Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Ron stood alone in front of a deduction wall, on which countless rune formulas drawn with magic floated.

The runes rotated slowly like living things, sparking faintly when they collided with each other, and then reformed into new structures.

Each structure represents his tactical plan for dealing with that marquis.

But each one will eventually shatter and dissipate before the barrier of "immortality".

"The seventh option is an attack at the soul level."

His fingers traced a line in the air, and a complex chain of runes unfolded on the wall:

"Using the 'judgment' power of the [Threshold of Darkness], directly deny the legitimacy of the other party's 'existence'..."

The rune chain extended halfway before suddenly beginning to disintegrate.

"It is presumed that the probability of failure is high."

The opponent's immortality is based on their bloodline; as long as the core of their bloodline remains intact, their soul will regenerate even if attacked.

Ron sighed and waved away the string of failed deductions.

Sixteen equally failed solutions were piled up on the wall, each seemingly perfect, yet as fragile as paper in the face of "immortality".

"That is indeed a rather troublesome ability."

A childish voice came from behind him.

Aseria's dragon soul slowly coalesced from mid-air.

She rubbed her eyes with her little paws, floated to the deduction wall, and scanned the failed plans with her vertical pupils:

"The immortality of high-ranking vampires is of very high priority; it is essentially a kind of 'memory anchor'."

"Their bloodline records their 'complete state'."

When the body is damaged, the bloodline forcibly 'reset' the body back to its original state.

Her tail swung in the air:
"This mechanism is almost unsolvable, unless..."

"Unless what?"

Ron turned around.

"Unless, a way can be found to destroy that 'memory anchor' itself."

Acelia's voice became serious:
"The problem is that the core of the bloodline is deeply rooted in the soul and intertwined with consciousness."

To destroy it is tantamount to annihilating the opponent.

"And judging from the results of your divination..."

She looked at Ron:
“You cannot kill that marquis. Once he is completely annihilated, the Grand Duke will personally take action.”

"So it's a vicious cycle."

Ron rubbed his temples:

“I need to ‘disable’ him, so that he is incapacitated but still alive.”

"But his immortality means that any damage can be repaired quickly."

"Even if I cut off his limbs, smash his skull, and rip out his internal organs... given enough time, they will all grow back."

Acelia remained silent.

She has witnessed the various abilities of countless races in the collective memory bank of the dragon race.

However, the immortality of vampires is indeed one of the most troublesome types.

Especially when you have to "leave some alive".

"perhaps……"

She hesitated before speaking:
"Could we try sealing it?"
By rendering him powerless and then trapping him in an inescapable rune array, he is theoretically considered 'crippled'.

He will break free.

Ron shook his head:

"Judging from the images seen in the divination, that marquis has extremely rich combat experience and knowledge."

The sealing technique couldn't hold him for long.

"Even if we take a step back and say..."

He looked at the string of runes on the wall:
"Even if we really trap him tightly, the seal needs a continuous supply of energy. Once the energy is exhausted, the seal will collapse."

"Then a high-ranking wizard would be needed to watch over it at all times, and only I can do that here."

"I can't just sit here and do nothing, can I?"

The two reached a stalemate.

Just then, a lazy voice suddenly rang out:

"Honey, you're overthinking it."

Nari’s phantom rose from Ron’s shadow.

She seemed to be in a good mood today, her antennae swaying lightly up and down, as cheerful as a little girl skipping rope.

Nari floated to the deduction wall, tilted his head, and looked at the complex rune formulas:
"What 'soul attack'? What 'rune seal'... Why go through all that trouble?"

"Mom will teach you a super simple method!"

Ron and Azalea exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes.

Although Nari is powerful, her way of thinking... how should I put it, is too "intuitive".

Often, her advice sounds like a child's wild imagination.

“Then Mom, please explain it to us two ‘students’ properly.”

Ron patiently asked again.

"Hehe~"

Nari happily spun around:

"Honey, you've been working on improving your research on mares lately, haven't you?"

That research using dirty chemical contaminants to combat vampire berserk behavior~

"Yes, this is the most important task at present, and it is also the key to conquering the Chaotic Blood World."

"Those pollutants will weaken the power of the vampires, right?"

Nari's tentacles pointed to several bottles of samples on the lab bench:

"Because they 'dilute' the purity of the bloodline and 'degrade' extraordinary properties."

