Accept the Challenge, Summon!

Hearing Donald's refusal and seeing his mocking expression, even Sodo and his companion, foolish as they were, realized they had been played.

"I refuse your proposal!"

"This ring was a gift from my teacher, Messer, to me, his lowly apprentice. How could I use it as a wager? That would not only show disrespect to my teacher, but also be an insult to all the mages of North Shire!"

Donald spoke those words with righteous indignation, barely holding back a laugh. A trace of fear flashed across Sodo and his companion's faces.

The White Crystal Ring his teacher had given him was presumably quite famous in mage circles, so Donald wasn't surprised that the other man recognized it.

White crystal was also known as divine crystal. It could amplify the strength of one's mental power, and wearing it for extended periods could train the mind and permanently improve its quality to a small degree. They also said the gemstone had the miraculous ability to deepen one's religious devotion. Clergy from the great churches across the continent prized it, and believers considered it a gem bestowed by the gods. That was how it had earned the name divine crystal.

After reading about the ring in the Mage Association's collection, Donald had learned that it could strengthen his mental power. Wearing it for a long time would benefit him greatly as an apprentice, so he had kept it on ever since returning from the Mage Association.

The other ring on his left hand looked beautiful. Gold formed its base, with a circle of emeralds in the center and one large diamond surrounded by six smaller ones. Though it looked lavish, it wasn't a useless ornament. It was a magical piece of equipment he had redeemed from the Book of Truth: the Guardian Ring.

It was one of the cheaper defensive items, and could provide its wearer with two extra levels of energy armor, raising his defense by twenty percent.

But even an unimpressive effect like that could make a deadly wound into a serious one if Donald were hit by a lethal attack. A serious wound would become moderate, a moderate wound would become light, and a light wound would be reduced to a minor one.

This was only the most basic Guardian Ring, redeemed for the energy of about twenty low-grade Elemental Crystals. If he were willing to spend more energy on a Guardian Ring +1 or +2, or even the highest-grade +3, it could provide five extra levels of armor and raise his defense by fifty percent. In other words, with such equipment, unless the attack targeted the soul—like a curse spell—even a true god could only deal half damage before the ring reached its limit.

Of course, that was just an example. No matter how powerful a piece of equipment was, it still had limits. The equipment in the Book of Truth had all been created according to the laws of this world. Faced with an attack that was too powerful, a low-grade item might be ruined after blocking it just once.

Fortunately, there were all sorts of equipment in Warcraft. Even among defensive items, the Guardian Ring wasn't the only option. If he were willing to spend the energy to redeem several pieces and combine them, even a physically weak mage could become a powerful tank and charge in to draw the monsters' attacks!

Besides the Guardian Ring, Donald had also spent a considerable amount of energy to redeem a piece of equipment shaped like an ornate staff: the Negation Staff.

After all, what mage didn't have a staff of his own? Only someone utterly destitute would be unable to afford even a mage's robe.

A staff that could amplify spellcasting and even grant its wielder additional spells was a powerful weapon in battle. Even after running out of mana, a mage with his staff in hand would still have one or two tricks to save his life.

Apprentice Mages weren't yet able to use staffs properly, but Donald didn't mind having one ready to show off!

Besides, the Negation Staff wasn't just beautiful. It also had some decent abilities: it could dispel all magical effects within three feet of its target and deal damage to summoned creatures equivalent to a third-level attack spell. Its effect lasted only three seconds, and it could be used just five times a day, but used at the right moment, it could interrupt the casting of any spell below level five.

That was why Donald hadn't chosen the cheapest items on the list, like the Witchcraft Stick or the Flash Shield Staff. Those cheaper staff-shaped items were consumables with a limited number of uses. Once their abilities ran out, they became useless props without any energy, making them inferior to permanent equipment like the Negation Staff and Guardian Ring, which could be used repeatedly and were limited only by their abilities' cooldowns.

It was worth mentioning that the magical items in the Book of Truth were divided into three types: consumables, ability-enhancing items, and permanent items. Each category was further divided by rank into ordinary magical items, legendary magical items, and powerful demigod artifacts. Magical items had four grades: minor, low, intermediate, and high. The Negation Staff and Guardian Ring were both intermediate-grade magical items. Given Donald's current level, they were quite high-grade pieces of equipment.

Hearing Donald mention Master Messer again, the Snow Mage didn't dare show any disrespect. If people learned that he had deliberately tried to scheme for an item given by that master, it would be no different from challenging a peak sixth-level mage—and one who could advance to High Mage at any moment.

