"Mentor," Nidhogg stood respectfully beside Peran Ornos, waiting for his mentor to assign him a task.

Peran Ornos nodded, his aged fingers pointing to the crystal ball in front of him. After a brief flicker, a light screen appeared before Nidhogg.

Peran Ornos said casually, "I've considered this 'Hunt the Dark Wizard' mission carefully. The so-called dark wizard should only be at the level of a wizard apprentice. Even if he's a formal wizard, he'd be a weak dark wizard just right for you apprentices. If he is indeed a wizard apprentice, kill him; if a formal wizard, flee."

Nidhogg was surprised, "Does this mean many people are undertaking this task?"

After noting the mission route and clues, Peran Ornos dismissed the light screen and calmly explained, "I've issued this internal task to four apprentices at Black Tower Academy, all of whom have the potential to vie for the demon-hunter wizard qualification. For now, you are the weakest among the four. Moreover, the Ivory Castle Wizard Academy at the task’s border has also sent four apprentices."

Nidhogg contemplated. If he walked to the task location, it would take about a month. Alternatively, flying there using magic stones would take only five or six days, but it would diminish the intended experience.

Regarding being deemed the weakest among the four at Black Tower, Nidhogg hadn't met the others and refrained from commenting, instead asking, "If the task is completed, who gets credit among the eight? And is there anything specific I should be cautious about for this mission?"

"The task is credited to whoever holds the dark wizard's head. Since it's an internal task, we veterans will provide internal rewards. As for your precautions... ensuring your survival is paramount. The allure of becoming a dark wizard that entices many apprentices and formal wizards is their mastery over life and death—they are wizards who delve deeply into life sciences and necromancy. In other words, they are destroyers who focus on death magic," Peran Ornos warned with a stern look.

"So, dark wizards are more formidable in battle than ordinary wizards?" Nidhogg frowned, seeking clarity.

"You could understand it that way," Peran Ornos replied calmly.

"If that's so... why does the Wizard Continent..." Nidhogg began to question but was interrupted by Peran Ornos, who continued in a mocking tone, "Why strictly forbid dark wizards' existence?"

"Hmm." Nidhogg nodded in acknowledgment.

"Humph," Peran Ornos sneered, "Because the so-called dark wizards of the Wizard Continent are evil wizards who use humanity as experimental subjects to explore life and death, causing chaos and destruction. This has been proven in the Dark Domain."

(The Dark Domain is the gathering place of dark wizards, operating under entirely different principles from the Elemental Wizard Academy of the Wizard Continent.)

Midway through his explanation, Peran Ornos fixed his gaze on Nidhogg and asked, "Do you think the ancient wizards, who have lived for ages, wouldn't realize that nurturing a large number of dark wizards could enhance the wizard world’s power?"

"Uh... No."

Of course, Nidhogg was aware that the ancient wizards would have thought of this.

Peran Ornos said plainly, "This is why every wizard aspires to become a demon-hunter wizard. Because once you achieve that, effectively, you become a legally sanctioned dark wizard backed by the wizard towers on the continent, with the combat ability to hunt ordinary dark wizards. But instead of using fellow humans for experiments, you study life and death using beings from conquered worlds."

Nidhogg showed a serious expression, finally grasping why apprentices with mental power reaching the 40-point limit decades ago didn't try to become full-fledged wizards but waited for the "Holy Tower Quota," granted only once every hundred years.

...

Three days later, Nidhogg and three other apprentices tasked with "Clearing the Dark Wizard in Palmire Town" gathered at the academy gate. After briefly sizing each other up, their eyes settled on Nidhogg.

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"A newcomer? But not one of the three: Solan, Yulie, or Bibliorna. Interesting." This male apprentice stood over 1.9 meters, with a metal ring through his nose and a huge fan strapped to his back, looking quite formidable.

Over the past two years, Nidhogg had heard about the top ten masters among Black Tower Academy's apprentices. Unlike the ten newbies Nidhogg had learned about during his time as a new apprentice, these top ten truly stood out with undeniable strength and reputation, with no hidden masters among them.

The top ten divided into two groups: the first four led the major organizations, possessing greater power and prestige than the latter six.

It was assured that through decades of experience, any apprentice ranked within this top ten had been thoroughly tested and proven as true top-tier apprentices.

However...

This person before him wasn't among the top ten that Nidhogg knew of. Yet being labeled a competitor for the demon-hunter wizard title meant he had exceptional qualities.

