New Life As An Overpowered Mage With Infinite Classes

Chapter 23

The sword plunged precisely into the writhing mass of tissue. Dagon's body convulsed violently, releasing an agonized howl.

But the attacker had no intention of stopping. Gritting his teeth, Robb drove the blade deeper with all his strength, twisting it to widen the wound.

[Killing blow! Basic Swordcraft EXP +5]

A mixture of blood and brain matter erupted from the wound, spraying across him.

At last, the giant-brained creature's body crashed to the ground and went still.

Robb kept his eyes locked on the twisted form, watching until he was certain it had stopped moving entirely.

The glow on the grotesque brain had gone completely dark, reduced to a dull, lifeless mass of tissue.

Robb stood motionless, gasping for air, drenched in aberrant blood and fluid.

He could hardly believe what he'd just done, he'd killed a fellow Initiate, a neighbor he'd lived beside for months.

But survival instinct quickly restored his composure.

In the Black Mist Order, this sort of thing was utterly normal.

The law of the jungle was the only law here, and what he'd done was simply follow it.

"I'm sorry it came to this, Dagon." Robb said quietly, a flicker of deeply complicated emotion passing through his eyes. "But the one who survives has to be me."

With the fight over, he began cautiously approaching Dagon's corpse, hoping to find something useful.

Amid the twisted remains, a small notebook had survived miraculously intact, perhaps even after losing all reason, Dagon had instinctively protected his research.

Opening the notebook, Robb found it packed with Dagon's notes on sonic magic.

Much of it was chaotic sketches and failed attempts, most of which were incomprehensible. But several pages were remarkably clear, a simplified prototype of a sonic spell that Dagon had refined to the point of practical application.

"So this is what he was so desperate to complete..." Robb murmured, carefully pocketing the notebook.

The material was invaluable, not just for its academic merit, but because it could help Robb pass the approaching evaluation.

[Special skill unlocked: Sonic Tremor (Prototype)]

[Description: An incomplete spell concept that nonetheless possesses basic practical value]

[Effect: Generates offensive sound waves dealing both physical and spirit damage to targets]

He was about to search the rest of Dagon's belongings when hurried footsteps echoed from down the corridor.

The Black Mist Order's enforcement officers had clearly detected the disturbance and were coming to investigate.

Robb quickly composed himself, making sure he looked like a victim who'd acted in self-defense rather than an aggressor.

Though the law of the jungle prevailed in the Black Mist Order, the faction still maintained a set of rules for basic order.

Soon, a squad of enforcers appeared at the corridor's end.

Leading them was a tall man wearing a High Apprentice's badge.

He pushed back his hood, revealing a gaunt, pale face. His expression was impassive, his sharp eyes sweeping across every detail of the scene.

Robb studied the lead apprentice's features and felt a glimmer of recognition.

When the rich herbal scent wafting from the man reached his nose, it clicked, wasn't this the High Apprentice who'd bought all that stargrass at the herb shop the other day?

Hadrian.

"What happened?"

Hadrian's gaze flickered slightly upon seeing Robb, but his inquiry carried no trace of personal familiarity.

Robb took a deep breath, understanding the protocol, and likewise showed no sign of knowing the man. He gave a concise account, emphasizing Dagon's mutation and unprovoked attack.

"He used some kind of banned substance that caused his brain to mutate. Then he attacked me. I had no choice but to defend myself."

Robb spoke quietly, his expression conveying an appropriate mix of shock, grief, and measured calm.

Hadrian listened without expression, then walked to Dagon's corpse and crouched to examine it.

He produced a small vial from his waist and collected some of the fluid seeping from the mutated brain.

"Textbook catalyst mutation." He stood and addressed the other enforcers. "Cases like this have been increasing lately."

He turned to Robb. "Per regulations, I need to perform a spirit power scan on you to confirm you haven't been contaminated."

Robb nodded and submitted to the examination.

Hadrian placed a small crystal on his forehead. It glowed faintly blue at first, then gradually shifted to green before returning to normal.

"Good. No signs of mutation." He withdrew the crystal. "Spirit power fluctuations are stable. Well-defended."

Hadrian's gaze fell to the sword in Robb's hand. He raised an eyebrow slightly. "Killing a mutant with a wooden sword, your swordsmanship seems rather impressive."

"Just lucky," Robb answered modestly, not wanting to attract undue attention.

Hadrian seemed to see through him, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.

"Caution is a good trait. But there's something you might not know, our faction has always encouraged apprentices to defend themselves when faced with danger."

He motioned for the other enforcers to come forward and handle Dagon's body, then stepped aside and said quietly to Robb.

"Research into sonic magic has always been one of the faction's priority bounty topics. If you found any valuable materials among Dagon's belongings, I'd suggest you make good use of them."

Robb's guard went up. He wasn't sure whether this High Apprentice was hinting or testing him.

Either way, the man had clearly noticed the notebook in his possession.

"Thank you for the advice, sir. I'll give it serious consideration." Robb replied cautiously, equally quiet.

At that moment, Robb suddenly understood what Arnor had told him before.

Those in positions of power, though they held authority over life and death, often offered appropriate guidance and support to promising apprentices rather than arbitrarily crushing them.

Hadrian's private tip was unmistakably an acknowledgment of his potential.

"So understanding the faction's rules and demonstrating sufficient potential, perhaps that's the key to surviving here?" Robb pondered.

"You're a smart one. It seems I don't need to say anything more."

