Searching the Corpse for a Storage Wizard Artifact, Merely Making a Wedding Dress for Another

Splash!

The surging waves slapped against the hull, and the few droplets that splashed up turned into dazzling ripples beneath the sunlight.

The powerful inertia made the Wizard Freshmen instinctively grab onto whatever was nearby. Only after the tremor subsided did they slowly approach the section of sea beneath the deck.

With yesterday's experience, the Wizard Freshmen had adapted better. Once one side of the deck tilted into the water, they jumped in like dumplings plunging into a pot.

Wang Ya sensed that malicious gaze again, locked onto him.

A cold smile curled at his lips. Harak flapped his wings and soared high, gradually vanishing amid the sunlit glow. Then Wang Ya followed the slanted deck into the seawater.

Arthur had been waiting for this moment. He immediately followed, his gaze beneath the black cloak filled with ferocity and killing intent.

Swimming through the water was easy for Arthur. His eyes locked onto the figure ahead paddling across the sea, and cruelty surfaced on his face.

But he soon discovered that he was no match for the other man when it came to swimming.

Fortunately, Wang Ya's figure gradually slowed, as though he had spotted some Sea Beast.

The Wizard Ship behind them had nearly shrunk to a tiny dot.

They had truly gone quite far.

Arthur paid no attention to that. His eyes held only Wang Ya as he gradually closed in, feeling through his robe pocket for a Wizardry Scroll.

When Wizards crafted supernatural items, they had long considered all sorts of environments in which they might be used.

The parchment of a Wizardry Scroll underwent all manner of treatment. It was waterproof, resistant to high temperatures, and even insulated against disruptive influences to a certain extent, ensuring that wizardry could be activated smoothly.

This time, the Particle Energy was related to water.

Water Prison of Corruption formed a region of watery confinement. Enemies within its range endured intense water pressure, while the liquid itself carried corrosive force.

It was a Mid-level Wizardry.

Having lost an arm, Arthur had become much more cautious and did not rashly approach Wang Ya.

In an environment as convenient as the sea, the wizardry's range could be increased directly to fifty meters.

As Particle Energy was injected into it, the formation inscribed upon it was stirred. The Water Prison of Corruption stored within the compression formation was about to be unleashed.

Suddenly, the process was interrupted. A Sense of Crisis between life and death made Arthur jerk backward.

A bizarre black shadow shot through his original position at a speed too fast for the naked eye to make out, plunging into the water without a sound.

What was that thing?!

Arthur stared at the spot where it had entered the water in terror. He had actually sensed a supernatural aura from that black shadow.

Are you kidding me? There was actually a Supernatural Lifeform in this godforsaken place.

He had not detected it immediately, as though it had been cut off from his perception.

Was this a trap?

When Arthur came to his senses, he had already lost sight of Wang Ya. The moment the other man vanished, his heart skipped a beat, as though something utterly terrible was about to happen.

"Damn it, Wang Ya, you set me up." He activated the Wizardry Scroll clenched in his hand as quickly as possible. Yet Arthur's heart had been pounding wildly since earlier, and now another wave of pain that seemed to reach deep into his soul struck him.

The Wizardry Scroll failed to activate.

My body can't move!

The Particle Energy within Arthur's body became incomparably chaotic, like an engine that had stalled.

A visible crimson hue spread across his face.

The Supernatural Toxin—Scarlet Scale Toxin.

Fine wounds appeared, and threads of blood flowed from his cheek.

That unseen shadow had tampered with him.

Only now realizing it, Arthur's pupils were thick with bloodshot veins, filled with rage and venomous hatred. His open mouth could not produce a single sound.

The greatest characteristic of Scarlet Scale Toxin was paralysis.

An ice-cold Dagger stabbed into his heart from behind, injecting more Scarlet Scale Toxin into his body.

Arthur's whole body stiffened. He felt the warmth draining away, the seawater gradually turning red—and with it went his life force. His pupils slowly dimmed to gray, and every expression lost its color.

Life truly was fragile. With the slightest movement, everything could be taken away.

Wang Ya's cool eyes rippled slightly. This counted as the first Wizard he had personally killed, and an indescribable feeling lingered in his heart.

Splat!

Harak burst out of the water, spreading his wings and shaking off the seawater. The perfect curves of his body allowed him to return to flight immediately.

His sharp claws pierced Arthur's corpse through the spine. Though small in size, he erupted with astonishing strength, lifting Arthur's body and keeping it afloat on the surface.

Wang Ya had been startled just now. He would never mistake it—what Arthur held had been a Wizardry Scroll.

If he had not prepared for every eventuality by bringing extra Scarlet Scale Toxin, and if Harak had not launched a sneak attack to infect Arthur's body with the toxin first—

Once the Wizardry Scroll had activated, the outcome of this battle truly would have been hard to predict.

The appearance of the Wizardry Scroll made Wang Ya exceedingly curious. Such a precious item was not something a Wizard Freshman could obtain.

There had been no channel to acquire one aboard the Wizard Ship either, apart from Wizard Tuta.

Wizard Tuta's gaunt figure surfaced in Wang Ya's mind. That chilling feeling remained vivid even now.

Wizard Tuta would not interfere in matters between Wizard Freshmen, much less produce something like a Wizardry Scroll.

A somewhat tedious process of searching the corpse followed.

Arthur did not carry much—only some white bread swollen from soaking in water. The only thing that made Wang Ya frown slightly was likely the Red Metal Ring hanging from Arthur's chest.

Blue flecks of light shimmered in his pupils.

Prompt: Preliminary analysis complete. This item is a Wizard alchemical item, an exceptionally refined Storage Wizard Artifact. It contains certain restrictions and requires the Spiritual Power requirement to be met before it can be fully imprinted with Spiritual Power.

Wang Ya's eyes instantly lit up. He was certain that the Wizardry Scroll in Arthur's possession was inseparably connected to this Storage Wizard Artifact.

As for the restriction requirement, perhaps Arthur had not completely mastered the Storage Wizard Artifact. Naturally, the contents inside remained unknown and had not been fully discovered.

This was like a pillow being delivered just as sleepiness struck.

The preservation of the Thorn Heart was now settled, and the unknown exploration within the Storage Wizard Artifact also made Wang Ya smile with delight.

Every piece of flesh on Arthur's corpse remained taut. The effects of the Scarlet Scale Toxin exceeded Wang Ya's expectations. Its practical combat effectiveness was extremely useful.

Harak could completely serve as an unexpected assassination method.

With sharp claws and Scarlet Scale Toxin, if the enemy was unprepared, merely being touched by it would tip the scales of victory toward Wang Ya.

Wang Ya had not forgotten the Wizardry Scroll Arthur still clutched tightly in his hand. It took some effort to pry it loose, as though it represented Arthur's final obsession and unwillingness to accept defeat.

The expression of resentful fury remained lifelike on his face, but those dead-gray eyes would never blink again.

The corpse slowly sank into the endless deep sea.

Wang Ya gave it an indifferent glance and swam toward the Wizard Ship.

He was exceedingly curious about what lay inside the Storage Wizard Artifact.