“You… have you really not reached the first awakening stage?”
Ivor was shocked when he saw how Ivo controlled the Mana in his hand. What he did was so smooth as if there was no flaw. The Mana seemed to flow smoothly in Ivo’s hand and seemed to submit to him.
He had already investigated this person, through the blood he obtained from the demon alchemist’s mansion, Ivor knew that the person he was looking for had not reached the first awakening stage. The blood in his body was still the blood of an ordinary human without any influence brought about when the Mana Nucleus merged into the body.
That was why he had underestimated Ivo at first which led to his current state. Now, seeing Ivo controlling magic energy so easily, he really had to re-evaluate the level Ivo was at.
At least he was at the first awakening stage.
‘So everything he did before was just a trap. This person was pretending to be weak and hiding his strength. Furthermore, the fact that he could control mana to this level, he was truly a genius.’ Ivor thought like this.
What Ivo did was beyond what a first awakening stage magician could do. No way he controlled it even almost reached the second awakening stage.
This guy… he really is a monster.
“At least he is a genius on par with Raven,” Ivor muttered silently.
In all his life, he had never seen anyone who could rival Raven in terms of talent. In this era, there were many talented people in the world but almost no one could rival his master.
Raven was like the sun that shone brightly beating the stars out there.
What was even more terrifying was, that this guy was like a cunning snake.
Ivor didn’t know but compared to what he could do in the past when he was at his peak as a Magician, something like this was something so easy.
Ivo formed a magic circle around his hands like a rope ready to bind himself. “Isn’t it amazing, what magic can do in this world.”
The light blue color that looked like the sky, and the movement of Mana naturally changed into another form of energy. The mana operation was something Ivo could never forget in his life. This process was beautiful and amazing, like painting on a blank white canvas.
Endless possibilities, the beginning of a problem, and also a solution. As a modern human living in a world without magic, the experience of controlling magic was something he could not explain.
Ivor seemed not to understand but he kept the statement in his head. He would understand this statement after solving the first problem.
“Now, how are you going to solve Bernard Lurk’s problem? If that person comes to this city, he definitely won’t come openly. Especially when he’s a Shaman Candidate.”
“It’s easy. Give me your hand.”
Ivor stretched out his hand. The magic that Ivo formed, slowly flowed towards Ivor’s hand and bound his hand as if melting into his body. Deep in the depths of his body, Ivor could feel a strange voice that seemed to whisper but was not heard through his ears.
Soul. The whisper seemed to touch his soul and muttered something but Ivor could not understand it. With this feeling, he looked at Ivo with a strange gaze. “This is… death magic?”
“Bingo. You guessed it right. The easiest way to find the hidden members of the Court of The Dead is to use this magic. As long as you hear the voice inside you getting stronger and the words it says can be understood, then you will find them.”
“Simple, isn’t it?”
This… Ivor didn’t know what to say. The solution was indeed easy and he had to admit it, but if it was that easy, could finding the disguised members of the Court of the Dead be done this way.
No. He couldn’t. Death magic was strictly guarded by the Court of The Dead. Those without authority were not allowed to use it, even if there were those who could use it, there were very few such people in this world.
The Court of The Dead did not tolerate outsiders using it without permission. If anyone was discovered, everyone related to the user would suffer the consequences. Even Raven did not allow anyone to use death magic.
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“Is there anything else you want?”
“No need. I’ll leave right now.” Ivor nodded slowly while listening to the voice inside his soul. His body was slowly surrounded by shadows and he prepared to leave this place.
“Good luck.” Ivo gave a final greeting as he watched Ivor disappear. When he was left alone, Ivo continued his words. “You will need it.”
Ah… the dice have been rolled and the pawns have moved. I just have to wait for the result and the Regressor will feel the misfortune.
‘It’s not that I hate you, Raven. But considering your attitude while I was playing the game, you really need to be taught a lesson.’
If he was left alone, he would kill me immediately. Raven hated such unpredictable variables the most that he would immediately eliminate them without a second thought. This was a case that was often encountered and debated within the community.
This was roughly the typical reaction of players when they were still active after five years.
“If you think badly of our beloved Regressor, insult him just because he’s a bit annoying and always causing trouble, and stop playing Destiny, then you’re out of your Goddamn mind.”
