One-Eyed Monster

An unending fighting spirit spread amongst Jemma and the others. Now that they had a clear understanding of the Dark Arts before them, they also had a counter-strategy. This was akin to a physician from the Wizard Alliance finding the root cause of a patient’s illness, no longer dwelling in uncertainty. Once the source was discovered, it was as if the antidote had been found; even an intricate problem could be swiftly solved.

While the contagious disease was a distasteful and Forbidden Dark Art, it was not without a solution. As Simon had previously mentioned, if a Spirit Attack proved ineffective, the most primitive Physique Technique could be used as a fallback. There was always a way to topple a Dark Wizard.

Moreover, they had already identified why their Spirit Attacks were not working.

A numerical advantage wasn’t always beneficial. This was not a battlefield, but a duel between Adventurers with Class. What would determine the outcome of this fight wasn’t the number of participants or their stamina, but their ability to exploit each other’s weaknesses.

Whoever could seize their opponent’s vulnerability first would have a significant advantage in winning.

From the current situation, although there was only one Wizard Reed, both sides were evenly matched, neither able to gain the upper hand.

The strength of the four Golden Seats from the Alchemy Workshop was not to be underestimated, yet they still couldn’t suppress Wizard Reed. Brad’s Berserk assault felt weak and ineffective against the Dark Wizard, with no force reflected. Joela’s Diamond Hardening failed to penetrate the Wizard’s defensive cloak. The combined attack of Pedro and Milo couldn’t even graze Reed’s clothes, making it seem as though the Dark Wizard also knew Simon’s Demonic Steps.

The Alchemists were unaware that the magic Wizard Reed had cast was a contagious disease, so they continued their assault, unleashing their Spirit Power without reserve. It was a display of formidable, youthful courage.

Meanwhile, the three Guardians of Guru Mountain seemed unwilling to inform the Alchemy Workshop of their discovery. They were warier of the Alchemy Workshop and trusted them less, suspecting they might soon become enemies. Therefore, they decided to observe them first, to be better prepared for any future confrontation with these Alchemists.

After all, whether Jemma or Simon, they had remained on this mountain for over a decade and were not fully aware of how the world of Adventurers with Class outside had evolved. Perhaps a new branch had emerged from the six major established classes, or maybe the Alchemy Workshop had broken through some limit. All these were possibilities. Even though Yuga, Jemma, and the others consistently improved their abilities daily, their isolation from the outside world still left them somewhat bewildered.

The outside world remained alluring. If not for the criticism they endured due to their appearance, they would not have chosen to live in seclusion on this mountain.

In contrast to the Guardians of Guru Mountain, Wizard Reed was much calmer. He didn’t need to ponder who was an enemy and who an ally, nor did he need to worry about other matters. He was a Dark Wizard; the judgment of outsiders had long since lost its impact on him. Apart from the brilliant sunrise, which instinctively made him squint and retreat, no other light could make him flinch.

He wasn’t afraid of Wind Wizards. Even with two of them on this mountain, he felt no fear. His body had long been hollowed out—it was merely an empty shell! Thus, no wind, however strong, could shatter him, for he possessed no true physical body.

Wizard Reed clutched his Magic Staff tightly, silently counting his enemies: one, two, three... The more enemies he faced, the more excited he became. To him, nothing was more thrilling than continuously pushing his own limits. As a practitioner of Necromancy, he was accustomed to death. Even his own demise didn’t scare him, as the Magic Staff he held embodied his very essence.

Wizard Reed had reason to be arrogant. No matter how intelligently the group before him strategized, or how tirelessly they unleashed their Spirit Power, they could neither harm him a bit nor obstruct his plans.

Because, his true self is not here at all; this is merely one of his shells!

And his true self is, step by step, heading towards the deepest part of Guru Mountain: the location of the final seal—Twin Peaks.

He was a Dark Wizard, and the Dark Arts were an unknown territory on this continent. For the Scholars of this generation—those Scholars with their biased views—to unveil them? That was a colossal joke, an impossibility.

The Scholars of today have lost the most fundamental essence of what it means to be Scholars. They no longer pursue deep research, relying instead on superficial summaries. They have prematurely discarded the superior traditions of their predecessors. This rush for quick success, while perhaps bringing many things to light, also overlooks certain obscure corners. The happenings in these shadowy places remain unknown, gradually becoming secrets. The Dark Arts are one such secret.

A faint smirk touched Wizard Reed’s lips. He had been prepared for a long time; the spells he had released were merely diversionary tactics.

Chaos was what Wizard Reed pursued. In chaos, he could easily achieve his goals. In chaos, he could effortlessly make others follow his lead. In chaos, he could simply control certain people.

The Alchemy Workshop was a prime example. They were being led in circles by Wizard Reed, yet these arrogant Alchemists believed they were achieving their objectives.

To create this chaotic scenario, Wizard Reed had also made corresponding sacrifices. Any spell is actualized through Equivalent Exchange, and the Dark Arts are no exception. Those amateur Wizards, knowing only the surface, merely bartered the most primitive things for a shortcut. They were still far too removed from the true Dark Arts, not even having reached the threshold of understanding.

To achieve this chaotic state, Wizard Reed had first sacrificed his two Soul Puppets. These were the product of his painstaking effort over many years, crafted with considerable energy. He abandoned them at Dawn Peak, a sacrifice that allowed him to achieve his initial objective. Now, he was also abandoning his Magic Staff. This was an Obsidian Staff, one he had acquired through an exchange with the legendary Great Mentor Guzan. This Magic Staff was also a cherished treasure, yet he now had to forsake it here at Grey Eagle Peak.

There are always gains from losses. Only by sacrificing these items could he create the chaotic situation he desired. Only by doing so could he divert everyone’s attention. Only by abandoning these things could he stealthily reach Twin Peaks.

Wizard Reed could easily sense the threats his shell faced. The three ’monsters’ of Guru Mountain indeed possessed considerable combat experience. The glory Fighters of the Empire were truly not as simple as the rumors suggested. Wizard Reed himself knew the true level of the contagious disease spell; in his mind, anyone capable of detecting such a spell was already worthy of being called powerful.

Even so, their efforts were futile. They could not keep up with his rhythm because he had no rhythm. Chaos—where could rhythm possibly exist in that?

Wizard Reed’s arrogance continued to swell. He would make these self-proclaimed superiors understand what true Dark Arts entailed. He would also show those self-righteous, damnable Scholars what kind of power was truly worth researching.