"It's like diluting thick syrup with water; then the syrup won't be sweet anymore!"

Her tone was light and cheerful, as if she were telling a bedtime story:

"So here's the question: what would happen if we injected those pollutants directly into the marquis's body?"

Ron froze.

Azalea's vertical pupils suddenly contracted.

"His bloodline will be tainted..."

If this were a comic book scene, Ron felt like a lightbulb would be lit up above his head, and his brain would start working at high speed:
"A decrease in bloodline purity means a weakening of the 'memory anchor'..."

"If the anchor point strength is weakened, the regeneration capacity will decrease..."

"If the concentration of pollutants is high enough..."

He turned abruptly, staring at the sample bottles:
"The immortality will be suppressed to a controllable level!"

"That's right, that's right~"

Nari clapped his tentacles happily:

"Just like the little mare discovered at the beginning, pollutants make vampires 'weaker'~"

"No matter how powerful that marquis is, he's still a vampire."

"If you pour enough dirty water into his body, he'll go from an 'immortal monster' to a 'weak patient'."

Her tentacles drew a large circle in the air:

"You can hit him however you want, baby. His wounds heal super slowly anyway, he won't have time to recover!"

"Once you've knocked him down, pour more dirty water down his throat to keep him weak."

"This way, we neither killed him nor prevented him from fighting."

After Nari finished speaking, he looked at the two of them smugly.

A brief silence fell over the laboratory.

Then, Acelia suddenly burst into laughter:
"I actually got a lesson from that 'wild' tentacle monster!"

Her laughter contained both self-deprecation and a sense of relief:

“We ‘rational’ guys always think about solving problems from a ‘tactical’ perspective.”

"But we've forgotten the simplest truth..."

Dragon Soul looked at the sample bottles:
"Poison is the best weapon against undead monsters."

Ron didn't laugh.

He strode to the lab bench and picked up one of the samples labeled "HM-37 Mixed Pollutants".

Through the glass bottle, the liquid inside appears an eerie dark green, with an oily film floating on the surface and emitting a pungent chemical odor.

These are all industrial wastes collected by Euphemia during her thirty years of research.

This includes heavy metal compounds, organic solvents, and various byproducts of magical pollution...

Individually, each of them is a toxin that is harmful to living organisms.

When mixed together, they become the "natural enemy" of the vampire's extraordinary characteristics.

"But the problem is..."

Ron frowned:

"These pollutants are effective against ordinary vampires, but are they still effective against marquis-level powerhouses?"

"Their bloodline is extremely pure, and their resistance to foreign substances far exceeds that of ordinary people."

"and……"

He looked at the label on the sample bottle:

“These contaminants are designed to be ‘slowly diluted,’ and their effects can take at least several days or even weeks.”

"In battle, there is simply no time for them to slowly take effect."

"Then let's improve it!"

Nari tilted his head:
"Honey, aren't you best at improving formulas?"

"Make this dirty water even more 'toxic,' so that it takes effect in minutes or even seconds~"

"Like a mother's chaotic power, it can instantly corrode the structure of one's bloodline."

Her tentacles gently touched the sample bottle:

"And, honey, you forgot something~"

"what?"

"That marquis is a battle maniac, isn't he?"

Nari laughed like a cat that had stolen a fish:
"The defining characteristic of battle maniacs is—they get injured!"

"And you'll get hurt a lot~"

"Every time you get injured, the wound opens up, and the blood vessels become exposed."

Her voice became lighter and more cheerful:

"When the time comes, honey, all you need to do is coat your weapons with this 'poison,' and inject a little into his body every time you slash him."

"If one cut isn't enough, then ten cuts; if ten cuts aren't enough, then a hundred cuts!"

"By the time he realized something was wrong... hehe, it was already too late~"

Ron's eyes gradually brightened.

This idea... is indeed feasible!
Moreover, it perfectly avoids the taboo of "killing the marquis".

The damage caused by pollutants can be defined as "weakening" rather than "lethal," and its use in combat is entirely in line with conventional tactics.

Most importantly, this method is highly practical:
He can control the concentration of pollutants, the injection speed, and the degree of weakness in the target... everything is under his control.

Ron turned around, his gaze sweeping across the entire laboratory:

"I need to start the experiment immediately."

