The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

The large red door swung gently shut, and the light in the room grew dimmer. Beneath his black hood, the Tuta Wizard’s gaze was profound.

’A contingency plan, and I don’t even know if it will work.’

’As an investment, he could afford a Wizard’s rare brand of generosity, but he couldn’t be certain it would yield a return.’

’Perhaps he chose the boy because his disposition was that of a true Wizard.’

His aged body and fading Vitality wouldn’t last much longer. He couldn’t risk using radiation to affect himself, so this was better than nothing.

’He could gain a long life by abandoning this physical shell, but he could not accept a severed Wizard Path.’

”An Official Wizard...”

A sigh echoed through the room.

’Five years left. That’s all.’

He slipped off his black robe, revealing a gaunt body. Old, wrinkled skin clung to his bones. His heart beat faintly, and his breathing was nearly nonexistent.

Yet, a powerful aura erupted from him, filling the entire room and extinguishing the candles one by one.

The terrifying Sea Beasts lurking around the Wizard Ship scattered as if frightened, plunging deep into the sea to hide.

Terrifying Particle Energy coursed through his ancient body. The release of even a sliver of it would be enough to kill every new apprentice on the Wizard Ship with high-energy radiation.

[High-energy reaction detected. Extreme danger. Evacuate a one-kilometer radius immediately.]

The figure walking down the corridor, hands clutching the wooden box, froze. His forehead beaded with cold sweat as he glanced back in horror at the red wooden door at the end of the red-carpeted hall.

Harak was flapping its wings and making a mess of the room. Its piercing cries made Wang Ya frown; he would have to act as its keeper and clean up the droppings it had left on the floor.

The feelings transmitted through the Consciousness Seed were of endless terror and unease.

The high-energy radiation wave had a massive area of effect, and though it was contained, it was specifically targeting creatures like Harak.

Through the porthole, the sea was still a boundless, oppressive darkness.

Wang Ya’s pupils contracted. He had never paid close attention to the sea before, but this couldn’t be an illusion. In the darkness, far in the distance, colossal shapes seemed to be stirring.

「The next day.」

As Wang Ya was on deck dumping out some waste, he saw Gray struggling with a sack of his own, ”gifting” its contents to the vast sea.

”Your cultivated creature went on a rampage too?”

Gray touched the fresh bloody scratches on his cheek, grimacing from the stinging pain.

”This is so not normal. Kebik went crazy. It almost bit me to death.”

”My handsome face can’t take this kind of abuse! If Kebik bites me again, I’m biting it back!”

Wang Ya: ”...”

”Hey, Wang Ya, look! Arthur’s at it again. He’s trying to act all suave, chatting up Anna. It’s so cringey, it’s killing me.”

Gray rambled on from across the deck. ”He’s not even good-looking, and Anna is clearly trying to keep her distance and turn him down. I wonder if being shameless enhances your Wizard Qualification? Whoa, maybe I should give it a try...”

Her fiery red hair was as eye-catching as ever. Dressed in a gray robe, her fair, beautiful face was framed by it, and her crimson pupils held a hint of impatience.

”Anna, may I invite you to dinner tonight?”

”No, thank you, Arthur. I plan to study my Witchcraft tonight. I won’t even be going to the dining hall.”

Anna said, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead.

The Newborn Witchcraft she had chosen was one of the most difficult in the Elemental Energy Type. However, once mastered, it would be a powerful trump card.

The ”Fire Sun Star” Witchcraft was something that usually only a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice would attempt to master; it was far from being in the Low-tier Witchcraft category.

’She was confident. After all, she would still have six months after arriving at the academy.’

’Her talent was among the best of the new apprentices.’

Arthur said dismissively, ”Anna, those with top-tier Wizard Qualification are different from those low-tier new apprentices. No matter how hard they try or how desperately they study, they can never bridge the absolute chasm in Wizard Qualification.”

As if sensing something, Arthur glanced toward the two figures not far off on the deck.

Gray, who had been caught mid-rant, gave an awkward laugh.

Wang Ya gave them a cool glance before turning to head back to his cabin. He never concerned himself with things that had nothing to do with him.

”Wait for me, Wang Ya! I just remembered I haven’t fed Kebik today.”

Arthur’s face was full of scorn and contempt. ”See that, Anna? A typical low-tier apprentice. His Wizard Qualification is mediocre, and his choice of Witchcraft is utterly foolish.”

”Everyone else chose an Elemental Energy Type. They won’t even be qualified to join the Wizard exchange events.”

”Once we get to the Dark Wizard Academy, they’ll be expelled the moment the six months are up. They’ll become Wild Wizards and die in obscurity.”

”But you and I are different. With our top-tier Wizard Qualification, we’re destined to go far on the Wizard Path...”

”I’m aware of that, Arthur, but I really don’t have time today. I’m going back to my room to practice my Witchcraft Particle Energy calculations.”

Anna forced a smile. What he said was true, but she was well aware of his ulterior motives.

’Proud as she was, with her own impressive Wizard Qualification, any partner she chose would have to offer her some advantage, or possess even higher qualifications.’

’Arthur was merely a secondary option. She could just string him along for now.’

Arthur watched her graceful figure retreat, taking a deep breath. He imagined he could still catch a trace of her scent.

Her pale neck and proud bearing infatuated him. ’This beautiful white swan... I will make her mine.’

...

「Half a month passed.」

As dusk fell, Harak flapped its wings and flew in through the round porthole.

Wang Ya closed the window, shutting out the salty sea breeze.

A sense of unease creased Wang Ya’s brow. He stared out at the churning waves. In the distance, the sky had grown dark, like a scene from the apocalypse.

Ever since the strange fluctuation emitted by the Tuta Wizard that day, a vague sense of dread had lingered in his heart. Today, it felt worse than ever.

”GURGLE!”

Harak, who was eating a piece of Sea Beast Flesh, let out a strange cry and its body began to tremble.

Wang Ya noticed this, and his eyes lit up. ’Could this be a sign that the Witchcraft is complete?’

The ”Iron Claw Steel Hide” Cultivation Witchcraft, as its name suggested, could bestow the cultivated creature with corresponding Traits.

Once the Cultivation was successful, Harak would advance to become an Extraordinary Life. Then, no matter how many mortals it faced—even a powerful Knight—it could kill them with ease.

Its black wings unfurled, reaching a span of five meters. Its sharp talons easily tore into the floorboards. Its pupils were blood-red, making it look like a Demon Crow from Hell.

A ferocious aura emanated from it, startling even Wang Ya. An ordinary creature or mortal would have been instantly paralyzed by its presence.

A faint blue light swirled in Wang Ya’s pupils as he observed with the Eye of Truth.

A wide, excited smile spread across Wang Ya’s face. ’The ”Iron Claw Steel Hide” Cultivation Witchcraft... it’s finally complete!’

’He now held the ticket to enter the Dark Wizard Academy.’

’This was the first step toward the vastness of truth.’

[Target: Harak]

[Race: Black-Feathered Crow]

...