Challenge Accepted, Summon!

(Chapter 5, more coming soon!)

Hearing Donald's refusal and seeing the mocking expression on his face, Sodo and his companion realized they had been played, even if they were idiots.

"I refuse your proposal!"

"This ring is a gift personally bestowed upon me, a mere apprentice, by Master Messer. How could I possibly use it as a wager? This is not only disrespectful to my teacher but also a slight against all the mages of North Shire!"

As Donald said this righteously while barely suppressing a laugh, a flicker of fear crossed the faces of Sodo and the other man.

The white crystal ring gifted by his teacher must be quite famous in mage circles; Donald was not surprised that the other party recognized it.

White crystal, also known as divine crystal, possesses the ability to amplify mental strength. Wearing it for long periods can exercise one's mind and provide a minor, permanent boost to the quality of one's mental power. It is also rumored that this gemstone has the magical effect of enhancing one's religious piety, making it highly sought after by clergy of major churches across the continent and considered a gift from the gods by believers—hence the name "divine crystal."

Having checked the records in the Mage Association library, Donald learned that this ring could enhance mental strength and that wearing it long-term offered significant benefits to an apprentice like him. Thus, he had worn it constantly since returning from the association.

As for the other ring on his left hand, it was exquisitely beautiful: a gold base set with a circle of emeralds and inlaid with one large and six small diamonds. Although it looked like a gaudy ornament, it was no useless trinket; it was the Guardian Ring, a magical piece of equipment he had exchanged for in the Book of Truth.

Though it was one of the cheaper defensive items, it could provide the wearer with two levels of additional energy armor, increasing their overall defense by twenty percent.

Yet, even with such seemingly modest attributes, if Donald were to face a fatal attack, this equipment's protective barrier could turn a lethal wound into a severe one, a severe wound into a moderate one, a moderate wound into a minor one, and a minor wound into a mere scratch.

This was merely the most basic Guardian Ring, exchanged for the energy of about twenty low-level Elemental Crystals. If one were willing to spend the energy to exchange for a Guardian Ring +1, +2, or even the top-tier +3, it could provide five levels of additional armor and increase defense by fifty percent. In other words, wearing such gear—unless facing soul-based attacks like curses—meant that even if a true god struck, he would only suffer half the damage until the ring reached its limit.

Of course, this was just a metaphor; no matter how powerful the equipment, it had its limits. The items in the Book of Truth were created according to the laws of this world, and low-level gear might be destroyed after a single defense against an overly powerful attack.

Fortunately, there were countless types of equipment in World of Warcraft. For defensive gear alone, there was more than just the basic Guardian Ring. If one were willing to spend the energy to exchange for a set, it would be enough to turn a physically weak mage into a powerful shield-bearer capable of tanking monsters head-on!

Beyond the Guardian Ring, Donald had also spent a significant amount of energy to exchange for a piece of equipment resembling a magnificent staff: the Negation Staff.

After all, what mage doesn't have their own signature staff? Unless they were truly destitute and couldn't even afford a mage robe.

A staff that could amplify spell effects or even attach spells was a sharp weapon for any mage in battle. Even if their mana was exhausted, a mage with a staff in hand would still have a trick or two up their sleeve for survival.

Although a mage apprentice wasn't yet ready to truly wield a staff, Donald didn't mind preparing one just for show!

Moreover, the Negation Staff was not only exquisitely crafted but also possessed a decent skill: it could dispel all magical effects within a three-foot radius of the target and deal damage equivalent to a third-tier offensive spell to summoned creatures. Although the skill effect lasted only three seconds and could only be used five times a day, using it suddenly was enough to interrupt the casting process of any spell below the fifth tier.

Therefore, Donald did not choose the cheaper options on the exchange list, such as the Witchcraft Stick or the Flash Shield Staff. Those cheaper items were consumables with limited uses; once the skills were exhausted, they became useless ornaments devoid of energy. They were far inferior to permanent equipment like the Negation Staff and Guardian Ring, which could be used repeatedly, limited only by skill cooldowns and recharging.

It must be mentioned that the magical items in the Book of Truth were divided into three types: consumables, ability-enhancers, and permanent items. All categories were further divided by grade into ordinary magical items, legendary magical items, and powerful sub-artifacts. Among these, magical items were split into four tiers: sub-tier, low-tier, mid-tier, and high-tier. Both the Negation Staff and the Guardian Ring were mid-tier magical items, which were considered relatively high-level gear for Donald's current status.

Returning to the present, hearing Donald mention Master Messer again, the Snow Mage dared not show any disrespect. If it became known that he was plotting to seize an item gifted by that master, the nature of the offense would be no less than a provocation against a peak sixth-tier mage—a master who might advance to a high-tier mage at any moment.

