with the unified recruitment day across all wizard academies on the Wizard Continent.


    Generally speaking, each wizard academy has its sphere of influence, securing territories based on its strength, from which it selects prospective students with the aptitude to become wizard apprentices.


    However, it is clear that the Blacksword Tower Wizard Academy does not adhere to conventional, logical methods for recruiting students.


    A throng of newcomers, led by veteran wizard apprentices, entered the academy.


    The newcomers, brimming with seven parts curiosity and three parts arrogance, marveled at the academy''s many buildings, whispering among themselves. Some even boldly declared their ambitions to become great wizard kings.


    Members of the Bloodsail Alliance followed suit among the newcomers.


    In contrast to the fresh recruits selected from the mainland, the members of the Bloodsail Alliance exhibited a composed demeanor.


    Having endured harsh trials, they saw reflections of their past, arrogant selves in these newcomers.


    So self-assured, so naive.


    Standing orderly on the smooth marble plaza were nearly two thousand newcomers. On the towering dais, a dozen wizards sat in various postures. Wizards seemed to favor concealing their bodies beneath large robes, hiding their secrets.


    Wizards didn¡¯t mince words like nobles; especially when high-ranking wizards addressed lower-ranking ones, their tone often carried commands and orders¡ªa natural aspect of the competitive rules of the wizarding world.


    In the wizarding world, time is measured by hourglasses and natural days, though some places also use mechanical clocks.


    One natural day equals twelve hourglasses. Compared to the East Coral Island''s hourly timing, it''s roughly an hourglass being equivalent to two mechanical clock hours.


    After three-quarters of an hourglass, the wizards on the dais spoke in varied tones about the basic rules of the Blacksword Tower Wizard Academy and the numerous tasks and trials apprentices must undertake.


    Having reflected on their prior "tasks" aboard the sea vessel, members of the Bloodsail Alliance shed any na?ve illusions about the academy.


    Nidhogg summarized the situation.


    In essence, Blacksword Tower offers a three-year grace period to new entrants, but this so-called grace period consists merely of two measly magic stones per month as a stipend and a non-mandatory mission period.


    After three years, a trial mission awaits the newcomers.


    Nidhogg could easily deduce that this trial mission was designed to swiftly eliminate most of those the academy deemed unqualified.


    As for the use of magic stones?


    Nidhogg didn¡¯t yet grasp the fundamental purpose of these magic-filled stones, but to the abundance of newcomers at the wizard academy, nearly all power-boosting endeavors were linked to magic stones.


    For instance, borrowing wizard books for a week required a magic stone, attending a wizard lecture cost half a magic stone per session, and purchasing experimental materials wouldn''t be possible without enough magic stones!


    Indeed, with surplus magic stones, apprentices could privately consult wizards or even request guidance...


    In short, magic stones held greater currency than gold coins among wizards because of their tangible value¡ªthey were indispensable consumables for wizards.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    After three-quarters of an hourglass.


    For wizards, whose time was precious, addressing a group of ignorant wizard apprentices was pointless and time-wasting, thus the gathering concluded.


    However, just before the end, the wizards announced some good news.


    ¡°Listen, the academy is providing every wizard apprentice with a complimentary crystal ball and seven basic wizard knowledge lectures¡ªthis is a benevolence from the great Seventh Ring Holy Tower.¡±


    Crystal ball? Wizard knowledge lectures? Seventh Ring Holy Tower?


    While Nidhogg was pleasantly surprised by the crystal ball and wizard knowledge lectures, the mention of the Seventh Ring Holy Tower, an unfamiliar term, piqued his interest.


    ¡­


    Three days later.


    Nidhogg, the Yorkris siblings, and Binghampton snagged front-row seats in Lecture Hall Nine. Since the instructor hadn''t arrived yet, Binghampton, the chatterbox, began bombarding Nidhogg with more chatter.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a secret for you, those owls in the academy? They¡¯re not really owls. I overheard from a senior that these owls are actually the eyes and ears of the enforcement team¡ªthey¡¯re the academy''s guardians!¡±


    Pausing for effect, Binghampton licked his lips with satisfaction before adding, ¡°Also, they say there are two places in this academy newcomers should never go. One place reportedly sees lots of strange occurrences, and the other is basically a wizard apprentice arena!¡±


    ¡°Strange occurrences?¡±


    Nidhogg pondered briefly, surmising that these so-called strange occurrences likely stemmed from the ignorance and fear of lower-level wizards toward higher-level wizardry.


    As for the wizard apprentice arena, Nidhogg had heard about it too.


    Despite the Blacksword Tower Wizard Academy''s clear prohibition against murder within its walls, it never truly enforced this rule.


    The academy maintained two unspoken rules.


    Firstly, if you could kill someone without the enforcement team detecting it, then your victim died in vain, with no one pursuing justice¡ªthe academy held no sympathy for the weak.


    Secondly, a place called the Wasteland House existed.


    The enforcement team only collected corpses there and didn¡¯t investigate accountability, hence it was known as the apprentice gladiator arena.


    On the other side, seeing Nidhogg''s skepticism about the existence of strange occurrences, Binghampton hastily insisted, ¡°It¡¯s true! Not only do we newcomers experience strange things there, but even the high-ranking wizards encounter them, and they can''t be stopped.¡±


    Binghampton¡¯s confident assurance and apparent sincerity piqued Nidhogg¡¯s curiosity. He asked, ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I knew you¡¯d ask. It¡¯s at the abandoned water tower on the south side of the academy. But these occurrences only happen at night when you¡¯re alone. If you¡¯re interested, sneak out and check it out¡­¡±


    Binghampton encouraged Nidhogg, who remained noncommittal.


    Deep down, Nidhogg didn¡¯t believe in these so-called strange occurrences, yet he hesitated to explore recklessly.


    Unbeknownst to them, the hall had filled with newcomers. While Nidhogg and Binghampton quietly discussed academy rumors, Nina and the Yorkris siblings chatted in hushed tones.


    At that moment, an unpleasant voice interrupted.


    A girl dressed luxuriously and elegantly had arrived. Unlike most wizard apprentices who copied wizards by donning oversized robes, she did not.


    Her short, purple-brown hair and the red-blue gem circlet on her forehead, combined with the intricate purple-black patterns of her dress, exuded nobility, sophistication, and mystery, accentuating her graceful figure and snow-white skin.


    This girl must come from an extraordinary background!


    Her natural aura of nobility surpassed even Nina''s former presence.


    Of course, in wizarding academies on the continent, there was little distinction between commoners and nobles¡ªonly knowledge and power mattered.


    The elegantly poised girl, looking somewhat annoyed, spoke to a boy following her around like a lackey, ¡°How could there be no seats in nine consecutive halls? Didn¡¯t you say there were always plenty of seats, and we needn¡¯t rush?¡±


    Uh¡­


    The boy seemed embarrassed.


    Based on his information, previous cohorts rarely filled even eight lecture halls, but this year¡¯s newcomers packed nine full, with many unable to enter at all.


    Caught unprepared, the boy was paying the price for his unreliable intelligence.


    Unwilling to admit his blunder and incompetence in front of the girl, the boy¡¯s expression darkened.


    Then he turned his gaze toward Yorkliana.


    Sure enough, weaklings were easily identified. Whether on the sea vessel or in the wizard academy, Yorkliana¡¯s gentle demeanor and aura inspired no fear.


    ¡°You two, get out,¡± the boy demanded, pointing at Yorkliana and Yorkris. He assumed Yorkris must be Yorkliana¡¯s suitor.


    With a glance back, over ten people in the rear of the hall stood up. They seemed to be from the same region as the boy, stepping forward to support him, glaring at the suddenly flustered Yorkliana.


    Bang!


    Nina slammed the table and sprang up, her eyes burning with fury as she glared at the boy. ¡°Are you talking to us?¡±


    Her icy words seemed to squeeze from between her teeth, hinting at her rage.


    Words were unnecessary with a month of shared battle experience on the sea vessel; Nidhogg and Binghampton also stood, while Yorkris huffed, brimming with anger, ¡°Who the hell do you think you are?!¡±


    His shout drew everyone¡¯s attention.


    Next to Yorkris sat an unfamiliar boy wearing black-rimmed glasses, who looked scholarly and refined.


    Seeing Nidhogg and company shouting at a group of over ten, the boy quickly shifted away, distancing himself from Yorkris, internally sighing, ¡°Such reckless fools.¡±


    To him, Nidhogg¡¯s group seemed doomed.


    Beside the bespectacled boy, a girl, covering her mouth, glanced at Nidhogg¡¯s group with a hint of sympathy.


    On the other side, the boy who had gathered reinforcements was briefly stunned by Yorkris¡¯s roar.


    However, rage swiftly followed.


    The boy prided himself on accurate judgment, instantly sensing that aside from Nina, the rest exuded a ¡°commoner¡± aura.


    Yet these commoners dared defy him!


    Moreover, they embarrassed him in front of her!


    Fury seethed in the boy, nearly driving him mad. Towering over Nidhogg¡¯s group at six feet three, he sneered, ¡°You will kneel and slap yourselves, and maybe I¡¯ll spare you. Otherwise, I swear, you won¡¯t survive half a year here¡­¡±


    His malice was evident. Furious, he plotted to consult a senior for ways to eliminate these insolent commoners.


    ¡°Won¡¯t survive six months? Huh¡­ very well!¡±


    Nina laughed with anger. ¡°I¡¯d like to see how you¡¯ll make us not survive six months!¡±


    She sat back down, staring unflinchingly at the fuming boy.


    ¡°Fine, since you seek death¡­¡±


    The boy began to threaten further when suddenly, a loud slap echoed. A sharp slap struck his face. Turning in disbelief, the boy saw one of his friends had hit him. His face flushed red with anger, veins bulging.


    His friend, also surprised, explained, ¡°Not me, there was sorcery, must be¡­¡±


    At that moment, nearly eighty people silently stood in the grand hall. With menacing expressions, they surrounded the group of ten, coldly glaring at the boy threatening Nidhogg¡¯s group.


    Lightblade spellcaster Armrand and one-armed manipulator spellcaster walked side by side. The latter frowned, ¡°Only one-tenth of an hourglass until class begins.¡±


    Armrand chuckled, fiddling with a fine ring, and coldly replied, ¡°Plenty of time.¡±


    With a chilling command, Armrand called out to the hall, ¡°Bloodsail Alliance business, clear the area!¡±

 Chapter 21: Leverage

    ¡°Bloodsail Alliance? What kind of organization is that... Never heard any of the older students mention it¡­¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter what they are, can¡¯t you see from their aura that they¡¯re not to be messed with? Let¡¯s get out of here first.¡±


    In the blink of an eye, Lecture Hall Nine was left with nearly eighty members of the Bloodsail Alliance surrounding a dozen terrified newcomers from the Wizard Continent. The very person who had been shouting about making sure Nidhogg and his friends didn¡¯t last half a year in the academy was now pale-faced, forehead slick with cold sweat, legs trembling visibly beneath his robe.


    ¡°You... you guys? This is a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding¡­¡± stammered the young man named Toris, abandoning any pretense of dignity as his voice almost broke into tears.


    He hadn¡¯t expected such a powerful organization to emerge among the newcomers. After all, it had only been three days since they¡¯d all enrolled!


    ¡°Misunderstanding? Ha!¡± Nina sneered, glancing at Yorkris and Yorkliana. Liana timidly whispered, ¡°Sister Nina, don¡¯t kill him. Killing in the academy will bring the enforcement team down on us.¡±


    Liana¡¯s cautionary words sent chills down Toris and his followers'' spines.


    Don¡¯t kill him?


    Were they really planning to resort to violence?


    Killing openly in the academy would be a sure path to execution if the enforcement team got involved!


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Nina reassured Yorkliana, which briefly relieved Toris, though his inner mockery persisted.


    He doubted they¡¯d dare, huffing to himself that even he wouldn¡¯t act without consulting older students. These newcomers might have formed an alliance for reasons unknown, but ultimately, they were just a bunch of ignorant, powerless commoners.


    This alliance¡­ won¡¯t last!


    However, Amrand, one of the Bloodsail members, added, ¡°We¡¯ve been getting the academy rules down these past few days. We meant to make a statement for our alliance anyway, and since this guy had the bad luck to provoke Nina, he¡¯ll do.¡±


    The spell manipulator shrugged, ¡°Only I can handle such matters right now. Here¡¯s hoping our alliance¡¯s curse specialists grow up quickly.¡±


    Nidhogg, seeing things were under control, delivered a swift kick to Toris¡¯s stomach. Toris¡¯s face turned a sickly white then flushed red, as if he¡¯d swallowed something vile, doubling over and clutching his abdomen without uttering a sound.


    ¡°Hmph, disgusting fellow.¡±


    Nidhogg recalled seeing the same contempt in this man¡¯s eyes that he¡¯d once seen among the Bloodsail Alliance on the sea vessel. Every member had been so arrogantly self-assured, as if the world was theirs.


    It took the Faceless Sorcerer to wake everyone up, to make them see reality!


    ¡°Hello, I wasn''t involved in this. Can I leave?¡± Toris¡¯s would-be paramour looked at him with disdain. Uncomfortable under the scrutiny of so many, she asked if she could leave.


    Amrand paused, carefully observing the girl¡¯s demeanor.


    After a moment, his harsh expression softened into a gentlemanly smile. Bowing slightly, he replied, ¡°Of course, beautiful lady.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± she said with a surprised smile, glancing at Amrand before slipping away, not sparing a glance behind her.


    As she departed, the wails from Lecture Hall Nine began¡ªlike slaughtered pigs¡ªechoing with agony.


    Outside, the expelled newcomers exchanged glances, every face grim.


    These were not people to be trifled with!


    The bespectacled boy, who earlier thought Yorkris, Nidhogg, and their friends doomed, now secretly cursed himself.


    He should have realized from their fearless demeanor that they had backing, but he¡¯d withdrawn too soon!Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    The boy regretted that he hadn¡¯t seized the moment to connect with them, to join the Bloodsail Alliance.


    With only a little time left before class, Toris was escorted out by his battered companions, Saint Amrand signaling the spell manipulator with a throat-cutting gesture. The manipulator nodded reluctantly and followed them out.


    Soon after, Lecture Hall Nine filled again, as if the altercation had been a mere illusion.


    Click-clack¡­


    The sound of high heels echoed from the hallway. As the magical clock chimed precisely, a young, attractive female wizard entered the hall to the audience¡¯s disbelief.


    With her short, smooth brown-black hair, flawless skin, amber eyes, and a figure accentuated by a fitted robe, she was every bit the image of a mature, sensual sorceress.


    This was the first time Nidhogg had seen a wizard in a normal human form.


    ¡°Hello. I will be your instructor for the seven basic education courses. You may call me Instructor Eileen.¡±


    Her voice was magnetic, and noticing the looks of surprise directed at her, she chuckled, ¡°Are you surprised by my appearance? Not all wizards focus on bloodline studies. While bloodline magic can rapidly enhance a wizard¡¯s power, it also alters one¡¯s appearance and carries irreversible mental effects, so it¡¯s not suitable for all wizards.¡±


    Wow¡­


    Indeed, the wizarding world had its beautiful sides, the students thought as they looked at Instructor Eileen.


    Crunch¡­


    Suddenly, a chewing noise disrupted the room¡¯s trance, causing expressions to freeze in place. Even Nidhogg¡¯s eye twitched involuntarily.


    The beautiful sorceress had casually pulled out a hand-length black centipede and begun munching on it, producing a ¡°crunch, crunch¡± sound that left them picturing it turning into pulp in her mouth.


    Such a lovely sorceress, yet¡­


    Sigh¡­


    A silent sigh spread through the room.


    ¡°Surprised by my snack?¡± Eileen asked, upon seeing their expressions, shaking her head dismissively. ¡°Every elemental sorcerer shares three common traits: crystal ball, symbiotic insect, and soul slave. Unless you want to die mysteriously from curses or illusions, you should cultivate your own symbiotic insect quickly.¡±


    She smiled, ¡°When the time comes, you¡¯ll understand that these insects aren¡¯t as disgusting as your shallow views suggest. They''re merely symbols of the infinite worlds.¡±


    Suppressing his nausea, Nidhogg thought, ¡°But it¡¯s definitely not like eating a snack!¡±


    Eileen seemed unfazed by their reactions, continuing to chew her centipede. Once she swallowed, she spoke calmly, ¡°Since it¡¯s our first class, tell me about your perception of a wizard.¡±


    The students exchanged looks.


    Binghampton rose first, declaring, ¡°A great wizard is one who masters the world¡¯s order, standing at the pinnacle of this world, controlling the balance of life and death.¡±


    ¡°A wizard transcends mortal limits, embodying the pinnacle of life¡¯s evolution¡­¡±


    One by one, almost a dozen voiced praises of a wizard¡¯s greatness, mystery, and irresistible power.


    Nidhogg also shared his perspective: ¡°A great wizard should use their mastery of knowledge to achieve their ideals.¡±


    As he spoke, he recalled the words inscribed on the academy tunnel: ¡°Give me endless knowledge, and I will use myself as a fulcrum to move infinite worlds.¡±


    Once everyone had shared their thoughts, Eileen remained silent, signaling her dissatisfaction.


    However, no one else stood up.


    Eileen stated calmly, ¡°A wizard is someone who uses their exquisite knowledge as a lever to shift the world¡¯s rules. Remember, these words are those of the great ancient wizard Antonio.¡±


    Then, she tidied her desk and said, ¡°Now, let me demonstrate what it means to shift the rules.¡±


    Taking out three identical magic stones, she rolled them across the crystal ball before herself.


    ¡°Observe, these stones each contain seven standard units of magical energy.¡±


    Eileen intoned a spell, and a transparent barrier rose from the table, lifting the crystal ball into the air.


    ¡°Now, this crystal ball will record the energy output of these magic stones.¡±


    The first stone was wrapped in raw magic and flung into the air, where it exploded with a ¡°pop.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s check the result. Using the most primitive method to detonate the stone, the crystal ball records receiving three units of magical energy, while the stone originally contained seven.¡±


    Eileen shook her head.


    ¡°This means the stone¡¯s potential wasn¡¯t fully realized due to a wizard¡¯s crude manipulation.¡±


    Next, she picked up the second magic stone, allowing its magic to flow into her. She incanted, conjuring a fist-sized fireball at her fingertip, which she casually lobbed at the floating crystal ball.


    The barrier flashed, and the fire engulfed the isolated area within the table in flames.


    ¡°Now, see this,¡± Eileen said. ¡°With the most basic fireball spell, converting the magic¡¯s energy into fire, the crystal ball recorded an attack of forty energy units¡ªover thirteen times greater, realizing five times the stone¡¯s original power.¡±


    Finally, Eileen lifted the last magic stone, absorbing its energy. With a complex incantation, a head-sized fireball emerged, transforming into a fiery bird.


    ¡°This is my own refinement of the fireball spell, developed during my apprenticeship. It took three years, but it was well worth the effort.¡±


    The fiery bird hurtled towards the crystal ball with a whoosh, exploding into a concentrated firestorm around it.


    The blast was instantaneous, unlike the prolonged burn of previous attempts.


    Gesturing, Eileen summoned the crystal ball to her hand and examined its data, smiling. ¡°The crystal ball shows it received an attack of sixty-six energy units. In other words, this stone, with just seven original units, produced over nine times its energy after I manipulated it as a wizard.¡±


    She paused, smiling, ¡°This is the power wizards hold.¡±


    For the first time, the newcomers realized the source and philosophy of a wizard¡¯s power, their expressions filled with wonder and incredulity.


    However, they only considered Eileen¡¯s demonstration a fascinating game, their focus solely on when they could wield such power themselves.


    Nidhogg, though, pondered deeply.


    Using knowledge as a lever, oneself as a fulcrum, exploiting the diversity and contradictions of rules to shift the world¡¯s framework!


    Is this what it means to be a wizard?

 Chapter 22: Two Years

    Time flies¡ªtwo years have gone by. To the newcomers of the Blacksword Tower Wizard Academy, 700 natural days on the Wizard Continent have been enough for many things to unfold.


    Nidhogg silently swept the corners of the library with a broom. This was a job he found through the influence of the Bloodsail Alliance, earning him two magic stones a month. Don¡¯t underestimate this part-time job; initially, many fought tooth and nail for it, but thanks to Nina and the Bloodsail Alliance, Nidhogg secured it.


    Earning four magic stones a month, Nidhogg should have been able to comfortably advance from a beginner with decent aptitude and intelligence to a full-fledged wizard apprentice within the academy¡¯s three-year novice protection period. Yet...


    ¡°Could I have made a mistake?¡±


    Nidhogg frowned, feeling troubled.


    In over two years, Nidhogg had mastered only one spell: the preliminary modification of "Hunter¡¯s Nose." He had completed this spell within six months of arriving at the academy. Typically, a newcomer should spend all his spare time meditating while using magic stones to learn new spells. With his monthly income of four magic stones, Nidhogg should have easily outpaced most of his peers.


    However!


    Nidhogg didn¡¯t want to just mechanically learn spells as outlined in magic books. Instead, he sought to explore the arcane principles and understand the essence behind the spells, wasting precious time in the process.


    For example, through two years of research on "Hunter¡¯s Nose," Nidhogg discerned one ambiguous piece of knowledge: why wasn¡¯t the modification of ¡°Hunter¡¯s Nose¡± considered bloodline magic?


    But what use was this?


    Could this so-called knowledge empower Nidhogg to survive the trial in a year?


    ¡°Give me endless knowledge, and I will use myself as a fulcrum to move the infinite world.¡±


    Is knowledge really that important?


    Did I make a mistake?


    Nidhogg¡¯s growing confusion stemmed from the impending end of the three-year protection period for newcomers, which would be followed by the academy¡¯s terrifying trial exams and subsequent mandatory biannual tasks.


    From the previous cohort of wizard apprentices, Nidhogg learned that the so-called trial was essentially a deadly selection process to determine which newcomers were qualified to advance.


    During the trial, those who hadn¡¯t mastered three spells to become wizard apprentices had survival rates of less than ten percent. Even among apprentices, the survival rate hovered around forty percent.


    So brutal was the trial that veteran wizard apprentices called it the Bloody Grindstone.


    Once, "Hunter¡¯s Nose Modification and Scent Spectrum" was Nidhogg¡¯s beacon of hope in the wizarding world, his edge over other apprentices. But now¡­


    ¡°No! Ah¡­¡±


    Suddenly, a piercing scream erupted in the library. Startled, Nidhogg rushed toward the source of the sound.


    There, four or five people stood numbly around someone writhing on the floor.


    Nidhogg stepped closer and his pupils contracted: "Linz!"


    Linz, a female wizard apprentice, was one of the first in their cohort to become an apprentice and was quite famous. Her beauty had attracted many admirers among the male apprentices.


    However, Linz had a ¡°flaw¡±¡ªshe refused to cultivate a symbiotic insect.


    This was understandable, considering that from an ordinary person¡¯s perspective, having bugs crawling on or inside one¡¯s body was terrifying. Even Nidhogg had been resistant to the idea.


    Symbiotic insects represented the initial use of soul power by wizards, distributing their power to insects with special functions, which evolved by feeding on potent biological blood meals.


    While symbiotic insects had some defensive utility, their primary role was bolstering a wizard¡¯s resistance to curses and illusions.


    Watching Linz scream in agony, Nidhogg sighed. Another wizard apprentice was about to die a painful death.


    In two years, Nidhogg had witnessed many curse-related deaths, a murder method notoriously hard for the enforcement team to trace.


    He maliciously speculated whether Linz¡¯s death would result from flesh-eating bugs devouring her to the bone or by having her blood solidify, causing suffocation. Or would she simply wither into a mummified corpse, as someone else had?


    Her screams escalated, and Nidhogg smelled something burning.


    Deep red against her skin, Linz finally collapsed, her body withering visibly, as if her bones had melted away, leaving no support.


    Moments later, Linz disintegrated into ashes, leaving her clothes intact on the floor, as if her body had been spirited away by some unknown force¡ªa truly eerie scene.


    ¡°A self-igniting curse, quite an advanced one¡­¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    A wizard apprentice in front of Nidhogg muttered before nonchalantly leaving. Over the years, he had grown accustomed to seeing newcomers succumb to curses.


    Typically, the period from a newcomer¡¯s first three years to the trial exams saw the most ¡°accidental¡± deaths in the academy.


    Nidhogg felt a chill down his spine, even after witnessing such curse deaths repeatedly, because he never knew when he might meet the same fate.


    Curses required certain conditions¡ªnamely, the extraction of physical information from the victim.


    This "physical information" could be a drop of blood, a fingernail, or even a strand of hair.


    Legend had it that the most powerful curse masters could extract weak physical signatures from objects a person had touched.


    Night fell on the Bloodsail Alliance gathering.


    The former leadership by five spellcasters had been replaced by a council of twelve elders overseeing the alliance.


    Of the original five spellcasters, only three became elders due to the ¡°accidental¡± deaths of the Fireball and Puppet Casters; the other nine elders were exceptional newcomers with superior talent and intelligence.


    Nina, Yorkris, Yorkliana, Binghampton, and Nidhogg still sat together, yet Nidhogg felt an inexplicable sadness.


    Yorkris spoke quietly, ¡°Nidhogg, last week Nina led us into the Thorny Forest, and we found some things. Although dangerous, each of us earned about seven magic stones. How about you join us this time?¡±


    Feigning indifference, Nidhogg replied softly, ¡°Forget it. You know I¡¯m not much use right now. I wouldn¡¯t help you but drag you down. Even¡­¡±


    Nidhogg glanced at Yorkliana, ¡°Even your sister is much stronger than I am now.¡±


    He knew Yorkliana had mastered three spells, becoming a wizard apprentice, and all her spells were supportive, greatly enhancing Yorkris.


    Together, they could outmatch some elder-level wizard apprentices in the alliance!


    ¡°Nidhogg, stop pushing yourself so hard! You¡¯ll end up in a vicious cycle at this rate. Do you want to stay mediocre forever?¡± Nina couldn¡¯t hold back her concern, looking earnestly into Nidhogg¡¯s eyes¡ªher anxiety and care unmistakable.


    Everyone knew that the brutal trial exam loomed a year away. Nobody in the Bloodsail Alliance harbored any illusions about their chances; they were all diligently strengthening themselves.


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    Nidhogg hesitated, when another voice interrupted.


    From Astaladra, a bearded male wizard apprentice, one of the Twelve Elders and a devoted admirer of Nina, known for his high magical talent.


    Astaladra interjected, ¡°Stop pushing him. When you think you¡¯re helping a friend, have you considered his pride? Your generosity, though well-intentioned, borders on condescension.¡±


    Turning to Nidhogg with a sincere smile, Astaladra continued, ¡°It¡¯s alright. You¡¯re Nina¡¯s friend, hence a friend of mine and the Bloodsail Alliance. No matter how weak you are, neither I nor the alliance will abandon you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Nidhogg! If you ever need help, just call, and I¡¯ll do my best to assist,¡± Yorkliana added shyly.


    Nidhogg looked at their sincere faces, maintaining a ¡°grateful¡± smile, trying to show his happiness and appreciation for their support.


    But deep down, Nidhogg felt a sharp pain, as if someone was stabbing at his most vulnerable spot.


    Yes, his former friends now regarded him from the heights of success, offering help.


    And here stood Astaladra, who once looked up in awe from some forgotten corner of the Bloodsail Alliance, now exuding the generosity and understanding of a success, empathizing with Nidhogg¡¯s plight.


    All of this pierced Nidhogg deeply.


    On the high platform, one of the twelve elders was loudly announcing internal news from the alliance.


    ¡°Currently, our Bloodsail Alliance ranks fifth in comprehensive ability among all apprentice organizations at the Blacksword Tower, with only older lineage-based organizations ahead of us. I congratulate us on such an achievement.¡±


    ¡°Our alliance boasts 217 official members, of which 205 have become wizard apprentices, and seventeen have been acknowledged by great wizards as their personal disciples. We congratulate those recognized by the great wizards and encourage the newcomers to strive, grow, and elevate our organization!¡±


    Astaladra smiled, waving to those congratulating him, as one of the seventeen apprentices acknowledged by a wizard.


    Meanwhile, Nidhogg hung his head, silently observing everything around him. Occasionally, familiar faces encouraged him, assuring him he¡¯d become an apprentice, but each word felt like a dagger twisting in his heart, forcing him to smile.


    Internally, Nidhogg repeatedly asked himself, Have I truly made a mistake?


    After the gathering, as Nidhogg and Binghampton walked away, Binghampton stayed silent for a long time.


    ¡°Bah! What¡¯s Astaladra anyway? Claiming Nina¡¯s your friend means he¡¯s your friend too, as if we should suck up to him. And saying he won¡¯t abandon you, nor the alliance¡­ does he think he speaks for us?¡± Binghampton railed.


    ¡°When the five spellcasters founded the Bloodsail Alliance, you were there as one of the original members. He¡¯s at best a second-generation member, yet he dares speak of alliance tradition to you? Bah¡­¡±


    Finally, Binghampton, who had been silent, erupted.


    ¡°The fool thinks Nina and you are just casual friends? He knows nothing of how you saved Nina during the sea monster attack, and the bonds we share, which his few months of flattery can¡¯t rival¡­¡±


    Nidhogg stared, his eyes moist, at his oft-annoying chatterbox friend.


    Yet Nidhogg¡¯s eyes grew wet. ¡°Thank you, Binghampton. I need some alone time.¡±


    Nidhogg turned away, hiding his vulnerability.


    Binghampton said no more, patting Nidhogg''s shoulder before leaving.


    Nidhogg walked alone in silence, contemplating the past two years.


    From the day he arrived at Blacksword Tower Wizard Academy, to his belief in uncovering great secrets and deeply engaging in ¡°knowledge,¡± to his current state of disillusionment.


    Unknowingly, Nidhogg arrived at a remote corner of the Blacksword Mountain tunnel, where an eroded, worn boulder stood, steadfast against time¡¯s weathering.


    Lifting his gaze, Nidhogg read the inscription that once changed his fate, uncertain of his feelings now.


    ¡°Give me endless knowledge, and I will use myself as a fulcrum, to move the infinite world.¡±


    He laughed bitterly, realizing his own naivety and ignorance¡ªhow the inspiring words of an ancient wizard had driven him to perilous folly.


    Had he, like other apprentices, spent his time mastering spell after spell without fretting over the knowledge and reasoning, surely he¡¯d be an apprentice or even an alliance elder by now?


    The ancient wizard who uttered this bold claim likely stood atop the world¡¯s pinnacle, yet what did Nidhogg amount to?


    He had foolishly tried to emulate the ancients.


    In despair, Nidhogg considered leaving silently. But as he glanced again at the boulder, he felt a sudden realization, trembling.


    ¡°Give me endless knowledge, to move the infinite world¡­ but who gives me endless knowledge as leverage? Knowledge is hard-earned¡­¡±


    In that instant, Nidhogg felt the phrase, once a proud boast, was laced with profound resignation, as if the ancient wizard cursed his inability to acquire more knowledge. The path to knowledge was fraught with countless thorns, obstacles, and despair, tempting one to surrender to futility.


    A sense of sorrow washed over Nidhogg, as if empathizing with the ancient wizard¡¯s anguish.


    He stood silently, unmoving.


    After a long while, Nidhogg suddenly raised his head, striding purposefully back to his small dwelling.


    At that moment, Nidhogg felt reborn, with newfound resolve. He vowed to stay true to his chosen path and ideals, lest he become a living corpse drifting wherever life pushed him.


    This was a path of unyielding pursuit of knowledge and truth.


    Even if it was filled with hopelessness and death, endless solitude and challenges, Nidhogg refused to walk forever in the footsteps of others.

 Chapter 23: Fragrance

    Nidhogg didn''t rush to take action immediately. Instead, he focused on calming his mind and organizing his thoughts through meditation. For wizards, meditation is a means of converting mental power into equivalent levels of magical energy, as well as a basic practice to enhance mental strength.


    This gives rise to the concept of wizard aptitude. Depending on one''s innate aptitude, the same meditation could result in a year''s worth of mental power growth for some, while for others, it might take a decade.


    After an hourglass''s worth of meditation, Nidhogg opened his eyes, completing the necessary daily session. Meditation isn''t about prolonged duration but rather about maintaining a steady daily routine of an hourglass''s worth of time. Exceeding this could lead to mental fatigue, diminishing the benefits.


    He exhaled deeply, picking up a crystal ball to assess his current state.


    Mental Power: 13, Magic: 125~137.


    ¡°Hmm? My magic capacity increased by two points? It seems my recent insights have indeed been impactful.¡±


    Finally able to maintain a calm mood, Nidhogg¡¯s eyes shone with the wisdom of a wizard as he quietly sat before his experiment station.


    On the worktable lay a dissected frog in preservative solution, a white mouse squeaking in its cage, and seven or eight jars containing various insects. A sealed container with a yellow liquid held a monkey brain. Additionally, there were several bottles of mysterious liquids, exuding different scents, likely simple aromatic compounds Nidhogg had formulated based on "The Scent Spectrum." There was also a precious low-grade microscope.


    Nidhogg took out his experiment notes, which documented his two years of research on "Hunter¡¯s Nose Modification." Over these years, he had developed the ability to identify nearly 4,000 scent profiles¡ªalmost ten times beyond the average.


    Massaging his temples, Nidhogg began to ponder once more.


    ¡°The Hunter¡¯s Nose Modification is not based on bloodline magic. This was confirmed when I bought the microscope six months ago. Bloodline magic involves assimilating the blood of powerful creatures to alter and enhance one''s own blood and power system through mysterious means.¡±


    Lighting some tranquil incense¡ªa blend he devised using "The Scent Spectrum" and alchemical knowledge to soothe the mind¡ªNidhogg continued his reflection.


    ¡°Since it¡¯s not bloodline-based, and also doesn''t fall within the categories I have access to¡ªelemental, curse, mysticism, mental power, soul, alchemy, or mechanical systems¡ªwhat exactly is the principle behind Hunter¡¯s Nose Modification? And why doesn¡¯t the magical book bear an author¡¯s name?¡±


    In the library, Nidhogg had tirelessly searched for similar spellbooks to corroborate his experiments. Surprisingly, the vast repository held no parallel to "Hunter¡¯s Nose Modification"¡ªa spell capable of evolving the wizard¡¯s body without belonging to bloodline, alchemical, or mechanical magic.


    Pacing alone in his room, Nidhogg felt a flicker of an idea and quickly returned to his worktable, pulling out the restless white mouse from its cage.


    ¡°If it¡¯s not bloodline magic, what exactly is altered within the organism to prompt evolution? Perhaps, I should experiment to see what parts of the body the Hunter¡¯s Nose Modification affects through the injected substances.¡±


    With this new line of inquiry, Nidhogg seemed possessed, rummaging under the worktable until he found a bottle of red liquid.


    This solution was a synthetic dye that wouldn¡¯t harm an organism if ingested, as its harmful components would be neutralized by stomach mucosa. However, direct injection could cause mild toxicity.


    A wizard wouldn''t show mercy to their "experimental materials." Nidhogg had some lower-grade ingredients left for the Hunter¡¯s Nose Modification, which only produced substandard injections incapable of granting evolutionary benefits, but sufficient for observation.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Half a day later, Nidhogg finished producing a rudimentary Hunter¡¯s Nose Modification compound.


    Having previously extracted the mouse¡¯s cellular blood for a neutralizing agent, Nidhogg otherwise would have faced weeks of preparation.


    Grabbing a fine needle, he injected the compound into the mouse, patiently waiting to observe its effects.


    Two days later.


    Under the microscope, Nidhogg discovered experimental results that left him astounded.


    ¡°How is this possible? The mouse¡¯s cells all exhibit signs of toxicity? Every cell stained red by the dye? How can that be? Only the nose was supposed to ¡®evolve,¡¯ so why would every cell undergo a change?¡±


    Nidhogg was incredulous, yet also thrilled.


    Perhaps today marked a major breakthrough.


    However, Nidhogg couldn¡¯t continue his research in his small lab because the microscope, although an expensive acquisition from Blacksword Tower, was just a beginner''s model. Priced at thirty magic stones, it only allowed observation of microscopic cells, a standard tool for apprentice-level knowledge. For detailed cellular changes, a more advanced microscope was needed.


    The experiment couldn¡¯t be stopped!


    Determined, Nidhogg clutched his equipment and headed directly to Blacksword Tower¡ªthe heart of the wizard academy.


    The Blacksword Tower spanned a vast area; the ground floor resembled a massive marketplace extending beyond sight. Without delay, Nidhogg rushed to the top seventh floor.


    ¡°I need to rent a high-power microscope.¡±


    Holding his gear, Nidhogg spoke urgently.


    The apprentice managing the precious equipment rentals glanced at Nidhogg, replying calmly, ¡°One magic stone per day. However, if any equipment is damaged during use, the enforcement team will hold you accountable.¡±


    Shocked by the rental cost of a high-power microscope, Nidhogg gritted his teeth, handed over a magic stone, and hurried into the laboratory.


    One day later, Nidhogg exited the lab, his expression grim as he approached the apprentice in charge. ¡°Does the academy have even more advanced microscopes available?¡±


    ¡°More advanced?¡±


    Surprised by Nidhogg¡¯s question, the apprentice replied, ¡°You, a mere wizard apprentice, need such precise data for potion research that not even our high-power microscopes suffice?¡±


    Typically, only alchemical potions required stringent microscope use, and occasionally, certain mechanical studies did too. Other disciplines rarely needed them.


    The apprentice shrugged dismissively. ¡°Our academy isn''t particularly strong in alchemy, so we don''t have anything more advanced¡­ Wait, I remember now.¡±


    Nidhogg expressed hope, ¡°Really, there is one?¡±


    The apprentice gave Nidhogg an odd look before smirking. ¡°My mentor has an even finer microscope, rumored to have been purchased from the Seventh Ring Holy Tower.¡±


    ¡°Your mentor?¡±


    Nidhogg¡¯s face fell; he didn¡¯t need to be told his mentor was a great wizard, making borrowing a microscope from them a daunting prospect.


    Despite his dread, Nidhogg asked hesitantly, ¡°May I know who your mentor is?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know who my mentor is, but if you can give me twenty magic stones, I¡¯ll let you use it once when they¡¯re away. Deal?¡±


    The apprentice winked at Nidhogg, as if sharing a mischievous secret.


    ¡°Twenty magic stones!¡±


    Nidhogg felt like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, jumping in shock. ¡°Are you crazy? Just for one use, that¡¯s outrageous!¡±


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m taking a big risk too. If my mentor finds out, I¡¯m in serious trouble. You decide. Not a stone less,¡± the apprentice said nonchalantly. ¡°Name¡¯s Valo, come find me if you¡¯re interested.¡±


    Nidhogg bit back his frustration and left.


    He didn¡¯t even have two magic stones to spare, let alone twenty. His resources amounted to just one and a half stones.


    ¡°Think, think, how can I get those damned twenty magic stones!¡±


    Nidhogg paced anxiously.


    Borrowing wasn¡¯t an option.


    In two years, Nidhogg hadn¡¯t made new friends, and he couldn''t bring himself to ask his Bloodsail Alliance friends unless absolutely necessary.


    ¡°A great wizard uses their mastery of knowledge to achieve their ideals. I have this knowledge of the Hunter¡¯s Nose Spell. How can I leverage it to get those magic stones?¡±


    Rubbing his head, Nidhogg was near despair when he noticed the array of scent mixtures on his lab table.


    ¡°Hmm? Maybe¡­ I could sell these fragrances? Yes! I could create scent compounds based on the Scent Spectrum that naturally attract humans.¡±


    In a flash of inspiration, Nidhogg remembered the Scent Spectrum¡¯s description of an aroma irresistible to humans: the pheromonal scent of sexual attraction!


    Most people couldn¡¯t detect this odor, labeled a stench in the spectrum, but when perceived, it triggered subconscious illusions in humans of the opposite sex.


    Essentially, it acted as an aphrodisiac.


    This spark ignited Nidhogg¡¯s passion. Scent alchemy was his forte, honed through two years of study and previous research on East Coral Island.


    Crafting a fragrance required ten scent profiles.


    Three short notes to provide an immediate impact.


    Three middle notes to linger for several hourglasses¡¯ time.


    Three long notes to be detected in the following days, creating a lasting impression.


    Finally, a base note, the essence of the fragrance, would suppress the other nine profiles. Once smelled, this would be the scent recalled.


    Though simple in practice, it involved calculating scent molecule interactions¡ªknowledge Nidhogg gained through extensive study of the Scent Spectrum.


    Most might think to blend natural floral and honey scents instead.


    Nidhogg¡¯s method involved altering the base note to resemble human pheromones.


    This meant he needed to create separate fragrances for men and women.

 Chapter 24: Choice

    After two days and nights of intense focus on crafting his perfumes, Nidhogg did not neglect his library cleaning duties. With dark circles under his eyes, he finally emerged carrying thirty bottles of his concoction to the trading plaza on the first floor of Blacksword Tower.


    "Could you help me consign these thirty bottles of perfume? Price them at one magic stone each," Nidhogg asked a wizard apprentice deeply absorbed in a magic book.


    The apprentice, a chubby fellow whose robes couldn''t quite hide his bulk, looked up at Nidhogg with surprise. "Perfume? What¡¯s that? I have plenty of floral essences."


    "Uh... it¡¯s an elixir that can alter one''s natural scent, subtly attracting the opposite sex. It¡¯s a little invention of mine," Nidhogg explained succinctly.


    "Oh? Something to attract the opposite sex?" The apprentice seemed intrigued and reached to open a bottle, but Nidhogg quickly stopped him. "There are two kinds of perfume: one for men and one for women. Using the wrong one might cause undesirable effects."


    Following Nidhogg''s guidance, the apprentice closed his eyes and gently opened a bottle to take a sniff. After a moment of quiet contemplation, he suddenly opened his eyes, looking at Nidhogg with delight.


    "What¡¯s this called? It¡¯s amazing! I felt a rush akin to the flutter of a first crush during adolescence¡ªsuch an enchanting experience!"


    "Uh... a name? Let''s call it Venus''s Charm," Nidhogg said, slightly taken aback by the apprentice''s flamboyant description. While he found the scent appealing, it seemed exaggerated.


    Perhaps it was because he had never truly been in love?


    Nidhogg pondered with a wizard''s curiosity.


    "Venus''s Charm? Haha, great name, great name! But I have a suggestion¡ªwhy not sell this for two magic stones a bottle?"


    The apprentice clearly relished the idea of fetching a higher price for such a rare elixir, which meant greater rewards for him.


    "Two magic stones per bottle? Isn¡¯t that too expensive?"


    Nidhogg skeptically eyed the apprentice, thinking that spending two magic stones on a non-combat-enhancing perfume seemed excessive.


    The apprentice shook his head dismissively. "Those who can buy this wouldn¡¯t mind an extra magic stone. You think the entire academy is filled with newcomers struggling for these stones? Besides, who said I¡¯d sell this to the apprentices?"


    "You mean... sell it to the great wizards!"


    Nidhogg¡¯s mouth fell open in surprise.


    The apprentice saw Nidhogg''s wide-eyed reaction and couldn¡¯t help but reflect¡ªhow odd that such an unworldly fellow had invented something so extraordinary!


    After all, wizards are people too, and those with long lifespans appreciate such fascinating "luxuries."


    Using scents to entrap the senses instead of mere illusions¡ªthis guy had true talent.


    The apprentice looked at Nidhogg with newfound admiration.


    Later, Nidhogg, utterly exhausted, returned to his room and collapsed into a deep sleep.


    When he woke a full day later, he nibbled on some preserved food and recalled that he had an important class today. A well-regarded wizard would be teaching the basics of soul magic, laying the groundwork for creating soul slaves and symbiotic insects¡ªtopics crucial for any wizard¡¯s future endeavors.


    Previously, his obsessive research on "Hunter¡¯s Nose Modification and the Scent Spectrum" led him to skip many such opportunities, but with the trial exams looming, Nidhogg knew he had to prepare urgently.


    However, attending such lectures required magic stones, and he had used up his last one and a half stones on materials for his perfumes.


    Fretting, he tugged at his hair, then decided to check on the sales at Blacksword Tower, hoping the enthusiastic apprentice had sold enough bottles. He desperately needed more stones.


    ¡°Oh¡­ my dear inventor of Venus¡¯s Charm, you¡¯ve finally come!¡± The chubby apprentice whisked towards Nidhogg like a breeze, startling him with his zeal. "What¡¯s the matter? Did the perfumes sell well?"The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Not just well! I recommended Venus¡¯s Charm to one wizard, and after a single whiff, he was so delighted he bought all thirty bottles!"


    The apprentice laughed heartily. "He didn¡¯t even haggle over the price!"


    Nidhogg was stunned. Was it really necessary to go to such lengths? It was just a fragrance he had accidentally invented.


    "Hehe, so I raised the price a bit, saying it was three magic stones per bottle. The wizard didn¡¯t mind¡ªjust tossed me a mid-grade magic stone and didn¡¯t even ask for change!"


    The apprentice grinned smugly, eagerly asking, "So, do you have more perfumes? I guarantee a smooth sale! Bring as many as you can, and I¡¯ll sell them all!"


    Accepting ninety magic stones from the apprentice, ten as his consignment fee, Nidhogg was both thrilled and hesitant. "I can make more perfumes, but it takes time and effort. And with the nearing trial exam, I plan to focus on improving my skills. I¡¯ll make more when I¡¯m short on stones."


    Though disappointed, the apprentice understood the severe demands of the exams and didn¡¯t press further. "Alright¡­ then leave your crystal ball info with me. We¡¯ll keep in touch! I¡¯m Digen, but you can call me Fatty."


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Shortly after, Nidhogg discreetly left Blacksword Tower.


    As a wizard now holding a small fortune of ninety magic stones, he felt uneasy, fearing the envy of others might lead to his being cursed. Previously, with nothing to his name, he wasn¡¯t a target, but now¡­


    ¡°Sorting out the symbiotic insect issue needs to be a priority! Luckily, I¡¯ve prepared some decent samples.¡±


    Nidhogg jogged to the lecture hall and paid for the class with his magic stones, finally able to attend the session.


    The instructor, a wizard with a voice resonating like machinery, wore a large robe, from under which two black misty eyes drifted, adding an eerie, mysterious element that blurred the lines of the wizard''s gender.


    This wizard seemed particularly obsessed with soul magic.


    "Kehehehe, soul magic is the most exalted and elegant art of wizards, the core essence of life. Do you know how otherworldly beings regard us wizards? They call us world overlords for our control over soul slaves, illustrating their fear of our magnificent artistry..."


    The lesson spanned two hourglasses, half of which the eccentric wizard spent extolling soul magic¡¯s grandeur through history. Only in the latter half did they delve into practical applications.


    Yet, it must be said that this wizard possessed unique, nuanced insights into soul magic, presenting theories that opened Nidhogg¡¯s eyes and enlightened him further, demonstrating genuine expertise.


    At the lecture¡¯s end, Nidhogg headed directly back to Blacksword Tower¡¯s seventh floor, seeking out the apprentice named Valo.


    Valo, whose job was notably lax with few daily visitors, remembered Nidhogg and grinned. "Oh, you gathered the magic stones?"


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Without further discussion, Nidhogg handed over twenty magic stones to Valo, who accepted them with a chuckle.


    ¡°Alright, leave your crystal ball imprint with me. I¡¯ll call you when my mentor¡¯s out. Don¡¯t worry, I wouldn¡¯t cheat you out of twenty mere stones.¡±


    Despite his hesitation, Nidhogg trusted that anyone who secured a plush job on the seventh floor must have considerable influence, unlikely to scam him for such a paltry sum.


    After exchanging crystal imprints, Nidhogg returned to his small dwelling, reflecting on the insects he had collected.


    Nidhogg was contemplating choices for his symbiotic insect.


    Theoretically, nearly any insect could serve as a wizard¡¯s symbiotic partner due to their unique soul traits enhancing resistance to curses and illusions. Yet, for such an intimate lifelong companion, every wizard desired one with special traits.


    Among the seven insects Nidhogg had collected, three were easily eliminated, leaving him wavering over four options.


    The first was the Corpse-eating Bug.


    These bugs were collected from a cursed-to-death apprentice, devouring the body in moments¡ªexhibiting extreme ferocity.


    Nidhogg had cautiously gathered a few given their vicious nature.


    The second was the Moth Beetle, a parasitic insect.


    In spring, these bugs were eaten by coprophagous organisms from crane droppings, parasitizing their hosts.


    Disturbingly, they caused hosts to mutate unnaturally¡ªsprouting extra limbs.


    These mutated creatures, hampered in mobility, were easily preyed upon by cranes, completing the parasite life cycle.


    Few noticed these insects; Nidhogg had only discovered them while investigating bloodline magic, later collecting a batch.


    The third was the Grain Moth.


    Beloved among apprentice wizards, this symbiote lacked aggression but drastically extended lifespan, from two to three hundred years!


    The fourth was unknown to Nidhogg, discovered in an old test tube during a trash disposal, absent from library records. It resembled a slime mold.


    Nidhogg speculated it might be a botched experiment by another apprentice.


    Its sole observed trait was robust vitality, akin to a worm, capable of surviving bifurcation and regenerating into two entities.


    Considering the four test tube-borne candidates, Nidhogg pondered his choice.


    Eventually, he set aside the first and fourth options.


    Despite the Corpse-eating Bug¡¯s aggression, a symbiotic insect wasn¡¯t typically a combat tool unless reared specifically for that purpose. Thus, its attack prowess was a non-factor.


    As for the fourth insect, as a presumed byproduct of failed wizardry, it implied the existence of more successful counterparts, typically superior.


