"Brother Belrod, do you think we have a chance to compete for the second secret realm?"

A clever and cute female sorcerer apprentice looked at Belrod expectantly.

Seeing the hopeful expression on her face filled Belrod with a sense of fulfillment and pride. Back when he was unknown, no one in the team paid any attention to him, let alone asking for his opinion. They wouldn’t even glance his way.

But now…

She was acting all innocent and clever in front of him.

"Yes, Brother Belrod, do you think we have a chance to seize the second secret realm?"

The ever-loyal sidekick asked again, greatly satisfying Belrod’s vanity, like soaking in a hot spring on a cold winter's day.

"Ahem..."

Belrod cleared his throat twice.

Whenever Belrod spoke in front of his peers, he would habitually clear his throat twice to grab their attention and ensure silence. Then, he would wear a humble, wise smile, as if he were a perfect genius delivering deeply analyzed, self-evident truths.

"The second secret realm contest is undeniably over ten times more difficult than the first. Ordinary participants might as well be moths to a flame. However..."

Belrod glanced at his companions, seeing their eager eyes. He couldn’t help but smile, "But given our team's strength, if the competing sorcerer apprentices happen to be relatively weak, we might stand a good chance."

After saying this, Belrod resumed his "humble" smile, as if discussing something trivial.

But honestly, Belrod, being ranked ninth among the top ten of Dark Realm Academy, already possessed skills exceeding his rank.

For instance, Belrod's mark value had surpassed ten points, giving him some reason to be proud.

Under Belrod’s leadership, the group of five finally reached the nearest secret realm.

Suddenly, as they approached, the team felt a terrifying mark wave, and they looked in horror at a metallic figure, sitting silently in the distance. A cold sweat covered their heads as the title "Mechanical Heart" exploded in their minds.

Within a hundred meters of Mechanical Heart's domain, no team dared to set up camp. Such was the deterrent power of a Despairer!

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the secret realm, roughly thirty to forty individuals were scattered around. Many exuded strong auras, with at least ten boasting mark values exceeding ten. In Nidhogg's team, Nidhogg, Nina, and Robin each had over ten points.

Robin had regrouped with Nina, gaining benefits from her, while Yorkris without his sister’s assistance didn’t dare use his explosive sorcery.

Belrod’s group cautiously controlled their steps, careful not to attract the terrifying Despairer's attention, and slowly retreated.

“Huff, huff…”

The female sorcerer, called the Bright Pearl, was panting heavily. Facing the Despairer's pressure had indeed rattled the small team.

Bright Pearl looked again at Belrod with teary, pitiful eyes and asked, “Brother Belrod, what do we do now?”

Belrod gritted his teeth in secret.

Determined to maintain his confident, wise image, he strove to put on an expression of calm acceptance, projecting indifference.

“It’s alright. Out of ten secret realms, with seven Despairers, it’s normal for one to be here. However, even a Despairer wouldn’t act recklessly with so many apprentices having mark values over ten. We might find an opportunity…”

With this, Belrod, under the worshipful eyes of his followers, led them to another area of the secret realm, away from the Despairer.

“Brother Belrod, this team has three sorcerer apprentices with mark values over ten. What do we do?”

Bright Pearl habitually asked Belrod.

Seeing him silent, she looked up to find him standing still, as if seeing a ghost, his legs trembling!

This shocked his followers, as he hadn’t even reacted this way to the Despairer, Mechanical Heart.

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They couldn’t comprehend his reaction upon seeing the person with the pale mask, yet Belrod was deeply shocked and scared!

Ten days ago, on his first day in the trial grounds, Belrod thought this place would be paradise for his rise, planning a spree to earn a fortune in magic stones, and then...

But all those dreams were ruthlessly crushed by the mysterious apprentice before him.

Not only did this person stomp on Belrod's dreams, but the violent reality check during his escape left him with a string of nightmare-inducing memories.

Belrod didn't realize how pale his face was now or how frightening his cold sweat looked, only extending an uncontrollable, shaking hand and said in a quivering voice, "Lea... leave here!"

His voice brooked no argument.

The five of them skulked away from the secret realm, like many overconfident apprentices before and after.

On the other side, Nidhogg, wearing the pale mask, noticed Belrod and recalled the sorcerer apprentice who had fled from him on the trial's first day, leaving some impression.

Shaking his head with a smile, Nidhogg paid the incident no mind and continued casually tossing rocks into the confinement magic circle to "probe" the situation inside.

...

Three nights later, under the hazy moonlight.

Apart from minor skirmishes, nothing significant occurred at Nidhogg's secret realm. Many sorcerer apprentices, unable to solve the puzzle, left in disappointment, leaving only about a dozen lingering sorcerers.

Nidhogg quietly observed the Void Worm inside the secret realm, now reduced to less than one percent of its size. He nodded at Nina, Yorkris, and the others. The group began hurling stones and branches into the confinement magic circle, aiming for the altar at the center.

