The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

Wang Ya withdrew his consciousness from the Wizard Mark. He looked up, his gaze sweeping over the figures of the many clan Wizards before meeting the eyes of the commoner Wizard, Matthew Gray.

He took in the emotions in their gazes.

The Wind Wizard’s eyes held praise. To be able to defeat a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice meant that, in terms of Power, Wang Ya had already reached their level.

Lando Wizard gave him a thumbs-up, a smile spreading across his face.

Kelan Wizard gave him a slight nod, then turned and started back the way he came. Wang Ya followed.

They left the Wizards behind with nothing but the sight of their confident, retreating figures.

Zack Antuun clenched his jaw, his eyes fixed on Wang Ya’s back. ’He actually... he actually defeated Hades. A Hades who had just advanced to a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice.’

The gap between them was growing wider and wider.

Even though he himself had created many powerful Puppets, he had never imagined fighting a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice, let alone defeating one.

It was something that should have been completely impossible.

The other genius clan Wizards standing nearby all thought the same. It was a commonly held concept among most Wizards.

Now, Wang Ya had shattered that concept, and they had all witnessed it with their own eyes.

’Just how much more is that guy, Wang Ya Harak, hiding? How wide has the gap between us truly become?!’

’What on earth did he go through in five months? Or was he holding back during the Secret Realm competition?’

Dante, despite his powerful Physique, felt a chill run down his spine. It was a sense of powerlessness born from such a clear and overwhelming gap in strength.

He seriously doubted if he could ever catch up to Wang Ya Harak. His opponent’s growth in Power was too absurd—defeating a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice after just five months.

’And those uncanny techniques... if I were to face them, could I even handle it...?’

Jim’s expression was shaken as his mind raced, trying to figure out how he would handle another fight with Wang Ya.

A Wizard’s strength lay in their Power, but it also stemmed partly from the unknown. Once a form of Witchcraft was revealed, it could be countered with enough preparation.

But no matter how he wracked his brain, he couldn’t comprehend the principles behind Wang Ya’s bizarre techniques or how he pulled them off.

He couldn’t decipher them at all.

Jim Novy’s face grew paler and paler.

Riley Shebel glanced at the Mad Brothers beside him and said, ”I won’t be going on the next Wizard Task. You guys go on your own.”

The Mad Brothers were stunned. Before they could speak, Riley Shebel continued, ”Get rid of that arrogance of yours. You think he only won in the Secret Realm competition because he had a geographical advantage, that his real Power isn’t that great... Holding onto ideas like that will only make the gap between you and Wang Ya Harak grow wider.”

”I’m going to spend the time ahead digging deeper into my Blood Wizard Path. I won’t be participating in any Wizard Tasks.” As he walked away, Riley Shebel added one last thing, ”And don’t forget, Wang Ya Harak came up as a commoner freshman. He didn’t have the vast resources we do to help him.”

”I, Riley, lost to Wang Ya Harak once, but I will absolutely not allow myself to lose to him a second time. What’s more, I refuse to accept a reality where his Power so far outstrips my own.”

Riley Shebel left, but his words gave the genius clan Wizards present pause for thought.

The light flickered in several of their eyes as they inwardly made their own decisions.

Riley Shebel was right. They were all geniuses from Wizard Clans; there was no reason they should be inferior to a commoner Wizard.

And there was certainly no reason for them to be looking up to one.

They all resolved to delve deeper into the potential of their own Wizard Paths, develop more types of Witchcraft, and increase their own Power.

...

”Father, I’ve disappointed you.” By the time Hades Antuun emerged from the Battlefield, almost all the Wizards were gone.

He saw that familiar figure standing there, waiting for him, along with his younger brother, Zack Antuun.

But the back that had always been perfectly straight, never bending, was now noticeably stooped as Hades looked over.

Kaze Antuun’s face was devoid of expression as he said, ”All that matters is that you’re still alive.”

His tone was as stern and unyielding as ever, but the feeling it conveyed was different now. The atmosphere turned oppressive and bleak. Zack Antuun also sensed that something was wrong. He was just about to ask Kaze Antuun about it when he saw his father simply turn and walk away.

Hades Antuun’s face was deathly pale. Seeing this, his spirits sank even lower.

He knew he had become a sinner to the Antuun Clan. Not only had he ruined the clan’s future, but he had also become a laughingstock.

He had put the Antuun Clan on the roasting spit.

A Level 3 Wizard Apprentice unable to defeat Wang Ya Harak, a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice... That in itself was the greatest irony, especially since when the duel was arranged, most people assumed both fighters were at the Level 2 Wizard Apprentice tier.

There were further-reaching consequences as well. His loss wasn’t just a complete disgrace for the Antuun Clan; the Wizard Family Alliance would also suffer significant losses in benefits and resources.

Overall, this was yet another competition between the two sides, and another instance of the Wizard Family Alliance losing to the School Lineage.

The last time was the Secret Realm competition.

And both times, it was because of Wang Ya Harak.

”Zack, I...” Hades looked at his younger brother.

Zack Antuun gave Hades a complicated look, then turned and walked away.

Hades Antuun let out a long sigh. A loss was a loss. And the consequences of losing meant losing a great, great deal.