    Moreover, its unstable reproductive capacity¡ªunable to breed naturally¡ªwas a liability, suggesting continuous artificial splitting for propagation.


    Sighing, Nidhogg turned to the Grain Moth.


    Indeed, this popular choice among apprentices had undeniable merits.


    Yet, Nidhogg hesitated to discard the Moth Beetle completely. He¡¯d observed its capacity to induce biological mutations, a form of evolutionary power!


    Granted, this ¡°evolution¡± often culminated in grotesque deformities.


    Nevertheless, lacking reliance on bloodline magic, Nidhogg couldn¡¯t help but wonder if there was a peculiar connection to "Hunter¡¯s Nose Modification."


    Finally, Nidhogg decided to cultivate the Moth Beetle in a live frog, intending to examine the results using the high-powered microscope once it became available.


    With this plan in mind, Nidhogg left briefly and returned with a frog. After excising a hind leg as a control specimen and applying hemostasis, he began to cultivate the Moth Beetle within the unfortunate amphibian.

 Chapter 25: Elements

    Introduction to the Fundamentals of Fire Element Magic


    With an abundance of magic stones on hand and still no news regarding the high-powered microscopes, coupled with Nidhogg¡¯s indecision about a companion parasite, he found himself reluctantly turning his attention to the study of elemental magic to avoid wasting precious time.


    In the realm of wizards, every mage, regardless of their primary focus, inevitably conducts research on elemental basics. This necessity arises from the simple fact that during an apprentice¡¯s training, the initial process of solidifying an elemental magic array within the soul using mental power can significantly boost one¡¯s mental strength, an enticing prospect for any mage apprentice.


    After diligently reading "Introduction to the Fundamentals of Fire Element Magic" twice, Nidhogg gently set the book aside, deep in thought.


    ¡°This so-called elemental magic array might be the most fundamental lever-like power a wizard can control. Simplified to this degree, it resembles an art form.¡±


    Elemental magic arrays consist of two foundational elements: runes and the magic array itself. Regarding runes, traditional wizard textbooks document a total of twenty-six characters. By combining these characters in various ways, one can use magic to communicate with the elemental forces of the endless world. However, this primitive method of communication disproportionately consumes magic compared to the elemental energy it harnesses.


    In addition to the standard twenty-six characters, both nature and certain wizard labs contain unique runes. These runes facilitate connections to rare natural energy attributes or even new energy forms created by wizards, such as the Dead Soul Flame once used by the wizard Dilara aboard the sea wheel.


    Regarding magic arrays, they are composed of numerous runes that form a pattern or structure comprehensible and visualizable by wizards. This pattern is then permanently solidified on the soul using mental power. Although a magic array can evolve into countless forms based on individual understanding, its core¡ªa six-pointed star within a large circle¡ªremains unchanged. This is the result of ancient wizards'' collective wisdom, conceived as the ultimate and most fundamental knowledge leverage to manipulate the rules of the world.


    Future wizards seeking to enhance magic arrays must build upon this core pattern, modifying the structure of elemental magic accordingly. For example, during Nidhogg¡¯s first basic witchcraft education session, the third experiment conducted by the "beautiful" witch transformed a basic fireball into the shape of a firebird.


    Rubbing his brow, Nidhogg picked up a blank sheet of paper and a quill. To permanently solidify an elemental magic array into the soul, the first step is mastering the skilled drawing of all characters with mental power¡ªa meticulous task that varies with each person¡¯s elemental affinity, yet typically even the least attuned wizard could complete this within a year. However, Nidhogg didn¡¯t consider himself to be lacking in intelligence.


    While tracing the twenty-six characters with his quill, Nidhogg''s mental power repeatedly practiced these characters, growing increasingly proficient. Three days later, he was astonished by his progress. ¡°Am I an elemental magic prodigy? In just three days, I¡¯ve mastered the writing process of all characters with my mental power!¡±


    Ten days later, following a bout of inexplicable pain, Nidhogg appeared somewhat weary yet thrilled. ¡°In under two weeks, I¡¯ve permanently solidified the fire elemental magic array in my soul. I truly have a knack for elemental magic!¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Nidhogg murmured an incantation, causing a crystal ball to float silently before him as he began assessing his condition.


    ¡°Mental Power: 18, Magic: 126~137. As expected, my mental power has increased by five points!¡± With enhanced mental power, magic naturally increases over time with meditation.


    Feeling a rush of excitement, Nidhogg recited another spell towards the crystal ball. As it flashed brightly before returning to a dim state, he decided to test the strength of his full-strength fireball spell.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    The magic-to-standard magic energy unit ratio suggests that ten points of magic equate to one unit of standard energy. Therefore, even if Nidhogg utilized all his magic, it would only amount to twelve or thirteen units. However, in typical combat situations, a wizard can instantaneously unleash no more than a quarter of their magic. Greater magic release requires extensive chanting preparation. Furthermore, this maximum magic burst decreases proportionally as the wizard¡¯s magic stores increase.


    Channeling his magic into the soul''s elemental magic array, Nidhogg felt a familiar warmth as a fist-sized fireball appeared at his fingertips.


    Uh¡­


    Indeed, it was much smaller than what the witch had initially produced¡­


    Nidhogg flicked his finger, and the fireball shot towards the crystal ball. As the flames rippled, he summoned the crystal back into his hand.


    ¡°Twenty-one units? I expended nearly forty magic points for a twenty-one-unit fireball, achieving a fivefold increase in energy intensity. Not bad!¡±


    A brief explanation of energy unit foundational damage: a newborn can be fatally affected by a single unit of standard energy, while three units are lethal to adults. Trained knights, due to their resilience, require five to ten standard units. Even legendary knights cannot escape severe injury from a twenty-one-unit attack unless they manage to avoid it.


    Most legendary knights ally with powerful wizards, enhancing their bodies to achieve greater levels of strength and resilience.


    Nidhogg was deeply satisfied. From this moment, he wielded power beyond that of ordinary civilians. Even the simplest offensive spell enabled a wizard apprentice to kill a legendary knight, underpinning the dominance of wizards in this world. Thus, in one year¡¯s trials, Nidhogg¡¯s chances of survival had notably increased.


    Despite the recent solidification of the elemental magic array in his soul, the surge in mental power left him exhausted, leading Nidhogg into a natural slumber.


    Who knows how much time had passed when the soft chime awakened his soul. The crystal ball''s mental link revealed an apprentice wizard named Varro on Black Tower¡¯s seventh floor calling: ¡°Hey, Nidhogg, come over. My teacher just left. Bring some rodent fish with you!¡±


    Nidhogg shot up from his bed, sleep evaporating. Finally, access to the advanced microscope?


    Eagerly, Nidhogg gathered several containers holding dissected mouse limbs. After some thought, he also picked up the frog infested by parasitic wasp snails. This frog, previously amputated of a hind leg and preserved, grotesquely sprouted three extra legs due to the parasitism over time, resembling a bizarre, malformed creature.


    This was not evolution; true evolution strengthens a species, elevating it within biological and food chain hierarchies. However, the frog¡¯s newly ¡°deformed¡± legs were akin to tumors, useless and only a burden. The reason lies in the wasp snails'' intent to return to the crane¡¯s body to reproduce, requiring the frog¡¯s ¡°cooperation¡± to enable easy consumption.


    Without delay, Nidhogg took the deformed frog and its preserved hind leg, leaving his room.


    On the first floor of Black Tower, he bought some rodent fish. Although unsure of Varro¡¯s intentions with these finger-sized fish, they were either a snack or experimental material and were inexpensive.


    Upon reaching Black Tower¡¯s seventh floor, Varro greeted him with a grin: ¡°You¡¯re in luck; the teacher just went out to handle some affairs.¡±


    Varro then led Nidhogg further up the Black Tower. Passing through two massive mechanical golems, Nidhogg, with Varro¡¯s lead, proceeded without issue. This was Nidhogg¡¯s first visit above the seventh floor, and he peered around curiously, only to find the spacious corridor devoid of people.


    ¡°Stop gawking. The eighth floor and above are reserved for official wizards. Don¡¯t wander, or you might get thrown out by some ill-tempered wizard,¡± Varro warned.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Nidhogg nodded, following Varro upward.


    After scaling over seventy floors, Nidhogg was drenched and breathless while Varro remained unfazed, instructing, ¡°Once we enter, just follow me and don¡¯t interfere.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Nidhogg, nearly exhausted, had no energy for further words.


    Varro shook his head, ¡°Honestly, why not study bloodline magic? Your physical condition is poor.¡±


    He then unlocked a door lined with magical barriers, and Nidhogg followed carefully, staying silent.


    ¡°Yo, Varro, is this kid your client?¡± Nidhogg turned to see a black cat lounging lazily on a sofa, gazing at Varro and him.


    Varro chuckled, placing a small bag of rodent fish before the cat. ¡°Yes, he is. As agreed, five magic stones each. And these are the rodent fish.¡±


    Nidhogg inwardly noted that he had provided twenty magic stones.


    The black cat lazily rose, stretched, wiped its face with a paw, and picked up the bag of rodent fish. It leaped onto a large fish tank.


    The tank, three meters high and spanning seven or eight meters, contained fearsome, predatory fish swimming sluggishly. Their occasional displays of sharp teeth sent Nidhogg shivering.


    The black cat nonchalantly dumped the entire bag into the tank, watching the fearsome fish devour the rodent fish gleefully, whispering, ¡°Eat up, grow big¡­.¡±


    Observing this scene, Nidhogg felt an odd sense of discomfort.


    Only after watching the monstrous fish consume every last rodent fish did the black cat turn to Varro, satisfied. ¡°Alright, take the kid in. I won¡¯t tell the old man. Just don¡¯t touch anything other than the microscope, or the old man will find out.¡±


    Varro nodded, grinning, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, unless he wants to get himself killed.¡±

 Chapter 26: The Code of Life

    Advanced Microscopic Discoveries


    This was an advanced microscope with precision so intricate it bordered on the exaggerated. After a day and night under this microscope, within the microscopic world of the dissected mouse cells, Nidhogg vaguely discerned an unfamiliar, unheard-of, and even unimagined mysterious region. Remarkably, this mysterious region seemed to exist within all life cells.


    The mysterious region was so minuscule that even with the ultra-advanced microscope before Nidhogg, it could only be detected by the "pigment" previously injected into the mouse cells. This suggested that the nasal modification indeed influenced this mysterious region, leading to the mouse''s "evolution."


    In fact, without the aid of these pigments, Nidhogg would find it nearly impossible to locate this mysterious region, even after a year of observation under the microscope. And even if he did see it, he might not notice it¡ªjust like a singular white grain of sand on a beach.


    Nidhogg, intrigued by this infinitely tiny world, privately named it the Life Code Forbidden Zone.


    Having successfully confirmed that the nasal modification witchcraft differed from bloodline magic and having identified a direction for further research, the next step was to find an even more advanced ultimate microscope to observe the Life Code Forbidden Zone. Thus, the basic task was considered successfully completed.


    Nidhogg''s face reddened with excitement. Although this newfound knowledge did not enhance his combat abilities, nor could he foresee its potential implications, the instinctual thrill of exploring the unknown flooded his soul¡ªa euphoria that nearly overwhelmed him.


    Since the black cat and Varro did not urge him to leave, Nidhogg decided to stay, beginning research on the cells of the frog parasitized by the wasp snail and the previously preserved hind leg cells.


    Half a day later, Nidhogg concluded definitively that there was no change in the frog''s bloodline. Naturally, he linked the frog¡¯s ¡°evolution¡± to the Life Code Forbidden Zone. Could it be that the wasp snail, a natural parasite, could interact with this infinitesimally small world within the Life Code Forbidden Zone?


    This astonishing discovery filled Nidhogg with indescribable excitement. What kind of world was this Life Code Forbidden Zone that could alter the essence of life itself¡ªsomething only deities in myth could achieve?


    From Nidhogg''s apprentice perspective, it was a world beyond imagination. Even the so-called curse transformation spells only temporarily ¡°grafted¡± a soul onto another body, like the time in Bithal City when Wizard Arowoz transformed a knight into a pig.


    In the wizard''s world, there is no belief in deities or gods. Nidhogg was certain that if a god were to appear one day in the wizard world, the terrifying ancient wizards, having lived through countless epochs, would go mad, using all their might to capture and dissect this deity for study.


    Books mention that in the indigenous worlds once conquered by wizards, some beings claimed to be gods. Wizards unceremoniously killed and dissected them, discovering these entities were merely more powerful life forms. These so-called "gods" bore no resemblance to the divine beings who, in myths, created worlds and celestial bodies.


    Despite the endless worlds, even those that wizards have conquered, encountered, communicated with, or heard about, are but a grain of sand in the vast ocean. Therefore, most wizards hold a reverent attitude toward unknown worlds, never denying the possibility of the existence of deities.


    The ultimate goal of wizards is to obtain endless knowledge from conquered worlds, attaining the power to change everything they can imagine.


    Nidhogg¡¯s excitement could not be contained. At this moment, the laboratory door swung open, and the black cat entered with a composed demeanor.


    "Little one, the old man is likely returning today. If you don¡¯t want to die, you¡¯d better leave quickly. Although he¡¯s usually good-natured, that¡¯s only when he¡¯s in a good mood."


    Nidhogg¡¯s expression changed. He thanked the black cat and hurriedly gathered all his experimental materials to leave.


    From behind, the black cat shouted, "If you need anything next time, contact Varro again¡ªsame terms apply."


    "Oh, got it!" Nidhogg left without turning back. He had no desire to be discovered by a wizard wandering about in the lab, lest the wizard¡¯s wrath incinerate him on the spot.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Rather than rush back to his quarters, Nidhogg went to the first floor of Black Tower. In the experimental materials section, he purchased a wild crane with a magic stone before heading to his room.


    "Perhaps the next step is to study why the wild crane can resist the ''evolution'' following the wasp snail parasitism. However, the immediate priority is to cultivate a batch of mature wasp snails as companion parasites. It¡¯s said this step takes considerable time."


    As the trial exam approached, Nidhogg had to devote all his time to enhancing his capabilities, even through unconventional means.


    Half a month later, after finishing his meditation, Nidhogg stood before the wild crane he kept, using mental power to feel the wasp snails he carefully cultivated inside its gizzard.


    "Not bad, in another month, these little guys should reach maturity. Then I''ll¡­"


    Ding...


    At that moment, his crystal ball transmitted a soul signal. Frowning, Nidhogg approached it and input magic to receive the message.


    "Who could be contacting me when I¡¯ve been keeping such a low profile lately?" he mused.


    ¡°Nidhogg, I know you¡¯re preparing for the trial exam, but I had no choice but to contact you.¡±


    Appearing in the crystal ball was the smiling, plump face of the man who handled the consignment of Nidhogg''s Aphrodite Essence.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Nidhogg asked, surprised.


    The image in the crystal ball flickered, revealing the face of the ¡°beautiful¡± witch who taught his basic magical knowledge class¡ªthe one whose act of eating a centipede left a lasting impression on many.


    The witch gazed at Nidhogg through the crystal ball. ¡°You¡¯re the creator of Aphrodite Essence? Quite impressive, young one, to invent something so enchanting.¡±


    Nidhogg managed a weak smile. For a wizard apprentice to capture the attention of a full-fledged wizard was seldom a good omen unless it involved becoming an apprentice, as the power disparity was too great.


    ¡°Alright, enough to frighten you. I¡¯m not a wizard who enjoys slaughter, nor do I casually take on apprentices,¡± she paused before continuing, ¡°This time, I¡¯m reaching out because I want Aphrodite Essence. Prepare thirty bottles for ladies, and you can name your price.¡±


    Nidhogg¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Honestly, Master Elion, I¡¯d love to produce more Aphrodite Essence to earn extra magic stones, but with the trial exams¡­¡±


    The witch''s expression turned icy, her voice stern, ¡°I said you can name your price!¡±


    Startled, Nidhogg was about to agree when she sighed, ¡°Ah¡­ fine, I won¡¯t scare you. I truly enjoy your Aphrodite Essence¡ªan excellent concept involving aromatic molecule magic knowledge. However, since you¡¯re gearing up for the trials, I won¡¯t push you. Bring thirty bottles to the library in three days, and I¡¯ll give you a few items you¡¯ll find useful during the trials.¡±


    Before Nidhogg could respond, the witch severed the connection, leaving him perplexed as to whether being noticed by a wizard was a blessing or a curse.


    Surprisingly, it was due to the fragrances he had not regarded as significant¡ªstarkly unexpected.


    Nevertheless, Nidhogg dared not defy a wizard¡¯s will; doing so could lead to dire consequences, with the wizard finding countless ways to bypass the law enforcement squads to eliminate him.


    ¡°I must prepare something for self-defense when gathering materials for the fragrances, especially something that protects against curses,¡± Nidhogg mused, swiftly heading towards Black Tower.


    The witch had departed, and the plump man repeatedly apologized to Nidhogg, who understood his predicament and bore no ill will. After all, which apprentice dared refuse a wizard¡¯s request? Nidhogg would have done the same in his position.


    However, understanding was one thing; compensation was another. Nidhogg promptly stated his demand.


    ¡°I do have a few items for curse defense suitable for apprentices. Of course, they¡¯re basic and won¡¯t help against advanced curses. Cultivating companion parasites soon would be best,¡± the plump man said as he pulled out several items from behind the counter.


    ¡°This is a Mermaid Tear, a consumable. I only have one drop left, normally priced at fifty magic stones. For you, forty stones at cost. How about it?¡±


    Seeing Nidhogg silent, he pointed at other trinkets with a grimace. ¡°This is an Eternal Earring, a premium enchanted item for apprentices. At least six hundred magic stones, non-negotiable.¡±


    ¡°This is a Screaming Branch. Worn on the body, it can temporarily halt the progression of a curse, solidifying it within the body. Even formal wizards usually carry a piece, at least five hundred magic stones.¡±


    ¡°This is Troll¡¯s Blood¡­¡±


    Nidhogg was stunned, gaping at the plump man, realizing he was unexpectedly well-off.


    Suddenly, the man¡¯s status in Nidhogg¡¯s eyes elevated, transforming into a radiant figure, glowing like a block of shiny magic stone.


    Noticing Nidhogg¡¯s surprise and the glint of desire in his eyes, the plump man¡¯s covert mission seemed successful. He tantalizingly proposed, ¡°Brother Nidhogg, would you be interested in a partnership?¡±


    Nidhogg eyed him warily, ¡°What kind of partnership?¡±


    The man chuckled, ¡°A simple one! To be honest, having a shop in Black Tower means I have some connections here. Most wizards wouldn¡¯t dare mess with me. Thus...if you¡¯re willing to collaborate and give me the fragrance formula to sell, you¡¯d avoid today¡¯s troubles in the future.¡±


    He added with a whisper, ¡°After selling the fragrances, we split the profits 60/40, with you getting 60%. This would continue for your lifetime. How about that?¡±


    Nidhogg smirked skeptically at the man. He wasn¡¯t a child to be easily deceived.


    Gritting his teeth, the man added painfully, ¡°Alright, since you¡¯re preparing for the newcomer trials with significant mortality risk, I can advance you five thousand magic stones. To solidify our agreement, we¡¯ll use a soul-binding seven-ring contract. How about it?¡±


    Five thousand magic stones! A seven-ring contract!


    Astonished, Nidhogg stared at the man. Was this concoction of a fragrance really worth such lengths?


    Even selling thirty bottles to every wizard in Black Tower wouldn¡¯t repay the cost of a seven-ring contract.


    Somehow, this deal seemed like a losing proposition, yet the man managed a successful shop, indicating he wasn''t foolish. There must be some significant secret behind this.

 Chapter 27: Harvest

    Nidhogg received only one answer from the plump man: ¡°Who said I¡¯m only selling in Black Tower?¡± And that was the end of it. Confronted with the direct temptation of five thousand magic stones, Nidhogg no longer hesitated and signed the seven-ring contract, even if he couldn''t fully grasp the underlying intricacies.


    As far as Nidhogg knew, a contract created by the power of the Seven-Ring Sacred Tower was unbreakable without the might of a Level Four wizard. And the existence of a Level Four wizard was something far beyond Nidhogg¡¯s current reality.


    With the advance of five thousand magic stones, and seeing the pained expression on the plump man¡¯s face, Nidhogg unceremoniously took one after another of the precious items, then "politely" thanked the man before returning to his quarters, exhilarated at the sight of materials he had once never dared to dream of possessing.


    He wore the Eternal Earring on his right ear, a top-tier magical artifact worth six hundred magic stones. Its gold curls subtly complemented Nidhogg¡¯s wild aura, adding a touch of mystique. This artifact not only offered excellent resistance against curses and illusions but also absorbed ambient energy to maintain a comfortable body temperature for the wearer.


    Nidhogg also carried a piece of the Screaming Branch on him. Should he encounter an overpowering curse, the branch would emit a piercing sound, temporarily solidifying the curse and providing time to respond.


    The Red Ear Mushroom was highly valued among wizard apprentices as a potion ingredient. When brewed into a broth with minimal additional ingredients, it could enhance the mental power of a wizard apprentice. The effect varied per individual, but generally, it could boost mental power by one to three points, saving years of meditation.


    The ¡°Notes on the Reconfiguration of Fire Magic Arrays¡± was a wizard¡¯s journal. It contained insights into the transformation of fire magic forms. The entire journal would have fetched a fortune.


    A Gemstone Pearl allowed the user to breathe underwater if held in the mouth.


    Finally, Nidhogg acquired two mid-grade magic stones.


    Three days later, Nidhogg appeared at the library, exhausted and sporting panda eyes. The wild, enigmatic aura he possessed three days prior had vanished, replaced by a simple, endearing expression.


    If asked about his greatest wish at that moment, Nidhogg would answer: to have a good sleep.


    Wizard Elion sat in the library''s VIP section, quietly enjoying a rich coffee amidst elegant pastries, which seemed more for display than consumption.


    Dragging his weary body, Nidhogg performed the proper wizard¡¯s greeting and placed the box containing thirty vials of fragrance on the table.


    "Ah, from those dark circles, I can see that creating these little items isn''t easy, and I wonder how you ever thought of making them. Nonetheless, these are indeed remarkable, evoking long-lost pleasant memories for those of us who''ve lived through centuries," Elion mused joyfully.


    Memories? So that¡¯s it...


    In an instant, Nidhogg realized something. Possibly, wizards favored these fragrances because, in their long lifespans, they had grown accustomed to monotonous routines, which to outsiders seemed perfect and enjoyable.


    For instance, while Nidhogg saw the witch enjoying the fine pastries and coffee, to her, these were mundane pleasures long forgotten, their original tastes lost in the sands of time. Perhaps the fragrances offered a bridge to those nostalgic, unforgotten memories, awakening joy in their meticulous lives.


    Seeing Nidhogg¡¯s nervousness, Elion chuckled, understanding the anxiety young apprentices felt in the presence of a full-fledged wizard.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "Alright, here¡¯s your reward. These are just some trivial items I don¡¯t need, but they''ll be useful for your trial. After all, I wouldn¡¯t want the creator of something as wonderful as your Aphrodite Essence to just perish," Elion said, presenting three items.


    "This necklace, which I call the Fountain of Joy, increases the wearer¡¯s mental power by two points. Of course, if you reach your mental power threshold, this necklace becomes useless, but clearly, you¡¯re not there yet."


    Nidhogg was well aware that the threshold referred to was forty points of mental power, a benchmark for apprentices to advance to full wizards.


    Next, Elion introduced the other items. One was a small crystal vial containing a tiny insect, known as a Phantasmal Wasp. With enough corpses, this insect could transform into a beast equivalent to a legendary knight, providing Nidhogg with protection for a day.


    The last item was a seed called Ground Bulb. With simple cultivation, it grew into a large flower that would sink underground when someone lay inside, offering a relatively secure resting space.


    Delighted with his compensation, Nidhogg watched as Elion placed the fragrances into a mirror¡ªusing a sealing spell.


    "A Sealing Spell!" Nidhogg exclaimed in astonishment.


    Elion looked at him with surprise. "You¡¯re more knowledgeable than I thought," she remarked, before leaving Nidhogg to his thoughts.


    Nidhogg understood the Sealing Spell just enough to know that, without extremely rare space-storage artifacts, only wizards with mastery of sealing spells could transport physical items into pocket dimensions or imaginary spaces for convenience.


    Reflecting on his initial assessment during his aptitude test in Bithar City, Nidhogg wondered if his ability to perceive eerie, unsettling phenomena was a sign of latent sealing abilities¡ªabilities that revealed things existing between reality and illusion.


    Some wizard texts speculated that these ¡°things,¡± residing between the real and the imaginary, were indeed life forms, dwelling in dimensional pockets either beneath or beyond conventional perception.


    Nidhogg was filled with anticipation. As a wizard apprentice who had naturally developed his mental power to twelve points without meditation, he knew he had potential.


    Though this talent did not manifest as clearly as others like Yunli or Bibilian in their apprentice days, it would naturally become apparent once he reached the level of a full wizard.


    However, for most wizard apprentices, advancing to become a full wizard was incredibly difficult. Many remained apprentices until the end of their lives.


    Half a month later, due to his innate talent in elemental magic, Nidhogg had developed a profound understanding of the "Notes on the Reconfiguration of Fire Magic Arrays."


    Nidhogg estimated that, in two months or maybe six, he could refine the mental-anchored magic array on his soul. Once improved, the same amount of magic would allow him to leverage the rules of the world with much stronger attacks.


    Since he had only seen Wizard Elion once perform the firebird form of magic, Nidhogg naturally pursued development in that direction.


    However, the most pressing matter now was the creatures in the wild crane¡¯s gizzard. Nidhogg had meticulously planned out their processing, awaiting their full maturity.


    That day, as the crane wailed, Nidhogg drained its blood with a fine scalpel and dissected out the essential gizzard.


    The stench from the gizzard was magnified dozens of times by Nidhogg¡¯s keen senses, forcing him to temporarily deactivate his nasal enhancement. He carefully placed everything from the gizzard into a prepared container, where the liquid quickly separated the indigestible remnants and rice-sized white parasites.


    ¡°Come on, my precious ones¡­¡± Nidhogg grinned as he gathered the white parasites into another dish. To a normal observer, his affectionate fascination with parasites would seem utterly depraved.


    It''s worth noting that after only two years in the wizard academy, Nidhogg no longer realized how bizarre his actions were.


    Moments later, Nidhogg placed a matured wasp snail onto the experimental platform. After creating a suitable environment for the parasites, he placed a tiny wasp snail on the crystal ball.


    With an incantation, and a brief soul-shifting experience, the wasp snail atop the crystal ball emitted an almost imperceptible sound.


    Breaking into a sweat, Nidhogg felt the familiar and welcoming aura from the crystal ball, relieved to have successfully cultivated his first companion parasite!


    Then, Nidhogg casually picked up the tiny wasp snail and swallowed it whole¡ªor rather, stored it in his stomach sac.


    From then on, the wasp snail became Nidhogg¡¯s companion parasite, akin to an organ within his body. This defines the symbiotic relationship between a wizard and their parasite.


    ¡°Phew, soul decomposition is indeed exhausting. I¡¯m maxed out purifying five wasp snails a day, and with nearly three hundred to go, it¡¯ll take me two full months to complete. It¡¯s quite the time-consuming task¡­¡±


    With a sigh, Nidhogg continued purifying the wasp snails. He dared not consume any unpurified ones, fearing parasitic infestation.


    Nidhogg had long forgotten his initial repulsion at Elion ingesting a centipede. Now, he eagerly consumed these parasites, which seemed foul, disgusting, and terrifying to ordinary people.


    He even recalled making a vow against such acts...


    Such is the path of growth for wizards!

 Chapter 28: The Pale Mask

    After drinking the delicious Red Ear Mushroom soup, Nidhogg felt a wave of mental clarity, as though a pair of gentle hands were tickling him, bringing a sensation of bliss. He picked up the crystal ball and chanted a spell. A moment later, he exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Mental power 23, it increased by 3 points!¡±


    Indeed, with the Fountain of Joy necklace, Nidhogg''s mental power had already reached 20 points. But after consuming the precious Red Ear Mushroom obtained from the plump man, his mental power surged to 23 points.


    "However..." Nidhogg sighed with a wry smile. "Even though my mental power has increased, my magic is only 144~148 points, far from enough to fully utilize this strong mental power. It seems daily meditation is indispensable."


    After a moment of silence, Nidhogg made his decision. He avoided all interactions, whether social gatherings from the Bloodsail Alliance or meetings with other acquaintances. He focused solely on meditation.


    Then there was the "purification" of the wasp snails. He poured the rest of his time into the improvement of the elemental magic array deep within his soul. As for his library cleaning job, Nidhogg quietly resigned without a word.


    Days passed, and two months later, Nidhogg had fully cultivated his companion parasites. Three months later, he completed the renovation of his elemental magic array. Four months later, he finally increased his magic to 224~230 points, roughly matching his mental power level.


    After four months, Nidhogg had undergone his first major transformation in life. That day, he felt invigorated and eager about the recent progress he had made regarding the Life Code Forbidden Zone. He was almost waiting for a call from Varro on the seventh floor of Black Tower at any moment.


    Moreover, it was time this month to collect his share of magic stones from the plump man. In fact, the amount of magic stones Nidhogg received from him was astonishing, or perhaps even excessive for a wizard apprentice.


    In the first month, Nidhogg collected 400 magic stones. He had teased the plump man in surprise. But when he received 1,000 magic stones the second month, he was stunned.


    By the third month, when he received a full thirty mid-grade magic stones, he could hardly keep his mouth closed. As for this month...


    Nidhogg felt numb as he found himself unable to use that many magic stones. If it continued like this, he felt that in a decade or so, not even some wizards could match his wealth.


    The only comforting thought was that almost all of Black Tower Wizard Academy knew the plump magic apprentice had vast wealth, yet he was doing just fine, indicating he indeed had a powerful backing.


    Thinking about the magic stones, Nidhogg did not immediately head to Black Tower. He had another task to complete first¡ªto prove he had officially transitioned from a novice to an apprentice wizard and obtain his apprentice certificate.


    After navigating through the Academy, Nidhogg reached a secluded tower within the Wizard Academy.


    The tower, stationed year-round with a wizard, was dedicated to verifying whether newcomers had successfully acquired mastery over three or more spells. Although famous and well-known, few people ever return a second time, so it wasn¡¯t a gathering spot for wizard apprentices.


    A short while later, Nidhogg nearly laughed at the scent emanating from the wizard before him¡ªshe was enveloped in the fragrance of Aphrodite Essence, clearly the variant suited for females. Nidhogg surmised this tightly wrapped wizard was likely a woman.


    With the proof of wizard apprenticeship in hand, Nidhogg went to see the plump man on the first floor of Black Tower.


    "Hey, usually I send the magic stones to your place. What brings you out here today? Did you have a breakthrough in your research?" the plump man joked with Nidhogg.


    He understood that the so-called trial exams at Black Tower Wizard Academy, also known as the Bloody Millstone, were notoriously challenging and perilous. Slight negligence could lead to death, so participants were keen to enhance their abilities as much as possible.


    "There''s no breakthrough. Even the little progress I''ve made only slightly improves my chances of surviving the trials," Nidhogg replied with a shake of his head.


    "Well, I''m sure you have your own plans. After all, you''re quite wealthy now. Here''s this month''s payment." With that, the plump man handed Nidhogg a small bag.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Glancing inside, Nidhogg saw an array of mid-grade magic stones, possibly forty or fifty. He was becoming indifferent to these stones, already planning to convert them into combat power. He asked the plump man to use his connections to inquire about purchasing an advanced microscope from the mysterious Seven-Ring Sacred Tower.


    "The Seven-Ring Sacred Tower? That''s not just a place anyone can access! Of course, a full-fledged wizard would face no obstacles anywhere," the plump man remarked, biting his lip. "I''ll see if any wizards from my family plan to go there. But don''t get your hopes up for immediate news¡ªit¡¯ll likely be after your trials."


    Understanding the situation, Nidhogg didn¡¯t make excessive demands and agreed to wait.


    Nidhogg then proceeded to the third floor of Black Tower. After considering the labelled rooms, he chose to enter one marked for Alchemy.


    Currently, his most urgent desire was to learn alchemical and potion-based magic, with a lesser interest in mysticism and mechanical magic. Although curious about bloodline magic, he had no intention of practicing it.


    Inside the room sat a sharp, slight wizard with crossed legs and a pointed white goat beard, humming a tune while reading a spellbook.


    As Nidhogg entered, the old wizard glanced up and casually asked, ¡°Are you here to craft a magical device or learn alchemy?¡±


    After offering the wizard¡¯s courtesy, Nidhogg replied calmly, ¡°I¡¯d like to commission a magical device and learn alchemy.¡±


    ¡°Setting aside the device crafting for later, knowledge is invaluable, but the academy has set a price for nurturing future generations. Hmm... If you want to ask alchemical questions, they''re ten magic stones each. But if you want me to teach you the foundational alchemy knowledge, it¡¯s two hundred magic stones per day. Ten days would ensure you grasp all the theoretical basics.¡±


    The wizard chuckled, ¡°Of course, understanding and practical application might take you decades, even centuries, before you can create your own magical devices. Which will it be?¡±


    Without hesitation, Nidhogg said, ¡°I choose the second option. Here are the magic stones.¡±


    The wizard took the offered pouch, surprised, ¡°Booking the full course right away. You must be loaded, I like that! We¡¯ll start lessons tomorrow¡ªbe on time. Now, what kind of magical device are you looking to commission?¡±


    ¡°Uh, I want a top-tier magical device for an apprentice wizard, primarily to defend against magical attacks, preferably armor or a breastplate. I¡¯d also like a wand capable of enhancing magical power, if possible¡­¡±


    ¡°A wand to boost magic? Such items are cost-effective only for wizards with substantial magic. For an apprentice like you, a wand for sealing spells would be wiser. Wait until you reach wizard status before customization. As for defensive devices, I happen to have one.¡±


    The old wizard rummaged inside an inner room and tossed a peculiar item to Nidhogg.


    ¡°A mask?¡±


    Nidhogg was surprised. It was a white mask adorned with purple spiral patterns, topped with a single horn, exposing only the eyes and nostrils, giving it a mysterious look.


    ¡°Hmph, I wouldn¡¯t show you such a trinket unless you had the magic stones. This mask is a replica of a renowned magical device, my best during my apprentice days. It¡¯s non-negotiable at two thousand magic stones.¡±


    Without blinking, the old wizard named the price.


    ¡°So expensive!¡±


    Nidhogg was taken aback. Even his Eternal Earring, a top-tier apprentice artifact, cost only six hundred magic stones.


    ¡°Quality takes its price. Otherwise, why else would I keep it for so long?¡± The wizard snorted. ¡°This mask has two functions. First, it activates a magical defense shield, immune to attacks below twenty degrees. For attacks above twenty degrees, you only need a tenth of their strength in magic to defend. For sixty-degree attacks, it needs a third. At one hundred degrees, the shield can block, but your magic consumption matches theirs. Above one hundred fifty degrees, don¡¯t count on this mask.¡±


    Nidhogg computed rapidly. With his maximum magic output of 230, he could unleash roughly 55 magic units. Enhanced by his improved firebird elemental array, his attacks could reach 45 to 55 degrees, his strongest.


    Yet, the mask could defend against his most powerful attack using merely a tenth of the magic!


    Nidhogg gasped. Such a powerful artifact!


    Seeing Nidhogg¡¯s astonishment, the old wizard smirked, ¡°And that¡¯s only its first function! See the horn atop it?¡±


    The old wizard pointed to the horn. ¡°It houses a spell named echolocation. Wear it and you¡¯ll understand.¡±


    With the mask on, Nidhogg felt as though he¡¯d gained an extra sense akin to hearing.


    Through the mask, he could perceive a world devoid of color and smell but composed of substance, demonstrating a remarkable ability.


    However, given his existing sensory enhancements from Hunt Nose Magic, Nidhogg valued the shield function more than the echolocation.


    Taking a deep breath, Nidhogg asked, ¡°What is the name of this mask?¡±


    ¡°The Pale Mask.¡±


    ¡°The Pale Mask!¡±


    Nidhogg was startled, immediately recalling the mask worn by the faceless sorcerer who summoned countless crows on the sea wheel.


    Could this mask have a connection to that great wizard?


    Considering for a moment, Nidhogg decided he must have this mask. Such an exceptional artifact would remain beneficial even as he reached the pinnacle of apprentice wizardry with forty points of mental power.


    However, Nidhogg inquired, ¡°What about the wand?¡±


    After a pause, the old wizard replied, ¡°Wands of this caliber aren¡¯t readily available, and crafting one might not be timely. These top-tier apprentice artifacts approach true wizard artifacts but at a significantly lower price. It involves considering costs, but¡­¡±


    Nidhogg, accustomed to the wizard''s suspense, prompted eagerly, ¡°But what?¡±


    ¡°Ha, take a look at this rare piece. Ten years ago, I acquired this unique wand called the Blood Bat¡¯s Kiss.¡±


    He tossed a dark wand to Nidhogg, ¡°Six hundred magic stones.¡±


    Holding the wand, Nidhogg felt a surge of energy as he activated it with magic. Suddenly, a large bat composed entirely of wind elements appeared in the room. With a wingspan over three meters, it seemed capable of carrying a person.


    "This¡­"


    Observing the wind-formed bat, Nidhogg, perhaps through his unique perspective, first thought of further enhancing his elemental magic array, rather than its flight capability.

 Chapter 29: The Orchestra Ball

    Clad in a loose gray robe and wearing the Pale Mask, imprinted with purple-black spiral patterns, Nidhogg''s golden curls cascaded down, partially concealing the Eternal Earring on his right ear.


    For ten days, Nidhogg frequented the third floor of Black Tower, absorbing alchemical knowledge like a sponge. With the vast knowledge and resources accumulated from his wealth of magic stones, Nidhogg had grown increasingly enigmatic. The eyes peering through the Pale Mask occasionally flashed with wisdom and contemplation, giving him an aura of mystery and intelligence. Even those who once knew him well would struggle to recognize him at first glance.


    He came and went swiftly. Nidhogg seemed to live in the solitary world of a loner, either enduring or perhaps even savoring his loneliness, all for the sake of acquiring endless knowledge.


    Ten days later, Nidhogg had filled an entire book with alchemical knowledge and began conducting alchemy experiments using basic materials in his small dwelling.


    A sigh escaped him.


    "As expected, mastering alchemy is not something that can be achieved overnight. Typically, it takes at least twenty years to accumulate the knowledge necessary to craft even the simplest magical devices."


    Tired, Nidhogg rubbed his forehead, having just failed in an attempt to create a basic magical device, wasting dozens of magic stones'' worth of materials. However, he was not disheartened. Alchemy, though challenging, could be mastered with continued practice and accumulation of trial knowledge, even by those not naturally gifted in the field.


    Half a month later, Nidhogg returned to the third floor of Black Tower, this time entering a room dedicated to potion magic. Through the substantial expenditure of magic stones, Nidhogg secured personal instruction from wizards, who even shared their insights on ambiguous aspects based on their rich experience.


    As such, Nidhogg''s knowledge of wizardry grew at an astounding pace.


    During this period, his fellow apprentices were still striving to earn magic stones and learn new spells. Occasional opportunities allowed them to purchase magical devices, but most only spent their magic stones on classes for subjects they were particularly devoted to.


    Time flew by, and soon there was less than a week before the trial exams. As rumors of the trials'' brutality spread among the newcomers, a pervasive sense of life-and-death testing began to suffocate them.


    Some newcomers, who hadn''t yet learned three spells, succumbed to despair and indulged in their final pleasures, wholly giving up.


    At the Bloodsail Alliance gathering place, as the Alliance''s influence grew, even the scholastically-rooted wizard apprentice organizations began acknowledging this emerging group. With this momentum, the Bloodsail Alliance finally secured their own space at the Black Tower Wizard Academy. Unlike the established groups treating the trial exams as a means to recruit fresh blood, the Bloodsail Alliance had only sporadically recruited a few apprentices from previous years over the past three years. The majority would face the trials.


    Given their rigorous selection process aboard the sea wheel, the members had evident potential. However, this also meant the upcoming trial was taken very seriously by the Bloodsail Alliance.


    If they could successfully guide most of their members through the trials, the Bloodsail Alliance would firmly establish itself at the Black Tower Wizard Academy, joining the ranks of the top five apprentice organizations.


    As it stood, the Bloodsail Alliance was not yet an organization, merely a powerful gathering. It lacked a foundation.


    Among the wizard apprentices, the so-called "Top Ten Experts List" circulated, a ranking based on achievements in the wilderness and skirmishes in the Thorn Forest, compiled privately by some apprentices.


    This list, however, only included the outstanding newcomers and did not account for accomplished apprentices from previous years.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The Bloodsail Alliance''s fame came from having six of its thirteen elders featured on this list.


    Curiously, some investigated the Alliance''s rigorous elimination system aboard the sea wheel, which only heightened fears around the trials, dubbed the "Bloody Millstone."


    Nevertheless, the Bloodsail Alliance paid no heed to the ranking.


    Notably absent from the list were the names Solam, Yun Li, and Bibilian, marking it as just another trivial apprentice ranking game.


    With the trial exams approaching, the senior members of the Bloodsail Alliance organized a music ball to foster internal camaraderie, hoping that during the trials, this unity would translate into mutual support.


    Elegant and soothing music filled the hall. Nina, Astara, Yorkris, Yorkliana, Binhansen, and an unfamiliar girl sat together, watching pairs of apprentice wizards dance gracefully in the orchestra pit.


    Nina wore a silver-white gown, revealing a generous expanse of pale skin over her prominent chest. The tight dress accentuated her slender, tall figure and long, shapely legs. Her crescent earrings were half-hidden by her short, brunette hair.


    Reclining lazily on a bench, Nina made no effort to conceal her arrogance, exuding a regal aura.


    Having turned down over a dozen invitations to dance, Nina¡¯s refusals were met politely, as none dared to protest.


    Over the past three years, Nina''s arrogance and willfulness had provoked animosity, yet she frequently ventured into the wild and remained unscathed.


    In contrast, many of her adversaries hadn''t been seen again.


    Thanks to her impressive track record, Nina was recognized as one of the top ten experts among the new apprentices at Black Tower, earning nicknames like "Venomous Queen" or "Venomous Beauty."


    Uninterested in the rankings, Nina delved deeper into magical knowledge, increasingly awed by the three she once knew. Upon reaching the Academy, they immediately received instruction from second-tier wizards.


    The gap could only widen, much larger than it initially appeared.


    "I wonder if he will come. Such a stubborn fool, must you wait for me to humble myself..." Nina muttered, barely audible, yet everyone nearby understood her meaning.


    Amidst faint melancholy, Nina gazed into her glass of wine, lost in memories of her days on the sea wheel.


    "Brother Nidhogg probably won¡¯t come. It¡¯s been over six months without a word¡ªperhaps he..." Yorkliana, her mask concealing her lost eye and facial scars, murmured quietly.


    Though Yorkliana only voiced half her thought, everyone grasped her implication.


    Yorkris flicked his sister¡¯s forehead, whispering, "Watch what you say, Nidhogg was our closest friend back then. He wouldn''t die so easily."


    Silently, Yorkliana rubbed her forehead, while Yorkris tenderly assisted.


    Nearby, Astara stood 6''1" tall, with golden hair draped back, his sturdy, bronzed chest visible beneath an azure tunic, exuding a commanding presence.


    Over the past three years, Astara''s affection for Nina was apparent to anyone with eyes. Regardless of her sharp tongue and stubbornness, he endured it all to remain close to her.


    However, despite three years of expressing his feelings, Astara received no response. Disheartened, his mind raced.


    ¡°Could it be... Nina likes that person? But whether on the sea wheel or at the Academy, he never stood out. At best, he was just a follower. Why does Nina remember him so fondly?¡±


    Amidst his confusion, Astara tentatively asked, ¡°If he returns, what will you do?¡±


    Anxiously, Astara watched Nina.


    "My affairs are none of your concern," Nina replied icily, downing her glass of wine.


    So, it was him she held in her heart!


    Astara''s expression darkened. Should he give up his three years of devotion? Or should he, as a man, challenge that guy to fair competition?


    ¡°Hey, are you truly worried about Nidhogg, or is this just lip service? You talk about him now, yet you never sought his news. Look at this.¡± Binhansen spoke up, producing a sheet of paper from his jacket.


    ¡°A list of apprentice wizards? Look, Brother Nidhogg¡¯s name is on it!¡± Yorkliana exclaimed joyfully, prompting Nina and Yorkris to check the list, and Astara to see Nidhogg''s name.


    Beside Binhansen, the girl with curly brown hair smiled, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you were all so close.¡±


    Binhansen chuckled, wrapping his arm around her. ¡°If I remember correctly, he should be twenty this year. I¡¯m twenty-two, so he can call you sister-in-law!¡±


    ¡°Who said I¡¯d marry you¡­¡± she retorted playfully.


    Suddenly, Nina and the hesitant Astara, along with other Bloodsail Alliance elders, seemed to sense something, turning toward the hall entrance. There stood an apprentice, arms crossed, smiling confidently.


    Snap!


    A male Bloodsail Alliance apprentice, engrossed in conversation with a female apprentice, inadvertently saw the figure at the door. His eyes widened, and his wine glass shattered unnoticed, disbelief spilling from his lips.


    ¡°Solam?!¡±


    Indeed, the unexpected visitor was Solam, a figure legendary within the Bloodsail Alliance.


    The disciple of the Faceless Mask!


    Initially part of Nidhogg¡¯s group but who barely spoke a word!


    No Bloodsail Alliance member could forget their experiences aboard the sea wheel, nor could they overlook the towering, mysterious presence of Solam, the unattainable apprentice wizard.


    Solam smiled confidently, arms crossed, surveying the joyous atmosphere of the orchestra pit.


    Perhaps due to Solam¡¯s brilliance and charisma, the main focus of attention was on him, drawing all eyes to the entrance as if the protagonist had arrived, leaving unnoticed the figure at the far end of the hall, arriving late and wearing a white mask.

 Chapter 30: The Passion of Youth

    Amronde, the original founder of the Bloodsail Alliance, once known as the wielder of the Light Sword, and now one of the thirteen elders of the alliance, was recognized as the top talent on Black Tower Wizard Academy''s ranking of newcomers. He was the first apprentice to be acknowledged by a wizard this year.


    Everything about Amronde spoke to his refusal to be ordinary. Holding a glass, he stood quietly, gazing at the person he once viewed as unreachable aboard the sea wheel¡ªthe one he had to look up to¡ªSolam.


    "I am no longer the weakling I once was. Over these three years, I''ve grown so much. I now have the right to look you in the eye! Moreover, with all the Bloodsail Alliance members present, if he dares do anything outrageous, I need only give the order..."


    Feeling the presence of those around him, Amronde finally felt confident. With a smile, he approached Solam.


    Amronde looked Solam straight in the eye and confidently extended his hand.


    If Solam dared to act out of line, Amronde wouldn''t hesitate to show him disrespect. The Bloodsail Alliance members were no longer the children from the sea wheel!


    Amronde locked eyes with Solam, waiting for his next move.


    Smack!


    Solam grasped Amronde¡¯s hand, smiling gracefully, ¡°Amronde, I remember you.¡±


    Uh...


    For a moment, Amronde was at a loss for words. He hadn''t realized that he had developed a sense of antagonism towards Solam. Was it born from his past fears?


    Silently shaking his head, Amronde steadied his emotions and said calmly, ¡°Solam, over these three years, none of the Bloodsail Alliance has forgotten you.¡±


    His words were double-edged. On one hand, they acknowledged Solam''s strength; on the other, they alluded to Solam bringing the Faceless Mask to intercept the ship originally heading to Ilysse Cabin Wizard Academy, altering their destinies.


    Solam did not try to justify his actions but admitted openly, ¡°I was the reason the Faceless Mask instructor hijacked the ship to Ilysse Cabin Wizard Academy. There''s nothing to hide. I came here today to do one thing... I wish to join the Bloodsail Alliance.¡±


    Amidst the stunned silence, Solam continued, ¡°Although I didn''t think much of you at first, the fact that you formed an alliance and defeated the sailors on the ship reminded me of something significant. It deeply moved me. For three years, I''ve regretted not asking to join the Bloodsail Alliance as soon as I returned to the wizard continent.¡±


    Amronde was momentarily dumbfounded, as were the other spellcasters. Nina, Astara, and the others stood frozen.


    No one expected Solam to request joining the Bloodsail Alliance at this moment!


    ¡°Who?¡±


    Suddenly, Solam turned with a surge of formidable presence, only then noticing a figure with a white mask standing close by at the hall''s entrance.


    Who was this person? When did the Bloodsail Alliance get someone like this?


    Or was he an apprentice from previous years at the Wizard Academy?


    With Solam''s turn, everyone else noticed too¡ªa masked apprentice had arrived at the entrance unnoticed, sparking the same question in everyone''s mind: who was this person?


    This figure was none other than Nidhogg!


    Feeling slightly awkward, Nidhogg realized that, days earlier, he had used his potion and scent mapping knowledge to create a concoction that eliminated his natural scent.


    Having grown used to solitary endeavors and silence, Nidhogg moved like a soundless ghost, often unnoticed until suddenly discovered, startling those around him.


    "I''m..."


    "Nidhogg! Haha, you bastard, it''s not a masquerade party. What are you doing with a mask on?" Binhansen interrupted Nidhogg, being the first to recognize him and approached jokingly.


    "Nidhogg?"


    Nina, Yorkris, Yorkliana, and the girl beside Binhansen approached in disbelief.


