Before the Trial

It was still the same plaza from three years ago.

Only now, Green realized that over these three years, quite a few wizard apprentices of this cohort had "accidentally" died.

"There are 1,577 wizard apprentices from Black Isotta Wizard Academy participating in this Newcomer Trial. In a moment, each of you will be issued a map of the trial grounds. The mission for this trial is simple: as long as you survive in the trial grounds for one month and return safely, you will be considered to have passed!"

On the high platform, a wizard shouted in an encouraging tone, only there was a strange excitement hidden deep within his voice.

"That simple? No way, right?"

"What's going on? Why is this cohort's Bloody Millstone Newcomer Trial so easy?"

Below the stage, the many wizard apprentices discussed it noisily, finding this simple Newcomer Trial unbelievable.

On the other side, Lafi, Green, Yorkris, Yorklianna, Binhanson, and Robin stood together.

Binhanson frowned and said, "That doesn't make sense. I vaguely heard from those previous wizard apprentices that every dozen or so cohorts, there would be one with especially high quality and especially large numbers. I originally thought it was our cohort, so the academy would arrange some unimaginable, terrifying trial. In the end, the goal to pass the trial is actually just to survive?"

Robin pouted. "Hmph, maybe they'll just throw us straight into a place overrun with wizard-level monsters. Let's see if you still call it simple then."

"Pah, pah, pah, crow's mouth. How could that be possible?"

Binhanson hurriedly cut Robin off, afraid she would hit the nail on the head.

"That sort of situation shouldn't be possible."

Green shook his head and said with certainty, "If it really were that kind of place, it would be good enough if one-tenth of the academy's wizard apprentices came back alive. Even those three..."

Green pointed to Yun Li, Bibilionna, and Solam at the very front of the many wizard apprentices.

"Even those three wouldn't dare guarantee they could survive."

Yorkris said, "The maps are already being handed out over there. We'll know once we look at the map in a bit."

Whoosh...

Every wizard apprentice who received the trial map burst into an uproar, as though they had discovered something unimaginable.

Green had only just touched the map and had not yet had time to look at it when a chain formed from ink, through a mystical method of shuttling through time and space, imprinted itself directly onto Green's forehead. Then a black chain-shaped mark appeared on Green's forehead.

Green frowned, ignored the mark, and looked straight at the map in his hand.

However, after Green had only read a few lines, he likewise sucked in a breath of cold air and joined the uproar.

One: for this trial, an uninhabited area in Thorned Bramble Forest, three hundred kilometers in both length and width, has been designated as the trial grounds. Warning barriers have been placed around the grounds. No one may leave the barrier within the stipulated time. Those who leave without permission will receive a warning from a wizard.

Two: participating in this trial are all new cohorts of wizard apprentices from every wizard academy within District Twelve of the Seven-Ring Holy Tower.

The wizard academies are as follows: Black Isotta Wizard Academy, Maze Disk Wizard Academy, Realm of Darkness Wizard Academy, Bone Clocktower Wizard Academy, Hourglass of Time Wizard Academy, Ivory Castle Wizard Academy.

Three: three secret realms opening at different times have been arranged within the trial grounds.

The first opening of the secret realms will be on the day of the trial. There are one hundred in total, containing high-level wizard-apprentice-grade magical wizard tools.

The second opening of the secret realms will be ten days later. There are ten in total, containing consumable magical wizard tools of great power.

The third opening of the secret realms will be twenty days later. There is one in total, containing precious potions that increase a wizard apprentice's mental strength and wizard notes.

Four: upon killing another wizard apprentice, the mark on one's forehead will automatically absorb the other party's mark.

After the trial ends, for each additional mark, one may obtain a reward of five hundred magic stones from the academy.

No wonder Green was in an uproar. Although the wizard academy had not forced any wizard apprentice to kill one another at all...

But!

Every condition on the map was telling the wizard apprentices that only by constantly slaughtering could they gain an increase in strength, could they make themselves safer, and could they complete the trial more peacefully!

However, this trial still had two theoretical ways to pass.

The first way to pass was to hide for one month until the trial ended and then return to the academy. This involved a considerable element of luck.

The second way to pass was naturally to fight for treasures in the continually opening secret realms, making one's strength constantly grow until reaching a point where one could hunt others down while others did not dare provoke oneself.

"Five hundred magic stones. This will drive many wizard apprentices insane!"

Green did not need the slightest hesitation.

With Green's strength, relying on his powerful mental strength and the stacking effect of a large number of precious magical wizard tools, unless it was a wizard apprentice like Yun Li, Bibilionna, or Solam, who possessed rare talents to begin with and had been cultivated with great effort by a Rank Two wizard as soon as they entered the wizard academy, it would be very difficult for anyone to pose a threat to Green.

Using such a massive quantity of magic stones to increase strength extremely quickly was itself likewise a kind of wizard wisdom!

