Chapter 126: The Meeting

"The subject's mental energy is on the verge of collapse... Do you wish to continue modifying the parameters?"

The prompt from the intelligent core echoed in Lin Wei's ear.

"Continue modifying the parameters!"

Lin Wei's expression remained unchanged.

"I am Bansani... I am a level-two wizard apprentice..." young Bansani suddenly began to babble, his entire body twitching neurotically. "No, a level-two wizard apprentice, how is that possible? I am just a piece of trash with first-grade talent!"

"Who am I really... Who am I!?" Bansani's lips turned blue. "Am I even myself...?"

"Have the memories begun to link up after the parameter modification?" Lin Wei watched Bansani's transformation closely.

Suddenly, Bansani raised his head. He took a step forward, running toward the retreating back of Seier.

However, the moment he took that step:

*Crash!*

Bansani's dream space began to shatter slowly, like broken glass, scattering into fragments with sharp edges, reflecting a world frozen in time.

Seier’s back, Bansani's twisted features, and the endless dark shadows all turned into shards.

Bansani's dream world collapsed abruptly!

Inside the room.

Bansani lay on the floor, blood oozing from his mouth and nose, completely unconscious.

"Core, collect and organize the data changes from Bansani just now, and use them to improve the model!"

Lin Wei stood before Bansani, without a shred of guilt or pity.

"I'm sorry, Senior..." Lin Wei said softly. "I am a very suspicious person; I cannot trust anyone. To preserve the secret of the Layton Kingdom's wizard inheritance... I have no choice but to sacrifice you."

"I am not wrong, and neither are you..." Lin Wei continued to mutter to himself. "Rest assured, your descendants are mere mortals, and they won't have as many troubles as you. I will have Kaelin look after your family..."

Bansani's vital signs were still present, but Lin Wei’s forceful use of the optimized Dream Halo had caused massive damage to his cerebral region. Without specialized medical intervention, he would be trapped in this vegetative state for the rest of his life.

Lin Wei had not chosen to act while in the Layton Kingdom out of concern for the Shadow Forest Academy headquarters. Although Bansani was merely an expatriate wizard with no aptitude, he served as a bridge between wizards and mortals, and Lin Wei could not afford to act rashly.

But now, it was different. War had broken out, and order was beginning to crumble. Having arrived at the military camp and already having greased the wheels with Sanier, dealing with Bansani was simpler than ever.

...

At the time, Lin Wei had found Sanier, who was busy with administrative work, and had asked him to help eliminate the trouble that was Bansani. Although Sanier felt surprised, he did not ask for the reason and simply classified Bansani as a casualty of the mission. Beyond that, he offered to arrange a larger room for Lin Wei, but this was flatly refused by him.

In a place like a military camp, the better the living conditions, the more likely one was to perish in a sudden enemy infiltration.

In the following days, friction on the Segavei Lake battlefield intensified, even erupting into two small-scale engagements, resulting in the deaths of several level-two wizard apprentices.

At Segavei Lake, official wizards were the supreme commanders, level-three wizard apprentices were high-tier combatants, level-two wizard apprentices were the backbone, and level-one wizard apprentices were the base infantry.

In the camp, besides completing assigned tasks, everyone was required to serve as military force on the battlefield when the war demanded it.

As a level-three wizard apprentice, Lin Wei had not yet been drafted.

Nighttime.

Inside Lin Wei's quarters.

Ever since Bansani had been dealt with by Sanier, Lin Wei had occupied the entire dormitory alone.

"Core, pull up my physical data."

[Lin Wei Nolan-Mountain; Strength: 17.1; Agility: 16.9; Constitution: 17.3; Mental Energy: 9.7; Skills: Fencing, Hammering; Wizard Meditation Technique: Shadow of Holy Light; Spells: Darkened Pupil, Star-Dark Quicksand]

Lin Wei had just finished his meditation and was reviewing his data.

"My base attributes have improved significantly..." Lin Wei nodded. "Logically, at this level, the body's limits are hard to surpass unless I advance to an official wizard, which would grant a qualitative leap. The reason I could improve this much still has to do with that Deep Blue Flesh..."

"What exactly is this Deep Blue Flesh?" Lin Wei narrowed his eyes, then turned his attention to his mental energy, a hint of contemplation appearing on his face. "Although the growth rate of my mental energy is moderate, it has slowed down. To continue increasing it rapidly, I must wait until the rune fragment splits into seventy-two pieces..."

"Core, how much longer until the optimal analytical structure for the disintegration and condensation of the rune fragment is complete?" Lin Wei asked.

"Optimal analytical structure for rune fragment disintegration and condensation... Estimated completion time: 101 days, 19 hours, 15 minutes."

"That is too long..." Lin Wei wore an expression of helplessness.

Although his speed was already far faster than others, Lin Wei remained unsatisfied. Since learning of the existence of the Wizard Continent from the old rat Herick, his yearning had never ceased.

Lin Wei's previous estimate for himself was to advance to an official wizard within two to five years. In the eyes of others, a level-three wizard apprentice becoming an official wizard within ten years was a monstrous achievement, let alone five. But in Lin Wei's view, it was still too slow.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Lin Wei's brow furrowed.

He carefully sensed the movement outside the door.

"Why is it so quiet tonight..." A sense of vigilance rose in Lin Wei's heart. "The patrol guards pass by my door every three hours, but it has been nearly four hours now, and there is still no sound..."

"Something is wrong!"

Lin Wei instantly sprang from the bed, his expression shifting.

...

Segavei Lake.

The sky was covered in stars, spilling silver-gray light. The calm lake surface shimmered with rippling light.

Unlike usual, the patrol ships of both the Shadow Forest and the Fanged Blood Shadow were huddled near their respective camps.

At the center of the lake.

Two figures stood facing each other.

They relied on no tools, their feet resting directly on the surface of the water.

The moonlight reflected onto their profiles.

Their appearances were perfectly clear; they were the supreme commanders of the two warring factions.

"Kibul, official wizard of the Shadow Forest, supreme commander of the Segavei Lake military camp." Kibul's tone was as if he were speaking to an old friend. In front of him was a young man dressed in red and black wizard robes.

"Resent, official wizard of the Fanged Blood Shadow, supreme person in charge of Segavei Lake," the man in the red and black wizard robes replied.

After these words, both fell silent, and the atmosphere grew eerily tense.