The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

Wizard Yi Si looked down from on high, suspended in the void in an unknowable state. A metallic, cube-like substance hovered over his right hand, wrapped in fine strands of electricity. It broke apart into tiny metallic bodies that scattered to all corners of the Bailin Clan’s territory, embedding themselves in the boundaries.

The next moment, intense Particle Energy formed an intangible, formless force field, completely cutting off the Bailin Clan’s territory from the Ancient Forest Wizard City.

Wizard Yi Si’s gaze was indifferent. He gently pressed his right hand into the void before him, and a white substance began to proliferate rapidly. It was like some unknown fungal colony parasitizing the very air, absorbing nutrients and expanding. A terrifying, contained energy fluctuation emitted an astonishing amount of radiation. Within the enveloped area, some nocturnal insects began to show shocking signs of being assimilated by the white substance.

Then, white spots began appearing on plants, as well as the walls and floors of buildings. This phenomenon was happening everywhere within the Bailin Clan’s territory.

Children played and chased each other in the inner city of the Bailin Clan’s domain, unknowingly treading on floors covered in white spots and touching the afflicted walls with their hands.

The commoners of the Bailin Clan toiled away, offering their meager value to the Master Wizards and working diligently for a paltry reward. A light of hope still shone in their eyes—the hope that their children might be found to possess good Wizard Qualification. They failed to notice the white spots appearing on their own bodies.

A Wizard couple shared a tender moment in their courtyard. The wife held their newborn baby while the husband playfully poked the infant’s cheek. An elderly commoner in their family sat on the threshold, watching the scene with a benevolent smile, until the white substance began to proliferate on his body... In an instant, his vitality vanished, and he transformed into a numb, rigid, white statue.

It was like an omen. The Wizard couple, realizing something was wrong, wore expressions of horror. The white substance was proliferating on everything in sight, spreading like ripples on water. The symptoms soon appeared on their own bodies, and they were powerless to resist. Their Particle Energy was snuffed out by this terrifying power like a candle in the wind.

As they turned into white statues, the only thing they could do was hold their child tightly between them in a final embrace.

”This is bad! This Particle Energy fluctuation... it’s an Extreme Wizard Apprentice!” In the Core Area of the Bailin Clan’s domain, inside a grand and ancient building, an elderly figure shot to his feet, his face a mask of pure terror.

Judging from the aura he exuded, he was clearly a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice. He had detected the malicious intent, but the white substance had already infiltrated the building. Like a devouring serpent, it consumed and assimilated everything—the walls, the ceiling, the floor.

His aged body erupted with an overload of Particle Energy, but it only held back the tide for a few seconds. He was too old and too weak; even among Level 3 Wizard Apprentices, he was not particularly powerful.

Fingers, arms, limbs, and finally his torso—the white substance assimilated him, his flesh and blood melting away. At the very end, he let out a venomous roar. ”Who wants to destroy my Bailin Clan?! What crime have we committed?! The Dark Land will not let you go!”

Gandhi Wizard, who was resting in another room, also wore a horrified expression. Seeing the white substance, he blurted out, ”The core Inheritance Witchcraft of the White Bone School!”

’I’ve been exposed!’ he realized. A miserable smile touched his lips as he was consumed and assimilated by the endless, bone-like material.

Wizard Yi Si opened his right palm. The small metallic bodies that had been embedded throughout the Bailin Area flew back to him, reassembling into the Magic Cube Metal Form.

He turned, melted into the void, and vanished from sight.

Below, the once magnificent and formidable territory of the Bailin Clan had transformed into an eerie, white world. Everything was tainted white. Upon closer inspection, its texture was remarkably similar to bone.

The commoners and Wizards who witnessed the scene were both shocked and terrified, scrambling to get as far away as possible.

The world had been turned upside down!

A powerful Wizard—one far beyond their comprehension—had acted, annihilating the entire Bailin Clan. ’If we’re hit by even a little of that radiation,’ they thought, ’we’ll die a horrible death.’

