Once again, Nidhogg found himself in the familiar plaza from three years ago. Yet this time, he noticed that many apprentices from his class had "unexpectedly" died over the past three years.

“At Black Tower Wizard Academy, there are 1,577 wizard apprentices participating in this year's newcomer trials. Shortly, you will receive a trial map. Survive for a month in the trial field and return safely, and you will pass the trial,” a wizard announced from the platform with a tone meant to inspire, though it carried an undercurrent of strange excitement.

“Could it really be that simple?”

“What’s going on with this year’s Bloody Grindstone?”

The apprentices in the crowd buzzed with incredulity over the seemingly “simple” trial.

Nearby, Nina, Nidhogg, Yorkris, Yorkliana, Binhansen, and Robin stood together.

Binhansen furrowed his brow, “It doesn’t make sense. I’ve heard from some past apprentices that every ten or so classes, there’s one with especially high quality and numerous students. I thought it was our turn, so I expected the academy to arrange some unimaginably terrifying trials. But the goal is simply to survive?”

Robin pouted, “Hmph, they could just drop us where wizard-level monsters roam. Let’s see how simple it feels then.”

“Don’t jinx it, that’s impossible!” Binhansen quickly interrupted, worried she might be right.

“I doubt that’s the case,” Nidhogg reassured them, shaking his head. “If they did that, the academy would be lucky if even a tenth of the apprentices survived, not even those three…”

Nidhogg indicated Yun Li, Bibilian, and Solam at the forefront of the crowd.

“Not even those three could guarantee their survival.”

Yorkris said, “The maps have been distributed—let’s see what they reveal.”

A murmur spread as apprentices received their trial maps, each reacting with shock upon discovering something unexpected.

As Nidhogg took his map, a chain of ink formed a mystical link that imprinted immediately on his forehead, leaving a black chain pattern.

Frowning slightly, Nidhogg ignored the chain and glanced at his map, only to draw a sharp breath of astonishment.

The trial will take place in a 300km by 300km uninhabited section of the Thorn Forest, bordered by warning barriers. Leaving the boundaries without permission will result in death at the hands of a wizard.

Participants include new apprentices from all wizard academies within the Twelfth District of the Seven-Ring Sacred Tower: Black Tower Wizard Academy, Maze Pan Wizard Academy, Shadow Realm Wizard Academy, Bone Tower Wizard Academy, Time Hourglass Wizard Academy, and Ivory Castle Wizard Academy.

The trial area will feature three secret realms opening at different times:

The first opens on the trial day, with 100 locations containing advanced apprentice-level magical instruments.

The second opens ten days later, with ten locations containing powerful consumable magical artifacts.

The third opens twenty days later, with one location containing valuable potions to enhance mental power and wizard notes.

Killing other apprentices will cause their forehead mark to be absorbed by the victor’s mark. At trial’s end, each additional mark earns a reward of five hundred magic stones from the academy.

No wonder Nidhogg was shocked. While the academy didn’t mandate apprentices to fight…

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

However!

Every condition on the map screamed that killing others was the way to enhance strength, ensuring safety and completion of the trial.

Technically, there were two ways to pass the trial:

First, hide for a month until the trial ends, which relies heavily on luck.

Second, vie for treasures in the secret realms, strengthening oneself to the point where they can hunt others without fear of retaliation.

“Five hundred magic stones! That’ll drive many apprentices mad!”

Nidhogg didn’t hesitate. With his strong mental power and numerous rare magical devices, few could threaten him unless they were prodigies like Yun Li, Bibilian, or Solam, who possessed rare talents and had received significant training under second-tier wizards from the start.

Such a vast quantity of magic stones to rapidly boost power was itself a form of wizardly wisdom!

This reasoning applied to the first twenty days of the trial. Once the apprentices acquired those powerful magical artifacts after twenty days, the situation would change.

“This… they’re really pushing us to the brink!”

Binhansen groaned.