Of course, this only referred to the first twenty days before the secret realms opened.

After twenty days, if the wizard apprentices obtained those consumable magical wizard tools of great power, then that would be another matter.

"This... this is forcing us onto a road of death!"

Binhanson wailed.

Yorkris, however, let out a sinister laugh.

"Heh heh heh heh. I've long yearned for a chance to fight like this, just like the slaughter on the ocean liner back then. For these three years, we've worked desperately day and night to improve our strength. Wasn't it all for this moment of the trial? The difference is that back then, we were weak and could only rely on Lafi's protection. Now, we..."

Everyone looked at Lafi. Lafi's tight, slit robe revealed her fair, long legs. Although her chest was covered by the robe, it still could not conceal its fullness. Her sharp eyes stared at the map, carrying an unquestionable, untouchable bearing.

After thinking for a while, Lafi looked at everyone with a calm expression and said, "According to my deduction, we should be entering the trial grounds through random teleportation. Among the six of us, Yorklianna, Binhanson, and..."

After glancing at Green, Lafi continued, "And Green. The three of you don't have combat-type spells, so on the first day, do your best to protect yourselves and stay away from the secret realms. The other three will put all their strength into fighting for the magical wizard tools inside the secret realms. After that, our squad will regroup. First, to guard against the chaotic slaughter afterward; second, to prepare for the struggle after the second secret realm opening."

"Got it."

Everyone had long since gotten used to Lafi's arrangements and answered as if it made no difference to them.

Green said in a low voice, "Actually, I've made quite a few preparations. I'm fairly confident I can seize the secret-realm magic-guiding wizard artifact."

"You..."

After glancing at Green, Lafi simply did not believe that Green, who had only become a wizard apprentice half a year ago, had any such ability. But considering Green's pride, she ultimately said nothing more.

Lafi said to everyone, "Mm. The other thirteen elders of the Blood Sail Alliance have just requested a gathering. After Solam joined, he became an elder, so they should be discussing matters regarding the final secret realm. I'll step away for a while."

However, Lafi had only taken two steps when she paused. Then, under everyone's dumbstruck gazes, their jaws practically dropping to the ground, she actually turned around, rushed back, threw her arms around Green, and kissed him fiercely.

Being kissed in front of everyone—especially with all his friends present—nearly drove Green out of his mind with terror and shock. His eyes went wide.

"Lafi!?"

"Be careful."

Lafi stuffed an earring into Green's hand, then left without looking back.

Only then did everyone come back to their senses. They crowded around Green, each wearing the expression of a starving wolf that had spotted a little lamb, staring at him fixedly as they howled and shouted.

"Whoa! Green, explain yourself right now! What exactly is going on? Did you and Lafi...?"

Binhanson was the first to jump out, his face so excited it practically resembled the butt of that monkey Green had once dissected.

Green hurriedly said, "No, no, nothing happened between Lafi and me."

"Nothing happened? Then that means everything happened! Haha, Green, stop using that low-IQ explanation to cover yourself up. As a man, I understand it all!"

Binhanson patted Green on the shoulder and burst into laughter.

Robin stomped hard on Binhanson's foot, her face flushed crimson as she said, "What do you understand?"

"Ah! I was wrong! Gentle, gentle! If I'm injured, I won't be able to run during the trial..."

Binhanson wailed in misery.

On the other side, after being stunned for a good long while, Yorkris finally murmured, "Wonderful, wonderful. The Viper-Tongued Queen finally has a man. This is truly a great blessing for the Blood Sail Alliance."

The half of Yorklianna's little face that was not covered by her mask flushed faintly. For a girl her age, this was precisely the time to yearn for love. Seeing this scene now, she naturally began to hope for a love that belonged to her as well.

Yorklianna walked over to Green's side, the corners of her lips curving charmingly as she said softly, "Brother Green, let me put on the earring Sister Lafi gave you."

Under Yorklianna's irresistible request, Green nodded and let Yorklianna gently put the earring on his left ear, pairing it with the Eternal Earring on his right ear.

"Brother Green, this earring is called Heart of Vines. Back on the sea ship, Sister Lafi relied on this earring to cast her vine spell."

Yorklianna explained.

Heart of Vines?

Back on the sea ship, some wizard apprentices had privately called Lafi the Vine Caster precisely because of this earring!

Green smiled bitterly. In Lafi's eyes, he was still that little fellow from back then who needed her protection.

Although he somewhat wanted to show that he was not that weak person who needed others to protect him, the warm feeling of being cared for gave Green an inexplicable joy.

"Is this... is this what being in love feels like?"

About half an hourglass later, under the guidance of more than a dozen wizards, wizard apprentices walked one after another onto a gigantic balance scale.

As large quantities of magic stones on the other end of the scale turned into dull gray rocks, the figures of the wizard apprentices on this end blurred one after another, and under a force of twisted space, vanished from sight.