    Astara''s face darkened. He took a deep breath to calm himself, maintaining composure as he followed.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Solam, turning back to Nidhogg with a moment of recollection, said, ¡°Nidhogg? I remember now. I know you.¡±


    He extended his hand proactively.


    Nidhogg was puzzled. Had this guy changed his attitude, or had he been pretending all along?


    Nidhogg clearly remembered when Solam, disguised as Giram, was arrogant and dismissive, acting like the main character of a novel.


    However, since Solam had extended a hand, Nidhogg didn¡¯t dwell on it and shook his hand.


    ¡°Hello, Solam.¡±


    His voice sounded a bit stiff, having spoken little over the past months.


    Yorkris apologized to Amronde and Solam, ¡°Sorry to interrupt. You two continue your discussion; we¡¯ll move aside.¡±


    With that, the group led Nidhogg away.


    Astara hesitated, then apologized to Amronde and Solam before following.


    ¡°Come on, Nidhogg, let me introduce you to your sister-in-law. Robin, or as she¡¯s known by her nickname, Moon,¡± Binhansen said, putting an arm around the pretty girl with curly brown hair.


    "I haven''t agreed to call you brother," Nidhogg joked, turning to Robin, ¡°Moon Sister-in-law.¡±


    Binhansen laughed heartily while Robin tugged his ear, ¡°Idiot, I haven¡¯t agreed to marry you.¡±


    Elsewhere, Yorkris gestured to his sister, Yorkliana, and laughed, ¡°Nidhogg, you wouldn¡¯t believe it, but my sister talks about you non-stop. I can barely stand it. And you¡¯ve only been out of contact for half a year, and she already suggested you might be dead, haha.¡±


    Yorkliana quickly and nervously said, ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Just then, Astara stepped forward, laughing loudly, ¡°Nidhogg, welcome back!¡±


    He moved as if to give Nidhogg an embrace.


    But Nina and Binhansen''s smiles faltered, leaving only Yorkris, his sister, and Robin smiling cluelessly.


    Nidhogg¡¯s expression shifted beneath his mask, unobservable by others. Astara addressed Nidhogg as if he were the leader of a small group.


    If Nina had said those words, it would be understandable, but to hear them from Astara?


    The atmosphere grew tense.


    ¡°Enough!¡±


    Nina shouted, startling everyone. They turned to her in surprise.


    Nina, known for her sharp tongue, was usually amiable with them. They were puzzled by her sudden outburst.


    Nina stood and pointed at Astara, coldly saying, ¡°Enough. This is a gathering of our original sea wheel team. Please leave.¡±


    ¡°Nina, you know I¡­¡±


    Astara tried to explain.


    ¡°I won''t repeat myself. Get out!¡±


    Nina shouted, breathing heavily, clearly enraged by Astara¡¯s behavior.


    Her sudden outburst caused some at the ball to glance over, but seeing Nina, they quickly looked away.


    No one in the Bloodsail Alliance wanted to provoke the venomous queen.


    Astara breathed deeply, seeing Nina treat him like this. He couldn¡¯t stay calm, feeling as if his heart was breaking.


    Red-faced, Astara pointed at Nidhogg and roared, ¡°I challenge you to a duel, man to man, for Nina¡¯s affection!¡±


    Watching the scene unfold, Nidhogg felt a surge of disbelief at how someone could let trivial conflicts distract them from pursuing higher wizardry knowledge. It seemed so childish and pointless.


    Was this conflict over mating rights?


    It was laughable. His goals were worlds apart from such trivial concerns.


    As Nidhogg was about to speak, Nina stepped in front of him, reminiscent of the sea wheel days when she would handle things for Nidhogg.


    In Nina''s eyes, perhaps Nidhogg was still the one who needed protection.


    ¡°Do you want me to take action, Astara? Or are you confident that you can beat me?¡±


    Nina''s eyes narrowed, her voice cold. Green tendrils appeared beneath her skin¡ªan unknown spell.


    Astara stared at Nina, feeling as if he was seeing a stranger.


    Three years together, and she had never acted this way. Was it all wishful thinking on his part?


    Astara took one last look at the cold-eyed Nina, closed his eyes, and left.


    ¡°Come with me.¡±


    Nina dragged Nidhogg away, not allowing him to resist, her domineering nature evident.


    Yorkris, Binhansen, and the others shrugged helplessly. The headstrong Nina left no room for protest.


    With a loud thud, Nidhogg was pushed against a wall by Nina.


    ¡°Where have you been this past half year? You ignore gatherings and don¡¯t answer crystal ball messages! Have you gone rogue, or found someone new in the academy?¡±


    Nidhogg was taken aback by Nina''s boldness, instinctively responding, ¡°Of course, I''ve been preparing for the trials.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Nidhogg suddenly felt a weight against him¡ªNina¡¯s full, ample chest pressed against him, her gaze hazy. The strong scent of wine hit his face, startling him. ¡°Are you crazy?¡±


    Startled, Nidhogg had never been so close to a girl. He instinctively tried to evade, but Nina had him pinned, her body pressing him against the wall.


    Nina looked up at Nidhogg, her gaze focused amid drunkenness.


    ¡°Crazy... Haha, no, Nidhogg, I think I¡¯ve fallen in love with you.¡±


    Nina whispered, gently removing Nidhogg¡¯s mask, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.


    ¡°From the moment you saved me on the sea wheel, from the brink of despair, I realized I believed in love. No one else has ever made me feel like this, like they were my everything, that I¡¯d give them all of me. I believe this is love.¡±


    Nidhogg stared blankly at Nina, astounded by her confession.


    ¡°Ah... It feels good to say it. I feared you¡¯d die in the trials before I had the chance.¡±


    Nina gazed at Nidhogg lovingly, seemingly wanting to melt into him.


    ¡°You¡¯re drunk.¡±


    Nidhogg blushed at the forceful confession, a strange warmth spreading through him.


    Nina ignored his words, looking up at him, ¡°You¡¯ve grown so much these years. I have to look up at you now. I remember when we were the same height.¡±


    "I... I seek endless knowledge; there¡¯s no possibility for us."


    Nina''s wine-laden breath filled Nidhogg''s senses as he turned his face away, struggling.


    Nina glanced downward, teasing, ¡°Your body tells me otherwise.¡±


    Nidhogg nearly wanted to disappear from embarrassment, struggling to maintain a stoic demeanor befitting a man.


    ¡°You already have someone in Becer City. You can¡¯t betray him. Love shouldn¡¯t fade with time!¡±


    ¡°That was just an excuse to avoid coming to the wizard continent. Baron was just someone I met at a party, nothing serious.¡±


    Nina''s eyes lit up, hearing Nidhogg knew even this about her. How could he say he didn¡¯t like her?


    ¡°But my pursuit is...¡±


    Nidhogg felt the coolness on his lips, the restless tongue in his mouth, the feverish heat and the pressure on his chest. His body was a powder keg exploding in a blaze!


    Mind blank, Nidhogg wrapped his arms around Nina¡¯s slender waist, pulling her seductive figure against him, passionately engaging, wanting to merge with her.


    Breathless and hot, they instinctively rubbed against each other.

 Chapter 31: Magic Runes

    In Nidhogg¡¯s small dwelling, he opened his eyes and instinctively thought about the wild night he had shared with Nina. The exhilarating sensations drove him to indulge repeatedly, reaching the verge of madness. Even now, Nina''s soft breathing seemed to echo around him.


    "What a feeling..." Nidhogg closed his eyes, savoring the reckless abandon of the night before. The pleasure rivaled the thrill of delving into deeper layers of wizardry knowledge, a joy that seemed to emanate from the depths of his soul.


    Suddenly, Nidhogg jolted awake!


    No, this was merely a bodily instinct. Wizards are beings driven by the pursuit of absolute wisdom and the quest for truth¡ªhow could they yield to base instincts like beasts? With this thought, Nidhogg quickly sat up, shaking his head vigorously.


    Yet, when he turned to see Nina still sleeping beside him, her body partly covered, the sight of her stunning curves, smooth and fair skin, and vibrant, full figure made Nidhogg swallow involuntarily.


    Who hasn¡¯t been young once?


    "Gulp... Ah, forget it. I''ll give myself a half-day off today."


    With this in mind, Nidhogg gently snuggled closer to the sleeping Nina, embracing her alluring form from behind, feeling her warmth and beauty.


    ¡°Mmm... again?¡± Nina¡¯s voice, soft and alluring, came from deep in her throat.


    As she opened her eyes, a thought seemed to strike her. She quickly turned, her long lashes framing eyes as beautiful as stars, staring intently at Nidhogg as though trying to see through him.


    Feeling slightly uneasy under Nina''s gaze, Nidhogg blushed and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re finally all mine. From now on, you belong solely to me!¡± Nina exclaimed joyfully, playfully threatening him. She held Nidhogg tightly against her chest, nearly suffocating him with her exuberance.


    After a while, Nina finally released Nidhogg, looking into his eyes with a teasing grin. ¡°Listen, you are mine and mine alone. If I catch you with another woman, well... you know what will happen!¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    They stayed in bed until noon, something unfathomable for Nidhogg in the past.


    Nina wandered around Nidhogg''s room and lab afterward, gently caressing his cheek. ¡°Now I know where you live, so no more disappearing on me. But¡­¡±


    After a brief pause, she continued, a bit shyly, ¡°We¡¯re still apprentice wizards. Our goal is to become full-fledged wizards. Love is wonderful but merely a long-life companion and seasoning. Let¡¯s not get too lost in it.¡±


    Encouragingly, Nina added, ¡°Your priority now is to survive the trials. I don¡¯t want to lose the one I love so soon and have to attend your funeral.¡±


    Feeling a bit awkward under Nina''s strong persona, Nidhogg could only agree, ¡°Yes, you too.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°Mm-hmm,¡± Nina hummed, stealing a final kiss before leaving without looking back.


    Nidhogg steadied his emotions.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that attending a Bloodsail Alliance meeting right before the trials could lead to all this.


    His keen Hunt Nose detected traces of Nina¡¯s scent all over him¡ªa sweet and fulfilling sensation. Was this what they called love?


    Maybe someday he would bring Nina to kneel at Old Nilo¡¯s grave.


    With these thoughts, Nidhogg shut the door and returned to his research.


    In recent days, Nidhogg had made new discoveries, both concerning the Life Code Forbidden Zone and an unexpected breakthrough in elemental magic runes.


    For now, he shelved his investigation of the Life Code Forbidden Zone.


    This was because his most recent hypothesis required a precious experimental material¡ªa living human!


    Conducting wizardry experiments on civilians, if discovered, would immediately brand him as a notorious dark wizard, hunted across all wizarding academies, and pursued by witch hunters.


    Nidhogg wasn''t willing to take such a risk.


    Performing experiments on a wizard apprentice was slightly less severe but would still provoke retaliation from the apprentice¡¯s academy and other affiliated powers.


    While killing another wizard was permissible by rule and competition, capturing one for experimental purposes invited certain retaliation.


    Clearly, Nidhogg lacked both the capability and the desire to breach his ethical boundaries as a wizard.


    Still, he considered an alternative solution many wizards employed: purchasing human-like slaves from other worlds through powerful wizards.


    Such slaves, not considered human by wizard laws, were not protected by their world¡¯s rules.


    This would save Nidhogg a lot of trouble.


    With the Life Code Forbidden Zone experiment on hold, Nidhogg turned his full attention to the newly discovered magic rune.


    Magic runes, apart from the twenty-six standard ones, included many rare runes, though acquiring them was exponentially harder than improving a magic array.


    Take the demon flame spell wielded by Dilara, a first-level wizard¡ªits power sufficed to force a second-level wizard like the Faceless Mask to strategically exhaust his opponent¡¯s magic through monstrous sea creatures before seizing their ship, attesting to the rare rune¡¯s formidable might.


    Thinking about this, Nidhogg¡¯s heart surged with excitement as his gaze fell on two branches on his desk.


    These branches, dark and almost charcoal-like, were originally a single piece Nidhogg stumbled upon at a market stall on the first floor of Black Tower.


    The vendor claimed it was struck by lightning and contained residual storm power, though he found no practical use for it. Due to its uniqueness, he sold it for two magic stones.


    Nidhogg bought it out of curiosity, intending it as cheap alchemy practice material, without much thought.


    However, upon cutting the branch open in his lab, Nidhogg noticed something unusual.


    Instead of splintering, the cut was smooth as glass, and the compacted storm power within remained stable, without dispersing.


    Intrigued, Nidhogg abandoned its alchemical purpose and began investigating the nature of the trapped storm power, attempting various extraction methods for use in alchemy and potion-making.


    Yet each attempt failed¡ªif it were possible, wouldn¡¯t the vendor have done it himself?


    Nidhogg nearly gave up until one day, during meditation, he glimpsed a complex rune in the branch''s cut surface.


    The rune appeared fleetingly before vanishing, leaving Nidhogg questioning his own vision.


    Astonished, he kept watch over the branch, eyes peeled for days.


    After nearly two hours, the rune flashed again...


    Over the span of several days, Nidhogg confirmed one thing: this accidental discovery was a rare magical rune.


    The find thrilled Nidhogg. His magic studies taught him that rare runes were invaluable, incapable of being documented through physical means like drawing or carving, communicable only through soul perception and partitioning for legacy purposes.


    Realizing the treasure he had found, Nidhogg set a daily routine to observe the fleeting rune, hoping to grasp it soon.


    Yet, he estimated it might take a decade to fully comprehend the rune within his soul.


    Meanwhile, Nidhogg kept the branch close, observing it each day at the designated time.


    As time flew by, the date for his cohort''s trial exam¡ªdubbed the "Bloody Millstone" by past apprentices¡ªdrew near.

 Chapter 32: Before the Trial

    Once again, Nidhogg found himself in the familiar plaza from three years ago. Yet this time, he noticed that many apprentices from his class had "unexpectedly" died over the past three years.


    ¡°At Black Tower Wizard Academy, there are 1,577 wizard apprentices participating in this year''s newcomer trials. Shortly, you will receive a trial map. Survive for a month in the trial field and return safely, and you will pass the trial,¡± a wizard announced from the platform with a tone meant to inspire, though it carried an undercurrent of strange excitement.


    ¡°Could it really be that simple?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on with this year¡¯s Bloody Grindstone?¡±


    The apprentices in the crowd buzzed with incredulity over the seemingly ¡°simple¡± trial.


    Nearby, Nina, Nidhogg, Yorkris, Yorkliana, Binhansen, and Robin stood together.


    Binhansen furrowed his brow, ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense. I¡¯ve heard from some past apprentices that every ten or so classes, there¡¯s one with especially high quality and numerous students. I thought it was our turn, so I expected the academy to arrange some unimaginably terrifying trials. But the goal is simply to survive?¡±


    Robin pouted, ¡°Hmph, they could just drop us where wizard-level monsters roam. Let¡¯s see how simple it feels then.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t jinx it, that¡¯s impossible!¡± Binhansen quickly interrupted, worried she might be right.


    ¡°I doubt that¡¯s the case,¡± Nidhogg reassured them, shaking his head. ¡°If they did that, the academy would be lucky if even a tenth of the apprentices survived, not even those three¡­¡±


    Nidhogg indicated Yun Li, Bibilian, and Solam at the forefront of the crowd.


    ¡°Not even those three could guarantee their survival.¡±


    Yorkris said, ¡°The maps have been distributed¡ªlet¡¯s see what they reveal.¡±


    A murmur spread as apprentices received their trial maps, each reacting with shock upon discovering something unexpected.


    As Nidhogg took his map, a chain of ink formed a mystical link that imprinted immediately on his forehead, leaving a black chain pattern.


    Frowning slightly, Nidhogg ignored the chain and glanced at his map, only to draw a sharp breath of astonishment.


    The trial will take place in a 300km by 300km uninhabited section of the Thorn Forest, bordered by warning barriers. Leaving the boundaries without permission will result in death at the hands of a wizard.


    Participants include new apprentices from all wizard academies within the Twelfth District of the Seven-Ring Sacred Tower: Black Tower Wizard Academy, Maze Pan Wizard Academy, Shadow Realm Wizard Academy, Bone Tower Wizard Academy, Time Hourglass Wizard Academy, and Ivory Castle Wizard Academy.


    The trial area will feature three secret realms opening at different times:


    The first opens on the trial day, with 100 locations containing advanced apprentice-level magical instruments.


    The second opens ten days later, with ten locations containing powerful consumable magical artifacts.


    The third opens twenty days later, with one location containing valuable potions to enhance mental power and wizard notes.


    Killing other apprentices will cause their forehead mark to be absorbed by the victor¡¯s mark. At trial¡¯s end, each additional mark earns a reward of five hundred magic stones from the academy.


    No wonder Nidhogg was shocked. While the academy didn¡¯t mandate apprentices to fight¡­This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    However!


    Every condition on the map screamed that killing others was the way to enhance strength, ensuring safety and completion of the trial.


    Technically, there were two ways to pass the trial:


    First, hide for a month until the trial ends, which relies heavily on luck.


    Second, vie for treasures in the secret realms, strengthening oneself to the point where they can hunt others without fear of retaliation.


    ¡°Five hundred magic stones! That¡¯ll drive many apprentices mad!¡±


    Nidhogg didn¡¯t hesitate. With his strong mental power and numerous rare magical devices, few could threaten him unless they were prodigies like Yun Li, Bibilian, or Solam, who possessed rare talents and had received significant training under second-tier wizards from the start.


    Such a vast quantity of magic stones to rapidly boost power was itself a form of wizardly wisdom!


    This reasoning applied to the first twenty days of the trial. Once the apprentices acquired those powerful magical artifacts after twenty days, the situation would change.


    ¡°This¡­ they¡¯re really pushing us to the brink!¡±


    Binhansen groaned.


    Yorkris, however, grinned wickedly, ¡°I¡¯ve been itching for a battle like this, just like back on the sea wheel. For three years, we¡¯ve pushed ourselves day and night to reach this moment in the trial. Back then, we were weak, relying on Nina¡¯s protection. Now, we¡­¡±


    The group glanced at Nina. Her tight-slit robe revealed her pale legs, and though her chest was concealed, her imposing figure remained apparent. Her eyes were sharply focused on the map, exuding an aura of unquestionable authority.


    After contemplating, Nina calmly addressed the group, ¡°I suspect we¡¯ll be randomly transported into the trial area. Among us, Yorkliana, Binhansen, and¡­¡±


    Nina glanced at Nidhogg before continuing, ¡°And Nidhogg, your magic isn¡¯t combat-oriented. Take care of yourselves on the first day and stay away from the secret realms. The rest of us will strive to obtain magical devices in the secret realms. Then, our team will regroup to prepare for the next chaos and the second secret realm opening.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    The group, accustomed to Nina''s planning, nodded nonchalantly.


    Nidhogg murmured, ¡°I have made a lot of preparations and am confident in obtaining a magical device from a secret realm.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Nina eyed Nidhogg, doubting his abilities since he became an apprentice only half a year ago. Yet, respecting his pride, she said nothing further.


    Turning to the others, Nina announced, ¡°The other thirteen elders of the Bloodsail Alliance requested a meeting. With Solam joining as an elder, they likely want to discuss the third secret realm. I¡¯ll be back shortly.¡±


    But just two steps away, she stopped. To the shock of everyone, their jaws almost hitting the ground, she spun around, hugged Nidhogg tightly, and kissed him passionately.


    Being kissed in front of friends made Nidhogg¡¯s heart race wildly, his eyes wide open in disbelief.


    Nina!?


    ¡°Take care. Don¡¯t die.¡±


    Nina placed an earring in Nidhogg¡¯s hand before leaving without looking back.


    It wasn¡¯t until then that the group snapped back to reality, encircling Nidhogg with expressions like wolves cornering a lamb, cheering loudly.


    ¡°Wow¡­ Nidhogg, explain this! What¡¯s going on? Are you and Nina¡­?¡±


    Binhansen jumped in first, his excitement akin to a monkey¡¯s behind.


    Nidhogg quickly protested, ¡°No, nothing happened between Nina and me.¡±


    ¡°Nothing happened? That means everything happened! Haha, Nidhogg, stop trying to cover it up. As a fellow man, I understand!¡±


    Binhansen clapped Nidhogg on the back, laughing heartily.


    Robin stomped on Binhansen¡¯s foot, her face flushed, ¡°What do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Ow¡­ I¡¯m sorry, my dear, be gentle. If I¡¯m injured, I won¡¯t be able to move in the trial¡­¡±


    Binhansen howled.


    Yorkris, after breaking his stunned silence, mumbled, ¡°Great, just great. The venomous queen finally has a man. It¡¯s a lucky day for the Bloodsail Alliance¡­¡±


    Half of Yorkliana''s face flushed, not hidden by her mask. At her age, filled with dreams of love, she eagerly anticipated her own romance.


    Stepping beside Nidhogg, she smiled charmingly, ¡°Brother Nidhogg, let me help you wear the earring Nina gave you.¡±


    At Yorkliana¡¯s gentle insistence, she placed the earring on Nidhogg¡¯s left ear, pairing it with the Eternal Earring on his right.


    ¡°Brother Nidhogg, this earring is called the Vine Heart. It¡¯s how Sister Nina performed the vine spell on the sea wheel.¡±


    Yorkliana explained.


    The Vine Heart?


    Back on the sea wheel, Nina was privately dubbed the Vine Magician King by apprentices, thanks to this earring.


    Nidhogg chuckled ruefully, realizing that in Nina¡¯s eyes, he remained the little fellow she needed to protect.


    Though he wanted to prove he no longer needed safeguarding, the warmth and care stirred unexpected joy within him.


    ¡°Is this... what love feels like?¡±


    About half an hourglass later, under the guidance of a dozen wizards, apprentices stepped onto a massive balance scale.


    As magic stones on the scale¡¯s other side turned gray and unremarkable, the apprentices¡¯ images blurred, vanishing into the twisting forces of space one by one.

 Chapter 33: Slaughter

    Standing on the teleportation balance, Nidhogg donned the Pale Mask. As his body was stretched and compressed in an experience akin to being pulled into strands, he suddenly found himself in an unfamiliar place.


    Urgh...


    Instinctively, he felt the urge to vomit. Such teleportation was quite taxing for a wizard without enhanced constitution from bloodline magic. Despite his dizziness, Nidhogg remained vigilant, noticing two figures confronting each other about ten meters ahead.


    "Those two marks..."


    The marks on their foreheads indicated one was from Maze Pan Academy and the other from Ivory Castle¡ªneither from Black Tower Wizard Academy. But then again, even if they were from Black Tower, they would still be foes at this moment.


    There might be potential alliances if they belonged to the Bloodsail Alliance.


    Wearing the Pale Mask, Nidhogg''s forehead mark was completely obscured, leaving the two opponents unaware of his affiliation. However, his mark didn¡¯t matter now; what mattered was that he was in a state of absolute weakness!


    Without hesitation, the two confronting apprentices attacked Nidhogg.


    One mumbled an incantation, sending a thin, transparent wind blade slashing toward him. The other raised a hand, launching an ice spike through the air.


    With two soft thuds, a transparent shield before Nidhogg effortlessly absorbed the wind blade and ice spike, not even causing a ripple.


    "Not even a twenty-degree energy attack... how weak..."


    Suppressing his nausea, Nidhogg murmured. The mask''s shield had rendered their attacks ineffective, requiring no magic from him.


    This was hardly surprising.


    These wizard apprentices were only three years into their studies. With just three years of meditation, most apprentices¡¯ mental power ranged from 10 to 17.


    Occasionally, some naturally gifted apprentices with good meditation aptitude might reach 20.


    But at Nidhogg¡¯s level of 24 mental power, he could count any equal opponents in the trial on one hand.


    With a mental power between 10 and 17, even with elemental magic array enhancements, their energy outputs were merely 13 to 22 degrees¡ªclearly, these two lacked significant mental power.


    The two apprentices stared wide-eyed at Nidhogg in horror, as if seeing a monster.


    The wind blade user, overwhelmed with fear, fled immediately, casting a speed-boosting spell as he ran.


    The other apprentice reacted slower. With a cruel grin, Nidhogg sent a flying firebird toward him.


    "No!"


    The apprentice managed a desperate scream before being engulfed in flames, reduced to ashes as the firebird''s energy levels peaked at 60 degrees.


    Simultaneously, the chain mark on Nidhogg¡¯s forehead became slightly more pronounced.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Urgh...


    With no one to disturb him, Nidhogg finally managed to vomit out the acidic contents of his stomach, regaining his normal state.


    ¡°Phew¡­ I really ought to study some body-enhancing magic.¡±


    Panting, Nidhogg mused, "Bloodline magic is quick but comes with side effects, making it hard to focus wizardry and altering physical traits. Mechanical or potion magic might be better, and perhaps earth and wood element magic could enhance the body. Maybe the Life Code Forbidden Zone research might also hold a breakthrough."


    Muttering to himself, Nidhogg did not immediately scout his surroundings. Instead, he took out his crystal ball to attempt contact with Fira and the others.


    The trial area spanned roughly a 300-kilometer diameter. At the mental power level of apprentices, communication was clear within ten kilometers, with increasing interference beyond that range, eventually fading to nothing.


    After repeated failures, it was evident his team wasn¡¯t nearby.


    Shaking his head, Nidhogg had not expected much, so he pocketed his crystal ball and glanced at the map. Without clear landmarks, he chose a direction at random and proceeded.


    Buzz...


    Unaware of the Thorn Forest''s dangers, Nidhogg inadvertently entered territory claimed by so-called killer bees. Swarms of fist-sized bees descended upon him.


    "Hmm?"


    Realizing his blunder, Nidhogg understood that in the forest, not only were other apprentices enemies, but also the deadly local fauna posed significant threats.


    However¡­


    The shield around Nidhogg shimmered with countless ripples under the bee assault. Although it seemed intense, his magic depletion was minimal.


    The bees¡¯ attacks were below twenty degrees; their sheer numbers only temporarily prevented the mask from drawing energy from the surroundings.


    Wizards use their intelligence in battle. Resorting to brute force is primitive unless one¡¯s power far exceeds the opposition.


    Nidhogg retrieved a small vial from his sleeve, uncorking it while pinching his nose. A peculiar aroma permeated the air.


    Neither fragrant nor foul, the scent was bizarre¡ªa mix of stinky tofu, garlic, milk, and lemon juice.


    As this scent spread, the bees hesitated, sensing something unpleasant, and dispersed.


    Covering his nose, Nidhogg casually glanced toward a distant bush. Almost instantaneously, a hidden figure within fled.


    What a joke, the observer thought, having seen Nidhogg emerge unscathed from a killer bee attack. Facing such a formidable opponent was indeed hopeless!


    "Humph, leaving after spying for so long?"


    For Nidhogg, encountering apprentices before the second secret realm opened was an opportunity to collect five hundred magic stones.


    Hardened by the sea wheel¡¯s harsh lessons, Nidhogg had long abandoned sentimentality. As Nina once said, cruelty and coldness define a wizard''s essence.


    Pointing toward the fleeing figure, Nidhogg summoned a vine to entangle them¡ªcourtesy of the Vine Heart earring Nina had given him.


    "Ha! Such a low-level spell to try and bind me?"


    With a scoff, the figure transformed partially, their legs morphing into bovine hooves, breaking free from the vines with ease.


    "The artifact¡¯s grade is too low. Bloodline magic, huh!"


    While the escapee struggled with the vines, Nidhogg closed the distance, a fireball igniting at his fingertip. He pointed at the figure now within range: ¡°Die.¡±


    A firebird surged toward the opponent.


    "Impossible! Such powerful waves!"


    The opponent was stronger than the previous two apprentices Nidhogg faced.


    Reacting swiftly, they cast a spell, their body dissolving into a blood puddle, fleeing like an arrow.


    Boom!


    With a face darkened by frustration, Nidhogg approached the scorched ground.


    Suddenly noticing something, he touched the bloodstained soil, coldly smiling, ¡°Left a bodily mark behind; using rudimentary escape spells without companion parasites is foolish.¡±


    Chanting a mystical incantation, the blood at his fingertip vaporized into red smoke, manifesting a screaming visage that faded like mist.


    Simultaneously, Nidhogg arranged various mystical materials into a rudimentary altar, placing a miniature straw figure in its center.


    The distant, weakened figure glanced back nervously, relieved to find no pursuers. Muttering, they lamented, ¡°Bad luck to encounter such a monster right away. Not sure which academy they¡¯re from. I wonder if my academy¡¯s hopefuls can match them.¡±


    While mumbling, a chill swept over them, and a fog seemed to cloud their vision, inducing blindness.


    ¡°Cursed magic? Blindness?¡± Despairing, they stumbled, unable to discern direction.


    Moments later, following the trail with Hunt Nose¡¯s guidance, Nidhogg found the charred remains, chuckling, ¡°They didn¡¯t even cultivate a companion parasite but used an escape spell with a bodily mark¡ªutterly foolish.¡±

 Chapter 34: The Hunt

    Belrod, ranked ninth among the top ten apprentices of the Dark Realm Wizard Academy this year, had always been viewed as a humble and wise figure by others. Yet, nobody knew about the nearly pathological arrogance he harbored within.


    He firmly believed that given enough time, he could surpass any apprentice wizard, as he had always done. Starting as an unnoticed newcomer, Belrod steadily outpaced his peers and even overtook the so-called top experts, ultimately becoming a prominent figure on the academy''s top ten list.


    These accomplishments fueled his pride, hidden beneath his ostensibly humble and wise demeanor, allowing him to look down on others with a sense of superiority.


    Even the other supposed top ten experts ahead of him in the Dark Realm Wizard Academy rankings could be surpassed, given more time. He was certain of it.


    ¡°Yes! This is it! This is the opportunity!¡±


    While others trembled in fear after the Dark Realm Wizard Academy announced the trial rules, Belrod was trembling with excitement, barely able to contain the urge to laugh aloud.


    Normally, it would take a month of hard work to earn dozens of magic stones. In this trial, however, one could earn five hundred magic stones by killing a single apprentice.


    Such a trial was nothing short of paradise!


    ¡°Yes, just kill ten of these foolish apprentices for five thousand magic stones. If I can kill twenty, that''s ten thousand! And more¡­¡±


    Belrod''s eyes gleamed with excitement. By the trial¡¯s end, the so-called top ten experts would be nothing more than fleeting shadows. ¡°My goal is the Sacred Tower!¡±


    Belrod coldly affirmed to himself.


    Throughout the trial secret realm, Belrod was nearly delirious with frenzy.


    ¡°Haha, the fourth one¡ªnow it¡¯s two thousand magic stones. This is too easy. Two thousand stones, just like that. Once I return to the academy, they¡¯ll be enough to purchase everything I¡¯ve ever planned.¡±


    Belrod sneered, ¡°Once I have those, the so-called top ten experts will be nothing more than insects beneath my feet. Hahaha¡­ No, two thousand stones are not enough. Just one more kill, another five hundred stones¡ªI want more!¡±


    Frenzied, Belrod extracted his bloodied claws from an apprentice''s chest, charging towards weak ¡°prey¡± in the distance.


    Half an hourglass later, Belrod growled in frustration, ¡°Damn mark! The more people I kill, the stronger the signal it emits, scaring off these cowardly fools before I can get to them! Damn it!¡±


    As he cursed, Belrod suddenly halted.


    ¡°What¡¯s this¡­? The scent of blood and the resonance of a mark! Yes, it¡¯s the mark¡¯s signal! Haha, nearby, poor little cat, I¡¯ve got you!¡±


    Laughing wildly, Belrod¡¯s body morphed with claws replacing hands, and dark purple scales and a black liquid, likely venomous, coated his skin, giving him a leopard-like agility.


    ¡°Muahaha, little kitty, here I come¡­¡±


    As Belrod leaped from the woods, his voice abruptly cut off, leaving him stunned at the shocking scene before him, unable to make a sound.


    The sight was overwhelming.


    Even Belrod¡¯s frenzy couldn¡¯t withstand the shock, becoming instantly sober.


    In a massive clearing, the landscape was devastated by spells¡ªtrees and grass obliterated, the ground pocked with craters, and the air thick with blood. Charred limbs were strewn about as if shattered by some explosive force.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Such a terrifying scene suggested a battle involving at least twenty apprentices to have resulted in such carnage!


    Yet, standing alone in the field was a single figure, panting and seemingly drained of magic.


    Gulping nervously, Belrod swallowed hard, a cold sweat dripping unnoticed from his forehead.


    Sensing the mark, Belrod perceived an enormous blazing light sphere ahead, radiating like a sun in the sky, blindingly bright, and painful to look at directly, as if prolonged viewing would cause blindness.


    In comparison, his own mark felt like a firefly¡¯s glow, barely perceptible under the sun¡¯s glaring presence.


    ¡°How¡­ how many apprentices had to be killed for a mark to become this terrifying?¡±


    Belrod took a sharp breath, his mind suddenly crystal clear.


    At that moment, he completely forgot why he came. All he wanted was to escape this hellish place, as the person before him was beyond his capacity to handle!


    Such a figure transcended the so-called top ten experts list of newcomers!


    No, this wasn¡¯t a person¡ªthis was a monster!


    Abruptly, the panting figure turned around, revealing a pale mask to Belrod.


    His pupils contracted, and without hesitation, Belrod retreated at high speed, abandoning the notion of accumulating more marks.


    The source of Belrod¡¯s fear was none other than Nidhogg.


    Originally, Nidhogg¡¯s killing spree progressed steadily. After defeating his sixth apprentice, the mark on his forehead began emitting astonishingly strong pulses.


    The sixth slain apprentice had already killed four others, so upon absorbing that mark, Nidhogg¡¯s total signal equaled ten apprentices. This transformed his mark into a beacon in the trial field¡ªa flame in the darkness¡ªas other apprentices avoided him, making further ¡°hunting¡± impossible.


    After encountering a formidable apprentice who fled after testing him, Nidhogg decided to abandon the hunt and wait for the secret realm to open.


    However, shortly after stopping, four apprentices¡ªeach emitting signals of varying strength¡ªcollaborated to challenge him. They had managed to teleport together, intending to overthrow Nidhogg and claim his marks.


    Among them, the weakest had three marks, and the strongest boasted eight!


    Thus, a fierce battle ensued.


    With the mask¡¯s formidable shield for defense, Nidhogg replenished his magic with mid-grade stones while repeatedly casting his firebird spell. Under his relentless assault, the four apprentices fell in despair, surrendering their marks to him.


    Upon absorbing the final apprentice''s mark, Nidhogg held thirty-three marks, and his signal pulsed like a sun in the sky. Centered on Nidhogg, a powerful wave radiated a hundred meters around him.


    At that moment, any apprentice within a hundred meters of Nidhogg felt the overwhelming presence of a sun-like signal¡ªa warning bell declaring the emergence of an irresistible apprentice wizard.


    It was then Nidhogg detected a figure approaching from behind.


    ¡°Another greedy one? Five marks, hmph!¡±


    Nidhogg¡¯s eyes beneath the mask glared with icy resolve as he awaited the intruder¡¯s approach, all while fervently absorbing magic from a mid-grade stone.


    Yet, to Nidhogg¡¯s disappointment, the figure hesitated, then turned to flee.


    ¡°What? Running away¡­ Come and go at will? For twenty-five hundred magic stones, it¡¯s worth pursuing!¡±


    With that, Nidhogg¡¯s staff emitted a wave of magic, conjuring a large wind elemental bat flapping its wings. Without hesitation, Nidhogg dashed forward and leapt onto its back, pursuing the fleeing figure.


    Nidhogg¡¯s mark blazed like a sun, prompting all apprentices who sensed it to steer clear, unwilling to approach.


    The mark¡¯s presence only hid when Nidhogg was fully channeled with magic, but without active magical fluctuation, it remained contained within a limited range.


    As the wind elemental bat descended upon the fleeing figure, Nidhogg smirked, conjuring a fireball at his fingertip before launching it as a firebird.


    Feeling the intense energy from behind, Belrod shouted, ¡°No!¡±


    Desperately, he deployed a precious life-saving artifact.


    A translucent mirror appeared behind him, possessing extraordinary protective capabilities. Nidhogg¡¯s firebird struck the mirror, unleashing a burst of flames so intense that the air wavered.


    Yet, the mirror absorbed the attack, although it flickered, nearing dissolution.


    ¡°Blocked? This complicates things.¡±


    Nidhogg frowned.


    Despite having replenished some magic through stones, Nidhogg hesitated, mindful of conserving energy for the impending secret realm.


    ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll spare your life.¡±


    With a sigh, Nidhogg landed the bat and focused on absorbing magic from his stone.


    His earlier battle had yielded two useful magical devices, a bonus.


    One was a ring capable of storing 50-60 magic points, allowing instant replenishment when needed.


    The other, a necklace capable of releasing a moderate defense spell called the Flame Repulsion Ring, could reflect half of attacks below 30 degrees and partially weaken those under 40 degrees.


    Yet, with Nidhogg already possessing the Fountain of Joy necklace and overlapping functions with his mask¡¯s shield, the new necklace remained unused.


    Watching Nidhogg abandon the chase, Belrod¡¯s nerves eased, nearly collapsing with relief, murmuring, ¡°What a monster from which academy, encountered on the first day, thankfully had a costly five-hundred magic stone lifesaver¡ªVoid Mirror. Hmm¡­ Better put hunting on hold, find the group soon.¡±


    Mentioning the Void Mirror, Belrod winced, but without looking back, he fled further away, determined never to cross paths with the creature again.

 Chapter 35: Mark Fluctuation

    Three meters beneath the soil, nestled within the subterranean bud of the Ground Bulb, Nidhogg held a mid-grade magic stone to restore his magic. He was also contemplating ways to control the resonance of the mark on his forehead.


    Through continuous research, Nidhogg made a discovery.


    Even the slightest depletion of his magic would cause his mark¡¯s resonance to flare like a blazing sun within a hundred-meter radius, constantly alerting all nearby apprentices. However, if he maintained full magic and remained stationary without any movement or magical fluctuation, the mark¡¯s resonance would retract entirely, rendering him indistinguishable from an apprentice with no marks.


    Yet, the moment Nidhogg moved, even simply walking, the mark''s resonance would reappear. Although, at this point, the range and intensity would be significantly reduced, limited to a thirty-meter radius with a ten-point strength.


    But should any magical fluctuation arise within him, no matter how slight, it would trigger a thirty-point intensity resonance within a thirty-meter radius, instantly expanding to a hundred meters if his magic began to deplete.


    Having grasped the control method for his mark''s resonance, Nidhogg calculated the time and realized that the first batch of secret realms would soon open.


    Wasting no time, Nidhogg tapped on the Ground Bulb. After a moment of trembling, the soil above him loosened, and a giant bud emerged from the ground, unveiling Nidhogg within.


    Dropping a single drop of potion onto the large bud, the Ground Bulb trembled and rapidly shrank, reverting into an inconspicuous seed which Nidhogg stored away. Carefully managing his mark¡¯s resonance, he made his way toward a vantage point on high ground.


    Even with his resonance limited to a ten-point intensity in a thirty-meter range, other apprentices kept their distance. Nidhogg didn¡¯t encounter a single one.


    The specified thirty-meter and hundred-meter ranges were theoretical; the actual influence varied depending on the other¡¯s perception abilities.


    As the sun set, with about half an hourglass until dusk, Nidhogg sensed two significant magical fluctuations. One lay roughly a kilometer away, and the other approximately three to four kilometers distant.


    Standing on the high ground, Nidhogg peered through the dense forest toward the nearer magical fluctuation, noticing an odd disturbance. Trees appeared to be uprooted, mingled with the guttural roars of what seemed like irrational beasts.


    ¡°The secret realm has opened.¡±


    Excited, Nidhogg controlled his mark¡¯s resonance as he hastened toward the nearest secret realm, eager to claim its rewards. If he could collect more marks along the way, so much the better.


    As the realms opened, the vast trial grounds began to draw people together, concentrating apprentices at these burgeoning locations.


    Along the way, Nidhogg spotted a few apprentices also heading toward the secret realm, though they were cautious, avoiding him. He had no intention of using magic to chase them.


    Thus, each in relative safety, made their way to the gathering points.


    Moments later, Nidhogg reached the nearest secret realm, only to feel a pang of disappointment.


    ¡°So basic?¡±


    Indeed, the first wave of so-called secret realms was merely a lavishly decorated house, far from deserving the term ¡®secret realm.¡¯


    The only notable feature was a colossal tree standing in front of the house, its branches like arms or steel whips, slaying any apprentice attempting to approach.


    Before the realm, approximately thirty apprentices had gathered, while more appeared on the horizon.


    The massive tree bore a gaping mouth as large as a table, filled with jagged teeth, chewing through the corpses of recently slain apprentices. The beast-like roars Nidhogg heard earlier seemed to emanate from this monstrous maw.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The tree¡¯s arm-like branches were powerfully strong and resilient, posing a nightmare for apprentices, wrapping them easily and lethally.


    "This is the Labrador Nightmare Tree. Typically indistinguishable from an ordinary giant tree, it requires feeding once every hundred years. Without sufficient flesh to consume, the Labrador Nightmare Tree will never transform into a real tree, remaining a carnivorous monster," yelled an apprentice with apparent knowledge.


    ¡°Blood food? Where do we get blood food from? It just devoured three apprentices and shows no sign of being satiated,¡± another apprentice said grimly.


    Among the thirty or so gathered, two apprentices were formidable, each with mark resonances equivalent to ten individuals, flanked by two to three aides. None of the other apprentices dared provoke these groups.


    The remaining individuals kept wary distance, with only a few approaching in allied groups.


    "Where to find blood food? Haha, isn¡¯t there plenty among us?" remarked a male apprentice with the ten-mark resonance.


    Seeming around fifteen or sixteen, he had a youthful appearance and a voice transitioning through puberty, yet his demeanor was already chillingly ruthless.


    After speaking, he glanced at the female apprentice, similarly marked with ten resonances, who sat atop a giant bear composed of earth elements. Her eyes flickered, undecided about attacking other apprentices to ¡°feed¡± the Nightmare Tree.


    Nidhogg watched from afar, choosing to bide his time and await developments rather than rush into action.


    At that moment, an apprentice, unable to contain their impatience, attempted to sneak toward the secret realm under a simple invisibility spell, disregarding the fearsome Labrador Nightmare Tree.


    The crowd chuckled, dismissing the effort as a futile sacrifice. However, they were stunned when the apprentice¡¯s rough disguise actually bypassed the Nightmare Tree and entered the house.


    Moments later, a faint spatial fluctuation suggested the realm contained a teleportation device, and the apprentice safely disappeared.


    Even Nidhogg was taken aback before his eyes turned cold.


    His claim on the secret realm¡¯s reward was snatched right before him, kindling anger.


    Suddenly, Nidhogg considered the scenario, noting the still-visible house, and wondered, ¡°Could it be that the secret realm isn¡¯t limited to rewarding a single person?¡±


    ¡°Damn it! That bastard stole my magical instrument!¡± the adolescent male apprentice raged, glancing at the hesitant female apprentice atop the earth bear. ¡°If you don¡¯t make a decision, I won¡¯t hold back!¡±


    Gritting her teeth, the female apprentice finally barked, ¡°Kill!¡±


    With her consent, the adolescent male apprentice sneered, ¡°Even if you get the secret realm artifact, I¡¯ll take it from you!¡±


    Signaling to his allies, they charged at the lone apprentices, while some rushed the house, others scattered, avoiding involvement.


    ¡°Nidhogg!¡± At that moment, a female apprentice spotted the masked Nidhogg and shouted in relief, rushing toward him.


    This apprentice was part of the Bloodsail Alliance and seemed close to Yorkris, often seen with him. Though Nidhogg recognized her, named Iraltiven, they hadn''t spoken often.


    None of this mattered now.


    Seeing the adolescent male pursuing Iraltiven, Nidhogg felt a thrill of anticipation, mentally urging her, "Yes! Closer!"


    Nidhogg remained motionless, suppressing all mark resonance.


    Iraltiven, seeing Nidhogg hold his ground, was filled with gratitude. She and Yorkris hadn¡¯t officially started anything, yet Nidhogg risked himself to save her. It inspired trust and admiration, beyond the mere alliance bond.


    Iraltiven didn¡¯t believe Nidhogg acted out of mere alliance camaraderie; alliances offered mutual aid, but wouldn''t ensure rescue in peril.


    She hadn¡¯t considered other motives...


    Watching the approaching adolescent apprentice, Nidhogg licked his lips in excitement, his gaze unnerving.


    Reaching Nidhogg¡¯s side, Iraltiven turned, gathering her magic to confront the pursuer, breathlessly saying, ¡°He¡¯s strong, from Ivory Castle, just stall him. I¡¯ve already contacted¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, a terrifying mark resonance exploded behind Iraltiven, like a sun radiating light and heat, engulfing all other resonances, hers vanishing like a reef beneath stormy seas.


    At her spell¡¯s activation, every apprentice in the realm''s vicinity turned in shock toward the excited, grimacing Nidhogg.


    ¡°Run!¡±


    Without hesitation, the female atop the earth bear fled, leaving tremors in her wake.


    Iraltiven stood frozen, pale, unable to fathom that the one enveloping a pursuing apprentice in elemental flames, boasting a ten-point resonance, was Nidhogg.


    Could all this be Nidhogg¡¯s doing?


    Nidhogg charged forward, summoning a fireball at his fingertips, launching it at a nearby apprentice too slow to evade, incinerating them before a scream escaped.


    In that moment, Nidhogg was a ravenous wolf among sheep, slaughtering any prey within reach until, after the fourth kill, the secret realm was deserted.


    ¡°Devil, I¡¯ll remember you!¡± an apprentice screamed from afar, fleeing in terror.


    Nidhogg ignored them, licking his lips. ¡°Fifty-one mark points.¡±


    Glancing at the motionless, shell-shocked Iraltiven, Nidhogg didn¡¯t acknowledge her directly, offering only a slight smile before making his way to the Labrador Nightmare Tree.


    To Iraltiven, Nidhogg''s smile was the sneer of a devil, her frozen form trembling instinctively as sweat pooled, her face ghostly.


    ¡°No, no, with over thirty marks, you can enter the house directly.¡±


    To Nidhogg¡¯s surprise, the Nightmare Tree spoke.


    Startled, Nidhogg laughed, ¡°Interesting.¡±


    Entering the house, nine identical magic wands stood on pedestals, one notably vacant, presumably taken by the earlier apprentice.


    Pondering briefly, Nidhogg mused, ¡°So this is the reward? They seem like basic enchantment devices.¡±


    As he grasped a wand, a spatial ripple surged, and Nidhogg vanished along with the wand.

 Chapter 36: Warning

    Nidhogg blinked as he was transported to a new location. This time, the teleportation seemed to cover only a distance of about ten kilometers, so it didn''t feel too disorienting.


    "Hmm?"


    Nidhogg turned his head, sensing a magical fluctuation about two kilometers away, indicating the presence of another secret realm.


    Feeling pleased, Nidhogg decided not to hide his powerful aura, which surged like a raging sea, and summoned a wind-element bat to head towards the secret realm. Meanwhile, he examined a newly acquired magic wand.


    After a moment, Nidhogg showed some disappointment.


    "It''s just a simple wand sealed with a lightning spell, with an attack strength of about 35 to 45. It has the property of speed and inevitably has a penetrating paralysis effect, with additional damage to other elemental spells."


    Shaking his head, Nidhogg found the wand useless for himself: "In the academy, it''s only worth about 350 to 450 magic stones, not as valuable as defeating another sorcerer¡¯s apprentice."


    However, if other apprentices had such mass-produced wands, their strength could significantly increase. The wand''s sealed lightning spell''s penetrating paralysis effect could be unexpectedly effective against weaker opponents or when escaping from stronger ones.


    Considering his team, Nidhogg continued towards the secret realm.


    After a while, Nidhogg reached the secret realm he had sensed. With his powerful aura, the dozens of people in front of the realm were tense, keeping a close watch on Nidhogg.


    Jumping off the wind-element bat, with golden curls and a Lyre Fountain earring floating, and wearing a mask with purple swirls, his face showed no expression.


    With a "thud," as Nidhogg landed firmly on the ground, a bit of the "aura of a legendary strongman" seemed to emanate from him.


    "It''s you!"


    A voice full of disbelief came from the crowd. A towering figure stood out, at least 1.85 meters tall, with long golden hair tied back and a rugged face covered with a bushy beard. His broad, solid chest was exposed, with hints of black chest hair visible.


    This man was Astalada, Nina''s suitor and one of the three leaders among the ground crowd, standing alongside two unfamiliar members of the Bloodsail Alliance.


    "Astalada."


    Nidhogg replied indifferently, seemingly unbothered by any past rudeness, as he could tell that this guy, though annoying, truly loved Nina far more than he did.


    Nina''s choice of Nidhogg only proved he was lucky, having captured Nina''s heart at a pivotal moment. Nidhogg wasn''t foolish enough to provoke a group of hostile fifty-odd individuals as it would be tantamount to suicide.


    Nidhogg approached a Labrador Nightmare Tree guarding the secret realm, raising his voice: "Can you tell me the conditions to enter the secret realm?"


    The distant crowd looked at Nidhogg as if he were mad, speaking to a man-eating beast? Some even wished the nightmare tree would devour him.


    However, what happened next left everyone stunned¡ªthe nightmare tree actually spoke!


    "Wisdom and strength. You already meet the strength requirement, but since you''ve entered another secret realm once, you can¡¯t enter again."If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    This giant tree, smaller than the previous Labrador Nightmare Tree Nidhogg had encountered, replied.


    "Oh, is that so..."


    Nidhogg contemplated briefly before suddenly asking, "What if I insist on entering again?"


    The Labrador Nightmare Tree swayed its branches slowly and said, "You misunderstand. I only screen qualified sorcerer apprentices; I won''t stop you. If you wish to go in, feel free."