"First, we tested the weakening effect of different concentrations of pollutants on bloodlines."

"Secondly, develop a fast-acting version to ensure it can take effect quickly in battle."

"at last……"

He looked at Nari:
"Mom, I need your help."

"Add a trace amount of chaotic energy to the pollutant formula to enhance its permeability to high-level bloodlines."

"No problem~"

Nari happily replied:

"Mom loves helping her baby do naughty things!"

"Once that marquis tastes Mom's specially made 'poison,' he'll understand what 'worse than death' truly means!"

Ron didn't reply.

He is completely immersed in research and development.

One by one, rune formulas were deduced, and all the failed tactical plans were overturned, replaced by a completely new combat strategy:

To wear down the enemy through a protracted war;
Using poisoned weapons to weaken regenerative capabilities;
Once the opponent is weakened to the point of no return, use the "Concealment" ability of [Threshold of Darkness] to seal their consciousness, and finally use the "Judgment" power to completely cripple their combat ability...

Every step is interconnected, and every step leaves room for maneuver.

"We still need real-world data..."

Ron continued to ponder:

"I need to know how strong the resistance of a Marquis-level vampire is, what the optimal amount of contaminant should be injected, and how long it will take to weaken them to the point of being unable to resist..."

"These questions cannot be answered by deduction alone."

"There must be experimental subjects."

He turned and looked towards the laboratory door:
"Ivy".

The figure of the blood-red bride appeared silently by the door, as if she had always been standing there:

"Master, what are your orders?"

“Gather all the ‘blood brides’ and those vampire volunteers who are willing to cooperate with the experiment.”

Ron calmly gave the order:

“Tell them I need to conduct a new batch of bloodline compatibility tests.”

"Participants will receive corresponding compensation—priority access to the use of the improved inhibitor."

"Yes, Master."

Ivy bowed and withdrew.

Half an hour later, in the auxiliary testing area of ​​the underground laboratory.

The four "blood brides" stood in a neat row, their expressions identical, showing only docility and obedience.

Behind them were a dozen or so vampires who had "volunteered" to participate in the test.

Most of them were barons, their faces filled with tension and unease, yet their eyes gleamed with a certain longing.

For vampires suffering from semi-madness, the possibility of having priority access to "better potions" is worth any risk.

Ron stood in the center of the testing area, with more than twenty bottles of pollutant samples of different concentrations placed on the experimental table beside him.

"The test is divided into three phases."

His voice echoed in the empty underground space:
"Phase 1: Skin contact testing."

"I will apply a small amount of the contaminant to your arms and observe the rejection reaction in your blood vessels."

"Phase two: wound penetration test."

"We create superficial wounds in non-lethal areas, then apply contaminants directly to the wounds, recording the penetration rate and attenuation effect."

"The third stage..."

Ron's gaze swept over everyone:

"Vascular injection test".

"This is the most dangerous part, as contaminants can directly enter the bloodstream."

"You can withdraw at any time; I will not force anyone to participate."

No one quit.

The vampire volunteers stepped forward, their expressions becoming even more resolute.

They were certainly aware of the danger, but compared to the madness they worried about every day... what was this risk?
"very good."

Ron nodded. "Then, let's begin."

The first phase went very smoothly.

When trace amounts of contaminants are applied to the skin, they may cause a slight stinging sensation and a temporary darkening of the skin color, but this will quickly return to normal.

The vampire's regenerative abilities will automatically repair such minor damage, with almost no noticeable weakening effect.

"The concentration is too low, or the contact area is too small."

Ron quickly scribbled in his notebook:
"Skin contact is basically ineffective; it must be done through wounds or blood."

The atmosphere became tense at the start of the second phase.

Silas conjured a sculpted blade and made a shallow cut on the arm of the first volunteer—a young baron.

Fresh blood immediately gushed out, meandering down his pale skin.

Ron used a dropper to draw three drops of a 10% concentration of contaminant and applied them to the wound.

"hiss--!"

The Baron gasped.

He could clearly feel that the moment the contaminants came into contact with the wound, it felt like countless tiny needles were drilling into his blood vessels.

The stinging sensation spread rapidly, from my arm to my shoulder, and then to my chest...

"Please tell me how you feel."

Ron asked.

"A stinging, tingling sensation, and a numbing feeling..."

