Chapter 106: Intrusion

Chapter 106: Intrusion



A book?

What kind of book?

The attendees couldn't help but show their curiosity.

Some of them had grave expressions, standing tall and straight, seemingly familiar with the book.

Perhaps,

Their purpose for coming here was to obtain this advanced enchanted item.

Earth Manipulation!

Under the influence of wizardry, the soil on the platform rose, lifting a book and presenting it to the host.

It was an ancient, yellowed parchment book.

The cover was made from a single, meticulously tanned and polished sheepskin, its texture as fine as the sediment of time.

Ancient golden threads outlined intricate patterns, and despite the passage of time, the patterns still shimmered with an enigmatic and captivating light.

But after a few glances, Karl quickly averted his gaze.

In his perception, an eerie power surrounded the book, causing a sense of foreboding.

"Wizard Duke was a wandering wizard from several hundred years ago. He deeply loved his wife, Athena, but was betrayed and abandoned by her," the host explained.

"In the last decade before his death, Duke used his soul to write this love story."

"And this book also possesses mysterious powers."

He waved the staff in his hand, and an invisible force opened the book's cover, revealing the pages inside.

The paper was thin yet sturdy, slightly yellowed, emitting a faint ink fragrance and the unique scent of sheepskin.

The scent of ink?

Karl's heart skipped a beat.

How could a book from several hundred years ago still have the scent of ink? It was clear that his sense of smell was distorted by some mysterious power.

The pages were filled with dense ancient text, and the letters seemed to dance on the paper, narrating the legend and story of two full wizards from several hundred years ago.

Unconsciously, Karl wanted to read the text, but he quickly snapped out of it, closing his eyes and refusing to look further.

"Whoa..."

The host waved the staff again, and the book closed by itself.

Although it was only a few breaths, many in the audience already had pale faces and eyes filled with terror.

This book, its text, seemed to possess an eerie power, drawing their attention and immersing them in its story.

in time.

"Be careful!"

The host warned again:

"Don't let curiosity get the better of you and read the book's content, and don't focus on it too much."

"A wizard has appraised this book, and it creates a fantasy world within its pages. If the viewer's will is not strong enough, they will gradually succumb to the story, until their soul is devoured by the book, adding a touch of intrigue to the narrative."

He spoke solemnly:

"Over the centuries, this book has devoured dozens of souls, mostly belonging to ordinary people."

"Of course!"

"And if you master this book, you can use it to plunder the souls of others."

Plundering souls had numerous benefits.

For instance,

Torturing secrets out of someone, creating certain special enchanted items, or directly consuming souls through black magic.

A complete soul could even be sold for a high price.

Obtaining the soul of a wizard apprentice could potentially reveal the secrets of their wizard lineage.

And this enchanted item could plunder the souls of advanced wizard apprentices, making it incredibly terrifying.

"The starting bid is two hundred and thirty magic stones!"

As soon as the host finished speaking, someone raised their hand.

"Two hundred and forty!"

"Two hundred and sixty!"

"..."

The price quickly rose to three hundred magic stones, and there was no sign of the bidding slowing down.

The most aggressive bidders were the ones with expressions different from the rest, clearly well-prepared.

"Wait for me here."

Alertha glanced at a spot not far away, then whispered to the two:

"I have something to attend to. I'll be back soon."

"Mhm."

Amy nodded:

"Go ahead, we'll wait for you."

She was still immersed in the excitement of the advanced enchanted item and the bidding war.

"You two."

Not long after Alertha left, a handsome man approached them and spoke in a low voice:

"Are you interested in attending the upcoming secret gathering?"

"Secret gathering?"

Amy blinked:

"What kind of gathering?"

"Beautiful miss, you should know that the items auctioned at the gathering require a two percent pure profit for the black wizards," the man explained with a smile.

"But at the private gatherings, you can save on those magic stones."

"Usually, after the auction ends, there's a small secret gathering where the items are of higher quality and lower prices."

"I'm Croning, responsible for introducing guests to the gathering. I earn a little pocket money on the side."

His voice was pleasant, and his sunny smile easily inspired goodwill. Amy couldn't help but become interested.

But she also remembered Alertha's instructions:

"Where is it?"

"Not far." Croning pointed to a spot not far away:

"It's over there. After the auction ends, many people will go. You can join them."

"No!"

Before Amy could respond, Karl shook his head:

"We're not interested. Please stay away."

"Mhm." Croning was taken aback:

"Friend, I meant no harm..."

"Leave!" Karl frowned, his voice turning stern:

"I don't want to have to inform the organizers about you privately luring customers. I don't think the black wizards would appreciate that."

"..." Croning's smile froze, and he awkwardly shrugged helplessly:

"Alright then."

Watching Croning leave, Amy blinked:

"Mr. Karl, aren't you interested?

