The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

The seawater was pulled together, forming a swirling vortex. Vast Water Elemental Particle Energy poured from the Witchcraft Scroll and merged into it.

The twenty-meter area it enveloped was filled with pressure like the deep sea, not only crushing the body but also inflicting severe trauma on internal organs.

SSSS!

The seawater gradually transformed, becoming highly corrosive. The Jellyfish with Thousand Green Eyes thrashed in the waves, unable to withstand the environmental change.

The eyes floating on the surface squeezed shut, and the creature even began to let out pained shrieks.

Tentacle after tentacle stretched out from underwater, slapping the surface in an attempt to shatter the extremely hostile environment.

As time went on, the volume of corrosive liquid would steadily increase. Only when the Particle Energy in the area was completely exhausted would the high pressure and corrosive effect dissipate.

Wang Ya knew it was time to leave. Although this Witchcraft was powerful, it wasn’t enough to kill the Jellyfish with Thousand Green Eyes; it was more of a spell designed to restrain and trap enemies.

He slowly raised his right hand. A black shadow circled down, and Wang Ya grabbed Harak’s right leg, allowing himself to be effortlessly lifted away from the area.

Although he had lost a Middle-tier Witchcraft Scroll, Wang Ya had gained something more important: he had rediscovered his Wizard’s Heart.

’How many Wizards, upon gaining Power, had lost their way, only to meet a bleak end?’

Back on the Wizard Ship, Wang Ya’s thoughts became more rational. He strode quickly from the deck into the ship’s cabin.

He decided he could be bolder. He would no longer participate in the Sea Beast hunts; Harak’s hunting was more than enough to cover his daily needs.

’There was no question of being exposed or not. Entering the Dark Wizard Academy and becoming an official Wizard Freshman required presenting the Extraordinary Cultivation Witchcraft as a credential anyway.’

The Wizard Ship was about to sail through the last few sea regions. The Wizard Continent was no longer far away.

In this final stretch of time, cultivating his Wizard Meditation Method and mastering Witchcraft Knowledge were more important than continuing to waste time on unnecessary Sea Beast hunts.

Every bit he could improve his foundational Power would make him that much more composed in dealing with the outside world.

His perspective had changed a great deal after the incident with the Jellyfish with Thousand Green Eyes.

No one could go through life without making mistakes, but one could correct them ahead of time and achieve a state of perfection without regret.

For the time being, Wang Ya would not study the Aquis Secret Record. The Inheritance Witch Book had to take priority.

He lacked fundamental Extraordinary Knowledge and was thus unsuited to study the Extraordinary Knowledge of War Body Wizards, a path he had never explored.

He was very clear on his choices and what he had to prioritize.

[Hint: Analyzing the third Rune of the Vast Sea Meditation Method. Estimated time: ten days.]

This was even more difficult than the second Wizard Rune.

In the days that followed, Wang Ya immersed himself completely in Wizard knowledge.

As for the food he needed for daily life, he left it to Harak to acquire.

His figure was no longer seen during the Sea Beast hunts, and he never even went to the automated restaurant again.

The Wizard Freshmen, of course, paid no attention to an outlier who kept to himself. The wizarding social events carried on as usual, full of clinking glasses, merriment, and cheer.

Anna, her fiery red hair like a blooming rose, confidently accepted their praise and flattery, but her expression showed little joy. It was placid.

Of course, Gray, the other freshman who had also chosen Extraordinary Cultivation Witchcraft, came knocking on Wang Ya’s door.

”I haven’t seen you in seven days! I was starting to think something had happened to you, like what happened with Arthur. You nearly scared me to death.”

When he saw Wang Ya open the door, well-dressed and in excellent spirits, he still couldn’t stop his rambling.

Suddenly, his tone became a shriek. ”No way, Wang Ya! Your cultivated creature... it can actually hunt for its own food outside and even bring it back to you?”

Harak came flapping in through the window and tossed several plump, tender White-scaled Fish onto the floor.

Gray’s eyes widened as if he were seeing something unbelievable.

His own fat lizard, which he had to serve like a pampered ancestor, did nothing all day but lie lazily on the floor, wait to be fed, and poop wherever it pleased... Gray’s expression instantly soured. ’Why is the difference so huge?’

Gray asked uncertainly, ”Has your Cultivation Witchcraft already reached fifty percent completion?”

The mottled black sheen of Harak’s feathers could create an Invisibility effect, blocking the perception of Low-tier Wizards.

Before Wang Ya could answer, Gray went on, ”My Kebik’s Cultivation Witchcraft is only about a third complete. Your Harak’s size and appearance haven’t changed much, so I can’t tell for sure, but it feels a lot smarter.”

”That does it. I’m going to train Kebik properly and make it go catch fish for me.”

The little episode didn’t disturb Wang Ya for long. He closed the door, his expression turning thoughtful.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Gray, the only person on the ship he might call a friend, wasn’t as simple as he appeared.

A faint, fragmented blue light flickered in his pupils.

’His Particle Energy and Physical Strength have grown a bit too fast. It doesn’t align with the rate of progress for his level of Wizard Qualification.’

He shook his head, clearing his mind of such thoughts. ’It has nothing to do with me. Everyone has their own opportunities.’

The most important thing at hand was still mastering his final Witchcraft, Crimson Heat.

Once he finished meditating on and outlining the third Wizard Rune, his Particle Energy would be high enough to cast two Witchcraft spells, which would be a major boost to his Power.

The former represented the completion of the first part of his Inheritance Witchcraft, which would allow him to unlock the subsequent Advanced portion of the Witchcraft Knowledge.

「One month later.」

Amidst a low rumble, the Wizard Ship gradually came to a stop.

The Wizard Freshmen emerged from their cabins and gathered on the deck, staring in shock at the vast, boundless Wizard Continent in the distance. Their faces were filled with excitement and fervor.

Wang Ya gazed out at the Wizard Continent through his room’s window, his eyes filled with anticipation.

The Wizard Continent. They had arrived!