Death and Relics

The sword pierced the writhing mass of flesh with precision. Darund's body jolted violently, and he let out a pained howl.

But Ron showed no intention of stopping. He gritted his teeth, drove the sword deeper with all his strength, and twisted it repeatedly, tearing open the wound.

Fatal Strike! Basic Swordsmanship EXP +5

Blood and brain matter burst from the wound, splattering all over him.

At last, the Giant Brain Monster collapsed to the ground with a heavy crash and stopped moving.

Ron stared fixedly at the twisted creature before him until he was certain it made no further movement.

The glow on that malformed brain had completely faded, leaving behind nothing but a dull, lifeless mass of tissue.

Ron stood where he was, gasping for breath, covered in mutated blood and bodily fluids.

He could scarcely believe what he had just done—he had killed a fellow Candidate Apprentice, a neighbor he had lived beside for months.

But the instinct to survive quickly forced him to calm down again.

In the Black Mist Forest, such things were perfectly normal.

The strong preyed on the weak. That was the only law here, and all he had done was follow it.

"I'm sorry, Darund," Ron said softly, an exceedingly complicated emotion flashing through his eyes. "But I'm the one who has to survive."

With the battle over, he carefully approached Darund's corpse, hoping to find something useful.

Amid the twisted pile of flesh, a small notebook had miraculously remained intact. Perhaps even after completely losing his mind, Darund had instinctively protected the fruits of his research.

When Ron opened the notebook, he found it densely packed with Darund's research notes on Sonic Spells.

There were many messy sketches and conceptions inside. Most were difficult to understand, but several pages were quite clear—a rudimentary, simplified Sonic Spell that Darund had refined to the point of practical use.

"So this was what he was desperately trying to complete..." Ron murmured, carefully putting the notebook away.

These materials were undoubtedly valuable, not merely for their academic worth, but because they might help Ron pass the upcoming assessment.

Special Skill Unlocked: Sonic Oscillation (Prototype)

Description: This is a spell conception that has not yet fully matured, but it already possesses basic practical value.

Effect: Generates offensive sound waves that deal both physical and mental damage to the target.

Just as he was about to inspect Darund's belongings further, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps approaching from afar.

The School's enforcement personnel had clearly noticed the disturbance and were coming to deal with it.

Ron quickly composed himself, making sure he looked like a victim acting in self-defense rather than the aggressor.

Although the strong preyed on the weak in the Black Mist Forest, the School still had rules for maintaining basic order.

Before long, a squad of enforcement personnel appeared at the end of the corridor.

Leading them was a tall man wearing the badge of a High-level Apprentice on his chest.

He pulled back his hood, revealing a slightly pale, gaunt face. His expression was cold as his sharp eyes swept over every detail of the scene.

When Ron saw the lead apprentice's face, it seemed somewhat familiar.

Only when the strong herbal scent drifting from the man reached his nose did he suddenly remember. Wasn't this the High-level Apprentice who had bought so much Stardust Herb from the Herb Shop a few days ago—Holt?

"What happened?"

Upon seeing Ron, Holt's gaze also flickered slightly, but there was not the slightest hint of personal emotion in his question.

Ron took a deep breath. Understanding the situation, he gave no sign that they knew each other and simply recounted what had happened, emphasizing Darund's aberration and his initiative in attacking.

"He used some kind of prohibited potion, which caused his brain to mutate. Then he attacked me. I had no choice but to defend myself."

Ron spoke softly, his expression showing a trace of shock and grief while maintaining suitable composure.

Holt listened expressionlessly, then walked over to Darund's body and crouched down for a careful examination.

He took a small vial from his waist and collected some of the fluid that had flowed from Darund's brain.

"A typical Catalyst Aberration." He stood and said to the other enforcement personnel, "There have been more and more cases like this lately."

He turned to Ron. "According to the rules, I need to test your mental power and confirm that you have not been contaminated."

Ron nodded and obediently accepted the examination.

Holt placed a small crystal against Ron's forehead. It initially emitted a faint blue glow, then gradually turned green before returning to normal.

"Very good. No signs of aberration." He withdrew the crystal. "Your mental power fluctuations are stable. Your defenses were appropriate."

Holt's gaze fell on the sword in Ron's hand, and he raised an eyebrow slightly. "You killed an Aberrant with a wooden sword. Your swordsmanship seems quite good."

"I was just lucky," Ron answered modestly, unwilling to draw too much attention.

Holt seemed to see through his thoughts, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Being cautious is a good thing. But there is something you may not know—the School has always encouraged apprentices to defend themselves when they encounter danger."

He gestured for the other enforcement personnel to deal with Darund's corpse, then stepped aside and spoke quietly to Ron.

"Research into Sonic Spells has always been one of the School's heavily rewarded fields. If you found any valuable information among Darund's belongings, I suggest you make good use of it."

Ron's heart tightened. He was unsure whether this High-level Apprentice was hinting at something or testing him.

But regardless, Holt had clearly noticed the notebook in his hand.

"Thank you for the reminder, sir. I'll consider it carefully," Ron replied cautiously in the same low voice.

At that moment, Ron suddenly understood what Andre had said before.

Those in positions of power held the authority of life and death, but they often gave appropriate guidance and assistance to apprentices with potential rather than casually suppressing them.

Holt's private advice was undoubtedly a recognition of Ron's potential.

So understanding the School's rules and showing enough potential might be the key to surviving here? Ron thought.

"You're a smart person. It seems I needn't say any more."

Holt nodded, his tone carrying a hint of scrutiny and reassessment.

