Three meters beneath the soil, nestled within the subterranean bud of the Ground Bulb, Nidhogg held a mid-grade magic stone to restore his magic. He was also contemplating ways to control the resonance of the mark on his forehead.

Through continuous research, Nidhogg made a discovery.

Even the slightest depletion of his magic would cause his mark’s resonance to flare like a blazing sun within a hundred-meter radius, constantly alerting all nearby apprentices. However, if he maintained full magic and remained stationary without any movement or magical fluctuation, the mark’s resonance would retract entirely, rendering him indistinguishable from an apprentice with no marks.

Yet, the moment Nidhogg moved, even simply walking, the mark's resonance would reappear. Although, at this point, the range and intensity would be significantly reduced, limited to a thirty-meter radius with a ten-point strength.

But should any magical fluctuation arise within him, no matter how slight, it would trigger a thirty-point intensity resonance within a thirty-meter radius, instantly expanding to a hundred meters if his magic began to deplete.

Having grasped the control method for his mark's resonance, Nidhogg calculated the time and realized that the first batch of secret realms would soon open.

Wasting no time, Nidhogg tapped on the Ground Bulb. After a moment of trembling, the soil above him loosened, and a giant bud emerged from the ground, unveiling Nidhogg within.

Dropping a single drop of potion onto the large bud, the Ground Bulb trembled and rapidly shrank, reverting into an inconspicuous seed which Nidhogg stored away. Carefully managing his mark’s resonance, he made his way toward a vantage point on high ground.

Even with his resonance limited to a ten-point intensity in a thirty-meter range, other apprentices kept their distance. Nidhogg didn’t encounter a single one.

The specified thirty-meter and hundred-meter ranges were theoretical; the actual influence varied depending on the other’s perception abilities.

As the sun set, with about half an hourglass until dusk, Nidhogg sensed two significant magical fluctuations. One lay roughly a kilometer away, and the other approximately three to four kilometers distant.

Standing on the high ground, Nidhogg peered through the dense forest toward the nearer magical fluctuation, noticing an odd disturbance. Trees appeared to be uprooted, mingled with the guttural roars of what seemed like irrational beasts.

“The secret realm has opened.”

Excited, Nidhogg controlled his mark’s resonance as he hastened toward the nearest secret realm, eager to claim its rewards. If he could collect more marks along the way, so much the better.

As the realms opened, the vast trial grounds began to draw people together, concentrating apprentices at these burgeoning locations.

Along the way, Nidhogg spotted a few apprentices also heading toward the secret realm, though they were cautious, avoiding him. He had no intention of using magic to chase them.

Thus, each in relative safety, made their way to the gathering points.

Moments later, Nidhogg reached the nearest secret realm, only to feel a pang of disappointment.

“So basic?”

Indeed, the first wave of so-called secret realms was merely a lavishly decorated house, far from deserving the term ‘secret realm.’

The only notable feature was a colossal tree standing in front of the house, its branches like arms or steel whips, slaying any apprentice attempting to approach.

Before the realm, approximately thirty apprentices had gathered, while more appeared on the horizon.

The massive tree bore a gaping mouth as large as a table, filled with jagged teeth, chewing through the corpses of recently slain apprentices. The beast-like roars Nidhogg heard earlier seemed to emanate from this monstrous maw.

Stolen novel; please report.

The tree’s arm-like branches were powerfully strong and resilient, posing a nightmare for apprentices, wrapping them easily and lethally.

"This is the Labrador Nightmare Tree. Typically indistinguishable from an ordinary giant tree, it requires feeding once every hundred years. Without sufficient flesh to consume, the Labrador Nightmare Tree will never transform into a real tree, remaining a carnivorous monster," yelled an apprentice with apparent knowledge.

“Blood food? Where do we get blood food from? It just devoured three apprentices and shows no sign of being satiated,” another apprentice said grimly.

Among the thirty or so gathered, two apprentices were formidable, each with mark resonances equivalent to ten individuals, flanked by two to three aides. None of the other apprentices dared provoke these groups.

The remaining individuals kept wary distance, with only a few approaching in allied groups.

"Where to find blood food? Haha, isn’t there plenty among us?" remarked a male apprentice with the ten-mark resonance.

Seeming around fifteen or sixteen, he had a youthful appearance and a voice transitioning through puberty, yet his demeanor was already chillingly ruthless.

After speaking, he glanced at the female apprentice, similarly marked with ten resonances, who sat atop a giant bear composed of earth elements. Her eyes flickered, undecided about attacking other apprentices to “feed” the Nightmare Tree.

