Wizard: I devour the stars with swarms of insects.

"Whoa—!"

Meanwhile, in the city of Greyhawk Keep, Wayne suddenly opened his eyes and began to gag violently.

I felt a wave of nausea and vomiting, along with a strange palpitation that kept coming from my chest.

"Huff... huff..."

Wayne, panting heavily, wiped the sweat from his forehead.

As his mental energy felt depleted, he looked at the ruins ahead with apprehension and caution.

Just now, I was completely immersed in it, controlling [Scout Mouse 001] and sharing its consciousness.

It can be said that his consciousness has become one with the [Scout Mouse].

So, in the end, under the gaze of that eerie, pitch-black wizard, the Scout Rat exploded into a shower of blood and flesh.

I felt as if I had personally experienced the fear and pain it suffered before its death, as if I had truly died once.

Therefore, his mental energy suffered a huge "backlash," and his head felt like it was being stabbed with a knife.

After leaning against the wall and gradually recovering for a while, Wayne felt much better.

The feelings of being watched and the fear that I experienced before I died have gradually subsided.

"I remember when I was controlling the scout rat to escape, I had already retrieved the leather bag next to the wizard's corpse, and it seemed like there was something inside..."

Thinking back to the shared view transmitted back by the scout rat before I died.

Although the scout rat's flesh exploded, the leather bag was actually teleported there by a magic array.

It should be hidden under the ruins in front of it.

"We need to retrieve that leather bag; it contains the wizard's belongings, and there might be something valuable inside..."

Wayne's eyes flickered.

Items that a wizard carries with him may contain valuable information or some kind of extraordinary item.

However, it's best to be cautious.

Next, Wayne decided to wait outside the ruins for a while.

The wizard's cautious, wary eyes, hidden beneath his hood, gazed at the ruins ahead, observing their movements.

Because it was unknown whether the eerie, sinister black wizard who was in the monastery's castle at the time would also be teleported here through the [Witchcraft Array].

Therefore, they are even prepared to run away at any time, and if they see that things are not going well, they will run away.

However, what happened next was behind the ruins.

After waiting for nearly an hour, everything remained calm and nothing happened.

And gradually...

Scattered gray squirrels began to emerge again from the ruins ahead, fleeing in a panic, running aimlessly to the surrounding area.

It seems... the ruins have been restored to safety.

That eerie, sinister black-robed wizard didn't come through the [witchcraft array]... He must have been restricted in some way, or... he couldn't go too far from that place?

These speculations are all possible.

"..."

Next, Wayne decided to get the leather bag back.

However, he still did not choose to risk his life, but waited in place until a few more gray squirrels ran out of the ruins.

Suddenly, he used [Thorn Tongue], which swept over an "unlucky" rat.

Then a strand of [Spirit Binding Thread] spread out, pierced into the rat's brain, and quickly completed the suppression and connection of consciousness.

rustling sound~~

Next, using the [Hive] network, Wayne controlled the gray rat to return along the same route, back to the [Witch Array] under the ruins.

However, when controlling the gray mouse to move forward, it is obvious that some resistance and conflict emotions appear in the gray mouse's mind.

They seemed somewhat reluctant to return, and a lingering sense of dread kept emerging.

Clearly, the encounters and experiences on the other side of the [Witchcraft Array] have instilled fear and unease in these gray rats that are etched into their very souls.

"No wonder the gray rats that escaped from here are unwilling to even approach the area surrounding this [witchcraft array]."

Even when passing through here, you should choose to take a detour.

"What exactly is that strange forest and monastery on the other side of the [Witchcraft Array]...?"

Wayne was now filled with deep doubts.

However, despite the fear, anxiety, and conflicting emotions.

However, despite Wayne's second-class wizard apprentice mental strength easily suppressing his instinctive will, he still managed to control and ride the gray rat back to the location of the [Witch Array].

Ahead, the leather bag lay forlornly beside the geometric [Witch Array].

Furthermore, when the previous gray rats were teleported over, they were pushed and bumped into the side due to the squeezing and chaos of escaping.

So, the gray squirrel, carrying the rope of the leather bag in its mouth, dragged it back to itself.

Control the gray squirrel to bite open the rope with its sharp teeth, and use its furry paws to pry open the pockets inside the bag.

After confirming that there was nothing wrong inside the brown bag.

Wayne carefully used Thorn Tongue to pry open the drawstring of the bag and tear it open.

The items inside were poured out one by one onto a relatively clean stone slab next to them.

Dust settled down, revealing several objects of various shapes and sizes:

The first thing that catches the eye is a palm-sized, dark silver metal plaque with fine runes engraved on its edges.

Wayne picked up the nameplate; it was cold to the touch and made of some unknown metal.

The name and emblem are embossed in the common ancient Archaic shamanic language on the front:

Edgar von Herwin

First-Class Wizard Apprentice - "Heart of the Matrix" Wizarding Academy (Department of Astrology and Sub-Dimensional Studies)

On the reverse side of the inscription is an open book surrounded by distorted star trails.

It appears to be the logo of the "Matrix Heart" wizarding academy.

"So he's a first-class wizard apprentice. No wonder he can independently set up a teleportation array..."

Wayne stroked the nameplate, a knowing look on his face.

Even so, Wayne was secretly surprised.

Because the magical models concerning spatial systems have always been one of the most difficult subjects in the wizarding system.

Those capable of setting up teleportation arrays are usually at least formal-level wizards.

However, this guy named Edgar von Herwin actually had the ability to independently set up a teleportation array at the level of a first-class wizard apprentice.

This magical talent is truly beyond ordinary people... I'm afraid his magical affinity level could reach S-rank!

Sadly, this promising young wizard died in that eerie and sinister forest...

Next, Wayne's gaze fell on the other items on the slab: several thumb-sized rhomboid crystals whose internal luster had become dull.

This rhombus-shaped crystal is quite valuable; it is a standard wizard's energy storage crystal, capable of storing energy.

Unfortunately, the energy inside is now nearly depleted.

However, even so, the energy storage crystal can still slowly absorb free energy particles in the environment to replenish itself.

It is an advanced version of "Magic Stone".

One energy storage crystal can be exchanged for many magic stones, making it a hard currency in the wizarding world.

Often, wealthy wizards who are close to others with their "hundreds of millions" don't want to carry too many magic stones when they go out, so they carry these energy storage crystals instead.

You can exchange your energy storage crystals for magic stones in any wizard market to cover your daily expenses.

It's considered a fashionable item among the upper class in the wizarding world... similar to the function of "silver notes" in ancient times.

Next, inside the leather bag were a miniature balance scale, several crystal tubes, and a mithril knife engraved with cleansing runes.

There were also several transparent capsules containing dried powder of different colors.

It should contain a medicinal powder made from some kind of plant or mineral.

Overall, this is a portable set of basic alchemy and experimental tools, which is very useful for wizards who often need to conduct field investigations or process materials.

And, most importantly... this set is quite expensive.