Preparations for an Assassination

To study this twisted world and its loophole-ridden leveling rules, Wu Ling had long planned for his third Spirit Ring to be a character of the Magus class.

And that person could not be someone like Mozart or Shakespeare, who had become Casters after death. It had to be someone who had pursued research while alive and possessed extensive knowledge.

For example, the Witches Morgan, Circe, and Medea. Among men, there were the several Grand Casters, Caster Cu, and Paracelsus.

Although Heroic Spirits like Asclepius and Avicebron also possessed outrageous skills, everyone had their specialty. They still fell a little short in magical research and self-enhancement, so Wu Ling ruled them out.

Among his top choices, Wu Ling first crossed out the five-stars he had no chance of selecting through elimination, leaving Circe, Medea, Caster Cu, and Paracelsus.

Then, after comparing their practicality and research capabilities, Wu Ling eliminated Circe and Caster Cu, ultimately choosing between Medea and Paracelsus.

The reason for choosing Medea was simple: her versatility. Whether in research or combat, she was extremely capable.

She had studied magecraft under Hecate, the goddess of the moon, and possessed power modern Magi could not compare to. The magecraft she wielded allowed her, as a Servant, to summon Assassin as a Master—namely Sasaki Kojiro, whom Wu Ling's first Spirit Ring summoned.

As a Magus, Medea's abilities were at the level of a Magician. Unfortunately, she had not learned any of the Five Magics, so she was still a Magus.

Medea was a Witch who had lived in the Age of Gods. Thus, the magecraft she wielded possessed power close to the domain of Magic. No matter how grand the spell, she could cast it in a single process using the skill High-Speed Divine Words. Her abilities even surpassed the strongest modern Magi and exceeded those of Magicians. Although Medea was not a Magician, no one would object to calling her "a Magus infinitely close to a Magician."

The world had once been filled with Magic, and Medea was the embodiment of the mysteries that had once left people in awe.

There was also her Noble Phantasm born from legend—Rule Breaker. Wu Ling dearly wanted to know whether this Noble Phantasm, which could "break" all magecraft, could break something like a Martial Soul.

Paracelsus's original name was Paracelsus von Hohenheim. He was a legendary physician and alchemist, widely known as a figure of the sixteenth-century Renaissance. Beginning with the "rediscovery of the four elements, or five elements" and the "rediscovery of the three principles," he had left behind numerous achievements and books. He was a rare figure renowned in both human history and the history of magecraft.

Wu Ling had chosen him for his ability to study "elements." He believed that, with Paracelsus's capabilities, it was only a matter of time before he completely analyzed and understood Soul Power.

Moreover, both of them could strengthen Wu Ling's longsword and Xiao Hong's body, so both met the most basic requirements.

If he chose Medea, Wu Ling planned to use a cat for the summoning. After all, in the West, black cats and Witches were always inseparable. A multi-element Spirit Beast like the Silver Wolf, meanwhile, would be used to summon Paracelsus.

"According to the intelligence, there was a Silver Wolf nearing nine thousand years here three years ago. If this Silver Moon Wolf King truly is that Silver Wolf, then the changes in the surrounding environment may have been caused by it.

"When Silver Wolves reach ten thousand years, they evolve into Silver Moon Wolf Kings. At the same time, they gain another element beyond the six major elements. It seems this fellow obtained quite an extraordinary element."

Hidden in the grass, Wu Ling wore a solemn expression. This Silver Moon Wolf King had truly exceeded his expectations.

"Wu Ling, this little wolf has already reached ten thousand years. Save it for your fourth Spirit Ring and find another Spirit Beast for your third Spirit Ring instead."

Gui Mei suddenly appeared and began persuading Wu Ling to give up on the Silver Moon Wolf King.

"Grandpa Ghost, I understand. It's because of Soul Shockwave, isn't it?"

Because of Wu Ling's learning ability, Gui Mei was not surprised that he knew about Soul Shockwave. He nodded and continued, "That's right. Once Spirit Beasts reach ten thousand years, their souls mature through cultivation. When people absorb their Spirit Rings, they will be attacked by those souls. If that person is not a Soul King or above, then the slightest mistake could result in their soul being scattered.

"Besides, although your physical constitution is very strong now, you can at most withstand a Spirit Ring of around five thousand years. This Silver Moon Wolf King is over thirteen thousand years old. It exceeds the limit by far too much."

Listening to Gui Mei's warning, Wu Ling kept his eyes fixed on the Silver Moon Wolf King.

To be honest, between Paracelsus and Medea, Wu Ling actually leaned more toward Medea.

As the only Servant who could unconditionally charge herself to one hundred and fifty percent, her combat ability and magical versatility surpassed Paracelsus's. Wu Ling could not judge their research abilities, but judging by their legends and stories, the gap between them was not great.

Of course, the most important thing was Medea's Noble Phantasm. Paracelsus could conduct research, but after finishing it, he would still need to research a solution. Medea could resolve it all with one slash.

As for Paracelsus's beam attack... when Wu Ling could hunt Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts later on, would he lack beam attacks? Which five-star beam attack among the Three Knights was worse than his?

So whether now or in the future, what Wu Ling truly wanted had always been Medea. But circumstances were stronger than him, so Wu Ling could only pray that using a ten-thousand-year Spirit Beast to obtain a three-star Heroic Spirit would strengthen it somewhat, just like Sasaki Kojiro.

"Grandpa Ghost, I've decided."

"Good. Then let's go. When we come back, I'll help you capture it and take it home. We'll wait until you reach your fourth ring before killing it."

"No, Grandpa Ghost. I want this one."

At that moment, Wu Ling's tone was incomparably firm, while Gui Mei suddenly stumbled over some unknown invisible stone.

Gui Mei turned around and calmly asked, "Wu Ling, are you sure? You need to understand that this is not something mere exceptional talent can accomplish."

"I'm sure, Grandpa Ghost. I already have an idea for absorbing the Spirit Ring. This plan has an eighty percent chance of success, so don't worry."

Gui Mei scrutinized Wu Ling's face, while Wu Ling met his gaze without yielding in the slightest.

In the end, Gui Mei still sighed and agreed to Wu Ling's request.

"You've already done so many things that broke convention. Doing one more may not be impossible. Fine, I agree. But if I discover that you are in danger, then even if it means possibly interrupting your Spirit Ring absorption, I will stop you."

Feeling Gui Mei's concern, Wu Ling could not help but smile.

"Of course. Grandpa Ghost, when the time comes, just interrupt me without hesitation."

Gui Mei nodded, then asked, "Then how do you plan to kill the Silver Moon Wolf King and obtain its Spirit Ring? Do you need my help?"

Wu Ling shook his head as he used his second Spirit Skill.

"There are many ways for the weak to defeat the strong. When the enemy is exposed and I am hidden, poison is the most convenient option.

"And fortunately, among my Clones, there is one who knows how to use poison."

Gawain, it's all freaking Gawain! ┻━┻ ヘ╰(°□°╰) He's clearly later on, so why is his drop rate so high? Why would a guy favored by the sun show up in the middle of the night? Especially when there hasn't even been a trace of Banana! I've decided—Gawain will never appear in this book for the rest of his life!