    With that, the Labrador Nightmare Tree amazingly retracted all its branches, opening a path for Nidhogg.


    Nidhogg showed a thoughtful expression, hesitated slightly, and then began moving towards the secret realm hut.


    "Wait."


    Suddenly, Astalada, gritting his teeth as if struggling to control his emotions, stepped forward and shouted to Nidhogg, "I need to know why I lost to you, why Nina chose you!"


    As he spoke, Astalada''s muscles bulged furiously, seemingly filled with explosive power. His mouth elongated, revealing fangs, and black hair sprouted from his body, transforming him from a human into a fierce beast in an instant.


    "Simiangorilla bloodline magic?"


    Nidhogg glanced at him indifferently, unmoved.


    Astalada''s two Bloodsail Alliance companions exclaimed, "Astalada, you''ve gone mad! You can''t beat him. His aura is too powerful!"


    "Don''t go! He''ll kill you!"


    Ignoring his companions'' pleas, Astalada''s eyes grew misty as he shouted, "Leave me alone! For Nina, I''m willing to give everything. Even if Nina chose him, I respect her choice. But I want to know why she chose him!"


    With that, Astalada let out a wild roar, his cry echoing kilometers away like a primitive beast devoid of reason. His powerful arms thumped his chest with resounding booms, leaving no doubt about the fearsome strength they held.


    With a crash, Astalada pounded the ground with his arms, creating small craters: "Fight me, Nidhogg! I want a fair duel like men do!"


    At this moment, all eyes were on Nidhogg. Many hoped this fool Astalada could gauge Nidhogg''s strength.


    Nidhogg paused his approach to the secret realm, slowly turning his head, and after a long silence, whispered, "Boring..."


    Astalada, in his transformed ape state, looked at Nidhogg in disbelief, unable to fathom someone could utter such words.


    "Sorcerers aren''t knights or beasts but beings who use intelligence to fight. You mention dueling? Boring..."


    Pausing, Nidhogg added, "As for Nina, only she knows why she chose me. I was just luckier than you. Do you think Nina chose me because of my strength? No... I understand her. She has a strong desire for control. If she ever finds out I''m stronger than her, that would end everything between us."


    Nidhogg had no intention of fighting.


    He wondered if killing Astalada would upset Nina. Unknowingly, Nina had become very important to Nidhogg, and he didn''t want to distress her over this.


    Astalada stood for a long time, watching Nidhogg depart, a moisture gathering in his eyes.


    The deeper the love, the deeper the hurt.


    No one could understand why this somewhat rash sorcerer apprentice loved the dreaded and loathed "Queen of Poison Tongue" so deeply. Was it merely her beauty and elegance?


    If so, it wouldn''t hurt a man so profoundly.


    Astalada''s two companions sighed, shaking their heads at the heartbroken giant ape.


    Meanwhile, Nidhogg didn''t linger on Astalada''s matters, instead focused on advancing towards the secret realm, sensing magical waves directed solely at him. His body began to tremble instinctively, as if the magic warned him.


    "This wave is unlike any magical energy an apprentice wields, connected inexplicably to the surrounding natural energy, suppressing me. Is this a sorcerer''s power?"


    As Nidhogg approached the secret realm, the strange wave grew stronger, causing more intense body tremors.


    Nidhogg felt that performing elemental sorcery within this wave would reduce his power by a third, from ninefold leverage to sixfold.


    Meanwhile, the basic elemental magic circle''s fivefold energy seemed largely unaffected by the wave.


    Reaching out a trembling hand to open the secret realm¡¯s door, Nidhogg paused just three centimeters away as a fierce wave surged. It seemed to warn that touching the realm would bring a sorcerer¡¯s punishment.


    After a tense pause lasting over ten seconds, Nidhogg recalled his hand, memorizing the peculiar wave and left decisively.


    Nidhogg speculated whether the strange intimidation from apprentices¡¯ forehead marks originated from the simplified wave of a sorcerer''s power.


    This power seemed to stem from the soul and the restraining force of nature, beyond the grasp of apprentice-level sorcery.


    After Nidhogg had completely disappeared, the others in the secret realm relaxed, as his aura had been staggeringly potent, stifling their will to attack.


    Then, some perceptive apprentices approached the Labrador Nightmare Tree, trying to communicate, only to face the tree¡¯s relentless attacks.


    It seemed the tree would only speak to those with a mark value of thirty or more.

 Chapter 37: Disdain

    Nidhogg replenished his magic power and decided to ignore the secret realms for the moment, setting out in a random direction while keeping contact through his crystal ball, hoping to sense information from his teammates. Even though he restrained his aura, the ten-point intensity of his mark still made him like a beacon in the night, causing other apprentice sorcerers to avoid him from a distance.


    Half a day later.


    Boom!


    After a wave of fire, Nidhogg''s aura could no longer be hidden, bursting forth like an inferno. A black-spotted leopard that had ambushed him quickly realized Nidhogg was not an easy target and fled after skillfully evading the flames.


    However, Nidhogg coldly smiled at a clearing in the distance and sat down to replenish his magic.


    Thanks to his keen sense of smell, Nidhogg clearly sensed that an apprentice sorcerer using some form of invisibility magic had been tailing him from that direction for a full hourglass time.


    The apprentice was cautious, never coming closer than fifty meters, preventing Nidhogg from pinpointing his location using the mask''s ultrasound, only sensing a general direction.


    Nidhogg''s cold smile seemed to have worked, as the scent of the lurking figure vanished from his perceptive nose.


    "Another strong one trying to probe me, I wonder which academy they''re from."


    Not bothering to investigate further, Nidhogg focused on absorbing the intermediate magic stone in his hand. The stone had dimmed considerably from repeated use.


    An hourglass time later, as Nidhogg searched for his teammates in the forest, his crystal ball suddenly picked up some signals. Overjoyed, Nidhogg quickened his pace towards the source of the signal.


    Gradually, Nidhogg confirmed that it was likely Yorkliana.


    A mushroom field stretched before him, a common terrain in the Thornridge Forest. However, as Nidhogg stepped into the area, the mushrooms exploded with a "pop," releasing clouds of spores.


    Simultaneously, Nidhogg felt dizzy, and his surroundings began to distort, sway, and become unreal.


    "Is this a scent-induced illusion attack? Damn, this type of illusion can bypass the Mirage Earring''s resistance and, through my keen sense, magnify its effects on me!"


    In an instant, Nidhogg realized he had walked into another of Thornridge Forest''s natural traps.


    Despite being a third-year newcomer equipped with numerous precious items bought with magic stones, Nidhogg had never ventured into Thornridge Forest like other apprentices, making its dangerous environment a greater obstacle for him.


    Nidhogg''s magic prompted the symbiotic bugs within him, and the humming of buzzing snails in his body seemed to intensify. Normally inaudible, the noise now slammed into Nidhogg''s ears like an explosion, snapping him back to reality.


    "Whoa... that was close."


    Though the dizziness lasted barely half a second, during that time, Nidhogg was utterly defenseless, unable even to activate his mask.


    Fortunately, when Nidhogg''s magic surged, the powerful wave from his mark effectively deterred any potential attackers.


    He quickly retreated from the mushroom field, carefully retracing his steps.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Meanwhile, Nidhogg sensed that while the buzzing snails were being activated, in addition to their inherent illusion resistance, something else occurred.


    Though the specifics were unclear, Nidhogg instinctively felt it was beneficial to his body and was accompanied by waves of hunger.


    "Could that subtle change just now be the special ability of the buzzing snails?"


    Elated, Nidhogg pulled out two pieces of dried meat from his pocket and chewed them, then began carefully collecting some intact explosive mushrooms.


    If he could uncover the buzzing snails'' true special ability, it might significantly advance his research on the secrets of life!


    While storing the explosive mushrooms with joy, Nidhogg suddenly turned and gazed into the depths of the forest behind him.


    A surge of mark power comparable to his own erupted, resonating with his aura and forming an unusual space of energy.


    "Another academy''s powerhouse? You''re the first I''ve seen in this trial with a mark power over thirty."


    Slowly, a solitary figure emerged from the forest, with a face pale to the point of horror. Though conversing with Nidhogg, his gaze barely lingered, instead playing with a small white mouse on his shoulder.


    Seeing the white mouse, Nidhogg''s pupils constricted beneath his mask as he tentatively asked, "Yunli?"


    Nidhogg''s probing question had its intended effect; the figure looked up, frowning: "From Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy? But... I haven¡¯t seen anyone else these years, save for the teacher, Bibilionna, Solum, and a few senior apprentices. Who are you?"


    Nidhogg, with his mark concealed under his mask, was not recognized by Yunli as belonging to any sorcerer academy.


    As Nidhogg was about to speak, Yunli interrupted: "Forget it, don¡¯t say a thing! The mentor said not to kill apprentices from one¡¯s own academy. If you¡¯re from Blacksaw Tower, that wouldn¡¯t be any fun."


    "For someone with such a massive mark power, you won''t die so easily, right? Keep that mask on, and we¡¯ll have a bit of fun..."


    In this short span, Yunli spoke more than Nidhogg had heard in a month on the ocean liner. When Yunli mentioned fun, Nidhogg''s pupils contracted sharply!


    Screech...


    Suddenly, the protective shield in front of Nidhogg twisted, as if struck by an invisible drill, spiraling into a deformed shape.


    Poof...


    As quickly as it came, it left, and after a chunk of Nidhogg''s magic was drained, his shield returned to its eggshell form. Yet the sudden attack left him in a cold sweat. "Such a sudden attack, with an energy intensity of 80 to 90 degrees!"


    This attack was far beyond Nidhogg''s highest attack capability.


    "Hmm... the shield''s strength is decent. Let''s see if it can withstand this form."


    Intrigued, Yunli chanted a few words, pointing again at Nidhogg.


    Nidhogg had no time to react, nor any sign of disturbance, only that his shield felt like being rammed by a powerful rhino. As Nidhogg''s magic rapidly depleted, a force sent him flying, his insides roiling in discomfort.


    "This... surpassed 100-degree energy attack!"


    Nidhogg looked at Yunli, pale and incredulous.


    A couple more attacks like that, and even with the magic ring, Nidhogg would run out of energy and perish.


    Meanwhile, Yunli was equally surprised, "Such strong sorcerer gear must be top-tier for an apprentice. Truly a turtle shell."


    Gritting his teeth, Nidhogg conjured a fireball at his fingertip, launching it towards Yunli in the shape of a firebird. Unfazed, Yunli pointed, causing the space to warp, making the firebird vanish and reappear a hundred meters away in an explosion.


    Recalling Yunli''s eerie methods against sea monsters, Nidhogg formed a theory, his expression shifting.


    "No wonder he''s dubbed a once-in-a-century genius¡ªhis innate talent is space distortion. Such power is nearly godlike for apprentices!"


    On the other hand, Yunli muttered, "Even my strongest spells can''t breach that shield. Seems that mask is indeed formidable sorcerer gear. But doesn''t his mentor know gifting such an item violates the Seven Ring Tower''s regulations?"


    Yunli assumed Nidhogg''s mask was a gift from his mentor.


    "Let''s try physical attacks. If that fails, this test is too demanding, facing top-tier apprentice-level gear."


    With that, Yunli took out a simple metal dagger and, with a spatial twist, appeared before Nidhogg, stabbing the dagger down.


    Ding!


    The shield held firm against the dagger, and Yunli vanished again, eluding Nidhogg''s vine spell.


    Thirty meters away, Yunli sheathed the dagger, shaking his head with disinterest, "Seems your power relies on that gear. Without it, you''re average, not worth noting."


    Pausing, Yunli warned, "I''ll inform my teacher. Your mentor gifting such potent gear breaks trial rules¡ªprepare for punishment."


    Ignoring Nidhogg, Yunli continued, "Sorcerer gear is just an aid. True strength lies within. Relying on that gear won¡¯t earn you a spot in the trial for the Holy Tower in seventeen years. Your mentor''s a fool."


    With a spatial twist, Yunli''s mark power vanished, seemingly teleporting him a hundred meters away.


    Nidhogg disregarded Yunli''s disdain, focusing on a key piece of information: "The Holy Tower advancement trial in seventeen years."

 Chapter 38: Despair

    "Liana..."


    Rushing along, Nidhogg continuously called out on the crystal ball, hoping to quickly make contact with Yorkliana to determine the distance.


    Buzz...


    Suddenly, Nidhogg¡¯s crystal ball emitted a harsh noise, followed by a connection with Yorkliana, who had been trying to reach Nidhogg. A small, somewhat blurry face appeared on Nidhogg''s crystal ball.


    Nidhogg was delighted, "Liana, how''s it going on your side? Have you managed to contact anyone else?"


    Yorkliana appeared to be running, causing the crystal ball to shake slightly. The part of her face not covered by the mask showed anxiety, almost to the point of tears.


    "Nidhogg, my brother, Haynel and I are being chased by some sorcerer apprentices from the Mipan Academy. We just managed to contact sister Nina and sister Robin, and we''re heading to meet them up ahead."


    Haynel was one of Yorkliana''s suitors, though he was quite ordinary in appearance, somewhat awkward in his behavior, and not particularly skilled, which is why Yorkliana never agreed to date him. It was unclear how they ended up together this time.


    Nidhogg¡¯s expression changed, "What''s going on?"


    "Haynel used a mystical sorcery and accidentally found a Moon Tear. But when he was digging it up, the sound was heard by some Mipan Academy apprentices, and ah..."


    Suddenly, there was a scream from Yorkliana in the crystal ball, which then went black as the ball flew away. Without magic to support it, Nidhogg lost contact.


    "Damn it, a Moon Tear! No wonder they are being chased so aggressively. It''s said that if a Moon Tear is planted in a sorcerer''s meditation room, allowing moonlight to shine on it at night, it can double the efficiency of meditation. This feature interests even high-level sorcerers."


    Nidhogg''s expression turned grim, and he stopped suppressing his aura. He immediately summoned a wind-element bat and flew at full speed towards the direction indicated.


    ...


    Yorkliana stepped onto loose soil, falling into a quagmire with a scream, losing the crystal ball into the mud.


    "Liana!"


    Haynel, a short fellow with rough, dark skin likely from a fisherman''s family, wasn''t much of a talker.


    Seeing Yorkliana trapped in the quagmire, and knowing her sorcery was mostly supportive, originally meant to complement her brother Yorkris'' spells, Haynel understood the dire situation they were in since Yorkris wasn''t around.


    Haynel''s sorcery leaned towards mystics and alchemy, unsuited for combat situations. Combining their circumstances, the two found themselves in a quick bind, unless Haynel chose to abandon Yorkliana.


    Behind them, six apprentices from Mipan Academy caught up. One had a mark intensity of about five, while the rest showed little to no mark aura.


    Seeing Yorkliana stuck in the quagmire, the pursuers visibly relaxed.


    "Don''t touch her, or I''ll destroy this Moon Tear!" Haynel shouted, brandishing a peculiar plant from a box.


    As Haynel held it, the plant''s roots struggled like a child throwing a tantrum, emitting an earsplitting cry.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    For a moment, the wailing was the only sound among the eight present.


    "Threatening us? You clearly don''t know the Sand River Society of Mipan Academy. If you destroy the Moon Tear, we''ll kill you along with it."


    The leading apprentice looked tense at Haynel''s threat but remained stern.


    "Don''t... don''t touch her!" Haynel shouted nervously.


    Yorkliana was neck-deep in the quagmire, helpless, her eyes pleading and full of tears.


    "Ha! Sweetheart, don''t worry. Just hand over the Moon Tear peacefully and we promise to let you go. You''re too cute to kill; I still want to..."


    The apprentice approached and, with a laugh, tore off Yorkliana''s mask. Seeing her face, he swallowed the rest of his words.


    "What an ugly face! Pretending to be so pure?"


    His mood did a complete 180 as he looked at Yorkliana with disgust and shouted at Haynel, "You''re ruining everything. Last chance, three seconds!"


    Yorkliana, covering her disfigured face, shivered with fear, tears welling up in her eyes, making her seem pitiable.


    However, her hideous scars and eyeless socket made her pathetic display repulsive to the Mipan apprentices.


    With her mask on, Yorkliana seemed innocent and shy, like a beautiful, bashful girl.


    Without it, she looked like a hideous old witch trying to appear pitiful.


    "No! Don''t kill her!"


    Haynel screamed, panic-stricken, seemingly unaffected by Yorkliana''s appearance, as if already aware of her condition.


    Terrified, he threw the Moon Tear away.


    The Mipan apprentices'' eyes lit up, reaching for the flying plant.


    Smack!


    A long tongue darted out, and the Moon Tear vanished. Looking again, a sorcerer apprentice had merged into a tree, laughing at them with the Moon Tear in its grasp.


    If Nidhogg were present, his keen sense would have identified this sorcerer apprentice as the figure who had secretly followed him for an hourglass''s time earlier.


    "Skeleton Bell Tower scum!"


    The Mipan apprentice who was about to catch the Moon Tear spat out coldly, spraying black water at the interloper.


    "Hehe, thanks for the compliment."


    The body merged back into the tree, evading the attack.


    The black water burned a large hole in the tree trunk, filling the air with a nauseating stench.


    "Damn, he got away!"


    The Mipan apprentices were furious, rushing to the tree, but found no trace of him.


    Suddenly, one apprentice recalled something with a trembling voice, "Didn''t the academy''s briefing mention keeping an eye out for seven individuals during this trial? Was he the Ghoul Thief from Skeleton Bell Tower?"


    The others stopped in their tracks.


    Indeed, before the trial, the Mipan Academy''s leadership distributed a dossier to all participating apprentices, listing seven "Despairers" from the six academies.


    These Despairers were prodigies taken as disciples by second-level sorcerers as soon as they entered three years ago.


    The dossier named three from Blacksaw Tower¡ªUndying, Twisted, Gold Eye; one from Time Sandglass¡ªSun''s Child; and two from Ivory Castle¡ªSiren, Mechanical Heart.


    The last was the Ghoul Thief from Skeleton Bell Tower.


    The information stated that he enjoyed being insulted, often meaning he''d already tricked his offender.


    Since no Mipan apprentice in this trial was directly trained by second-level sorcerers, they referred to them as Despairers.


    The title spread among them, signifying enemies that invoke despair.


    Abruptly, several strong mark pulses appeared on the Mipan apprentices'' radar, two exceeding ten points.


    "Crap, retreat!"


    Yorkliana gleefully cried out, "Sister Nina! Sister Robin! Brother Armland!"


    Five figures approached¡ªNina and Robin, responding to Yorkliana''s call, and Armland with two Bloodsail Alliance members.


    In the Bloodsail Alliance, Armland''s status was unrivaled, commanding deep respect even from the sharp-tongued Queen Nina.


    "Hmph! How dare they touch Bloodsail Alliance members? Elder Nina, let¡¯s make sure they don''t leave."


    Armland stated coldly.


    Nina looked upset. Given a minute more, Yorkliana might have been finished, driving Yorkris mad.


    Nina responded icily, "Agreed."


    As they prepared to pursue the Mipan apprentices, a terrifying mark wave surged from the distant sky, bearing down on them like a destructive flood.


    Both Nina and Armland stopped in terror.


    "You go, Nina and I will handle this monster! A mark wave this strong¡­it¡¯s akin to Bibilionna. It''s beyond the top ten rankings¡ªclearly a Despairer."


    Armland drew his longsword, generating silvery lightning as his magic peaked.


    Nina¡¯s skin erupted with plant tendrils, huge leafy wings flapping on her back, lifting her slightly off the ground.


    Left hand holding a life-infused longbow, right hand nocked an arrow of compressed energy, her eye adopting an eagle''s visage.


    Nina declared coldly, "Even a Despairer can''t withstand the Life Bow''s synergy with the Hurricane Arrow. My life magic grants us assured victory."


    Armland glanced at Nina.


    Her resolve was intimidating. These were the Despairers!


    Armland knew after battling Bibilionna that these Despairers were truly terrifying.


    He speculated this trial was a grand scheme by the academies¡¯ leadership for these Despairers¡ªa prelude to the Sacred Tower qualification battle in seventeen years.

 Chapter 39: Vow

    Armland and Nina were on high alert, preparing to unleash their full power in response to the oppressive mark coming from the distant sky. They seemed poised to enter battle at any moment.


    With mark levels reaching ten, defeating other apprentice sorcerers had become increasingly difficult. Now that many sorcerers were forming groups, obtaining marks was nearly impossible, except for those known as Despairers.


    Whoosh!


    A wind-element bat appeared in their view. Immediately, Nina drew her bow taut, channeling life and wind element energies into the arrow, her eagle-eye aiming precisely at the figure on the bat, poised for a devastating strike.


    Meanwhile, golden patterns, alive and writhing, appeared on Armland''s body. Silver lightning crackled to life on his greatsword, sparking in the air.


    Armland shouted, "Honorable Despairer, we mean you no harm. Please leave to avoid conflict!"


    Beside him, Nina maintained her lock on the "Despairer," her magic and spirit pushed to their limits. Though she had talked tough earlier, the prospect of confronting a Despairer made her nervous, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.


    The wind-element bat hovered thirty meters away, flapping in the air without advancing.


    Just as Armland and Nina''s hearts pounded in anticipation, a head peeked out from the bat''s back. With surprise, it exclaimed, "Nina, Armland?"


    On the other side, using eagle-eye, Nina recognized the pale mask and felt her body shiver instinctively, immediately suspecting the worst¡ª


    Nidhogg had been killed by this Despairer!


    Instantly, a surge of uncontainable hatred and anger exploded within Nina''s eagle-eye.


    She had to avenge Nidhogg!


    "Ah..."


    With a pained scream, Nina released the arrow.


    Whoosh!


    The Hurricane Arrow transformed into a violent cyclone, reaching the wind-element bat almost instantaneously.


    However, at that moment, a surprised voice reached Nina and Armland''s ears.


    "Nidhogg? No!!"


    With Nina''s disbelief, the arrow turned into a swirling wind sphere in the sky, engulfing the bat and Nidhogg.


    Inside the furious wind sphere were countless life magic-formed sharp leaves, slicing through whatever was within like blades.


    Nina stared blankly at the sky, at the ultimate attack sorcery she had created herself. No one understood its terror better than she did.


    With a thud, Nina''s legs gave way, and she sank to her knees in despair.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Pale as paper, tears streamed down her face as she gaped at the sky, sobbing uncontrollably.


    "What... what have I done? I actually... actually..." she wailed.


    Armland, lacking vision-enhancing sorcery, couldn''t grasp what had happened. The incident transpired so quickly¡ªby the time the Despairer in the sky called out their names, Nina''s sorcery had already erupted, completely swallowing the figure.


    Armland hadn''t fully processed the events. Feeling the terrifying energy above made his heart race with fear.


    No wonder the poison-tongued queen acted with such impunity¡ªthis sorcery''s power likely reached 100 degrees in intensity!


    And it lasted so long...


    He was about to ask what happened when he saw Nina kneeling and sobbing uncontrollably, stunned by her reaction.


    On one hand, he didn''t understand why she was so affected; on the other, he was struck by her vulnerable beauty.


    So, even the poison-tongued queen had such a side...


    After a long moment, the wind sphere and life-blades dissipated. With a thud, a figure fell to the ground, weakly saying, "Nina, it''s me..."


    ...


    Nidhogg''s face was pale. The magic consumed in that moment nearly equaled his encounter with Yunli.


    Luckily, the mask¡¯s shield protected him, or he would have been shredded by Nina¡¯s sorcery.


    Nina was stunned for a moment. Armland, who had seen Nidhogg with his mask at the Bloodsail Alliance ball, doubted his memory but cautiously asked, "Nidhogg?"


    "Yes," Nidhogg replied softly, still the quiet, mysterious figure from Armland¡¯s memory who rarely attended alliance gatherings.


    Nidhogg''s magical imbalance left him barely able to stand, but his face, masked, hid this from Armland. Seeing Nidhogg emerge from such terrifying sorcery seemingly unscathed left Armland with a sense of deep mystery about him.


    "Now I understand why Nina chose him over Astalada, who pursued her for three years. It turns out this alliance hides such a beast..."


    Armland muttered to himself, realizing the situation should be left for Nina and Nidhogg to resolve.


    It also left him embarrassed over his past pride¡ªboasting as the top newcomer¡¯s rank now felt foolish...


    As Armland departed, Nidhogg noticed Nina still kneeling, staring at him, realizing the inevitable had come.


    He could well imagine Nina¡ªa woman of strong control and expression¡ªfacing the truth that her protected lover was more powerful than herself, leading to profound emotional conflict.


    Nidhogg approached Nina, gently trying to lift her, softly saying, "Get up."


    She harshly shook off his hand, tears spilling from her eyes as she looked at him, chokingly asking, "In your eyes, am I just a clown performing for myself?"


    Hurriedly, Nidhogg responded, "No, you are my lover, my family, the woman I want to marry!"


    "Lover? Family? Wife?"


    She laughed bitterly, tears flowing, mocking herself, "But all this time, I¡¯ve been the foolish idiot, acting as your protector, not realizing how laughable I must have seemed to you..."


    "No!"


    Nidhogg interrupted quickly, preventing her spiraling thoughts.


    She coldly laughed, "Not? Then tell me, if I¡¯m not a clown to you, what am I? Nidhogg, I was naive and immature. We should end..."


    "Stop it! Nina, to me, you will always be the vine queen protecting me. I¡¯m always yours, silently supporting you."


    Nidhogg embraced her tightly, cutting off her words.


    Her body tensed momentarily.


    Instantly, she was transported back to when she was proud and arrogant, dangling from a vine above the endless sea¡ªa devouring abyss.


    Just as despair loomed, counting down her magical strength, this man saved her.


    Never had Nina imagined trusting, loving someone so deeply, willing to give him everything, even change herself for him.


    Yet, undeniably, in that moment, this man, seemingly ordinary, vulgar, ignorant, and dull, had moved her heart profoundly.


    Slowly retracting her sarcastic smile, Nina silently gazed at Nidhogg, seemingly caught in internal conflict.


    Seeing her hesitance, Nidhogg gently placed a necklace¡ªhis earlier prize, a flame-resistant sorcery item¡ªaround her neck.


    "No matter the world outside, by your side, I am always Nidhogg, needing your protection."


    Nidhogg solemnly promised, as if vowing lifelong devotion.


    Nina saw his ear adorned with the vine heart earring she had gifted him, heard his earnest vow, and after a long pause, stood softly, saying, "Let¡¯s go find Yorkris and Binhan."


    Without another word, Nina walked away, leaving Nidhogg relieved and quietly following.

 Chapter 40: Squad

    Three days later.


    Binhan and Yorkris finally reunited with Nina, Nidhogg, Yorkliana, and Robin, forming a complete small group.


    If Nidhogg hadn''t been so powerful, Nina and Armland could have teamed up. However, with Nidhogg''s presence and Armland''s ambition and refusal to be ordinary, he naturally no longer wanted to team up with Nina.


    As for Haynel, despite Yorkliana''s plea for him to stay, he left, claiming he didn''t want to hold them back. This, along with the stories heard from Yorkliana, changed Nidhogg and the group''s perspective on this otherwise inconspicuous apprentice sorcerer.


    After a moment of warm interaction, everyone gathered around Nina.


    Nina sat on a fallen log, casually crossing her legs, a serious expression on her face as she pointed at a map with a branch she had picked up.


    "We''re here now. According to probability, the second time the secret realm opens, it¡¯s likely to be nearby. We''re in a relatively secluded valley and forest area, so we''re less likely to be noticed. Over the next few days, we should practice our teamwork."


    After saying this, Nina cast a sideways glance at Nidhogg and said dryly, "Even Robin has fought with us twice and knows some of our strategies. But you haven''t fought with us at all!"


    Though Nina was angry with him, Nidhogg was secretly pleased, as it showed Nina had forgiven him.


    Binhan, unaware of the previous events, cheerfully patted Nidhogg on the shoulder, "Who would''ve thought, after not seeing you for three years, you''d become the strongest among us. But Nina''s right, a lot of strong folks will gather for the second secret realm contest. You should practice teamwork with us."


    Yorkris, carrying an axe, laughed heartily, "Nidhogg, what kind of sorcery do you specialize in? Let Nina decide your role."


    "Hmph, he''s a defensive sorcerer, so have him protect me and Yorkliana. Binhan can join if he feels overwhelmed."


    Nina didn¡¯t give Nidhogg a chance to speak.


    Yorkris and Binhan exchanged glances, unsure why the queen was treating Nidhogg so harshly, assuming it was due to the mysterious dynamics between girls and women.


    They speculated maliciously.


    Meanwhile, Robin and Yorkliana, having gotten used to this dynamic over the last few days, paid it no mind.


    Nidhogg smiled wryly, realizing he was the designated meat shield.


    An hourglass later...


    Nidhogg stood at the front, shielding Nina and Yorkliana, truly experiencing the team''s combat synergy for the first time, though he was particularly intrigued by Yorkris.


    All of Yorkris''s sorcery was high-energy, explosive magic. Transformed into a werewolf, wielding a massive axe in one hand and spiked claws in the other, Yorkris¡¯s occasional explosive sorcery multiplied his strength and speed, becoming a terrifying fighter.


    By Nidhogg''s estimate, Yorkris''s werewolf form had attack energy levels ranging from 15 to 40, with significant fluctuations in close combat.


    However, during his bursts, his peak attack exceeded 60 degrees.


    But since Yorkris''s sorcery rapidly depleted his magic, after two or three uses, he would likely struggle to maintain his transformation, let alone fight.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    That''s where Yorkliana came in.


    Yorkliana¡¯s sorcery allowed her to channel her magic into others.


    Moreover, her magic reserves seemed to far exceed her spiritual capacity, and she seemed to have developed a rapid magic recovery technique.


    Together, Yorkris and Yorkliana formed a terrifying combat unit, effectively turning Yorkris into a fearsome killing machine.


    "Haha, with Nidhogg, I can finally charge in recklessly!" Yorkris shouted enthusiastically.


    Nina tapped Nidhogg and said, "Stay focused; Yorkliana and I aren''t strong in close combat."


    "Understood."


    Nidhogg replied, concentrating on adapting to the team¡¯s combat style.


    Binhan focused on stealth and mobility, ideal for ambushes and reconnaissance.


    Though not the strongest attacker, his escape capabilities were top-notch, likely due to his study of dark elements.


    Nidhogg gave Binhan the magic wand he won from the secret realm, as it held little value for him.


    Binhan¡¯s girlfriend, Robin, nicknamed "Moon," specialized in contract summoning and, according to Nina, had impressive curse magic.


    Nidhogg didn¡¯t support this development path since he knew any sorcerer who reached level four could control a slave army without needing contract summons.


    However, reaching level four was a distant goal for most sorcerer apprentices.


    Robin currently had two summoned creatures: a giant steel-quilled porcupine about 1.5 meters tall and 4 meters long, likely her main combat summon, and a small green-eyed monkey on her shoulder, possibly for scouting.


    Robin also received a magic wand Nina acquired from the secret realm.


    Moreover, Robin¡¯s real trump card seemed to be a mysterious entity called the Moon Bell, the source of her nickname.


    Finally, there was Nina.


    Now a long-range sorcerer, Nina could shoot life energy arrows up to fifty meters with a strength of 30 to 40 degrees, an impressive feat for a typical sorcerer apprentice.


    For instance, Nidhogg¡¯s firebird could only attack within fifteen meters.


    Nina also possessed four special arrows called Hurricane Arrows, capable of generating over 100-degree attacks instantly.


    In critical moments, Nina could convert her life energy into basic healing sorcery.


    As for Nidhogg, there wasn¡¯t much to say. With Nina present, he obediently played the meat shield role, protecting Nina and Yorkliana in the ¡°back line,¡± perhaps reducing Nina''s focus on him.


    Nighttime.


    After taking his watch, Nidhogg sensed someone entering his tent. Recognizing the familiar scent, he relaxed, removed his mask, and kissed Nina passionately.


    ...


    Four days later.


    "Hmph, from Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy?" a mocking voice issued from a woman observing the six people ahead.


    This female sorcerer apprentice had a sandglass-shaped mark, parted short black hair, a distinct scar by her right eye, a high-slit skirt revealing long white legs, and held a writhing whip.


    It was unclear if the whip was a plant or rare sorcerer artifact.


    Thirteen sorcerer apprentices accompanied her, forming a sizable group.


    Nina sneered, "Time Sandglass Sorcerer Academy? Hmph, do you think because Sun''s Child defeated Gold Eye, it means Time Sandglass surpasses Blacksaw?"


    Yesterday, the Despairer known as Sun''s Child from the Time Sandglass Academy nearly chased Bibilionia across half the trial grounds, witnessed by many apprentices in a dramatic display.


    The exotic-looking Time Sandglass female sorcerer carefully scrutinized each member of Nina''s group, though she hesitated to engage, despite outnumbering them.


    Meanwhile, Yorkris muttered, "What are they stalling for? Fight or leave, enough chatter."


    Only Nidhogg¡¯s team heard this.


    Robin grinned, "Let Nina decide. Our goal is the second secret realm. Being described as a powerful magic artifact is serious¡ªcapable of threatening Despairers, unlike the trivial items from the first secret realm. With this artifact, whether we join the third secret realm or not, we hold the advantage."


    During the standoff, a massive mark energy appeared on the horizon and rapidly flew into the distance, accompanied by searing waves of heat.


    Though quickly fading from view at a hundred-meter distance, everyone felt the terrifying energy within the heat center.


    Both teams¡¯ eyes widened!


    "Sun''s Child!"


    Everyone murmured, puzzled by the Despairer''s hasty retreat.


    Sun''s Child vanished swiftly, soaring into the distance.


    At that moment, three terrifying marks followed, one casting a glance and slight smile toward Nina and Nidhogg¡¯s group.


    This was Solum.


    "Undying, Twisted, Gold Eye! The three Despairers from Blacksaw are all here, chasing Sun''s Child!" the Time Sandglass sorcerer gasped.


    Even confident in their Sun''s Child, she doubted he could face Blacksaw''s three Despairers together.


    Nina¡¯s and Nidhogg''s group looked on with complex emotions.


    On the ocean liner, these three had been dominant; were they still so in this trial three years later?


    In the sky, Bibilionia''s shriek echoed, "Sun''s Child, you can''t run! Brother Yunli, Brother Solum, today we kill him and avenge my humiliation from yesterday!"


    Gone was Bibilionia''s feigned innocence¡ªrage had driven her mad.

 Chapter 41: Belle

    With a surge of magical energy, the second secret realm of the trial ground was activated.


    Standing atop a giant tree, Nina''s eye transformed into an eagle eye, her vision surpassing human limits, and she shouted to those below, ¡°Southeast, 6,800 meters!¡±


    ¡°Got it, we''ll go secure the spot first,¡± Yorkris responded, then charged with his large axe towards the secret realm¡¯s location, exuding a savage aura like a primal barbarian.


    With a loud howl from the giant steel-quilled beast beneath her, Robin charged toward the secret realm, the earth rumbling as the massive creature flattened trees and undergrowth, creating a commotion.


    In the distance, Robin called out, ¡°Sister Nina, you better hurry!¡±


    ¡°Ah! Madam, wait for me! I¡¯m not on yet¡­¡± Binhan''s voice echoed from afar.


    Nina sprouted massive leaf wings on her back and gracefully descended from the treetop. Yorkliana approached quietly, saying, ¡°Sister Nina, Brother Nidhogg, shall we head out too?¡±


    Nina gently brushed her short dark brown hair, revealing crescent-shaped earrings.


    Nodding slightly, Nina studied the map with contemplation, murmuring, ¡°The secret realm''s location is slightly off from what we expected. Some powerful groups are likely stationed there, which could be troublesome. Nidhogg, make sure to protect Liana.¡±


    Nina didn¡¯t mention protecting herself, partly due to her agility and partly because she never showed weakness in front of others.


    Nidhogg stood quietly beside Nina and Yorkliana, his eyes visible beneath his pale mask, and simply replied, "Okay," exuding a sense of steady reliability.


    The three then headed towards the secret realm, albeit at a slower pace compared to Yorkris, Robin, and Binhan.


    ...


    This was a massive altar rising from the ground, with a small fist-sized orb at its peak emitting a blinding light, seemingly compressing terrifying energy within.


    Centered around the altar, six pillars inscribed with intricate runes rose, forming a large confinement formation that appeared to trap something dreadful.


    ¡°Hee hee, looks like I''m the first to reach the secret realm,¡± a female sorcerer apprentice with wind element wings on her back said excitedly, rushing to the altar. Her rare purple and blue robe exposed swaths of fair skin, and she gracefully landed beside the totem poles, radiating a pure beauty.


    The sorcerer apprentice gazed at the alluring orb at the altar''s center, her eyes gleaming with infatuation.


    However, as an apprentice sorcerer, one who has survived the rigorous trials of the past ten days, she knew better than to rashly attempt to seize the altar''s treasure.


    After chanting a spell, a small earth elemental mouse appeared at her feet, lively and even nuzzling against her leg.


    ¡°Go, darling, fetch that orb for me,¡± she said, bending to pet the mouse.


    The earth elemental mouse dashed into the formation among the six pillars.


    Poof...


    A flash from the formation''s ground, and the mouse vanished.


    ¡°So, there is a guardian here? And this confinement formation suggests this guardian isn''t controlled by a sorcerer. Was that an invisible creature or an underground ambush? Too fast to see,¡± she mused, shaking her head.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°Let''s wait for others and see if there''s an opportunity.¡±


    Sitting on a clean spot, she decided to wait for more apprentices.


    Soon, a team of four apprentices from the Dark Realm arrived at the secret realm. Among them, two had mark values over ten, while the other two had marks between 5 and 10, indicating they weren¡¯t weaklings.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    The Dark Realm apprentices eyed the first-comer apprentice, who had no apparent mark value but appeared unperturbed, her mark indicating she was from Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy.


    She shrugged and smiled, ¡°Hehe, don''t mind me. The guardian here is formidable, and this realm''s treasure isn¡¯t for me.¡±


    ¡°Then why haven''t you left?¡±


    Seeing her calm demeanor, the Dark Realm apprentices refrained from provoking her.


    ¡°I just want to see who eventually gets the treasure. After all, I did get here first,¡± she pouted playfully.


    The Dark Realm apprentices exchanged glances, and one gritted his teeth, releasing a green bird from his sleeve. With a command, the bird darted towards the altar.


    However, like before, the bird vanished after a few meters, leaving only a feather drifting to the ground.


    The Dark Realm apprentices¡¯ expressions changed, growing wary of entering the formation.


    Gradually, more apprentices trickled in, each radiating considerable mark energy, clearly confident individuals.


    Shortly after, an overwhelming mark presence appeared near the altar, causing everyone''s expression to shift: ¡°Despairer!¡±


    There were ten secret realms opened in the trial ground, and with seven Despairers participating, each realm had a high probability of encountering them.


    As a nimble male figure entered their view, the name ¡°Mechanical Heart¡± echoed in everyone''s minds.


    His right arm appeared entirely mechanical or covered with a metallic device, gleaming with a metallic sheen. A large mechanical tail, like a scorpion''s stinger, exuded an intimidating aura, the rest of him obscured by a wide robe.


    Seeing the crowd and realizing none dared to enter the formation, he simply sat down without any attempts, taking out a complex metal sphere to study, seemingly a mechanical component.


    Not a word was spoken, embodying a person deeply engrossed in sorcerer studies.


    Rumble!


    The ground''s shaking captured everyone''s attention back to the forest''s depths. The tremors suggested the arrival of a substantial entity.


    As a small tree toppled, Robin appeared on the steel-quilled beast, with Yorkris wielding a battle axe.


    They casually surveyed those gathered around the secret realm, then locked eyes with the motionless Mechanical Heart, their expressions tightening.


    How unlucky to have a Despairer interested in this realm.


    ¡°Pant... pant... Honored wife, you¡¯ll be the death of me...¡± Binhan caught up, gasping, and fell silent upon sensing the Mechanical Heart¡¯s aura, the atmosphere growing tense.


    Yet, upon Robin''s, Yorkris'', and Binhan¡¯s arrival, the Blacksaw female apprentice''s eyes brightened. Flapping her wind element wings, she flew over, ¡°Hehe, it''s you guys, what a coincidence.¡±


    The three turned, surprised, ¡°Belle?¡±


    The Belle before them was the same who had caused a male apprentice to offend the Bloodsail Alliance during Nidhogg''s first sorcerer apprentice class, resulting in his death as a warning to others.


    Over three years, Belle had become a notable figure in the academy, even more renowned than the poison-tongued queen Nina.


    Belle had been named among the top ten in the new class, received the most confessions, was nominated as the academy''s ambassador, and gained recognition from a senior sorcerer...


    In the Blacksaw Sorcerer Academy, this sorcerer apprentice was a shining, positively regarded figure, garnering much attention.


    Rumors in the Bloodsail Alliance even suggested that Armland had a close bond with Belle...


    ¡°You¡¯re all here; I assume Her Majesty Queen Nina will arrive soon?¡± Belle giggled charmingly.


    Robin, the only female among the three, awkwardly responded, ¡°Uh... she¡¯s coming.¡±


    Though Nina and Belle hadn¡¯t interacted much, they were often compared by others as the most prominent female sorcerer apprentices at Blacksaw, with Nina often being criticized during this phase, which had displeased her.


    However, this period passed as the apprentices matured, and the comparisons faded.


    A few minutes later, Nina, Nidhogg, and Yorkliana arrived.


    Nina immediately noticed Belle, frowning, ¡°Belle?¡±


    It was evident Nina instinctively felt competitive against this seemingly ¡°stronger¡± sorcerer apprentice, despite their lack of direct interaction.


    Belle laughed, covering her mouth, ¡°Sister Nina, though we¡¯ve seen each other a few times before, we¡¯ve never properly spoken. I didn¡¯t expect our first conversation would be here.¡±


    After a glance at Yorkliana and Nidhogg, Belle¡¯s eyes lingered on Nidhogg, who was quietly standing behind Nina wearing his faceless mask.


    Having not seen this stranger with Nina before, and curious why his mark value was ten, Belle inquired, ¡°Who might this be?¡±


    Nina replied casually, ¡°My man.¡±


    Nina''s bluntness left Belle wide-eyed and shocked, as Nina had always focused on her strength rather than striving for a public image like Belle, never concerning herself with the notion of being a public idol.


    Because she always centered herself as a strong individual.

 Chapter 42: Void Worm

    "That''s quite a surprising piece of information."


    After a moment, Belle memorized the name Nidhogg and left the area under Nina''s team''s influence.


    "Tch..."


    Nina smirked in annoyance.


    She was aware of some things between Belle and Armland. Although she wasn''t familiar with Belle, Nina couldn''t stand some of Belle¡¯s actions.


    In Nina''s opinion, apart from strength, everything else is inconsequential in the presence of a sorcerer. Belle, however, refused to publicly acknowledge her relationship with Armland due to her reputation, which Nina found incomprehensible.


    Soon, Nina stopped thinking about Belle. After arranging the formation cautiously, she transformed one eye into an eagle''s eye to observe the invisible "guardian" near the altar.


    Later, Nina ended the eagle-eye spell.


    ¡°No, my eagle-eye can¡¯t detect this guardian. Maybe it¡¯s buried underground or is a completely invisible creature¡ªI can¡¯t tell.¡±


    Nina frowned and looked at Robin, saying, ¡°Let your green-eyed monkey have a try. Its eyes react strongly to certain spiritual, ghostly, and mystical entities.¡±


    Robin shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve already tried; the green-eyed monkey had no reaction.¡±


    This left Nina in a dilemma until Binhan suggested, ¡°How about I sneak in to check?¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    Nina and Robin both instantly rejected Binhan¡¯s idea.


    How could they risk Binhan against such an unknown and bizarre guardian?


    Nidhogg suddenly spoke up, ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡±


    ¡°You?¡±


    Nina gave Nidhogg a doubtful look, surprised. ¡°Do you have detection sorcery?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡±


    Nidhogg wasn''t sure how to explain. Should he say he practiced the "Hunter''s Nose" technique she threw away in Bisel City?


    After a moment of hesitation, Nidhogg simply nodded without speaking further, appearing confident to the others.


    Nidhogg approached the confinement magic pillar and fully activated his Hunter''s Nose, capturing every scent in the air.


    He detected: the smell of grass, mushrooms, rotting branches, body odor, bird droppings...


    After a full five minutes without moving, Nidhogg finally gave up. Despite his enhanced sense of smell, he couldn¡¯t detect any trace of the "guardian."


    At this moment, a chill ran down Nidhogg''s spine at the thought of this hidden "guardian."


    Like Nidhogg, other apprentice sorcerers couldn¡¯t gather any information on the "guardian," yet detection spells confirmed its mysterious presence within the confinement magic circle, increasing everyone''s dread of it.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Right, try the mask''s ultrasonic locating sorcery!


    Determined, Nidhogg closed his eyes and activated the ultrasonic sorcery from his mask. Soon, a gigantic "thing" appeared vaguely in Nidhogg''s vision.


    Hiss...


    Nidhogg gasped, shocked. "What on earth is this thing?"


    Through the ultrasonic sensing, a massive, transparent liquid-like entity occupied the entire space within the confinement magic circle, surrounding the altar.


    Although Nidhogg discovered its presence, he didn''t see its actual form but rather the "membrane" around it, which seemed to be a collection of natural energy.


    Moreover, this enormous entity appeared to be writhing, unable to escape due to the confinement magic. Tentacle-like appendages seemed to sway gently around it.


    Concerning those detection spells, it''s less that they were attacked by the "guardian" and more that they entered the "guardian''s" body.


    Even with ultrasonic detection, the entity remained elusive, and upon opening his eyes, the magic circle appeared a void in regular human vision.


    Such a bizarre "bioform" (Nidhogg wasn¡¯t sure if it was a lifeform) was unlike anything he had ever encountered or heard of.


    Returning to his team with a somber face, Nidhogg shared his findings with the other five.


    ¡°Such an oddity? What kind of monster have these sorcerers assigned as a guardian?¡± Binhan asked, astonished at the others.


    The Yorkris siblings and Nina looked equally troubled, finding this mystery beyond their knowledge challenging. Only Robin seemed hesitant, taking a moment before speaking: ¡°Perhaps... I know what this creature is?¡±


    The others were shocked, turning to Robin: ¡°You know?¡±


    ¡°Uh... when studying contract summoning, I came across a book that described creatures similar to what Nidhogg mentioned¡ªsorcerers call them Void Worms.¡±


    Robin paused, seeing the perplexed expressions, and elaborated.


    ¡°According to the book, our infinite world is a conceptual world called the three-dimensional. This world divides into length, width, and height, with time as a barrier preventing higher-dimensional beings from entering, while spatial limits restrict lower-dimensional entities from entering our world.¡±


    ¡°Creatures from different dimensions perceive space and time differently, so even if they exist in the same region, they can¡¯t affect each other. Some unusually gifted sealers might encounter certain dimensional beings in dreams or illusionary spaces.¡±


    Nina, Nidhogg, the Yorkris siblings, and Binhan were stunned, having never encountered such profound sorcery knowledge. This touched upon world and dimensional studies¡ªa realm for sorcerers above level four.


    Seeing their dumbfounded looks, Robin felt a surge of accomplishment.


    ¡°In sorcery understanding, our three-dimensional infinite world divides into the material and void worlds, like the body of a thing and its shadow. The material world is our sorcerers'' realm of exploration and conquest, while the void world... acts as glue? Energy system? Rule? Framework? The book didn¡¯t specify.¡±


    Yorkris asked, ¡°What kind of creature is this Void Worm?¡±


    ¡°Void Worms function like world rules for the material world. Unlike world rules that perfect themselves internally, void worms secrete void energy externally, isolating material worlds to maintain stability.¡±


    ¡°So, without the nearly infinite Void Worms, our material world might soon merge into one.¡±


    Binhan and Yorkliana inhaled sharply at Robin''s eerie and profound explanation, while Nina merely frowned slightly before asking, ¡°So how do we deal with this Void Worm and obtain the altar''s treasure?¡±


    Clearly, Nina was a practical woman, focusing on real-world solutions.


    ¡°Well... Void creatures can¡¯t survive long in the material world, as material beings can¡¯t in the void either. If this is indeed a Void Worm, it¡¯s constantly perishing¡ªnot by soul, mind, or body, but by annihilation.¡±


    Robin thought and cautiously added, ¡°In theory, a sorcerer could accelerate this by communicating with nature''s rules. However, as apprentices, we might hasten its demise by injecting matter.¡±


    While Nina contemplated the feasibility, Nidhogg quickly asked, ¡°Uh... can I borrow the book you read? I''d like to gain this knowledge, at any price.¡±


    Robin paused in surprise, ¡°Of course.¡±


    Suddenly, Binhan embraced Robin, exclaiming, ¡°Dear, you¡¯re amazing. I didn¡¯t know you were so learned...¡±


    ¡°Idiot, I haven¡¯t agreed to marry you!¡± Robin replied, pretending to be annoyed.


    After a while, Nina finalized the plan, whispering, ¡°We¡¯ll start by casually injecting matter into the circle, with Nidhogg monitoring the Void Worm¡¯s annihilation. Then, at the opportune moment, we¡¯ll snatch the altar¡¯s treasure!¡±

 Chapter 43: Flame Orb

    "Brother Belrod, do you think we have a chance to compete for the second secret realm?"


    A clever and cute female sorcerer apprentice looked at Belrod expectantly.


    Seeing the hopeful expression on her face filled Belrod with a sense of fulfillment and pride. Back when he was unknown, no one in the team paid any attention to him, let alone asking for his opinion. They wouldn¡¯t even glance his way.


