Chapter 0062 Duel of Wagers

The entire training camp sprawled over a vast area, yet there were surprisingly few buildings. To the east, a row of sturdy wooden cabins stood, constructed from thick logs stacked directly atop one another. They appeared rough and simple, but their solidity and practicality were undeniable. To the west, scattered tents dotted the ground, each seemingly only large enough for one or two people to rest.

But what caught the eye most was the expansive training field, teeming with countless wizard apprentices engaged in fierce combat. Yes, wizard apprentices—not ordinary human warriors. Grim watched as fireballs the size of bowls streaked across the field like meteors, as figures cloaked in thunder and lightning brandished battle axes, and his heart began to pound violently once more.

Wizard apprentices had always seemed to Grim to be creatures of shadow and cunning, with no shortage of twisted, deranged minds. Yet, never before had he witnessed such fiery displays—apprentices battling openly under the broad daylight, their wild magic unleashed in direct confrontation.

Around a massive training ground, a crowd gathered to witness the duel between two advanced apprentices. One, much like Grim, specialized in fire magic and wielded his power from a distance. The other, a body-refining wizard, possessed the formidable strength of thunder—a fearsome war god.

They clashed in the arena, neither able to gain the upper hand. The fire apprentice was surrounded by three spinning shields of flame, deflecting the flying dirt and stones as well as serpentine bolts of lightning. Beneath his feet, a mysterious and flickering magical array granted him remarkable speed, allowing him to move as swiftly as apprentices whose main attribute was agility. The swirling fire between his palms continuously spawned explosive fireballs, which he hurled at his opponent like a rain of shooting stars.

The berserker apprentice, on the other hand, relied on his robust physique and the web of lightning covering his body to withstand the relentless barrage. He roared and charged, striving to close the gap between himself and the fire apprentice. The terrifying thunder imbued in his massive battle axe made it clear that should he get close, even by a fraction, a thrown lightning axe could instantly cripple his frail adversary.

Grim followed Kevin to the edge of the field; before they even got close, the acrid scent of ozone from burning air filled his nostrils, and the thunderous roar of exploding fireballs echoed in his ears.

The training ground, though large, still seemed confined for such savage and ferocious magic. Several fireballs even soared beyond the arena, heading straight for the watching crowd. It was then that the spectators turned the threat into a festive display.

Some drew their wands and, with a blast of cold, instantly froze the incoming fireballs into solid chunks of ice. Others leaped into the air, slicing the fireballs into a shower of sparks as they passed. Each wizard showing off their magic earned rounds of applause and cheers.

The voice that had earlier mocked and ridiculed Kevin belonged to a burly, bald man standing among the crowd. His head was gleaming, his body massive and muscular, as solid as iron ingots. Though he stood empty-handed, he radiated an overwhelming presence.

He was a quasi-wizard apprentice, specializing in body refinement—the oppressive aura he exuded almost tangible. Standing next to him, Grim found even breathing difficult.

In his mind, the chip sounded a series of jarring warnings.

“Warning, warning… High-frequency mental radiation detected… Subject advised to immediately distance from the source, or signs of mental fatigue will appear in three seconds. Countdown: three… two… one…”

Grim couldn’t help but frown and smile bitterly. In this high-magic wizard world, apprentices began accumulating magical elements through constant meditation and potion consumption. The more elemental particles they gathered, the stronger the mental radiation they emitted. For them, this was commonplace, but for ordinary people, such elemental radiation was akin to nuclear radiation on Earth. Wizard apprentices might be comparable to nuclear materials or waste—dangerous, yet limited in intensity. But official wizards, once they crossed the threshold from quantity to quality, became nuclear reactors instead. The escalation of danger was on an entirely different level.

The jovial bald giant before him was absolutely a quasi-wizard on the verge of breaking through. Even Grim, a junior apprentice, struggled to withstand the unconscious mental radiation he emitted by simply being near him.

After exchanging greetings with Kevin, the bald man—Alfred—turned his gaze to Grim. With a single glance, his blocky, iron-cast face displayed a hint of confusion.