So he settled for less and pointed at the beautiful staff, almost as tall as a man, in Donald's hand. His eyes burned with desire as he said:

"If it was a gift from the master, then it really wouldn't be appropriate to wager it. But your staff would do just fine! Remember, you're still an apprentice. You can't overstep your station. Carrying a staff won't make you a proper mage. Do you intend to use it to swindle people?"

The Negation Staff was exquisite. Its shaft was made entirely of ivory-white wood, and the center of its many-bladed spear-like head was set with a large and a small red gemstone. White-gold bands secured both ends of the shaft, making it obvious that the staff was no ordinary item.

How could the Snow Mage, who had been a mage for many years yet owned only the lowest-grade pine staff, not feel jealous when a mere apprentice held a powerful staff meant for accomplished mages? As the old mage looked at the rings and staff in the young apprentice's hands, a burning greed flickered in his eyes.

With those two pieces of equipment, his strength could surely reach the peak of level four!

Looks like these two think I'm some brainless, reckless boy. They won't give up until they get what they want. Fine, I'll play along!

Seeing that the other man had changed the wager and set his sights on the staff, Donald sneered inwardly.

"This staff?"

He raised it and spoke haughtily:

"This Negation Staff is modeled after the legendary staff of a great arcanist lord from the Ancient Arcanum Empire. Though it's only a replica, it still has one-tenth the power of the original. It can let an apprentice cast spells only mages above the middle Black Iron rank can control. At the imperial auction house, it would fetch at least ten thousand Gold Sol. Since this is a wager, it should be fair. Can you offer a wager of equal value?"

Donald's completely fabricated story left the two men who had coveted his staff utterly shocked.

Sodo was stunned by the staff's value. Ten thousand Gold Sol! He had never seen that much money in his life! The old mage, meanwhile, was shocked by Donald's claims about the staff's origins.

"A legendary staff! What kind of treasure is that? It's said to be second only to a divine artifact. Only beings as mighty as the great arcanist lords of the Ancient Arcanum Empire or the emperors of the Ancient Magic Empire could possess one!"

A treasure like that was far beyond the reach of a low-ranking mage like him. Even Messer, North Shire's Number One Mage, couldn't wield such an item. Otherwise, it would surely bring disaster upon him!"

"Though this staff is only a replica, even a replica of a legendary staff would have to be made by an alchemist of at least Silver rank. Such items are rare and priceless at the Royal Capital's auctions. Its value is obvious. I wonder how this little apprentice got his hands on it. Did Messer give it to him, or did he inherit it from some ancient mage?"

"Yes, it must be one of those. Otherwise, how would a staff like this turn up in a place like North Shire? Truly, ignorance makes a man fearless. He dares to bring out such a treasure so casually!"

The Snow Mage's thoughts raced. He concocted his own "correct" explanation for the staff's origins, exchanged a glance with Sodo, and murmured a few words to him. Then Sodo stepped forward and said:

"I can offer one thousand Gold Sol in cash, and I can write a promissory note for another three thousand. Baron of Red Maple can act as the witness. I'm sure that will put you at ease!"

The middle-aged merchant nodded. A wager like this posed no risk to him, and it would let him gauge the strength of both sides. He was quite willing to serve as a witness.

He promptly lent Sodo three thousand Gold Sol in his own name, declaring that if Sodo lost and couldn't repay him promptly, he would have to use a leatherworking shop on his land as collateral.

Seeing Baron of Red Maple agree to witness the wager and lend him the money, Sodo assumed victory was assured. Without the slightest suspicion about the other man's motives, he grinned smugly, quickly signed the note, and accepted the three thousand Gold Sol brought by the baron's steward. Then he gave the old mage beside him a meaningful look.

The two of them had originally agreed that Sodo would put up the money himself. If they won, the wager would belong to the Snow Mage, who would give Sodo appropriate compensation. If they lost, they would share the burden. That was why the old mage had readily agreed.

But the staff's value far exceeded their expectations. Sodo knew nothing about this, but the Snow Mage had been a mage for decades and understood the value of such a high-grade staff! If its origins and power were truly as Donald claimed, it would fetch far more than ten thousand Gold Sol at the Royal Capital's auction house. Ten thousand would only be the starting bid; the final price would have to reach at least thirty thousand. And without being a great noble or a powerful faction, one wouldn't even qualify to attend the auction.

In the end, Master Snow couldn't resist the temptation of greed. He eyed Donald's exquisite staff, then reluctantly reached into his pocket and poured out more than a dozen sparkling, colorful crystals.