"Before coming here, Alertha reminded me not to pay attention to others' advances." Karl shook his head. "I'm just keeping my promise with her."

"Oh!"

Amy nodded slowly.

In fact, there was another reason Karl didn't mention.

Malice!

He sensed a deep yet pure malice in Cronin, a feeling that was very unique.

It was like his perception could detect the presence of the Cloak of Invisibility.

Karl's perception was like a radar, ready to trigger an alert at the slightest proximity.

That feeling was very distinct.

One moment everything seemed normal, and the next, a sudden sensation arose, instantly locking onto the direction and presence of the perceived threat.

Ensuring a swift response.

'It seems that the secrets of the abyssal bloodline are still hidden, and experimental data alone cannot fully decipher them.'

Alertha soon returned, and after hearing Amy's account of the incident, she nodded in appreciation towards Karl.

"Karl did the right thing!"

"I've heard of Cronin. Although there's no direct evidence of him harming others, it's highly likely that he's a dark wizard."

"Amy!"

"You're too young and haven't experienced the viciousness and malice of the human heart. Remember, never trust strangers."

"Oh!" Amy nodded blankly.

...

The boat paddles moved, propelling the wooden vessel forward.

Today's auction was overall very satisfying. Not only did they witness two advanced enchanted items, but they also acquired a hatching Thunderbird feather.

Once they return, they can conduct experiments and analyses to determine if the feather in their possession belongs to a Thunderbird.

If it does...

Then it's worth at least a hundred magic stones! With further progress in their alchemy, they might even be able to use the feather to craft an advanced enchanted item.

'The reason the Cloak of Invisibility can conceal is not due to superior crafting techniques but the use of a special wizard material.'

'If I have the right materials, I can do it too.'

'As for "Duke's Love Story!", it's because it contains the life's devotion of a full wizard.'

'Both are marvelous, but it's not about the crafting technique; it's the difference in the original materials.'

'I...'

'It's not impossible!'

With the experience of handling hundreds of wizard materials, the thought of future possibilities caused a mental jolt.

"Hmm?"

Before they reached the shore, Karl frowned.

'Someone has landed on the island?'

'A friend of Heibel's?'

But in the next moment, he realized something was wrong. Heibel's friend wouldn't have disrupted the wizard trap.

There's an intruder!

"Swish!"

His figure flickered.

Karl stopped near his residence.

A body lay in the grass, covered in various wounds.

There were signs of frostbite, burns, poison, corrosion, and more... Numerous injuries that ultimately took his life.

To hide his secrets and test his skills, Karl had set up numerous wizard traps on the island, especially near his residence.

The various wizard materials brought from another world were transformed into dense and overlapping wizard traps.

Even a high wizard apprentice would lose half their life force if they stumbled into this without knowledge.

This person had managed to reach here before dying, which was already impressive.

"Who are you after?"

Karl turned back and examined the traces of the disrupted wizard traps. It was clear that this person had rushed straight towards him.

Obviously, they were targeting him.

"When did I offend..."

"Swish!"

Before the sound could land, a shadow darted out from beneath the corpse, and his perception suddenly brightened.

Flame technique!

The abrupt burst of flames not only obscured his vision but also burned his perception, causing him to lose control over his surroundings momentarily.

The momentary hesitation allowed the shadow to close in, holding a slender dagger aimed at Karl's throat.

"Swish!"

The dagger, which should have been a sure hit, missed and stabbed into the air.

The shadow paused, stunned.

"Boom!"

Vast combat energy erupted from Karl's body, and his fist, like a giant axe, slammed down diagonally.

The shadow was knocked away without a sound.

"Who are you?"

Karl's face darkened as he stepped forward, "What's your purpose here? Why are you trying to assassinate me?"

His five fingers spread, a simple gesture that gave off an overwhelming sense of inevitability.

The roaring combat energy descended like a canopy.

A grand knight! And a peak grand knight at that! The shadow's eyes widened in disbelief; this was completely different from the information they had received before.

Engaging in such close combat with a peak grand knight...

He's dead!

The shadow's eyes suddenly flashed with flame as fear gripped its heart.

Hmm? Karl's eyebrows rose, and his rushing body suddenly halted, then retreated at an even faster speed.

The next instant—

"Boom!"

The shadow's entire body exploded on the spot, as if a high-explosive bomb had been hidden within, and burning flesh and blood flew in all directions.

If Karl hadn't retreated quickly...

It wouldn't have been a problem!

"Who?"

Karl's eyebrows knitted together, "Who's after me?"

The shadow was clearly an assassin or a deadman.

Knowing it was impossible to approach the house, they hid in their companion's corpse, waiting to launch a sneak attack.

Realizing their situation was hopeless, they chose to self-destruct.