"The incident report will be placed on record, but given that this was self-defense, it will have no negative effect on you. The assessment is approaching. I hope you prepare well."

With that, he led the Enforcement Squad away without any hesitation, leaving Ron alone in the bloodstained corridor.

Ron took a deep breath and returned to his room.

He needed time to sort through his thoughts and process everything that had just happened.

Today's experience had once again made him deeply aware of the cruel reality of the Black Mist Forest.

Here, everyone struggled to survive and went mad in pursuit of power.

Locke, Emily, Darund... and countless bones he could not see were the best proof of this twisted reality.

But no matter how dangerous the environment was, it was still one's own choices and strength that ultimately determined one's fate.

In a hidden room somewhere in the Black Mist Forest, an eerie blue glow illuminated several figures dressed in white robes.

The walls were covered in Crystal Balls of varying sizes, each displaying a different area within the School.

One of the Crystal Balls clearly showed the entire battle between Ron and Darund.

"Seventy-eight points."

A stern-faced wizard announced, holding a complex scoring device in his hand.

"This Candidate Apprentice performed quite well, especially when facing Sonic Spell attacks of that intensity."

"I give him seventy points." Another wizard, an elderly woman with white hair, spoke while her bright violet eyes remained fixed on the image.

"Although his swordsmanship and adaptability are commendable, his reaction was somewhat slow when he encountered the first wave of sonic attacks."

"I agree with Yuni."

The third wizard—a tall, middle-aged man—nodded. "But his final fatal strike was extremely precise and deserves extra points. For a Candidate Apprentice to remain calm under such circumstances is already quite rare."

"Then let's settle on seventy-five points." The elderly man presiding over the discussion finalized the score.

"Record his name. Ron Ralph can be considered for placement on next year's key Observation List."

An apprentice on duty standing in the corner quickly recorded the decision.

At that moment, Holt had already arrived at the scene with the Enforcement Squad and was examining Ron.

"Interesting. He should be that newly recruited assistant under Allen. I seem to have some impression of him."

Wizard Yuni raised an eyebrow. "It seems Old Allen's eye is as accurate as ever."

In the Crystal Ball, Holt had already left with the Enforcement Squad and Darund's corpse, leaving Ron alone in the bloodstained corridor.

"He looks to be in terrible condition," the stern-faced middle-aged wizard commented. "The internal injuries caused by those sonic attacks should not be underestimated. I'm curious whether he can make it through the night."

"He'll be fine," the elderly man presiding over the discussion said lightly. "He carries the aura of Sunlight. His self-healing ability should be fairly strong."

"Sunlight?" The word caught the other wizards' attention. "You've already confirmed it?"

The old man nodded. "Though it is very faint, it does indeed exist. That is also why I am interested in him."

"Then he is even more worth observing," Yuni said thoughtfully.

"In recent years, apprentices with Elemental Affinity have become increasingly rare. If he truly possesses Sunlight aptitude, cultivating him may bring considerable 'Grace.'"

Upon hearing the word "Grace," every wizard's expression became subtle.

"Speaking of 'Grace.'" The middle-aged wizard suddenly changed the subject and began flattering the elderly man presiding over the discussion.

"Vice Dean, you seem to be growing younger and younger lately. It must be because you cultivated Wizard Corinna decades ago and gained quite generous 'Grace' from her."

"That is why we must keep discovering seeds in the surrounding mortal Kingdoms..."

The old man addressed as Vice Dean spoke softly. "A student who successfully advances to become a Formal Wizard can extend their mentor's life by at least fifty years. I think that Trish Corinna found recently has considerable potential."

"Of course, it is our necessary responsibility as mentors within the School." Hearing this, everyone echoed their agreement, while someone quietly remarked from the side.

"Without the 'Grace' gained from cultivating students, old fellows like us would have long since been devoured by Contamination."

"That is also why we need an environment like this." The Vice Dean spoke in a solemn tone.

"Moderate danger and competition allow apprentices with genuine potential to stand out. Like Oliver several years ago, whose mental power aptitude was inherently poor, yet in such a life-or-death environment, he awakened an astonishing Special Talent."

"Exactly." Yuni agreed. "A greenhouse cannot produce true powerhouses. Only genuine trials of life and death can awaken an apprentice's greatest potential."

"Those children who take prohibited drugs are also part of this system."

The middle-aged wizard added calmly, "Their failures and deaths are precisely the nourishment for other apprentices' growth. Survival of the fittest is an eternal law."

The Vice Dean rose to his feet, ending the evaluation.

"Continue observing the candidates on the list. Also, have those 'Black Vipers' slow down their activities for the next few days. The number of Aberrants has recently exceeded our plans."

"Yes, sir," the recorder beside him answered respectfully.

Yuni shook her head and chuckled. "The apprentices would never imagine that the black-market organization they regard as dangerous is actually a tool under our control."

"It is merely a necessary evil," the Vice Dean said calmly.

"Some apprentices will indeed die because of it, but more will become stronger. Just as we experienced back then, the superior survive while the inferior are eliminated."

"Enough, meeting adjourned." He waved a hand. "Has the next batch of Mental Catalyst arrived?"

"It has already been prepared, Vice Dean," the recorder replied. "However, according to your instructions, the formula has been adjusted. The probability of Aberration in this batch should drop to below half."

"Very good." The old man nodded. "As always, we need competition, but it cannot be too intense. Too much is as bad as too little. True geniuses are rare, after all."

As the wizards departed, the image within the monitoring Crystal Ball gradually dimmed.