    But now¡­


    She was acting all innocent and clever in front of him.


    "Yes, Brother Belrod, do you think we have a chance to seize the second secret realm?"


    The ever-loyal sidekick asked again, greatly satisfying Belrod¡¯s vanity, like soaking in a hot spring on a cold winter''s day.


    "Ahem..."


    Belrod cleared his throat twice.


    Whenever Belrod spoke in front of his peers, he would habitually clear his throat twice to grab their attention and ensure silence. Then, he would wear a humble, wise smile, as if he were a perfect genius delivering deeply analyzed, self-evident truths.


    "The second secret realm contest is undeniably over ten times more difficult than the first. Ordinary participants might as well be moths to a flame. However..."


    Belrod glanced at his companions, seeing their eager eyes. He couldn¡¯t help but smile, "But given our team''s strength, if the competing sorcerer apprentices happen to be relatively weak, we might stand a good chance."


    After saying this, Belrod resumed his "humble" smile, as if discussing something trivial.


    But honestly, Belrod, being ranked ninth among the top ten of Dark Realm Academy, already possessed skills exceeding his rank.


    For instance, Belrod''s mark value had surpassed ten points, giving him some reason to be proud.


    Under Belrod¡¯s leadership, the group of five finally reached the nearest secret realm.


    Suddenly, as they approached, the team felt a terrifying mark wave, and they looked in horror at a metallic figure, sitting silently in the distance. A cold sweat covered their heads as the title "Mechanical Heart" exploded in their minds.


    Within a hundred meters of Mechanical Heart''s domain, no team dared to set up camp. Such was the deterrent power of a Despairer!


    Meanwhile, elsewhere in the secret realm, roughly thirty to forty individuals were scattered around. Many exuded strong auras, with at least ten boasting mark values exceeding ten. In Nidhogg''s team, Nidhogg, Nina, and Robin each had over ten points.


    Robin had regrouped with Nina, gaining benefits from her, while Yorkris without his sister¡¯s assistance didn¡¯t dare use his explosive sorcery.


    Belrod¡¯s group cautiously controlled their steps, careful not to attract the terrifying Despairer''s attention, and slowly retreated.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    The female sorcerer, called the Bright Pearl, was panting heavily. Facing the Despairer''s pressure had indeed rattled the small team.


    Bright Pearl looked again at Belrod with teary, pitiful eyes and asked, ¡°Brother Belrod, what do we do now?¡±


    Belrod gritted his teeth in secret.


    Determined to maintain his confident, wise image, he strove to put on an expression of calm acceptance, projecting indifference.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Out of ten secret realms, with seven Despairers, it¡¯s normal for one to be here. However, even a Despairer wouldn¡¯t act recklessly with so many apprentices having mark values over ten. We might find an opportunity¡­¡±


    With this, Belrod, under the worshipful eyes of his followers, led them to another area of the secret realm, away from the Despairer.


    ¡°Brother Belrod, this team has three sorcerer apprentices with mark values over ten. What do we do?¡±


    Bright Pearl habitually asked Belrod.


    Seeing him silent, she looked up to find him standing still, as if seeing a ghost, his legs trembling!


    This shocked his followers, as he hadn¡¯t even reacted this way to the Despairer, Mechanical Heart.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    They couldn¡¯t comprehend his reaction upon seeing the person with the pale mask, yet Belrod was deeply shocked and scared!


    Ten days ago, on his first day in the trial grounds, Belrod thought this place would be paradise for his rise, planning a spree to earn a fortune in magic stones, and then...


    But all those dreams were ruthlessly crushed by the mysterious apprentice before him.


    Not only did this person stomp on Belrod''s dreams, but the violent reality check during his escape left him with a string of nightmare-inducing memories.


    Belrod didn''t realize how pale his face was now or how frightening his cold sweat looked, only extending an uncontrollable, shaking hand and said in a quivering voice, "Lea... leave here!"


    His voice brooked no argument.


    The five of them skulked away from the secret realm, like many overconfident apprentices before and after.


    On the other side, Nidhogg, wearing the pale mask, noticed Belrod and recalled the sorcerer apprentice who had fled from him on the trial''s first day, leaving some impression.


    Shaking his head with a smile, Nidhogg paid the incident no mind and continued casually tossing rocks into the confinement magic circle to "probe" the situation inside.


    ...


    Three nights later, under the hazy moonlight.


    Apart from minor skirmishes, nothing significant occurred at Nidhogg''s secret realm. Many sorcerer apprentices, unable to solve the puzzle, left in disappointment, leaving only about a dozen lingering sorcerers.


    Nidhogg quietly observed the Void Worm inside the secret realm, now reduced to less than one percent of its size. He nodded at Nina, Yorkris, and the others. The group began hurling stones and branches into the confinement magic circle, aiming for the altar at the center.


    Simultaneously, Mechanical Heart opened his eyes outside the magic circle, remarking coldly, ¡°So, someone¡¯s finally found a way past the guardian?¡±


    In a flash, he rushed into the magic circle without hesitation.


    Most other teams, aside from those on watch, were still meditating or sleeping.


    Inside the circle, as Nidhogg, Nina, and the others threw large pieces of "matter" at the invisible Void Worm, Nidhogg sensed it diminishing rapidly, soon to vanish completely.


    Unable to contain their joy, Nidhogg''s group eagerly anticipated claiming the powerful, one-time-use treasure from the altar. With it, even Mechanical Heart wouldn¡¯t dare confront them, as it was a fool''s errand!


    The altar''s treasure held greater deterrence than practical use. Once obtained, avoiding the third secret realm¡¯s contest and remaining low-key would likely ensure a safe trial completion.


    ¡°Sorry, but this Flame Fusion Orb isn''t meant for you.¡±


    The cold voice of Mechanical Heart appeared in their vision, accompanied by a rapidly approaching giant spinning disc.


    ¡°Watch out!¡±


    With a shout, Yorkris immediately transformed into his werewolf form, unleashing his inner sorcery. He lunged, his battle axe meeting the spinning disc with force.


    Boom! Yorkris¡¯s explosive strength managed to halt the spinning disc.


    Mechanical Heart seemed mildly surprised, then amused, dismissing Yorkris as a fool and ignoring him.


    Mechanical beetles flew from his body toward the altar, where Binhan was mere steps from its top.


    Meanwhile, Yorkris¡¯s expression changed as the spinning disc exerted an overwhelming magnetic force, pulling his prized battle axe and metal claws embedded in his body, incapacitating him.


    Near the altar, sudden explosions forced Binhan to retreat as black mist, shooting him to the magic circle''s edge.


    Nina, with one eye closed and the other in eagle form, wore a cold expression. Her full-moon life bow twanged, firing a flash of concentrated wind and life energy at Mechanical Heart. ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± she exclaimed.


    Boom!


    A violent wind sphere enveloped Mechanical Heart, slicing with countless life energy leaves. Having felt the terror of Nina¡¯s spell, Nidhogg¡¯s eye twitched.


    Meanwhile, another of Nina¡¯s Hurricane Arrows was spent, leaving three.


    Nidhogg stood tensely, eyes fixed on the massive wind sphere.


    Yorkliana panicked, trying to help Yorkris with the immense disc.


    Lastly, Robin darted to the altar, grabbing the so-called "Flame Fusion Orb" mentioned by Mechanical Heart.


    Suddenly, a golden beam shot from the wind sphere towards Nina, radiating terrifying energy, making everyone''s faces change!


    Almost simultaneously, a nearly naked figure burst from the wind sphere, speeding toward Robin, a metallic arm emitting grinding noise.


    Having just released the Hurricane Arrow, Nina was in a vulnerable state. The incoming golden beam left her pale, trembling with hopeless fear.


    In that critical moment, Nina¡¯s eagle eye experienced a strange shift, as if sensing the beam slowing.


    Yet, despite perceiving it slowing, Nina couldn¡¯t move, helplessly watching the deadly beam approach.


    ¡°No! Move! Move!¡± Nina screamed inwardly.


    Suddenly, a figure stepped firmly in front of Nina. Surprised, Nina inexplicably smiled.


    So, she still only trusted herself?


    Behind the pale mask, Nidhogg calmly faced the terrifying golden beam. No wonder Mechanical Heart charged at Robin without a glance after launching it; he was confident in his sorcery.


    Golden hair blew in the dissipating wind sphere, robes fluttering as Nidhogg faced the beam like a mountain bracing a storm, extending a hand and channeling magic into his mask.


    Whirr!


    An invisible wave of energy over 30 mark value emanated, causing Mechanical Heart to pause, turning to see Nidhogg.


    Boom!


    The golden beam struck Nidhogg¡¯s shield, bending it dangerously, almost breaking.


    Yet, Nidhogg remained calm.


    Whether from confidence, the mask hiding his pale face, or the obligation to protect those behind him, Nidhogg didn¡¯t retreat but stood firm.


    Boom!


    After a blinding flash, Nidhogg still stood unwavering, golden hair settling peacefully.


    In that moment, Nidhogg seemed an ancient mountain, impervious to attack.


    Through her eagle eyes, Nina drew the life bow again, Hurricane Arrow ready with menacing energy, though held back in a threatening pose.


    ¡°It¡¯s ours!¡±


    Robin shouted excitedly, holding the glowing Flame Fusion Orb atop the altar.


    The battle felt long yet lasted mere seconds. By then, other apprentices rushed into the circle, too late for action.


    With the Flame Fusion Orb¡¯s deterrence, no one dared foolishly seize it.


    Mechanical Heart, stripped of his clothing from Nina¡¯s attack, trailing his damaged metal tail, seemed as worn as his exposed body.


    His right side sparked mechanically, perhaps damaged, while his flesh looked gruesome.


    Staring at the mysterious man with a matching mark value, masked face calm, Mechanical Heart realized this wasn¡¯t any Despairer he knew!


    The silent standoff between Mechanical Heart and Nidhogg drew all eyes, an unspoken but intense energy filling the air.

 Chapter 44: Sneer

    "Hmph, a hidden Despairer from Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy, huh?"


    Mechanical Heart looked battered and bloody in the parts that hadn''t been mechanized, with hardly a spot on him left intact. However, he didn''t seem to care, as he kept his eyes fixed intently on Nidhogg, who remained silent.


    Boom!


    Mechanical Heart appeared to cease some oscillating attack from his mechanical right arm, as the sound of the spinning saw stopped. With a faint smile, he mused, "Or maybe... it''s just that your shield is quite special?"


    "You can try again."


    Nidhogg said coldly from beneath his mask.


    With his teammates supporting one another, Nidhogg had no reason to fear the so-called Mechanical Heart.


    Mechanical Heart glanced at Nina, who was targeting him, then at Robin holding the Flame Fusion Orb on the altar, before silently turning away and leaving.


    The other sorcerer apprentices, having realized they lost the chance to seize the treasure, had already departed.


    "Hmph... interesting. I look forward to seeing you in the third secret realm. Pale Mask, I''ll share your information with the others," Mechanical Heart called from a distance. With a buzz, the highly magnetic rotating disc detached from Yorkris and flew away, and Mechanical Heart''s figure vanished into the night forest.


    ¡°Phew¡­¡±


    Nina sighed in relief, slowly putting the Hurricane Arrow back in her quiver and accepting the Flame Fusion Orb from Robin. Feeling the terrifying energy within, Nina was delighted and said to the others, ¡°Now we¡¯re truly safe; we don¡¯t have to worry about those Despairers anymore!¡±


    Yorkris, Yorkliana, Robin, Binhan, and Nidhogg gathered around, marveling at the potent energy within the orb, which, though untested, was conservatively estimated to exceed 100-fold in impact.


    With such attack strength, unless significant interests were at stake, even the Despairers would find it wise to avoid conflict.


    Binhan clapped Nidhogg on the shoulder, laughing, ¡°Hey, Nidhogg, when you told Mechanical Heart to ¡®try again,¡¯ that was awesome! Haha... It''s a pity you have Sister Nina, or I¡¯d introduce you to some great girls at the academy, hehe... Ow, ow, dear, that hurts¡­¡±


    Beside him, Robin twisted his ear, huffing, ¡°You know a lot of girls, do you? Hmm?¡±


    Yorkliana gazed at Nidhogg with stars in her eyes, her expression full of admiration.


    Yorkris, feeling a bit overshadowed, rapped his sister on the head and said, ¡°What are you staring at? Don¡¯t I have my moments? Hmph, that damned Mechanical Heart, just now¡­¡±


    The next day, the six of them gathered to discuss their future plans.


    Nina leaned lazily against Nidhogg, sighing, ¡°I was thinking about entering the third secret realm, but after last night, it seems too risky.¡±


    Robin, holding the Flame Fusion Orb, which shimmered beautifully in the sunlight, said without turning, ¡°Sister Nina, I actually think the third secret realm might be specifically designed by the academy¡¯s higher-ups for those Despairers. It¡¯s probably wise for us not to participate¡­¡±


    Suddenly, realizing something, Robin looked at Nidhogg, ¡°Nidhogg, you¡­¡±


    Understanding what Robin was implying, Nidhogg frowned and said, ¡°I want to take a look.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    The others turned to Nidhogg, and the atmosphere grew tense and quiet.


    Nina, troubled, said, ¡°Nidhogg, the third secret realm is extremely dangerous. Even though you were crucial in getting this Flame Fusion Orb, it¡¯s a team treasure. I can¡¯t give it to you just for personal gain.¡±


    Yorkris interrupted, ¡°Sister, what are you saying? Nidhogg is the only one among us who can attempt the third secret realm. The orb would be more effective with him than us just hoarding it. Are we going to collapse without this orb for the next twenty days?¡±


    Binhan, Robin, and Yorkliana nodded, agreeing, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Nina¡¯s expression hardened, and she said coldly, ¡°Even though Nidhogg is my lover, I must prioritize the team¡¯s interests. He¡¯s contributed greatly, but I can¡¯t sacrifice everyone¡¯s chance for safety over the next twenty days for him.¡±


    Her decisive, stern words made the others uncomfortable, creating an awkward silence.


    Understanding Nina¡¯s dilemma, Nidhogg shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I just want to try. If it doesn¡¯t work, I won¡¯t push myself. After all, as an apprentice relying on magical artifacts, there¡¯s a huge gap between me and the Despairers groomed by real sorcerers¡­¡±


    Nina bit her lip, resting against him, contemplating.


    After a moment, she pulled a leaf exuding rich life energy from her pouch and handed it to Nidhogg, whispering, ¡°This is a Leaf of Life. We pooled our magic stones for a long time to get this. It¡¯s low-grade, but might help when needed.¡±


    Nidhogg hesitated, unsure if he should accept the leaf.


    ¡°Take it as the team¡¯s compensation. With the Flame Fusion Orb, we shouldn¡¯t need this leaf to get through the trial,¡± Nina insisted.


    Seeing the others encouraging him, Nidhogg nodded and accepted the Leaf of Life.


    For the next few days, they set up a temporary camp at the secret realm. With the Flame Fusion Orb and their combined strength, they felt secure.


    The altar and six rune pillars vanished after the orb¡¯s removal, as a space-distorting force, similar to the first realm, made them disappear.


    The group abandoned thoughts of ¡°hunting¡± and seemed content to quietly endure the trial, turning their small camp into a tranquil oasis in the trial grounds.


    ...


    Days passed.


    As a surge of magic enveloped the trial grounds, seven massive, mysterious totem poles rose from the center of the map. These poles, over ten meters high and several meters wide, seemed to contain special energy.


    The seven Despairers¡ªUndying, Twisted, Gold Eye, Sun''s Child, Enchantress, Mechanical Heart, and Ghoul Thief¡ªhad apparently known this was the site of the third secret realm, gathering there in advance.


    Sun''s Child exuded heat and flames, the most arrogant among them. Surprisingly, Sun''s Child was a striking beauty, barely clothed as her flames burned away her garments.


    Sun''s Child exchanged a strange smile with Bibilionia, their rivalry evident despite the silent acknowledgment.


    The seven exchanged glances, apparently having agreed on some unwritten rules, and scattered in their academy groups, each emitting their formidable mark waves without restraint.


    When their waves radiated, all but Sun''s Child had standard thirty-plus mark values. Sun¡¯s Child unleashed an astonishing wave reaching a hundred, covering a nearly 300-meter radius.


    At that moment, the other Despairers seemed mere side characters to Sun''s Child!


    Bibilionia scowled, casting a venomous glance at the triumphant Sun''s Child before whispering to Yunli, ¡°Yunli, you think that Nidhogg, the Pale Mask mentioned by Mechanical Heart, can really match us Despairers?¡±


    Unconsciously, these so-called Despairers had started embracing their title, relishing the fear and adoration it brought.


    Yunli toyed with a white mouse, responding without looking up, ¡°I told you, defense-wise, even Sun¡¯s Child would struggle against him for a short while.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean, in seventeen years, our academy¡¯s qualification match will have another rival?¡±


    Bibilionia¡¯s face fell, hesitantly adding, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯d rather swallow my pride now¡­¡±


    Yunli replied, ¡°Relax. Pale Mask relies on that mask artifact. Such artifacts are the pinnacle for apprentices, and he can¡¯t acquire anything stronger. Just using the mask won¡¯t suffice for him in seventeen years.¡±


    ¡°And do you think he¡¯ll remain unscathed upon returning to the academy?¡±


    Solum, previously impassive, now showed regret, adding, ¡°If his mentor indeed gave him such a powerful artifact in secret, and he used it so openly, the consequences back at the academy won¡¯t be trivial. Even his mentor might find them hard to bear.¡±


    Bibilionia, reassured, grinned, ¡°If so, I¡¯m relieved. Let''s make Nidhogg take that woman¡¯s place, so she won¡¯t dare challenge our Blacksaw Tower Academy, claiming to be the top sorcerer apprentice.¡±


    Yunli shrugged, indifferent, ¡°She just has high attack energy. Besides, Solum¡¯s immortality and the Ghoul Thief¡¯s poison could match Sun¡¯s Child.¡±


    Elsewhere, Sun¡¯s Child sneered, ¡°Gold Eye? Just a congenital talent without growth, merely bullying apprentices. The Pale Mask must be your trump card, right?¡±


    Saying so, Sun''s Child casually revealed two Flame Fusion Orbs in her hand.


    In the distance, Mechanical Heart and Enchantress were creating substantial energy waves, seemingly dispatching arriving sorcerer apprentices...

 hapter 45: Protagonist

    Nidhogg bent down, quietly sensing the energy fluctuations from afar.


    Over the past day, Nidhogg scouted the entire secret realm and confirmed two things.


    Firstly, there are seven locations with energy fluctuations in this secret realm, likely representing seven entrance triggers.


    Secondly, the seven Despairers in four directions were continuously killing any sorcerer apprentice daring to approach.


    Nidhogg didn''t understand why the seven Despairers wouldn''t just enter the secret realm directly and instead wasted their time preventing other sorcerer apprentices from approaching. Was it merely to accumulate more mark points?


    On the first day, apart from a few hapless sorcerer apprentices meeting their demise, most who had some confidence in themselves chose to stay hidden, waiting for a better opportunity. A significant portion wisely decided to give up.


    Nidhogg chose a lurking position from which he judged to be the weakest direction guarded by the Despairers. In contrast, the other three directions either had terrifying mark fluctuations exceeding a hundred points or were guarded by two or three Despairers.


    It seemed that other sorcerer apprentices shared similar thoughts to Nidhogg, opting to lurk in this direction, waiting for the right moment. Like a patient hunter, Nidhogg used a geo-bulb seed to hide underground and wait.


    On the second day, seven or eight apprentices couldn''t resist and rushed towards the distant secret realm, only to fall...


    On the third day, two apprentices charged toward the Despairer guarding this direction, detonating a Flame Fusion Orb at the last moment. The massive fire elemental force swept across the sky, allowing one apprentice to escape death''s clutches.


    On the fourth day, perhaps influenced by the previous day''s use of the Flame Fusion Orb, many sorcerer apprentices believed the guardian here was injured and mounted an assault, only to fall...


    By the fifth day, no apprentice dared attack the secret realm anymore, seemingly overwhelmed by despair. However, due to the repeated sacrifices of these "fools," the Despairer guarding this place erupted with even more terrifying mark fluctuations, indicating a mark value of one hundred.


    At this point, six corpses were piled before Nidhogg, which he had stealthily collected from under the Despairer''s nose over the past days.


    Firstly, Nidhogg wanted to use these corpses to discern the sorcery abilities of the guarding Despairer. Secondly, he needed them to breed the magical Meng bug mother given to him by Sorcerer Elaine.


    After a moment of silence, Nidhogg finally decided to test his luck. If he couldn''t contend with this Despairer, he could always retreat.


    With that thought, Nidhogg did not hesitate. He took out a bottle from his waist pouch, opened the lid, and the black worm inside eagerly burrowed into the corpses...


    From examining the manner of death, Nidhogg deduced some preliminary insights into the Despairer''s sorcery. Most prominently, this Despairer was likely adept in earth and wood elemental sorcery, as evidenced by the fact that five of the six died from these elements.


    Additionally, the Despairer seemed to have some expertise in poison sorcery¡ªalthough only one apprentice died from poison, the exact poison was indecipherable to Nidhogg.


    Fortunately for Nidhogg, his research in alchemy meant he carried two potent antidotes. One was highly effective against plant-secreted toxins, and the other suppressed and helped expel many metal element-based poisons. For animal-derived toxins, he had concocted two mild general antidotes.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    An hourglass later.


    With a rustling hum, the six bodies turned into skeletal remains, and a three-meter-long giant magical Meng monster emerged before Nidhogg.


    At first glance, the giant Meng appeared to be an enlarged version of the original, with six black legs, two powerful purplish-red pincers, and a shiny dark-colored carapace dotted with purple spots. But on closer inspection, the giant Meng was actually composed of countless smaller Meng bugs, creating a horrifying and eerie appearance.


    Nidhogg had a direct mental link with the Meng bug mother, making this giant Meng his soul servant for a day.


    With preparations complete, Nidhogg ventured towards the secret realm with the giant Meng in tow.


    Soon after, Nidhogg stopped, while the giant Meng stood with flapping wings and imposing pincers behind him, like a loyal guardian beast.


    Under the sonar spell of the pale mask, a black-and-white image appeared in Nidhogg''s mind, penetrating 15 meters through trees and bushes with no trace of anyone. Yet, Nidhogg¡¯s Hunter¡¯s Nose detected a "familiar" scent, suggesting this person had previously tracked him during the trials.


    "Come out, Ghoul Thief Despairer."


    Nidhogg stood with arms crossed, speaking coldly from beneath his mask.


    Based on information analysis from the past days, Nidhogg was almost certain the Despairer guarding this area was the mysterious Ghoul Thief.


    "Heh, I¡¯ve always been curious about how you discovered me..."


    From about 25 meters to Nidhogg''s left, a figure slowly emerged from the ground, resting his chin on his hands, lazily watching Nidhogg while chewing on a leaf.


    Seeing the Despairer¡¯s dismissive attitude, Nidhogg squinted, and the giant Meng blurred into motion, charging at the Ghoul Thief, causing dirt to explode in all directions.


    The giant Meng''s attack strength was estimated between 20 and 60, having reached a significant level of power due to the undying trait of the Meng mother.


    "Oh, aren''t we feisty? You might not know this, but you''re quite the main character in this trial ground now, haha..."


    The Ghoul Thief¡¯s voice echoed from another tree trunk about ten meters to Nidhogg¡¯s right, demonstrating his elusive nature.


    Unfazed, Nidhogg conjured a blazing fireball, sending it toward the Ghoul Thief. Moments later, an explosion scattered flames.


    ¡°Enough, I won''t play with you anymore. I¡¯ll let the others decide.¡±


    With a face of resignation, the Ghoul Thief appeared on a slope about 40 meters ahead, calling out loudly to the sky, ¡°The Pale Mask is here with me...¡±


    His voice carried on a specific frequency, reaching the other Despairers across a kilometer distance.


    Startled, Nidhogg didn¡¯t know what game the Ghoul Thief was playing, but instinctively sensed danger. Without hesitation, he summoned a wind-element bat, trying to escape.


    Whoosh!


    A wooden spear pierced the wind-element bat under Nidhogg, instantly sprouting branches and thorns. The bat gave a silent cry before dissipating.


    The Ghoul Thief emerged halfway from a nearby tree, licking sweat from his brow with an extraordinarily long tongue, cackling, ¡°Heh, you can¡¯t escape. Just play along for a good show.¡±


    Nidhogg felt uneasy, coldly asking, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Oh? You didn¡¯t insult me; I¡¯m hurt, boo-hoo...¡± Ignoring Nidhogg, the Ghoul Thief mumbled to himself.


    Far off, Mechanical Heart heard the Ghoul Thief¡¯s call, and his mechanical tail, restored to its full functionality, perked up.


    ¡°Hee-hee, Viktor, the Pale Mask is here. Should we join the fun?¡± asked the alluring sorceress standing nearby, her enchanting curves and celestial beauty vivid against a long dress adorned with red scorpions.


    This mesmerizing woman was Claretia, codenamed Enchantress, one of the seven Despairers.


    Her dual-colored gown half-revealed her body, emphasizing her voluptuous figure, while a golden necklace hung between her ample cleavage, luring gazes and sparking imaginations, her seductive voice contrasting her untouchable, holy demeanor¡ªa tempting siren!


    Viktor, wary of the bewitching Claretia, dared not look directly, aware of her true, malicious nature.


    ¡°Hmph, though tempted, I¡¯ll avoid the chaos between those two,¡± Viktor hesitated, then commented.


    ¡°What a pity. Oh well, if you¡¯re not going, neither will I.¡± Claretia whispered, swirling a golden ring on her finger, her fiery lips grazing her index finger as she mused, ¡°I wonder if he can withstand Sun''s Child''s power. That wild woman is absurdly strong.¡±


    With that, she released a red scorpion with transparent wings from her mouth, murmuring, "Go, check the situation for Mommy," before it vanished into the sky.


    Meanwhile, Sun''s Child, blazing with intense heat, seemed ready to incinerate anything in her path, targeting the distant Nidhogg.


    Similarly, Blacksaw¡¯s Solum, Yunli, and Bibilionia, varied in speed, dashed toward Nidhogg to confront him in a potential life-and-death clash.

 Chapter 46: Crimson Flame

    Nidhogg stared in horror at the sky, where a crimson fireball resembling a second sun loomed. Could this truly be the energy possessed by a new generation apprentice sorcerer? Is this... Sun''s Child!? Her mental power must have reached 30 by now!


    Boom!


    All Nidhogg saw was a flash of red light before he was engulfed by endless flames. His surroundings were nothing but rolling waves of fire. Although the shield maintained by his mask was still holding, the magical energy within his body was depleting at an alarming rate. In just this brief moment of distraction, Nidhogg had already consumed a fifth of his energy!


    "Escape!"


    Nidhogg thought no more of anything else; surrounded entirely by crimson flames, he picked a random direction and started to run. Yet, to his despair, he felt as if he had stepped into an endless world of fire, with no end in sight.


    In the sky, Sun''s Child''s mostly bare skin emitted waves of heat, distorting the surrounding air. Her cold, cruel yet beautiful face bore eyes alight with blazing fire, locked onto Nidhogg below, who desperately tried to escape her "Blazing Flame Realm" by continually moving.


    With a cold, subtle smile, Sun''s Child''s fiery red hair stood on end without wind. Between her hands, a flame column like a giant sword pierced the earth. Wherever the flaming giant blade swept, trees and vegetation were reduced to ashes, and even stones softened, turning into molten lava.


    Sun''s Child slowly adjusted the direction of her hands, and the flame column followed suit, leaving Nidhogg on the ground nowhere to escape from its fiery coverage.


    Atop a distant giant tree, Ghoul Thief leaned comfortably against the trunk, chewing on an unknown red fruit. He watched the spectacle in the sky, where Sun''s Child wielded her flame sword with magnificent awe, as Nidhogg scurried below like an ant facing doomsday, struggling with every fiber of his being.


    Ghoul Thief wore a look of fascination: "What a beautiful scene... Even seeing Sun''s Child display her prowess for the third time, her terrifying talent remains stunning¡ªan art of flames."


    Moments later, the flame column dissipated, leaving the earth marked with a deep blackened scar, as if slashed by a giant fiery sword. Flames continued to rage, spreading outwards in an apocalyptic scene.


    Yet, Sun''s Child''s expression changed!


    "Damn! Still not dead?"


    Unable to sustain the massive magic consumption needed to maintain her Blazing Flame Realm, she blinked her slightly weary eyes, showing surprise.


    Suddenly, sensing familiar energy fluctuations behind her, Sun''s Child didn''t need to look to know who it was. With a fierce flash in her fiery eyes, she unhesitatingly produced a fist-sized light orb and hurled it at Nidhogg.


    On the ground, Nidhogg was so weak that he could barely stand, his mask hiding a face drained of color and filled with despair as he looked up at the majestic, intimidating figure in the sky.


    As an apprentice sorcerer, could there really be such a disparity due to so-called talent? This gap felt like utter annihilation. The energy radiating from Sun''s Child shouldn''t belong to someone who''s only practiced sorcery for three years!This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    In that moment, Nidhogg even began to doubt the fairness of fate.


    "Damn it, Nidhogg! Move!"


    A loud shout snapped Nidhogg back to reality, prompting a reflexive reaction to the Flame Fusion Orb hurtling towards him from the sky.


    With a flash of its wings, the giant Meng bug moved in front of Nidhogg.


    A blinding light filled Nidhogg''s vision, and the world went silent as death.


    Boom!


    Suddenly, an ear-splitting explosion transformed into tangible shock waves, sweeping over a radius of hundreds of meters. A towering wall of fire instantly engulfed everything within 20 meters of the blast center, with flames spreading out another 40 to 50 meters.


    The giant Meng bug before Nidhogg let out countless despairing cries from its short-lived minions, which turned to ash with a poof.


    Brilliant rays pierced through the three-meter-long giant Meng, destroying tens of thousands of tiny Meng bugs, including the bug mother, under the catastrophic firestorm, leaving no trace behind.


    Nearly depleted of magical power, Nidhogg desperately clutched the Leaf of Life given to him by Nina between his lips, as the last bit of stored magic from his left-hand ring flowed into him, straining to maintain his shield.


    His body scorched and blistered, Nidhogg knew he had truly reached his limit¡ªthis was a moment between life and death!


    Suddenly, a familiar twisted spatial power enveloped him, lifting the pressure as he exited the blast zone of the Flame Fusion Orb, with the Leaf of Life¡¯s energy beginning to heal his burns and blisters.


    "Hmph, I finally got here. Although that crazy woman beat me to it, at least I saved you."


    Yunli said to Nidhogg, still perched with his little white mouse unconcerned on his shoulder.


    "Ah... Twisted!" Sun''s Child roared in rage from the sky, her flaming eyes wishing to incinerate both him and Nidhogg.


    Yunli''s pale, gaunt face showed no change. He merely curled his lip, muttering, "The madwoman''s about to go berserk; I''ll get you to a safe spot to recover your magic. We might need you later."


    With that, space twisted again, and they vanished.


    A hundred meters away, they reappeared, with Nidhogg pulling out a mid-level magic stone to recover his energy.


    When Yunli saw Nidhogg using a mid-level stone, his eyes widened, as did the eyes of the mouse on his shoulder!


    Was this guy''s teacher spoiling him too much?


    Not only was he given the top-tier apprentice sorcerer mask, but even a mid-level magic stone to boot?


    Regardless of Yunli''s thoughts, on the other side of the sky, Bibilionia and Sun''s Child faced off like mortal enemies, their eyes burning with anger.


    With little talk, Bibilionia''s golden hair stood on end under a surge of violent magic, a golden iris opening on her forehead to glare at Sun''s Child from afar.


    Sun''s Child let out an ear-piercing scream, cloaking herself in roaring flames, and laughed maniacally, ¡°Just a rare water element rune talent, daring to defile my ablaze body, hahaha...¡±


    It was clear that Sun¡¯s Child¡¯s arrogant laughter masked a struggle far more serious than she let on.


    Bibilionia sneered, ¡°Keep laughing, with your magic energy, let¡¯s see how long you¡¯ll last.¡±


    ¡°Minna, we meet again.¡±


    Solum unfurled black wings like those of a giant crow, tendrils of eerie black smoke curling around him without dispersing.


    Solum¡¯s form became indistinct, icy blue eyes flickering with a soul-stirring, eerie aura.


    A sense of ominous foreboding filled the air, reminiscent of the faceless mask figure on the ship.


    This must be a transformation from some otherworldly bloodline sorcery.


    ¡°Solum! Hmph, your immortality¡ªit seems I¡¯ve figured it out. If I¡¯m right, you¡¯re just a poor thing symbiotically linked to some creature, and without high-level sealing sorcery, you¡¯re no better than an ordinary sorcerer apprentice! If only my sister¡­¡±


    Sun''s Child shouted with a supreme arrogance radiating from her.


    This self-centered, peerless arrogance was far more insane than Nina¡¯s, almost reaching a pathological extreme.


    Solum remained unmoved, with tendrils of black turning into sharp arrows shooting toward the blazing sun in the sky. Waves of fire and darkness rolled endlessly, the intense aura blocking the center of the battle.


    Bibilionia maintained her golden iris, while suddenly spitting into the air, a blue column briefly flaring. A sharp, enraged cry came from the firestorm, pure hatred directed at her.


    As the sky battle continued briefly, Nidhogg finally managed to restore enough magic to protect himself, while Yunli gazed upward, sighing softly, ¡°That madwoman, like Solum, is already a monster, not a practitioner of true human sorcery.¡±


    Squeak squeak...


    The little white mouse on Yunli¡¯s shoulder seemed to agree as well.

 Chapter 47: Pursuit

    After a moment.


    Sun''s Child, who had been suppressed and on the back foot by the combined efforts of Solum and Bibilionia, let out a sharp howl, suddenly unleashing a blinding and scorching light that completely engulfed the two of them. The light was so intense that Nidhogg, who had regained most of his magical power, couldn¡¯t bear to look at it and had to turn away, closing his eyes.


    "Haha, the madwoman is using that move again. Nidhogg, recover your magic here first. If she tries to escape later, join us in giving her a lesson she won¡¯t forget!" Yunli¡¯s voice carried a strange excitement, giving his otherwise pale and sickly face a grotesque and ferocious look.


    Nidhogg nodded instinctively.


    From beginning to end, Nidhogg didn¡¯t even understand why he had become the focal point of this contest. On one hand, Sun¡¯s Child¡¯s arrogance and domineering attitude had completely enraged the three from Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy; on the other, it seemed his presence had disrupted some unspoken rule?


    With a cold chuckle, Yunli vanished beside Nidhogg as a space distortion took place, joining the battle in the sky.


    The overwhelming, aggressive waves of fiery energy spread in all directions, leaving Nidhogg both shocked and awed. Even the last few sorcerer apprentices watching from a distance, who hadn¡¯t given up on the secret realm, felt their bodies shiver, extinguishing the last of their hopes.


    Moments later, the unbearable dazzling light in the sky dissipated. With a muffled groan, Sun¡¯s Child¡¯s body streaked across the sky like a meteor, shouting, "Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy! I will remember this!" Her voice dripped with hatred, bone-deep and ceaseless.


    On the ground, Nidhogg waved his Blood Bat''s Kiss staff and rode a wind-element bat into the sky, joining Solum, Yunli, and Bibilionia. They became four streaks of light, relentlessly pursuing the fleeing Sun''s Child.


    Bibilionia laughed with a "pure" face, "Sister Mina, we at Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy are worried you won¡¯t remember this well enough. This time, we¡¯ll not only defeat you and seize your reward but also chase you through the secret realm to the very last day, leaving you with unforgettable, bone-deep memories. Let''s see if you dare to call yourself the best and criticize our Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy.¡±


    Sun¡¯s Child remained silent, only pressing forward with her flight.


    Though silent, her chilling hatred was freely projected, and whenever she encountered a "passerby" sorcerer apprentice from Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy, she didn¡¯t hesitate to pause momentarily to kill them without mercy.


    In the sky, Sun¡¯s Child''s grand and terrifying mark fluctuations extended three to four hundred meters, drawing everyone''s attention. But what was more shocking was that this Sun¡¯s Child, possessing such overwhelming power, was being chased by "four" Despairers, unable to stop or rest, fleeing in panic.


    On the wind-element bat, Nidhogg''s golden hair fluttered in the breeze, wearing Vine¡¯s Heart on his left ear and Eternal Earring on his right, with the Fountain of Joy necklace swaying on his chest. Through the pale mask, he watched the formerly arrogant and overbearing Sun''s Child now fleeing like a wounded beast under their pursuit, feeling a sense of satisfaction.


    Looking at the ground quickly passing beneath him, Nidhogg suddenly recalled when Sun''s Child once pursued Bibilionia, only to be chased in return by Solum, Yunli, and Bibilionia. Back then, like many other apprentices, he watched the sky''s domineering Despairers with awe and fear.


    Now, he had become one of them, an object of admiration for other hidden apprentices below¡ªa feeling of indescribable excitement swelled within him.


    Never had Nidhogg experienced such a strong desire for power.


    Once, Nidhogg armed himself out of fear of death and the harsh rules of Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy. But now, he actively yearned for greater power, wanting to control his destiny and everything around him.


    ...This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    In a temporary camp far below, Nina''s eye transformed into an eagle''s eye, watching the fleeting figures of the five Despairers in the distant sky with a sigh.


    However, when she unintentionally noticed the silhouette on the wind-element bat, her body shook with surprise!


    Until the "five" Despairers disappeared completely, Yorkris and the others gathered around her excitedly asking, "Nina, what¡¯s going on over there? Tell us..."


    "It was four... Despairers pursuing Sun''s Child."


    Nina¡¯s face looked a bit forlorn; she hadn¡¯t mentioned Nidhogg''s name and turned away.


    Yorkris and the others assumed Nina felt disheartened after seeing the gap between themselves and the Despairers and didn¡¯t pay much heed, instead speculating excitedly about changes in the secret realm.


    Sitting inside her tent, Nina bit her lip, silent for a long time before finally understanding something. She relaxed, murmuring, "What have I been thinking... Why can¡¯t I let myself become stronger? That way, I¡¯ll still be me, and he¡¯ll still be him."


    With this realization, her mood improved, her pupils flickering with thoughts of new plans.


    The next day.


    A grand mark fluctuation appeared above the sky. Armland and Belle looked up in horror as searing flames descended, prompting Armland to shout, "Watch out!"


    At his shout, mysterious golden markings appeared on Armland¡¯s body, and his sword exploded with thunderous power, releasing a burst of crackling electricity.


    Gone was his usual calm and wisdom; what remained was a fierce determination, muscles straining as Armland poured all his strength into slashing the blazing flame descending from the sky.


    "Armland!"


    Belle gasped, quickly reciting a spell. The ground trembled underfoot, transforming into a giant earth element turtle.


    The turtle, nearly five meters in size, had its heavy shell magically reinforced into solid granite, glowing coldly and unyieldingly.


    Boom!


    With a violent explosion, Armland and Belle took refuge under the giant earth turtle.


    The turtle let out a silent scream as its shell shattered, sending chunks of granite flying while softening under the explosive heat. The magic reinforcing it was ¡°purified,¡± dissipated, and the granite reverted to dirt.


    From a distance, it looked like a giant, shell-less turtle cowering protectively over Armland and Belle.


    "They''re not dead?!"


    Flying through the sky, Sun''s Child¡¯s face turned grim but dared not linger, continuing her flight into the distance.


    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡ªfour figures flew past.


    The four exuded powerful mark fluctuations, pursuing Sun''s Child while casting curious glances at the battered Armland and Belle below, who they saw huddling beneath the giant turtle.


    Solum, having joined the Bloodsail Alliance, gave Armland a courteous smile.


    "Solum, Yunli, Bibilionia... Nidhogg!?"


    Armland''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    In the past, despite learning that Nidhogg''s mark value was thirty, Armland had thought of him as a rival at most, assuming his high mark value was due to lucky circumstances.


    Secretly, Armland never considered Nidhogg worthy of being a Despairer. But now...


    Armland clenched his fists, a pale face full of self-mockery for his arrogance and ignorance.


    Belle¡¯s clear, beautiful eyes widened too, murmuring, "Nidhogg?"


    Seemingly doubting herself, Belle rubbed her eyes and confirmed that the figure riding a wind-element bat wearing the iconic pale mask was indeed Nidhogg, whom she met during the second secret realm.


    "No wonder... No wonder the poison-tongued queen took a liking to Nidhogg. Has he reached such a level? A hidden genius in the new generation of the academy?"


    After the surprise, Belle''s eyes gleamed with curiosity.


    ...


    The five great mark fluctuations pursued for nearly three days, almost circling the entire trial grounds, before Solum signaled a stop to the chase.


    Everyone had been simultaneously using magic stones to replenish their energy while continuing the pursuit.


    "Brother Solum, after being chased like this, I doubt that madwoman will ever call herself number one again," Bibilionia said, her face openly expressing satisfaction.


    Holding a test tube with seven or eight drops of fresh blood, collected from the injured Sun''s Child during the pursuit, Nidhogg shook it curiously, noticing slight temperature changes around him.


    "What are you doing with the blood of that madwoman?" Yunli asked, looking at Nidhogg with curiosity, as Solum and Bibilionia turned their attention to him.


    Bibilionia guessed, "To curse her using bodily traces? But with her abilities, it''s almost impossible for a sorcerer apprentice to inflict a deadly curse on her. Even special curses would require a large altar and more bodily traces, plus a sorcerer apprentice with a rare talent for curses."


    "Uh... I just want to see why Sun''s Child can control fire elemental energy so terrifyingly, trying to unravel her secrets from her blood. After all, she dissected your talents."


    Nidhogg explained.


    From Sun''s Child¡¯s words, Nidhogg had deduced that Bibilionia''s golden iris talent involved a deep use of a rare water element rune.


    And Bibilionia''s attack style fit this explanation, as every enemy observed by her golden iris met death through dehydration.


    This made Nidhogg think of his two broken branches.


    If he could decipher the rare rune within and integrate it into his soul element magic circle, perhaps he could reach Bibilionia''s power level...


    Regarding Solum¡¯s talent, as per Sun''s Child''s explanation, it involved symbiosis with some "creature," a concept Nidhogg struggled to understand. What creature could bestow such a powerful ability of bodily immortality?


    Perhaps it related to the fact that Nidhogg had never seen Solum "die."

 Chapter 48: Change of Ownership

    When Solum, Yunli, Bibilionia, and Nidhogg returned to the secret realm, they found the other three Despairers waiting, looking rather bored. Two of them even flew over and looked directly at Nidhogg.


    Nidhogg was puzzled as to why these individuals hadn''t entered the secret realm themselves.


    "Oh, so you''re the Pale Mask that Viktor mentioned? To think you could withstand Mina''s Blazing Flame Realm is truly impressive..."


    A cloying voice reached him. Nidhogg turned to see a woman in a red and green long dress adorned with countless red scorpions, with a strikingly long white leg exposed.


    What caught the eye even more was the mysterious golden light glinting in the cleavage between her ample, white peaks, sparking endless imagination, yet her expression was one of pure, untouchable sanctity. However, her enchanting eyes seemed to suggest something else.


    A captivating beauty.


    This was an incomparable beauty, and from a male perspective, she far surpassed the cold and sharp-tongued Nina.


    The difference between them was clear: one had developed her allure to the extreme, while the other, despite possessing the ultimate conditions, focused single-mindedly on her control and power as a sorcerer apprentice.


    A temptress...


    Nidhogg evaluated the Despairer known as Enchantress. She was a tantalizing, man-eating temptress.


    Through Solum and the others, Nidhogg learned that this Despairer''s name was Elizabeth, an apprentice with deep expertise in mind sorcery, soul sorcery, and curse sorcery, and her companion creature was a rare combat type.


    She took particular delight in torturing and killing anyone foolish enough to show interest in her.


    In essence, she was someone male sorcerer apprentices should absolutely avoid provoking.


    "You can call me Nidhogg."


    He spoke from beneath his pale mask with an unruffled tone.


    Elizabeth feigned biting her finger sensually, but seeing Nidhogg unresponsive, she lost interest, pouting, "Such a blockhead..."


    With a cold snort, Mechanical Heart said, "You indeed came to this secret realm, though the outcome disappointed me."


    Nidhogg said nothing, shifting his gaze to where Ghoul Thief lay lazily on a totem pole, munching an apple.


    Ghoul Thief shrugged, "Don¡¯t look at me. I did what everyone wanted. I have no interest in you; I just want the reward my teacher left in the secret realm."


    Nidhogg was taken aback¡ªteacher-prepared rewards?


    "Okay, enough. Let''s get ready and open the secret realm to finish this trial," Solum said casually, looking at Nidhogg. "To open the secret realm, two conditions must be met. First, we need seven apprentices with mark values over thirty. Second, these seven must input magic into the totem poles continuously for three hourglass durations without interruption."


    Ghoul Thief added, "We killed those investigating apprentices precisely for the second condition Solum mentioned. Otherwise, you think I¡¯d enjoy killing so many? The academy set rules that penalize our rewards if our mark value exceeds a hundred."Stolen story; please report.


    Nidhogg''s face darkened beneath his mask.


    So this trial was tailored for these Despairers, armed with information unknown to ordinary apprentices. Furthermore, the rewards from this third realm were apparently left by their teachers.


    Now, due to unexpected events, the rewards intended for Sun¡¯s Child might change hands.


    As for ownership...


    Nidhogg stood atop the totem pole originally meant for Sun''s Child, holding a magic stone in one hand and channeling magic with the other.


    Most apprentices dared not approach due to the Despairers¡¯ earlier "clearance." Although Sun¡¯s Child had suffered grave humiliation in various battles, she didn¡¯t return to "disrupt," allowing the process to go smoothly. After three hourglass durations, Nidhogg felt a strong spatial energy burst from the totem pole, transporting him to an unfamiliar space.


    "Where is this?"


    Nidhogg asked in amazement as he surveyed the gray sky and air devoid of elemental energy.


    "This is a space fragment discovered by Dark Realm Sorcerer Academy, fortified by a sorcerer into a place akin to the academy¡¯s treasury," Solum said from not far away, excitedly examining an ancient gray scroll, without looking back at Nidhogg.


    Presumably, this scroll was what the Faceless Mask Sorcerer had left for Solum.


    "Don¡¯t leave this barrier or wander around, or the consequences will be severe," Bibilionia advised Nidhogg, indicating the blue-glowing barrier surrounding them.


    Her prize was a vial containing a blue "blood" inside, which made her face full of excitement.


    Looking around, Nidhogg saw that a blue glow enveloped the hundred-meter radius from the central pedestal. Beyond the barrier remained obscure.


    The other Despairers also demonstrated great enthusiasm handling their prizes.


    Seeing this, Nidhogg turned his attention to the pedestal before him, anticipation swelling.


    What kind of reward had Sun''s Child¡¯s teacher left for her?


    Before him sat an unassuming crystal ball, prompting Nidhogg to frown.


    A crystal ball?


    Yet as he picked it up, he noticed an unusual fluctuation. Startled, his eyes widened in disbelief as he murmured, "No way..."


    If anyone listened closely, they would detect a tremor in Nidhogg''s voice!


    The crystal ball itself was a high-quality piece, but worth just a few hundred magic stones¡ªnot worthy of a secret realm''s reward.


    What captivated Nidhogg was the familiar wave sealed within the ball¡ªa soul wave!


    A split soul?


    Sorcerers could indeed split souls, a pivotal practice in gathering soul slaves.


    However, a sorcerer below level four, even those skilled in soul sorcery, could only split their soul a limited number of times¡ªnot exceeding ten, as far as Nidhogg knew.


    Receiving a split soul led Nidhogg to believe this was a significant inheritance from a sorcerer.


    Such a valuable reward was indeed befitting of Sun''s Child.


    Nidhogg wasted no time erasing the previous ownership mark on the crystal ball and linked it to himself. As the souls merged, threads of soul information began to integrate into Nidhogg¡¯s soul, as though undergoing an ancient inheritance.


    This was a soul inheritance.


    After absorbing about a tenth of the crystal ball¡¯s soul data over a quarter-hour, Nidhogg felt both fulfilled and fatigued, pausing the inheritance with excitement, murmuring, "It''s a rare fire element rune inheritance, imbued with an immortality trait?"


    Throughout the inheritance within the secret realm, none of the seven wandered from their pedestals.


    Firstly, they studied their rewards, which were invaluable treasures for apprentices. Secondly, any move from one could spark a conflict, a trial for the Despairers by the trial grounds.


    Should one suppress the others, they would claim all the secret realm''s treasures!


    Yet such a dominant Despairer was absent here, leaving everyone content to research their rewards quietly.


    Nidhogg was content with this peace, as he would be the weakest in any outbreak. With tranquility prevailing, he devoted days to absorbing the soul inheritance.


    After ten days.


    In the outskirts of the trial grounds, a space fluctuation heralded the emergence of Nidhogg in a desolate forest. Shaking his groggy head, he looked around in surprise, "Where is this? Ten days... the trial should be over by now."


    Indeed, Nidhogg realized he was in an isolated part of the Thistleglint Forest.


    Yet his expression changed.


    Sensing waves of six mental energy signatures locking onto him, channeling natural energy to suppress and constrain his movements.


    Any rash action might yield unpleasant consequences, the mental waves bore a simple message and warning.


    Even unclear on why these marks targeted him, Nidhogg hesitantly uttered, "The six sorcerer academies'' sorcerers?"

 Chapter 49: Interrogation

    This was a dimly lit, isolated chamber.