From the method of attack, it was likely from Kolon, who was rumored to have trained a group of assassins.

"You've been on Black Swamp Island for almost three years, and the number of times you've left the island can be counted on one hand. Who did you offend?"

"To choose to come to the island today, it's obvious that you know I'm not on the island, and there aren't many who know my schedule today..."

Flipping through the corpse, Karl's eyes flickered slightly.

"This thing..."

"The auction!"

Black Swamp Island.

Edge.

Amy's face was filled with panic as she darted through the dense forest.

A gentle breeze surrounded her, increasing her speed, and with a light leap, she covered several meters.

"Chirp, chirp..."

Above her head, a palm-sized bird flapped its wings incessantly.

With each flap of its wings, Amy's speed increased, but despite this, her face remained filled with terror.

"Little brat, you're not getting away!"

Behind.

Kolon's voice echoed from a distance.

Tree branches snapped, and Kolon, bare-chested, grinned maliciously as he leaped forward like a cannonball.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

With a leap, he covered over a dozen meters.

Besides him, there was another person.

The person's limbs were on the ground, and they moved with agility through the intricate forest like a hunting dog.

The two of them were getting closer to Amy.

"Hehe..."

Seeing the fleeing figure ahead, Kolon smirked, "Now that you're here, why the rush to leave? Don't tell me you're dissatisfied with my hospitality, brother?"

"You..." Amy cried out, "I shouldn't have trusted you!"

Originally, she had found Kolon handsome and gentle, so she had sought him out after the auction to get to know him.

Unexpectedly.

This person turned out to be a black wizard!

He had lured her to a secluded place to make his move, and his once sunny smile had turned sinister and terrifying.

If not for Amy's abilities, she would have lost her life already.

"Haha..." Kolon laughed heartily, "It's your fault for coming to me, and I didn't expect you to have a magical creature with you."

"Looks like I'll be making a fortune today!"

Although he didn't recognize the magical creature, even as a youngling, it could provide support for wizardry.

Its rank was undoubtedly high.

It would definitely fetch a high price!

Moreover, Amy also had many valuable items on her, and if she could obtain them, she wouldn't have to worry about magic stones for years.

"Up!"

As the distance closed in, Kolon reached out and pressed forward abruptly.

Earth Zero-Ring Wizardry - Earth Cage!

"Boom!"

The ground trembled, and dozens of earthen bars emerged from the ground, forming a cage that trapped Amy.

With the blessing of wizardry, the soft earth instantly transformed into solid rock.

"Roar!"

The person behind let out a low growl, and his body leaped forward like a leopard.

No!

It was a leopard!

Bloodline Wizardry!

In mid-air, its skin burst through its clothes, and its body grew larger by more than a fist's length.

The leopard's five-colored fur indicated a unique bloodline, and it should also be a magical creature.

Not every wizard apprentice aspired to become a full wizard.

On the contrary.

The vast majority of wizard apprentices were well aware of their own potential and had given up on further efforts.

Just like bloodline wizards.

Without the analysis of legendary creatures, there was no hope for advancement.

Since becoming a full wizard was not an option, it was better to refine the bloodline of ordinary magical creatures to increase strength and means.

The 'leopard' was such a case.

"Ah!"

Trapped in the cage, with the leopard pouncing, Amy couldn't help but cry out, and a path of wind blades erupted around her body.

The wind blades instantly transformed into a tornado, rushing towards the four sides.

Zero-Ring Wizardry - Minor Storm!

The raging wind blades tore through everything in their path, and the sturdy cage shattered into pieces.

The pouncing leopard had no choice but to retreat temporarily.

"Hmph!"

Kolon coldly huffed, "That's your move again!"

A regular Minor Storm didn't have such power, and Amy had clearly borrowed the strength of the magical creature.

"Bang!"

Kolon charged forward, his skin now encased in rock, withstanding the storm.

The wind blades cut into the rock, creating eerie cracks, but they couldn't stop his movements.

Taking two steps in one, he reached Amy and punched out.

"Bang!"

Amy's head snapped back, her eyes rolling, and she fell heavily to the ground, while the magical creature beside her was also knocked away.

"Little Wind..."

"And you still have the heart to care for your pet?" Kolon dispersed the rock on his body and grabbed Amy by the throat, "You're so loving, I almost can't bear to kill you."

"What a pity, if I don't kill you, there will definitely be retaliation, and that woman, Orselia, is not easy to deal with."

"So..."

"You might as well die!"

As he spoke, the strength in his grip increased.

Amy struggled to breathe, and her desperate struggles were in vain. Her face gradually turned blue, and her eyes rolled back.

'I'm going to die!'

'Sister Orselia...'

'I shouldn't have disobeyed you. If only I had listened to you, how wonderful it would have been. If only I hadn't come...'

