A Sorcerer’s Journey

From the black rift above Hill Woods’ head, a single wild, low-pitched howl came through.

*Roar!*

Two thick and solid arms forcefully grabbed both sides of the black rift. Slowly, an immense red-banded python with a shiny white skull-cap extended out of the pitch-black crevice. Its ice-cold eyes took in every living thing present. And just when everyone believed it to be a strange python creature with four-limbs, slowly, a gigantic golden-horned rhinoceros emerged from the black rift little by little. On the other side was the Holy Tower Trials Mirror!

Finally, the four eyes of the giant rhinoceros and python head swept their gazes onto the rift above Glenn’s head, focusing completely on the black crevice after glancing at Glenn.

Under the Ashen Mask, Glenn’s originally confident expression stiffened.

How could it be two creatures?

However, why could only one will be sensed in his own Black Isotta Friendship Key?

*Zaa…*

Now, the over twenty-meter long black rift above Glenn’s head was pulled open by a pair of powerful golden claws. Under the red crest on its head, the single eye of the Black Mirror’s gigantic creature glanced at Glenn for a moment with clarity, before gazing at the other rift above Hill Woods’ head.

Sensing hostility in the black rift from an unknown life, the red-crested cyclopean monster’s eye unexpectedly started to shine with a red light from the rift above Glenn’s head. It began to violently struggle after letting out a shrill, ear-piercing shriek. The front half of an incomparably fat body strained out, and on its pair of enormous wings extended two pairs of golden claws emerging from the black crevice. Surprisingly, it widened the rift again!

Glenn inhaled sharply.

Just what type of monster did he originally encounter inside the Black Isotta Mirror!

*Moo… Sss…*

The two-headed creature above Hill Woods’ rift likewise let out a hostile roar. After that pair of thick and solid arms pushed on both sides of the black rift bit by bit, a large, robust, ape-like body underneath the rhinoceros head started coming through. Simultaneously, the python also followed after, struggling through the rift.

Glenn was no longer able to remain calm.

*Shu!*

A Fire Bat Spell was propelled with immense force and launched towards the already weak Hill Woods. After the equally weak Glenn felt absolutely no faith toward his Friendship Key’s summoned creature, he staked his entire magic power into the spell and intended to get rid of Hill Woods right now.

If he died or left the Mirror, the Stigmata Friendship Key would lose the magic supporting it and the two-headed cryptid would naturally return to the unknown world the rift opened to.

*Hsss…*

A purple breath spread out and Glenn’s Fire Bat Sorcery flapped its wing a few times before it reverted to its base fire element and dissipated.

Glenn’s complexion was ugly as he looked at the python that extended out of the rift above Hill Woods’ head. He gritted his teeth, knowing his plan had failed.

Hill Woods’ face was also very unsightly. He unexpectedly had to put all his faith on the Stigmata Friendship Key’s creature strength against another Friendship Key?

Leaving one’s fate to this kind of unknown gamble was a matter nearly every elemental sorcerer would find hard to accept.

At first, victory was in his grasp. Who would have thought that this 12th District student would actually…

Far away.

The crowd who had originally lost hope in Glenn were thoroughly stunned. Glenn actually also had a Stigmata Friendship Key? Two sorcerers unexpectedly met and they both possessed Stigmata Friendship Keys? Moreover, these two Keys had summoned forth cryptids that were surprisingly not weak and even… appeared awfully strong?

Obviously, those two Stigmata Friendship Keys weren’t the ordinary type of Keys and very likely were high-level Friendship Keys personally bestowed by those super-elite Stigmata Sorcerers!

Everyone couldn’t help but gasp in their hearts.

During the time 15th District Sorcerer-Apprentice Hill Woods battled against Ice Age Mille, he had appeared to hold himself back. However, even after Hill Woods displayed his entire strength, Glenn was still actually able to thoroughly suppress him the entire time, very rarely giving Hill Woods the opportunity to retaliate.

Glenn, in the end… what level has he reached?

The hierarchy within everyone’s thoughts completely crumbled. A superior legendary-ranked student, that’s who Hill Woods was. Then, who was Glenn in the end? Such a powerful student that actually never had any astonishing accomplishments spread about him and never appeared in the list of Top Ten Experts?

Could it be, that all the students that caused Glenn to attack were all already…

Everyone couldn’t help but internally tremble.

Then…

As to why Glenn had suddenly burst out with such universally shocking strength at this moment—that is to say, his ultimate objective for everything—there could only be one reason. To be the strongest of the 11th to 15th Districts of the five areas in this Seven Rings Holy Tower Tryouts!

For a moment, a feeling of “shame” started to appear in Ice Age Mille’s heart.

This kind of state of mind only came with maturity. To mock oneself and ridicule the actions taken during one’s adolescence.

