Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Legendary Apprentice
As the head of Koguk was severed, a black light emerged from his body, shooting into the mark on Richard's hand.
Buzz!
An unprecedentedly powerful wave spread across the entire exam grounds.
All the apprentices felt the wave and gleaned a message from it.
[Monster 0521 has been slain by apprentice Richard, 9 monsters remain.]
"Someone has killed one of the monsters released by the academy! And it's only the first day!"
The apprentices stared in disbelief towards the origin of the wave, their eyes filled with awe and fear.
What kind of power must a wizard apprentice possess to kill a monster with advanced apprentice strength in such a short time?
Meanwhile, every apprentice planning to hunt the monsters turned their gaze toward Richard's location.
A tall apprentice holding a staff looked towards Richard's direction, "Richard, interesting."
Beside him, a three-meter-tall flame giant emanated an intimidating aura.
...
A young apprentice in black robes looked toward Richard, smiling as he stroked his chin. In his hand, a tattered scarecrow radiated a sinister aura.
...
"I think I've heard the name Richard somewhere, the one selling potions?"
A blind apprentice pondered the information. With a casual gesture, a zombie-like apprentice approached him, still alive but with eyes blank, as if controlled.
"Have you heard of Richard?"
...
"You're famous now," Ellie teased, walking up to Richard. "According to the academy's rules, you're now a legendary apprentice!"
Ellie, too, received the message from the wave.
"Legendary or not, who knew the academy would pull this kind of broadcast?"
Richard's feelings were mixed, unsure whether to be pleased or annoyed. He generally disliked being in the spotlight, and the academy's public announcement was a bit much.
Yet, the thought of those fifty points offered some solace.
After killing Koguk, Richard's points increased by fifty, propelling him to the top of the leaderboard. If everything went well, Richard was now assured of receiving an academy reward.
"You've dealt with this one; the next one's mine," Ellie said, whistling as Wuni settled on Richard's shoulder.
"Of course."
Richard bent down to retrieve Koguk's large machete.
The machete was engraved with magical runes, seemingly to enhance its power. But as an alchemy apprentice, Richard immediately recognized the runes' true purpose.
Crack, crack, crack...
As Richard channeled magic into the runes, the machete crumbled, revealing hidden contents within.
From the fragments, Richard extracted a ring. Upon touching it, the miracle furnace in his soul stirred slightly.
[Material: Ring of Strength]
[Extractable Information: Strength Amplification Spell Model]
[Extraction Cost: 20 Mental Power]
[Extractable Technique: Spell Inscription (Incomplete)]
[Extraction Cost: 10 Mental Power]
"A Ring of Strength?" Richard put the ring on, channeling magic into it. Instantly, he felt a special energy coursing through his veins, activating his body.
"This energy seems to be… some form of life energy."
Richard mused, no longer a novice apprentice, he could deduce some things from his knowledge.
Reactivating his bloodline, he swung his sword with the spell's aid, the sword wind flattening the grass.
"My strength has increased by about thirty percent. If combined with the release technique, my power should exceed three times my normal strength. The only downside is the risk of more severe injuries."
Using the release technique wasn't without cost. The body's natural limits existed for a reason; employing release could cause muscle tears and, in severe cases, fracture bones.
Having tested the ring, Richard pulled a slightly stale piece of meat from his magic pouch to feed Wuni.
Fifteen days into the exam, the meat Richard brought for Wuni had turned somewhat stale, despite the pouch's preservation. Although the monster's fresh corpse offered fresh meat, something about its dying gaze unsettled him.
He decided to make the monster's death worthwhile.
Time for some dissection.
With this in mind, Richard took out his tools, preparing to collect samples of Koguk's flesh and organs for study.
Wuni, its digestive system altered, cared little about the freshness of its food. After devouring the meat, it affectionately nuzzled Richard.
Richard stored the samples, burning the rest of the body to ash with a spell.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Richard released Wuni, "Time to work after eating."
With Wuni's help as a scout, Richard's monster hunting would surpass other apprentices.
Soon, he located the second monster.
"Three kilometers due east, let's go!"
...
In the Central Black Tower, wizards were abuzz with discussion over the leaderboard.
Just six hours after releasing the slave monsters, the first one was slain.
This speed far surpassed typical exams.
"Jolord, you've taken on a fine student," Ereks remarked, noting Richard's top rank.
Thanks to the crystal ball, wizards in the hall witnessed Richard and Ellie's entire battle with Koguk.
Their tactics weren't sophisticated, nor was their use of magical creatures innovative.
Yet, in this exam, these simple tactics and applications combined effectively, displaying a kind of alchemical reaction.
Using the right methods at the right time is a testament to wizardly wisdom.
Jolord accepted the praise without hesitation, believing Richard's actions truly deserved it.
Gazing at the leaderboard, Jolord used magic to ask, "Ereks, the top ten enter the principal's secret realm… but what about the top three?"
Ereks shook his head, "The top three rewards are decided by the principal. Until announced, none of us will know."
"But it's certain these rewards are invaluable, something you and I would envy."
...
Richard's second target was a giant mosquito, its transparent, patterned wings emitting an irritating buzz.
Before Richard arrived, the mosquito had already drained an apprentice with its proboscis.
"Disgusting," Richard thought, watching the viscous liquid drip from the mosquito's mouthpart, a wave of revulsion washing over him.
If Koguk exuded ferocity and fervor, this insect evoked only pure disgust.
Such creatures shouldn't exist in the world.
Buzz!
Upon spotting Richard, the mosquito flew at him, its wings casting a mesmerizing glow, inducing dizziness.
Black flames ignited on his sword as Richard gripped it tightly, transforming into a black-scaled giant. Simultaneously, the Ring of Strength activated, energy coursing through his veins, swelling his muscles, a newfound power roaring within him.
With the ring's aid, Richard reached a new pinnacle of
strength.
Clang
Richard flashed behind the mosquito.
The insect continued to buzz, seemingly unharmed.
Missed?
In the next moment, something fell.
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