The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

The Antuun Clan's estate was located on the outskirts of Black Grass Wizard City.

It was a massive manor, with so many buildings constructed nearby that it could almost be called a small town.

Locations within Black Grass Wizard City were not something they could lay claim to. That was the exclusive domain of the Ten Great Wizard Clans and was even connected to the School Lineage. The competition at the Dark Land Headquarters extended to the outer Wizard Cities, where important positions and high-stakes interests were never relinquished.

Of course, when it came to Extraordinary Shops, it was the members of the Wizard Clans who opened more of them and found greater success.

The School Lineage actually didn't have that many Wizard members.

While there were many Wizards in the Schools, the chances of becoming part of the more central Inheritance Lineage were extremely slim.

Many Wizard members from the Extraordinary Schools often moved between both sides; it wasn't a restricted practice.

"There are only a few months left until the Secret Realm competition. I will be your Teaching Wizard, helping you with special training in all areas and answering any difficult questions you have about Wizard knowledge."

On the manor's massive square, Hades spoke in a serious tone. Standing before him were figures clad in Wizard Robes—both men and women. They were all Wizard Freshmen from the latest batch.

The clan's internal resources could never be distributed with perfect fairness. A person's Wizard Qualification and their Wizard's Heart also had to be considered.

Zack was not among them. His Power was on another level entirely, and he didn't need Hades's instruction. Even Hades himself was already inferior to Zack in some respects.

'Perhaps, after a little more time, Zack will even advance to a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice and be on the same level as me.'

Hades's eyes held a hint of pity for the Wizard Freshmen on the square. In this Secret Realm competition, they were destined to be mere foils, serving only to accentuate the brilliance of a dozen or so individuals.

The same thing was happening in the other Wizard Clans. The freshmen of commoner origin had it even worse.

Hades recalled the past. 'Weren't the Wizard Freshmen of my own batch the same? We could only chase the shadows of those figures, never able to catch up.'

"Alright, quiet down." Hades's stern tone silenced the discussions in the square. His lips moved. "Now, I'll answer your questions. If you have something to ask, raise your hand."

In the crowd, Mona couldn't resist raising her hand.

She was a Wizard descendant from the Ancient Forest Mountain branch who also worked part-time in his shop.

A smile appeared on Hades's face. 'She's a promising talent. Perhaps she'll be able to shine in the Secret Realm competition.'

He began to answer the question raised by Mona Antuun.

In another hidden clearing within the manor, the surroundings were enveloped and sealed off by a Witch Array, preventing any possibility of being spied upon.

An Energy Flame appeared in Zack Antuun's right hand, continuously converging inward. If Wang Ya had been there, he would have recognized it as the Fear-Burning Fire Witchcraft.

The next moment, the Energy Flame burst upon a metal test dummy a short distance away. High heat and fiery light scattered, but the explosive sound it made caused Zack to frown.

Clearly, he was not satisfied with the Witchcraft.

Afterward, he cast Fire Elemental Particle Energy Witchcraft, Red Hot Witchcraft, and even Flame Demon Fear Witchcraft.

When he tried to cast Flame Demon Roar, he faltered, unable to complete it. Finally, he dispersed the fiery light and the fluctuations of Particle Energy around his body.

"Isar's Witchcraft... it's truly powerful!" Zack muttered to himself, his pupils reflecting the burning metal test dummy as he stared off into space.

Then, his expression hardened with resolve. "I am no one's substitute. Even without using Isar's Witchcraft, I can prove myself to Father."

CREAK!

A strange sound suddenly echoed in the clearing, like the creak of rubbing wood and turning joints... Zack slowly raised his right hand, his palm dense with fluctuations of Particle Energy. It possessed a quality entirely different from his previous Witchcraft—one that was cold and inert.

The elongated shadow at his feet began to twist and ripple. The next moment, it transformed into a three-dimensional form, actually standing up and appearing behind Zack.

The shadow gradually faded, revealing a wooden structure at its joints and neck. It was a wooden puppet, its face nearly identical to Zack's.

"Not even Father knows my secret," Zack said, a dark look in his eyes. "The power and strangeness of a Puppet Wizard are enough for me to secure a spot in the top three of the Secret Realm competition."

It was a Wizard inheritance passed down from ancient times, one he had found in the Black Sun Ruins. It was quite a coincidence; the clan had investigated the ruins many times and there shouldn't have been anything left to discover.

'Perhaps it was fate!'

* * *

In a part of the Primitive Forest where the foliage was sparse, Gray's pupils reflected the image of a pouncing Red Flame Giant Tiger. With its burning light and menacing fangs, it looked ready to tear him to shreds in the next moment.

"Get out of the way, Gray!" Mas yelled from behind. His Cross Longsword had already snapped, and the mass of thorn vines created by his Low-tier Witchcraft couldn't keep up with the Red Flame Giant Tiger's Speed.

ROAR!

Gray wiped the sweat from his forehead and glanced with lingering fear at the corpse of the Red Flame Giant Tiger beside him.