Nidhogg watched from afar, choosing to bide his time and await developments rather than rush into action.

At that moment, an apprentice, unable to contain their impatience, attempted to sneak toward the secret realm under a simple invisibility spell, disregarding the fearsome Labrador Nightmare Tree.

The crowd chuckled, dismissing the effort as a futile sacrifice. However, they were stunned when the apprentice’s rough disguise actually bypassed the Nightmare Tree and entered the house.

Moments later, a faint spatial fluctuation suggested the realm contained a teleportation device, and the apprentice safely disappeared.

Even Nidhogg was taken aback before his eyes turned cold.

His claim on the secret realm’s reward was snatched right before him, kindling anger.

Suddenly, Nidhogg considered the scenario, noting the still-visible house, and wondered, “Could it be that the secret realm isn’t limited to rewarding a single person?”

“Damn it! That bastard stole my magical instrument!” the adolescent male apprentice raged, glancing at the hesitant female apprentice atop the earth bear. “If you don’t make a decision, I won’t hold back!”

Gritting her teeth, the female apprentice finally barked, “Kill!”

With her consent, the adolescent male apprentice sneered, “Even if you get the secret realm artifact, I’ll take it from you!”

Signaling to his allies, they charged at the lone apprentices, while some rushed the house, others scattered, avoiding involvement.

“Nidhogg!” At that moment, a female apprentice spotted the masked Nidhogg and shouted in relief, rushing toward him.

This apprentice was part of the Bloodsail Alliance and seemed close to Yorkris, often seen with him. Though Nidhogg recognized her, named Iraltiven, they hadn't spoken often.

None of this mattered now.

Seeing the adolescent male pursuing Iraltiven, Nidhogg felt a thrill of anticipation, mentally urging her, "Yes! Closer!"

Nidhogg remained motionless, suppressing all mark resonance.

Iraltiven, seeing Nidhogg hold his ground, was filled with gratitude. She and Yorkris hadn’t officially started anything, yet Nidhogg risked himself to save her. It inspired trust and admiration, beyond the mere alliance bond.

Iraltiven didn’t believe Nidhogg acted out of mere alliance camaraderie; alliances offered mutual aid, but wouldn't ensure rescue in peril.

She hadn’t considered other motives...

Watching the approaching adolescent apprentice, Nidhogg licked his lips in excitement, his gaze unnerving.

Reaching Nidhogg’s side, Iraltiven turned, gathering her magic to confront the pursuer, breathlessly saying, “He’s strong, from Ivory Castle, just stall him. I’ve already contacted—”

Suddenly, a terrifying mark resonance exploded behind Iraltiven, like a sun radiating light and heat, engulfing all other resonances, hers vanishing like a reef beneath stormy seas.

At her spell’s activation, every apprentice in the realm's vicinity turned in shock toward the excited, grimacing Nidhogg.

“Run!”

Without hesitation, the female atop the earth bear fled, leaving tremors in her wake.

Iraltiven stood frozen, pale, unable to fathom that the one enveloping a pursuing apprentice in elemental flames, boasting a ten-point resonance, was Nidhogg.

Could all this be Nidhogg’s doing?

Nidhogg charged forward, summoning a fireball at his fingertips, launching it at a nearby apprentice too slow to evade, incinerating them before a scream escaped.

In that moment, Nidhogg was a ravenous wolf among sheep, slaughtering any prey within reach until, after the fourth kill, the secret realm was deserted.

“Devil, I’ll remember you!” an apprentice screamed from afar, fleeing in terror.

Nidhogg ignored them, licking his lips. “Fifty-one mark points.”

Glancing at the motionless, shell-shocked Iraltiven, Nidhogg didn’t acknowledge her directly, offering only a slight smile before making his way to the Labrador Nightmare Tree.

To Iraltiven, Nidhogg's smile was the sneer of a devil, her frozen form trembling instinctively as sweat pooled, her face ghostly.

“No, no, with over thirty marks, you can enter the house directly.”

To Nidhogg’s surprise, the Nightmare Tree spoke.

Startled, Nidhogg laughed, “Interesting.”

Entering the house, nine identical magic wands stood on pedestals, one notably vacant, presumably taken by the earlier apprentice.

Pondering briefly, Nidhogg mused, “So this is the reward? They seem like basic enchantment devices.”

As he grasped a wand, a spatial ripple surged, and Nidhogg vanished along with the wand.