The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

Towers soared up from the ground, one after another, emitting astonishing fluctuations of Particle Energy. Traces of Witch Array Refining permeated the surrounding void, and any who dared to trespass would suffer a fatal attack.

The towers were separated by immense distances, and their surroundings included every imaginable terrain: mountains, dense forests, deserts, and swamps. Each area had been developed using corresponding Wizardry Means, transforming them into resource lands.

These were the Wizard Towers. The immense territory of the Dark Land Headquarters was defined by the area connecting the locations of each tower. Only an Official Wizard could possess a Wizard Tower, and they were the Decision Makers of the Dark Land.

Standing sentinel over the center, in the heart of the Core Area, was a magnificent, dark-colored tower, a full third larger and taller than any of the others.

A pure white tower stood amidst an utterly Desolate landscape. The surrounding mountain vegetation had lost all its green, leaving only withered yellow husks. The trees, and even the ground itself, were strewn with the grim skeletons of countless creatures.

Two figures in Wizard Robes walked along a path paved with crushed bones. The young, black-haired Wizard in the lead clearly held the dominant position.

”Chief Xugus, Wizard Yi Si has sent word back. The matter at Ancient Forest Mountain has been properly resolved... it’s just that he went a bit overboard. He wiped out both Wizard Clans. Not a single person was left alive,” said the Wizard trailing behind, a man of about fifty who looked prematurely old.

Xugus Wizard laughed heartily. ”Oh? So Yi Si is that impressive? To not even leave a single survivor... he’s quite the capable one, isn’t he?”

”Chief, certain people in the Dark Land are going to use this as a pretext to cause trouble. What’s more, those two Wizard Clans have members studying at the Wizard Academy. They’re going to lose their minds. If this blows up, Wizard Yi Si won’t have a leg to stand on,” Denno Wizard said, a helpless look on his face.

”Relax, relax, it’s not a big deal. In fact, I think Yi Si did a fine job. His Power has surely grown again, and he’s made our White Bone Lineage look formidable.” The smile never left Xugus Wizard’s face. ”If those guys want to lose their minds, then we’ll lose our minds right along with them. It’s been a while since I’ve stretched my legs on the Battlefield anyway.”

”Chief, the School Lineage and the Wizard Clans have only just reached a delicate Balance. The Master Wizards above us won’t want to see that broken.”

”Denno, why are you nagging like an old man? You’re going to talk my ear off. You should smile more.” Xugus Wizard flashed his perfectly white teeth in a brilliant grin. ”Balance isn’t so easily broken. The ones who should be scared are the Wizard Clans, not us.”

”Besides, he only wiped out two Wizard Clans from some backwater place. They have no real power in the Dark Land. At most, they have a few Apprentices at the Wizard Academy. What’s there to be afraid of?”

”And don’t give me any of that nonsense about ’shared hatred for a common enemy’ or ’thinking of danger in times of peace.’ Knowing those Wizard Clans, I’d be more inclined to believe they just want to settle a score and salvage their wounded pride.”

Xugus Wizard said with a broad grin, ”How much is pride even worth? Besides, it’s not like any of the powerful Wizard Clans were the ones who got wiped out. As for the so-called Three Great Wizard Clans of Ancient Forest, believe me, the Antuun Clan won’t even dare to make a peep.”

”I eagerly await the further amusement Yi Si will bring me.”

Denno Wizard’s face soured. ’The Chief is being too complacent. The Three Great Wizard Clans are an alliance. No matter what, the Antuun Clan will have to make some kind of move.’

”This is outrageous! Even if they broke the rules, it didn’t warrant wiping them out to the last man. We must issue a response. The reputation of all Wizard Clans is at stake!”

Wizards could use their Dark Wizard Marks to connect with one another, relying on the Dark Technology Core Hub to enter virtual spaces as consciousness projections. And it was in just such a mysterious, virtual conference room that a figure shrouded in darkness voiced a sharp, dissatisfied rebuke.

The seating was arranged in two tiers. The upper tier held only five seats, all currently unoccupied. The lower tier had many more, and nearly everyone invited was present to discuss the recent incident at Ancient Forest Mountain.

The room immediately erupted into a clamor as they argued, unable to settle on a course of action. The conference room grew increasingly cacophonous.

A deep, resonant voice impatiently cut through the noise. ”What’s the use of all this bickering? Every one of you talks a big game, but not one of you is willing to take the lead and demand an explanation. Since nobody wants to be the one to stick their neck out over this pointless mess, then let those directly involved plead their own case.”

The speaker, who remained shrouded in darkness, looked toward a seat marked with the emblem of a ferocious Sea Beast. ”Kaze Wizard, we’ll leave this matter to you, then. Any objections?”

The clamor died down at once, and all eyes turned to that figure.

”The Antuun Clan will take responsibility for this. As a member of the Wizard Clans, we strongly condemn such heinous acts from the School Lineage,” Kaze Antuun declared without hesitation, though he was cursing inwardly.

’Although the Antuun Clan had seized an opportunity, they were still far weaker than these long-established Wizard Clans. Sometimes, when a job lands in your lap, you just have to hold your nose and get it done.’

’And they had to make their position clear—to send a warning to the School Lineage. If the other side pushed things further, well, they would just issue another warning.’

Kaze Antuun’s thoughts turned to the few surviving Wizards from the Bailin and Purple Gold Flower Clans still in the Dark Land. ’It was only right and proper for the victims to speak for themselves.’

’And if it caused some trouble for the Wizards of the White Bone Lineage, so much the better.’

”Excellent. Then the matter is in Kaze Wizard’s hands.”

The other figures chimed in with praise and affirmation. After offering a few pleasantries, they logged off at light speed, their consciousness projections vanishing on the spot.

Kaze Antuun was the last to leave. He couldn’t help but spit. ’A pack of sly old bastards.’

........

On a sweltering beach, waves lapped against the shore.

A flock of stunningly beautiful women in bikinis, their hands glistening with sunscreen, approached Wang Ya step by step. They wore seductive smiles, and their eyes, which looked as if they could devour a man whole, were fixed directly on him.

Wang Ya remained expressionless. ’After consuming the Nightmare Flower, one is supposed to experience their deepest fears. Is a dream like this really my greatest fear? Can this even be called a trial of Spirit worthy of the name Nightmare?’

The next moment, the scene before him transformed into a boundless, pitch-black sea. It heaved and churned, raising monstrous waves as a fierce gale raged. It was the exact, cataclysmic storm Wang Ya had witnessed and endured aboard the Wizard Ship.

His face grew pale. An indescribable and terrifying pressure washed over him, making him feel utterly powerless, and he subconsciously squeezed his eyes shut.

The early morning sun tried to squeeze through a narrow crack in the window. The black-haired youth with the tear mole yanked the curtains open, leaned against the windowsill, and gasped for air, alleviating the dizzying, nauseous State.

Then, a smile spread across his fair cheeks.

’The Nightmare Flower! The test of will was a success!’

’He had paid the price for increasing his Spiritual Power.’