The nine-week summer holiday had been like gliding over ice and flames.
On one side, the Prisoners organization expanded and infiltrated methodically from the shadows.
On the other were endless magical training, power struggles,
and the inevitable backlash from the dark world.
With the strength and ruthless methods honed in the training space, Skofot suppressed several internal rebellions and eliminated several outside forces that had tried to investigate the master behind the Prisoners.
The entire process brought him a steady income of Emotion Points, mainly from his subordinates' awe, his enemies' fear, and the intense emotional fluctuations of those purged in their despair.
[Emotion Points +432] (from various emotions generated by Prisoners members and enemies during the summer holiday) [Total Emotion Points: 2332/100]
His power was growing, and his network was spreading, but danger followed like a shadow.
During a purge against a particularly stubborn hostile Dark Wizard family, he underestimated their resolve to make a final desperate counterattack.
At the final moment, the old wizard used his own life as the catalyst and forcibly cast several curses at once, including several Crucio! spells from different directions.
Although Skofot reacted quickly enough to raise a Shield Charm, one taunting Charm still pierced the edge of his defense and raked viciously across his body.
In an instant, the world vanished, leaving only unbearable agony that seeped into every pore and tore at his soul.
His nerves felt as though red-hot wires had been driven through them. Every inch of muscle convulsed and screamed.
His vision was filled with distorted crimson and flickering stars, while his ears rang with the horrifying sound of his own bones seeming to grind together.
He collapsed to the ground, his body curling and twitching beyond his control. Broken, rasping sounds came from