Previously, at the time when she was in the middle of the district conflict, she had actually said she was looking forward to Glenn’s performance in a condescending tone. Perhaps at that time, within his heart, Glenn found her arrogance to be completely beneath contempt? Possibly silently sneered at her?

At that time, she had actually believed to have discovered a junior with potential for a bit of entertainment.

Now, it may be assumed that this was indeed a type of intangible self-mockery.

Sure enough, she had started to resemble her father in manner of speech and unwittingly already began to think herself as terrific, but she would never admit it. Now, she was already starting to think that she was a bit stupid. After so many years being at the pinnacle with those people accompanying her, she had begun to be conceited despite herself…

Eh?

Suddenly, Mille became aware of the green parrot handkerchief at her chest stirring, seemingly drawn to something…

Sun’s Child Mina’s complexion was pale. Mina’s body shook as she looked at her “destined enemy” who was so formidable to the point of being unsurpassable. Her intense pride, the Body of Flame gift she saw as everything to be proud of seen on the other person, what was it in the end?

Even including all hidden trump cards, she wouldn’t be better?

Mina only felt extremely miserable and lost. What “fated nemesis.” It had been nothing but her own wishful thinking, just like a clown singing in a stage play. A background character to a protagonist climbing to an even higher peak.

Sam and Kyrie were both shocked and dumbstruck.

Previously, these two had already known that Glenn was very strong. They even held Glenn and themselves as fellow geniuses and equals. As far as they were concerned, with their innate arrogance, to have Glenn in such a position was an immense honor to him.

But now it seemed that…

Both their faces were full of anguish.

His hand on the staff unceasingly trembled as Roga’s tall and thin form recalled with a faraway gaze of the figure in the distance he had previously met. On that night, during his attack on that poison-tongued queen who had previously hurt his little Junior Apprentice-Sister, the one who had been following her was none other than this Ashen Mask who was hiding behind the poison-tongued queen!

It turned out that, behind this low-profile and mysterious mask, an earth-shattering giant was in hiding…

Bionna was looking at Glenn, the eyes of her naive yet somewhat battered face lit up. A part of her as she gazed at Glenn was feeling moved, while the other part of her was cursing at Lafite. “It turns out, ‘Brother Glenn’ was so strong. He’s actually a true genius of the Black Isotta School—a genius even in the Sorcerer Continent! No wonder… No wonder that malicious woman took the initiative to approach him. As it turns out, she had already known of everything before! So that malicious woman not only has a malicious mouth but also a malicious and cruel heart. This vile woman. This evil…”

Farther in the distance, Yates was sitting on the ground in spite of everything, an expression of intoxicated satisfaction across his face. He sprawled lazily upon the obelisk, absentmindedly gazing at the distant Glenn while muttering, “Hmph… what Holy Tower Tryouts? As for those small and weak students who never had the slightest chance, the biggest harvest is right here. Keke, kekeke… that group of fools.”

At that very moment, Yates was like the Five Heavenly Kings[1] after they defeated the group of sailors[2]. The expression of euphoric content those group of bewildered and helpless children had.

They were not at all satisfied because the Five Heavenly Kings prevailed over the sailors, nor were they excited because of the creation of the Blood Sail League. Rather, it was yearning after they saw for the first time how a Sorcerer-Apprentice easily defeated the powerful and unbeatable sailors using magic!

Because this was illumination and enlightenment toward a future he was unaware of, arousing his heart’s deepest longing and dreams.

Tears were flowing out of Nina York’s single eye as she gazed quietly at the extremely arrogant figure on the distant obelisk.

“Brother Glenn, sure enough… sure enough, you’re the strongest! Everyone… all the Black Isotta students don’t know of everything you’ve done, all that you’ve experienced, and everything you encountered. Only our closest people know how much you paid for it. How much you sacrificed. All of this today, it’s what Brother Glenn deserves! All of us are proud of you, including Brother Chris, he would definitely be proud of everything that you are now!”

Everyone present all knew the Glenn of the Holy Tower Tryouts Mirror at this moment was like a gradually rising sun, infinitely brilliant—no one could conceal his light again.

Including Glenn himself!

*Zaa…*

The Black Mirror creature unexpectedly squeezed out of the pitch-black rift above Glenn’s head. When Glenn saw this terrible creature’s true appearance, he couldn’t help but feel genuine dread emerge from the bottom of his heart.

From the thirty-plus meters-long spherical body spread a pair of wings that actually reached fifty-plus meters, practically blocking out the sky and covering the earth; covering the light of the stars, sun, and moon. Below the red-crest atop its head, a single scarlet-red eye exactly in the middle of the head stared emotionlessly, giving off a shocking impression. On its ball-like rotund body were countless densely packed howling heads instead of any plumage covering the skin that actually began to slowly devour the negative emotions in the air. Its wings and two pairs of golden claws exuded a sense of strength so terrifying that they seemed able to tear apart everything!

