The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

Wang Ya’s gaze flickered; he had discovered something unusual.

His Extraordinary Spiritual Perception sensed a familiar particle energy fluctuation within the mist, similar to the diffusion from a Witch Array.

The source of this mist was not simple; one could even say there was something fishy about it.

This piqued Wang Ya’s interest. ’Could it be that, just as the Wizard Task’s description suggested, there really is a so-called Witch?’

’But from the moment I entered the Black Earth Kingdom to when I ventured deep into the Black Forest, there’s been no reaction at all. And I’ve been moving about openly, with no intention of hiding myself.’

’Kuidi also said that no outsiders had been here recently.’

His pupils shimmered with a fine, blue luster.

[Alert: Witch Array fluctuation detected. Suspected Wizard Ruins. The mist is a result of the damaged array’s energy diffusing and spreading.]

Wang Ya was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected this outcome.

If it really was a set of Wizard Ruins, and an exposed one at that, then it would make sense for some of the things inside to be affecting the Black Forest.

The information from a Wizard Task was usually on the right track; it was rare for it to be completely wrong.

Therefore, he still had to be wary of the Witch’s existence.

Recalling the Evil God incident in the Maya Kingdom and the situation in Celestial Wings Wizard City... Wang Ya figured his luck couldn’t be that bad all the time. ’Perhaps some of the Extraordinary Creatures that were still alive inside the ruins have escaped?’

’Or maybe some of the defensive measures, no longer constrained by the Witch Array, have spread into the Black Forest.’

After all, encountering Wizard Ruins during a Wizard Task was an extremely rare event—an opportunity, one might say.

In some of those storybooks, this is where the hero would probably inherit the legacy of an ancient Wizard, get a wise old master to accompany them, and walk the path to the pinnacle of power...

’If I were to build my own Wizard Ruins or a temporary remote laboratory, defensive Witch Arrays and various other measures would be a given.’

’I would at least plant Blood-sucking King Vines around the laboratory to prevent intruders and eliminate any potential dangers.’

To find out what was really going on, he would have to enter the mist and see for himself.

"Your Highness, we’ve found something belonging to the Crown Prince."

A member of the Knight Guard Team approached, carrying some broken items. It was the Crown Prince’s armor, covered in all sorts of filth, the most obvious of which were traces of dried blood.

Judging by the amount of blood, the wound would have been fatal for an adult.

The stains were thick.

A complex emotion flickered in Bai Gang’s eyes, but his face remained calm and composed. "Take it. The King will need this to confirm the Crown Prince’s death."

"Respected Master Wizard, what should we do next?"

Bai Gang asked Wang Ya for instructions.

Wang Ya didn’t answer. He simply raised an eyebrow and gazed into the depths of the thin mist.

"A monster! It’s that black-haired monster! The Witch is attacking!"

Among the Knight Guard Team, someone with sharp eyes spotted shadowy silhouettes within the Thorn Area. They were black, tendril-like, and looked like a massive clump of hair creeping toward them at an incredible speed.

This immediately caused a commotion. After a year of its terrifying reputation spreading, the people of the Black Earth Kingdom were already filled with fear for this mysterious, black-haired Witch.

"What’s all the racket about? Master Wizard is still here! What kind of display is this?"

Bai Gang immediately berated them. His slightly trembling lips, however, revealed that he was not calm either. He forcibly suppressed his fear and looked toward Wang Ya.

He waited for Wang Ya’s orders.

Wang Ya’s lips moved. "All of you, fall back fifty meters."

Before the group of mortals had even run ten meters, the temperature instantly soared. A powerful fluctuation of Particle Energy erupted behind them.

Some people’s hair was even set ablaze by stray sparks.

Along with it came a violent explosion and a concussive blast wave.

The dazzling crimson light and the immense power of the blast terrified them even more, sending them fleeing for their lives.

The sense of mortal danger coiled around their hearts; they had never run so fast.

Many of them dropped straight to the ground.

