One-Eyed Monster

A satisfied smile appeared on Wizard Reed’s face. He had been waiting for this day for a long time, waiting for that moment when this group of self-righteous people, upon defeating him, would suddenly discover something entirely unexpected.

Wizard Reed longed to personally witness their expressions at that very moment. When these self-absorbed, haughty individuals, who deem themselves so powerful, finally realize the truth, will their faces show shock, bewilderment, or perhaps a dazed confusion?

Perhaps their faces would display a myriad of complex emotions, he mused. A satisfying image formed in Wizard Reed’s mind. Everything I’ve done, it’s all been to see those expressions. My ultimate goal might seem ambitious, profound even, but at its core, it’s a simple desire: to laugh in the faces of those who once ridiculed me.

Wizard Reed never forgot the past. It was the past that had led him step by step into darkness. He was thankful for those experiences; they had brought him shame and despair, but also direction and enlightenment. I finally understand what I am, he thought. Not a sycophantic servant, nor an arrogant powerhouse. I am an outcast, rejected by everyone. Only darkness has welcomed me.

And why was that? Was it simply because my thoughts differed from others? Because I sympathized with the vanquished while they lauded the victors? Because I always felt compassion for those who failed?

In those bygone days, Wizard Reed hadn’t been a standout. He was always the solitary figure standing behind the crowd, never understanding why people ridiculed his views.

Every hero’s tale brought boundless joy to the children, who would endlessly discuss topics revolving around these champions. Yet, every discussion either praised the heroes for their intelligence and fearlessness or condemned their opponents for their incompetence and stupidity. At that time, Reed, still possessing an innocent heart, perceived things differently. While he, too, enjoyed tales of heroes and admired them, he also felt their adversaries warranted attention.

Wizard Reed had always pitied the heroes’ opponents.

These characters, existing merely to accentuate the heroes, were often casually forgotten or spurned. But who ever considered that before being vanquished by the heroes, they too had endured all sorts of hardships and trials? Because of the paths they chose, they were relegated to supporting roles, often not even leaving a name behind. This world supposedly followed the principle of Equivalent Exchange, but it wasn’t always fair or just. From a young age, Wizard Reed had been ridiculed for his viewpoint. He could never comprehend what was so wrong with his interests or why everyone mocked him. Even the Scholars and his tutors chided him, warning him against twisting his values. Wizard Reed had been utterly shocked back then, unable to fathom why his perspective was labeled a ’distorted value system.’ Just because I paid attention to what others overlooked, they called my values warped! Those self-important fools truly had no regard for anyone else’s feelings!

At that time, a seed of an idea had begun to sprout in Wizard Reed’s heart. He had realized early on that the prevailing narrative in this world was dictated by the majority. Whatever the majority chose was deemed correct. Those in the minority, unless they possessed absolute power, could scarcely hold their ground.

Thus, Wizard Reed embarked on a long journey to seek power. He wanted to prove to this majority that his choices weren’t a distortion of values; he was merely considering things from multiple angles. He didn’t scorn heroes and praise their opponents; he simply observed with greater care.

The pursuit of power inevitably involved seeking shortcuts, and such shortcuts were found only within the Dark Arts.

Embarking on this path, Wizard Reed no longer cared for the ridicule and scorn of others. He resolved not to reveal himself publicly until he had achieved the strength he envisioned.

However, things didn’t unfold as Wizard Reed had imagined. His strength did indeed surpass others, but this only instilled fear in most, causing them to keep their distance. No one was willing to accept such a formidable individual.

Wizard Reed didn’t feel that his newfound strength had granted him any more say. He was still discriminated against, still ostracized by everyone, still standing alone in a corner.

It was a sorrowful tale. Wizard Reed’s hard-won efforts were rejected by the majority. This plunged him into despair, but in that despair, he also saw his true self.

Those arrogant figures, those self-righteous powerhouses, those Scholars who lectured with their hands behind their backs, those who hid behind the mask of the majority… these were the people who monopolized the world’s narrative, controlling the fates of the few.

He, Wizard Reed, was truly one of the few, walking a solitary path of exploration.

Unless I subvert the existing order, I will forever be spurned. This was Wizard Reed’s most profound realization. As he delved into the ocean of darkness, he had uncovered secrets far more numerous than the spells he had mastered.

The greatest secret he had discovered was the Dark Arts. What those in power, the majority, the ones controlling the world, considered Dark Arts was merely a light shower. Even the Dark Arts documented in the books of Scholars were but a fraction of the truth.

What constituted true Dark Arts was perhaps a subject of research for every Scholar on the Yowein Continent. This topic had arisen in an instant, yet the judgment of contemporary Scholars paled in comparison to the foresight of their predecessors.

Wizard Reed understood that the Dark Arts hadn’t been thoroughly dissected by these great Scholars because they hadn’t yet posed a sufficient threat to the six mainstream professions.

No threat meant they didn’t affect the development of the six major professions, nor did they hinder these professions from continuing to dominate the world. Ultimately, it’s a matter of insufficient power, Wizard Reed concluded. If the Dark Arts could instantly annihilate those high and mighty figures, would those incompetents still control the narrative?

An individual’s strength, however great, is ultimately limited. Even a very powerful person cannot single-handedly overturn a group of mediocre individuals. The collective strength of a group ensures the secure survival of even weaker factions.

To gain a voice in this world, I, Wizard Reed, must expand my solitary power even further.

Therefore, Wizard Reed chose the Black Crow, the technique hidden within Guru Mountain. Only in this way could their Dark Force gradually build, and once amassed, challenge the entire world.

To see the expressions of despair on the faces of those high and mighty, he chose subversion.

This was a plan for vengeance. When hatred is magnified infinitely, its target also expands. Now, he aimed to subvert not just those who had mocked him, but the entire world!

The corners of Wizard Reed’s mouth curled slightly. Soon, he thought. When they believe they’ve defeated me, that’s when they’ll glimpse a fraction of the true Dark Arts.

And that glimpse will be an announcement to the entire world: Darkness is coming!