One-Eyed Monster

”What?”

This phrase from the Spirit Book caused an uproar in the entire venue. Both Igor and the monsters of Guru Mountain were surprised by this statement.

”Unable to advance to White Robe, what does that mean?” Yuga was the first to ask. Having served as a sage in the Wizard Alliance, he was familiar with the Wizard Robe System, but he had never heard of a Black Robe being unable to progress to White Robe after advancing to Gray Robe.

”It means there’s no way to develop further from this point; it’s the limit! It suggests that her battle attributes are not strong, and there is no more room for development.”

”How is that possible? Even if the Wizard Robe System exclusively selects for battle attributes, this shouldn’t happen, because those without advancement qualifications are eliminated at the Black Robe stage,” Yuga clearly disagreed with the Spirit Book’s statement.

”As far as I know, such a situation hasn’t occurred within the Wizard Robe System,” Simon said. Although not a member of the Wizard Alliance, as a member of the opposing Alchemy Workshop, he was quite familiar with the Wizard Robe System’s issues.

There has always been a saying in the Wizard Alliance: Black Robe is the starting point, Gray Robe is stable, White Robe is rare, and Sacred Robe concludes. This phrase clearly indicates that in the realm of wizards, wearing a Black Robe generally signifies entering the door of wizardry, reaching Gray Robe means having a foothold to develop in this domain, White Robe is for the few brave souls, and at the Sacred Robe stage, the wizard’s path is considered to have reached a key juncture.

This mantra outlines the standards of the Wizard Robe System, which had not seen any errors for many years, hence Yuga’s disbelief in the Spirit Book’s narrative.

However, everyone knows that the Spirit Book does not lie.

Therefore, accepting this statement is difficult for them now.

”This is impossible; there must be a mistake somewhere.” Yuga still refused to believe the Spirit Book’s words.

Some truths are always hard to accept and require a process.

Facing Yuga’s doubts, the Spirit Book remained unhurried. It’s a Spirit Book — a book cannot lie. The memories it uncovers are not falsehoods, hence it felt no need to argue about this matter.

It was not expressing a point of view but narrating a fact, so it felt no need to debate.

Once their shock subsides, these people will naturally ask it questions, so there was no rush; all it had to do was wait patiently.

The Spirit Book was confident in the current situation — confidence accumulated gradually. If it hadn’t successfully pieced together those fragmented memories earlier, it wouldn’t be so assured.

Lord Soron, after all, was a participant in establishing the Wizard Robe System. His staunch opposition was because of his involvement in its formulation. Without a certain degree of practical experience, where would the right to speak come from? Such opposition becomes quite weak and feeble.

The Spirit Book derived this notion from Lord Soron’s memories, which is why it spoke the way it did.

The monsters were shocked for quite some time, believing it impossible for the Wizard Robe System to encounter such a situation. Such an occurrence would amount to the system contradicting itself. Wearing the Black Robe suggests having potential in wizardry, even though now they understand this potential is narrowly singular. The issue is, once potential is confirmed, how could they later claim the person lacks it? This is laughably absurd, akin to being played for fools.

Of course, their personal sentiments were of little consequence since they don’t consider this truth. Thus, they refuse to acknowledge the fact.

However, as adults, they can’t completely behave like willful children. Even if they don’t acknowledge the fact, they must at least debate it with those who present it.

Yet arguing with a Spirit Book? That was something they couldn’t bring themselves to do.

Consequently, silence once again dominated the atmosphere.

Observing the situation, the Spirit Book knew its moment had arrived — precisely what it had been waiting for: widespread silence allowing for its monologue.

Thus, its monologue time came to be.

”I know you are reluctant to believe this, but facts are facts; they can’t be changed. When Lord Soron discovered this rare case back in the day, others were also shocked, but Lord Ennis maintained a great deal of composure and calm.”

The crowd became intrigued. They were interested in these standards and even more interested in understanding the process.

”It’s a matter of probability. Some individuals are highly talented, yet some aren’t. In some cases, a person’s battle attributes may be overly developed, but internally they don’t favor such attributes. Such situations can only arise in environments of extreme freedom.”

Everyone glanced at the Great Witch Biggs, who, although wearing the Wizard Alliance’s robe, had evidently been away from the Alliance for a considerable time.

This time could be considered very free and lax.

”You mean this occurrence’s likelihood is suppressed by the Wizard Alliance’s centralized management?”

”That’s not my claim; it’s Lord Soron’s conclusion, which is why he argued that this system suppresses others’ freedoms.”

”An infrequent occurrence, something acceptable, but why say it can’t advance to White Robe?” The Great Mentor queried, showing interest in the matter.

”Because whether it’s the White Robe or the Sacred Robe, they all manifest battle attributes. Failure to advance to White Robe indicates that the Wizard has reached their limit in this regard.”

”So she’s the one to be eliminated?”

”Correct, according to the Wizard Robe System, she should be eliminated, except this elimination occurred at the second stage.”

”This, this is impossible; it doesn’t make sense!” Yuga still couldn’t believe it, as he thought the Spirit Book’s reasons were insufficient.

”You’ve already acknowledged why this hasn’t happened in the Wizard Alliance — didn’t you just say that the Alliance’s centralized management constrains this probability?”

”There’s no causal link here...”

”The Wizard Alliance requires Battle Wizards, hence all developments lean towards combat. If a Black Robe progresses to Gray Robe, then for a long period, wouldn’t they be subjected to the Alliance’s system training? This training eliminates the occurrence of such probabilities.”

The Spirit Book continued recounting fragments of information it knew — insights that Lord Soron and Ennis summarized from many failed experiences, all concealed to spare future generations from undue worry.