“Wait a minute, you were helped by that bastard, given potions, and sided with him while we were being killed senselessly?”
“I- I mean, yeah. That’s right.”
“I can’t believe you, YOU WERE HELPED BY THAT PERSON, SIDED WITH THAT FUCKING BASTARD, WHILE WE WERE BEING SLAUGHTERED AND EXPECTED TO THINK BETTER ABOUT IT?”
“Just killed? I was mutilated by the psychopath who followed him!!!”
“Wait, you were killed by Raven?”
That was a debate that had been going on for quite some time in the community. For almost a year, discussions about Raven had filled the web to the point that users cared about nothing else.
After more than 5 years, the survivors began to complete the first half of the game. And at that time, one horrifying conclusion was drawn by those who managed to survive.
“Either you side with Raven and become his subordinate, fight that guy with everything you have, or go to another kingdom on the continent to avoid Raven. Choose between those three if you still want to continue playing Destiny.”
There was no other choice. Most players would choose to leave the Eternal Kingdom and start a new life. Some might be foolish enough to try to fight Raven which failed, while there are very few records of other players who managed to follow Raven without starting from Ernest City.
"Has your friend left?" Masha glanced from behind the wall and tried to peek. After seeing the man leave, she came and approached Ivo.
"He's gone. He said he had urgent business to do."
"Too bad. Won't he come back to this place?" Masha asked with a slightly sad expression.
"I don't know, maybe he'll come back and maybe he won't." Ivo shrugged his shoulders. He looked at Masha who was now looking at him.
"Is there something wrong with my face?"
"Aren't you coming back too?"
Ivo was a little surprised by this question but he didn't show it too much. Seeing Ivo not answer, Masha sighed softly.
"It looks like the inn will be quiet again for a long time." Masha said while lowering her head.
This nameless inn is indeed no one has ever come. Even if someone does come, there are very few people who really want to stay. Ivo looked around where the wooden table was always cleaned without any dust, the magic tool used to light up this room, and the scent of Rosewood that he could smell.
From this place alone, it could be seen that Masha really cared about this inn. Ivo didn't know what Masha or this woman's father's goals were. Since the beginning, the Rumanoff family had always been mysterious and spread throughout the human continent.
Even the players didn't know their whereabouts except for a few wild theories.
'I admit that the food here is delicious. But to involve this girl... it's better not to get too involved with her after I enter the White Snow academy.' Ivo thought as he watched Masha slowly go back to her place.
At least she would be safe. Ivor wouldn't be able to touch her because Masha's father was quite a strong person. As for Raven, his focus would definitely be diverted to me until the end of his life. He would become an annoying Regressor who would probably be so annoying until the end.
"But, that's where the fun is. I don't need to involve other people who are always nice to me." Ivo smiled with a chuckle.
“It’s time to get ready. Maybe I should buy some snacks outside while watching tonight’s drama.”
***
After paying for the damages and the food he ordered earlier, Ivo walked around the city. He was currently in the center of Ernest City where a large white gate was visible before his eyes.
The symbol of white snow could be seen on each of the large flags on each side of the gate, not only that, many students from the White Snow Academy were seen walking and relaxing around here.
‘First, I need a few things. A sufficient amount of change of clothes, tools that can help me survive, emergency food and drinks, and the rest I can buy 3 magical plants that will help me increase my mana capacity.’ Ivo made a list in his head of what he needed to buy.
Is this necessary?
Of course. Veibel had said that the third test would be carried out in the form of a point hunt. So why does a test that doesn’t even take a day require so much preparation?
It’s simple. This is why players call this test not a point hunt test, we call it a survival test. And this is the beginning of why starting from Kote Ernest is said to be an unreasonable stage.
“Just fighting the prospective students is already considered too much for players. Without parallel mana processing, there’s no way someone can survive until the end of the hunt test. Even surviving until the final stage of the point hunt is already a miracle.”
Where is the logic of the game developers who tell new players to fight someone who is in the first awakening stage with these trash stats?
And that wasn’t the worst of it. Making it to the final stage of the point hunt test was just the beginning. Because the real hell only begins after all that is over.
“Now, let’s get ready.”