    Nidhogg sat on a chair in the middle of the chamber, like a helpless lamb, trembling and bewildered as he looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings. The magic fluctuations emanating from the hexagram magic restriction around Nidhogg were enough to make him shiver and despair. He sat at its center, awaiting interrogation from the mysterious and high-ranking sorcerers surrounding him.


    Torches replaced the elemental magic lamps, and twelve sorcerers sat in elevated positions around the hexagram restriction beneath Nidhogg, scrutinizing him from above. The shadows cast by their wide robes exuded a mysterious, cold, and inviolable air of authority, obscuring their true faces.


    This was an advanced prison used for interrogating official sorcerers, but unexpectedly, Nidhogg, still just an apprentice, was experiencing it firsthand.


    "Speak. Who is your mentor? Hmph, covering for them will only result in harsher punishment!" The voice, belonging to a sorcerer from the Dark Realm Sorcerer Academy, dripped with malice, cruelty, and severity. It was the first to break the silence, interrogating Nidhogg.


    Nidhogg flinched at the stern rebuke of the sorcerer and replied, "I don''t have a mentor."


    "Hmm? No mentor?" This voice, belonging to the Ivory Tower Sorcerer Academy, was a clear and curious female voice, seemingly questioning the Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy.


    "Our investigation shows that this apprentice named Nidhogg indeed has no mentor at the Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy," spoke an older voice. Nidhogg looked up, slightly surprised to find a sorcerer with a pair of ghostly green eyes on their shoulders...


    Wasn''t that the black cat from Val¡¯s workshop on the seventh floor of Blacksaw Tower?


    "Hmph! No mentor? Is he mocking the wisdom of sorcerers? Apprentice, tell me, what¡¯s the story behind this mask?" This time, the angry male voice sounded as if it wanted to devour Nidhogg, echoing through the hall and making Nidhogg''s ears ring.


    This sorcerer was seated in the direction of the Hourglass Sorcerer Academy, holding the mask that Nidhogg had purchased on the third floor of Blacksaw Tower.


    "This mask, I purchased it from a sorcerer on the third floor of Blacksaw Tower," Nidhogg answered in trepidation.


    Hmph...


    After an indignant snort from someone, the hexagram barrier flashed again, and Nidhogg found himself completely isolated in a dark, cramped space. It was a void devoid of elemental energy, sound, or scent, and all his belongings had been confiscated by an impartial sorcerer.


    Amid his fear, Nidhogg had a vague suspicion. The sorcerers likely believed that some mentor had given him the pale mask to pass the trial, allowing him to seize the reward that belonged to Sun¡¯s Child of the Hourglass Sorcerer Academy.


    In the darkness, he faced his anxiety over the delayed judgment, his fear of not controlling his fate, and his joy over acquiring the rare fire element rune in his soul.


    Time passed indefinitely.


    With a swoosh and a wave of magical energy, light and sound returned to Nidhogg¡¯s surroundings. He shielded his eyes with his sleeve from the sudden brightness, and as his eyes adjusted, he noticed three new figures in addition to the original twelve sorcerers. Unlike the other twelve, these three did not conceal their appearances.


    The foremost of the three was the sorcerer who had sold him the pale mask and taught him basic alchemy. He looked the same¡ªshort, barely five feet tall, thin but energetic, sporting a goatee and a smug smile.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Haha, kiddo, I didn¡¯t expect you to be a novice who''s been at the academy for only three years. I thought you were some old sorcerer¡¯s prized pupil. But I must thank you; I never imagined selling an apprentice-grade magical device to you would be such an advertisement. Now all of the Seventh Ring knows of my alchemical talents. Hahaha..."


    The old sorcerer was extremely pleased, constantly stroking his goatee.


    Nidhogg forced a smile, unsure of what to say, and glanced at the two people behind the old sorcerer¡ªthey were Yunli and Mina (Sun¡¯s Child).


    Yunli said nonchalantly, "Though we¡¯re both from the Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy, I reported your blatant rule-breaking first thing after getting out, but she beat me to it, and I was summoned."


    By "she," Yunli was referring to Mina.


    After being ousted from the trial grounds, Mina''s mentor, the Immortal Fire Soul, naturally felt outraged and bewildered. Upon inquiry, the anomaly of the Pale Mask reached the ears of the great sorcerer. Thus, after ten days in the secret realm, Nidhogg was tracked and detained by six sorcerers who could predict his general teleportation path and brought to this "high-end, luxurious" interrogation room meant for official sorcerers.


    "Hmph, so you¡¯re called Nidhogg? While you took what was mine, you and your backer will face repercussions beyond what that reward was worth," Mina said with evident resentment. Before the gathered sorcerers, she refrained from displaying her usual arrogance.


    Admittedly, Mina¡¯s figure and poise carried an allure akin to a sultry bombshell with a character that mixed impishness and arrogance. However, Nidhogg, the oblivious type with no eye for admiration, remained silent for a moment before coolly replying, "I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about."


    "You..."


    Mina''s temper flared, but a sorcerer with an even hotter temper interrupted her. This was the sorcerer seated for the Hourglass Sorcerer Academy, who had previously questioned Nidhogg and was Mina''s mentor, a formal level two sorcerer known as the Immortal Fire Soul.


    "Rrr! Arrogant brat, tell me, where did you get the magic stones to buy the mask? Every sorcerer knows the rules¡ªno apprentice is given more than a hundred magic stones, nor any magical device worth over five hundred magic stones!"


    Before Nidhogg could respond, another voice, that of a female sorcerer from the Labyrinth Academy, interjected.


    Her voice was melancholic, and she spoke gently, "Nidhogg, think carefully. Don¡¯t protect those behind you. While you broke trial rules, it''s not solely because of that mask. To oust the strongest Despairer, Sun¡¯s Child, you must have had some strength, wisdom, and luck. Plus, you''ve acquired the immortal fire element rune inheritance, so we can''t easily sentence you to death. All you need to do is reveal your backer."


    Death sentence?


    Cold sweat broke out on Nidhogg''s body¡ªthis wasn¡¯t a jest. One wrong move, and he might never leave.


    This wasn''t death from trial, rules, tasks, or adventure; it was being erased by sorcerers beyond his resistance.


    Trembling, Nidhogg said, "I... I don¡¯t have a backer."


    Bang!


    "Bastard! No backer? Then where did you get the magic stones for the mask?" Immortal Fire Soul slammed the table, his magic surged furiously, roaring at Nidhogg like a maddened beast.


    Then, another voice, this one impatient, spoke up.


    "Nidhogg, think before you answer. Do you think we sorcerers don¡¯t know the rules for newcomers? We know exactly how much magic stones a newcomer can earn in three years. If you keep lying, not even Blacksaw Tower can save you. We will find out who¡¯s behind this, even if it means using soul-searching!" This time, it was the mysterious sorcerer from the Blacksaw Tower Academy, the one with the black cat on their shoulder.


    Soul-searching, especially on a sorcerer apprentice, would surely kill Nidhogg.


    However, despite their harsh words, Nidhogg was slightly moved that the Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy would intervene to save his life.


    Taking a deep breath, Nidhogg shouted, "I earned the magic stones through my intellect!"


    "Bull..."


    Bang!


    This time, the Blacksaw Tower sorcerer with the black cat interjected again, with surprise rather than anger, saying, "Earned them? With your intellect? How?"


    Nidhogg sighed in relief and calmly replied, "Aphrodite''s Venom."


    "The perfume?"


    "Impossible, it was a sorcerer apprentice..."


    There was a murmur of voices, the first coming from the logical, calm voice of the sorcerer from the Bone Clock Tower Academy, curiously asking, "You created Aphrodite¡¯s Venom? Yes, it¡¯s indeed a wondrous creation, full of imagination. But how can you prove you created it?"


    "The fat guy on the first floor of Blacksaw Tower¡ªI signed a Seventh Ring contract with him, and the contract is filed with him," Nidhogg responded without hesitation.


    Following Nidhogg''s words, the hexagram magic restriction flashed again, plunging him back into darkness.

 Chapter 50: Mentor

    When light and sound returned to Nidhogg''s confined space once again, he quickly shielded his eyes with his sleeve, now more prepared from prior experience. Once his eyes adjusted, he surveyed his surroundings.


    This time, the sorcerer Xinluwu and Yunli had already left, while the person standing next to Mina was the portly man with whom Nidhogg had signed the Seventh Ring contract on the first floor of Blacksaw Tower. The man wore a pained expression as he said, "Nidhogg, the trouble you¡¯ve brought me this time is far greater than any I¡¯ve caused you before. This interrogation room is not to be taken lightly."


    Nidhogg managed a weak smile, unsure of what to say.


    "Nidhogg, it has been verified that you indeed obtained the magic stones through the sale of the perfume, which you earned using your own intellect. Thus, the source of the magic stones you used to purchase the mask has been thoroughly explained," said the sorcerer from the Dark Realm Academy who initially interrogated Nidhogg. His tone had softened, lacking the initial malice, cruelty, and severity.


    Hearing this, Nidhogg felt a wave of relief.


    This ordeal had certainly been quite a scare.


    "However, you must explain in detail the inspiration, process, and sorcerous knowledge involved in creating Aphrodite''s Venom, to confirm that no one provided you with intellectual support. If you can prove your innocence, the six academies will compensate you for this unwarranted detention."


    Everyone present understood that it was highly unlikely that any sorcerer had provided intellectual support to Nidhogg; this was merely a formality.


    "Yes," Nidhogg replied, relieved that he had finally reached the final stage.


    Nidhogg began recounting without hesitation, from his serendipitous acquisition of "Nose Modification and Scent Atlas" in Coral Island''s Bissel City, to the two years he "wasted" after being inspired by the phrase "Give me endless knowledge, and I will use myself as leverage to move endless worlds" upon entering the academy. He glanced furtively at the sorcerer from the Blacksaw Tower Academy, upon whose shoulder sat a black cat.


    "Hmm?" the sorcerer snorted.


    Nidhogg hurriedly continued, "Afterwards, in an effort to use the high-powered microscope and to gather enough magic stones to bribe your apprentice Val and this Mister Black Cat... well, I came up with the idea to invent and sell the perfume using the scent knowledge I''d acquired. Initially, I intended to earn just twenty magic stones, but the perfume sold exceptionally well. Later, due to matters with Sorcerer Elaine, I signed the Seventh Ring contract with the gentleman over there."


    The portly man nodded continuously from outside the restriction, saying, "That''s correct. I had to prove myself in my family''s trials, and I happened upon the wonders of Aphrodite''s Venom, so I decisively signed the Seventh Ring contract."


    Listening to the explanation, the sorcerer with the black cat on his shoulder slowly turned to look at his companion. Although Nidhogg couldn¡¯t discern the sorcerer''s expression, he imagined a fierce, questioning look.


    The black cat appeared unfazed, even cheekily sticking out its tongue and smiling awkwardly, saying, "Heh, you don¡¯t use that microscope often; it¡¯s just gathering dust. Better to let Val and me earn some extra. Heh... Besides, like I''m going to earn magic stones like an apprentice. Alas, I have a craving..."


    While the black cat spoke nonchalantly, inwardly it was enraged, fuming about Val having duped it. "Damn Val, he clearly paid twenty magic stones before but told me he paid ten, giving me only five! You¡¯re finished, kid!"


    After the black cat''s remarks, silence fell over the hall, a deathly silence.


    Mina, Sun''s Child, stood outside the barrier, looking at Nidhogg in disbelief. At that moment, she felt as though she were in a dream.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    This sorcerer apprentice, who had stolen her trial rewards like a mouse, had actually used such an unconventional and legendary method to earn magic stones, becoming a "pseudo-Despairer" in the trial?


    He was indeed far superior to those three at Blacksaw Tower, especially that naive blonde girl!


    For a moment, Mina developed a strange admiration for the helpless-looking man in the barrier, as if she had found a peer, a worthy opponent, feeling a certain mutual respect and a peculiar admiration.


    Suddenly, a surreal, absurd feeling emerged in Mina''s heart, igniting a fiery intensity in her eyes, an uncontrollable longing that burst forth.


    This man, I must have him; he is mine! Yes, that''s it!


    "Good!" shouted Immortal Fire Soul, Mina¡¯s mentor.


    With a whoosh, his robes were consumed by roaring flames, revealing his tall figure clad in scarlet armor, his dense, unkempt beard encircling his face like an ancient barbarian.


    With great appreciation for Nidhogg, Immortal Fire Soul exclaimed, "Haha, good lad! For a mere apprentice with no mentor to rely on his own intellect and fortune to achieve such heights... haha. Mina losing the reward I left is punishment enough for her arrogance."


    After speaking, Immortal Fire Soul pondered for a moment, then tossed a red stone to Nidhogg, saying, "This Crimson Flame Stone is compensation for your unjust detention."


    Crimson Flame Stone?


    Nidhogg thought momentarily, unsure of its use, but instinctively knew it was valuable and happily accepted it.


    "Having confirmed that Apprentice Nidhogg earned the magic stones using his intellect and used them to purchase the mask for the trial, I hereby declare him not guilty on behalf of the Labyrinth Sorcerer Academy."


    "Ivory Tower confirms..."


    ...


    A series of declarations pronounced Nidhogg¡¯s release, as the hexagram binding beneath his feet vanished. Nidhogg felt a sense of relief mixed with disorientation. He sat down weakly in his chair and looked toward the sorcerer from the Blacksaw Tower Academy.


    Without having experienced such a high-level interrogation room, an apprentice couldn¡¯t comprehend how oppressive it was.


    After all, it was an interrogation by twelve sorcerers from above!


    "Nidhogg..."


    The sorcerer from Blacksaw Tower spoke slowly, making Nidhogg tense up, his newly relaxed body tightening again as he anxiously awaited his words.


    But at that moment, the black cat jumped in front of Nidhogg, stood up anthropomorphically, and said, "Heh, old man, let me say it. They¡¯ll laugh at you for being so long-winded. Ahem, Nidhogg, the great Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy''s Dean, Level Three Grand Sorcerer Peranos, wishes to take you as his pupil. Do you agree?"


    Poof...


    Nidhogg''s eyes widened in shock. The Dean of Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy? A Level Three Grand Sorcerer? Wants him as a pupil?


    A series of shocking titles and events nearly overwhelmed Nidhogg, but having experienced the downside of not having a mentor, and with such a prestigious sorcerer offering to take him as a pupil, Nidhogg wasted no time. With a mix of panic and excitement, he performed the sorcerer''s salute, exclaiming, "Nidhogg welcomes Teacher Peranos."


    The black cat wagged its tail and jumped back onto Peranos'' shoulder, smugly declaring, "All set."


    "Good, good," said Peranos as his cloak slowly fell, revealing a face Nidhogg would never forget.


    The features were stitched together coarsely, with terrifying scars marking the ancient head like a soon-to-explode balloon. What struck Nidhogg most was a snake-like tongue periodically flicking out, seemingly observing the world in a way akin to Nidhogg''s hunter''s nose.


    The sorcerer from Blacksaw Tower who remained behind Peranos said, "Kid, becoming Dean Peranos'' pupil means you must be part of this year¡¯s competition for the Holy Tower¡¯s advanced studies and the Demon Hunter Sorcerer qualification."


    The sorcerer did not reveal his face but followed the other sorcerers as they left the interrogation room.


    Moments later, only Nidhogg, Peranos, and the black cat remained in the hall.


    Peranos'' stitched and ghastly face gave a grotesque smile, allowing Nidhogg a glimpse of teeth in the gaps.


    "Nidhogg, you are my third disciple. Your elder sister is not currently on the sorcerer continent; you''ll meet her later. Your brother is Val on the seventh floor of Blacksaw, who has an interest in odd creatures from other worlds. However, neither has received my true sorcery teachings due to personal reasons. I hope you can carry forth my three sorcery techniques."


    Excited, Nidhogg replied, "I will do my utmost, Teacher."


    Peranos nodded with satisfaction, "No rush, take seven days to handle your matters at the academy. Let me consider... Should you learn the Double-Force Sorcery, Poison Refinement, or the Endless Eye first? By the way, Nidhogg, how skilled are you in life science and anatomy?"


    Anatomy!?


    Startled, Nidhogg glanced at his Teacher''s "artistic" face and cautiously said, "I''ve studied anatomy and have in-depth knowledge of life sciences."


    The black cat interjected, "Let him try Poison Refinement first. Those piranhas in the fish tank are nearly ready as a primer. He should enjoy his time as a young sorcerer while he can, heh... After all, the Double-Force Sorcery and Endless Eye transformations can leave permanent marks."


    The black cat''s words carried a deeper meaning, perhaps suggesting Nidhogg should enjoy his looks while he can.

 Chapter 51: Reorganization

    After retrieving all his belongings, Nidhogg lay lazily on the bed in his small room, inhaling the familiar scent and feeling that life was indeed beautiful.


    Phew...


    To be honest, the memory of the interrogation was a nightmare for Nidhogg. But fortunately, he had come out of it safely and ultimately gained the recognition of the great sorcerer Peranos, becoming his third disciple.


    A Level Three Sorcerer¡ªthis was the highest rank of sorcerer in any academy, and there was no rank higher than Level Three Sorcerer.


    Nidhogg was filled with an indescribable excitement, seeing a bright and promising future ahead.


    After a moment, Nidhogg began organizing the magical materials and items he collected during the trial, meticulously recording important insights and knowledge in his notebook.


    For instance, reflecting on the use of fire elemental energy through Sun''s Child''s sorcery and the wind elemental bats summoned by Blood Bat''s Kiss; how to embed the rare immortal fire element rune into his soul element magic circle; the natural energy pressure waves he felt when trying to seize treasures in the first secret realm; abnormalities with the parasitic wasp larvae when affected by explosive mushroom illusions and life leaf healing...


    Three hourglass durations later.


    Nidhogg stored the blood he''d collected from Sun''s Child in a sealed, low-temperature container and carefully cultivated the explosive mushrooms in another. Estimating the time, Nidhogg instinctively took out two severed branches, waiting for the fleeting thunder pattern that would momentarily flash across their smooth, mirror-like cut surfaces.


    For a brief moment, Nidhogg, through soul sensing, felt a faint thread of clarity in the blurred rune imprint within his soul, though it was still elusive.


    Over time, Nidhogg had grown accustomed to such slow progress, and he tucked the branches away close to him.


    It was time for meditation, but just then, the door to Nidhogg''s room thudded with a knock.


    "Hm? Who is it?"


    Surprised, Nidhogg glanced at the time. It was already late at night; who would knock on his door now? Opening the door, a cold chill greeted him, and his expression changed instantly upon seeing Nina''s ominous face glaring directly at him.


    "Ra...Nina."


    Nidhogg stammered, realizing he was in trouble¡ªhe had forgotten about the princess. He was doomed.


    Nina locked her gaze onto Nidhogg¡¯s eyes, advancing step by step, forcing him to retreat repeatedly. Nidhogg''s face was filled with embarrassment as he tried to say something to divert Nina''s attention, but she ignored him, pressing forward relentlessly until Nidhogg found himself backed against the wall, speechless.


    Nina finally stopped, glaring at Nidhogg with a fierce look.


    "Disappeared again? For more than ten days... Do you know how many times the Bloodsail Alliance tried to contact you through me? Do you know how many times I came to your little room? If your soul link through the crystal ball hadn¡¯t stayed intact, I would¡¯ve thought you were dead!" Nina''s icy voice almost froze Nidhogg.


    "Uh... it¡¯s not what you think..."


    Nidhogg was somewhat afraid of Nina. Part of it was due to past memories on the sea wheel, and another part was a need to show vulnerability to maintain the delicate relationship with someone he cared about.


    Nidhogg began recounting the tumultuous events of the past days.


    How he got involved in a conflict between the Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy and Sun''s Child at the third trial, replaced Sun¡¯s Child in the secret realm, and afterward was detained and interrogated by the sorcerers for ten days...Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    As Nidhogg slowly explained, Nina''s expression softened, and she asked with concern, "Are you okay now?"


    Feeling the genuine care from the person in front of him, Nidhogg felt a warmth in his heart, something he had only felt from Old Nero before. He smiled gently and said, "Didn¡¯t I tell you? Not only am I okay, but I also became the third disciple of Sorcerer Peranos."


    With a light swishing sound...


    A heartfelt smile appeared on Nina¡¯s face as she bit her lip lightly, lifting her chin to reveal her white neck, looking up at Nidhogg. Her long index finger traced random circles on Nidhogg¡¯s chest, an intimate atmosphere enveloping them.


    Nina¡¯s voice dripped with enticement, "So... we should celebrate then?" Her eyes seemed to melt Nidhogg, and her mouth held an enigmatic smile, suggesting something more.


    Nidhogg''s breathing grew heavy, and he muttered, "Then... let¡¯s celebrate? Mmm..."


    Feeling the warmth between their lips and the pressure against his chest, the night slipped away.


    ...


    The next night, the Bloodsail Alliance gathered.


    There were now less than two hundred members in the Bloodsail Alliance, and of the fourteen elder figures, only nine remained. However, the once five great kings'' one-armed controller king was still alive, maintaining a low profile.


    Nidhogg sat silently behind Nina, wearing his pale mask, saying nothing. Beside her, Nidhogg was used to being in the background, supporting her quietly. Yorkris, Yorkliana, and Robin had their own social circles, while Binhan used this opportunity to whisper with Nidhogg, due to his presence.


    Nidhogg responded intermittently to Binhan¡¯s words, and Binhan was pleased to go on, eagerly recounting events at the Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy over the past couple of weeks.


    The most important event in the academy was the large-scale recruitment of surviving apprentices by the four main sorcerer apprentice inheritance organizations, incorporating them as new blood.


    This signified the end of the protection period for Nidhogg¡¯s cohort.


    The Bloodsail Alliance, seeking to expand, also aimed to recruit surviving apprentices, leading naturally to conflict. In an open confrontation, veteran apprentices from the four elder organizations easily defeated Armland and other Bloodsail Alliance elders, despite the alliance¡¯s efforts.


    It was understandable; some apprentices were decades or centuries old. Even without transforming into sorcerers, they could push their mental power and sorcery to the limits achievable by any sorcerer apprentice. Newcomers like Armland, having only been at the academy for three years, were no match.


    The four legacy sorcerer apprentice organizations were the Arid Guild, Great Black Mountain Society, Ivory Hunting Group, and Blacksaw Tower Sixth Division. With the Bloodsail Alliance now vying for inclusion, these were the five major apprentice organizations at Blacksaw Academy.


    Another significant event was the top apprentices from these older sorcerer organizations, the four leading figures, declaring that Solum, Yunli, and Bibilionia were now their hunting targets.


    The exact reasons were unclear.


    However, upon hearing this, Nidhogg speculated if it might relate to the Holy Tower''s advancement opportunity, the Demon Hunter Sorcerer qualification occurring in seventeen years.


    Unfamiliar with the details due to the lack of a mentor, Nidhogg planned to address this issue and the matter of "live" experimental materials with Peranos during their next meeting.


    As for the more advanced microscope, as it had been entrusted to the portly man, he mentioned that it had been arranged with a sorcerer traveling to the Seventh Ring Holy Tower months ago, promising news soon.


    Below the stage, Nidhogg pondered under his pale mask as Armland''s passionate speech reached its climax on stage: "In conclusion, our Bloodsail Alliance has become the fifth major force among Blacksaw Academy''s apprentice sorcerers, a result of our collective effort!"


    Roar...


    Numerous Bloodsail Alliance apprentices shouted with excitement.


    Armland was visibly moved. As the crowd''s emotions settled, he continued, "Now, I will announce the promotion of two new alliance elders. If anyone has objections, they may challenge privately, with the victor taking over the elder''s position. These individuals are Belle and... Nidhogg!"


    Upon hearing his name, Armland raised Belle¡¯s hand high while extending his other hand towards Nidhogg, who sat quietly behind Nina.


    Nidhogg was taken aback at being promoted to elder.


    Yet neither Armland nor Nina had mentioned this to him, and Nidhogg didn¡¯t relish standing out too much, particularly in front of Nina. He gently touched Nina, and under her questioning gaze, he firmly shook his head.


    Smiling, Nina didn¡¯t question further, instead turning with a flick of her brown-black hair and crescent moon earrings and shouted, "Elder Armland, Nidhogg cannot serve as an alliance elder due to certain reasons."


    Armland''s expression darkened, "Elder Nina, the alliance needs people now more than ever. Nidhogg should assume responsibility proportional to his strength, given the high benefits offered to elders..."


    "Enough!" Nina snapped coldly, "I said he won''t, and that¡¯s final. Why force him if he cannot?"


    The gathering grew tense immediately, and whispers of the Poison-Tongued Queen¡¯s wrath and rants about the venomous beauty began to circulate...


    Even Armland couldn''t help but smile wryly¡ªwhy had he antagonized this queen?


    Nidhogg also couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue, realizing he had underestimated Nina''s temperament. Only in front of him and Yorkris did she act mildly; to others, she was a self-centered, domineering iron lady, a regal yet capricious queen.

 Chapter 52: Passive Evolution

    After calming the situation with Nina¡¯s outburst, the issue concerning Nidhogg at the Bloodsail Alliance gathering was essentially settled.


    Rather than wasting time on other matters, Nidhogg preferred to delve into more advanced sorcery knowledge to enrich himself. So, after a brief farewell to Nina at the end of the Bloodsail Alliance gathering, he headed straight for Blacksaw Tower. There were still a few days before his mentor, Peranos, would begin officially teaching him sorcery, and Nidhogg intended to conduct some experiments in the meantime.


    Just as he was about to leave alone, Yorkris appeared with a female sorcerer apprentice, calling out to Nidhogg.


    "Hm?"


    Upon seeing Iraltiwen beside Yorkris, Nidhogg immediately understood their purpose and allowed a smile to show beneath his pale mask. During the trials, when Nidhogg "competed" for the first secret realm¡¯s rewards, he had inadvertently saved this female apprentice once. It seemed she was here to express her gratitude.


    Iraltiwen did not possess remarkable beauty; her flat chest and coarse skin were evident, but somehow Yorkris had developed a special connection with her. While Nidhogg''s mind wandered, Iraltiwen stood beside Yorkris, equally uneasy, unable to forget the scene from the trial. Each time she recalled the event, the man with the pale mask would haunt her dreams like a persistent nightmare.


    This seemingly unremarkable man in the alliance wielded terrifying power, slaughtering other apprentices in the secret realm.


    He had even just refused the nomination for an elder position in the alliance, perhaps explaining why the poisonous queen was so determined to have him.


    Yorkris laughed, "Nidhogg, this is Iraltiwen. You must have met a few times. I brought her to express her gratitude for saving her during the trial."


    Iraltiwen took a deep breath, settling her thoughts. Without the trial¡¯s mark suppression, the intimidation between apprentices no longer lingered.


    "Thank you, Nidhogg."


    Iraltiwen was older than Nidhogg, so she didn¡¯t address him as "brother."


    With Yorkris present, Nidhogg displayed the appropriate courtesy and demeanor: "No need for thanks. Whether as a member of the alliance or from Yorkris''s perspective, I had no reason not to help at that time."


    Nidhogg didn¡¯t mention his gratitude for Iraltiwen''s inadvertent "distraction" at that moment.


    After a brief and pleasant exchange, during which they exchanged crystal ball imprints, Nidhogg resumed his path toward Blacksaw Tower.


    On the first floor, the portly man¡¯s face changed upon seeing Nidhogg. He said, "Nidhogg! You have no idea how worried I was. That interrogation room isn¡¯t a joke; it could be deadly. Even official sorcerers rarely come out of there, let alone me. That place has a reputation as a death trap."


    The interrogation left a significant mental scar on the portly man.


    Nidhogg gave a wry smile as well. How could he have known he would get into such trouble? However, the ordeal turned out to be a blessing in disguise, earning the recognition of Sorcerer Peranos, an incredible opportunity.


    "Hmph," the portly man snorted twice, then asked, "So, what materials do you need this time? By the way, news about that microscope should come within two months. I''ll inquire with that sorcerer."


    "Alright," Nidhogg nodded and said blandly, "I need a potion to enhance the soul connection between a sorcerer and their parasitic creature, a material to temporarily heighten bodily awareness, two life leaves, and a live monkey."


    The portly man handed over two life leaves without much explanation. This material was in high demand at the academy, clearly priced at 500 magic stones each, considered an essential life-saving tool for top sorcerer apprentices.


    "For enhancing your connection with the parasitic creature... does this work?" The portly man rummaged through a cabinet and produced a seemingly ordinary herb, grinning mischievously. "This is sync grass, usually a playful stimulant for sorcerer couples, but it works for parasitic creatures too. It¡¯s only 100 magic stones."The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Nidhogg nodded indifferently and accepted the sync grass.


    Then, the portly man retrieved a black crystal ball from under the counter and a crown-like sorcerer''s device from the store room.


    "This is a crystal ball for underground sorcerers. Unlike our sorcerers, most sorcerers from the sorcerer continent are elemental sorcerers, while those underground are dragon sorcerers. Our sorcerers focus on mental development, whereas underground sorcerers emphasize physicality and the attributes of their companion dragons. They are two different developmental paths. For them, companion dragons are akin to our parasitic creatures. This black crystal ball is a tool from those sorcerers and is higher-grade than ours, able to detect sorcerer physique besides mental power."


    Nidhogg was intrigued.


    He knew that beyond the largest sorcerer continent, other regions existed with different sorcerer civilizations, with underground sorcerers being one of them.


    Nidhogg had read about them in books but never heard details discussed. Seeing this tool specific to underground sorcerers piqued his curiosity. He examined it and used his mental focus to sense his condition.


    Mental Power: 24, Magic Power: 238247


    Physique: 4, Stamina: 3455, Strength: 1560, Vitality: 2224


    Nidhogg''s mood darkened, confirming his low physique¡ªan inevitable outcome of not practicing physical enhancement sorceries. Yorkris, by comparison, would probably have a physique of at least 15. Stamina, strength, and vitality appeared as external attributes dependent on physique, similar to magic power and mental power. While stamina and strength were self-explanatory, vitality likely indicated resistance to physical damage.


    Considering these factors, his physical attack power was around 16 degrees, with defense between 23. If stamina was high...


    The only thought Nidhogg had was that climbing to the seventieth floor of Blacksaw Tower might not leave him feeling like a dead dog.


    Seeing Nidhogg''s interest in the black crystal ball, the portly man said, "This crystal ball''s cost isn''t high; it''s the long procurement journey that adds up. I''m asking 1,000 magic stones. But for someone like you, that''s probably nothing."


    Nidhogg''s wealth was indeed impressive, partly due to the increasing income from perfume sales as it gained popularity and also from earning over twenty thousand magic stones when erasing trial mark values.


    Accepting the black crystal ball without a word, Nidhogg turned his attention to the crown-like sorcerer device.


    "This device is a high-end tool occasionally used by official sorcerers, similar to a microscope for experimental assistance. However, the Transfusion Crown¡¯s true function is to use the caster¡¯s soul power to observe their body''s interior in detail, so users must strictly limit its use. As apprentices, you should use it no more than once a month and for no longer than thirty seconds per session to avoid soul damage. Handle it with great caution!"


    The portly man continued, "The Transfusion Crown is primarily used for detecting abnormalities post-curse solidification using the Moon Branch, known as the affected point. It¡¯s also used for physique evolution research and potion quality assessment."


    Nidhogg''s eyes lit up. The Transfusion Crown was an ideal tool for him despite its limitations.


    Without overtly showing his thoughts, Nidhogg accepted the Transfusion Crown, not asking its price.


    Regarding the living monkey Nidhogg needed, it was provided for free. Shortly, the portly man brought over a cage containing a curious monkey holding a bunch of bananas.


    ...


    Back at his small laboratory, Nidhogg first checked his cultivated explosive mushrooms. Confirming the successful transplant, he carefully extracted some powdery particles as experimental material. These particles were what gave explosive mushrooms their olfactory illusion ability.


    Later, Nidhogg retrieved a cautiously preserved bottle from the lab bench, containing a half-bottle of yellowish cloudy liquid, filtered three months ago from the stomachs of wild cranes. His study indicated this liquid was key to the cranes'' ability to resist transformation triggered by the Parasitic Wasp Larva.


    Excitedly, Nidhogg threw himself into his experiments once more.


    Three days later, with dark circles and an exhausted but elated spirit, Nidhogg exclaimed, "The Parasitic Wasp Larva, once a companion creature, can merge with the host''s life to adapt naturally, aiding in significant passive evolution? And the cost is depleting the energy provided by food needed for bodily evolution?"


    Previous studies had shown the Parasitic Wasp Larva had the capability to influence the host''s genetic code willingly, but this research revealed a new capacity for aiding sorcerers in adapting naturally through passive evolution!


    Passive evolution, a slow adaptation of living organisms to better survive their natural surroundings, was an inherent trait in all life forms¡ªwalking would gradually form calluses, and thigh muscles would develop.


    The Parasitic Wasp Larva accelerated this adaptation process, significantly enhancing its function.


    Of course, passive evolution couldn¡¯t compete with active evolution, like an apprentice becoming an official sorcerer¡ªa form of human active evolution.


    Nidhogg discovered his resilience to hallucinogenic powders and fire elements had improved after two passive evolutions from the larva, one during the explosive mushroom illusion and another from Sun''s Child¡¯s fire magic burns!


    In his excitement, Nidhogg''s immediate thought was to purchase magic wands from the portly man to self-test! Even a slight increase in resistance, accumulated over decades, would grant immunity to low-degree energy elemental sorceries.


    Yes, and there¡¯s a need for buying a large quantity of specific food to supplement bodily absorption. As they say, you are what you eat.


    With a thud, an overworked Nidhogg collapsed on the lab floor, fast asleep.

 Chapter 53: The Tower of Ruin (Part 1）

    The following day, Nidhogg purchased a large number of magic wands from the portly man and even went to Xinluwu the sorcerer''s quarters on the third floor of Blacksaw Tower to buy a few elemental wands that were not available from the portly man.


    Back in the laboratory, ten common elemental magic wands for apprentice sorcerers¡ªfire, water, ice, wood, wind, thunder, earth, light, dark, and life¡ªwere laid out before Nidhogg. All these wands shared the feature of having sealed magical energy between 20 and 30 degrees.


    This way, by not channeling any magic into his Faceless Mask, which could nullify attacks below 20 degrees, Nidhogg would fully bear the extra energy from the magic wands¡¯ attacks.


    However, even attacks below ten degrees could easily kill Nidhogg, whose physique was only four. Therefore, Nidhogg had to keep a life leaf in his mouth to provide restorative energy and ensure his safety.


    Life leaves could be reused multiple times with lower-degree energy attacks.


    Nidhogg''s experiment was to test the passive evolution of resistance to various elements granted by the Parasitic Wasp Larva and determine which foods his body craved for replenishment. This experiment was critical because if Nidhogg fed himself randomly to satisfy hunger, it would significantly slow the augmentative effects of passive evolution. It was the last experiment Nidhogg planned to conduct before long-term study under Peranos.


    After repeated elemental attacks repaired by life leaf energy, the Parasitic Wasp Larva secreted a unique substance within Nidhogg, promoting increased elemental resistance. Gradually, Nidhogg recorded his body¡¯s natural cravings for specific foods following each attack.


    These food lists were selections made "consciously" by his body from numerous foods Nidhogg had consumed, signaling him through intense cravings.


    For instance, just as one might suddenly crave certain fruits or vegetables, Nidhogg¡¯s body responded with strong desires for specific foods after each trial.


    Chewing on a spare piece of jerky to stave off hunger, Nidhogg frowned at the list of desired foods. Most were manageable, given his background as a commoner unfamiliar with exotic delicacies, leaving only a few particular cravings, except during the fire resistance trial, where the desired item troubled him.


    Nidhogg''s noted food was the Gourmet Shell!


    Regarded as a rare delicacy by Bissel City''s lord and Sorcerer Aravoz, it was undoubtedly not easily attainable, certainly not for an apprentice sorcerer like Nidhogg. Pondering over his notes, Nidhogg jotted down a secondary preferred item for enhancing fire resistance and contacted Nina using the replaced black crystal ball.


    A signal was sent through the crystal ball¡¯s imprint, quickly receiving a response.


    "Oh, Nidhogg, you''re reaching out to me today? Hmm, are you missing me?" Nina¡¯s voice was sweet and flirtatious over the crystal connection. Seeing Nina in this state would shock any onlooker¡ªwas this the fearsome poisonous queen?


    Nidhogg chuckled, not wearing his mask in the privacy of his room, allowing Nina to see his expression. "Stop joking. I''m conducting an experiment currently, and in a few days, I''ll start long-term studies with Sorcerer Peranos."


    Nina showed a hint of disappointment, gently lifting her sleek brown-black hair to reveal her crescent-shaped earrings as she set down her book, saying calmly, "So, what do you need from me?"If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "I need to know where your father obtained the Gourmet Shell? My experiment requires a substantial amount of it." Nidhogg rubbed his eyes, darkened from fatigue.


    "That thing? I never bothered asking, but if you want a lot, you should post a bounty request at the mission hall. Your magic stones should cover it." Nina stretched lazily, evidently tired from studying her magic book for long hours.


    "Alright, that could work." Nidhogg was about to sever the crystal connection when he caught a glimpse of Nina¡¯s seductive stretch and couldn''t help but gulp before changing his mind. "Nina."


    "Hmm?" Nina responded absentmindedly.


    "Uh... after I post the task at the mission hall, I¡¯ll come over to see you." Nidhogg gathered his courage, speaking in their coded language. Nina paused, then chuckled softly. "My, you make it sound like you¡¯re unwilling every time, rare for you to be the one asking. Come on over; I''m waiting." With that, Nina ended the crystal ball connection.


    Feeling slightly awkward, Nidhogg was still not entirely comfortable with Nina¡¯s bold teasing.


    The Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy was brightly lit at night as Nidhogg walked swiftly, the pale mask on his face, cloaked in his wide robes, moving soundlessly and scentlessly like a lone, mysterious phantom.


    "Ah..."


    A shriek came from a yard near Nidhogg, a female voice as if witnessing something terrifying. Ahead of Nidhogg, two apprentices walked silently, barely pausing before continuing on their way, unfazed.


    Panting...


    A pale-faced female apprentice rushed out of the yard, gasping and casting a fearful glance back. She looked at Nidhogg, managed an awkward smile, and then left.


    That¡¯s when Nidhogg remembered something and looked toward the dilapidated, desolate water tower in the courtyard.


    Recalled from when he first arrived at Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy, Binhan had mentioned two forbidden zones for newcomers. One was the Arid Yard, dubbed the apprentice arena, and the other was this famously haunted, dilapidated water tower. According to Binhan and many apprentices, the tower was "haunted." Of course, such ignorant, backward terms would never be uttered by an apprentice; instead, it was said that inexplicable occurrences baffled even sorcerers here.


    Curious, Nidhogg stopped, hesitated momentarily, and headed toward the renowned "haunted" water tower known to all apprentices.


    The scent of rotting, dry grass filled the air, with man-high dry grass covering the yard. Strangely, the bright lights from a distance failed to penetrate the courtyard, as if blocked by an invisible barrier, yet there was no detectable energy fluctuation. Simultaneously, the area was unnaturally quiet¡ªno outside sound entered, nor was there any sound within the yard itself. It seemed like a sealed, detached world!


    Hm?


    Nidhogg vaguely sensed, with his peripheral vision, a pair of ghostly green eyes watching him behind the tall grass as if a hidden leopard watched its prey. Yet, when he turned, there was nothing to see.


    Neither scent through his hunter¡¯s nose nor ultrasonic sorcery from his mask detected any trace of a living anomaly.


    Not even inside the water tower, and it¡¯s already so eerie?


    Intrigued and slightly fearful, faced with unknown high sorcery knowledge and terror, Nidhogg halted his irrational thoughts and slowly parted the obstructive twigs and grass. The sound of his footsteps and rustling grass became the sole melody in the oppressive courtyard, creating an eerie echo.


    Once more, his peripheral vision detected the ghostly green eyes behind the grass. Knowing he would see nothing if he turned, Nidhogg ignored it and continued toward the water tower.


    The tower seemed ancient, overly weathered and dilapidated, with cracks resembling monstrous claw marks. Standing at its base, Nidhogg gazed upward at the darkened sky, noticing that it formed a vague vortex centered on the water tower, caused by some strange force. In the vortex¡¯s center, a slit-like eye appeared to scrutinize him from the sky, suffusing the air with oppression and fear.


    "An illusion? But the parasitic creature shows no abnormalities..."


    Nidhogg stood there for half an hourglass duration, peering at the massive eye in the sky, which stared back as if a colossal creature observing a bug through a bottle''s neck.


    "No, it can¡¯t be real. If such a powerful entity arrived in the sorcerer world, the ancient sorcerers would have appeared. After all, the sorcerer world is no weak place; it¡¯s a supercivilization that enslaves nearby worlds."


    With that thought, Nidhogg took a deep breath, pushed the creaking wooden door of the water tower open, and stepped inside.


    The tower¡¯s darkness thoroughly engulfed Nidhogg, as though he had entered the maw of a beast.

 Chapter 54:The Tower of Ruin (Part 2)

    With a creak, the wooden door closed on its own.


    Nidhogg suddenly felt a chill down his spine and quickly turned around, but saw nothing. The door remained as decrepit and dilapidated as before, seemingly ready to fall apart if handled too roughly. Nidhogg was tense but kept telling himself, "None of this is real; it''s all in my head..."


    Gradually, his breathing steadied.


    "Hm? I can''t use sorcery?" Nidhogg was surprised to find he couldn''t ignite a fire element for illumination. Preventing a sorcerer apprentice from casting spells required absolute control over natural energy. Even a Level Three Grand Sorcerer could suppress their magic circle''s leverage power to the limit but couldn''t stop someone from casting spells.


    Exhaling...


    "Since I can''t use sorcery, I¡¯ll manage without it. Despite its fame, there''s never been a death reported here." Determined, Nidhogg looked around the water tower''s interior in the darkness.


    The floor was covered with dry grass, and numerous footprints suggested frequent visitors. Inside the cylindrical water tower, a spiraling wooden staircase ascended about 50 meters, yet only the bottom 20 meters were visible; above that was pitch darkness.


    Climbing to the top to see? Perhaps that gigantic eye...


    Filled with a sorcerer''s spirit of exploring the unknown and pursuing new knowledge, Nidhogg, with resolute eyes, began ascending the staircase. His left hand gripped the deteriorating banister, and his right foot stepped onto the creaky stairs.


    A mysterious breeze seemed to blow past, but Nidhogg was undeterred, climbing steadily upwards. The creaking of the stairs was constant, yet after several steps, Nidhogg noticed something was off.


    "Hm? That''s odd! How are there two sets of footsteps? Is someone behind me?" Nidhogg abruptly turned, only to find himself standing at the first step, as if he hadn''t moved at all.


    Nidhogg was stunned.


    "I didn''t move? But I remember it clearly¡ªan illusion? Impossible, the parasitic creature is fine. Was I transported back here by spatial folding powers? Or... time reversal? Both seem unlikely." Reassuring himself, Nidhogg began his ascent again, swearing to reach the top of the tower no matter what happened.


    Determined, Nidhogg ascended again. After only six or seven steps, focusing intently, he heard the accompanying footsteps behind him once more.


    Creak!


    The instant Nidhogg stopped, both sets of footsteps ceased. Taking a deep breath, he discerned the air for scents and used his mask¡¯s ultrasonic sorcery to sense his surroundings. Everything indicated there was no one behind him.


    Exhaling deeply for what felt like the umpteenth time, Nidhogg, resolved and undeterred, continued his climb. The footsteps behind him matched his pace and seemed to draw nearer.


    Now roughly ten meters up the tower, the footsteps echoed just two or three steps behind. Nidhogg halted again suddenly.


    Creak! Creak!


    Chills shot through Nidhogg¡¯s body, his instincts on high alert¡ªhe hadn''t imagined it. The footsteps behind him had taken an extra step!Stolen story; please report.


    Shivering, Nidhogg¡¯s fear began to creep in. Though masked and cloaked, hiding his trembling and panic, he couldn¡¯t fool himself. Fear was spreading through his mind; he wanted to turn around and see what was behind him.


    "No!"


    In a moment of self-induced madness, Nidhogg pressed on, forehead veins bulging, eyes red but steadfast.


    Gradually, the footsteps stopped about half a meter behind him, climbing the staircase at the same pace. The creaking echoed loudly within the water tower.


    Suddenly, Nidhogg felt breath on the back of his neck¡ªa sound, a warmth, a sensation of moisture condensing into droplets.


    A cold sweat trickled from his forehead under the mask, down onto his pale face, and then his neck.


    Gritting his teeth, Nidhogg moved his unsteady legs forward with resolve, determined not to turn back, even if something on the stairs might kill him.


    After climbing another twenty meters, the presence behind him vanished as if it had never been there, and Nidhogg felt an exhilarating sense of triumph over his fears, a confidence swelling within him.


    "Hmph, the Ruined Tower is nothing at all!"


    With newfound confidence, Nidhogg took a few more steps, suddenly realizing something was wrong. Ahead lay complete darkness and silence, as if another dimension cut the tower in two: one side familiar and decayed, the other an enigmatic void consuming all light and sound.


    "Trying to make me turn back, huh? Hmph..."


    Emboldened by his recent triumph, Nidhogg stepped into the unknown, fearless and invincible.


    ...


    In this void, light, sound, and even smell were absent, the mask¡¯s ultrasonic sorcery detecting only an empty black mist. Yet Nidhogg could feel the physical staircase beneath his feet and hand, continuing his ascent.


    "How long have I been in this space, three days, four, five? How many stairs, thirty thousand, thirty-five thousand, forty thousand?"


    Yet, despite the tower''s modest height of just 50 meters, why hadn''t he reached the top?


    "I should report to Peranos; Nina¡¯s likely furious not hearing from me. Turn back... no! I can¡¯t turn back! I refuse to believe there''s no end! Besides, I¡¯m not hungry or thirsty; this must all be an illusion! It has to be!" Nidhogg pushed himself to the brink of sanity, continuing onward.


    Then, Nidhogg felt a shift as if he¡¯d passed through a thin membrane, and suddenly, light filled his vision.


    "Ah, light! I did it!" Overjoyed, Nidhogg looked around, then froze, realizing he was back on the first step.


    "Hey, you''ve been there for ten minutes since I entered; are you done?" An impatient voice from behind startled Nidhogg so much he collapsed onto the ground with an ungainly scream, scrambling backward. A blurred figure emerged¡ªNidhogg asked breathlessly, "Are you... human?"


    The figure was a female sorcerer apprentice, corpulent to the point of near-roundness. Her massive bosom strained even sorcerer robes nearly to bursting. One wondered if a sudden movement would ruin her attire.


    She was even more shocking than the portly man on Blacksaw Tower¡¯s first floor. An initial estimate put her weight over 400 pounds!


    "Of course, I''m human¡ªwhat else would I be? Look at you, scared stiff. Did you hear the footsteps too, coward?" she mocked, ignoring Nidhogg''s apprehensiveness, barking, "Hurry up; there¡¯s nothing strange when two people are here."


    Wishing to avoid further conflict, Nidhogg left the tower quickly, the ordeal imprinted in his mind. The steadfast resolve to brave anything lingered.


    Back outside, the night still cloaked the sky. From the courtyard, the Ruined Tower appeared normal, without any abnormalities¡ªa typical ruin.


    Nidhogg suddenly thought of something and took out his crystal ball.


    Moments later, eyes wide with disbelief, Nidhogg exclaimed, "No way! This can''t be true! My mental power increased by five points to 29! This Ruined Tower is a miracle!"


    This discovery warranted further study, perhaps even prior to researching the genetic secrets of life.


    Perhaps consulting the great sorcerer Peranos would provide insights. Being a Level Three Grand Sorcerer and one of the three deans of Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy, Peranos might possess deeper knowledge of the Ruined Tower¡¯s secrets.


    With this thought, Nidhogg proceeded to the mission hall, posting a bounty request for a hundred Gourmet Shells. A bulk order like this lowered the per-item cost compared to smaller requests, offering a commission of four thousand magic stones.


    Before leaving, Nidhogg confirmed the time with a mission hall attendant, verifying he¡¯d spent less than an hourglass in the Ruined Tower, leaving him shocked for quite some time.


    Completing his business, Nidhogg didn''t return home but instead went to Nina''s residence, spending a night enveloped in love.

 Chapter 55: Wizard Tower

    On the 79th floor of Blacksaw Tower, in Peranos''s grand hall, Peranos, Val, the black cat, Nidhogg, and a female sorcerer sat at a long table. Before each sat a large plate containing the prized fish known as the "Planer Fish," a delicacy cultivated over many years in the laboratory''s fish tank.


    "Nidhogg, this is your mistress, Alice, a renowned gourmet in Blacksaw. This Planer Fish has been meticulously raised by her for twenty-five years; consider it a welcoming gift," Peranos said with a begrudging smile, his stitched, scarred face adding a grotesque quality to his expression.


    Mistress Alice smiled at Nidhogg, a smile full of an indescribable charm, suggesting she was not one to speak often. Alice had golden, wavy short hair, blue amber eyes, and cream-like fair skin, embodying a petite beauty. However, she had mouths on each palm, a feature that had initially shocked Nidhogg¡ªclearly an adaptation for her craft as a gourmand.


    The black cat sat on the table, drooling as it eyed the Planer Fish before it, muttering to Nidhogg without looking up, "Kid, you don¡¯t understand the rarity of these Planer Fish. They''re a species brought by the old man from another world, survived only because of the expensive habitat he created. Remember, the first time you eat a Planer Fish, consume it whole, bones and all, to fully absorb its benefits. It should increase your stamina by 3 points."


    Three points of stamina!?


