With a surge of magical energy, the second secret realm of the trial ground was activated.
Standing atop a giant tree, Nina's eye transformed into an eagle eye, her vision surpassing human limits, and she shouted to those below, “Southeast, 6,800 meters!”
“Got it, we'll go secure the spot first,” Yorkris responded, then charged with his large axe towards the secret realm’s location, exuding a savage aura like a primal barbarian.
With a loud howl from the giant steel-quilled beast beneath her, Robin charged toward the secret realm, the earth rumbling as the massive creature flattened trees and undergrowth, creating a commotion.
In the distance, Robin called out, “Sister Nina, you better hurry!”
“Ah! Madam, wait for me! I’m not on yet…” Binhan's voice echoed from afar.
Nina sprouted massive leaf wings on her back and gracefully descended from the treetop. Yorkliana approached quietly, saying, “Sister Nina, Brother Nidhogg, shall we head out too?”
Nina gently brushed her short dark brown hair, revealing crescent-shaped earrings.
Nodding slightly, Nina studied the map with contemplation, murmuring, “The secret realm's location is slightly off from what we expected. Some powerful groups are likely stationed there, which could be troublesome. Nidhogg, make sure to protect Liana.”
Nina didn’t mention protecting herself, partly due to her agility and partly because she never showed weakness in front of others.
Nidhogg stood quietly beside Nina and Yorkliana, his eyes visible beneath his pale mask, and simply replied, "Okay," exuding a sense of steady reliability.
The three then headed towards the secret realm, albeit at a slower pace compared to Yorkris, Robin, and Binhan.
...
This was a massive altar rising from the ground, with a small fist-sized orb at its peak emitting a blinding light, seemingly compressing terrifying energy within.
Centered around the altar, six pillars inscribed with intricate runes rose, forming a large confinement formation that appeared to trap something dreadful.
“Hee hee, looks like I'm the first to reach the secret realm,” a female sorcerer apprentice with wind element wings on her back said excitedly, rushing to the altar. Her rare purple and blue robe exposed swaths of fair skin, and she gracefully landed beside the totem poles, radiating a pure beauty.
The sorcerer apprentice gazed at the alluring orb at the altar's center, her eyes gleaming with infatuation.
However, as an apprentice sorcerer, one who has survived the rigorous trials of the past ten days, she knew better than to rashly attempt to seize the altar's treasure.
After chanting a spell, a small earth elemental mouse appeared at her feet, lively and even nuzzling against her leg.
“Go, darling, fetch that orb for me,” she said, bending to pet the mouse.
The earth elemental mouse dashed into the formation among the six pillars.
Poof...
A flash from the formation's ground, and the mouse vanished.
“So, there is a guardian here? And this confinement formation suggests this guardian isn't controlled by a sorcerer. Was that an invisible creature or an underground ambush? Too fast to see,” she mused, shaking her head.
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
“Let's wait for others and see if there's an opportunity.”
Sitting on a clean spot, she decided to wait for more apprentices.
Soon, a team of four apprentices from the Dark Realm arrived at the secret realm. Among them, two had mark values over ten, while the other two had marks between 5 and 10, indicating they weren’t weaklings.
“Hmm?”
The Dark Realm apprentices eyed the first-comer apprentice, who had no apparent mark value but appeared unperturbed, her mark indicating she was from Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy.
She shrugged and smiled, “Hehe, don't mind me. The guardian here is formidable, and this realm's treasure isn’t for me.”
“Then why haven't you left?”
Seeing her calm demeanor, the Dark Realm apprentices refrained from provoking her.
“I just want to see who eventually gets the treasure. After all, I did get here first,” she pouted playfully.
The Dark Realm apprentices exchanged glances, and one gritted his teeth, releasing a green bird from his sleeve. With a command, the bird darted towards the altar.
However, like before, the bird vanished after a few meters, leaving only a feather drifting to the ground.
The Dark Realm apprentices’ expressions changed, growing wary of entering the formation.
Gradually, more apprentices trickled in, each radiating considerable mark energy, clearly confident individuals.
Shortly after, an overwhelming mark presence appeared near the altar, causing everyone's expression to shift: “Despairer!”
There were ten secret realms opened in the trial ground, and with seven Despairers participating, each realm had a high probability of encountering them.
As a nimble male figure entered their view, the name “Mechanical Heart” echoed in everyone's minds.
His right arm appeared entirely mechanical or covered with a metallic device, gleaming with a metallic sheen. A large mechanical tail, like a scorpion's stinger, exuded an intimidating aura, the rest of him obscured by a wide robe.
Seeing the crowd and realizing none dared to enter the formation, he simply sat down without any attempts, taking out a complex metal sphere to study, seemingly a mechanical component.
Not a word was spoken, embodying a person deeply engrossed in sorcerer studies.
Rumble!
The ground's shaking captured everyone's attention back to the forest's depths. The tremors suggested the arrival of a substantial entity.
As a small tree toppled, Robin appeared on the steel-quilled beast, with Yorkris wielding a battle axe.
They casually surveyed those gathered around the secret realm, then locked eyes with the motionless Mechanical Heart, their expressions tightening.
How unlucky to have a Despairer interested in this realm.
“Pant... pant... Honored wife, you’ll be the death of me...” Binhan caught up, gasping, and fell silent upon sensing the Mechanical Heart’s aura, the atmosphere growing tense.
Yet, upon Robin's, Yorkris', and Binhan’s arrival, the Blacksaw female apprentice's eyes brightened. Flapping her wind element wings, she flew over, “Hehe, it's you guys, what a coincidence.”
The three turned, surprised, “Belle?”
The Belle before them was the same who had caused a male apprentice to offend the Bloodsail Alliance during Nidhogg's first sorcerer apprentice class, resulting in his death as a warning to others.
Over three years, Belle had become a notable figure in the academy, even more renowned than the poison-tongued queen Nina.
Belle had been named among the top ten in the new class, received the most confessions, was nominated as the academy's ambassador, and gained recognition from a senior sorcerer...
In the Blacksaw Sorcerer Academy, this sorcerer apprentice was a shining, positively regarded figure, garnering much attention.
Rumors in the Bloodsail Alliance even suggested that Armland had a close bond with Belle...
“You’re all here; I assume Her Majesty Queen Nina will arrive soon?” Belle giggled charmingly.
Robin, the only female among the three, awkwardly responded, “Uh... she’s coming.”
Though Nina and Belle hadn’t interacted much, they were often compared by others as the most prominent female sorcerer apprentices at Blacksaw, with Nina often being criticized during this phase, which had displeased her.
However, this period passed as the apprentices matured, and the comparisons faded.
A few minutes later, Nina, Nidhogg, and Yorkliana arrived.
Nina immediately noticed Belle, frowning, “Belle?”
It was evident Nina instinctively felt competitive against this seemingly “stronger” sorcerer apprentice, despite their lack of direct interaction.
Belle laughed, covering her mouth, “Sister Nina, though we’ve seen each other a few times before, we’ve never properly spoken. I didn’t expect our first conversation would be here.”
After a glance at Yorkliana and Nidhogg, Belle’s eyes lingered on Nidhogg, who was quietly standing behind Nina wearing his faceless mask.
Having not seen this stranger with Nina before, and curious why his mark value was ten, Belle inquired, “Who might this be?”
Nina replied casually, “My man.”
Nina's bluntness left Belle wide-eyed and shocked, as Nina had always focused on her strength rather than striving for a public image like Belle, never concerning herself with the notion of being a public idol.
Because she always centered herself as a strong individual.