Dark Wizard: Rise! My undead army!

When the sailboat was full of wizard apprentices from all over the world, it finally set sail.

To everyone's astonishment, the grey-robed wizard summoned a mutilated Megalodon ghost and merged it into the "Bone of the Underworld".

The moment the ghost merged with it, everyone could feel that the "Netherbone"... came to life!

With the sails furled, the waves became the propellant, propelling the "Bone" forward.

Lynn stood on the ship's railing, feeling the wind brush against his cheeks, gazing at the ever-receding coastline, his heart filled with anticipation.

Once he leaves, he may never be able to come back.

However, he had no attachments in the mortal realm and nothing to miss.

Just as he was feeling sentimental, a richly dressed figure walked straight to his side.

The visitor was dressed in an exquisitely tailored dark blue velvet coat, with intricate family crests embroidered in silver thread on the cuffs and collar.

Above is a soaring eagle surrounded by tangled thorns.

He was about the same age as Lynn, handsome, but with an unhealthy pallor.

His eyes held a composure beyond his years, along with a hint of undisguised loneliness.

Good day, Your Excellency.

The boy spoke first, his voice steady and gentle, reflecting good upbringing.

"Judging from your direction, you're from the vicinity of Blackswamp City? I am Alphonse Hess."

He stated his surname in a flat tone, but the surname "Hess" itself signifies royalty.

Lynn's heart stirred slightly. The prince of the Kingdom of Hess? This was a truly important figure in the kingdom.

But... how could a prince of such a prestigious kingdom join the forces of these dark wizards? It seems he's not doing so well.

He remained expressionless, responding with a calm smile: "Good day, Your Highness Alphonse. My name is Lynn, from Blackswamp City."

Alphonse waved his hand and gave a slightly self-deprecating smile:

"There is no Your Highness here, just Alphonse, an apprentice like you."

His gaze fell on Lynn's ordinary black robe and linen lining, but he didn't look down on him at all; instead, he looked at him with a hint of inquiry.

"To be assigned to the top-floor cabin, Lynn, your talent must be exceptional. It seems that Blackswamp City has truly produced a dragon this time."

"It's just luck."

Lynn said modestly, then took the opportunity to ask.

"Alphonse, how much do you know about the wizarding world? And what about the faction we've joined?"

When Alphonse heard Lynn address him by his first name so naturally, he was slightly taken aback, then chuckled.

It seems this kid really doesn't take his prince status seriously.

He leaned against the gunwale, looking down at the grey-blue sea, and said in a deep voice:

"My knowledge is limited, mostly from snippets of information from royal archives and what I've overheard from more knowledgeable apprentices on the ship these past few days."

"The Bone Spire Academy we joined... has a bad reputation within orthodox wizarding organizations, and is regarded as a 'blasphemer' and a 'believer in death'."

He paused, organizing his thoughts:

"It is said that the rules there are extremely simple, yet extremely cruel—knowledge is supreme, and strength is revered."

"Apprentices are essentially the private property of their mentors, who have absolute control over them. And the competition among apprentices...is said to have a terrifyingly high mortality rate."

"The losers may become materials on someone else's experimental table, or be made into undead servants."

Lynn's eyes narrowed. This was pretty much what he had expected. It seemed that the one-eyed wolf wasn't just talking nonsense.

Now, as confirmed by the Little Prince, Lynn still feels a chill.

"With such high losses among the apprentices, doesn't the academy care?"

"Manage?" Alphonse's lips curled into a bitter smile.

"They couldn't be happier, since the apprentices' corpses are also important materials. It's said that the academy's philosophy is 'death is the best teacher.'"

"They are only afraid that resources will be wasted on mediocre people. As for the 'survival of the fittest' among apprentices, they see it as a necessary process for selecting the strong."

He looked at Lynn, his tone carrying a hint of warning:

"So, Lynn, your talent is both an advantage and a potential target for others. After all, there aren't many 'high-quality' talents like you."

"Once we arrive at the academy, we must be extremely careful, not only to guard against the dangers of the mission and the experiments themselves, but also to be wary of... the people around us."

He glanced meaningfully at the other apprentices gathered in twos and threes on the deck, their eyes occasionally glancing at them.

Lynn took a deep breath and nodded: "Thanks for the reminder."

joke!

A bunch of little kids are targeting me?

Do you think I'm just a nobody?

Lynn thought for a moment and then asked:

"Regarding the power system, besides the common necromancy, what other focuses does the academy have? What will we learn at the beginning?"

Alphonse shook his head:

"I don't know the specifics, but I've heard that the first task for all apprentices after they start is to learn 'meditation techniques,' build a 'spiritual core,' and learn to manipulate 'negative energy particles.'"

"This is the foundation of all necromancy, and even many forms of dark magic."

"Without stable mental strength and an affinity for and control over negative energy, even the most basic skeleton resurrection cannot be completed. Forcing it will only result in a backlash."

He pointed to himself, then to Lynn: "Those of us with talent might be able to take this step faster, but the path after that... I've heard there are many branches."

"There's [Necromancy], which focuses on creating armies of the undead; there's [Soul Engineering], which studies the nature of souls and curses; and there's someone like the one who led us aboard, obsessed with [Flesh and Blood Modification]..."

"Flesh and blood modification..."

Lynn felt a chill run down his spine as he recalled the grey-robed wizard's eerie compound eyes, bone-bladed arms, and tentacle-like legs.

This kind of self-modification might grant special abilities and enhance strength, but he wasn't interested.

He didn't want to become that kind of monster that was neither human nor ghost.

Of course, if one day you lose an arm or a leg, that's a different story.

The entire "cyber" prosthetic limb is quite cool.

"In short, the wizarding world is more naked and dangerous than imagined."

Alphonse concluded.

"There, power is the only passport. We must become official wizards as quickly as possible to truly control our destiny!"

"Lynn, with your talent, as long as you grow carefully, you will definitely be able to gain a foothold in the academy in the future. At that time, I will need your help."

His words carried a sincere sense of goodwill, clearly indicating that he had high hopes for Lynn's potential.

Lynn naturally understood what he meant, and he also had a good impression of Alphonse.

Despite being a prince, he was very approachable in his speech and actions, and appeared extremely sincere.

In an unfamiliar world, having more friends, especially those with special backgrounds and potentially broader knowledge, is not a bad thing.

"Let's look after each other, Alphonse."

Lynn reached out and gently shook his hand.

The two exchanged a smile until the other apprentices from Black Swamp City arrived, breaking the harmonious atmosphere.

Alphonse only wanted to befriend Lynn and did not talk much with the others before taking his leave.

Looking at the handsome and noble Alphonse, the girls' eyes were filled with stars.

Mary, in particular, after experiencing the darkness and training at "Nightingale Pavilion," reached the peak of her desire to attach herself to the strong.

Lynn was like that, and so was Alphonse...