Boom!
Fire Element Particles collided in a violent surge, unleashing a tremendous explosion. The blast shattered the door and windows and cracked the walls.
The moment Moss sensed something was wrong, he activated a Wizardry Scroll.
As the smoke cleared, the room lay in ruins. Moss leaned against a wall, his clothes charred black. A faint Blue Light Wave surrounded him, shielding him from the Particle Energy unleashed by the Wizardry Scroll and the radiation that came with it.
His face darkened. At his feet lay Cardi Purple Gold Flower's charred corpse, mangled beyond recognition. Only scraps of clothing identified him.
Moss knew now that he had been affected by his opponent's mental wizardry. Some of what he had seen had been false.
His family had given him few life-saving items. The Water Guardian he wore could automatically block a dangerous attack only once, and its protection had been spent.
The Blue Light Wave began to fade, and the urgency in his eyes grew.
At least half the items in his Wizard Artifact Bracelet had fallen into the enemy's hands.
Most of his remaining options were stored in the bracelet. He could sense that the man who had impersonated Cardi Purple Gold Flower had survived the Wizardry Scroll's explosion, which meant he must have had protection of his own. He would never give Moss a chance to use the bracelet.
An elder of his family's warning echoed in his ears: A battle between wizards allowed no carelessness. Stay cautious, stay alert, and give it everything you have. A single moment's opening could decide the outcome.
Moss remembered that warning. Instead of activating his bracelet, he let a Silver Gem slip from his sleeve and gripped it so tightly that sweat beaded in his palm.
He stared at the figure emerging from the smoke.
Bzz!
The crimson Particle Energy Shield blazed with dazzling light. Moss narrowed his eyes instinctively.
The black Wizard Robe was undamaged. Gray boots, black hair, a handsome face—Ryan met Moss's gaze with cool indifference.
"You're... Ryan Harak." The beauty mark was unmistakable. Moss recognized him at once, his voice shaking.
That powerful Particle Energy Fluctuation made it clear that Ryan had mastered the wizardry, and to no small degree.
But how was that possible? Anna had told him this man had chosen Supernatural Nurturing, and his Nurtured Creature had shown no change at all. If his command of wizardry was this strong, why hadn't he gone straight to the Umbral Wizard Academy? Why had he stayed at Ancient Forest Mountain?
Moss could not understand it. He stared at Ryan in fear as a suspicion took hold. Ryan might have killed Number Two himself. He had hidden even more than Moss had thought!
The situation was badly against him. He had to seize control of the fight and create an opening to use his Wizard Artifact Bracelet.
Ryan said nothing. He kept his somewhat dimmed Particle Energy Shield active.
Ryan's Spiritual Power was probably a little weaker than Moss's. Sensory Deprivation Wizardry had failed in the end.
Still, he had gained a special Wizard Artifact and a Wizardry Scroll. That was a decent haul. His opponent had revealed plenty of his methods and trump cards, and Ryan controlled the pace of the fight.
The Blue Light Wave was weakening. According to the Eye of Truth, it would vanish completely in no more than ten seconds.
Beneath his sleeve, Particle Energy gathered in Ryan's hand. Scorching sparks flared as Fearful Flame took shape. Under the fine control of his Spiritual Power, the flickering seed of flame held its terrifying force in check.
Ryan never underestimated an opponent, especially a freshman backed by a powerful Wizard Family. From childhood, Moss had received an education utterly unlike that of the freshmen from Island Continent.
Anna had been unexpectedly weak, but Moss Bailin would not be. Ryan had used Sensory Deprivation Wizardry to take down Cardi Purple Gold Flower and keep the damage to the Freshman Residence to a minimum.
That wizardry consumed Spiritual Power more than anything else, and Cardi Purple Gold Flower's Spiritual Power was weaker than Ryan's.
Ryan still had enough Particle Energy to cast one more Energy Particle Wizardry spell, but he needed to save that chance to protect himself.
He ruled out Scarlet Heat Wizardry, which enhanced his physique. Better to keep his distance. Until Moss's physique underwent a qualitative change, a direct hit from Energy Wizardry would turn him to ash and end the matter.
"Ryan, we can talk this through. There's no need to take things this far. I don't recall ever offending you. Don't make a mistake." Moss spoke with an earnest, pleading look.
"You're breaking the rules of Ancient Forest Mountain. I can help you keep Cardi's death a secret. I can even—"
Moss's eyes hardened. He hurled the Silver Gem to the floor, turned, and bolted for the door without hesitation. At the same time, he channeled Particle Energy into his Wizard Artifact Bracelet.
A quiet sigh sounded from the room behind him, its meaning impossible to read.
Moss sneered inwardly. The Silver Gem created a disruptive energy field. For at least a minute, wizardry would be difficult to cast within its range unless someone could overpower it with a massive surge of Particle Energy.
He had seized control of the fight.
Suddenly, a blurry black shape lunged at his face. He threw up both arms to shield himself.
Agony tore through him as sharp claws sliced into his flesh and cracked the bones in his arms. He could not help roaring, "You damned beast!"
The pitch-black crow beat its wings and soared into the sky. It had moved too fast for Moss to react.
Moss remembered that Ryan had chosen nurturing wizardry. If he could hide his own strength, he could certainly hide the true progress of his Nurtured Creature.
"Ryan Harak, you'll pay for this! Die!" Moss roared. His Wizard Artifact Bracelet gleamed silver, and two Wizardry Scrolls and a glass bottle of red liquid appeared in his hands.
He pulled out the stopper and was about to drink the Healing Potion when his body gave an involuntary shudder. To his horror, the Particle Energy within him stopped responding, stagnant as a dead pool. He could not move his body, either. A bone-deep chill spread from his heart through his limbs, and his blood slowly stopped flowing!
"What... what did you do? You bastard, you used a dirty trick!" Moss glared venomously at the figure emerging from the room.
The glass bottle of red liquid slipped from his powerless left hand, but Ryan caught it before it hit the ground.
"Can't let this go to waste. It's my first time getting my hands on a Wizard Potion." Ryan pried the stopper from Moss's right hand and sealed the Healing Potion.
The Shadow Blade of Assassination appeared in his hand. Steel flashed. He cut Moss's throat, then pierced his heart.
Ryan had no habit of talking at length to a dying man. All he needed to do was send him to his death as quickly as possible.
Even after the life left him, Moss's eyes remained fixed on Ryan. His gaze promised that Ryan would meet the same end.
"You're overthinking it. The rules no longer matter." Ryan slipped the two Wizardry Scrolls into his pocket.
His gaze then fell on the White Bracelet around Moss's wrist, and a smile touched his lips. Freshmen from Wizard Families truly had remarkable resources.
Cardi Purple Gold Flower had already given him plenty of surprises. Ryan was sure Moss Bailin would yield even more.
Starting tomorrow, updates will be posted on a fixed schedule (written in advance and scheduled for six o'clock). I've also finished outlining the third volume and am starting to build up a backlog.
Before you continue