Thus, he retreated a step and pointed at the half-man-tall, exquisite staff in Donald's hand, his eyes burning with greed as he said:

"Since it is a gift from the Master, it is indeed inappropriate as a wager. Then, the staff in your hand will suffice! Remember, you are still an apprentice; you must not overstep your station. An apprentice holding a staff cannot become a formal mage. Do you intend to use it to swindle others?"

The Negation Staff was exquisitely crafted, its body made of ivory-white wood. In the center of the multi-bladed spear-like head were two red gemstones—one large and one small—and the staff was secured at both ends with platinum rings, making its extraordinary origins clear at a glance.

How could the Snow Mage, who had been a mage for many years and possessed only a low-tier pine staff, not feel jealous that a mere apprentice could hold a high-tier staff that only powerful mages could master? Looking at the ring and staff in the young apprentice's hands, a flash of burning greed crossed the old mage's eyes.

If he had these two items in his possession, he could at least boost his strength to the peak of the fourth tier!

It seems these two take me for a brainless, reckless youth who won't stop until he gets what he wants. Very well, I shall play along with them!

Seeing the opponent change the wager to target his staff, Donald sneered inwardly.

"This staff?"

He raised the staff in his hand and said haughtily:

"This Negation Staff of mine is a legendary staff from a Great Arcanist Lord of the Ancient Arcanum Empire. Although it is only a replica, it retains one-tenth of the original's power, allowing an apprentice to cast spells that only a Black Iron mid-tier mage could master. If taken to the Imperial Capital's auction house, the starting price would be at least ten thousand Gold Sol. Since this is a wager, it must be fair. Can you two afford a stake of equal value?"

Donald's off-the-cuff lie left the two men eyeing his staff in utter shock.

Sodo was stunned by the staff's value—ten thousand Gold Sol! He had never seen that much money in his entire life! The old mage, meanwhile, was terrified by the origin Donald claimed.

A legendary staff! What kind of treasure is this? Those are weapons called second only to artifacts, possessed only by great beings like the Great Arcanist Lords of the Ancient Arcanum Empire or the Emperors of the Ancient Magic Empire!

Such treasures are beyond the reach of a low-tier mage like me. Even North Shire's top mage, Messer, would be unable to wield such a thing; doing so would surely invite disaster upon himself!

Although this staff is only a replica, a replica of a legendary staff must be the work of at least a silver-tier alchemist. Such items are precious auction goods in the Royal Capital that are always in demand but never available. I wonder how this little apprentice got his hands on it? Could Messer have given it to him, or did he inherit it from some ancient mage?

Yes, that must be it! Otherwise, such a staff would never appear in a place like North Shire! Truly, ignorance is bliss—to dare bring out such a treasure so casually!

The Snow Mage's mind raced, self-correcting his assumptions about the staff's origin. After exchanging a brief look with Sodo, Sodo stepped forward and said:

"I can put up one thousand Gold Sol in cash, and I can write an IOU for three thousand Gold Sol, with Baron of Red Maple as a witness. Surely that should put your mind at ease!"

The middle-aged merchant nodded upon hearing this. Such a wager would not harm his interests in the slightest, and he was quite willing to act as a witness to gauge the strength of both parties.

Furthermore, he readily agreed to lend Sodo three thousand Gold Sol in his own name, stating that if Sodo lost and could not repay the money in a short time, he would have to mortgage a tannery on his own estate.

Seeing the Baron of Red Maple agree to act as a witness and lend him the money, Sodo, convinced of his victory and suspecting no ulterior motives, smiled triumphantly. He quickly signed the IOU, took the three thousand Gold Sol delivered by the Baron's steward, and gave a wink to the old mage beside him.

Originally, they had agreed that Sodo would provide the funds, and if they won, the wager would belong to the Snow Mage, with Sodo receiving appropriate compensation; if they lost, they would share the burden. That was why the old mage had agreed so readily.

However, he hadn't expected the staff's value to far exceed their imagination. Sodo didn't know the details, but the Snow Mage, having been a mage for decades, knew the value of such a high-tier staff! If it truly had the origin and power Donald claimed, it would fetch far more than ten thousand Gold Sol at the Royal Capital's auction house—ten thousand was merely the starting price, and it would likely sell for at least thirty thousand. Moreover, without the status of a great noble or powerful faction, one wouldn't even qualify to participate in the auction.

In the end, the Snow Mage could not resist the temptation of greed. He looked at Donald's exquisite staff and, though reluctant, reached into his pocket and poured out a dozen translucent, colorful crystals.