The Wizard Freshmen still on Ancient Forest Mountain, of course, had no idea that such a monumental event had just occurred in the Wizard City at the mountain’s base.

They were still mired in fear from the recent murders. The death toll kept rising, the five Master Wizards were nowhere to be seen, and the rules felt like nothing more than a suggestion.

Finally, at dawn, a voice reached their ears.

”Come see me at the Ancient Forest Pavilion!”

It was Wizard Yi Si’s voice!

’This is great! Wizard Yi Si is finally back.’ Many of the Wizard Freshmen felt like they could weep with joy.

Seated once again in the conference hall of the Ancient Forest Pavilion, they looked around. The once-packed hall was now sparse, with more than half the freshmen gone.

Wang Ya’s gaze fell on the figure on the stage, clad in a brown Wizard Robe. Compared to their last meeting, Wizard Yi Si had a faint smile on his face and seemed less gloomy and cold.

Wind Wizard and Lando Wizard stood to the side, arms crossed. Lando Wizard even let out a yawn.

”I imagine you all have many questions,” Wizard Yi Si began, his tone calm. ”Why did freshmen start dying on Ancient Forest Mountain? Why did so many have to die? I can tell you everything.”

Wizard Yi Si then revealed the truth, explaining the Wizard Clans’ conspiracy and how they had broken the rules. The Wizard Freshmen present were immediately filled with righteous indignation, and some even began to curse aloud.

”Those freshmen from the Wizard Clans! They went too far! It’s despicable! They all deserved to die!”

”Master Wizard Yi Si, you were right to kill them! Those bastards should all be dead!”

Wizard Yi Si continued, ”Under my authority, Wang Ya Harak acted as the Executor. He killed the Wizard Freshmen who violated the rules, including the island freshmen who consorted with the Wizard Clan freshmen and thus indirectly caused the deaths of others.”

The freshmen fell silent.

The cursing stopped instantly. It was as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown over their righteous indignation.

Far too many of them had interacted with the Wizard Clan freshmen. Some of them had even attended the welcoming party.

’Wait... who is Wang Ya Harak?’ ’Wizard Yi Si said *he* was the Executor who killed most of the freshmen?!’

All the Wizard Freshmen in the hall grew surprised and curious.

Wang Ya’s face remained expressionless, but a dark glint appeared in his eyes. He had not anticipated Wizard Yi Si revealing all of this in public.

”I hope this incident helps you all understand that rules are meant to be obeyed, not broken.”

Wizard Yi Si stated calmly, ”Within the framework of the rules, actions beneficial to the Dark Land shall be rewarded, while harmful actions, such as breaking the rules, shall be punished.”

”As per a directive from the Dark Land Headquarters, Wang Ya Harak is to be rewarded with complimentary enrollment in one Extraordinary Discipline at the Dark Wizard Academy.”

At this, Wang Ya decisively stood up and gave Wizard Yi Si a slight bow. ”Thank you, Master Wizard Yi Si.”

Inwardly, however, he was gaining a much clearer understanding of the true nature of the Wizard World.

’I’m not strong enough. No matter how Wizard Yi Si uses me, he can easily bear any consequences.’

’No, ”use” isn’t the right word. He’s treating me like a tool.’

But an inexplicable resolve, an idea, surged from the bottom of his heart: one day, he would make Wizard Yi Si face a price he could not afford to pay.

’This feeling of not being in my own control... it’s awful.’

He sat back down, his eyes dark and shadowed.

’But not now. I need to get stronger. I need to shorten the time until that day arrives.’

The minds of the freshmen in the hall were buzzing as if a bomb had gone off. All eyes converged on Wang Ya.

Their gazes were filled with shock. ’Are you kidding me? He’s Wang Ya Harak? The person who killed so many freshmen is a freshman himself?!’