Hadrian nodded, a note of reassessment in his tone.

"The incident report will be filed. But given the circumstances of legitimate self-defense, there will be no negative consequences for you. The evaluation is approaching, I hope you'll be ready."

With that, he departed briskly with the enforcement squad, leaving Robb alone in the blood-stained corridor.

Robb drew a deep breath and returned to his room.

He needed time to process everything that had just happened.

Today's experience had driven home yet again the brutal reality of the Black Mist Order.

Here, everyone struggled for survival and went mad for power.

Locke, Emily, Dagon... and countless others whose bones he'd never see, all testament to this twisted reality.

But no matter how hostile the environment, what ultimately decided one's fate was one's own choices and strength.

...

In a hidden chamber somewhere in the Black Mist Order, pale blue light illuminated several white-robed figures.

The walls were lined with crystal balls of varying sizes, each displaying a different area of the faction.

One crystal ball clearly showed the entire battle between Robb and Dagon.

"Seventy-eight points."

A stern-faced mage announced, a complex scoring device in his hand. "This Initiate performed quite well, particularly under sonic attacks of that intensity."

"I give seventy." An elderly female mage with snow-white hair spoke, her bright violet eyes fixed on the image. "While his swordsmanship and adaptability are commendable, his reaction to the first wave of sonic attacks was slightly sluggish."

"I agree with Ysilla's assessment."

A third mage, a tall, middle-aged man, nodded. "However, his finishing strike was extremely precise and deserves bonus points. For an Initiate to maintain composure in such circumstances is already quite remarkable."

"Then let's settle on seventy-five." The elder presiding over the discussion finalized the score.

"Record his name, Robb Stark. He can be considered for next year's priority observation list."

A High Apprentice standing in the corner swiftly documented the decision.

By now, Hadrian had arrived at the scene with the enforcement squad and was examining Robb.

"Interesting. He should be the new assistant Elena hired. I believe I have some recollection of him."

The mage Ysilla raised an eyebrow. "It seems Lady Elena's eye for talent is sharp as ever."

In the crystal ball, Hadrian had already departed with the enforcement squad and Dagon's corpse, leaving Robb standing alone in the bloodied corridor.

"He looks to be in bad shape." The stern middle-aged mage observed. "The internal damage from those sonic attacks shouldn't be underestimated. I'm curious whether he'll make it through the night."

"He'll be fine." The presiding elder said mildly. "He carries the aura of the Sun God. His self-healing should be considerable."

"Sun God?" The word drew the other mages' attention. "You're certain?"

The elder nodded. "Faint, but unmistakably present. That's precisely why I find him interesting."

"All the more worth observing, then." Ysilla said thoughtfully. "In recent years, apprentices with elemental affinity have become increasingly scarce. If he truly possesses Solar aptitude, cultivating him could yield substantial Grace for us."

At the word "Grace," every mage's expression turned subtly complicated.

"Speaking of 'Grace'..." The middle-aged mage abruptly changed the subject, flattering the elder before them. "Vice-Chancellor, you've been looking younger by the year. That must be thanks to the considerable 'Grace' you earned from cultivating Lady Corinna a few decades ago."

"Which is exactly why we must keep scouring the surrounding mortal kingdoms for seeds..."

The one addressed as Vice-Chancellor spoke softly. "A single High Apprentice student who successfully ascends to Morning Star Mage can extend their mentor's lifespan by at least fifty years. I think that Triss girl Corinna recently discovered has excellent potential."

"Naturally, this is our essential duty as faction mentors." The others chimed in agreement. Someone murmured off to the side.

"Without the 'Grace' that comes from cultivating students, old fossils like us would have been consumed by abyssal contamination long ago."

"And that is precisely why we need an environment like this." The Vice-Chancellor's tone turned grave.

"Measured danger and competition allow the truly promising apprentices to rise to the top. Just like Oliver a few years ago, it was precisely in this kind of life-or-death environment that his innately poor spirit aptitude gave way to an astonishing special talent."

"Well said." Ysilla agreed. "True strength cannot be grown in a greenhouse. Only through genuine trials of life and death can an apprentice's fullest potential be unlocked."

"Those children who take the banned substances are also part of this system."

The middle-aged mage added coolly. "Their failures and deaths are precisely the nutrients that nourish other apprentices' growth. Survival of the fittest, an eternal, unchanging law."

The Vice-Chancellor rose, concluding the evaluation session. "Continue monitoring the candidates on the list. And have the Black Vipers scale back their activities over the next few days. The recent number of mutants has exceeded our projections."

"Yes, sir." The recorder answered respectfully.

Ysilla shook her head with a soft laugh. "The apprentices would never dream that the black market organization they consider so dangerous is actually a tool under our control."

"A necessary evil, nothing more." The Vice-Chancellor said calmly.

"Some apprentices will indeed die because of it. But more will emerge stronger. Just as we experienced in our day, natural selection, survival of the fittest."

"That's all. Dismissed." He waved a hand. "Has the next batch of Spirit Catalysts arrived?"

"Already prepared, Vice-Chancellor," the recorder replied. "Per your instructions, the formula has been adjusted. This batch's mutation rate should drop to below fifty percent."

"Good." The elder nodded. "Same as always, we need competition, but not to excess. Too much is as bad as too little. After all, true geniuses are still exceedingly rare."

As the mages departed, the images in the monitoring crystal balls gradually dimmed.