Chapter 139: The Path Ahead
“Wizard Apprentices, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am the Torch-Bearer. I believe many of you have already guessed that I am also Ace, the author of Logic and Elementary Mathematics, and a city-state scholar.” The mirror image Ace stood among the Wizard Apprentices and spoke warmly.
Although the Wizard Apprentices knew they were about to meet the Torch-Bearer who had introduced them to the path of Magic, they were momentarily stunned when the meeting actually occurred.
“You are truly the great Torch-Bearer. You are really the pioneer of the path of Magic?” Betty, driving the clattering Apprentice Model 1, rushed forward and asked.
“Of course. I know you, Betty. Among all the contractors I selected, you are the only one with natural Mental Overdrive. You possess great magical talent.” The mirror image Ace looked at the petite Betty, who was looking down at him from the machine, and spoke gently.
His tone was subtly modulated. The Soul Spell Advanced Magical Trickery activated, primarily simulating the Suggestion Rune, Empathy Rune, and Will Rune, creating a powerful effect of empathy and conviction, similar to the Suggestion spell.
At that moment, the Grimoires of the Wizard Apprentices began to alert them sequentially. Seeing the information on the Grimoire and feeling Ace’s suggestion, they unconsciously trusted Ace, feeling that this Ace was so kind and approachable.
Black cat Bayen also snapped to attention. He stood up like a man, spat out Anazir’s Dice, bowed 90 degrees, and declared loudly: “Emissary Bayen greets Your Excellency the Great Torch-Bearer. You are the pioneer of the path of Magic, the only light in the long night, and the guide of all Wizards.”
The other Wizard Apprentices immediately mimicked black cat Bayen, bowing to Ace.
The family and friends brought by the Wizard Apprentices also awkwardly bowed to Ace.
Ancestar pushed his way from the back of the line. He bowed to Ace and said, “Thank you, Your Excellency the Great Torch-Bearer. If you hadn’t sent Emissary Bayen to guide us, we would all have been buried in the fortress.”
The others also rushed to thank Ace. The atmosphere was lively.
This was the effect of the quasi-Suggestion spell. It did not change the targets, but merely guided and amplified the emotions they already possessed, naturally leading to the desired outcome.
Ace pressed his hands into the air. With his gesture, the voices of the Wizard Apprentices slowly died down.
He did not hesitate. He instantly activated Advanced Magical Trickery, chanting the incantation: “Illusion · Charm · Will · Loyalty Check!”
A quasi-Charm effect was instantly activated. Everyone froze, falling into an illusion.
Most people showed no abnormal reactions. Only a few apprentices and their family members twisted and struggled restlessly.
“It seems you are the potential traitors!” The mirror image Ace declared. Although a covenant was in place, preventing them from directly betraying Ace, it was not unusual for some to harbor malicious intentions and attempt to betray them indirectly.
Though it was only suspicion, a check was necessary for peace of mind!
The mirror image Ace woke the group, directing those who had been caught trying to make deals with the legion to confess everything before the others.
The crowd’s anger nearly boiled over.
“I declare that these people must be executed! Traitors will not have a pleasant end.” Ace said strictly. Under his suggestion, the Wizard Apprentices were also visibly enraged.
After dealing with the few traitors, Ace continued:
“Fellow Travelers on the path of Magic, the Abyssal Projection has descended upon the Northern Marches. We have only one path forward: north, deep into the Larr Mountains.”
“The Larr Mountains, outside of a few barbarian tribes, are filled with Monsters. They will certainly not be the primary target of the Abyssal Demons. The Demons crave human blood and souls, which they can only find by advancing south to attack Medimus City-State.”
“Therefore, we must head north. After merging with the other Wizard Apprentices, we will establish a foothold in a suitable location within the Larr Mountains. I will lead everyone in establishing our own Wizard Academy and build a magical small town nearby to house your family and friends!”
Under Ace’s highly suggestive and charming voice, everyone began to envision a beautiful future. Their own Wizard Apprentice Academy and the affiliated town would essentially be their own nation.
This plan would normally be difficult to execute. The southern part of the Larr Mountains was constantly encroached upon by the Northern March Legion. A few barbarian tribes still lingered in the mountains, and powerful mid-level and even advanced Monsters occasionally descended from the northern borders.
However, the descent of the Abyssal Demons made all of this surprisingly easy to achieve.
The Northern March Legion of Medimus City-State was largely annihilated. A protracted war was inevitable between the Demons and the city-state, between the Abyssal Archon Dorkabach and the Goddess of Elegance, Medea.
The barbarian tribes were not powerful and posed no threat. They could even provide slaves and test subjects for the future Wizard Academy and the magical town.
The abundance of low-level and powerful low-level Monsters in the central Larr Mountains would provide excellent magical materials for the Wizard Apprentices to create Casting Materials, Magic Items, and refine magical potions.
The only concern was the powerful Monsters residing in the northern Larr Mountains.
Since Ace possessed the live-point map of the Larr Mountains, even this was not a major problem. If the Monsters launched a massive invasion southward, he could simply evade them in advance.
This was the next step planned by the host body and the mirror image: organizing all surviving Wizard Apprentices to evacuate the Northern March, move to the Larr Mountains, and establish a truly academic, strictly managed, armed magical society.
The Lesser Rune library was already comprehensive. The fundamental components of the magical path—Mana, Mana essence, runes, Spell Models, and their derivative rune arrays, magic arrays, and magical rituals—were all clearly defined.
At this stage, aggressively spreading the Grimoire to collect basic information was no longer necessary. Instead, they needed to utilize the growing chaos to go into deep dormancy, waiting for the sparks of tinder to grow into more torches, igniting an exchange of wisdom.
The future of the Wizard’s path, the path of Magic, must be built by a unified, enlightened, and secretive academic community.
This academic community that Ace was about to establish would share foundational magical knowledge (Lesser Spell level) and openly document all rune libraries and Monster bestiaries.
Within the academic community, knowledge such as Spell Models, rune arrays, magic arrays, magical rituals, magical potion formulas, enchanted alchemy, and enchanted martial arts would be exchanged based on Equivalent Exchange.
“Emissary Bayen, continue to lead the group forward according to the Grimoire’s guidance. I will first go to the other group of Wizard Apprentices and guide them to rendezvous with you.”
Having said this, the mirror image Ace transformed into an eagle. After circling a few times, he flew away.
“We humbly obey your will! We respectfully send off His Excellency the Great Torch-Bearer, the pioneer of the path of Magic, and the guide of all Wizards, Ace!”
Black cat Bayen, old and wise, understood his role perfectly. He was the Emissary of the Torch-Bearer, the messenger connecting the Torch-Bearer and the Wizard Apprentices. He had to be the person who most strictly adhered to Ace’s will.
In his understanding, Ace possessed unparalleled genius, pioneering a path to the supernatural for mortals from nothing. He must also possess great academic wisdom that words could not fully express. However, every human has their flaws.
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