“可恶！他们太嚣张了！才十几个人，就要求我们每天杀五个同胞？”一名充满正义感的巫师学徒叫道。
To emphasize his anger, he struck the deck with his steel knife, embedding it with a loud "clang." The force demonstrated that he had some strength. However, most people looked on disdainfully, as the sailors had already left, and this display was merely posturing.
Despite the disdain, many apprentices gathered around him, united by a common enemy. Deep down, the wizard apprentices looked down on the dirty sailors, believing themselves to be superior even though they had yet to become full-fledged wizards.
Reflecting for a moment, those sailors numbered only about a dozen, which might allow the apprentices to remain safe for three days.
"Since five have already died today, let's leave it for now. Tomorrow we can..."
The next day, the Faceless Mask wizard stood on the deck, counting the passengers. After a brief moment, he let out a sharp laugh. "Five are missing. It seems you are starting to understand the mindset of a dark wizard. Hehe, not bad, not bad. It seems I won't need to intervene today."
After speaking, he returned to his tent, leaving everyone else alone. Solang, Yünli, Bibilianna, and the bosun also departed, leaving two distinct factions on the ship: the sailors and the wizard apprentices.
The sailors, although fewer in number, were strong and skilled in combat. Typically, three to five apprentices couldn't match one sailor in a real fight. Meanwhile, the wizard apprentices numbered nearly four hundred, greatly outnumbering the sailors. However, they were divided into small groups, lacking unity.
Sensing the tension, the sailors did not attack as aggressively as they had previously. Instead, the strongest among them stepped forward and taunted, "What’s wrong? Haven’t you prepared five sacrificial lambs yet?"
"We won't let our companions die. If anyone has to die, it will be you!" shouted the leading apprentice, his words inciting the others, though he himself did not step forward.
Some naive apprentices, or those pushed from behind, rushed toward the sailors, creating a confusing momentum as those in the back pushed forward, unaware of what was happening.
"You want to die!" roared the sailor, skillfully dodging one of the charging apprentices and swiftly beheading them with a grim smile.
The apprentice's head rolled into the crowd before the body collapsed after a few more steps. Watching four die in quick succession, the sailor leader's gaze turned to the nearest wizard apprentice.
Those at the forefront hesitated, fear halting their advance; after all, no one wanted to die needlessly.
The apprentices behind, unable to see clearly, pushed forward anxiously, questioning if the sailors had been defeated yet.
The sailor leader's stare fell upon "Rat," an apprentice who had initially clashed with Yorkris.
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Feeling the intense focus of the massive sailor leader, Rat was terrified. His axe trembled in his grip as he silently cursed whoever had pushed him forward.
Looking back, no one seemed willing to advance further, and with his former protector Andrew killed by the real sea monsters, Rat had no one left to rely on.
Desperation taking hold, Rat's shifty eyes darted around before he suddenly swung his axe at a female apprentice behind him, killing her instantly.
“That's five! We don't need to kill each other anymore!” he shouted excitedly. The sailor leader, surprised by Rat's decisiveness, hesitated before sneering and leading the sailors away.
"Ah! Bastard, I'll kill you!" roared a male apprentice, eyes red with rage as he glared at Rat. The male apprentice had a connection to the girl Rat had killed.
Rat was startled, but the crowd restrained the vengeful apprentice. No one wanted conflict, as each apprentice was a valuable asset—less death meant better odds of survival.
No one wanted to let the five deaths go to waste, so they "kindly" stopped the vengeful apprentice.
Another day passed, with Nidhogg and his group staying together. In these tense times, no one dared to be alone.
The following day, the Faceless Mask praised them for completing the task and left. After a moment of silence, chaos erupted among the apprentices, centered on Rat and the avenging male apprentice, now with reinforcements.
On one side, Rat called in support from Bai, who had previously clashed with Yorkris. The two sides soon erupted into a fierce battle.
Despite Rat's sly appearance, he showed no fear in this life-or-death struggle, and the fight was intense.
However, a winner had to emerge. Minutes later, a scream marked Bai’s fall, struck in the back, and he died under the combined assault of the opposing duo.
In his last moments, Rat took one of them down with him, ending the duel with the vengeful male apprentice victorious.
But before he could revel in his victory, a dagger pierced his back, emerging from his chest. The crowd parted, and the assailant vanished.
Simultaneously, Yorkris roared, "You're dead!"
Someone had targeted Yorkliana in the chaos. Weak and injured, she had become an easy mark for those looking to fulfill the death quota.
A man, about six feet tall and calm, had attempted the ambush. Failing, he quickly withdrew his dagger, blending into the crowd.
At that moment, a giant vine erupted from the deck, ensnaring him. In his terror-stricken cries, Yorkris cleaved him with his axe.
“Bastard!” Yorkris cursed, his face spattered with blood as Nidhogg hurried over, glaring at those around them while pulling Yorkris back to safety.
With five dead, peace reluctantly returned. Many glanced at Nina in shock, realizing that her magical abilities were formidable. Nidhogg’s team wouldn’t be an easy target in the future.
The sailors, noticing Nina’s sorcery, eyed her with newfound respect.
他们每天都盼望着船能到达目的地，每天早晨都感觉像是在经历一场地狱之旅。
船上分为三个等级，最顶层是令人恐怖的无面面具、水手长、索朗、云莉和比比利安娜，后者是统治阶级，唯一的职责就是清点人数和分发有限的口粮。
第二梯队则是水手们，以及像妮娜一样拥有魔法学徒的小团体，随着时间的流逝，越来越多的魔法学徒展现出了自己的实力，成为了令人瞩目的人物。
其中，包括妮娜在内的五名魔法学徒被称为“五大施法者”，无人敢挑战他们，因此他们被称为“五王”或“五大施法者”。
最低等级的学徒由剩余的学徒组成。每天早上，需要淘汰五名学徒，因此水手们给他们起了个贬义的绰号“待宰的猪”。
三十天过去了，一百五十名学徒被扔下了船。船上感觉不那么拥挤了。
幸存的学徒们目光冰冷，凶狠，曾经的笑容现在已经很少见了。
在这样的严峻考验下，他们从天真的青年成长为坚强的生存者。
一天深夜，尼德霍格、约克利斯、约克莉安娜和妮娜冒险来到甲板上，五大魔导师带领的近二十个人已经聚集在那里。
看来一个重大决定即将做出。