The Baron's voice trembled slightly:
"I can feel my bloodline rejecting these things, but I can't completely expel them..."

"Wound healing speed..."

He looked at his arm, his eyes wide with shock:
"It's slower! Normally, this kind of superficial wound would heal completely in three seconds, but now..."

Thirty seconds passed, and the wound was still slowly bleeding.

Although the flow rate was slowing down, the feeling of "not being able to stop" sent a chill down the spines of all the vampires present.

"very good."

Ron wrote down the data in his notebook:
"10% concentration, three drops, for a Baron-level vampire."

The wound healing speed is reduced by approximately 90%, lasting for more than thirty seconds.

"Next person."

The test continues.

Different concentrations, different doses, different grades of blood... every set of data was recorded in detail.

Ron discovered a pattern:
The higher the level of a vampire, the stronger their resistance to contaminants, but the weakening effect still exists.

A viscount's wound took five minutes to heal after being tested with a 20% concentration of contaminants.

Five minutes is nothing to the average person.

But for vampires who are used to "high-speed healing," this is a nightmare.

"If it's a marquis-level..."

Ron stared at the data and deduced:

"According to the resistance curve that increases with level, a Marquis-level vampire would need a concentration of at least 40% to achieve a similar effect."

"And the dosage also needs to be increased significantly..."

His fingers tapped on the notebook:
"Roughly estimated, at least 50 milliliters of high-concentration pollutants need to be injected into the body to suppress its immortality to a 'controllable' level."

"50 ml..."

Silas adjusted his glasses:

"If it were during combat, and the coating was slowly injected onto the weapon... approximately how many hits would it take?"

"It depends on the amount injected each time."

Ron calculated:

"If you can inject 1 ml each time, then you need 50 successful hits."

"If we could make 2 milliliters..."

"Twenty-five times."

This number silenced everyone present.

In a battle against a Marquis-level powerhouse, is it possible to land twenty-five effective attacks?

The answer is...it's difficult.

"Therefore, the amount injected at one time must be increased."

Ron looked at the samples with higher concentrations on the lab table:
"or……"

He picked up a bottle of black liquid labeled "NR-Chaos Enhancement Type":

"Use a more 'toxic' version."

This liquid was something he had just urgently prepared, adding a trace amount of chaotic power provided by Nari to the original contaminants.

Those chaotic threads were intricately woven into the chemical molecular structure, forming an extremely unstable yet exceptionally deadly mixture.

“Phase three, intravenous injection test.” Ron held up the bottle of black liquid:

"This time I need a volunteer to receive the direct intravenous injection."

"The injection dose is 0.5 ml, concentration 40%, with additional trace amounts of chaos enhancement."

"Risk level - extremely high".

He looked at the volunteers:
"Severe pain, temporary loss of strength, or even short-term coma may occur."

"I can guarantee there will be no danger to your life, but I cannot guarantee that the process will be comfortable."

Who would be willing?

The four "blood brides" raised their hands at the same time.

"Ivy".

Ron selected the head black-haired maid:
"You come."

"Yes, Master."

This was the most crucial part of the experiment. All the other vampire volunteers were asked to leave the laboratory, leaving only a few absolutely loyal vampire brides.

Ivy walked to the lab table, elegantly rolled up her left sleeve, revealing an arm as white as porcelain.

Blue veins are faintly visible under the skin, rising and falling slightly with the heartbeat.

Ron picked up the syringe and aimed the needle at the vein.

"It might hurt a lot."

He concluded with a warning.

"It is Ivy's honor to serve her master."

The maid smiled, her expression as casual as if she were simply remarking on the pleasant weather.

The needle was inserted, and 0.5 ml of black liquid was slowly pushed into the blood vessel.

For a full three seconds, nothing happened.

then……

"what----!"

Ivy let out a heart-wrenching scream.

She fell backward, and if the other blood-soaked brides hadn't caught her in time, she would have fallen to the ground.

The maid's body convulsed violently, and black veins appeared on her pale skin.

The lines started from the injection point and spread rapidly throughout the body, eventually converging at the heart.

"Heart rate drops sharply...blood pressure drops...body temperature decreases..."

Silas quickly recorded the vital signs data.

Ron stared intently at Ivy, his "observation" ability of [Dark Threshold] fully activated, monitoring the spread of pollutants within her body in real time.