A Sorcerer-Apprentice or even the average Sorcerer would simply not be able to contend with the frightening existence of this creature!

“Hnhn, such a young guy like you actually holds a Friendship Key. So the objective is to kill that guy opposite who is also holding a Friendship Key, right? This is the Holy Tower Tryouts of the Sorcerer World?” In the sky, the frightening giant beast which Glenn had summoned surprisingly spoke in the Sorcerer World language while facing Glenn.

Glenn was trembling and shivering but nodded his head instinctively.

The frightening giant beast saw the shape Glenn was in and unenthusiastically said, “This is the first time you have summoned me. Remember, you’re not allowed to summon me again within three days!”

Glenn once again nodded automatically and then swallowed hard.

Glenn even started doubting, upon confronting this terrifying creature, even his Master or Senior Apprentice-Sister might also…

Ngh, no!

‘It’s hard to say with Master but if it’s Eldest Senior Apprentice-Sister Quiet Spring, she should be able to hold down this terrible creature.’

On the other side.

The two-headed creature had also completely come out from the black rift above Hill Woods’ head and arrived in the Holy Tower Tryout Mirror at last.

However, what shocked people was that these two creatures were actually a single creature. A rhinoceros head and ape body, with a thirty-plus meters-long tail that was a pale, red-banded python with a white-cap. The python was continuously emitting purple mist.

This frightening giant creature that was more than ten meters tall not only had a body which contained terrifying strength, but also a python tail that was obviously not a decoration. There were bound to be several strange abilities which the tail could use. Even if a First-Rank Sorcerer were to encounter this creature, perhaps they could only choose to run from it.

However, this “formidable” creature, when compared to the genuinely terrifying Black Mirror creature over Glenn’s head…

It honestly looked somewhat inadequate!

Suddenly, the otherworld giant creature in front of Hill Woods turned around and spoke. “Hill Woods, this was your final opportunity to summon me. Hurry and escape, okay? I will provide you time by stalling the other side for thirty breaths.”

Hill Woods’ eyes widened. His weak body was shivering and all that remained in his eyes was despair.

In his wretched shape, thirty breaths’ time?

Glenn, upon sensing the Black Mirror creature’s terrifying aura, thoroughly relaxed. At this time, after the Black Isotta monster seemingly assessed the creature opposite them, it stopped gathering negative energy and looked at Glenn. “What’s your name?”

“Me?” Glenn hastened to reply, “Glenn, I’m called Glenn.”

“Yes, Glenn is it? You can additionally summon me two more times to the Sorcerer World. This small guy opposite us, I’ll help you settle this.” After speaking, the creature then spread its wings and actually immediately rushed past Glenn. It charged forth in a terrorizing manner, with an unstoppable air of crushing and destroying everything in its path.

(A Stigmata Friendship Key can only summon Stigmata Sorcerer Soul-Servants to the Sorcerer World as well as attach oneself to the world fragments of the Sorcerer World’s surroundings.)

*Moo— hss…*

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

Two bodies competed against one another aided by boundless energy. After just a single animalistic clash, ten stone pillars loudly toppled over in a moment amongst howls and snarls. It was as if Glenn was seeing a dream from his childhood as he watched the monsters battle right before his eyes.

A few moments later.

Following a mournful wail, Hill Woods’ otherworld creature was standing at the center of a light beam of pure magical power which shined down on it. Glenn’s summoned Black Mirror creature, sensing the direction of the magic light pillar, did not pursue and attack again. It let its opponent slowly disappear from this Secret Mirror.

In the next moment, the frightening creature from the Black Mirror cast its gaze toward the weak Hill Woods who was leaning on top of an already rapidly melting chunk of ice.

Glenn gazed at Hill Woods. Hill Woods merely exposed a single faint smile. Seeing Glenn’s appalled expression, he unexpectedly didn’t make any motion whatsoever to break the badge. Just like that, a huge golden claw firmly swatted down. With a “bang”, his flesh was smashed and blood splattered out, and Hill Woods was thoroughly dead.

Glenn was flabbergasted. Why? Why didn’t he choose to leave?

Could it be that… he was just like those nobles and knights when it came to honor, considering victory as more important than their life?

Glenn did not know that Hill Woods had discarded the metal badge which every student viewed as their second life shortly after entering the Mirror where the Holy Tower Tryouts took place.

And the reason he had discarded it was actually because the sound this type of shoddy metal gave off was too unpleasant to hear.

In the end, Hill Woods paid for his previous egotism, stupidity, and ignorance. The price was none other than a chance at a “second life,” his own life.