Simultaneously, Mechanical Heart opened his eyes outside the magic circle, remarking coldly, “So, someone’s finally found a way past the guardian?”

In a flash, he rushed into the magic circle without hesitation.

Most other teams, aside from those on watch, were still meditating or sleeping.

Inside the circle, as Nidhogg, Nina, and the others threw large pieces of "matter" at the invisible Void Worm, Nidhogg sensed it diminishing rapidly, soon to vanish completely.

Unable to contain their joy, Nidhogg's group eagerly anticipated claiming the powerful, one-time-use treasure from the altar. With it, even Mechanical Heart wouldn’t dare confront them, as it was a fool's errand!

The altar's treasure held greater deterrence than practical use. Once obtained, avoiding the third secret realm’s contest and remaining low-key would likely ensure a safe trial completion.

“Sorry, but this Flame Fusion Orb isn't meant for you.”

The cold voice of Mechanical Heart appeared in their vision, accompanied by a rapidly approaching giant spinning disc.

“Watch out!”

With a shout, Yorkris immediately transformed into his werewolf form, unleashing his inner sorcery. He lunged, his battle axe meeting the spinning disc with force.

Boom! Yorkris’s explosive strength managed to halt the spinning disc.

Mechanical Heart seemed mildly surprised, then amused, dismissing Yorkris as a fool and ignoring him.

Mechanical beetles flew from his body toward the altar, where Binhan was mere steps from its top.

Meanwhile, Yorkris’s expression changed as the spinning disc exerted an overwhelming magnetic force, pulling his prized battle axe and metal claws embedded in his body, incapacitating him.

Near the altar, sudden explosions forced Binhan to retreat as black mist, shooting him to the magic circle's edge.

Nina, with one eye closed and the other in eagle form, wore a cold expression. Her full-moon life bow twanged, firing a flash of concentrated wind and life energy at Mechanical Heart. “It’s over!” she exclaimed.

Boom!

A violent wind sphere enveloped Mechanical Heart, slicing with countless life energy leaves. Having felt the terror of Nina’s spell, Nidhogg’s eye twitched.

Meanwhile, another of Nina’s Hurricane Arrows was spent, leaving three.

Nidhogg stood tensely, eyes fixed on the massive wind sphere.

Yorkliana panicked, trying to help Yorkris with the immense disc.

Lastly, Robin darted to the altar, grabbing the so-called "Flame Fusion Orb" mentioned by Mechanical Heart.

Suddenly, a golden beam shot from the wind sphere towards Nina, radiating terrifying energy, making everyone's faces change!

Almost simultaneously, a nearly naked figure burst from the wind sphere, speeding toward Robin, a metallic arm emitting grinding noise.

Having just released the Hurricane Arrow, Nina was in a vulnerable state. The incoming golden beam left her pale, trembling with hopeless fear.

In that critical moment, Nina’s eagle eye experienced a strange shift, as if sensing the beam slowing.

Yet, despite perceiving it slowing, Nina couldn’t move, helplessly watching the deadly beam approach.

“No! Move! Move!” Nina screamed inwardly.

Suddenly, a figure stepped firmly in front of Nina. Surprised, Nina inexplicably smiled.

So, she still only trusted herself?

Behind the pale mask, Nidhogg calmly faced the terrifying golden beam. No wonder Mechanical Heart charged at Robin without a glance after launching it; he was confident in his sorcery.

Golden hair blew in the dissipating wind sphere, robes fluttering as Nidhogg faced the beam like a mountain bracing a storm, extending a hand and channeling magic into his mask.

Whirr!

An invisible wave of energy over 30 mark value emanated, causing Mechanical Heart to pause, turning to see Nidhogg.

Boom!

The golden beam struck Nidhogg’s shield, bending it dangerously, almost breaking.

Yet, Nidhogg remained calm.

Whether from confidence, the mask hiding his pale face, or the obligation to protect those behind him, Nidhogg didn’t retreat but stood firm.

Boom!

After a blinding flash, Nidhogg still stood unwavering, golden hair settling peacefully.

In that moment, Nidhogg seemed an ancient mountain, impervious to attack.

Through her eagle eyes, Nina drew the life bow again, Hurricane Arrow ready with menacing energy, though held back in a threatening pose.

“It’s ours!”

Robin shouted excitedly, holding the glowing Flame Fusion Orb atop the altar.

The battle felt long yet lasted mere seconds. By then, other apprentices rushed into the circle, too late for action.

With the Flame Fusion Orb’s deterrence, no one dared foolishly seize it.

Mechanical Heart, stripped of his clothing from Nina’s attack, trailing his damaged metal tail, seemed as worn as his exposed body.

His right side sparked mechanically, perhaps damaged, while his flesh looked gruesome.

Staring at the mysterious man with a matching mark value, masked face calm, Mechanical Heart realized this wasn’t any Despairer he knew!

The silent standoff between Mechanical Heart and Nidhogg drew all eyes, an unspoken but intense energy filling the air.