The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

’Right now, our actions in the Secret Realm are probably being watched by many Wizards.’

’There are other threats I have to consider. The rules don’t forbid the Wizard Freshmen from teaming up.’

’What if several Wizard Freshmen join forces to hunt the others and take their Dark Badges...’

Wang Ya’s eyes glinted. ’No matter what, it’s better to be prepared. Better safe than sorry.’

’The Wizard Mark can sense Dark Badges within a hundred-meter range.’

Wang Ya didn’t know how big the Erosion Forest was. All he knew was that the Secret Realm was divided into zones: the Swamp Zone, the Dense Forest Zone, and the Disorder Zone.

’My current location should be the Dense Forest Zone. The environment here is relatively safe, with the only threats being things like Yin Souls and Soul-Devouring Snakes.’

’The Swamp Zone would be much more trouble. Who knows how many dangers lurk beneath the water? There might even be massive Extraordinary Creatures.’

.....

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

The urgent beeping was accompanied by the flashing of small red lights as a swarm of flying mechanical constructs emerged from the dark woods. They vibrated their artificial cicada-like wings at an ultra-high frequency, allowing them to move at high speeds within a small area.

These things were exceptionally intricate; one could even appreciate a unique mechanical aesthetic from their precise, interlocking seams.

Energy coursed through even finer conductive lines, converging at the front of the constructs in small, eye-like muzzles. A terrifying aura began to rise from them.

The next moment, scarlet energy beams shot out. Guided by a locking system, they formed a concentrated barrage, riddling the nearby Yin Wood trees and Soul-Devouring Snakes with holes. The assault lasted for a full ten seconds.

A scorching heat hung in the air, and just like that, a completely safe, open area was formed.

A figure in a gray Wizard Robe walked out, a number of flying mechanical constructs still hovering by his side.

However, unlike the constructs that had fired the scarlet beams, these ones emitted a blue energy glow. They also lacked the eye-like muzzles, instead sporting various octopus-like mechanical tentacles that seemed to serve a different purpose.

Gurest Mad carefully observed his surroundings. After giving a slight, confirmatory nod, he began using the Floating Assistants made with Mechanical Witchcraft—the tentacled floating machines—to build a temporary base for himself.

From the sleeve of his Wizard Robe, he pulled out a number of Extraordinary Metal Equipment Originals.

These Floating Assistants used their octopus-like tentacles to disassemble the metal equipment originals and began constructing a Combat Platform Base, a specialty of Mechanical Wizards.

The greatest difference between the Mechanical Wizard System and other Wizard Systems was its reliance on Mechanical Witchcraft to assemble corresponding mechanical constructs to aid in battle.

Of course, Gurest’s combat core wasn’t just his mechanical constructs; his real trump card was himself.

’I wonder where Aitri was teleported. I hope he’s in the same Secret Realm as me, otherwise things will get troublesome.’ Gurest had a long face and an aquiline nose, and his eyes held a mature look as he pondered their strategy.

’How to get more Dark Badges within the rules...’

’The original plan was to cooperate with my brother, Aitri. Two Mechanical Wizards who knew each other inside and out and could coordinate perfectly—a combination that would be far greater than the sum of its parts.’

’Then we would hunt the other Wizard Freshmen, take their Dark Badges, and secure two of the top three spots together.’

’It wasn’t an impossible goal. Their proprietary Mechanical Witchcraft—Floating Creatures—was extremely good at reconnaissance and could find other Wizards using thermal imaging.’

’In terms of combat, the two of them had once fought a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice from their family to a standstill.’

’Dealing with the other Wizard Freshmen would be a piece of cake.’

’Finding the Dark Badges, however, was much more troublesome. They were just special concentrations of information that could be sensed and absorbed by a Wizard Mark, but couldn’t be found by any other means.’

’Oh well. This Secret Realm is huge. The Dark Badges are probably hidden in some secret or dangerous places. I’ll find my brother first, then worry about the rest.’

’Even if I plan on hunting the other Wizard Freshmen, I need to let them search for a while first. They’re only worth hunting after they’ve collected a certain number of Dark Badges.’

Gurest took off his clothes and tore away the skin on his chest, revealing a mechanized internal structure. As a small hatch over his heart opened, a new type of Floating Creature flew out. As energy flowed through it, it vanished on the spot.

This was a Chameleon Float, used for stealthy reconnaissance. Even a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice would have a hard time discovering it without carefully scanning with their Spiritual Power.

’First, I’ll find the other Wizard Freshmen and mark them as targets.’

’If I can find Aitri, that would be for the best. If not, I’ll just have to act alone.’

’This Secret Realm is just too big. If Aitri were within a hundred thousand meters, we’d be able to sense each other through our mechanical cores.’

Gurest shook his head and detached his right wrist, revealing a structure resembling Mechanical Tentacles. The tips began to heat up, ready for the assembly and integration of mechanical constructs... he was continuing the work on his Combat Platform Base.

’A good Hunter needs to have enough patience to wait for the prey to fatten up.’

....

The calm ground was covered in black fallen leaves. Unlike ordinary trees, Yin Wood did not wither and turn yellow. As long as Particle Energy existed in the Secret Realm, it would remain unchanged.