Why Are You Forcing Me!

Rustle!

A cold wind lashed the trees in the ancient forest, making the leaves whisper and rustle. The fluorescence of the Wizard Array Path illuminated the dark outlines around it—only a few leaves were clear, while more of the twisted branches and bizarre trees took shape. Nothing could be seen clearly, and the unknown within that blur instinctively filled one with fear and panic.

He felt none of that. Instead, he moved away from the fluorescence of the Wizard Array Path and melded into the darkness of the ancient forest. Mutated scales covered his eyelids and cheeks, lending him a somewhat ferocious appearance. A membrane over his pupils allowed him to see everything clearly in the dark.

Darkness was his protection.

Beneath his gray robe was a solid, powerful physique. His long breaths seemed to blend into the cold wind, and as his chest rose and fell, his pupils remained fixed on the entrance and exit of the Wizard Array Path.

At this hour, several Wizard Freshmen would pass through this road, each alone, returning to their Wizard Residences.

Kill the ten easiest Wizard Freshmen to kill.

That was the command in his mind!

There was no need to think, no need to ask. Named Number Two from birth, he had carried out many commands before. This time would be no exception.

Beneath his robe sleeve was a pitch-black, short-bladed weapon that glimmered with a faint dark sheen, making it seem extraordinary. Number Two kept the Particle Energy within his body flowing into it at all times. With a single thought, this Low-level Wizard Artifact could be fully activated and used to hunt down its target.

Whoosh!

The wind drifted past, stirring fallen leaves. Number Two's emotionless, inhuman pupils trembled slightly. The muscles in the hand gripping the Shadow Blade of Assassination tightened, clenching it with the interlocking precision of mechanical gears.

A black-robed figure approached. He was young and handsome, his eyes filled with thought as he walked familiarly along the Wizard Array Path, paying no attention whatsoever to his surroundings.

Number Two judged the success rate of this hunt to be one hundred percent.

So he struck. The Bloodline Power within him made his heart pound rapidly. Vast amounts of blood surged through his body as every muscle exerted force, producing terrifying power. Yet unexpectedly, the ground did not explode beneath his feet, nor did a burst of air rise up. There came only a low, muffled hiss. His figure vanished, merging into the darkness—Shadow Concealment, the Special Talent of his Supernatural Bloodline.

The black-robed figure continued walking without noticing anything. His face was heavy with worries, his brows tightly furrowed on that handsome visage.

Buzz! Buzz!

Particle Energy poured in, causing the black blade of the Shadow Blade of Assassination to instantly extend to around a meter long. Dark Element Particle Energy trembled minutely across the blade, increasing its destructive power.

Splurt!

The long blade severed the head. Marrow and spine were as soft and weak as tofu. Blood sprayed everywhere, and the black-robed corpse fell to the ground—a ghastly sight.

Number Two's pupils were numb and vacant. Killing someone gave him no physiological response. It was as ordinary as kicking away a soda can by the roadside when one was bored.

The Shadow Blade of Assassination could slice through a Particle Energy Shield and block the particle radiation effects of the Misty Wizard Array, reducing the mist's effectiveness by half. But his orders were to choose the easiest method and expose as little information as possible. Breaking into Freshman Residences carried too much risk.

Number Two stowed the Shadow Blade of Assassination back into his robe sleeve. He still had nine targets left to kill.

The task was simple. They were merely freshmen without combat experience, while he lurked in the shadows to assassinate them.

Number Two's figure gradually disappeared into the ancient forest.

Blood flowed to Wang Ya's feet. The pungent smell made his expression darken and shift. Not far away lay the fallen black-robed corpse, its head at his feet, its face blank and dull. There was no pain or any other expression, as though the victim had been killed instantly, without even feeling the pain.

Blue flecks of light shimmered in Wang Ya's pupils.

The killer had launched a sneak attack from behind, and the technique had been extremely practiced. Particle Energy radiation remained around the wound, along with tiny serrated marks. His eyes narrowed. The weapon capable of causing such a wound was definitely no ordinary blade.

From the degree of coagulation in the blood, Wang Ya determined that the death had occurred around half an hour ago.

Could this be related to the recent wave of disappearances!

A murder had actually occurred on Ancient Forest Mountain!

Wang Ya could deeply sense the undercurrents beneath this. Who exactly was behind it? They were so bold that they directly ignored Wizard Yis's rules and prohibitions. The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it seemed.

Wang Ya frowned deeply and swept his gaze around. Within the ancient forest's pitch-black outlines, it felt as though a terrifying shadow assassin lurked somewhere, making him even more vigilant.

The timing of the attack and the killing were both instantaneous, and this spot had been deliberately chosen. This is a professional killer.

Wang Ya knew something of the dark dealings that existed in the Wizard Black Market. Compared to the Mortal World, they were not much better.

He often took this road as well, but it could not have been aimed at him. Hiring a Wizard Killer to act on Ancient Forest Mountain would definitely cost no small price.

The things he had displayed were not worth that much money.

Wang Ya's fist unconsciously clenched. So they had come to kill this Wizard Freshman? No, not necessarily. This Wizard Freshman did not possess Top Aptitude. If Wang Ya had passed by half an hour earlier, would the target have become him instead?

This was clearly random, targetless murder!

Because there was no benefit at all in killing these freshmen. In the competition for the Admission Ticket, no one would believe ordinary freshmen could surpass those with Top Aptitude.

The motive did not hold up.

Everything was shrouded in doubt.

A powerful Sense of Crisis rose in Wang Ya's heart, making his face turn grim to the extreme. What he hated most was trouble without cause. He could easily end up being caught in it.

Who knew how many Wizard Killers there were, or what their true purpose was?

He only needed to spend Fifteen Days in peace and stability before entering Umbral Wizard Academy, yet this dangerous incident had appeared out of nowhere.

He could not stay hidden in the Freshman Residence forever. The food his body required, as well as the psychological tension and concern, meant that researching Supernatural Knowledge like this would be terribly, terribly inefficient. He did not have that much time to waste. Who knew what further changes might arise? Lusen's Soul Body also needed to be placed in a suitable supernatural environment.

Wang Ya's expression grew gloomy to the extreme. He only wanted to quietly research Supernatural Knowledge and pursue Truth, that's all. He had not provoked anyone. Yet the plans he had set, which he had worked so hard and diligently to cultivate, had been ruined by this damned, inexplicable External Force.

Why are you forcing me!

His right hand pressed against the glass bottle at his waist, touching the handle of the Dagger. His gaze was frighteningly cold, even carrying a trace of ferocity, yet he retained his basic calm and reason.

As his thoughts spun madly, he had already found an answer.

The next day, Wang Ya arrived at the Wizard Freshman Management Office.

"Respected Lord Yis, I wish to report something."