One-Eyed Monster

Disease. It’s an obscure type of Dark Arts, largely unknown even in the dark professional circles.

This spell doesn’t require substantial Spirit Power, but it does require immense Spirit Power and a complex mantra. The elaborate mantra invokes forbidden exchange orders, through which Dark Arts can swap portions of the Natural Force. This mantra serves as the entry point into Dark Arts, much like the dark symbols of Dark Alchemy. Mastering the mantra of a Dark Wizard is a sign of the transition from a Wizard to a Dark Wizard. Dark Wizards are in a different league from Rogue Wizards, who merely seek shortcuts; Dark Wizards have stepped entirely into the sanctum of darkness.

Rogue Wizards are opportunists seeking shortcuts to control the Natural Force, while Dark Wizards devote their lives to studying the systems of dark magic. This is a fundamental difference between the two. This also indicates a stark difference in their power levels. Although both are denounced by the Wizard Alliance, the gap between them is significant.

After all, Rogue Wizards could never master Disease, a mysterious and challenging spell.

Unknowingly, Wizard Reed had unleashed this rare spell, showcasing his immense Spirit Power. More importantly, there was no halt or adjustment after Reed had cast the spell. This suggested his complete mastery over the complex mantra, which he could recite effortlessly. Reed’s ability to articulate the mantra without any pause or interval, not even to catch his breath, testified to his extraordinary abilities.

Yuga was deeply moved. He felt it was a pity that a Wizard of this caliber chose to pursue the dark path. Committing such remarkable abilities to understanding a complex spell like Disease, rather than focusing on the ’right path,’ was a choice that indeed baffled him. However, the very definition of the ’right path’ begged discussion. The professional circles might emphasize orthodox brightness, but whether Dark Arts were truly evil or good remained open to interpretation. Many things were ambiguous, so ambiguous that people preferred not to dwell on them. Once one thought too much and crossed that blurry line, the consequences were uncertain.

This was precisely what Yuga was feeling. He admired Kuyi Tulan’s past attempts but was perplexed by the outcome. He was inherently a man of contradictions, and witnessing this Dark Wizard’s display only deepened his internal conflict.

Simon seemed to have noticed Yuga’s hesitation. At such a crucial moment, their guardian team couldn’t afford internal discord; a moment of indecision could lead to total defeat. Although the Alchemists from the Alchemy Workshop had joined their ranks for some unknown reason, everything was interconnected. These Alchemists wouldn’t assist them for free; there had to be some underlying cause. However, that was not something to consider now. For the time being, they stood on the same battlefront, dealing with the Dark Wizard who had unleashed the Disease spell.

”Yuga, don’t hesitate.” Simon noticed Yuga’s internal conflict. He knew persuasion was fruitless at this moment. Yuga himself had to find the way to resolve this dilemma. Questions of good and evil were things Yuga needed to contemplate and judge for himself.

Yuga was no fool; he understood Simon’s meaning. He had long since lost his normal human appearance. His withered, emaciated body looked like a skeleton draped in a thin layer of skin. He once found it impossible to accept this skeletal form, deeming such things ugly, and all ugly things inherently evil. Changing one’s ingrained beliefs is an incredibly difficult task. Yuga still couldn’t comprehend how the Great Mentor had managed to persuade him, especially to accept this skeletal body. But now was not the time to dwell on these things. Despite his inner turmoil, the mere thought of the Great Mentor immediately calmed him, as if the title itself possessed some magical power.

Yuga knew a little about the Disease spell, and he also respected Jemma immensely. Identifying the Disease spell indeed required considerable ability, especially perceptive ability.

This Dark Art was called ”Disease” because its curses would continuously manifest.

That’s why when Jemma first tried to break Wizard Reed’s curses, he found them endless. Under the effect of the Disease spell, a released curse would spread rapidly, continuously dividing and reforming, gradually occupying everything in the vicinity. It was like an actual infectious disease spreading with reckless abandon!

Moreover, the Disease spell had another characteristic that gave Adventurers with Class a massive headache. In a way, it was this very feature that led many Wizards to consider it forbidden spellcraft, ultimately classifying it as Dark Arts.

Currently, the four Golden Seats from the Alchemy Workshop were engaging Wizard Reed, unaware that the three Guardians, who appeared immobile, were already strategizing how to counter the Dark Wizard’s Dark Arts.

The Dark Wizard’s ability to operate without consuming his own Spirit Power was due to another characteristic of the Disease spell.

This characteristic was horrifying, reminiscent of an ancient beast. This aspect of the Disease spell was somewhat like Sharkmon. Sharkmon unknowingly had a special need for Spirit Power; it would directly consume Spirit Power, treating it as a delicacy. Disease, however, absorbed Spirit Power, continuously draining it from others!

This was the main reason Wizard Reed could incessantly cast curses. He didn’t need his own Spirit Power because the Disease spell he cast was constantly absorbing Spirit Power from others. This absorption revitalized the fading mantra, allowing it to strike a new exchange agreement with the Natural Force. The nearly exhausted curses would then be fully rejuvenated, continuing to spread and Devour... This was how the Disease spell operated: one link inexorably leading to another, rolling forward in an endless cycle.

The absorption of Spirit Power enabled the curses to spread anew, and these widespread curses continued to absorb more Spirit Power. They would then divide again, re-form, approach dissipation, and absorb Spirit Power once more... This cycle repeated erratically, over and over.

The Wizard Alliance banned this spell precisely because of this shameless characteristic.

When encountering such a spell, even abundant Spirit Power could not withstand its relentless absorption. It would drain you until all your Spirit Power was exhausted, and yet the spell itself would persist.

How could the Wizard Alliance ever condone such a despicable spell that plundered others’ Spirit Power reserves? Even after labeling it forbidden, the name they gave this spellcraft—Disease—was itself abhorrent. Only those who harbored deep hatred and fear for this spell would choose such a name.

Yuga mentally flipped through the lexicon compiled by the Wizard Alliance, searching for information related to Disease. He immediately shared what he found with his companions.

Jemma had heard of this spell; otherwise, even his Heavenly Eye might not have identified it. However, he hadn’t anticipated just how terrifying the details of this spell were.

So, I’ve been battling my own Spirit Power all along. Jemma shook his head; the news made him uneasy. At the same time, however, it ignited an unyielding fighting spirit within him!