The wizard apprentices disembarking from the ship caught everyone's attention at the port, mainly because the ship was in such a dilapidated state. It was a wonder it had survived the battle between a wizard and a nightmarish giant octopus without sinking. As soon as the ship docked, the apprentices eagerly rushed ashore, taking deep breaths of fresh air and displaying expressions of joy. Finally, they were off that hellish ship!

Their joy, however, drew mocking remarks from other apprentices passing through the port.

“Another bunch of country bumpkins from the outlying islands, thinking they've become wizards just because they've reached the wizard continent. Such laughable ignorance, hmph…”

This apprentice assumed that the Blood Sail Alliance members were excited simply because they had arrived on the wizard continent.

“Master,” the group of apprentices at the port greeted the Faceless Mask wizard with respect. The Faceless Mask ignored them, casually instructing the newly arrived apprentices, “Don’t wander off.”

Just then, a figure appeared in the distant sky. Moments later, an old witch riding a broom landed in front of the group, paying no attention to Nidhogg and the others, instead focusing on Yünli and Bibilianna behind the Faceless Mask.

“Yuck, yuck, these are the little darlings discovered by Iis’ Cottage, right? Indeed, their soul waves are quite unique.”

The old witch's face was so wrinkled it resembled gnarled tree bark, and she laughed with a mouth full of blackened teeth, an unsettling sight. Many in the Blood Sail Alliance instinctively backed away from her.

Nidhogg couldn’t help but wonder if all wizards had such eccentric appearances. If he became a wizard, would he end up like this? The thought sent a chill down his spine. He glanced at Nina’s tall, beautiful form and imagined her in the witch's place…

“Am I pretty?” Nina suddenly turned, facing Nidhogg with a deadpan expression, as if making a cold joke.

Caught off guard, Nidhogg hurriedly replied, “Uh… yes, very.”

Nina looked at him, surprised. Normally, Nidhogg would have turned away coldly at such a question. Perhaps being off the ship had made everyone relax a bit, even Nina, who hadn’t expected herself to ask Nidhogg that.

After a moment of surprise, Nina laughed, “Can I take that as a confession? Hmph, considering you risked your life to save me, I’ll consider it seriously.”

With a satisfied smile, she turned away from him. Nidhogg stood there momentarily stunned.

He remembered clearly when he was at the Viscount's mansion in Biser City, this young lady had thrown out a book called "The Reconstruction and Olfactory Map of the Nose," shouting the name Eiron.

Meanwhile, the Faceless Mask wizard atop the mass of crows said, “Alright, don’t scare these little ones. After over a month of trials, they’re probably terrified of the academy.”

“Yuck, yuck, what do I care about their thoughts? They can’t even enter the Seventh Ring Holy Tower. Our targets are just these two.” The old witch gestured for Yünli and Bibilianna to come forward, then complained to the Faceless Mask, “If I had taken this assignment, it wouldn’t have taken a month.”

With that, she left with Yünli and Bibilianna.

“Hmph! She wouldn’t have made it in a month unless she could make the ship fly,” Yorkris grumbled after the witch disappeared. His sister Yorkliana tugged his sleeve, signaling him to stop speaking before he got into trouble.

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“Fool, she meant abandoning us or outright killing us,” Nina said coldly.

Nina’s explanation sent a chill through Yorkris, Yorkliana, and Nidhogg. They were relieved that the old witch hadn't been the one to take on the “task.” Some even began to feel nostalgic for Wizard Dira. If they had reached the Iis Cottage Wizard Academy safely, their fate would have been different.

About fifteen minutes later, several panting wizard apprentices arrived. Seeing the Faceless Mask wizard, they quickly saluted despite their fatigue.

Impatiently, the Faceless Mask said, “Alright, there are still two weeks until school officially starts, but these apprentices won’t need further arrangements. Assign them living quarters directly at the academy; you handle it.”

