The Splendor of Netheril

The protagonist is a pure mage: cold-blooded, cautious, and ruthless. There is no female lead throughout the story, no 'playing the pig to eat the tiger' tropes, and no sudden power-ups at the brink of death. Instead, it's a steady progression. There are no powerful enemies everywhere; the protagonist is always someone else's powerful enemy. His entire focus is on advancing towards the splendor of Netheril. Welcome to join the group: 548859662