Wizards begin with Occlumency.

Chapter 238 An Absurd Fate, A Humble Wild Grass

A loud bang was heard.

It was like the Buddha's palm descending from the sky.

Link's punch struck the shield, which was now at less than half its original strength, and was only momentarily blocked.

After the deafening noise subsided, the protective shield of the level 3 defensive artifact shattered like a chicken egg trying to strike a rock.

After that, there were no further obstacles, and they advanced straight ahead.

Link's fist and flames made intimate contact with the Metal Merchant Captain's forehead.

To be able to become the team leader, this person is also an outstanding individual among his peers.

They are not lacking in any aspect, including talent, temperament, diligence, and resources.

In the past five years, only one student from Rivoli School, Lanny Taylor, and one student, Tiffany Colonna, have been able to surpass it.

Although the captain's innate sorcery is not related to armor and is more of a support skill, it still has a certain effect of deflecting force.

He was wearing a top-tier level 1 set of armor, no weaker than the "Defender 3202" set from Rivoss Academy.

He also carried in his arms a second-level defensive artifact, similar to the one Link obtained from the Sage of Paro, which could be passively activated.

In a flash, they reacted quickly and unleashed two first-ring spells.

Its body surface is instantly covered with an extremely thin but highly resilient metallic coating, making it behave like the mutant Colossus.

Beyond the coating lies a raging inferno, like a vengeful spirit.

One attack and one defense; it's about both defense and counterattack.

At worst, it can cause some damage, thus saving face!

With a bang.

The top-tier level 1 set, level 2 defensive artifact, incredibly resilient metal coating, and innate magic—all combined—couldn't withstand even 0.5 seconds before completely crumbling under the iron fist.

The captain's head exploded in the next instant.

Red blood and white brain matter mixed with bone fragments and chunks of flesh splattered haphazardly in all directions.

The raging flames had no effect on Link, who was covered in armor, and instead burned the debris.

The fist pounded down again, striking the captain's torso.

Although it didn't suffer the same fate as the head, it was still torn to pieces.

The captain, who had such a bright future, died just like that!

They died very easily, without any chance to fight back.

He died not like a first-class official wizard, but like a stray dog ​​on the roadside, utterly without dignity.

Their deaths were utterly pointless!

Link's fist pierced through the captain's head and torso, slamming into the ground.

A powerful circular shockwave spread in all directions.

A wave of steam rose up, and dust filled the sky.

The ground caved in, squeezing out a large, hard "mud slab," which then cracked with spiderweb-like patterns.

The remaining nine members of the Blazing and Metals Company team were all thrown into the air by the tremendous force of the ground's "mud slab rebound".

The person was suspended in mid-air, spitting out blood. Not only had they completely lost their balance, but their mind was also spinning and they were completely unable to make any effective moves.

Link waved his hand, summoning a curtain of water that extinguished the last remaining flames blown away by the powerful air pressure, washed away the stains on the surface of his armor, and stood tall and proud.

This punch contained a mental and magical amplification close to the limit of an ordinary level two wizard, as well as most of the source power of a "small world" that had developed to the third stage.

Converted to the standards for offensive sorcery, it is equivalent to the attack power of a 3rd-level sorcery.

Even a casual strike from a third-ring wizard isn't that powerful!

Even with all their trump cards up their sleeve, the Flame and Metal Merchants team still couldn't withstand the attack!

And the consequences of not being able to handle it are so tragic.

"WhooHa!"

Jasmine, leading "Freedom to Do Anything," exerted all her strength, using every magic and artifact she could to speed things up, and only just managed to arrive at that moment.

Upon arriving at the outer perimeter of the battle, they witnessed Link single-handedly shattering all the defenses of the Flame and Metal Merchant Company.

The morale soared instantly with the feeling of "being free to do whatever we want".

Buck roared, his eyes bloodshot and veins bulging on his neck.

Like a bloodthirsty wolf, it pounced swiftly on the nine people who had deliberately controlled the aftershocks of Link's punches, leaving them half-dead.

Lynn remained silent, raising his hand to unleash a simple, unadorned first-level water-based sorcery spell, "High-Pressure Water Gun."

Why not use witchcraft instead of learning to use fists like a pro? Is that stupid?

Do you really think anyone can be like the big shots, a master of elemental magic who also cultivates the true spirit magic system, and can also engage in berserk melee combat like a body-refining magician?

What wishful thinking are you having?

Everyone else, except for Jasmine who was in charge of logistics and Betty who was in charge of medical care, stopped and immediately used their best offensive witchcraft.

To preemptively attack a live target suspended in mid-air, unable to move.

If the big shots have gone to such lengths, it would be a failure for them to let the live target live even a little longer.

In the blink of an eye, the remaining nine members of the Flame and Metal Merchant Guild were either cut into several pieces, buried alive to suffocate, burned to a crisp by the intense light, or nailed to the cracked ground by thick wooden stakes...