"Here is a fifth-tier monster core, two fourth-tier cores, and twelve others of the third and second tiers. That makes fifteen cores in total. At market price, they should be worth about four thousand Gold Sol! I use them as my stake!"

This was his entire life savings. If he lost, he would have to serve the nobility for at least ten years just to earn it back!

A cheap second-tier core was worth about five or six Gold Sol, a third-tier core ranged from thirty to one hundred Gold Sol, and a fourth-tier core, depending on quality and species, was worth at least several hundred Gold Sol. As for a fifth-tier core, they generally started at over a thousand Gold Sol.

By this calculation, the actual value of these fifteen cores was roughly what the Snow Mage claimed.

Donald Melina looked at those crystal cores, a surge of joy rising in his heart, yet he feigned dissatisfaction on his face as he spoke:

"By this calculation, your total wager is only worth eight thousand Gold Sol. No matter how I look at it, I'm the one getting the short end of the stick!"

Sodo, brimming with confidence in the Snow Mage and terrified that this sure-fire bet might fall through, hurriedly argued: "If you win, you get the wager directly, but if we win, we have to travel all the way to the royal capital to attend the auction. Surely those expenses should be factored in?"

Pretending to consider it for a moment, Donald nodded with feigned reluctance:

"Fine!"

"Though I am but an apprentice, I am not someone a third-rate hedge mage can insult at will! By the dignity of a mage and the honor of a noble, I, Mage Apprentice Donald Melina, accept the challenge of the Snow Mage! The wager shall be my staff!"

Upon hearing that Donald would not accept a contest of spell-casting practice but instead intended to formally duel a high-level Black Iron Mage, Sodo and his companion were shocked, then overjoyed. Victory was now certain!

"Little Donald, are you sure you want to do this?"

The Baron of Red Maple chimed in from the side to offer a reminder. Although he harbored no good intentions toward Sodo, Donald was relatively close to him compared to the others, and since he had organized this banquet specifically to win over this promising youth, he couldn't bear to see Donald impulsively walk into a trap.

Donald smiled at the middle-aged merchant and said confidently: "Rest assured, Lord Ernest! As a mage and a noble, one must have one's own dignity! I will not abandon my pride out of fear of a Black Iron Mage's strength. If anyone is worried, we can sign a contract, with the Baron acting as witness!"

Sodo and his companion were exactly what they had hoped for. As long as a contract was signed—even one without a priest as a witness—it would still hold significant weight among nobles, and they weren't afraid of Donald reneging on the deal.

Overjoyed, Sodo immediately requested the Baron of Red Maple to have someone draft the contract, fearing that Donald might change his mind.

Before long, the Baron of Red Maple's butler drafted the contract according to both parties' wishes, creating three copies to be held by the two contestants and the witness respectively.

Donald checked it carefully before signing the prepared document, then turned to Sodo and his companion with a cold face:

"Let us begin! Let me, an apprentice, see what brilliance a Black Iron Mage possesses!"

"It's not too late to concede now, lest I lose control later and injure an apprentice like you!"

Facing the old mage's threat, Donald showed no fear. Seeing that the youth had rejected his good intentions and remained dead set on the duel, the old mage felt a flicker of inexplicable anxiety, though he immediately dismissed the impossible thought.

An apprentice, no matter how talented, is still just an apprentice. How could he compare to a Black Iron Mage like me, a powerhouse at the peak of the Black Iron rank? With that, he let out a cold snort and said nothing more.

Led by their host, the group soon arrived at the small plaza in front of the villa. The space was large enough for both sides to duel without being cramped, and there was sufficient distance to ensure no bystanders would be accidentally harmed.

Upon arriving, although the old mage didn't believe this young apprentice had any trump card that could secure him a victory and win the wager, he couldn't help but feel uneasy again when he saw Donald's fearless attitude.

However, after a second thought, he immediately cast aside his ridiculous worries.

The legendary staff replica was powerful, but as the boy had said, it only allowed an apprentice to cast second-tier offensive spells. As a powerful mage at the peak of the Black Iron rank, resisting a second-tier spell was no problem. Even if the apprentice used spell scrolls, his mental strength wouldn't be enough to trigger a third-tier scroll in such a short time. As long as it wasn't a spell above the third tier, he had ways to handle it and secure his victory.

Thus, the Snow Mage straightened his robes and waved his staff with the poise of a senior.

"You prepare first! Don't let people say I bullied an apprentice who hasn't even mastered a first-tier spell!"

Donald said nothing more; since the other party was so arrogant as to court his own defeat, he gripped one of the only two third-tier monster crystal cores he possessed and began chanting the incantation on the spot.

"In my name, break the shackles of space! Existence from another world, come forth! Tree Spirit Maiden!"