He "saw" those chemical molecules and chaotic threads moving rapidly through his blood.

Like hungry predators, they frantically devoured the extraordinary factors in the bloodline.

With each one she devours, Ivy's vampire traits are weakened by one point.

Regeneration, strength enhancement, perception amplification... all extraordinary traits based on bloodline are declining at a visible rate.

Three minutes later, Ivy's screams gradually subsided.

She slumped in the chair, panting heavily, her forehead covered in cold sweat.

Those blood-red eyes were now dull and lifeless, like two gems that had lost their magic.

"how do you feel?"

Ron asked.

"Very...weak..."

Ivy spoke with difficulty, her voice hoarse as if she hadn't drunk water for days:

"My power... has almost completely vanished..."

"It's like... becoming a normal person again..."

She tried to raise her right hand, but her arm trembled violently, and this simple movement exhausted her.

"Create a wound."

Ron said to Silas.

Without hesitation, the enchanter quickly used the evocation blade to make a shallow cut on Ivy's arm.

Blood gushes out.

And then... it just poured out.

The wound remained open, unhealed and unstopped, just like any ordinary human wound.

A minute passed, and the bleeding continued.

Five minutes passed before the blood flow gradually slowed down.

"Immortality... has been completely suppressed."

Silas's voice was filled with extreme excitement:

"0.5 ml, 40% concentration plus chaos enhancement... the effect lasts for at least ten minutes."

"Moreover, this is only test data for Count-level vampires (the Blood Bride's strength is equivalent to Euphemia's)."

Ron wrote the last line in his notebook:

"If the target is a marquis, considering their stronger resistance, the same dose may only suppress them for 5-7 minutes."

"So in actual combat..."

He raised his head, his eyes gleaming:
"I need to inject at least 10 milliliters of Chaos Enhancement Contaminant into the opponent's body within ten minutes before the battle."

The "Observation" ability of [Dark Threshold] can predict the opponent's attack trajectory;

The ability to "mask" can create a temporary cognitive gap;

The power of "adjudication" can deliver a fatal blow at a critical moment...

The combination of these three abilities, plus this "poison" specifically designed for vampires...

“Alex Valentine”.

Ron whispered the marquis's name; he had already uncovered the mysterious marquis's identity.

"When will you finally give in...? I'm all ready."

While everyone in Ron's team was fulfilling their duties, one person was so bored that he could only drink alone in silence.

In an unremarkable tavern in the eastern part of Dusk City.

Edwin took his fifth glass of strong liquor and gulped it down with some irritation.

The wine was a local specialty called "blood mead," made by mixing fermented blood and honey. It tasted sweet with a slightly fishy smell, and drinking too much of it could cause mild hallucinations.

But for a bloodline wizard like Edwin, this amount of hallucinogen was simply not enough.

He didn't need the intoxication; he just wanted to find something to do.

Anything is fine, as long as it's not just staring blankly at the wall in a room.

"Damn..."

He put down his wine glass and rubbed his face vigorously.

"When did I become so free?"

In the world of initial fire, I was so busy every day that I barely had time to breathe.

Leading the exploration team deep into the volcano in search of rare fire-related mineral veins;
Fight against the rebellious fire elementals and protect the colony;

Instructing newly arrived wizards, teaching them how to survive in extremely hot environments...

Although it was hard work, it was fulfilling.

Every day when I open my eyes, I can feel myself "moving forward," "growing," and striving towards my goals.

But now?

Edwin looked at his hands.

Those hands were covered in calluses and scars, each one a test of life and death.

These days, the only thing these hands do is raise a wine glass.

"Perhaps I should go to the arena."

He stood up and shook his slightly dizzy head:
"At least there's still a place where I can fight, so I don't get too rusty."

The arena in Twilight City is located underground and is a circular arena converted from an abandoned mine.

When Edwin pushed open the heavy iron gate, he was greeted by deafening cheers and the stench of blood.

In the center of the arena, a burly vampire is fighting a berserk monster.

That monster was originally supposed to be some kind of large feline.

Under the pervasive and insane influence here, it has grown six legs and two tails, and its back is covered with bone-spur-like protrusions.

The vampire wielded a massive battle axe, each strike leaving deep wounds on the monster.

But the monster's regenerative ability was equally astonishing; its wounds would heal within seconds.

The two sides were locked in a stalemate.