“Yes,” the apprentices responded respectfully. The Faceless Mask took Solang and flew away, surrounded by a cacophony of cawing crows that filled the sky with an eerie, ominous atmosphere.

Once the wizards left, the newly arrived apprentices sighed with relief before turning their attention to the newcomers from the ship. After more than a month of battles and sea monster attacks, their numbers had dwindled to fewer than three hundred.

“Well, it seems you country bumpkins have some sense, unlike the idiots from our year. Your master trained you well,” a sarcastic voice cut through, souring the apprentices' initial hopeful mood. They quickly realized the Black Sotha Wizard Academy wasn’t going to be a welcoming place.

Not all apprentices were like that, though. A female apprentice stepped forward. “Alright, you newcomers, listen up. Not everyone who enters the Black Sotha Wizard Academy is called a wizard apprentice. Only those who can independently cast three spells earn that title. For now, you’re just called initiates, or newcomers.”

Pausing, she continued, “So your tasks are twofold: continually enhance your spiritual power and learn new magic.”

“Enough, Silia, stop playing the good guy,” interrupted another apprentice with an aggressive manner—a large, bald man with a scar on his forehead.

“Listen up, newbies. Although killing is forbidden in the academy, rules are dead things. If you kill and aren’t caught in the act or leave evidence, the enforcement team won’t bother with it. So, if you want to live longer, behave yourselves!”

He warned them harshly.

“And just because you’ve reached the wizard continent doesn’t mean you’re wizards. I’ve seen enough of you arrogant fools from remote islands. To me, you bumpkins are nothing but trash!”

Members of the Blood Sail Alliance listened in silence, simply watching the speaker with calm eyes. In the past, such taunts might have sparked heated responses or idle retorts from prideful individuals. But after a month of trials, those who didn’t understand the reality had already been thrown into the sea.

Surprised by the lack of reaction, the bald apprentice rubbed his head, feeling both disappointed and annoyed, and shouted, “Let's go!”

The eight apprentices led the way, followed by nearly three hundred Blood Sail newcomers. They passed through a not-so-flourishing harbor to reach a towering, steep mountain.

The mountain loomed vertically at over eighty degrees, with layers of dark chains covering it, giving the unsettling impression of a “living” presence. As night fell, the mountain's silhouette was barely visible.

Seeing the leading eight apprentices continuing forward without pause, the Blood Sail apprentices wondered if the Black Sotha Wizard Academy was atop this mountain. How could they climb such an imposing structure, with its jagged rocks and menacing vegetation?

“Goo goo…” A silhouette periodically flew across the dark sky—it was an owl. Suddenly, the bald leader turned with a harsh reminder, “Listen, don’t interfere with any owls near the academy or its grounds. If the enforcement team investigates, it won’t be pleasant.”

The apprentices were puzzled, unsure why he was warning them.

Arriving at the foot of the mountain, the group saw massive trees, forty to fifty meters high, growing from the jagged cliff. How many years had these giants lived?

In the rustling of branches and leaves, the atmosphere felt eerie. The bald apprentice stood respectfully before one of the giant trees. “Please open the passage.”

To the astonishment of many apprentices, the tree’s bark began to shift, revealing a human-like face that scanned everyone before reverting to bark.

With a rumble, a massive boulder was lifted by black chains, revealing a hidden passage.

After following the tunnel for some time, they suddenly emerged into daylight. Countless illuminated buildings appeared before them, the most striking being a colossal tower in the distant horizon, standing proudly countless meters high!

“Is that… Black Sotha?”

While everyone was captivated by the towering structure, Nidhogg noticed an unremarkable grey stone beside the tunnel.

The stone itself didn’t stand out and showed signs of weathering. However, the words carved into it were etched with a force that seemed to defy time, standing eternally against the wear of ages.

Nidhogg silently read the inscription aloud:

“Give me endless knowledge, and I shall use myself as a fulcrum to move the infinite world.”