The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

Black smoke filled the sky, and the glow of the fire seemed to stain the very clouds. The extreme heat created an invisible medium in the air, causing one’s vision to twist and blur.

Below, a ring-shaped inferno burned, originating from a figure bathed in crimson light. Everywhere it passed was set ablaze.

Like a true Flame Demon descending upon the world, its might, amplified by the growing inferno, even briefly affected the weather.

The spectacle was so immense that the expressions of everyone still within the Secret Realm changed drastically.

It wasn’t just Jim Novy and the Mad brothers who decided to stop Wang Ya from continuing.

Even on the other battlefield... the fight between Zack Antuun and Dante Qiuji paused briefly. They stared in horror at the cloud of fire soaring into the sky.

Dante’s burly frame was covered in white markings. Just standing there, he exuded a disquieting, pulsating aura.

He had thought that after improving his Aquis Secret Record, he could suppress any other freshman in the Secret Realm. Yet, just from a distant glimpse of the fiery cloud’s edge, his muscles, even his very cells, began to tremble instinctively.

But when it came to sheer shock, Zack Antuun felt it most. He understood the source of this firelight and the fiery cloud better than anyone else.

The eight Soul-Devouring Snake Puppets had already transmitted the images to secondary puppets, which were then received by the main puppet.

The closer he was, the more he could do.

That familiar Fire Elemental Particle Energy Connection, the familiar amplification method, the expression of the Witchcraft... There was no mistaking it. This was the Inheritance Witchcraft his father had taught him, originating from Isar.

The inheritance of the Rhine Lineage—the Flame Demon Fear Witchcraft.

In fact, the level of proficiency and the power of the Energy Flame it carried were even more terrifying than when he cast it himself.

Its power had at least doubled.

Zack Antuun couldn’t understand. A tempest raged in his heart.

’How is this possible? Why would the Witchcraft my father gave me appear in another Wizard? A proficiency like this could never be achieved in a day or two.’

His mind lost in confusion, bloodshot veins began to appear in Zack Antuun’s eyes. His expression twisted, and he clenched his teeth tightly.

’Could this Wang Ya Harak be a backup plan my father arranged? Was the information father gave me not the whole truth...?’

’Father never fully trusted me. He made multiple preparations. Even if I failed, there would be another candidate to fulfill his wish... Is that it? That must be it, right?’

Veins bulged on Zack Antuun’s forehead. Once the idea took root, his thoughts stubbornly followed that single track.

He felt he had been betrayed.

’My father’s affection wasn’t just for me alone. Before, there was Isar, and now there’s this Wang Ya Harak.’

Unacceptable!

He absolutely would not allow such a thing to happen.

’He’s the strongest enemy. I have to take him out first, before he can establish his home-field advantage,’ Dante thought.

’It’s just too terrifying.’

’I just don’t know if it’s this guy who’s uniquely terrifying and eccentric, or if the entire Elemental Wizard system is this outrageous and chaotic.’

’I’ll kill him with Puppetry Witchcraft. If I kill this guy, Father’s affection will be all mine.’ Zack Antuun’s pupils were now consumed by bloodshot veins, his gaze vicious and cold.

The next moment, their eyes met. Then, as if by unspoken agreement, they turned and left in opposite directions.

Upon entering the dense forest, with a SSSSHHH sound, Dante’s Wizard Robe instantly burst apart. It revealed a powerful, muscular body covered in a multitude of white markings, distributed across the lines of his skin to form a unique pattern.

There seemed to be some meaning in this.

As Dante spurred the Particle Energy within him, his muscle fibers began to activate, their density increasing to a new level. Then, under the influence of the Particle Energy, the Biological Charge within his muscle cells started to manifest physical properties.

The white markings lit up with a dazzling glow, and fine tendrils of electricity coiled around Dante’s entire body. His muscles visibly swelled by a third, and even his bones seemed to grow taller.

His aura was like a ferocious tiger. The dirt and debris at his feet floated up into the air, as if gravity itself had vanished in that spot.

This was the Extraordinary Trait of the Aquis Secret Record: using the stimulation produced by the body’s Biological Charge to generate immense Speed, Power, and Defense Power.

Dante had unleashed his true power—not his full strength, but close. He had to be fast to stop Wang Ya Harak. Any slower, and the unease in his heart would overflow.

His figure moved like the wind, as fast as lightning. He truly transformed into a streak of white light. In his wake, the flow of Biological Charge caused the tiny microorganisms in the air to die.

The grass, dirt, and debris he kicked up lingered in the air for a long time, unable to fall with gravity, creating a truly mystical sight.

His target was none other than Wang Ya’s position. He was going not just to intercept, but to kill.

KRAK! KRAK!

The sound of countless joints cracking, like bones grinding or wood snapping, echoed densely through the forest.

Zack’s face was incomparably dark. He walked into this part of the forest, instantly infused his five fingers with Particle Energy, and then flicked it into the shadowy environment.

The cacophony of sounds came to an abrupt halt. One by one, Extraordinary Creatures of various shapes and appearances emerged from the shadows. Their semi-wooden bodies gave them a uniquely horrifying look.

The puppet creatures controlled by Puppetry Witchcraft could perfectly utilize their original power, yet they had lost their nerve reflexes. This meant they felt no pain and had no emotions.

They were true killing machines.

Zack grabbed the leg of a bird puppet. Its wings flapped, carrying him toward Wang Ya’s location.

In the forest below, a dense and endless stream of puppet creatures surged forward like a tide. Their numbers had already reached eight or nine hundred.

Energy Flame could inflict massive damage on Extraordinary wooden materials, but Zack’s eyes were filled with viciousness. He refused to believe that he couldn’t kill a single Wang Ya Harak today.

