Chapter Sixty-Four: The Struggle

“We’ll wait near the Vortex Gate. When the moment comes, we’ll break out by force. With our combined strength, there’s no problem at all.” Oni’s plan was what everyone had in mind; it was the most efficient and quickest method.

As he spoke, he turned his attention to Hughes. “I know you—Hughes Brook, the renowned alchemist of the Shadow Ring. Welcome to our group. We’ll help you get a dose of Vitality Potion. I hope we work well together.” Oni extended his hand in a gesture of goodwill.

“I won’t hold you back.” They shook hands, Hughes confident in his abilities.

Oni smiled, not particularly concerned. The top apprentices of the Shadow Ring were all here, and he doubted a newly promoted third-level apprentice like Hughes could be all that formidable.

Hughes didn’t take Oni’s reaction to heart; his only goal was the Vitality Potion, and the means of obtaining it didn’t matter.

Oni split the group into two teams and began leading them toward the Vortex Gate.

The recent skirmish had completely ignited the atmosphere of the forest. Wizards bombarded each other throughout the woods.

Many had bloodshot eyes; they’d been stuck at the third apprentice level for too long. If they missed this opportunity, who knew when the next would come?

Hughes hid in the shadows, watching as apprentices clashed, spells and dazzling sorceries lighting up the woods—it was a spectacle far grander than any blockbuster he’d seen in his previous life.

“Get down!” Milan shouted as Hughes was observing their surroundings. Without hesitation, Hughes dove aside, rolling across the ground.

A sizzling sound followed. Hughes, regaining his composure, looked back to see a gaping, corroded hole where he’d just stood.

“Well, isn’t this Milan? When did you pick up such underhanded tricks?”

A beautiful female apprentice sauntered over, swaying her slender waist.

“Dani? How did you find us?” Milan’s expression was hostile, as though there was deep-seated enmity between the two.

“Oh? What’s the matter? Planning to let others fight it out and then swoop in for the kill, hiding around to ambush the survivors?” Dani looked at Milan with open disdain.

“Let me tell you, ever since you entered this area, everyone has known your position!” Dani’s mocking gaze lingered on Milan, clearly relishing her discomfort.

“How could that be?” Milan thought Dani was lying, assuming she’d used some detection sorcery to locate them.

Meanwhile, Hughes felt a faint warmth on his chest. He reached for the palm-sized medal and held it up.

The medal was heating slightly. The blank center, which had displayed the number one, now glowed with a dense cluster of lights.

Hughes counted the lights; there were exactly five, matching those present.

“They must have found us using this.” Hughes handed the medal to Milan for her to see.

“What’s this?” Milan compared it to her own medal, which was identical.

“So you’ve realized? Since the gate appeared, the medals have changed. No matter where you are in the forest, these lights reveal everyone’s location. You want to wait until the end to strike, but so does everyone else. I suspect the Academy designed them this way on purpose—to force us to fight.” Dani’s lips curled into a sneer.

“Is this like raising venomous insects to battle until only one survives?” Hughes mused aloud, immediately grasping the cruel logic.

“Why are you telling us all this?” Milan eyed Dani warily; she didn’t believe Dani was being charitable.

“I’m looking for him!” Dani’s gaze shifted to Hughes.

“Me?” Hughes was baffled. Why did everyone seem to know him? He was sure he’d never interacted with these people before.

“Yes, you—Hughes Brook. Give me two vials of Nature Elixir!”

“What?” Hughes was utterly confused. She’d come all this way, attacked him from a distance, just to ask for potions?

“What’s with that look? Hurry up. Don’t tell me you came to the trial without any potions!” Dani, seeing Hughes’s perplexed expression, seemed momentarily embarrassed by her earlier behavior.

After a brief hesitation, Hughes handed over two vials of Nature Elixir.

“Thanks! I don’t have any magic stones on me, but don’t worry—I guarantee my team won’t attack you in this secret realm. Thanks again!” Dani quickly took the elixirs, clapped Hughes on the shoulder, and left.

“Do all third-level apprentices know me?” Hughes watched Dani leave, then turned to Milan.

“Well, more or less! Alchemists are rare, especially young ones like you. Joining any organization or family would change your fate!” Milan replied openly, not hiding the truth.

“So why don’t you all go to my senior, Emmy?” Hughes was genuinely curious. Emmy had studied under Wizard Matt for so long—her alchemy skills should be excellent. Why didn’t they seek her out?

“You mean you don’t know?” Milan’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“What should I know?” Hughes was confused by Milan’s reaction.

“Your senior Emmy is the daughter of the Shadow Ring’s headmaster and studies under Wizard Matt. Who would dare approach her?” Milan, seeing Hughes’s genuine surprise, decided to fill him in.

“That’s quite the background…” Hughes hadn’t expected Emmy to be the headmaster’s daughter. No wonder.

“Senior Emmy didn’t come!” Hughes suddenly realized that he hadn’t seen Emmy since the assessment began.

“That’s normal, isn’t it? She doesn’t need to fight tooth and nail for resources like we do.” Milan spoke with a hint of envy.

“Doesn’t your family have resources?” Hughes noticed the bitterness in Milan’s tone, curious about these wizarding families.

“Resources? Sure, but there are so many of us in the family. My father alone has four children; no matter how many resources there are, they’re split thinner at every level. Besides…” Milan trailed off.

“Enough, you two! We need to find Oni and the others!” Their companions interrupted the conversation.

“Let’s go then!” Milan agreed, leading Hughes and the others in Oni’s direction.

Ambushes were now useless; it was time to stick together and fight head-on.

“Look, over there!” One of their companions pointed ahead—Oni was already engaged in battle with another team.

“Let’s help!” The opposing group outnumbered Oni’s, and Milan hurried to intervene.

Milan and the others rushed toward Oni.

Hughes stayed back, watching Oni’s position, and took an arrow from his quiver.

Drawing the bowstring to its fullest, Hughes poured his strength into it, the string taut to the point of snapping.

“Chip, calibrate target.” Hughes was already skilled with a bow, but for safety’s sake, he activated his chip’s assist function.

“Beep! Assistance activated. Calibrating!”

Data on wind speed and other variables instantly appeared before Hughes’s eyes.

With a sharp whistle, Hughes released the arrow.

The apprentice dueling Oni sensed something hurtling toward him, but with Oni entangling him, he could only dodge by instinct.

A blood-curdling scream rang out as Hughes’s arrow found its mark.

The arrow pierced straight through the man’s arm, blood splattering, the shaft embedding itself deep into a tree behind him.

Oni, witnessing the power of the arrow, was shaken. Not knowing which side had fired, he prudently retreated, fearing another shot. After all, he was not fully confident he could dodge an arrow loosed from the shadows.

“Oni!” Milan scattered a handful of enchanted seeds, binding the man on the ground.