The day blurred by in a flurry of activity as Atticus, Xu Hua, and Rocus made their way back to their dorm. The events of the previous night, the unexpected challenge, and the growing possibility of the tournaments, all swirled in their minds. The next morning dawned bright and crisp, the air buzzing with anticipation as they headed for the combat faculty. Today was their final taskforce training session before they began taking missions as a team.Master Wei, a wiry man with a fierce glint in his eyes and a shock of salt-and-pepper hair that defied gravity, stood before the assembled students in the echoing combat hall. The air crackled with nervous energy as the students fidgeted in their training gear, their weeks of drills and maneuvers culminating in this very moment."Today," he boomed, his voice cracking with a hint of amusement, a sound that sent a tremor of excitement through the room. Master Wei, known for his unorthodox training methods, had their full attention. He held up
Each group of four from the taskforces, their faces grim with determination, were faced simultaneously with their elite counterparts. Atticus locked eyes with the leader of the opposing team, a fiery young man with a shaved head and a cocky smirk. But beneath the bravado, a flicker of uncertainty flickered in his eyes – a tremor of recognition from Atticus's performance in the Bloodfest. It was a subtle hint, but enough to confirm his suspicions. Atticus, with his enhanced strength and honed skills, was a force to be reckoned with.A surge of confidence coursed through him. He was certain he could take on the entire team himself, even with his self-imposed handicap of not using his raw physical strength. Years of training had given him an arsenal of spells at his disposal, trump cards waiting to be unleashed.Master Wei's booming voice echoed through the hall, "Begin!"A collective roar erupted as the taskforces and the elite squad surged forward. This wasn't just a training exercise;
Atticus, a predator no longer detached but with a simmering bloodlust rising within him, cast a hungry glance across the arena. His display had silenced the initial roar of the crowd, replaced by a tense, watchful hush. The tide had indeed shifted, and the taskforce team, emboldened by their leader's prowess, pressed their advantage with renewed vigor. Ignoring the remnants of his own defeated opponents, Atticus set his sights on another group – a team led by a hulking youth clad in crimson armor, wielding a pair of massive swords that pulsed with a faint orange glow. A cruel smirk played on Atticus' lips as his fingers danced in intricate patterns, the air around him crackling with anticipation.Master Wei, a seasoned instructor who had witnessed countless battles through the years, felt a jolt of surprise course through him. He'd expected Atticus to allow his teammates to finish the fight, not wade into the fray himself. But what truly took him aback was the raw power emanating fr
"So from here on this would be the task force's last training session like I stated earlier. From now on different teams of the taskforce will be designated to different parts of the neighboring towns You should already know by now that the Elite students will also be participating in the specter purge." Master Wei explained."Yes sir, I already assumed this." Atticus at first had found it odd that the taskforce which was supposed to be a mixture of the most talented students from different faculties did not involve the elite students. But now their appearance in the last training session had given a possible guess on their status. Instead of joining the taskforce, they were rallied to form their own teams. Atticus actually didn't expect the amount of elite students to be much, but he was proven wrong as from their numbers they managed to form 6 teams which already rivaled the team of taskforce members."It's time I address you all together, let's go." The professor said as he got up
Xu Hua stood at the edge of the frost peak where the ice spirit qi was abundant. She took a deep breath then exhaled a large amount of white mist.This is her place of peace and where she always came to relax. All around the peak were several plants and flowers and all of them had a clear similarity which was the light blue tint at a part of their petals or stalk.A trained alchemist eye would notice how precious every plant present here was. So important in potion making that it was odd that it was left to grow wildly at this mountain.Someone who knew what the frost peak was would say otherwise of course. While it was still a region under the jurisdiction of the academy the first peak couldn't be accessed by just anyone, be it student or professors...as for why Xu Hua could be here, her situation had always been a little special."What are your thoughts on the boy?" "You keep asking me this same question every time.""I wouldn't have to if you were truthful with your answers.""I a
The rhythmic clinking of wind chimes announced Atticus' arrival at The Arcane Menagerie. The familiar scent of parchment, exotic herbs, and a hint of magical reagents wafted through the air, greeting him like an old friend. Inside, the shop was a treasure trove of arcane wonders. Glowing crystals pulsed on shelves, vials filled with swirling liquids caught the light, and intricate spell glyphs adorned the walls.Behind the counter stood Silas, the proprietor, a wiry man with a perpetually surprised expression and a shock of white hair that defied gravity. He looked up from a ledger, a wide smile breaking out on his face as he recognized Atticus."Atticus! Fancy seeing you here! You've barely worn the dust off your academy robes, what brings you to my humble establishment this fine evening?" His voice, like his appearance, was full of unexpected energy."Good evening, Master Silas," Atticus greeted with a smile. "I come seeking your expertise. As you know, I just received a new weapon,
The weight of the ancient grimoire felt significant in Atticus's hands. The worn leather cover was surprisingly cool to the touch, and the faint scent of incense lingered from its pages. Excitement bubbled in his chest, tinged with a sliver of apprehension. Whisperwood was notorious, and the idea of summoning a creature, especially one unseen, added another layer of uncertainty."A Pixie, huh?" Atticus murmured, tracing the faded glyphs on the cover."A formidable companion for a bold adventurer," Silas declared, his voice laced with amusement. "Just remember, Pixies are known for their mischievous nature. The ritual itself might be the easy part. Convincing it to part with some Starfall Dust… that's a whole other story."Atticus nodded, a determined glint in his eyes. He trusted his skills as a negotiator, and a little friendly persuasion, perhaps even a well-timed offering, could go a long way. "Alright, Master Silas. Consider it done. I'll retrieve the Nightshade essence,
The spectating crowd were still in a pin drop silence, the eruption of cheers and jeers, never came. Instead, a bewildered hush settled over the spectators, broken only by the rhythmic thuds of distant duels echoing from other corners of the arena. Atticus surveyed the scene with a practiced calmness. He hadn't anticipated such an abrupt end to the fight as he had limited his strength and didn't even use spirit qi, but the outcome, while surprising to others, was within his expectations.Slowly, he picked up Fang's fallen axe, the polished metal gleaming faintly in the dim light filtering through the grimy windows lining the arena walls. The fight wasn't exactly top tier or tasking but a sense of calm satisfaction still washed over him. He had secured the Nightshade essence which was always his anyway, and more importantly, he was about to get more spirit stones from the compensation that Fang was supposed to put down.The alchemist, finally regaining his composure, shuffled towards