"Here is the core of a level-five magical beast, two level-four Magic Cores, and twelve level-two and level-three cores. That makes fifteen in all, worth about four thousand Gold Sol at market price! I'll wager them!"

That was his entire fortune. If he lost, he would have to serve a noble for at least ten years to earn it back!

A cheap level-two core was worth about five or six Gold Sol. Level-three cores cost around thirty to a hundred, while even the cheapest level-four cores were worth several hundred, depending on their quality and type. Level-five cores generally started at over a thousand Gold Sol.

By that calculation, the fifteen cores were indeed worth about as much as Master Snow claimed.

Donald looked at the cores and felt delighted, but put on a dissatisfied expression as he said:

"By that calculation, your wagers are worth only eight thousand Gold Sol in total. It looks like I'm the one getting the short end of the stick!"

Sodo had complete faith in Master Snow and was afraid their supposedly certain victory would fall through. He quickly made an excuse. "You can take the wager right away if you win. But if we win, we'll have to travel all the way to the Royal Capital for the auction. Surely those expenses should count too?"

Donald pretended to consider it before finally nodding, as if reluctantly.

"All right!"

"Though I'm only an apprentice, I won't let some third-rate hedge mage insult me as he pleases! In the name of a mage's dignity and a noble's honor, I, Donald Melina, Apprentice Mage, accept the Snow Mage's challenge! My staff will be the wager!"

When Sodo and his companion heard that Donald wasn't accepting a contest of spellcasting practice, but was instead preparing to fight a high-ranking Black Iron Mage, they were startled at first, then overjoyed. This was a sure win!

"Little Donald, are you really going to do this?"

Baron of Red Maple reminded him from the side. He knew Sodo was up to no good, and Donald was on friendly terms with him. But he had arranged the banquet to win over the promising young man, and couldn't bear to see Donald act rashly and fall into their trap. So he offered a warning.

Donald smiled at the middle-aged merchant and replied confidently, "Don't worry, Lord Ernest. A mage and a noble must have their dignity! I won't let fear of a Black Iron Mage's strength make me abandon mine. If anyone has doubts, we can sign a contract with the baron as our witness!"

Sodo and his companion were only too happy to hear that. Though the contract wouldn't be witnessed by a Priest, contracts between nobles still carried considerable weight. They didn't fear Donald refusing to honor it if he lost.

Overjoyed, Sodo immediately asked Baron of Red Maple to have someone draw up the contract, as if afraid Donald might change his mind.

Before long, the baron's steward had written up the contract according to both sides' wishes. There were three copies: one for each contestant and one for the witness.

Donald checked it carefully before signing the prepared contract. Then, his expression cold, he said to Sodo and the other man:

"Let's begin! Let me, an apprentice, see what a Black Iron Mage can do!"

"It's not too late to surrender now. Otherwise, I might not be able to hold back when I strike and could hurt you, little apprentice!"

Donald wasn't the least bit afraid of the old mage's threat. When he saw that the apprentice had rejected his offer and insisted on a duel, the old mage felt an inexplicable unease. But he immediately dismissed the thought as absurd.

No matter how capable an apprentice is, he's still just an apprentice. How can he compare to a Black Iron Mage like me, a powerhouse at the very peak of the rank? He gave a cold snort and said nothing more.

Led by their host, the group soon reached the small square in front of the manor. It was large enough for the two sides to fight without being cramped, and there was enough distance to ensure no one else would be caught in the crossfire.

Once they arrived, the old mage still didn't believe the young apprentice had any means of winning the wager. Yet when he saw Donald's complete lack of fear, he couldn't help feeling uneasy again.

But after reconsidering, he quickly let go of his ridiculous worry.

The replica of the legendary staff was powerful, but Donald had said it could let an apprentice cast second-level attack spells. As a mighty Black Iron Mage at his peak, he could easily withstand second-level spells. Even if the apprentice used a spell scroll, his mental strength wouldn't be enough to activate a third-level one in a short time. As long as the spell didn't exceed level three, he could deal with it and win.

So the Snow Mage straightened his robes and waved his staff with the gracious air of an elder.

"Prepare yourself first! I don't want anyone saying I bullied an apprentice who hasn't even mastered a first-level spell!"

Donald said nothing. The other man's arrogance was just asking to be taught a lesson. Holding one of his only two level-three Magic Beast Cores, he immediately began chanting a spell.

"By my name, I break the shackles of space! Being from another world, come forth! Tree Spirit Maiden!"