Due to oxygen deprivation, her consciousness became increasingly blurred, her struggles weakened, and everything before her eyes turned black.

"Bang!"

Suddenly, a muffled sound came from not too far away.

"Who?"

Kolon spun around and saw a burly figure holding his companion's limbs high in the air.

The muscular figure's arms bulged, and with a sudden heave, they ripped the 'Leopard' in their hands into two pieces, blood and entrails spilling downward. The scream abruptly ceased.

How was this possible?

This scene left Croning's eyes wide open.

His companion, the 'Leopard', was an intermediate apprentice wizard who had merged with the bloodline of magical creatures, possessing a physique strong enough to tear through steel. Even when facing a peak-level knight, they could maintain a dominant position.

Now, just like a rag doll, they were effortlessly torn in two.

After killing the 'Leopard', the figure flickered, appearing beside Croning, and with a clenched fist, they struck out.

Earth Wall!

"Boom!"

The summoned earth wall shattered instantly, and the figure appeared before Croning.

Their chaotic features were pitch-black and profound, like a bottomless black hole devouring everything.

"Thump! Thump!"

"..."

Croning's eyes widened, his body stiffened, and his heart raced as an overwhelming sense of fear gripped him.

This fear almost instantly shattered his sanity.

"Ah!"

He screamed, backing away in confusion, and a fleeting moment of clarity flashed through his muddled thoughts.

Wizardry!

Soul-shaking wizardry!

Even though he realized something was wrong, no matter how he adjusted his emotions or cast secret spells, it was futile.

Fear!

Confusion!

Despair!

Countless negative emotions completely overwhelmed his sanity.

Karl grabbed Croning by the collar with one hand, his eyes glowing with a faint, dark light as he stared at him and asked, "Why target me?"

"Why!"

His voice was deep and powerful, echoing in Croning's ears, wave after wave, assaulting his consciousness.

Fear Aura!

"Uh..."

Croning's body struggled frantically, his flesh and soul withering as if being scorched by a raging fire.

His life force was rapidly diminishing.

Hmm? Karl raised an eyebrow.

The Fear Aura had this effect?

He could clearly sense that as Croning's life force faded, his body experienced a sense of satisfaction.

It was as if he was savoring a delicious meal.

Even his mental power showed a slight increase.

'Legend has it that the creatures of the abyss enjoy the fear of others, and feed on it. Could this ability have manifested in me?'

"It's you!"

Croning finally saw Karl's face, opened his mouth, and his eyes slowly filled with despair and fear.

"Why?" Karl asked in a low voice, "Why target me?"

"No... it's not me." Croning's face withered and sunken, struggling to plead, "Anslotte!"

"It's... Anslotte... made me do it. Please, spare me... spare me."

Anslotte?

Tim's friend? Tim had been gone for three years, and his friend still held a grudge and sought revenge. This was truly...

Remarkable.

"Crack!"

Karl's eyes narrowed, and he twisted Croning's neck with his hand.

Then, with practiced ease, he searched through the two corpses, took a few items, and vanished in a flash.

Soon after, Amy's scream echoed through the air.

She struggled to get up from the ground, her face filled with terror as she looked around and saw only two corpses.

One had been violently torn in two.

The other looked like a mummified corpse dug up from the ground.

What had happened? Who had saved her?

Amy was bewildered, and when she finally came to her senses, she quickly called for 'Little Wind', who rushed off into the distance.

A wooden boat slowly made its way through the swamp.

Anslotte held a staff resembling an old man's cane, leaning on the boat and gazing into the distance.

His eyes betrayed a hint of impatience, "Still no news."

"Master," the boatman, a knight in armor, responded, "Don't worry, Shadow Hand has become much stronger since absorbing the Fire Thief from Kolon. With the price you offered, even a high-level apprentice wizard might be killed by accident, let alone sending them to retrieve an item from an uninhabited island."

"I just... have a bad feeling," Anslotte, changed his eyes. "You know I've studied divination and astrology, and my premonitions are often accurate."

"This..." The knight hesitated, "With Black Wizard Croning and Shadow Hand prepared, even against a basic apprentice wizard, Master, you will surely obtain what you desire."

"Even if I don't get it, no one will know of your involvement, and there will be other opportunities in the future."

"Heh," Anslotte chuckled lightly, "If it were anyone else, I wouldn't be in a hurry, but this Karl..."

"I can't wait!"

Three years of waiting for just one chance, even with his patience, he felt the urgency.

"You're right," the knight nodded, "This person is strange. Even among wizard apprentices devoted to their research, I've never seen anyone like him, staying indoors year after year."

"Hmm?"

"Sword drawn, he spoke, and simultaneously, the two of them leaped off the boat.

Behind them, the wooden boat burst open, and a figure with tentacles sprouting from its back emerged from the swamp.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end