Each has its own posture, and each has its own way of dying.

They were wiped out in a single encounter.

From beginning to end, they didn't even launch a decent counterattack.

Are they just too incompetent?

No.

Link is just too supermodel, too crazy!

"Holy crap!"

Outside, inside an opera house-style building.

The leader of Shadow City, a serpentine-looking man, suddenly stood up, swearing wildly, "Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit!"

Gone was his previous leisurely and sarcastic demeanor; he now appeared vulgar and uncouth.

The cold-blooded man pointed at Sandra, his finger trembling and his lips quivering:

"This guy can't possibly be a first-level wizard?"

You yourself said, this is ridiculously outrageous, a level one wizard?

Could it be that your Rivosos Academy can't stand losing and cheated by sending a senior level two wizard to sneak in?

what?

Such insane attack power, even a seasoned level two wizard like you or me couldn't possibly unleash it, right?

ah?"

Overwhelmed by the previous violent scene, the cold-blooded leader of Shadow City showed signs of losing his mind.

He was speaking incoherently and making random, strange noises, only concerned with venting his emotions.

Sandra was also dumbfounded and extremely shocked.

She was questioning life and herself.

Just as the leader of the Flame and Metal Merchant Guild, the Three-Point Witch Vina, said, Sandra has always prided herself on her exceptional judgment.

Who would have thought that they would misjudge Link Grand twice?

For her first recruitment, she was drawn to Link's talent and ability in pharmaceutics and biochemistry research.

Therefore, after Lanny relayed that Link had no intention of joining her, she gave up the idea of ​​sending out a recruitment invitation.

What was she thinking at that moment?

Three-legged toads are hard to find, but aren't two-legged men easy to find?

If she really wanted to recruit a genius in pharmacology and biochemistry research, given her status and position, would she lack such a technical wizard?

The second time, which was this recruitment, she was indeed drawn to Link's abilities and team.

But what did Sandra do in response to the mockery of the Three-Point Witch Vina?

She naturally treated Link Grand as if he were a servant, condescending and bossy.

She treated Lani Taylor much the same way she usually did, doing this and that, going east and west.

You still dare to disobey?

Do you want the resources?

She never expected that...

She assumed that Link Grand's silence was merely a way of stubbornly preserving his dignity.

But they truly have a strong will and the strength to support that will!

Sandra even felt that, setting aside the life-saving magical artifacts her mother had given her, she was no match for Link Grand in a fair fight!

Lanny Taylor, sitting next to Sandra, stared blankly into space.

She finally understood what the difference was between her and Link Grand.

It's not talent, it's not hard work, it's spirit.

Link Grand has always chosen to be independent and self-reliant, aiming to grow bigger and stronger.

And what about her, Lanny Taylor?

Initially, that was also her plan.

However, I changed my mind halfway through.

First, he wanted to follow Link's example, climb up the Paro Sage's trail, and take advantage of the resources and connections of the "New Blood Mutual Aid Association".

After that, nothing came of it, and the situation remained quiet for a long time until Sandra sent a recruitment invitation.

After investigating Sandra's background and identity, Lanny realized that she was a much stronger ally than the Sage Paro, and she chose to latch onto her without hesitation.

At this point, Lani suddenly realized that it didn't matter whether she clung to someone powerful or not.

Link Grand also tried to curry favor with powerful figures.

However, while you're trying to curry favor with powerful figures, you can't lack ambition.

Lanny Taylor suddenly realized that she lacked Link's domineering and invincible spirit!

As a result, he has been unable to fully utilize his fifth-grade qualifications for a long time!

The leader of the Flame and Metal Merchant Guild, the three-point wizard Vina, was so shocked that an orange flame unconsciously surged from her palm.

"ah!!!!!"

The male concubine, whose face had been wantonly ravaged by the Three Point Wizard, immediately let out a scream.

He flailed his arms, trying to extinguish the flames on his body.

But how easy is it to extinguish the flames of witchcraft?

The male concubine, whose mental and magical powers had long been locked away and who was unable to cast spells, howled and burned to ashes within seconds.

The entire room was filled with a pungent odor, a mixture of burnt aroma and foul stench.

Before anyone could complain or scold her, the three-point wizard Vina waved her hand and immediately dispelled the smell.

Then, subconsciously, he took out an "air freshener" from a small bag on his side, sprayed it lightly, and cleaned the air.

After doing all this, the three-point wizard Vina finally emerged from her state of shock.

She turned her head and stared intently at Sandra, but didn't say a word.

Compared to the two who had previously mocked Link Grand, the two team leaders from the White Tower Alliance and the University of Mesopotamia, their reactions were not as exaggerated.

The team leader from the University of Mesopotamia simply took a deep breath, closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and settled down.