    Nidhogg widened his eyes in disbelief at the black cat. To Nidhogg, who only had 4 stamina points, gaining nearly double his stamina from a single fish was astonishing.


    The black cat licked its lips disdainfully, "You¡¯re just an apprentice with no physical training. Gaining 3 points means nothing. Only if the old man gained 3 points would it be noteworthy..."


    Nidhogg glanced at Peranos. Could a Level Three Grand Sorcerer, an expert in physical enhancement, really gain 3 points from this?


    Val, excited, brandished a knife and fork, whispering to Nidhogg, "Hey, who knew you¡¯d become my junior. I may not be as flush as our senior sister, but I have some rare trinkets from the sorcerer world. Here¡¯s one for you." Val tossed a white dagger to Nidhogg.


    Surprised, Nidhogg examined the dagger, noting it was made of bone and irregularly shaped.


    "Hehe, this dagger is crafted from the claw of a powerful being from another world, said to be as strong as a Level Three Grand Sorcerer before it died," Val proudly explained to Nidhogg.


    A claw from a creature equivalent to a Level Three Grand Sorcerer?


    Nidhogg tried channeling magic into it, finding it highly conductive to magic as he easily transferred power into it. He then attempted to invoke a fire element from his magic circle, igniting flames along the blade.


    Delighted, Nidhogg asked, "Val, does this dagger have a name?"


    "Uh... it¡¯s a personal project of mine, hasn¡¯t been named yet," Val replied awkwardly, having forgotten such a detail. A cool name could enhance the worth of his collection significantly.


    Thinking for a moment, Nidhogg murmured, "No name... then let¡¯s call it the Sonic Bone Dagger."


    ...


    Peranos¡¯s laboratory was unlike Nidhogg''s, which had everything crammed into one space. His spanned nine separate labs. Of these, Nidhogg was granted access to the library and the voodoo research lab.


    A Level Three Grand Sorcerer¡¯s library, amassed over centuries, contained countless volumes and many priceless ancient parchments handed down by ancient sorcerers.


    Books aside, Nidhogg followed Peranos into the voodoo research lab, where they sat across from each other. Peranos sipped rich coffee before asking casually, "Before we start with the Poison-Body Refinement Sorcery, do you have any questions or issues from your independent experiments you¡¯d like to discuss with me?"Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Nidhogg had been waiting for this moment and asked without hesitation, "Uh, mentor, I¡¯d like to know more about the Ruined Tower."


    Peranos glanced at him and asked, "You¡¯ve been there? How was it?"


    "While my sorcerer¡¯s intellect analyzed it as unreal, the bizarre phenomena remain inexplicable. Yet, it was a marvelous experience overall." Nidhogg confessed with a slightly entranced smile.


    After all, it had increased his mental power by 5 points¡ªa truly wonderful experience.


    "Marvelous, you say?" Peranos''s eyes widened with a mix of concern and excitement. "Does that mean you crossed the Black Realm?" His breathing became slightly hurried.


    "The Black Realm? That¡¯s an apt name, given its lack of reference points. I think I crossed it, and to my surprise, my mental power increased by 5 points¡ªa miracle. If I could understand its secrets..."


    "You crossed it?" Peranos¡¯s face, twisted with scars, displayed a look of utter astonishment.


    Nidhogg confirmed, "Yes, why?"


    After a prolonged silence, Peranos finally calmed down and said, "This is not something typically disclosed to any apprentice. Only us three deans know. Since you successfully crossed the Black Realm and acquired the chance, there¡¯s no harm in telling you¡ªthe Ruined Tower is a relic left by the Blacksaw Tower Master 1,700 years ago, housing a permanent mental power environment. As per the Tower Master, an apprentice unaware of this opportunity, if they cross the Black Realm, could find significant benefit in becoming a sorcerer."


    "Tower Master?" Nidhogg asked in surprise. "Is that the founder of Blacksaw Sorcerer Academy?"


    "It seems I must first teach you about the sorcerer world''s power structure." Peranos continued with a wink, "Sorcerers undergo three qualitative changes: Level One Formal Sorcerer, Level Four Stigmata Sorcerer, and Level Seven True Spirit Sorcerer. You understand that a Formal Sorcerer is beyond your ability to resist, correct? No matter which sorcery or magical tool you use, before their control over natural forces suppresses your sorcery leverage, it''s all futile."


    Nidhogg nodded, agreeing with Peranos''s statement.


    From the natural force warnings during the trial secret realm to the distant sorcerer imprisonments afterward, and even the mark fluctuations in trials, these were beyond an apprentice¡¯s ability to counter.


    Seeing Nidhogg''s nod, Peranos continued, "As for Level Four Stigmata Sorcerers, they are likewise invincible to Level Three Sorcerers. You must know a bit about their soul-slave legions?"


    "Uh... yes, a little. From what books mention, every Stigmata Sorcerer establishes a massive legion in conquered worlds, with at least a thousand slave creatures under their command." Nidhogg recounted what he knew.


    "You indeed know a bit; having a well-funded apprentice is much easier. Your senior sister may have talent, but she lacks in intellect," Peranos grumbled before continuing, "The reason Stigmata Sorcerers control so many soul slaves is this."


    Peranos gestured upwards, leading Nidhogg to ask, bewildered, "The ceiling?"


    "Fool! I mean the Sorcerer¡¯s Tower! Every Level Four Stigmata Sorcerer has a personal sorcerer academy within the sorcerer world, with the sorcerer tower as its core. The stronger the academy, the more sorcerers it has. The tower¡¯s power strengthens the Stigmata Sorcerer¡¯s soul¡ªthus the title of Tower Master." Peranos fumed, nearly losing his patience with Nidhogg''s misunderstanding.


    Nidhogg chuckled at his folly, pressing on, "And Level Seven True Spirit Sorcerers?"


    Feigning indifference, yet inwardly shocked, Nidhogg realized formal sorcerers derived significant power from being Tower Masters, underscoring why apprentices endured rigorous trials to become sorcerers.


    Peranos asked back, "Do you know the power of a Level Four Stigmata Sorcerer?"


    Nidhogg shook his head. He understood only some concepts about Formal Sorcerers, not Stigmata Sorcerers.


    "If you don''t understand Level Four Stigmata Sorcerer¡¯s power, why would I know about Level Seven True Spirit Sorcerer strength?" Peranos retorted, "These True Spirit Sorcerers have lived endlessly, are truly great, and cannot be comprehended. They are the masters of the sorcerer world and beyond. You only need to know they alone can build a Holy Tower."


    Pausing, Peranos suddenly said, "Even if a True Spirit Sorcerer hides their energy completely, they can unwittingly kill nearby apprentices¡ªwhy Holy Towers typically bar apprentices."


    Nidhogg was left in awe.


    So, the reason Holy Towers forbade apprentices was this?


    With a clearer understanding of power in the sorcerer world, Nidhogg requested live human experiment materials.


    Peranos frowned, saying, "I¡¯ll visit the Holy Tower in six months and bring back humanoid creatures from other worlds for you. For now, focus on mastering my Poison-Body Refinement Sorcery."


    Later, Peranos warned sternly, "Never become a Dark Sorcerer, especially on the sorcerer continent¡ªdire consequences await. You¡¯ll understand once you become a Demon Hunter Sorcerer in seventeen years."


    Nidhogg frowned.


    He knew the so-called Holy Tower study quota in seventeen years was the Seventh Ring Holy Tower''s recruitment of elite apprentices to become Demon Hunter Sorcerers, tasked with upholding sorcerer continental order and eliminating Dark Sorcerers, enforcing the absolute "sorcerer academy" rules.


    Yet Peranos, before training began, assured Nidhogg¡¯s future inclusion in those ranks?

 Chapter 56: Lymph

    "Before learning the Mixed Venom Body Refinement Sorcery, you need to first understand that this sorcery originates from the body refinement system of the subterranean wizards, rather than the spirit-based elemental sorcery of the Wizard Continent," said Peran Ornos as he slowly pulled out a black crystal ball from his sleeve. "This is a crystal ball used by subterranean wizards. It''s capable of measuring a wizard''s physical attributes. I''m giving it to you."


    Nidhogg opened his mouth, then awkwardly pulled out a similar black crystal ball and said, "Mentor, I already have one..."


    "Already have one... have one... have one¡­" Nidhogg¡¯s voice echoed in Peran Ornos''s mind. If not for his ability to control blood flow, Peran Ornos might have blushed with embarrassment.


    "Ahem, you rascal. Well, since you have one, I¡¯ll save this crystal ball." Saying so, Peran Ornos continued, "First, tell me how you categorize toxic substances."


    Nidhogg thought for a moment and then replied uncertainly, "There are three main types, right? Animal-secreted toxins, plant-secreted toxins, and metallic elemental toxins?"


    "Hmph, so it¡¯s indeed categorized based on antidote types, huh?" Peran Ornos snorted with slight disappointment, then asked, "If you mix antidotes for animal-secreted and plant-secreted toxins, would they work?"


    Nidhogg frowned and slowly shook his head.


    Peran Ornos walked to a counter, opened a cabinet, and took out a scroll, spreading it on the test bench in front of Nidhogg. This scroll seemed to be made from some unknown leather, emitting a slight green hue due to its age, yet it showed no signs of distortion, wrinkles, or damage.


    "Take a look at the classification of toxins on this scroll," Peran Ornos pointed to the ancient script on the scroll.


    The ancient script was different from modern writing, and Nidhogg could only slowly translate it. After half an hour, he was surprised and said, "Classified based on the reactions of a life form after being poisoned?"


    According to the scroll, poison wizards divided all accessible toxins into seven categories.


    The first is hemotoxic toxins, which, when entering a life form, aim to kill, destroy, or coagulate the blood; the second is neurotoxic toxins, aiming to disrupt the nervous responses of a life form; the third is reactive toxins, which disable the detoxification process of a life form, thereby hindering its biological functions; the fourth is necrotic toxins, with strong acidity that destroys cellular structures.


    In addition to these four relatively conventional categories, there are two types of toxins that exist only in a few special worlds, seemingly rare poisons encountered by the wizard who authored the scroll during his travels.


    The first is a radiotoxin, which intoxicates nearby life forms through a certain type of radiation, leading to cellular decay. This mysterious toxin is formed naturally by a rare stone named ¡°Radiant Stone¡± by the wizard.


    The second is a parasitic toxin, which is more akin to a microscopic "parasite" rather than a traditional toxin. These parasites proliferate on the cellular barriers of a life form, displaying remarkable adaptability. While they endlessly draw cellular energy for reproduction to the breaking point of the host, they simultaneously create a protective layer over the cells, shielding them from other damage.


    The final category, unknown toxins, involves poisons possessing unique capabilities of certain rare creatures, such as through gaze, sound, thoughts, or ideas, leading to intoxicating effects on targets, verging into curse sorcery and mysticism, yet acknowledged by neither.


    Nidhogg put down the scroll and curiously asked Peran Ornos, "Mentor, what do you want me to do with this information?"Stolen novel; please report.


    Peran Ornos pointed to the sixth type, the parasitic toxin on the scroll, and said, "The foundation of Mixed Venom Body Refinement Sorcery is a parasitic toxin called lymph. You might have some ideas now, right?"


    After pondering for a while, Nidhogg reacted with a start, "Could it be that the practitioner is to intentionally infect themselves with this parasitic toxin and then continuously stimulate each cell to strengthen the cell walls through mutual symbiosis?"


    "Exactly!" Peran Ornos nodded in satisfaction and added, "A quick learner. Infinite imagination and associative ability are the sources for wizards to gain endless knowledge."


    This praise was all directed at Nidhogg.


    Nidhogg, however, smiled wryly, "But since lymph is classified as parasitic, it must harm the life form. How do we overcome its harmful aspects to utilize the beneficial ones?"


    "There¡¯s no way to overcome it, or rather, there¡¯s no need to overcome it."


    Peran Ornos''s words stunned Nidhogg, but he knew there was more to come from his mentor.


    "Don¡¯t look at me like that. There really isn¡¯t any way to overcome it. The Mixed Venom Body Refinement Sorcery requires a wizard to let these parasites proliferate to their limit inside their body, achieving perfect symbiosis to practice it. The challenges lie in two aspects: the pre-symbiotic adaptation period, during which a wizard is infected by lymph and becomes extremely weak due to the high energy needed for proliferation; and ensuring precise control over the efficacy and quality of the toxin during each comprehensive body stimulation to avoid accidental poisoning in one¡¯s laboratory."


    Nidhogg grimaced; this Mixed Venom Body Refinement is truly a dangerous sorcery.


    "So... how long does it take to adapt to lymph symbiosis?" Nidhogg ventured to ask.


    Nidhogg didn¡¯t bother with how to ensure personal safety during body stimulation since, as a wizard, safeguarding one¡¯s life is a personal responsibility, not anyone else¡¯s concern.


    To avoid being poisoned in the lab, the safest bet is to master the efficacy and dosage of the toxins perfectly.


    "Adaptation period, you say?"


    Peran Ornos chuckled, "Creatures with a physique below 5 have no adaptation period and will soon die from physical collapse. Those with a physique between 10 and 30 will experience localized suppuration without an adaptation phase, and creatures above 30 can¡¯t be parasitized by lymph. As for those between 5 and 10, as long as they survive the three-month period of extreme weakness without being killed by external forces, lymph will proliferate extensively across every cellular barrier, leading to the symbiotic phase."


    Nidhogg instinctively took out his black crystal ball and sensed it lightly, with a physique of 5 appearing in his mind.


    "Don''t worry, you haven¡¯t fully absorbed the rare elements from that sawfish," Peran Ornos reassured, aware of what Nidhogg was thinking.


    Pointing to stacks of books on the lab table and rows of white mice in the back room, Peran Ornos continued, "Once you¡¯re infected with lymph, I¡¯ll temporarily confine you here to prevent cross-infection or accidental death. Focus on studying the basic toxin formulations. When the symbiotic phase arrives, I¡¯ll guide you through the full-body cellular stimulation. If you make good progress in the toxin system within two years, I''ll consider teaching you other sorceries."


    Nidhogg gritted his teeth, confined to this small room for three months?


    "Oh, and by the way," Peran Ornos suddenly added, "Wizards practicing physical sorcery don¡¯t enhance their magic to parallel their spiritual power levels through daily meditation. Practicing physical sorcery requires long-distance travel reliant on the body to enhance vitality, strength, and activity to match their physical level. Therefore..."


    Peran Ornos waved his hand over his crystal ball, causing a flurry of strange data to appear.


    ¡°I will use my authority to assign you the longest route for the mandatory task every two years during your wizard apprenticeship. This task will likely bring you into contact with other wizard apprentices from different academies, making it the most dangerous assignment." Peran Ornos casually remarked.


    After a day of Mixed Venom Body Refinement Sorcery knowledge sessions, Nidhogg''s physical strength increased again the next day, reaching a level of 6. Peran Ornos retrieved a small vial of purple liquid from a sealed ice chamber and motioned to Nidhogg that this was the fabled "lymph."


    Gulp, gulp...


    Closing his eyes and gritting his teeth, Nidhogg downed the vial. When he opened his eyes again, Peran Ornos was staring at him incredulously. Curious, Nidhogg asked, "Mentor, what¡¯s wrong?"


    "Why did you drink it?"


    "Drink it?" An ominous thought crossed Nidhogg''s mind, and he turned pale, "Isn''t ingesting lymph how it¡¯s done?"


    "Uh... ingestion works, but so do skin or respiratory infections..." Peran Ornos¡¯s face, resembling a stitched-up leather ball, barely contained his laughter, leaving one to wonder if it might burst.


    At this moment, Peran Ornos curiously asked: "How was the taste?"


    Nidhogg smacked his lips thoughtfully, "Initially, it had a foul smell, but now there¡¯s no taste."


    Peran Ornos nodded, saying, "It seems the cells in your mouth and nose have begun to be parasitized by lymph, causing sensory impairments. Honestly, this room smells like a dump." With that, the old wizard left the lab without further ado.

 Chapter 57: Dual Evolution

    One week later.


    Nidhogg¡¯s body was gaunt, weak, and frail. Even just sitting in front of the lab bench reading, beads of sweat appeared on his pale face, his eyes bloodshot, and his breathing was labored and weak.


    Peran Ornos looked at this indifferently and said, "It seems oral ingestion is indeed more effective than respiratory infection. When I was guided by my mentor to infect myself with lymph, it took me three weeks to show symptoms like yours." As he spoke, Peran Ornos shook a vial of green potion, observing the life aura emanating from it, and handed it to Nidhogg.


    Nidhogg took the potion and drank it down in one gulp. Immediately, he felt a surge of life energy nourishing his body, slightly alleviating his weakness.


    Taking out his crystal ball, Nidhogg lightly probed it and then gave a bitter smile. His physical strength had already dropped to 2?


    Peran Ornos shook his head, putting the empty vial away. While using his mental power to scan the large array of text in his crystal ball, he nonchalantly said, "In the natural world, if creatures were infected with lymph and lacked treatment options, those few months of weakness would be a death sentence. But in a wizard''s lab, you just need to quietly wait it out. There''s nothing here that will threaten your life. Consider it a serious illness."


    "Okay," Nidhogg mumbled in response, closing his book and, extremely fatigued, fell asleep on the corner bed of the lab. Peran Ornos glanced at Nidhogg, seemingly reminded of himself in his youth, sighed, and quietly left the lab.


    ...


    Two months later.


    Nidhogg lay in bed, nearly in a state of death, his body emaciated to skin and bones, eyes dim and unfocused. He wanted to get up to continue the experiment he left unfinished, but found himself utterly without strength.


    Peran Ornos frowned, "It only took two months to reach the rapid proliferation stage; is this due to the oral lymph? If so, that''s a month faster than expected." After speaking, Peran Ornos parted Nidhogg¡¯s eyelids with his withered fingers. After performing a simple light sorcery, he confirmed that Nidhogg''s pupils still had a slow reaction.


    "Is the short time causing the life energy absorbed by the body to be insufficient to meet the energy demand of the extensive lymph proliferation?" After pacing the room a few times, Peran Ornos suddenly called softly towards the room''s entrance, "Gahae."


    A sleek black cat came running with its black tail raised, "Old man, what is it?"


    "Leave a bit of your scent on him," Peran Ornos pointed at Nidhogg, who looked like he was close to death.


    "Leave a bit of scent?" The black cat glanced at Nidhogg¡¯s sorry state, softly murmured, "Geez, being reckless enough to drink that thing, now I have to save you." Saying this, the black cat jumped onto Nidhogg, raised its hind leg, and left a stream of liquid on his face.


    After urinating, the cat jumped back to the ground and said, "Done."


    "Hmm," Peran Ornos acknowledged, then picked up the gem pearl from the lab table and placed it into Nidhogg''s mouth. This gem, a tool Nidhogg had acquired from a fat man, allowed underwater breathing when held in the mouth. Although Nidhogg hadn¡¯t had a chance to use it before, Peran Ornos now put it to use.


    With a light pat from Peran Ornos, a wave of magic coursed over Nidhogg, and his body began to float as if gravity had lost its effect, creating some form of repulsive force with the ground.


    Shortly after, with a splash, Nidhogg was tossed into a large tank where the sawfish were kept.


    Perhaps due to the cat urine, the fierce-looking sawfish fled frantically to the far side of the tank as soon as Nidhogg entered the water.


    ...


    Three days later.


    When Nidhogg slowly opened his eyes, he found himself lying underwater and instinctively began to struggle. His body''s extreme weakness made his struggle appear feeble.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Tap, tap, tap.


    Nidhogg heard a sound and forced himself to calm down. Turning his head, he saw the black cat tapping on the tank. The cat mouthed, "Rest for another day; your master and mistress are preparing restorative food for you." Despite the muffled underwater sound, Nidhogg managed to understand, blinking twice to signal that he heard.


    Lying in the water, Nidhogg was both puzzled by his ability to breathe underwater and surprised by the sawfish that dared not come near. He started to sense his body''s condition, noticing the tank and the water it contained had some peculiar function, generating a nurturing rare energy. Although still weak, Nidhogg felt the lymph inside him had reached a symbiotic phase, having maxed out his body¡¯s capacity and ceased proliferating.


    Feeling exhausted, Nidhogg closed his eyes once again.


    ...


    Two months later, with crystal ball monitoring, Nidhogg''s body had fully recovered, his physique reaching 6 points. Initially, it should have been 7, but 1 point was lost permanently due to excessive cellular energy consumption in a short period.


    Worth noting, the first thing Nidhogg did after regaining autonomy was to concoct a bottle of odor-eliminating potion to remove the scent left by Gahae (the black cat), maintaining a completely odorless condition (activating a low-profile aura).


    Peran Ornos nodded approvingly, "Recovering well. Now you can officially begin the Mixed Venom Body Refinement training. However, given your low physique, you''ll only use non-lethal irritant toxins. Typically, wizard apprentices practicing Mixed Venom Body Refinement would ingest or inject mild toxins under a mentor¡¯s guidance, but here, we have a better option."


    Saying this, Peran Ornos led Nidhogg into a room sealed with magical restrictions, retrieving a fully enclosed metal container from within.


    "Inside is a piece of precious low-intensity Radiant Stone. Even though it¡¯s low intensity, if exposed in the civilian world, people within fifty meters would weaken and die within a day, and those within a thousand meters would experience varying degrees of poisoning. It needs strict monitoring as a hazardous item." Peran Ornos explained, "But for your preliminary auxiliary training, it¡¯s perfect. First, it won''t have irreversible fatality; second, it¡¯s reusable, only requiring you to manage your exposure time."


    A moment of delight passed over Nidhogg as he accepted the container, asking, "How much physique can I gain from training with the Radiant Stone each time?"


    "Around one point," Peran Ornos confirmed. "After each training session, your body will recover over a month, allowing you to reach a physique of over 15 within a year using the Radiant Stone. Eventually, your physique will improve, and lymph barriers will evolve resistance to the stone¡¯s toxicity, diminishing its effectiveness. Then I¡¯ll guide you in true toxin formulation."


    Passive evolution?


    Nidhogg noted the keyword used by Peran Ornos.


    Due to its incredible adaptability, lymph boasts strong passive evolutionary capabilities. Wizards leverage this trait to develop the Mixed Venom Body Refinement Sorcery, allowing lymph to form a thick ¡®armor¡¯ across all cell surfaces, enhancing cellular ¡®physique.¡¯


    While the human body naturally possesses passive evolutionary abilities¡ªmost life forms do¡ªits adaptability and evolutionary speed are substantially inferior to the simple lymph structure, incomparable even. Thus, wizards never considered leveraging the body¡¯s innate passive evolution.


    However...


    Nidhogg was different.


    Thanks to the symbiotic parasite Salmacis, Nidhogg¡¯s passive evolution significantly surpassed that of normal humans. This implies his cells benefit from dual evolution inside and out.


    In other words, Nidhogg¡¯s monthly Mixed Venom Body Refinement would have twice the effectiveness!


    These thoughts were mere conjectures, not yet confirmed.


    Peran Ornos took Nidhogg to a spacious, sealed chamber. "Radiant Stone must be used in such a restriction-sealed room; otherwise, it will transmit through some bandwidth into the surrounding space. The old guy downstairs is tolerant, but if those above are around and in a bad mood, it would be troublesome."


    Nidhogg nodded, indicating he understood.


    "Hmm," Peran Ornos said, opening the restrictions. He carefully uncovered the metal container, revealing an ordinary-looking black stone to Nidhogg. Instantly, Nidhogg¡¯s body reacted with an unexplainable repulsion, cells sensing a threat instinctively.


    "The first time, half a minute will suffice," Peran Ornos said, closing the metal lid after thirty seconds, carefully storing it back in the secure room.


    Nidhogg felt dazed and slightly weak, asking, "Mentor, how long will my weakness last after training at this stage?"


    Peran Ornos pondered, "Currently, you¡¯re exposed to mild toxins, so the weakness should last a day. During this time, lymph passively evolves, absorbing much of your body¡¯s energy, reducing your usual physique by half. Avoid Mixed Venom Body Refinement while exploring the wilderness. After about ten days, your physique will begin to increase, thanks to strengthened lymph barriers on your cells. The following twenty days allow lymph to self-regulate and rest, preparing for the next passive evolution."


    ...


    Ten days later, holding the crystal ball, Nidhogg murmured in delight, "Physique 8, indeed a 2-point increase! As expected, the dual passive evolution from Salmacis and lymph grants my cells dual refinement!"


    Excitedly, Nidhogg considered the benefits he would receive.


    Firstly, accelerated training, needing no further explanation. Secondly, higher physiological resistance to weaker toxins suggests a more significant buffer, allowing Nidhogg to forego precisely matching the toxin extremities required by Peran Ornos.


    With this, Nidhogg could save substantial time for further sorcery knowledge exploration.

 Chapter 58: Systemic

    Elemental sorcerers are recognized as the most powerful system in the wizarding world. This isn''t to say elemental sorcerers possess overwhelming power, but rather that they have the most comprehensive and systematic energy control division. Every level of elemental sorcerer develops corresponding abilities. Other systems of sorcery, and even interdimensional creatures, might match the combat power of certain levels of elemental sorcerers or control energy akin to their power levels, but they lack standardized power control divisions.


    For example, Nidhogg once encountered a star-like creature in the dark well of Zelato Harbor, calling itself a fourth-tier star spirit from the Realm Star World, which could control energy between a second and third-tier sorcerer. This "between" indicates their power advancement method is akin to passive evolution infinitely enhancing physical attributes, relying on physical power to fight sorcerers. They lack the unique capabilities that different levels bring to elemental sorcerers, and the strict level division like a first-tier is a first-tier, a second-tier is a second-tier as in elemental sorcery.


    Perhaps a fourth and fifth-tier star spirit might only differ in a few points of strength, with no actual difference in combat power. According to the Wizard Continent''s standards, such beings are equivalent to a second or third-tier sorcerer in combat power.


    For half a year, Nidhogg spent most of his time in Mentor Peran Ornos¡¯s lab. During this time, he didn¡¯t solely focus on the knowledge of Mixed Venom Body Refinement Sorcery; Nidhogg also immersed himself in elemental sorcery, making noticeable progress. He was confident that within a year, he could upgrade his Firebird Elemental Magic Array to the Firebat Elemental Magic Array, increasing the leverage of elemental magic from about ninefold to tenfold.


    Furthermore, Nidhogg had made considerable progress in Elemental Animation Sorcery, though he still lacked a catalyst to activate elemental animation. This catalyst varies for each sorcerer, influenced by their physicality, thoughts, inspirations, and opportunities. Just like how every sorcerer draws the basic circular six-star elemental magic array with 1024 runes, yet with slight personal variations.


    Elemental animation is essentially the summoning of elemental creatures by a sorcerer. A witch apprentice had once summoned an earth elemental bear, and Bell had summoned an earth elemental mouse.


    Additionally, Nidhogg repeatedly attempted to integrate the rare indestructible fire elemental rune in his soul into his basic elemental magic array, replacing certain auxiliary runes without disrupting the array¡¯s leverage characteristics, to fully harness the rune¡¯s indestructible power.


    This required extensive trial and error, but since Nidhogg prioritized this task over all others, progress was swift. Within at most half a year, Nidhogg would fully integrate the fire elemental rare rune into the basic elemental magic array, exploiting its indestructible properties.


    At that point, Nidhogg would possess an attack strength comparable to Biblionna''s golden iris talent.


    Gurgling...


    Feeling hungry, Nidhogg sighed and set his book aside. Mentor Peran Ornos had gone to the Seventh Ring Holy Tower for business, a round trip taking at least two months. By then, Nidhogg¡¯s live humanoid experimental subjects could be brought back. With these subjects, Nidhogg¡¯s research into the mysterious life code barrier would advance, possibly allowing him to use this knowledge for self-enhancement.


    This life code sorcery knowledge is unique to Nidhogg, an unprecedented and undeveloped field.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to check on Nina and gather the profits from the microscope and magic stones from the Fatty.¡± Thinking about Nina, whom he hadn¡¯t seen in half a year, Nidhogg couldn¡¯t help but feel excited, akin to the adage that absence makes the heart grow fonder.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Knock, knock, knock...


    The lab¡¯s door sounded; Nidhogg knew who it was. He opened the door, and a neatly dressed girl holding a lunchbox appeared in his view.


    "I¡¯ve already delivered Lord Gahae¡¯s meal. This one¡¯s for you, Nidhogg." The girl''s sweet smile was as warm and bright as summer sunshine, her short black hair, healthy tan skin, legs straight, and body slightly leaning back, presenting the lunchbox to Nidhogg with a playful and expectant expression.


    Looking at the lively girl and smelling the aroma from the lunchbox, Nidhogg quickly said, "Smells delicious."


    "Hmph, of course, look who made it," the girl said proudly, then hopped over to Nidhogg, wrapping an arm around his neck in a friendly manner, laughing like a brother, "With Master Peran Ornos away, and Lord Gahae taken care of, I¡¯m sneaking into the library. You won¡¯t tell the Master, right?"


    The girl¡¯s knowing expression implied that if Nidhogg dared to demand a bribe like Varona, it would be unbecoming.


    Nidhogg smiled.


    This girl, named Leona, was an apprentice from the class before Nidhogg. Her task of delivering meals daily to the 79th floor of the Black Tower wasn¡¯t just for the generous pay of 20 magic stones a month; it also granted her occasional free access to Peran Ornos¡¯ library.


    On the Wizard Continent, where knowledge is as precious as magic stones, acquiring knowledge outside of personal research and mentorship always costs a significant sum, something Nidhogg understood well.


    Nidhogg subtly shifted aside, solemnly saying, "Mentor Peran Ornos will not return for a month, so Sister Leona won¡¯t need to deliver the meals. Additionally, Mistress will likely visit in seven days, so remember to bring an extra portion."


    His meaning was clear, reminding Leona to mind the timing.


    "Pfft..."


    Leona couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, then, with a mischievous grin, said, "Thank you. But why do you always keep your distance from me. Could it be you¡¯re a¡ª"


    "Uh! I have a girlfriend!" Nidhogg''s face changed, urgently and assertively emphasizing, fearing she would mention the word "virgin."


    "Hmph, why so nervous? What about having a girlfriend? Wanna try something thrilling? I promise not to tell your girlfriend," Leona teased, winking at Nidhogg with her long lashes, an inexplicable wildness showing.


    "I¡¯ll think about it when I¡¯m suicidal," Nidhogg said, blushing as he made his escape.


    If Nina knew about this wild senior delivering meals to Nidhogg, something utterly brutal would unfold, surely resulting in a bloody scene.


    "Haha, what a cutie."


    Leona watched Nidhogg¡¯s shy retreat. Though she knew nothing would happen between them, she couldn¡¯t resist teasing him. Had it been a seasoned male apprentice, she wouldn¡¯t bother. Shaking her head lightly, seeing Nidhogg always lifted her spirits, Leona happily entered Peran Ornos¡¯ private library.


    ...


    The next day, after chatting casually with Brother Varona on the seventh floor of the Black Tower, Nidhogg went to see Fatty on the first floor. Once the Fatty was done, they went to his private warehouse.


    "Look, this is the highest-grade microscope available in the Seventh Ring Holy Tower, only the finest alchemists have these. It''s worth two high-level magic stones. These magic stones are your share after deducting the cost of this microscope over the past six months," Fatty said, handing a bag to Nidhogg.


    Nidhogg didn''t check the magic stones and eagerly approached the microscope.


    Moments later, Nidhogg''s expression soured, "Is this really the highest-grade microscope the Seventh Ring Holy Tower offers?"


    Fatty¡¯s eyes, squeezed into slits by his cheeks, widened in surprise, "Why, isn¡¯t this advanced equipment enough for your experiments? If not, the Wizarding World might only have better microscopes in the legendary Sky City Holy Tower, though chances are slim, as it''s focused on battle machinery."


    Nidhogg frowned.


    This microscope''s magnification was identical to the one in Mentor Peran Ornos¡¯s lab. Thus, further exploration into the life code barrier must rely on Salmacis...


    After a while, Nidhogg returned to his room, ensuring everything was in order before taking out his crystal ball. A moment later, he paused, "Nina isn¡¯t at the Wizard Academy? Yorkris, Binhanson, and the others aren¡¯t here either? The crystal ball can¡¯t even sense approximate locations."


    Disappointed, Nidhogg decided to head to the academy''s library.


    The academy library differed from Mentor Peran Ornos¡¯s private collection. While his collection reflected personal tastes, the academy¡¯s library curated books based on foundational, systematic, stable, and public relevance. Nidhogg''s next step in life code research would involve basic curse sorcery knowledge to validate certain hypotheses.

 Chapter 59: Ancient Memory

    A month later, Nina returned along with Yorkris, Yorkliana, Binhanson, and Robin.


    In the love-filled small home of Nidhogg and Nina.


    It is highly taboo to pry into other wizards'' secrets, but as a couple, Nidhogg couldn''t help but express concern when he saw a bandage exuding a life-like aura on Nina''s back. "Since you have a mentor, why don''t you focus on studying sorcery? Why take such dangerous adventures?"


    Nina huffed, "Do you really think all wizards are like you, with wisdom, magic stones, and a good mentor? My mentor has twenty-two disciples. How much attention do you think she will pay to me? But fortunately, the ancient site my father mentioned, although risky, yielded considerable rewards this time."


    Seeing Nina''s face alight with excitement as she played with a golden key, Nidhogg could say no more and gently embraced Nina.


    ...


    When Mentor Peran Ornos returned from the Seventh Ring Holy Tower, three humanoid creatures with vacant expressions appeared before Nidhogg.


    Among these three humanoid creatures, two were clearly of the same race, each over 1.9 meters tall, with very slender and beautiful appearances. They wore no clothing, and Nidhogg could discern that one was male and the other female.


    Circling these beautiful humanoid creatures twice, Nidhogg noticed their most significant difference from humans was their ears, which were rabbit-like. They had no navels and six fingers on each hand, with five knuckles per finger, appearing far more dexterous than human fingers.


    "These experimental subjects have been marked by the Seventh Ring Holy Tower, so you can use them without fear of being accused as a black wizard. I''ve simply sealed their mental waves, which you can unseal if needed for your experiments," said Peran Ornos, sitting in a chair and communicating with others through his crystal ball.


    "Oh, understood."


    After a brief response, Nidhogg turned his attention to the third humanoid creature.


    This was a female being, but no matter how hard Nidhogg looked, he couldn''t see how she differed from humans, prompting him to ask Peran Ornos.


    "Oh, she''s a demihuman, a unique species from conquered worlds. You know, many low-level wizards can''t restrain their primal desires, often resulting in new species with local beings. We collectively call these new hybrids of wizards and interworld creatures ''demihumans''," Peran Ornos explained calmly.


    "Demihumans?" Nidhogg asked in shock, "Do these demihumans also have no right to survive in their worlds?"


    "Hmph, did you think wizards conquer other worlds to spread knowledge and love? Na?ve! The reason wizards conquer other worlds is simple: to plunder everything necessary, a hallmark of powerful civilizations. If one day wizard civilization declines, the fate of those weaker civilizations will be ours tomorrow," Peran Ornos spoke with a hint of ruthlessness, reflecting a harsh wizard reality.


    Pausing, Peran Ornos gestured to the demihuman woman, "Dissect her organs, and you''ll find significant physiological differences from humans despite her outward appearance."


    Nidhogg, however, did not actually proceed to dissect the demihuman and instead abruptly asked, "Mentor, could you explain the powers within the wizarding world?"This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Peran Ornos cast a surprised glance at Nidhogg, saying, "You have quite the ambition, hmph. I''ll casually tell you. The infinite worlds are broadly divided into three levels of power: small worlds, great worlds, and civilized worlds. Small worlds typically lack powerful beings. A few level-four or five sorcerer-level creatures are their pinnacle. Such weak worlds must fully hide their world coordinates and rely on their world''s strength to resist invasions. Most infinite worlds fall into this category."


    Nidhogg nodded, "And the great worlds?"


    "In great worlds, there is usually at least one being with the combat power of a level-seven sorcerer. These worlds have unique rules, making invasion difficult, and they are the initial forms of civilized worlds. Within the wizard civilization''s domain, two such great worlds have a symbiotic pact with the wizard civilization, providing resources as long as we don''t invade their worlds," Peran Ornos continued.


    "And civilized worlds?" Nidhogg eagerly asked.


    "Every civilized world has conquered at least one great world, extending its considerable influence. Surrounding worlds have gravitonic affinity toward them. Civilized worlds inherently follow a trajectory of aggressive expansion."


    Peran Ornos seemed lost in thought, his tone heavy with reflection as he said, "Since the birth of ancient wizard civilization, we''ve only encountered two civilized worlds, each resulting in a monumental war lasting hundreds or thousands of years, driven by the invasive nature of these worlds."


    "Two wars!" Nidhogg''s breath quickened, "Did the wizard civilization win both?"


    "Hmph, at least we didn''t lose, or you''d be enslaved by alien civilizations. We won the first ancient war to such an extent that written records are unclear, only noting a small world nearby was shattered into spatial fragments and attached to our borders. The second war is better documented. The wizard world was at an absolute disadvantage, the enemy breached our defenses and expanded into the vast underworld below the wizard continent. The wizard world was down to just the continent, with conquered small and great worlds entirely fallen, marking the closest the wizard civilization ever came to extinction."


    Nidhogg''s eyes widened in horror, "How did the wizard world defeat the enemy?"


    "Defeat?" Peran Ornos shook his head slowly, "No, it was impossible to defeat them. The wizard world, stronger than ever post-first war, still saw no hope because the enemy was overwhelmingly powerful."


    Seeing Nidhogg''s eyes flash with shock, Peran Ornos spoke with sorrow, "Desperately, a great true spirit wizard used a super sorcery beyond imagination, sacrificing life, using the wizard world''s accumulated vast energy crystals to power the ''Fate Lever'' magic array, relocating the wizard world to its current coordinates!"


    "Re... Relocated the entire wizard world!"


    Nidhogg was so overwhelmed that he stuttered, his eyes filled with disbelief akin to idiocy.


    "Don''t doubt it; it''s true. The foreign civilization in the wizard continent¡¯s underworld lost support and was eventually erased in prolonged warfare, giving rise to the new body refinement system. Our wizard world in the infinite worlds we conquered is, frankly, an outsider. The top wizards'' agenda is singular: to continually strengthen the wizard world, reclaim all lost to it along the long-remembered legacy coordinates."


    Finishing, Peran Ornos gazed beyond the Black Tower, wistfully saying, "The great true spirit wizard who sacrificed to save the wizard world left a final sentence immortalized beside every wizard tower today."


    "Give me endless knowledge, and I will use myself as a fulcrum to move the infinite worlds..." Nidhogg murmured involuntarily.


    "Oh? Surprised you noticed. I thought only those aware of the real story like us old fools would recognize it, haha..." Upon hearing Nidhogg recite the ancient wisdom syllogism, Peran Ornos''s ugly ball-like face broke into a ''grinning'' smile, appearing quite satisfied.


    Nidhogg inhaled deeply, saying, "I never realized the weight behind those words."


    Simultaneously, Nidhogg recalled his insight from that night.


    Once, he thought it was a confident, bold declaration, but after that night, he realized it might be a hopeless lament. Considering the circumstances, that great wizard¡¯s dying words to save the wizard world...


    Nidhogg felt an inexplicable hatred stirring within.


    Watching Nidhogg¡¯s hateful expression, Peran Ornos felt a melancholic yet hopeful sigh escape.


    So much like I once was.


    Grow quickly, because... the wizard civilization may soon face a new "great war."


    Although that civilization is known only through vague information learned from other world beings, and though distant, the mutual drive to conquer ensures this distance will collapse, turning a future confrontation into reality.

 Chapter 60: Alienation Technique

    Two humanoid creatures of the same race were placed on the experimental platform by Nidhogg. After setting up some basic restrictions to prevent unknown dangers, Nidhogg solemnly took out his notebook and began to flip through its pages.


    After a moment, Nidhogg sat quietly in front of the experiment table, his eyes vacant as he delved into thought.


    "The last experiments with frogs and white mice had terrifying results when Salmacis was introduced. According to my hypothesis at the time, the mysterious and irregular double-helix light orb sensed and interfered with by Salmacis within the host cells should be the true form of the life code. This is the fundamental life information at the core of every cell in a living organism. Each cell''s life information bears its own survival will, and together, these wills form the soul will of the being."


    Pausing, Nidhogg gently shook his head and added, "However, it may be that those weak creatures cannot withstand the transformation of life information by Salmacis. Therefore, human trial on humanoid creatures is necessary to verify my hypothesis."


    Nidhogg stood up and first looked at the female humanoid on the experiment table. He extended a finger, and slowly, a rice-sized Salmacis was extruded from his skin. Since they were linked by soul, the symbiotic creature was like one of Nidhogg''s own organs, causing him no discomfort as he inserted Salmacis into the female humanoid''s body to propagate.


    The humanoid creature¡¯s mental waves had been sealed, rendering her incapable of resistance, like a vegetative state.


    Seven days later, after completing other experiments, Nidhogg returned to the experiment table. Within his mental perception, the humanoid''s body was now host to tens of thousands of mature Salmacis. This quantity met the requirements for Nidhogg''s further experiments.


    Nidhogg first preserved some experimental samples taken from the female humanoid, and then took out a mid-level magic stone to replenish his magic power for sustained use.


    Taking a deep breath, Nidhogg revealed a trace of solemnity in his eyes. He placed a hand gently on the abdomen of the female humanoid on the experiment table. Her skin was smooth. Gradually closing his eyes, Nidhogg fully stimulated the Salmacis parasitic within the experimental subject, pushing its innate ability to affect the life code to its limit.


    As Nidhogg persistently activated his magic, the Salmacis inside the experimental subject began to emit its unique mysterious power, continuously stimulating every cell within the subject.


    A day later, Nidhogg, pale-faced, left the area around the experiment table, gazing with some horror at "those things" within the restriction around the table.


    The female humanoid creature first grew a large mouth on her palm, biting her own neck with sharp teeth until it was shredded and then entirely severed. Next, her tongue crawled out of her mouth and wriggled like a snake, followed by her eyeballs which sprouted legs, legs that grew multiple tentacles, and her abdomen bulged with unknown pulsations...


    "As expected... fully stimulating Salmacis causes the life code to collapse," Nidhogg murmured to himself, pale.


    Calming himself, Nidhogg retrieved various items for casting curse spells and took out the samples collected from the creature as mediums for the spell.


    A moment later, as he executed a simple curse spell he had mastered, he observed the "things" within the experiment table''s restriction remained unresponsive. He commented solemnly, "It seems the life information has been completely altered, and these things no longer belong to the original female humanoid."Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    He recorded the experiment results and reflections in his notebook when a burst of inspiration struck him!


    If...


    If one could master this ability to alter life information, wouldn''t it mean immunity to any curse spell? Moreover, if using the mysticism inherent in curses as a clue, could he alter parts of his cells to match the life information of his adversary? Wouldn''t that allow him to curse them instead?


    With this inspiration, Nidhogg had a breakthrough in his research.


    Another seven days later, Nidhogg turned his attention to the male humanoid creature on the experiment table, whose body was similarly infested with mature Salmacis.


    After extracting some life information from this subject, Nidhogg carefully took out a bottle of cloudy liquid. This was a substance derived from the Wild Crane''s body to effectively resist the mutative interference of Salmacis. Feeling no sympathy for the experimental subjects, Nidhogg injected the entire bottle into the male humanoid.


    "Now let''s see if, with full Salmacis activation, this substance can prevent mutation," he thought, once again fully stimulating the Salmacis within the male subject.


    A day later, Nidhogg observed the male subject, adorned with various bizarre organs and tentacles, with thoughtful eyes.


    Although mutated, the additional organs did not behave like those in the first female subject, acting on their own instincts. These mutated organs still seemed to obey the subject''s soul instincts, avoiding self-cannibalism.


    Nidhogg also cast a curse on this subject, to no effect.


    "Perhaps the quantity of the origin liquid controls the degree of mutation?" Contemplating this, Nidhogg almost without hesitation gave the subject another injection of the origin liquid. Moments later, the subject returned to its original form, lying quietly on the experiment table.


    Nidhogg was astonished.


    After consideration, he cast another curse spell on the subject, which this time elicited a significant reaction.


    "Hiss¡­"


    Nidhogg''s eyes gleamed with wisdom as he murmured, "Does this mean if my body could regenerate the origin liquid, I could autonomously control my life state? It would not only ward off curse spells but also serve as the ultimate disguise technique!"


    Euphoric, Nidhogg rapidly arrived at a decision.


    He would immediately start studying anatomy, aiming to modify, evolve, and transplant the organs from the Wild Crane that produce the origin liquid! Thus, his unique ability to immunize all curse spells and perform profound life disguise could be named "Nidhogg''s Grand Divergence of the Sacred Body"!


    Just as he was about to leave, the third demihuman experiment prompted another burst of inspiration much like a wellspring.


    Nidhogg paused, contemplating the whimsical inspiration.


    Moments later, with a peculiar look in his eyes, Nidhogg returned to the male humanoid subject and extracted a Salmacis. Communicating soul commands to imprint the previous life code, he implanted the Salmacis into the female demihuman''s body for propagation.


    "In a week, we''ll see the results," Nidhogg thought, heading to Peran Ornos¡¯s room to seek guidance on anatomical knowledge.


    A week later.


    Using the life information of the male humanoid, Nidhogg cast a curse spell, thrilled to see the female demihuman reacted!


    Did this not prove Salmacis could indeed memorize life codes? If so...


    In a flurry, Nidhogg rushed to his quarters, retrieving a vial containing a few drops of Sun Child''s blood from a frozen container, and promptly implanted a Salmacis within.


    The Sun Child Mina''s body was described as a "body of flames," considered a talent. According to Nidhogg''s wizard knowledge, a "talent" refers to those unique evolutionaries among species, mutative adaptations to nature.


    However, if Nidhogg could alter some of his own life information, making parts of his cellular life code match the Sun Child''s mutated code, then couldn''t he grant himself the same flame body talent?


    If successful, Nidhogg might become the wizard world¡¯s most talented sorcerer, unparalleled past and present! Not for any other reason than the ability to exploit others¡¯ talents and graft them onto himself.


    Of course, all this was early, speculative ambition. All needed subsequent experimental validation.


    Yet by natural laws, such wanton exploitation of others¡¯ talents should be impossible due to inherent constraints.


    Otherwise, it would severely disrupt species life balance.

 Chapter 61:Pain and Joy

    Ever since Nidhogg absorbed the Salmacis soaked in Sun Child blood back into his body, an indescribable feeling of simultaneous pleasure and pain began to grow within him.


    Pleasure-wise, Nidhogg was astonished to find his abilities to manipulate fire elements had drastically increased, to the point where he could vaguely sense the ambient fire elemental energy in nature. It must be noted that sensing natural energies was a capability reserved for official wizards!


    With his crystal ball floating in the sky, Nidhogg casually cast a Firebird Sorcery using the ninefold leverage.


    Boom!


    After a surge of searing fire waves, Nidhogg gestured toward the crystal ball, and upon sensing the degree of his recent attack, he was astounded: ¡°It reached an energy attack level of 118!¡±


    At that moment, Nidhogg possessed 29 points of mental power, with mana ranging from 280 to 301. His most potent single attack drained between 60 to 70 mana. If he only used Firebird Sorcery, his attack energy should range between 55 and 65. Yet, his crystal ball indicated his fire element attack reached 118!


    This translation implied the basic formula for the Flame Body was to increase a wizard''s base fire element spell attack by tenfold.


    Hiss...


    Nidhogg took a sharp breath.


    No wonder the Sun Child was so arrogant and domineering during the trial secret realm, almost invincible. With 29 mental power, Nidhogg barely approached the power level of the Sun Child back then, capable of fire element attacks over 100 degrees with a mere wave of his hand!


    Moreover, the Flame Body''s affinity for fire elements granted Nidhogg complete immunity to fire element attacks below 65 degrees (ten times the base attack value). Adding Nidhogg''s future growth in passive elemental resistance evolution...


    This Flame Body was indeed a game-changing talent for wizard apprentices, even low-level wizards. However, as higher-level wizards exponentially increase their leverage, the tenfold fire element base increment from the Flame Body would diminish over time.


    While the surge in ability fueled Nidhogg''s excitement, the cracks in his life code were the source of his agony.


    Indeed, forcefully altering his life code, even minimally, inevitably caused cracks. According to Nidhogg''s estimates, making such forced changes around three times would lead his life code to collapse, resulting in a loss of control over his life form, akin to fully stimulating Salmacis without source liquid control.


    Moreover, this issue arose from copying a tiny portion of life code from another human. Attempting with another species'' life code, even once, could bring Nidhogg to the brink of collapse.


    In other words...


    Nidhogg could only carry the talent of up to three human wizards simultaneously, not counting his inherent potential.


    Nidhogg felt a surge of excitement at this realization. Indeed, knowledge was the wizard''s ultimate power, and talents were merely supplementary tools during a wizard''s era.


    After thoroughly testing his "Flame Body" ability, Nidhogg calmed himself and murmured, "This sorcery is a powerful unique technique of mine, allowing the ability to replicate three human talents. Even with my current insight, it''s an extraordinary sorcery deserving of an impressive, awe-inspiring name. Let''s call it... Nidhogg''s Grand Sorcery of Triple Secret Paths!"


    Currently, with the Flame Body, Nidhogg¡¯s life code could accommodate two more copied talents. He wasn''t in a hurry to fill those slots; the Flame Body was the strongest talent he''d seen in the trial grounds. He didn''t want to waste a slot on an insignificant talent, especially since he lacked the knowledge to remove life code talents.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Leaving the lab, Nidhogg planned to delve into the Voodoo knowledge of Mixed Venom Body Refinement. At the lab door, the demihuman female, face full of reverence, bowed gracefully and softly said, "Master Nidhogg."