The surrounding stands were packed with vampires and humans who had come to watch the battle.

They shouted loudly, cheering for their side, and the air was filled with an atmosphere of violence and fanaticism.

"New face?"

A gruff voice rang out beside Edwin.

He turned his head and saw a one-eyed old vampire looking him over.

"I am the manager of the arena, and everyone calls me 'One-Eyed Jack'."

He grinned, revealing his broken teeth:
Want to give it a try?

Edwin did not answer immediately.

His gaze swept across the entire arena, assessing the "rules" here.

The arena floor was covered with arrays of runes, which were clearly used to limit the range and intensity of battles.

There is a transparent magical barrier between the stands and the arena to ensure that the audience is not affected.

At each of the four corners of the arena stood a referee dressed in a long black robe, ready to stop the out-of-control battle at any moment.

"The rules are simple."

One-Eyed Jack seemed to sense Edwin's doubts and offered an explanation:
"You can choose your opponent—a berserk monster, a vampire who has gone out of control, or any other challenger who is willing to step into the fray."

"Fight until one side concedes defeat, loses consciousness, or is deemed 'unable to continue' by the referee."

"The use of large-scale destructive spells is prohibited. Intentionally killing opponents is prohibited. Attacking referees and spectators is prohibited."

"Those who break the rules..."

His single eye revealed his murderous intent:
"They will be permanently banned from entering, or even expelled from Twilight City."

Edwin nodded.

These rules are all within a reasonable range, ensuring the intensity of the battle without actually causing any deaths.

"I want to take on the challenge."

He spoke, his voice deep and powerful.

"Oh?"

One-Eyed Jack looked him up and down:
"Judging from your aura, we don't have many opponents of the same level here..."

Edwin interrupted him:

"I will challenge the Berserker Vampire Count."

"or……"

A fiery light ignited in his eyes:

"Bring a few more viscounts, they can all come at once."

Upon hearing this, everyone's attention turned to the foreign wizard with the red copper skin.

Then, an even louder roar of shouts and whistles erupted.

Audiences love these "arrogant" challengers because it often means a more exciting fight, or... a more crushing defeat.

Either outcome would satisfy their craving for violence and bloodshed.

"You've got guts!"

One-Eyed Jack laughed:

"In that case, I'll arrange a 'good opponent' for you!"

He clapped his hands.

The ground cracked open, and an iron cage rose from underground.

A huge figure was locked in the cage, bound by heavy chains, yet still struggling frantically.

Once the cage was fully raised, Edwin finally saw what his opponent looked like:

It was a vampire nearly three meters tall, with muscles bulging like rocks all over its body and skin that was an unnatural dark red.

His arms had been completely transformed into thick, segmented limbs with sharp bone blades at the ends.

It had tattered, blood-red wings on its back, with most of its feathers gone, leaving only its skeleton.

His facial features were completely distorted, three eyes had sprouted from his eye sockets, and his mouth was split to the roots of his ears, filled with layers upon layers of fangs...

"This is the strongest berserker we have 'contained' here."

One-Eyed Jack explained:
"He was originally a count of the 'Shadow' clan, but he eventually lost control due to the overuse of his bloodline power."

“We keep him here, both as a prisoner and to provide the arena with a high-quality opponent for the final showdown.”

"but……"

He looked at Edwin:

"I must warn you, this guy is not to be trifled with."

"The last guy who challenged him was torn to shreds in three rounds."

"If the referee hadn't intervened in time, that guy wouldn't have even had a chance to regenerate."

Edwin cracked his shoulders, the bones making a "cracking" sound.

"Just right."

A fiery aura began to emanate from his body:
"A weak opponent is not worth my attention."

One-Eyed Jack whistled:
"Then let's get started!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, what you are about to witness is an exciting battle!"

"Challenger—Edwin Upton, a fire elemental wizard from the Wizarding World!"

"Our adversary—the former Earl of the Shadow Clan, now a Berserker, we call him…'Bloodfang'!"

Cheers erupted again.

The audience pounded on the armrests and stomped their feet, creating a deafening noise.

Edwin entered the arena, his flames burning ever brighter.

On the other side, the berserker known as "Blood Fang" was also released.

The chains clattered to the ground, and the monster was finally free.

It roared to the sky, shaking the entire arena.

