The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth
Chapter 17: Getting Stronger, All is Ready, Killing Day

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Getting Stronger, All is Ready, Killing Day

[Target: Wang Ya]

[Age: 14]

[Spiritual Power: 6.6 (6.1+0.5)]

[Physique: 5.2]

[Particle Energy: 1.3 units]

[Wizard Meditation Method: Vast Sea (Basic)]

[Extraordinary Cultivated Creatures: Harak (Low-tier)]

A flash of pleasant surprise appeared in Wang Ya’s eyes. The Spiritual Power boost from the second Wizard Rune had actually surpassed the first.

It seemed there was a significant connection between the difficulty of a Wizard Rune and the increase in Spiritual Power.

For some reason, he was reminded of the different levels of Wizard Meditation Methods.

The Vast Sea Meditation Method was currently only the basic version. After that came the Advanced Meditation Method and the High-tier Meditation Method, corresponding to Level 1 through Level 3 Wizard Apprentices. Different Wizard Meditation Methods possessed different Traits, and the strength of the Spiritual Power they enhanced varied in both quality and quantity.

’An Official Wizard is the stepping stone to pursuing truth and setting foot on the Wizard Path.’ This saying, attributed to the Deep Blue Great Wizard of ancient times, seemed overly dramatic to the Wizards of the modern era.

The upper echelons of the major Wizard Influences were composed of Official Wizards, who stood at the top of the Pyramid.

If there was one thing Wang Ya regretted, it was probably his mediocre aptitude.

With the same Meditation Method, the Spiritual Power increase for someone with top-tier aptitude was always significantly higher.

The Eye of Truth could compensate for this shortcoming.

Wang Ya splashed some water on his face in the washroom. When he walked out, his face was glowing with vigor.

Now came the most critical part.

[Notice: Scanning physical conditions. Calculating magnitude of Spiritual Power’s pull on natural particle energy.]

The stronger one’s Spiritual Power, the more natural particle energy one could influence.

Powerful Wizards could even cast wide-area, powerful Witchcraft without consuming any of the Particle Energy stored in their bodies.

Wang Ya, who had yet to even cross the threshold of a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice, was naturally incapable of such a feat.

He could barely absorb a minuscule amount of natural particle energy into his body.

This process also served to strengthen his physical body through radiation.

After about ten minutes, Wang Ya learned the precise magnitude of the radiation.

’The human body is far too fragile. A Wizard’s path to becoming Extraordinary is an all-encompassing process, from Spirit to flesh. It is cellular evolution, a quantum leap.’

As a ray of dawn pierced the heavy dark clouds, the ink-wash scroll of the sky finally gained a new splash of color.

Wang Ya opened his eyes. The aura around him had grown stronger, and the strength of his physical body had clearly improved and increased.

[Notice: Physique has increased by 0.3. Current Physique is 5.5.]

As he clenched his fists, his finger bones made a faint CRACKING sound.

As he threw a punch, the visceral sense of Power ended with a sharp crack of air.

He pushed open the main door. Sunlight streamed through a window, stretching his shadow long behind him.

The automated dining hall was sparsely populated, much emptier than before.

No one thought about the Wizard exchange meetings of the past. They just silently ate the standard food portions allocated by the Wizard Ship’s main control system. All of that was in the past.

He sat in his usual spot in the corner. The food on his table was stockpiled white bread, mayonnaise, and the Sea Beast Flesh he had hunted himself.

Wang Ya ate quickly and with focus, tearing at the meat one bite at a time. He swallowed it down, letting his powerful digestive system convert it into Energy to fuel his entire body.

The radiation from Particle Energy consumed a vast amount of Biological Energy. It was inevitable that some cells would necrotize. But after metabolizing, the newly born cells would become even stronger under the influence of the Particle Energy.

Surprisingly, Wang Ya didn’t see that guy Gray in the dining hall.

’He couldn’t have sunk so low that he can’t even catch his own food, could he...? Based on his physical condition and Particle Energy Intensity, Gray is in the top tier among the Wizard Freshmen here.’

He didn’t dwell on it. Suddenly, he felt a gaze lock onto him, one carrying a hidden malice.

When Wang Ya looked over, the hooded figure in the corner immediately lowered its head.

Ironically, during the Wizard exchange meetings held at this time in the past, that person had always been the center of attention.

Now, aside from the sounds of chewing and cutlery, the automated dining hall was eerily silent, filled with a cold, absolute stillness.

Wang Ya’s expression remained placid, unaffected by Arthur’s gaze.

’Maybe today, or maybe tomorrow, this Wizard Ship will be short one more Wizard Freshman.’

The vast Endless Sea held too many unknown secrets, as well as countless Sea Beasts and other species.

An Extraordinary Creature could appear and attack a Wizard Freshman while they were hunting, resulting in a death at sea.

That was just a convenient excuse; what mattered more was the attitude it represented.

The Tuta Wizard had established the rules, and he would abide by them himself.

’I see him. That piece of trash. Still has that same repulsive, wooden expression. He looks so self-righteous... Kill him. Kill him!’

Arthur kept his head down. His black robe and hood nearly covered the entire table. Shrouded in shadow, his mouth was stuffed with Sea Beast Flesh.

With bloodshot eyes and a twisted expression, he ground his teeth together as he chewed, as if he were crushing Wang Ya’s heart.

’No one else can know about me and Anna. These people can’t find out. Wang Ya must die. He must!’

He swallowed so forcefully that the veins on his neck bulged. On his lone right arm, his fingernails dug into his palm.

The murderous intent in Arthur’s bloodshot eyes, framed by heavy, dark circles, had been raging hysterically all night.

’I can kill Wang Ya. It’ll be easy. He’s just a piece of trash who chose the Extraordinary Cultivation Species... I have top-tier aptitude. I can do it. My status is the highest. I’ll crush this damn bug.’

’I also have a Wizard’s legacy. A new Particle Energy Witchcraft Scroll is already in my hands. I just have to get into the sea, catch up to him, and kill him.’

Wang Ya finished his meal and left.

Arthur, however, was still lost in his torrent of thoughts, trying to convince himself.

It was as if the anticipation of murder was the only thing that could fill his hollow heart with a feeling of extreme pleasure.

"I will always be the strongest."

Arthur shot to his feet and roared.

In the automated dining hall, many gazes snapped toward him, filled with surprise.

"I think that’s Arthur. I heard he was disfigured and lost a limb. Looks like it’s true."

"He was never like this before. What happened to him?"

"I heard he’s not right in the head. I guess the rumors are true."

Inside the automated dining hall, the Wizard Freshmen seemed to recall old memories and began whispering among themselves.

Arthur felt like he was suffocating. The automated dining hall had become a personal Hell, tormenting his body with agony.

He struggled out of the dining hall. Back in his room, he slammed the heavy door shut.

Leaning his back against the door, he gasped for breath, his eyes even more bloodshot than before.

"They’re all talking about me, all laughing at me... A bunch of Low-tier Wizards! Damn them! I have a Wizard’s legacy, I have the best aptitude, I’m a genius, and I still have the highest status!"

His right hand clutched at the red metal ring hanging from a chain inside his shirt, gripping it tightly as sweat poured from his body.

Arthur’s expression was terrifyingly fierce, terrifyingly mad. "It must have been Wang Ya. He’s the one who spread the news. He deserves to die. He deserves to die!"