The next day, Lynn stepped into the stone hall of Soul-Sinking Outpost once more, intending to "request leave" from his immediate superior.
Grom still sat in the seat of honor, holding a steaming cup of tea. He looked no different from two years ago.
Mm... like an old official coasting toward retirement.
"Lord Grom." Lynn stepped forward and gave a slight bow.
Grom raised his eyelids, his gaze falling on Lynn.
At first, it was merely a routine appraisal, but the hand holding his teacup soon paused almost imperceptibly.
A trace of undisguisable astonishment flashed through those aged eyes.
He set down his teacup and leaned forward slightly, carefully sensing Lynn's aura.
That was right!
The aura of the young Wizard before him was countless times deeper than it had been two years ago!
It was not merely an accumulation of energy, but a leap in the essence of life itself—especially those vast spiritual fluctuations that nearly seemed to overflow...
What a terrifying junior.
"You... advanced to the second ring?" Grom's voice was lower than usual.
"Yes. I was fortunate enough to advance some time ago." Lynn spoke calmly. He did not deliberately suppress his aura, but neither did he flaunt it.
Grom fell silent for several breaths.
Fast! Too fast!
This pace far surpassed that of any genius he had seen over the years.
And the intensity of that spiritual power... it was far beyond that of someone who had just entered the second ring.
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and leaned back into his chair, revealing an almost gentle smile.
"Good, very good! Bone Spire can be said to have worthy successors."
"When I first met you, I thought you had the potential for a Sacred Mark. Now, it seems I still underestimated you."
"Perhaps... you