Yorkris, however, grinned wickedly, “I’ve been itching for a battle like this, just like back on the sea wheel. For three years, we’ve pushed ourselves day and night to reach this moment in the trial. Back then, we were weak, relying on Nina’s protection. Now, we…”

The group glanced at Nina. Her tight-slit robe revealed her pale legs, and though her chest was concealed, her imposing figure remained apparent. Her eyes were sharply focused on the map, exuding an aura of unquestionable authority.

After contemplating, Nina calmly addressed the group, “I suspect we’ll be randomly transported into the trial area. Among us, Yorkliana, Binhansen, and…”

Nina glanced at Nidhogg before continuing, “And Nidhogg, your magic isn’t combat-oriented. Take care of yourselves on the first day and stay away from the secret realms. The rest of us will strive to obtain magical devices in the secret realms. Then, our team will regroup to prepare for the next chaos and the second secret realm opening.”

“Understood.”

The group, accustomed to Nina's planning, nodded nonchalantly.

Nidhogg murmured, “I have made a lot of preparations and am confident in obtaining a magical device from a secret realm.”

“You…” Nina eyed Nidhogg, doubting his abilities since he became an apprentice only half a year ago. Yet, respecting his pride, she said nothing further.

Turning to the others, Nina announced, “The other thirteen elders of the Bloodsail Alliance requested a meeting. With Solam joining as an elder, they likely want to discuss the third secret realm. I’ll be back shortly.”

But just two steps away, she stopped. To the shock of everyone, their jaws almost hitting the ground, she spun around, hugged Nidhogg tightly, and kissed him passionately.

Being kissed in front of friends made Nidhogg’s heart race wildly, his eyes wide open in disbelief.

Nina!?

“Take care. Don’t die.”

Nina placed an earring in Nidhogg’s hand before leaving without looking back.

It wasn’t until then that the group snapped back to reality, encircling Nidhogg with expressions like wolves cornering a lamb, cheering loudly.

“Wow… Nidhogg, explain this! What’s going on? Are you and Nina…?”

Binhansen jumped in first, his excitement akin to a monkey’s behind.

Nidhogg quickly protested, “No, nothing happened between Nina and me.”

“Nothing happened? That means everything happened! Haha, Nidhogg, stop trying to cover it up. As a fellow man, I understand!”

Binhansen clapped Nidhogg on the back, laughing heartily.

Robin stomped on Binhansen’s foot, her face flushed, “What do you understand?”

“Ow… I’m sorry, my dear, be gentle. If I’m injured, I won’t be able to move in the trial…”

Binhansen howled.

Yorkris, after breaking his stunned silence, mumbled, “Great, just great. The venomous queen finally has a man. It’s a lucky day for the Bloodsail Alliance…”

Half of Yorkliana's face flushed, not hidden by her mask. At her age, filled with dreams of love, she eagerly anticipated her own romance.

Stepping beside Nidhogg, she smiled charmingly, “Brother Nidhogg, let me help you wear the earring Nina gave you.”

At Yorkliana’s gentle insistence, she placed the earring on Nidhogg’s left ear, pairing it with the Eternal Earring on his right.

“Brother Nidhogg, this earring is called the Vine Heart. It’s how Sister Nina performed the vine spell on the sea wheel.”

Yorkliana explained.

The Vine Heart?

Back on the sea wheel, Nina was privately dubbed the Vine Magician King by apprentices, thanks to this earring.

Nidhogg chuckled ruefully, realizing that in Nina’s eyes, he remained the little fellow she needed to protect.

Though he wanted to prove he no longer needed safeguarding, the warmth and care stirred unexpected joy within him.

“Is this... what love feels like?”

About half an hourglass later, under the guidance of a dozen wizards, apprentices stepped onto a massive balance scale.

As magic stones on the scale’s other side turned gray and unremarkable, the apprentices’ images blurred, vanishing into the twisting forces of space one by one.