Those who weren’t quick enough to dodge were struck by superheated rock fragments from the explosion, leaving them battered and bleeding.

Fortunately, the guards with armor and helmets were not seriously injured, though many suffered soft tissue contusions.

Bai Gang was horrified. ’So this is the terrifying power of a Master Wizard...’ Hiding behind a large tree, he stared at the figure in the black Wizard Robe standing motionless amidst the crimson light. His posture was ramrod straight. With a mere flick of his hand, he could unleash a heat so intense it charred the earth and incinerated trees, a temperature that could melt anything.

A rippling, crimson curtain of light shimmered around his body, accentuating the Master Wizard’s imposing aura and dignified features.

’No, there’s another kind of flame—formless and intangible.’ He noticed it through the distortion of the air.

Even those black "hairs" in the mist spontaneously combusted and turned to ash the moment they entered a certain range of the Master Wizard.

’That is...’

Then he saw it—the true form of the black hairs in the mist. The "Witch" emerged from the depths of the fog.

He was perhaps the first human to ever see the Witch’s true form.

Countless black, hair-like strands were wrapped around a vaguely humanoid body, but it had no face. Its arms and legs were completely rooted in the ground.

It was too bizarre. The blurry face had no features, yet it filled Bai Gang with a deep, instinctual terror and panic.

It was as if he could feel its gaze fixed upon him.

[Alert: Analysis complete. Creature identified as Thousand Herbs Flower (30% probability), Black Line Magical Plant Grass (45% probability)... Black Death Vine (73% probability).]

The Eye of Truth had records of related Magical Plants. Based on these characteristics and Extraordinary Abilities, it had to be the Black Death Vine.

More specific information instantly appeared in his mind.

Although it was called a vine, each tendril was as thin as a strand of hair. These fine filaments could combine to form thicker, radiating black vines.

In terms of Extraordinary Creature Level, it was far superior to the Blood-sucking King Vine, reaching the domain of Middle-tier Extraordinary Creatures.

At times, even some High-tier Extraordinary Creatures were no match for the Black Death Vine.

Its Extraordinary Traits included all those of the Blood-sucking King Vine. It could also root itself like fine threads in soil and vegetation, silently piercing any creature of flesh and blood that came into contact with it.

It would then disintegrate and devour them from the inside. Just two or three Black Death Vines inside a living body would inflict extreme agony upon the individual.

No creature with a nervous system could withstand such pain.

After absorbing a certain amount of Biological Energy and flesh, it would reproduce. It would select a host creature and implant a living vine cutting, which would then absorb nutrients and grow into a single, hair-like vine.

A single reproductive cycle could produce tens of thousands of offspring.

Although it lacked much intelligence, its raw instincts still made it an incredibly fearsome killing Magical Plant. The Blood-sucking King Vine was nothing but a scrub in its presence.

If the two were to come into contact, the latter would be devoured completely.

Wang Ya even felt this could no longer be considered a Magical Plant in the conventional sense. It had an almost microscopic quality to it.

His eyes lit up. This was an excellent subject for research.

’The fusion and mutation of the Blood-sucking King Vine will need to be considered for future potential upgrades.’

So far, Harak hadn’t absorbed any Extraordinary Creatures of the Magical Plant variety. Furthermore, the unique nature of this Black Death Vine somewhat aligned with Harak’s Infectious Deep Touch trait.

If devouring it could yield some benefits, that would be for the best.

At the very least, it could become a rare experimental material for Wang Ya’s laboratory.

A Magical Plant of this type hadn’t been discovered in many years.

They were considered a rarity even in the Dark Land.

Whether due to climate, environment, or human factors... Wang Ya had the idea to just pack the whole thing up and take it with him.

The fact that a Black Death Vine was used as a guardian for its defense system made Wang Ya even more interested in these Wizard Ruins.

He was determined to see what else was inside.

...

P.S. I’m a weakling. Just getting around to posting yesterday’s bonus Chapter this morning. Ahem!