“A junior apprentice? Did those dark dwellers underground eat corpse worms? How could a junior apprentice bring them down? You—Blackwood—go test his skills!” Alfred, clearly the true leader of the camp, wasted no time in selecting an opponent for Grim.

“Hey, you two, aren’t you tired from bouncing around in the arena for so long? Get down here. We’ve got a new game starting right away!”

At Alfred’s command, the two advanced apprentices, sweaty and battered, left the field. Clearly, this wasn’t their first duel; they knew each other’s abilities well. Both had opportunities to win, but neither could seize them definitively until the other made a glaring mistake.

The thunderous giant bore burns of various sizes from the fire’s assault; as he received healing, he grumbled in his deep voice, “Where’d this junior apprentice come from? Boss, you’re not sending him to his death, are you? That bean sprout body won’t survive a little rough handling!”

Alfred threw back his head and roared with laughter.

“Mark, don’t boast so shamelessly! Do you know this tiny apprentice personally slew the Demon Vine Lady? Well, among you advanced apprentices, who dares claim you could steadily defeat her?”

Hearing this, the crowd turned their gaze toward Grim, who could only smile bitterly, as if trying to see through him.

Grim opened his mouth, intending to explain, but Kevin patted his shoulder and whispered slyly, “Listen, little one. If you don’t want others prying into your secrets, next time make sure to destroy the enemy’s soul completely.”

It dawned on Grim where he’d slipped—damn, it was the Demon Vine Lady’s corpse. He and Mary had killed her, but hadn’t extracted or destroyed her soul. When they delivered her body to the wizard tower, surely the wizards had discovered his secret through the residual soul memories.

Damn! Damn it! Damn!

For a moment, Grim wished he could slap himself, cursing his own oversight. He felt powerless before the bizarre magic of this strange world.

Wizardry came in countless forms, with effects so weird and varied that it was impossible to guard against them all. Clearly, his plan to hide behind Mary and quietly reap fortunes was doomed. Today, here, he would have to reveal some of his abilities.

Still, his most powerful skill remained hidden from their probing, while what they believed to be his ability was only the most trivial part of him.

Resolute, Grim abandoned any further thoughts of staying undercover, a strange smile spreading across his face.

“Well then, since you want to see what I can do, send out your champion! Let him step forward—let me see who my opponent is.”

“Um… sorry… your opponent is me! My name is Blackwood!” A hoarse, raspy voice emerged from the crowd, and an elderly, hunched apprentice stepped forward, holding a dark ebony staff.

His skin was loose and cracked, his emaciated body pressed tightly against his ribs, his face cold and ruthless. His hair was dry and yellow, sparse atop his head. His hands and feet were filthy and black, his curved nails sharp as eagle talons. He gave Grim a sinister smile, revealing a mouthful of yellowed, broken teeth.

Dangling from the top of his ebony staff were strings of teeth and miniature skulls, chiming eerily in the wind.

Judging by his age, he seemed near the end of his life—a skeleton barely walking. Yet Grim’s gaze sharpened, his expression growing grave.

Despite only emitting the mental fluctuations of an advanced apprentice, this Blackwood’s threat of death was clear and tangible. Grim suspected the man was a dangerous master of negative energy, though he couldn’t tell if he specialized in corpses or curses.

Whatever his true skills were, Grim would have to find out in the duel arena.

“Heh, you’re sending an advanced apprentice against a junior like me? Isn’t that unfair? If you want to test me, you can’t expect to pay nothing. Let’s wager something before the fight!” Grim crossed his arms confidently.

“You’re quite arrogant!” Blackwood’s smile grew colder. “Master Alfred only wants to see how long you can last under my hand. What, you think you have a chance of winning? Heh heh heh…”

“What if I win? Are you willing to bet?” Grim pressed the challenge.

“Why wouldn’t I? For your courage, I’ll give you odds of ten to one. Bet as many magic crystals as you want—if you succeed, I’ll pay you tenfold!” Blackwood’s grin, paired with his skull-like face, was truly chilling.

“Who else wants to bet against me? Show your courage!”

Grim shouted, tossing out all his possessions—a black cloth pouch and the last nine magic crystals.

The atmosphere in the arena instantly ignited!