"Nidhogg."

Beneath a pale mask, Nidhogg's voice was calm, maintaining a mysterious and discreet demeanor. As for physical contact like handshakes or cheek kisses, wizards avoided them to prevent their body information from being stolen.

"I am your senior apprentice, Lane. Once, I was somewhat renowned, but certainly nothing compared to her," Lane gestured to the person next to him.

The first thing that captured Nidhogg's attention was the exaggeratedly large orbs on this "woman’s" chest. He instantly recognized the hefty figure from when he'd left the dilapidated water tower: the witch apprentice and tenth-ranked master known as Rintow Ice Soul, Zhuang Senni.

At that time, due to the dim light and Nidhogg's anxious state, he hadn’t closely observed this skilled witch, the famed Rintow Ice Soul. Now, he took the opportunity to scrutinize her.

Standing there, Zhuang Senni was an indestructible fortress with a towering presence, her stature alone deciding this impression. Naturally, Nidhogg wouldn't assume her physique was less than his, especially since he was no more than a fledgling in body refinement sorcery...

A meteor hammer emitting a cold glow rested "roughly" on her back, its chain wrapped around her waist. She wore black leather armor instead of her previously "laughable" robes (which had turned into tight fits due to her size). This seemed more like her battle attire. Her short hair was styled in a spiky upward fashion, lacking any feminine fragility, with eyes as cold as winter itself, similar to Solan's occasional icy gaze.

"Hmph, I’ve seen you at the Dilapidated Tower, a coward," Zhuang Senni remarked at Nidhogg with undisguised disdain for perceived weakness.

Nidhogg neither replied nor defended himself.

Wizards' personalities are diverse, but certain truths hold: the weak have no luxury of choice and must avoid conflicts. Although Nidhogg might not be as weak as Mentor Peran Ornos implied, he was sure that he presently wasn't a match for Zhuang Senni.

The last apprentice suddenly approached Nidhogg, and to his astonishment, two more heads emerged from beneath the robes, all sniffing around him.

"Strange, why don’t you have any scent?" the three heads queried in confusion.

"Three-Headed Dog bloodline sorcery modification?" Nidhogg asked instead of answering.

In Nidhogg's "Hunter's Nose Modification and Scent Atlas," it mentioned that wizards' olfactory studies determined that the Three-Headed Dog was the most scent-sensitive creature, capable of distinguishing any scent known to wizards.

"It seems you know a thing or two, newcomer. You can call me Harry Red," all three heads of Harry Red spoke haughtily. Certain that Nidhogg was a newcomer of five years, there was no need for courtesy. In a commanding tone, he said, "Your method of scent elimination is crucial to me. Hand it over."

Nidhogg's pupils narrowed beneath the pale mask, his tone cold, "What will you trade for it?"

"My promise not to trouble you during this mission," Harry Red replied as if it were an obvious conclusion. Indeed, under the competitive nature of the Wizard Continent, this was considered an expected exchange—a stronger party demanding something from a weaker one, where the latter's only recourse was connections or rules.

Such were the ways of the Blood Sail Alliance and academy inspections.

However, for Nidhogg, who had advanced in strength, Harry Red's demand clearly did not apply!

In Nidhogg's assessment, while he wasn't yet Zhuang Senni's match and thus wouldn't confront her, Lane seemed comparable to himself, perhaps slightly stronger due to his unrefined body sorcery skills; but as for Harry Red...

A cold smile formed beneath Nidhogg's mask as he said icily, "Then, for this trial, only one of us will proceed."

His words silenced the scene completely, leaving only a deathly quiet!

Lane shrugged, "Well, it seems I’ll be working solo again. Big sister Zhuang Senni, I’ll get a head start." With that, Lane didn’t linger, leaving them and calling back as he went, "As per old rules, if we can't manage individually after three months, leave a signal at the nearest city gate."

On the other side.

After giving Nidhogg a surprised look, Zhuang Senni seemed to revise her opinion of him slightly, coldly saying, "Regardless of whether you survive in the future, I retract my earlier assessment of you." With that, Zhuang Senni strode off on her own with surprising agility for her large frame.

Beneath his calm facade, Nidhogg glanced at the three-headed Harry Red, who was still staggered with disbelief, and murmured, "See you in the Thorny Forest." He spoke with a deadly composure, as if killing were as natural as breathing or dining.

With that, Nidhogg left Harry Red with an outraged expression, departing with only his back visible.