Then, it suddenly lowered its head, its six eyes fixed on Edwin.

next second...

"boom!"

The Blood Fang shot out like a cannonball, so fast that it left a sonic boom in the air.

Edwin stood still, without flinching.

He simply raised his right hand, palm facing outward.

"bring it on."

He grinned:
"Let me see just how much you, this 'Earl,' really amount to."

Just as Bloodfang was about to collide with Edwin...

—Lava eruption!
Edwin's palm suddenly spewed forth a column of scorching magma, striking Blood Fang directly in the chest.

"Boom!"

The massive impact sent the Blood Fang flying, tumbling several times in the air before crashing heavily to the ground.

But the monster seemed to feel no pain. It rolled over and got up, and the wound on its chest, which had been burned by the lava, was healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Hahaha!"

Edwin laughed excitedly:
"What a good target!"

His body blazed with flames, and he became like a burning meteorite as he charged towards the Blood Fang.

Fists clashed with claws, flames intertwined with flesh and blood.

Each clash unleashed a terrifying shockwave, causing the rune arrays in the arena to flicker wildly.

The audience was stunned.

They expected to witness a "one-sided massacre," after all, this "blood fang" had already torn apart countless arrogant individuals.

But the wizard with the copper-colored skin in front of them displayed overwhelming strength.

Each of his punches sent the Blood Fang flying back several meters;

His every dodge was incredibly precise;

His flames, like living things, relentlessly eroded the Blood Fang's body, slowing its healing process...

"This guy……"

One-Eyed Jack's one eye widened:
"No wonder he's one of Associate Professor Ralph's men."

He recalled the rumors circulating in Twilight City recently.

The young Dark Sun-level wizard arrived here with a terrifyingly powerful team.

The team includes a fire elemental wizard with copper-colored skin, who is said to have trained in the high-magic plane—the world of the First Flame—and possesses astonishing combat power…

In the arena, the battle has reached a fever pitch.

Blood Fang completely abandoned its defense and launched a frenzied attack in a "suicide pact" posture.

Its claws tore through Edwin's shoulder, and its fangs pierced his calf...

But Edwin was still smiling.

It was a heartfelt, unrestrained laugh.

"Right, that is it!"

His voice echoed in the arena:

"This is what battle should be! This is what I want!"

He suddenly grabbed the Blood Fang's head, his hands gripping it tightly like iron clamps.

then……

—Lava Dragon Bloodline - Burst!
Edwin's chest split open, revealing the "heart" inside, which churned like magma.

A surge of intense energy erupted from his heart, traveled through his arms, and finally poured into the head of the Blood Fang.

"Ahhhh!"

The Blood Fang let out a piercing scream.

Its head began to melt, starting from the inside out; its skin, muscles, bones... were all eroded by the lava.

Finally, unable to withstand the scorching heat any longer, it tore its own body apart and fled, desperately plunging into the rune cage at the edge of the arena.

The arena was completely silent; everyone was stunned by what they had witnessed.

After a long while, the loudest cheers in history erupted.

The audience was screaming wildly, and some even broke through the barriers, trying to rush into the arena.

One-Eyed Jack quickly asked the referee to maintain order, and then strode over to Edwin's side:

"Your Excellency! You are truly amazing!"

"How about considering becoming a 'regular' player in our arena?"

"The compensation is absolutely excellent! There are generous bonuses for every battle, and..."

"no need."

Edwin waved his hand, interrupting his sales pitch:

"I'm just here to kill time."

He looked at the "bloodthirsty fang" who was shrinking back and dared not look at him. The excitement in his eyes gradually faded, and he began to feel bored.

You won, so what?

Back in the room, continuing to stare blankly at the wall?

Should we come back tomorrow and find the next opponent?
But this seems to be the strongest here...

Just as he shook his head and was about to leave, a figure suddenly walked in at the entrance of the arena.

That was a blood-soaked bride in a black wedding dress; it was Ivy.

She walked straight up to Edwin and bowed.
“Mr. Edwin, the master requests your presence.”

He said... he found a job that suits you.

Edwin paused for a moment, then flashed his brightest smile of the day:
"it is good!"

"Finally, I have something to do!"

He turned and strode away from the arena, while the audience behind him continued to cheer for the battle that had just taken place.

But Edwin's thoughts had already wandered to faraway places. (End of Chapter)