Fifteen days was rather a long time.
Ryan's gaze fell on the supernatural books he had yet to finish reading.
Ancient Forest Mountain would soon cease to exist. Leaving all this Basic Supernatural Knowledge behind would be a waste.
He promptly put the books containing knowledge he had not mastered into his Silver Bracelet.
The books in Moss Bailin's study were much the same as his own. There were no additional Supernatural Wizard Books. Otherwise, Ryan might have been tempted to look through every Wizard Freshman's study.
Shapes flickered in and out of the mist. Ryan could just make out the outline of a building. He stood at its entrance in his black Wizard Robe and triggered the wizard array's sensor. Before long, someone came out, looking puzzled.
"Who are you? What do you want with me?"
Ryan said nothing. He looked at the newcomer with cold indifference and raised his right hand. As particle energy flowed into the Shadow Blade of Assassination, its blade extended to a full meter.
Even this Wizard Freshman realized something was wrong. Terror crossed his face, and he turned to run inside, but the sharp blade pierced his chest and drove through his heart.
Thud!
He collapsed heavily to the ground, blood spilling out beneath him. He raised his head slightly toward his residence and strained to lift his right hand, as though trying to grasp something. His unwillingness to die lingered as his life ebbed away. In the end, his hand fell.
Ryan pulled out the Shadow Blade of Assassination and numbly took out a white cloth to wipe off the blood. He was exhausted—not physically, but mentally.
He had snuffed out one living person after another with his own hands. The more people he killed, the more silent he became, though his body still recoiled from it. He had no deep grudge against many of these Wizard Freshmen, and a growing sense of uncertainty took hold of him.
In the end, he found his way through it. His grip on the blade had never been steadier. It was the same everywhere: the weak had no control over their own fate. The only way to change that was to become strong enough to decide the fate of others.
He could not refuse Wizard Ethan. He could only do what Wizard Ethan believed needed to be done.
His opinions, his views, his thoughts—none of them mattered. He was merely an Executor.
Wizard Ethan could bear the cost of all this. Ryan could not bear the cost of refusing him.
He had to grow strong enough to bear any cost. Even the price of pursuing Truth was something a Wizard endured by growing ever stronger.
It was over!
Ryan crossed the last name off the list.
In two days, he had killed every freshman from the Wizard Families and more than 130 freshmen from the Island Continent. Most of the others had not even noticed what was happening. Ancient Forest Mountain's wooded terrain helped: the freshmen's residences were spread far apart, and Ryan had killed each victim with a single strike.
Even if the others saw a corpse, it would only frighten them further. They would assume the killings had escalated and would not dare go out or speak with anyone. They hid in their residences, afraid even to visit the Automated Restaurant.
Back at his residence, Ryan went to the washroom and cleaned his hands. The young man in the mirror wore a numb, indifferent expression. Beside the beauty mark beneath his eye, his dark apricot-brown eyes held a cold disregard for life. Something new and intangible had taken shape within them as well.
A killing aura that sent chills down the spine.
After about three minutes, Ryan emerged from that state. His eyes regained their calm, rational look.
He sprawled on the bed, staring at the wooden ceiling. All he could do now was wait for further word from Wizard Ethan.
Ancient Forest Mountain... So this was what being a Wizard meant.
Resolve filled his eyes. He had prepared himself for this long ago.
His eyelids slowly closed, and he sank into a deep sleep.
At the top of the Ancient Forest Tower.
In the management office, Wizard Ethan sat in his chair, watching the images displayed by the Metal Mechanical Device in his hand.
The images showed everything Ryan had done. Wizard Ethan had even watched his battle with Moss.
When Ryan killed Moss without hesitation, a smile tugged at Wizard Ethan's lips. "Cunning, composure, combat talent—not bad. I didn't expect this batch of freshmen from the Island Continent to produce such a promising one."
"How interesting. Those freshmen from the inland Wizard Families look down on everyone. With their families' resources behind them, they even picked out their so-called genius freshmen. I wonder what would happen if they ran into this youngster."
He did not care about the Low-level Wizardry Ryan possessed. Everyone had their own opportunities.
The Metal Mechanical Device shifted shape, reassembling itself into a Magic Cube before slipping into Wizard Ethan's sleeve.
He rose. His expression turned utterly cold, and his presence filled the room.
Wizard Zephyr and Wizard Lando emerged from the shadows, both wearing grim expressions.
"We've collected the evidence. Wizard Gandhi betrayed the Umbral Expanse, and the Bailin Family and Purple Gold Flower Family broke the rules."
Wizard Ethan's eyes turned icy. "The Umbral Expanse has sent its orders. We may handle this as we see fit, so long as too many bystanders aren't affected."
"My decision is... the Bailin Family and the Purple Gold Flower Family have no reason to exist anymore."
Wizard Zephyr was stunned by Wizard Ethan's ruthlessness. "Isn't that going a little far? Those people in the Umbral Expanse will come after you, Ethan."
"Rules are rules. Most of us follow them. Why should the Wizard Families get special treatment, especially after doing something this vile?"
Wizard Ethan spoke without a trace of concern. "If they want to come after me, let them. I wouldn't mind killing a few more Wizard Family wastes in the Battle Arena."
"Too many Wizards from those families have broken the rules. They need a lesson in blood to learn that some lines cannot be crossed."
His tone left no room for argument. The other two fell silent, knowing they could not change his mind.
"Wizard Gandhi is still with the Bailin Family. Tonight is the perfect time to deal with him too," Wizard Ethan said. "You two go to the Purple Gold Flower Family. If you can't handle them, wait for me."
Wizard Lando grinned. "Sounds good. I trust your strength, Ethan. Dealing with the Bailin Family will take you half an hour at most. I'll wait for you to come and show them what you can do."
Wizard Zephyr: "..."
He had good reason to suspect that Wizard Lando's abilities as a Third-level Wizard Apprentice had been grossly overstated.
How had he gotten into the Water Marsh School? Its Chief, Wizard Saiya, was so rigid and inflexible. He did not seem like the sort to let anyone in through connections.
Wizard Ethan ignored them. He turned and gradually stepped into the void, vanishing from the office.
Wizard Lando clicked his tongue. "No matter how many times I see it, Ethan's technique is absurd. He chose a spatial path, unlike most of the White Bone School. Looks like he's made it work, though."
Wizard Zephyr nodded. "Yes. Ethan might even have a chance to become a full-fledged Wizard."
"Good grief! That'll mean another name on the Title Ranking List."
"Ethan probably won't care about an empty honor like that. Some Wizard Families put the list together to stir up conflict in the first place."
As the last sunlight faded, night fell, but Ancient Forest Wizard City remained brightly lit. Wizard Technology had found its way into many things, from streetlights to the colored lights decorating buildings, all powered by Magic Stones.
At the easternmost end of Ancient Forest Wizard City, there were fewer people, and the buildings stood tall and imposing. The area had even been built like a city within a city. The words "Bailin" were carved above its entrance.
A figure in a brown Wizard Robe stepped out of the void and stood above the Bailin Family's grounds. The cold wind stirred his purple hair. He raised his right hand, and the metal device appeared.
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