He would bury that guy with sheer numbers.

’Let’s see how much Particle Energy he has to cast Energy Flame and maintain the State of the Flame Demon Fear Witchcraft.’

Zack could also use the Flame Demon Fear Witchcraft. Although his wasn’t as powerful, he knew its weaknesses very clearly.

It consumed an enormous amount of Particle Energy.

Furthermore, after using the subsequent Flame Demon Roar Witchcraft, the caster would lose the Witchcraft’s State.

To use Flame Demon Fear Witchcraft again would require three seconds to achieve resonance and amplify the Particle Energy within the body.

This was the caster’s weakest moment.

Zack was certain that Wang Ya knew this Witchcraft. Facing an attack from a sea of puppet creatures, he didn’t believe his opponent could resist using Flame Demon Roar to clear the field.

At this moment, the Wizards outside had also noticed the unusual development within the Erosion Forest Secret Realm.

On Freshman Square, Lando Wizard nearly tore his hair out, his eyes wide. ”Hey, hey, hey, you’ve got to be kidding me! What is this little guy doing? This is just reckless!”

On the projection screen, amidst the blazing fire that formed an inferno, Wang Ya’s figure was still moving. Four other Wizard figures were converging on him from different directions, each carrying a terrifying aura. They had clearly, and independently, made the same choice.

That is, to deal with the formidable opponent Wang Ya and eliminate him first.

”This...” The Wind Wizard was stunned. His prediction was both similar and dissimilar to what was happening now.

The most crucial point was that Wang Ya Harak seemed to be deliberately luring the other four over.

It felt as if he was planning to take on all five of them by himself.

What did that even mean?

This was something that had never happened in the entire history of freshmen in the Dark Land.

These weren’t weaklings. They were all equally powerful Wizard Freshmen, the direct lineage aces cultivated by the Wizard Family Alliance, all groomed for the title of Child of the Dark!

Gusai Wizard’s lips were slightly parted. He stared intently, not missing a single detail on the screen.

The emotional turmoil in his heart was no less than that of the Wind Wizard.

”Too reckless,” he couldn’t help but mutter. In his heart, he held little hope for Wang Ya’s chances of winning.

At the Salon Association, Xugus Wizard paused his analysis of the Witchcraft used by a powerful rival from the Wizard Family Alliance.

A look of surprise appeared on his face as he caught sight of the projection screen out of the corner of his eye.

”This little guy... he really is full of surprises,” Xugus Wizard said, narrowing his eyes.

Wizard Yi Si and the others showed little emotion on their faces, but their gazes never left the projection screen.

The Green Demon Wizard clicked his tongue. ”Talk about an exaggeration. Are all the young people these days so impressive? One against five... If I had to face five opponents of the same level, I’d probably be beaten to death on the spot.”

”That’s no different from challenging a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice while at a lower level... But that gap is truly, truly difficult to bridge.” The Green Demon Wizard glanced at Xugus Wizard from the corner of his eye.

A long time ago, Xugus Wizard had attempted such a challenge, though his was even more difficult. As a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice, he had challenged an Extreme Wizard Apprentice.

The result was failure. He held on for about two minutes before the White Bone Wizard intervened and saved him.

...

”A lunatic! Making a foolish decision, and now carrying out a foolish act!” Ocam Mad was so angry he laughed.

The other figures in the projection conference room actually felt relieved upon seeing Wang Ya’s actions.

Just as Ocam had said, it was indeed too foolish.

Never mind just the Inheritance Witchcraft of the Rhine Lineage; even if you added the Inheritance Witchcraft of the White Bone Lineage and the Withered Wood Lineage, facing a siege from five powerful Wizards of the same level... there could only be one outcome: being beaten to death.

And it would be an instant death at that!

This was the Wizard Freshman’s Secret Realm competition, not one for Extreme Wizard Apprentices. The latter might have a slight chance of victory in such a situation.

The former simply didn’t have enough Particle Energy to support such an action.

A hint of mockery also appeared in Kaze Antuun’s eyes.

How many Middle-tier Witchcraft spells can a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice cast? Ten at the absolute most, and that’s not even considering he’s only at the entry stage of being a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice.

Relying on the Defense Power and attack power of the Flame Demon Fear Witchcraft to face five Wizards of the same level... was pure fantasy!

No one understood the Flame Demon Fear Witchcraft better than him; he knew all its strengths and weaknesses.

The moment they made contact, Wang Ya Harak’s internal Particle Energy would be completely drained.

The only possible result was to be forced out of the Secret Realm, or die a miserable death on the spot.

Kaze Antuun’s gaze lowered. He even looked forward to the moment the six of them clashed.

...

WHOOSH!

A fierce wind howled—a wind formed by the high pressure resulting from the temperature difference. It was so hot and searing that one could hardly open their eyes.

The inferno had gradually spread into a sea of fire. Wang Ya stood within it, the State of his Flame Demon Fear Witchcraft growing even more solid. Even though sixty percent of his internal Particle Energy had been consumed, the power of his Energy Flame had not diminished but had actually increased.

This was precisely the geographical advantage created by the sea of fire.

The Biological Force Fields of the five individuals drew steadily closer. Even the sea of fire itself felt a certain pressure from the opposing wind, forcing it to spread in the opposite direction.

Wang Ya stood at the center of this sea of fire, on a high slope, looking down at everything around him. He also seemed to be waiting for something.

He had stopped expanding the sea of fire’s range.

Because, according to his plan, he needed to reserve a portion of his Particle Energy for the next step.

’They’re here!!’

His expression turned solemn as he looked in a certain direction.