Instead of watching live video feeds, he became withdrawn and miserable.

Why is it that Rivoss Academy is never short of geniuses, and why does it always seem to produce geniuses who defy common sense?

Meanwhile, the once-leading University of Mesopotamia is declining little by little at a visible rate.

I'm not watching anymore; watching too much is mentally exhausting.

So be it.

The leader of the White Tower Alliance's "scholars" slammed the large book shut, leaned forward slightly, and stared intently at Link in the live feed, muttering to himself:

"The perfect wizard!"

This is the perfect wizard!

Elements, true spirits, body refinement, intelligent machinery, beast taming—these are all trivial details.

Energy and matter are the essence!

Who says fists aren't witchcraft?

Who says fists aren't witchcraft!

I must have him, cut him open, gut him, and make him into a specimen to display by my bedside.

I must have him!

The "scholar" leader suddenly looked at Sandra, his eyes burning with intensity and his tone fervent:

"Sandora, sell him to me!"

You absolutely must sell him to me!

I can do everything in my power to persuade my great-grandfather to support your Rivoss College.

You absolutely must sell him to me!

Sandra glared coldly at the crazed "scholar" without responding.

Lanny Taylor lowered her head, using this gesture to conceal her shock, as well as the inexplicable fear and hatred that arose within her.

Perhaps it's because of a sense of shared vulnerability?

It turns out that in the eyes of the "young masters" and "young ladies" of these top wizarding organizations, their own or other organizations' young genius wizards can be sold at will like commodities.

Even though Sandra didn't respond and even gave her a cold glare.

However, after spending nearly half a year with Sandra, Lani had figured out some of Sandra's habits and subtle expressions.

Lanny was certain that Sandra had just subconsciously considered whether selling Link Grande would be a good deal!

In that case, when will I also become like a commodity, discussed, bought, and sold?

The world of competition.

Link glanced around the battlefield and at the few loyal members who had achieved their first real kill, and indifferently ordered, "Quickly clean up the battlefield and move out immediately."

After saying that, Link walked towards where Jasmine was and said to Betty, who seemed a little uneasy, "You go clean up the battlefield too, um... you can take care of the corpses."

"Yes, boss."

Betty's face paled slightly, but she still agreed without hesitation.

She wasn't unfamiliar with corpses, combat, or casualties.

It's just that I've never personally faced such a bloody battlefield before.

"Why bother? Just let her get used to it gradually."

As Betty, suppressing her nausea, began piling up the body parts, either burning or burying them, Jasmine couldn't help but ask.

She felt that Link's approach of forcing Betty to confront the bloodshed and cruelty was too cold-blooded.

I don't really agree with doing this.

Link looked up at the three "suns" stretching across the sky above this desolate world, and explained softly, "My intuition tells me that if we don't act decisively, we'll be in deep trouble. There's not much time for her to slowly adapt. They need to level up as quickly as possible so as not to hold me back..."

The sentence ended abruptly, unfinished.

Jasmine knew that Link's premonitions were usually very accurate, so she didn't intend to say anything more.

After thinking for a moment, she took the initiative to go down and help the others clean up the battlefield.

Not long after, the battlefield cleanup was completed.

"Freedom to do whatever you want" begins, and under Link's guidance, they head towards the center of the competition area marked out in the desolate world.

The safety zone gradually shrinks, definitely from the outside in.

Heading towards the center won't lead you astray.

"Link, there's something I think you need to know."

During the silent march, Jasmine suddenly spoke, her tone extremely complex.

She was in charge of the team's logistics.

She would naturally sort through the spoils of war obtained from cleaning up the battlefield.

In a diary written by an unknown author, Jasmine found a message that was somewhat related to her and Link.

"What is it?"

Link quickened his pace and stood beside Jasmine.

Since the silence had already been broken, I simply asked directly without using "telepathy".

"See for yourself."

Jasmine handed over the open diary.

Link took a look, then fell silent, his mood subtly melancholic.

The diary's owner vented in it:

The Blazing and Metal Trading Company serves only a few core families. Ordinary members have no human rights, are exploited relentlessly, and cannot even guarantee their innocence.

In his class alone, countless people failed to escape the clutches of the female demon Vina Mosoni.

They were either squeezed dry or burned to death.

His only good friend during his apprenticeship, Jimi Hendrix, could not withstand the pervasive oppression after two years of gritting his teeth.

He eventually succumbed, was burned to death, and not even his ashes remained.

Following what Jimny seemed to have a premonition about before his accident, he sent a letter to a woman named Christina in Shadow City and then erected a cenotaph for Jimny.

The last entry of this diary is a reflection on the fate of human life:

"We are born like weeds, to be trampled on by everyone."

Even after death, they will be burned to ashes.

"And how will I die?"

"Where will you die?"

(End of this chapter)