    He nodded.


    This demihuman female was named Yujia, whom Nidhogg had promised to free to live a normal human life in the wizarding world if she successfully adapted the sac within her to the human body, permitting its evolution.


    The sac, an organ from the Wild Crane producing source liquid, was modified by Nidhogg and transplanted into Yujia, serving as a human body adaptation test.


    Nidhogg reached out to feel Yujia¡¯s abdomen. She blushed slightly, not knowing where to place her hands but did not evade.


    Through mental perception, the state of the "sac" inside Yujia appeared vivid to Nidhogg, who sensed its thriving vitality, confirming the sac had indeed adapted to the human body.


    "Any discomfort?" Nidhogg asked while contemplating.


    Yujia shook her head, replying shyly, "No."


    "Mhm." Her response was as expected. Nidhogg blandly said, "Next month, we''ll proceed with the transplant surgery. If successful, as promised, you''ll live a normal life in the wizarding world." With that, he paid her no further mind and entered the Voodoo lab.


    As for the experiment subject, Nidhogg had kept the male humanoid creature well preserved.


    "Thank you, Master Nidhogg," Yujia expressed her gratitude, tears of joy streaming down her face.


    ...


    A year later, Nidhogg fully integrated the rare indestructible fire elemental rune into his basic fire elemental magic array. Consequently, he felt a fundamental shift in his understanding of certain energy properties of fire, akin to transitioning from water to ice.


    Whoosh...


    A flame lit at his fingertip, and Nidhogg marveled at its "indestructible" trait with delight.


    After half a day, he gained some initial insights.


    The indestructible flame''s primary counter target was spells and restrictions dependent on energy shields since it would use the shield''s energy as fuel for genuine perpetuity. Naturally, this applied only when neither party''s energy degree reached a transformative state.


    Furthermore, even without a defensive shield, the indestructible flame would inflict extraordinarily prolonged damage, and Nidhogg could exploit its indestructible nature to create a flame armor defense spell with minimal energy consumption.


    With his current Flame Body and indestructible flame characteristics, had Nidhogg possessed these abilities during the trial, he might have suppressed the six other despairers and claimed all rewards. This effectively showcased Nidhogg''s standing akin to the Sun Child''s tutor''s ideal desired state during the indestructible flame period.


    Additionally, through elemental magic array research, Nidhogg successfully upgraded his Firebird Magic Array to a Firebat Magic Array, harnessing tenfold leverage power.


    "Once this mandatory mission is completed, I''ll attempt to specifically study two fire element control spells. Luckily, there are some decent selections in the mentor''s library. Otherwise, I''d need to spend magic stones to seek advice from wizards on the third and fourth floors of the Black Tower," Nidhogg muttered.


    These were the fruits of his endeavors in elemental sorcery...


    Nidhogg slowly extended a finger, and as Salmacis agitated within him, Nidhogg¡¯s body, regulated by the origin liquid from the sac, morphed his finger into a tentacle, its tip bearing a mouth lined with sharp teeth¡ªan intimidating sight.


    That was not all. After a shake, Nidhogg¡¯s golden hair suddenly stood rigid like steel needles, shielding his back like armor...


    Though still appearing human, far more so than those enhanced by bloodline modifications, Nidhogg had undeniably embarked on the path toward becoming a genuine "monster." This seemed an inevitable trajectory for all advanced wizards.


    Months later, on a day when Nidhogg spent an hourglass duration within the Radiant Stone chamber before exiting, he found it ineffective. He lamented, "Indeed, I''ve nearly reached immunity to this weak Radiant Stone; time to inject my formulated toxin again."


    Half a month later, Nidhogg held a crystal ball, assessing his physical state.


    Mental Power: 30, Mana: 285309


    Physique: 36, Stamina: 100101, Strength: 35120, Vitality: 110157 (the Grand Transformation Art significantly boosts this attribute)


    Observing his stamina, strength, and vitality figures, Nidhogg couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly. Despite having a potential physique of 36, his stamina, strength, and vitality were comparatively low. Indeed, body sorcery cannot solely rely on theoretical research for continuous enhancement; frequent outdoor trials are necessary to align the fundamental attributes with intrinsic strength.


    Nonetheless...


    Accounting for time, the academy''s biennial mandatory task should soon be announced. Nidhogg wondered what kind of assignment Mentor Peran Ornos had planned for him. One thing was certain: regardless of the task, it would involve a considerable journey...

 Chapter 62: Demon Hunting Quest

    "Mentor," Nidhogg stood respectfully beside Peran Ornos, waiting for his mentor to assign him a task.


    Peran Ornos nodded, his aged fingers pointing to the crystal ball in front of him. After a brief flicker, a light screen appeared before Nidhogg.


    Peran Ornos said casually, "I''ve considered this ''Hunt the Dark Wizard'' mission carefully. The so-called dark wizard should only be at the level of a wizard apprentice. Even if he''s a formal wizard, he''d be a weak dark wizard just right for you apprentices. If he is indeed a wizard apprentice, kill him; if a formal wizard, flee."


    Nidhogg was surprised, "Does this mean many people are undertaking this task?"


    After noting the mission route and clues, Peran Ornos dismissed the light screen and calmly explained, "I''ve issued this internal task to four apprentices at Black Tower Academy, all of whom have the potential to vie for the demon-hunter wizard qualification. For now, you are the weakest among the four. Moreover, the Ivory Castle Wizard Academy at the task¡¯s border has also sent four apprentices."


    Nidhogg contemplated. If he walked to the task location, it would take about a month. Alternatively, flying there using magic stones would take only five or six days, but it would diminish the intended experience.


    Regarding being deemed the weakest among the four at Black Tower, Nidhogg hadn''t met the others and refrained from commenting, instead asking, "If the task is completed, who gets credit among the eight? And is there anything specific I should be cautious about for this mission?"


    "The task is credited to whoever holds the dark wizard''s head. Since it''s an internal task, we veterans will provide internal rewards. As for your precautions... ensuring your survival is paramount. The allure of becoming a dark wizard that entices many apprentices and formal wizards is their mastery over life and death¡ªthey are wizards who delve deeply into life sciences and necromancy. In other words, they are destroyers who focus on death magic," Peran Ornos warned with a stern look.


    "So, dark wizards are more formidable in battle than ordinary wizards?" Nidhogg frowned, seeking clarity.


    "You could understand it that way," Peran Ornos replied calmly.


    "If that''s so... why does the Wizard Continent..." Nidhogg began to question but was interrupted by Peran Ornos, who continued in a mocking tone, "Why strictly forbid dark wizards'' existence?"


    "Hmm." Nidhogg nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Humph," Peran Ornos sneered, "Because the so-called dark wizards of the Wizard Continent are evil wizards who use humanity as experimental subjects to explore life and death, causing chaos and destruction. This has been proven in the Dark Domain."


    (The Dark Domain is the gathering place of dark wizards, operating under entirely different principles from the Elemental Wizard Academy of the Wizard Continent.)


    Midway through his explanation, Peran Ornos fixed his gaze on Nidhogg and asked, "Do you think the ancient wizards, who have lived for ages, wouldn''t realize that nurturing a large number of dark wizards could enhance the wizard world¡¯s power?"


    "Uh... No."


    Of course, Nidhogg was aware that the ancient wizards would have thought of this.


    Peran Ornos said plainly, "This is why every wizard aspires to become a demon-hunter wizard. Because once you achieve that, effectively, you become a legally sanctioned dark wizard backed by the wizard towers on the continent, with the combat ability to hunt ordinary dark wizards. But instead of using fellow humans for experiments, you study life and death using beings from conquered worlds."


    Nidhogg showed a serious expression, finally grasping why apprentices with mental power reaching the 40-point limit decades ago didn''t try to become full-fledged wizards but waited for the "Holy Tower Quota," granted only once every hundred years.


    ...


    Three days later, Nidhogg and three other apprentices tasked with "Clearing the Dark Wizard in Palmire Town" gathered at the academy gate. After briefly sizing each other up, their eyes settled on Nidhogg.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    "A newcomer? But not one of the three: Solan, Yulie, or Bibliorna. Interesting." This male apprentice stood over 1.9 meters, with a metal ring through his nose and a huge fan strapped to his back, looking quite formidable.


    Over the past two years, Nidhogg had heard about the top ten masters among Black Tower Academy''s apprentices. Unlike the ten newbies Nidhogg had learned about during his time as a new apprentice, these top ten truly stood out with undeniable strength and reputation, with no hidden masters among them.


    The top ten divided into two groups: the first four led the major organizations, possessing greater power and prestige than the latter six.


    It was assured that through decades of experience, any apprentice ranked within this top ten had been thoroughly tested and proven as true top-tier apprentices.


    However...


    This person before him wasn''t among the top ten that Nidhogg knew of. Yet being labeled a competitor for the demon-hunter wizard title meant he had exceptional qualities.


    "Nidhogg."


    Beneath a pale mask, Nidhogg''s voice was calm, maintaining a mysterious and discreet demeanor. As for physical contact like handshakes or cheek kisses, wizards avoided them to prevent their body information from being stolen.


    "I am your senior apprentice, Lane. Once, I was somewhat renowned, but certainly nothing compared to her," Lane gestured to the person next to him.


    The first thing that captured Nidhogg''s attention was the exaggeratedly large orbs on this "woman¡¯s" chest. He instantly recognized the hefty figure from when he''d left the dilapidated water tower: the witch apprentice and tenth-ranked master known as Rintow Ice Soul, Zhuang Senni.


    At that time, due to the dim light and Nidhogg''s anxious state, he hadn¡¯t closely observed this skilled witch, the famed Rintow Ice Soul. Now, he took the opportunity to scrutinize her.


    Standing there, Zhuang Senni was an indestructible fortress with a towering presence, her stature alone deciding this impression. Naturally, Nidhogg wouldn''t assume her physique was less than his, especially since he was no more than a fledgling in body refinement sorcery...


    A meteor hammer emitting a cold glow rested "roughly" on her back, its chain wrapped around her waist. She wore black leather armor instead of her previously "laughable" robes (which had turned into tight fits due to her size). This seemed more like her battle attire. Her short hair was styled in a spiky upward fashion, lacking any feminine fragility, with eyes as cold as winter itself, similar to Solan''s occasional icy gaze.


    "Hmph, I¡¯ve seen you at the Dilapidated Tower, a coward," Zhuang Senni remarked at Nidhogg with undisguised disdain for perceived weakness.


    Nidhogg neither replied nor defended himself.


    Wizards'' personalities are diverse, but certain truths hold: the weak have no luxury of choice and must avoid conflicts. Although Nidhogg might not be as weak as Mentor Peran Ornos implied, he was sure that he presently wasn''t a match for Zhuang Senni.


    The last apprentice suddenly approached Nidhogg, and to his astonishment, two more heads emerged from beneath the robes, all sniffing around him.


    "Strange, why don¡¯t you have any scent?" the three heads queried in confusion.


    "Three-Headed Dog bloodline sorcery modification?" Nidhogg asked instead of answering.


    In Nidhogg''s "Hunter''s Nose Modification and Scent Atlas," it mentioned that wizards'' olfactory studies determined that the Three-Headed Dog was the most scent-sensitive creature, capable of distinguishing any scent known to wizards.


    "It seems you know a thing or two, newcomer. You can call me Harry Red," all three heads of Harry Red spoke haughtily. Certain that Nidhogg was a newcomer of five years, there was no need for courtesy. In a commanding tone, he said, "Your method of scent elimination is crucial to me. Hand it over."


    Nidhogg''s pupils narrowed beneath the pale mask, his tone cold, "What will you trade for it?"


    "My promise not to trouble you during this mission," Harry Red replied as if it were an obvious conclusion. Indeed, under the competitive nature of the Wizard Continent, this was considered an expected exchange¡ªa stronger party demanding something from a weaker one, where the latter''s only recourse was connections or rules.


    Such were the ways of the Blood Sail Alliance and academy inspections.


    However, for Nidhogg, who had advanced in strength, Harry Red''s demand clearly did not apply!


    In Nidhogg''s assessment, while he wasn''t yet Zhuang Senni''s match and thus wouldn''t confront her, Lane seemed comparable to himself, perhaps slightly stronger due to his unrefined body sorcery skills; but as for Harry Red...


    A cold smile formed beneath Nidhogg''s mask as he said icily, "Then, for this trial, only one of us will proceed."


    His words silenced the scene completely, leaving only a deathly quiet!


    Lane shrugged, "Well, it seems I¡¯ll be working solo again. Big sister Zhuang Senni, I¡¯ll get a head start." With that, Lane didn¡¯t linger, leaving them and calling back as he went, "As per old rules, if we can''t manage individually after three months, leave a signal at the nearest city gate."


    On the other side.


    After giving Nidhogg a surprised look, Zhuang Senni seemed to revise her opinion of him slightly, coldly saying, "Regardless of whether you survive in the future, I retract my earlier assessment of you." With that, Zhuang Senni strode off on her own with surprising agility for her large frame.


    Beneath his calm facade, Nidhogg glanced at the three-headed Harry Red, who was still staggered with disbelief, and murmured, "See you in the Thorny Forest." He spoke with a deadly composure, as if killing were as natural as breathing or dining.


    With that, Nidhogg left Harry Red with an outraged expression, departing with only his back visible.

 Chapter 63: Pursuit

    Three days later, in the Thorny Forest.


    Boom!


    A searing wave of fire dispelled a green corrosive energy attack. With a roar of pain, a pale shimmering thread flashed several dozen meters away and then retreated hastily.


    "It¡¯s useless! You can''t escape!" Nidhogg shouted amid the firestorm. "Your unique scent is like a beacon in the night, making it impossible for you to ambush me successfully. You have no chance! I will hunt you to your death!"


    Nidhogg''s voice carried a deep hatred.


    Meanwhile, Nidhogg nonchalantly picked up a severed finger from the ground and pressed it against the wound on his palm. As numerous tiny tendrils emerged from the wound to connect to the finger, Nidhogg coldly flexed his newly restored hand. Holding a bone dagger, he resumed his pursuit.


    Over the past three days, Nidhogg and Harry Red had clashed multiple times. Each encounter ended with Harry Red, unable to best Nidhogg, using a peculiar wind element escape sorcery to flee, preventing Nidhogg from getting a final kill.


    Besides this escape sorcery, what troubled Nidhogg most were the abilities inherent to Harry Red''s three-headed dog bloodline sorcery, which were quite troublesome.


    The three heads could cast corrosive, fire, and poison attribute spells. While fire and poison had little effect on Nidhogg, and the corrosion couldn''t penetrate his pale mask''s defense shield, the sharp claws from the bloodline sorcery could bypass the mask''s barrier and injure Nidhogg''s body! However, the opponent suffered from Nidhogg''s indestructible flame armor as a result.


    Fortunately, for Nidhogg, with his Grand Transformation Art, such wounds were inconsequential...


    With a cold snort, Nidhogg used his hunter''s nose to track the scent, continuing his relentless pursuit of Harry Red.


    Nidhogg was resolute. Even if it meant abandoning his current mission, he was determined to chase this detestable wizard apprentice to his death. After all, Nidhogg''s primary goal was travel and training, to elevate his stamina, strength, and vitality to match his physical potential of 36. It didn''t matter where the training occurred.


    The continuous battles of the past three days had already started to unlock some of Nidhogg''s physical potential, slightly enhancing his stamina, strength, and vitality.


    After several hourglass turns, Nidhogg rushed toward Harry Red, who was resting and tending to his wounds. With a loud shout, he unleashed a Firebat Sorcery. A roaring explosion of flame forced Harry Red, fearing for his life, to flee from the range of the flaming attacks.


    From earlier encounters, Harry Red knew the terror of this flame, untouchable! Not only was its attack power high, but its indestructible nature left any apprentice it touched in despair!


    "Nidhogg, don''t push it!" Harry Red''s left head shouted angrily, breathing heavily.


    "Nidhogg, we were wrong earlier, we shouldn¡¯t have..." Meanwhile, the right head pleaded timidly, eyes reddened with tears.


    "Shut up, you coward, I forbid you from saying that!" The left head interrupted angrily.


    "Why should I shut up? It¡¯s all your greed at that time..." The right head roared defiantly.


    As the left and right heads bickered noisily, the middle head glared at Nidhogg with hatred tinged with fear, face pale, seemingly from excessive blood loss. He had already chopped off his own right arm to rid himself of the indestructible flame after a failed ambush on Nidhogg.


    Watching the discord among Harry Red¡¯s three heads, Nidhogg noted that while bloodline sorcery granted immense power quickly, it also brought many drawbacks. If Nidhogg had three heads with differing thoughts, he could forget about any meaningful research.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "What do you want?" Harry Red''s middle head finally asked.


    "What do I want? Hmph... I want you dead!" Beneath his pale mask, Nidhogg gave no room for negotiation, fully intent on hunting his opponent to death. With that, he dashed forward towards the unsteady Harry Red, a ball of indestructible flame igniting in his hand.


    Moments later.


    Once again, Harry Red transformed into a shimmering thread, shooting dozens of meters away, then fled, shouting, "Nidhogg, you won''t kill me so easily!"


    "Then I¡¯ll chase you until the day I kill you!" Nidhogg shouted, resuming his pursuit with renewed vigor.


    One day later.


    In a field of purple flowers, Nidhogg chuckled under his mask. "Trying to use the flowers'' irritating scent to nullify my scent-tracking advantage? Too naive!" Unbeknownst to Harry Red, Nidhogg had already located his hiding spot in a shadowy corner, licking his wounds like a stray dog, using the ultrasonic sorcery of his pale mask.


    In a sunken ravine among the weeds, as Nidhogg coldly moved in, Harry Red cried out in terror and desperation: "Impossible! You, a mere newcomer, not one of those legendary three, how can you be this strong? Impossible! Even if it were those three..."


    Nidhogg wasted no words, launching another Firebat Sorcery.


    With a boom, a wave of fire saw Harry Red erupting his corrosive, fire, and poison energies again, attempting to use his peculiar wind element sorcery to escape. However, his face turned ashen when he found a cursed vine coiled around his foot!


    Breaking free almost instantly, he was then caught off guard as a tentacle emerged from the flames, its tailbone knife wrapped in indestructible flames cutting his right head.


    Hiss...


    A ball of indestructible flames engulfed Harry Red''s right head, which screamed desperately: "No..."


    His cries cut off as he again transformed into a crystalline thread, vanishing. Nidhogg strode out from the fire, looking at the head engulfed in unquenchable fire on the ground, smirking, "You''re down a head this time; let''s see how you escape next time!" Kicking the head aside, Nidhogg resumed his pursuit of the scent trail like a mad dog.


    This chase lasted two days. Though the vast Thorny Forest posed significant obstacles for Nidhogg, he could see this was Harry Red''s final struggle. Missing a head and an arm, Harry Red no longer had the means to counterattack. Nidhogg wasn''t in a rush, choosing to let him despair as he slowly closed in, using the opportunity to further his own training.


    Nidhogg halted, observing the two individuals before him.


    One was Harry Red, in no condition to resist. One head was missing, another retracted into his robes. The remaining head was on the brink of breakdown, eyes sunken, skin a decaying gray.


    The other was a female wizard apprentice he didn¡¯t recognize, yet instinctively felt was stronger than Harry Red. She appeared entirely human, without any visible bloodline sorcery.


    "This... um, Nidhogg, I am Roman. Perhaps you haven¡¯t heard of me, but you should know my lover, Gade, right?" The apprentice spoke with a friendly demeanor, her short green hair, pale skin, lithe figure, and black-framed glasses giving her the appearance of a smiling crescent moon.


    "Top three on the academy¡¯s apprentice master list, leader of the Ivory Hunting Group, Thunder Axe Gade. Of course, I¡¯ve heard of him," Nidhogg replied, his tone cold but his expression unchanged, though his face beneath the mask shifted slightly.


    Roman seemed pleased by Nidhogg''s acknowledgment, "To be frank, Harry Red is part of our Ivory Hunting Society. On behalf of my lover Gade, I wish to offer compensation for Harry Red¡¯s behavior, compensation that will surely satisfy you!" Roman, all confidence and warmth, smiled like a spring flower, her voice as soft as a gentle breeze, pleading eyes evoking pity.


    Upon hearing this, Harry Red exhaled in relief, though fear flickered deep in his eyes at Nidhogg.


    This monster, this lunatic...


    Nidhogg remained silent, staring at Roman with vacant eyes, as if lost in thought.


    Seeing this, Roman believed Nidhogg was capitulating under her persuasion and coercion. She took out a high-level magic stone equivalent to ten thousand low-level ones.


    "If Nidhogg would grant our Ivory Hunting Group some face, and Gade some face, and let Harry Red go, this high-level magic stone will be our compensation. How about it?" Roman¡¯s voice was tender enough to melt hearts, her eyes imploring, inviting sympathy.


    In a sudden jolt, Nidhogg was startled, realizing his thoughts had unconsciously been swayed, considering letting Harry Red go. Shocked by this manipulation, yet inwardly impressed, his expression beneath the mask turned cold, unseen by the two before him.


    "No favors!" Nidhogg''s flat voice emanated from the mask.


    Roman''s face shifted slightly, but she quickly resumed her gentle look, murmuring, "What did you say?" Her expression was so pitiful, as if Nidhogg¡¯s words might break her heart.


    "Hmph!" With a cold laugh, Nidhogg replied icily, "I said, Ivory Hunting Group, Gade, they''re not people I need to curry favor with! This man, I¡¯ll hunt to the death!" Looking at Roman with a glacial stare, devoid of emotion, he added, "If you obstruct me again, you¡¯re an enemy."


    With a roar, flames flared in Nidhogg''s hand.


    Harry Red¡¯s face twisted in terror, instinctively activating his escape sorcery, becoming a thread that shot away, escaping like prey in despair. Ignoring Roman''s dumbfounded gaze, Nidhogg rushed past her, continuing his relentless pursuit of Harry Red.


    Roman¡¯s face froze as she watched them disappear into the depths of the Thorny Forest. After a long hesitation, she gritted her teeth and turned back towards the Black Tower Wizard Academy, her expression grim.

 Chapter 64: Wandering Knight

    "Ah..."


    Harry Red''s agonized screams in the flames were like the cries from the abyss. No matter how he screamed, it could not stop the spread of Nidhogg''s unquenchable fire. In an instant, Harry Red became a human torch, instinctively rolling on the ground in a grotesque manner like a toad wallowing in a mud pit.


    "The Ivory Hunting Group won''t let you get away with this! Captain Gade of the Thunder Axe will avenge me!" Through the flames, Harry Red''s eyes were filled with pain and hatred as he stared at Nidhogg.


    Beneath his pale mask, Nidhogg remained unmoved and said softly, "Annoying." With a wave of his hand, another fireball flew over.


    Boom!


    After the violent explosion, the world fell silent. Harry Red was completely engulfed by the raging flames and was reduced to ashes in an instant. Nidhogg sneered, glanced at the sun to roughly determine his direction, and then left with large strides.


    Seven days later.


    After more than ten days of trekking through the Thorny Forest, Nidhogg had gained a lot, especially after chasing Harry Red for several days. Nidhogg felt as if he had an infinitely potential body, improving every moment, with every cell in his body cheering, seemingly with endless energy.


    Nidhogg couldn''t help but marvel; indeed, a body-refining sorcerer needed frequent excursions.


    That day, as Nidhogg spotted a stretch of farmland, he finally confirmed that he had left the Black Sota Wizard Academy''s direct jurisdiction in the Thorny Forest and officially entered a human civilian settlement. With this realization, he knew he needed to plan the next part of his journey carefully.


    Pondering this, Nidhogg approached the nearest farmer.


    The farmer was practically a replica of old Nero, and upon seeing Nidhogg, the "wizard master" asking for directions, he was astonished and honored. He not only gave detailed directions but also offered to personally guide Nidhogg, an offer which Nidhogg declined.


    Walking alone on the dirt path, Nidhogg continuously pondered the key points of his mission.


    According to Tutor Pel Arnos, Nidhogg''s main task was to gain experience. With so many powerful figures around, he didn¡¯t need to stand out, as everything was ultimately for the Witch Hunter qualification battle fifteen years later. However, since it was a mission, Nidhogg thought he should at least investigate; not doing so would be irresponsible.


    With this thought, Nidhogg started planning his course of action.


    In the context of black wizards, three types of behavior could mark someone as one: Firstly, mass slaughter of ordinary humans in the wizarding world for evil experimental purposes; Secondly, forcibly recruiting wizard apprentices as soul slaves (this is more difficult and not common for black wizards); Thirdly, violating the basic interest principles of the wizarding world¡ªthere were historical occurrences of wizards like this (essentially, anti-human; without fourth-level strength, betrayal is impossible).


    Engaging or investigating black wizards was inherently dangerous, let alone hunting them down.


    Even though Tutor Pel Arnos confirmed the black wizard was just a newly fallen wizard apprentice, how could anyone be sure? If it were a formal wizard, rushing in would be suicide.


    Thus, the best strategy was disguise...


    Having been a member of the lower-class civilians (beggar in his youth), Nidhogg was well-acquainted with certain urban rules. So, after maneuvering easily, Nidhogg donned a set of knight''s armor, strapped a bone dagger to his waist, and put away his mask, earrings, and other magical items. Still feeling he didn¡¯t look menacing enough, Nidhogg activated a distortion spell, creating a massive scar across his left cheek through his eye to his forehead, making him appear formidable.


    Afterward, Nidhogg went to a blacksmith''s shop selling weapons.


    "Give me the biggest broadsword you have, heavy and sturdy," Nidhogg said, thinking that to quickly tap into his body''s potential of constitution points, a heavy broadsword was essential. Combat was secondary; the main goal was that carrying a heavy sword long-term would better train strength, increase endurance, and build vitality.


    The blacksmith, with a pungent sweat odor, yellowish stubble on his cheeks, and dripping sweat, looked at Nidhogg, appearing somewhat taciturn. He removed his dirty, greasy blue apron to reveal broad shoulders and thick, muscular arms. Moments later, he dragged out a broad-handled broadsword about one and a half meters long from the back room, scraping the ground as it moved.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Taking the broadsword, Nidhogg swung it in the air a couple of times, finding its size and weight just right. Without any combat techniques, his expectations weren''t high, so he said satisfactorily, "Alright, this one. How much?"


    The blacksmith watched Nidhogg swing the sword effortlessly and couldn''t hide his astonishment. This knight was powerful, far surpassing those ruffians in the tavern, and could definitely secure a good position under noble patrons. He might even become a legendary knight one day.


    That was the blacksmith''s assessment of Nidhogg.


    ...


    Typical regional cities were divided into two parts: the noble section and the commercial section.


    The noble section emphasized luxury, spectacle, refinement, and rank, spending the wealth extorted from their tenants, servants, and commoners, showcasing their superiority and satisfying their ever-growing indulgent desires.


    In contrast, the commercial section was filled with profit, chaos, dirt, violence, and some cheap thrills.


    Boom!


    Nidhogg entered a tavern where rowdy, shouting rogue knights gathered. The place was filled with the spit from mouths mixed with the smell of cheap malt liquor. Busty women flitted about, bringing infectious laughter and drunkards bragging loudly about their adventures¡ªa unique tavern melody.


    Nidhogg swaggered in, drawing the attention of mercenary knights who lived by the sword, but seeing his formidable presence, they mostly resumed their activities, save for a few teasing barmaids who merely grunted.


    Finding a vacant table, Nidhogg sat down. Soon, a scantily clad waitress with a bold figure approached. Though slightly older with less smooth skin, her figure was exceptionally curvaceous, making her popular among the virile rogue knights. She bent over to place cheap malt beer in front of Nidhogg and lay across the table, giving him a provocative look, her voluptuous chest squashed into view.


    Nidhogg smiled, knowing the tavern customs well from years as a vagrant in Biser City.


    Without a word, he discreetly slipped a silver coin into the woman''s cleavage. Seeing her surprise, he gave her a hearty pat, saying, "If there''s a job near Pamil Town, let me know." Nidhogg pointed to Pamil Town on the map.


    "Alright."


    The woman was thrilled by the silver coin and looked at Nidhogg with excitement.


    Such a generous patron hadn¡¯t appeared in the tavern for over half a year. She thought to herself that if no suitable job came up by evening, she might invite this "decent-looking" chap (rogue knights are usually favored for their ruggedness and ferocity, unlike the noble aesthetic; some wizards have entirely lost their aesthetic sense) to her room, as it might bring in additional income.


    However, her thoughts were soon dashed.


    An hourglass later, a short, chubby man wearing leather shoes pushed open the tavern door. Surveying the noisy, dirty tavern, he chuckled, revealing his gold-inlaid teeth, and announced loudly, "Cargo for Bangar City. I need five strong men. One gold coin for the job!"


    Typically, the journey to Bangar City took about twenty days, and thrifty merchants usually offered only thirty to forty silver coins. Clearly, this merchant was quite generous.


    "Hey! Hire me! If you encounter bandits, I¡¯ll kick their sorry butts all by myself!" roared a rogue knight, standing up boastfully to show off his bear-like physique.


    "Hah, who do you think you are? Don''t listen to his bluster, fatty. Once, this guy ran away at the sight of bandits. No one has hired him in months¡ªhe''s a coward!" another knight jeered, flaunting his robust build.


    Meanwhile, on Nidhogg¡¯s side.


    The waitress approached again to inform Nidhogg that Bangar City was just a dozen miles east of Pamil Town, making it the nearest city to Pamil Town.


    "Hey, you looking for a fight...?"


    A brawl erupted in the tavern. Whenever a lucrative job appeared, these red-eyed mercenaries fought fiercely, following a custom where the last few standing were hired.


    This occasion was no exception.


    The waitress speaking with Nidhogg shrieked as a big fellow, knocked over by another rogue knight, toppled towards Nidhogg''s table.


    Planning to take the job, Nidhogg had to demonstrate his strength. Seizing the opportunity, he grabbed the unlucky giant with one arm and hoisted him overhead, despite the man''s frantic struggle against Nidhogg¡¯s iron grip. With a shout, Nidhogg hurled him out of the tavern, the man drawing a parabola in the air before crashing outside.


    This spectacle naturally drew the attention of all remaining fighting rogue knights. Realizing Nidhogg was not to be trifled with, they intentionally avoided his table as they continued their squabble.


    The waitress at Nidhogg¡¯s side gazed at him with shining eyes, instinctively moving closer.


    Minutes later, Nidhogg stood with four bruised and battered rogue knights as the chubby man at the tavern door chuckled, "Alright, you¡¯re hired. Let¡¯s set off¡ªMiss is getting impatient."


    Miss?


    Nidhogg was puzzled, realizing the "cargo" must be this young lady.


    Shortly thereafter, Nidhogg and the rogue knights, led by the chubby man, reached the city gate. Four carriages awaited them¡ªthree were loaded with Aihuo Grass (a local specialty), while the last was a luxurious vehicle, clearly not meant for cargo.


    "Marlington, are you ready?" a girl¡¯s impatient voice called from the carriage window. She appeared about fourteen or fifteen, leaving Nidhogg and the rogue knights stunned.


    Her robe¡ªa wizard''s robe?


    Only Nidhogg wasn''t surprised by the girl¡¯s wizard apparel. Seeing a wizard apprentice on the continent was common. What surprised him was that a wizard would hire knights for protection. Even as an apprentice, a wizard''s attack power far surpassed that of ordinary knights...


    But soon, Nidhogg''s expression changed, for he sensed no magic from the girl. He didn¡¯t believe a fourteen or fifteen-year-old could conceal her power from him. Wearing a wizard''s robe without any magic unless officially designated by an academy was liable to draw legal pursuit from the wizarding authorities.


    Moreover, the consequences were quite severe.


    Simply put, the dignity of wizards is not to be infringed by commoners!

 Chapter 65: Dark Sorcerer?

    "Miss, get inside quickly!" The short fat man jumped in surprise and quickly pulled the carriage curtain down. His face then changed as he glared at Nidhogg and the others, speaking sternly: "You all..."


    "Sir, we didn''t see anything, don''t worry," a seasoned rogue knight chimed in.


    The short fat man then looked at Nidhogg and the others. After they feigned ignorance, he coldly snorted and drove the convoy out of the city.


    "Why worry? Once we reach Bangar City, I''ll officially become a wizard apprentice..." the young girl in the carriage grumbled, her voice faintly reaching Nidhogg and the other knights. Nidhogg was a bit surprised; could there be a formal wizard intending to take this girl as a disciple?


    That night, Nidhogg and the five rogue knights sat around a campfire drinking and eating dry food, while the short fat man and the young girl sat by another fire near the carriage, eating prepared exquisite meals.


    After half a day together and knowing they would be working together for over twenty days, the burly rogue knights had become somewhat familiar with each other, laughing and boasting.


    The burliest man among them had the nickname "Grizzly," boasting about his past adventures involving black wizards and mutated beasts¡ªa typical talk for a rogue knight. Another intimidating-looking fellow, who was quiet, was known only by his nickname "Cobra." The rest were twin brothers nicknamed "Hammer" and "Axe," who were chatterboxes and seemed to get along famously with Grizzly.


    Nidhogg took a swig of the fiery liquor passed by Grizzly, grimacing as he swallowed, feeling the intense burn.


    "Haha, Boss Tyrant is tough! This Dragon''s Tongue liquor is a specialty from my hometown; most people get drunk just by smelling it, hahahaha..." Grizzly laughed heartily, biting into his jerky. After Nidhogg''s impressive display of strength by tossing the unfortunate big man earlier, the group had given the fearsome-looking Nidhogg the nickname "Tyrant," making him their unofficial leader.


    Nidhogg didn''t speak, but took another deep swig of the liquor. At this moment, he seemed to abandon the wizardly demeanor, behaving like a boisterous knight, downing drinks and food with abandon¡ªa sight that would shock Nina, Bingham, and others out of their wits.


    However, Nidhogg had a different thought in mind.


    The art of disguise through the morphing technique requires not only a change in appearance but also a convincing "performance." In a way, what Nidhogg was doing could be seen as a form of disguise training.


    "Hey, hey, what do you think about over there..." Axe started babbling again, the conversation inevitably turning to women after eating and drinking, though the camp only had one girl, and she was just a child.


    "Idiot, do you want to lose your life talking about the wizarding lord?" Hammer knocked his brother on the head, growling softly. He didn''t know the child wasn''t a real wizard at all.


    At that moment, Cobra stood up silently and walked away, seemingly going to practice his martial skills, the only method knights had for training their bodies and combat abilities. Grizzly and the others kept chatting, but Nidhogg wasn''t too interested.


    Suddenly, Nidhogg''s eyes lit up. Perhaps learning some martial skills from these knights could help in exploring his physical capabilities. With this thought, Nidhogg approached Cobra...


    Over the next ten days, the convoy progressed steadily without any disturbances. As the self-appointed leader of the rogue knights, Nidhogg took his role seriously, acting like a true rogue knight, constantly scouting for potential dangers. This impressed the other knights lounging lazily on the carts, unaware that Nidhogg was using this as a form of training.


    This "vigilance" seemed to pay off. One day, as Nidhogg led the convoy, he suddenly signaled them to halt.


    "Tyrant boss, what''s up?" Grizzly shouted, while the short fat man poked his head out from the carriage.


    "Something''s off up ahead," Nidhogg replied calmly. He acted like a seasoned knight, accustomed to such situations, remaining composed. Ahead lay a dense forest, a perfect spot for a bandit ambush with no nearby towns.


    Hammer and Grizzly ran up, and Hammer frowned, saying, "From past experience, there shouldn''t be bandit gangs around here. Boss, are you sure something''s off?"If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Nidhogg nodded; he certainly wouldn''t reveal that he sensed the group ahead using his predatory instincts.


    Soon, the bandits emerged from the forest themselves, a group of fourteen, subtly surrounding the convoy. Nidhogg and the others grabbed their weapons, glaring at the bandits, though neither side acted hastily.


    The short fat man approached with a sycophantic smile, tossing a small bag of silver coins to the bandit leader, saying, "Consider this a token for you gentlemen to have a drink, and please let us pass."


    A tacit rule existed between bandits and rogue knights: if merchants hadn''t hired rogue knights, bandits wouldn''t hesitate to plunder, taking it all. But if knights were hired and both sides risked heavy losses in a fight, they typically settled with a small payment, as they all lived by the sword and didn''t need to fight to the death.


    The bandit leader weighed the money bag, looked at the rogue knights, and shook his head, saying, "Normally, I''d let you pass. But unfortunately, today a guest requires you to stay, so..." The bandit leader sneered and motioned for his men, who charged forward with malicious laughter.


    The short fat man panicked, looking at the bandit leader in disbelief.


    "Damn it! Do they think we¡¯re just for show? I¡¯ll take down these punks!" Grizzly roared, brandishing his axe to charge. Cobra, Hammer, and Axe, eyes red with despair, seemed ready to fight to the death, incensed by the bandits'' breach of rules.


    Suddenly, a bloody scene silenced everyone. Both the bandits and the caravan stared in shock at the dripping greatsword.


    "Ah..."


    A ghastly scream tore through the air. The bandit leader, now a head shorter, stared in disbelief at his broken sword and bisected body. Screaming in horror and despair, his upper half tried to crawl away, leaving a trail of blood and organs as if trying to flee from the demon before him¡ªa gruesome scene.


    Nidhogg froze too.


    He had instinctively swung his sword at the bandit leader, having no martial skill. The bandit leader, seeing Nidhogg¡¯s inept attack, didn¡¯t care, ready to counterattack, having killed many "rookies" like him.


    However, when he tried to block Nidhogg¡¯s sword, the unexpected, immense strength from the sword shocked him. His eyes widened in disbelief, and then¡ªboom¡ªNidhogg''s greatsword sliced through the leader¡¯s sword and body, cutting him in half.


    Neither the bandits nor the caravan saw the mental calculations; they only saw Nidhogg ¡°casually¡± swing his sword, and the bandit leader being effortlessly cut down¡ªa scene of ease.


    "You... damn, this... Boss Tyrant, this..." Grizzly stammered, not knowing what to say. His bald head conveyed a tinge of sympathy for the crawling bandit leader¡¯s half-body. Unsure whether to fight the stunned bandits or not, he hesitated with his axe.


    Hammer, Axe, and Cobra had been ready to fight to the death but were now floored by this unexpected turn of events, leaving them bewildered.


    Nidhogg himself was unsure of what to do.


    He had intended to fight the bandits longer, using the morph as an advantage, thinking that as long as his head wasn¡¯t cut off, he could explore his physical limits. But it seemed his training had paid off; his strength now far exceeded a typical knight, leading to such an unexpected outcome.


    Nidhogg hesitated, wondering whether to continue fighting the bandits.


    "Legendary knight! He''s a legendary knight!" came a trembling shout from the bandits, pointing at Nidhogg in terror. It seemed the only explanation for why their leader was effortlessly cut down.


    Grizzly, Cobra, Hammer, and Axe all looked at Nidhogg with reverence, while Cobra, usually silent, couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Are you truly a great legendary knight?"


    A legendary knight is someone who has trained their body to its utmost potential, able to harness their blood energy in battle. Legendary knights often serve as loyal followers to wizards, gaining mystical enhancements and potentially embarking on a powerful path unique to knights.


    However, this path often leads to despair, as less than a handful of legendary knights have ever reached the combat level of a fourth-tier wizard.


    "Er... something like that."


    Nidhogg decided to admit it. Anyway, after reaching Bangar City, they would part ways, and it was unlikely they¡¯d meet again. (Wizard apprentices and knights have vastly different concepts of time and space¡ªa wizard apprentice has a minimum lifespan of 200 years, while a knight''s future depends on their next meal¡­)


    Upon hearing Nidhogg''s admission, both the bandits and the caravan were shocked. A legendary knight was rarer than a wizard, the ultimate goal for many knights.


    "Cackle, cackle, a legendary knight, wonderful..." a sinister, evil laugh came from behind the bandits. As the figure came into view, the caravan''s shock turned to fear as they shouted, "Black wizard!"


    A hallmark of black wizards is the ominous gray aura of death surrounding them (low-level black wizards do not suppress this; high-level ones use mental power to do so). This is due to absorbing some mysterious energy from killing many humans, an energy composed of negative emotions like resentment, despair, and fear.


    Only the Holy Tower is said to be able to completely conceal this negative energy, grooming black wizards into witch hunters instead.


    The black wizard had a youthful face, appearing only around sixteen or seventeen, but this elicited no other thoughts beyond absolute terror. To the civilians of the wizarding continent, black wizards are synonymous with death.


    "Wait!"


    The girl from the carriage suddenly burst out, frantically holding a strange black card. The black wizard paused upon seeing it.


    Nidhogg was also taken aback.


    Nidhogg was surprised because this black wizard seemed... too weak?


    The black wizard had somehow eluded Nidhogg''s perception despite his 30-point mental power, not realizing he was facing a wizard apprentice. This made Nidhogg wonder about the state of the wizarding world if such a weak black wizard could roam freely on the continent.


    Nidhogg observed the black wizard with an almost curious fascination.


    Perhaps he should preserve this rare experimental specimen intact? (Would using black wizards as experimental specimens invite retaliation from the black wizard community?) Or perhaps he should decapitate the target and turn it in as a task to his mentor?


    After all, this was a legendary black wizard...

 Chapter 66: Strange Occurrence

    "I didn''t expect you to be invited by that gentleman as well," the black wizard finally said after a long pause.


    Nidhogg, snapping back to reality and analyzing the hidden messages, was taken aback¡ªcould the final destination of this mission, Bangar City, actually be a gathering place for black wizards?


    This seemed too outrageous. If true, Nidhogg couldn''t help but feel disdain towards Tutor Pel Arnos for claiming the target was only a weak wizard apprentice or a black wizard of little strength.


    The young girl in the carriage was relieved to see the black wizard recognize the token in her hand. She shouted, "In that case, make your followers stand aside quickly."


    The black wizard hesitated for a moment, his gaze finally settling on Nidhogg. With a cold smile on his youthful face, he said, "Releasing you is not an issue, including the knights¡ªI can let them go as well. After all, once you become one of us, you''ll need these guys to do some work. However¡­ I''m interested in this person. Having such a powerful follower would save me a lot of trouble."


    The black wizard stared at Nidhogg with undisguised greed, as if he were eyeing a prized possession, his desire for ownership written plainly on his face.


    Nidhogg felt his skin crawl under the gaze of this disgusting figure. If it weren''t for the potential secrets this man might hold, Nidhogg would have dropped his disguise and dealt with him already. A sorcerer of greater power couldn''t tolerate such insults from a weak sorcerer.


    "Humph! If I get the chance, I''ll finish him off in the most brutal way," Nidhogg thought venomously.


    "No, he''s my follower, my private property. You have no right..." the girl screamed, seemingly tempted by Nidhogg''s display of a "legendary knight" identity. Additionally, it seemed like she intended to use Nidhogg for some wicked deeds once she became a black wizard.


    This puzzled Nidhogg. It was said that black wizards avoided exposure, leaving devastation in their wake, so when did they start needing a large number of helpers?


    Was it a branch of black wizards? A new type?


    "Humph!" The black wizard sneered, fixing his gaze on the girl, "I''m not negotiating with you. Perhaps I should teach you the rules among black wizards?" His youthful face twisted into an evil, chilling smile, as if trying to match his supposed status.


    "You¡­" The girl was a little afraid, ultimately saying nothing more, giving Nidhogg a "regretful" look. She stomped her foot and said, "Let¡¯s go!"


    "Wait!" the black wizard shouted.


    The girl, now angry, roared, "What more do you want? Don¡¯t push it! I was formally invited by that gentleman!"


    "Foolish idiot," the black wizard mocked disdainfully, then calmly said, "Do you think these guys would obediently take you to Bangar City after knowing your connection with me? Hmph, they''d probably kill you halfway there."


    ¡°No, no¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible, we know nothing¡­¡±


    Grizzly and the others hurriedly defended themselves, pale as sheets. This was no joking matter; someone could really die if things went wrong. Meanwhile, the girl glanced at the knights, troubled: "What then? Without them¡­"


    "Humph, you few, eat this, or don''t think about leaving alive." The black wizard pulled out some pills and tossed them in front of Grizzly and the knights, watching them coldly.


    The first to move was Hammer. With a clenched jaw, he grabbed a pill from the ground and swallowed it. Following him, Axe, Cobra, and Grizzly, under the black wizard¡¯s intimidating presence, also took the pills. They then sat, looking resigned, accepting their fates. Meanwhile, they cast sympathetic looks at Nidhogg, who might face an even worse fate as a legendary knight.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Instead, Nidhogg felt a sense of excitement.


    So, following this girl could lead him to the secrets in Bangar City? If true, then dealing with this pesky black wizard might be possible. Yes, perhaps the expected reaction of a "legendary knight" would be¡­


    With a loud shout, Nidhogg turned and fled, not caring about anything behind him, like a panic-stricken rabbit.


    "Cackle, cackle, poor little lamb, run all you want, I¡¯ll make you willingly become my thrall, cackle¡­" The black wizard''s face twisted into abnormal excitement, even flushing slightly. This was a perverse reaction to suddenly wielding great power. Chasing these once lofty individuals as prey became a source of excitement.


    With a swoosh, the black wizard dashed after Nidhogg with incredible speed.


    Nidhogg ran; the black wizard pursued. After half an hourglass¡¯s time, the black wizard grew bored of the game. A puff of black mist surged at his feet, propelling him ahead to block Nidhogg¡¯s path.


    "Little lamb, I''m tired of playing. Just be my follower, cackle, cackle¡­" The black wizard¡¯s youthful face was filled with excited laughter, as if envisioning himself at the pinnacle of the wizarding continent.


    Nidhogg curled his lip disdainfully, "Are all black wizards like you? Really¡­" He couldn''t even think of a fitting description. Seeing this guy reminded him of the new students at the wizard academy¡ªarrogant, foolish, and naive.


    The black wizard''s expression shifted from excitement to a cold, vicious sneer, "Foolish legendary knight, you¡¯ve angered your master, and I shall punish you with a hundred slaps!"


    "Enough! It''s time to end this farce; I¡¯ve had enough of your nonsense!"


    Nidhogg was both amused and irritated, unwilling to waste more words on this guy. Since he could trace the source through that girl, all he needed to keep was this guy''s head; hauling him as a specimen would be cumbersome since he still had training to do. With this thought, Nidhogg, under the black wizard¡¯s startled gaze, conjured a fireball at his fingertip.


    Nidhogg grinned wickedly, "My first black wizard hunt¡ªthis is exciting!"


    "No! How could you¡­"


    Boom!


    The flames engulfed the weak black wizard, and since the attack was overwhelming and the wizard was too weak, even the usual struggle and scream sequences were skipped. Moments later, Nidhogg looked at the solitary black wizard¡¯s head on the ground, satisfied with his control over the fire element.


    Thinking for a moment, Nidhogg dug a hole on the spot and buried the black wizard''s head.


    As a black wizard, he shouldn''t decompose quickly due to his robust constitution. Nidhogg could retrieve it on his way back to the academy. Now, there was no need to follow the girl to Bangar City. He could get the information from Grizzly and the others after she left Bangar City.


    After all, that would be the safest, most secure approach.


    With this plan in mind, Nidhogg activated his morphing technique again. With his facial scar gone, he resumed his guise as a lone rogue knight heading toward Bangar City.


    Ten days later, in the wilderness, Zeros and Lane watched in shock as the "knight" wearing the unique mask made his way toward them.


    Of course, they recognized Nidhogg despite his knight attire, not asking foolishly about Harry Red¡¯s whereabouts. The results were simple: either he was killed by Nidhogg or returned to the academy, now in disgrace.


    From a psychological perspective, they never thought highly of this newcomer, considering his previous actions mere bravado. The current outcome was unexpectedly beyond their expectations.


    Thus, Zeros and Lane''s evaluation of Nidhogg rose considerably, thinking him even more talented than the "newcomer kings" of his cohort.


    This means he''ll likely soon find himself on the hunting lists of the four great experts.


    "How did the mission go?" Nidhogg asked coolly, maintaining his terse demeanor.


    Lane shrugged, sighing, "We completed it, but the others beat us to it. There were four of them, and we couldn¡¯t outdo them, even with Zeros leading."


    "Hmph! Who knew that so-called black wizard was just a weakling, hardly better than a new wizard student? What a waste after all that cautious probing!" Zeros slammed the ground in frustration, cracking it slightly. Nidhogg''s pupils contracted behind the mask.


    "It¡¯s a pity. We were too cautious. If we¡¯d been bolder¡­ It¡¯s frustrating the black wizard was so weak," Lane complained, glancing at Nidhogg, "If you¡¯d dealt with that guy earlier and come over, you might¡¯ve held off that Elizabeth from Ivory Castle, and we could have snatched the black wizard¡¯s head."


    Elizabeth? The Despair Enchantress from the trials two years ago? Nidhogg recalled the name.


    "What¡¯s the point in rehashing this? Those guys are probably back at Ivory Castle reporting in!" Zeros was irritated but bore no grudge against Nidhogg. After all, defeating Harry Red was already impressive for a newcomer.


    She wouldn''t have guessed Nidhogg was delayed by his training.


    "Forget it; this mission was jinxed. Nidhogg, we¡¯re heading back to the academy. You?" Lane looked frustrated; the mission had left him really vexed.


    "I plan to check out the mission site," Nidhogg replied coolly.


    Watching Zeros and Lane depart, Nidhogg couldn''t help but feel intrigued.


    Was the black wizard from the mission also this weak? Was the one he encountered also unusually weak? Was it a coincidence or some special reason? Perhaps there really was a secret in Bangar City.