Chapter 146: Night
Ace hovered in mid-air on a cushion of air, bathed in the afterglow of the sunset. Night was fast approaching.
At the foot of Mount Baal, fire element spells created a crackling bonfire. Wizard Apprentices and the family and friends they brought celebrated their survival. A few apprentices guarded the perimeter. The entire area around the deep crater was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
A group of women sang and danced around the bonfire. Even Daina, whom everyone knew as Iron Fist Daina, danced exceptionally well. Ace smiled, watching the scene. The pleasant atmosphere reminded him of the Cimali Bonfire Festival and the initial inspiration he had felt.
“I, Ace, even in my evolution into a collective being, remain a living person with flesh, thought, and emotion!”
“The invisible influence of the Abyss will make the host body become bloodthirsty and tyrannical. The host body instinctively abandoned emotion, which aligns with the effect of the Mechanized Mind and can greatly suppress the Abyssal influence. However, this is not a permanent solution.”
“I must find a way to achieve a new balance! My life level must evolve. I want to become a collective being, but I also want to remain a humane person!”
Just as the mirror image Ace made his firm resolve, the host body Ace finally reached a large valley in the eastern Larr Mountains. The valley was surrounded by mountains, with a river flowing through the center and emptying into the Pontos Sea to the east.
The mountains blocked the cold wind from the central Larr Mountains wind tunnel, and the warm, humid sea breeze surged inward along the river every summer. This made the valley one of the few habitable places in the Larr Mountains.
The host body Ace climbed to the top of the mountain beside the valley. He casually killed a few unwary low-level Monsters and closed his eyes. His mental power expanded to its maximum!
The Soul Spells Mana Sensitivity, Insight Perception, and Perception Retrieval activated in sequence. His mental power, now an extended touch, rotated in a fan-shape, scanning the entire valley.
“The valley is home to one large barbarian tribe and five ordinary barbarian tribes. Based on the life reflections perceived, there are less than 5,000 people. Among them, only three Shamans show Mana reflection, and their strength is roughly equivalent to a Lesser Wizard Apprentice.”
The host body Ace stood on the mountain peak, overlooking the valley. It was silent and beautiful at night.
“Then, the main objective tonight is conquest without bloodshed!”
A cold glint flashed in his eyes. He leaped into the air. Flash Teleportation activated. Mana Crystal Shaping formed geometric wings on his back. He flew toward the largest tribe.
At the foot of Mount Baal, the night deepened. The crowd was tired from singing and dancing and sat down to rest.
The mirror image Ace stood up. He waved and summoned the gray-robed Bayen, saying, “Gather all the Wizard Apprentices. I have something to say.”
The gray-robed Bayen nodded and left.
Soon, everyone gathered around the bonfire, sitting in a circle. The mirror image Ace used a spell to float up, hovering above the bonfire, overlooking the assembled Wizard Apprentices.
There are about 90 people here. This is the foundation of my future organization, the tinder of Magic, the mirror image Ace thought.
“My contractors, Wizard Apprentices. You must all know where we are going on this journey. We are heading north, deep into the Larr Mountains.”
“The Larr Mountains are filled with Monsters. Many powerful low-level Monsters reside there, and there are even some mid-level Monsters. Why are we taking such a great risk, crossing the Larr Mountains to find a new residence?” Ace asked the assembled apprentices.
After a moment of silence, Betty spoke softly: “Because the south has become a den of Demons?”
“You are right, and yet you are not entirely right.” Ace hovered above the bonfire, speaking gently.
“Even without this massive disaster created by the dark worshipers, we would still inevitably have to leave the Northern March and leave the gathering places of civilized nations.”
“In a sense, the dark worshipers’ attack on the Northern March, transforming the entire area into an Abyssal Projection, has ironically granted us a space and an opportunity to survive as Wizards.”
“Respected Torch-Bearer, why does the Northern March being converted into an Abyssal Projection give us a space to survive?” A red-haired, freckled young man asked, puzzled.
“That is an excellent question. What is your name?” The mirror image Ace asked warmly from above the bonfire.
“Respected Torch-Bearer, my name is Warren. I was a carpenter’s apprentice before.” The red-haired, freckled young man replied.
“Warren, in the eyes of the Divine Descendants, we Wizards are no different from Devils and Demons, perhaps even worse. We are a supernatural power born from mortals, rising from below. We have systematically researched and deciphered the secrets of the supernatural world—the Runes.”
“In the eyes of the Divine Descendants, we are despicable desecrators, attempting to steal the Authority they were granted by the gods, attempting to steal the flame of the supernatural!
But, my apprentices! We are not desecrators. We are not thieves. The gods never forbade research! We are Wizards who openly research the supernatural, comprehend the supernatural, and pursue the truth!”
Ace, suspended above the bonfire, paused, then continued.
“I once posed four questions: What is the essence of Magic? What is the essence of Mana? Why do runes exist? What is the essence of a rune?
We Wizards were born to answer these four questions. Our life’s objective should be to answer these four questions and explore the final truth at the end of the path of Magic!
As for the mental power, Inherent Mana, the runes we decipher, and the Spell Models we construct—these are merely gifts we receive naturally on our path of pursuing truth.
We are different from the Divine Descendants, Demons, Devils, and even the Deities. They are born with supernatural power, but we are not naturally supernatural.
We were ordinary beings, and only our fervent pursuit of truth elevated us to the supernatural.”
Saying this, Ace, suspended above the bonfire, raised his hands.
“Respected Torch-Bearer, I have another question. Our lives are limited. Even my current intellect is limited. How can we use our finite life and intellect to pursue the infinite Four Questions of Ace?” The red-haired, freckled young man, Warren, seized the moment to ask boldly.
Ace looked at the young man with some appreciation. Being able to think and ask questions meant great potential for the future.
“Your question is very practical. How should we solve the Warren Dilemma? My apprentices, activate your wisdom and imagination, and contemplate this question.”
Ace did not rush to answer. He looked expectantly at the crowd, hoping for the spark of an idea to emerge from the apprentices.
The Wizard Apprentices talked amongst themselves, buzzing with discussion. Daina looked at Ace hovering in the air. She was momentarily drawn back to the first time she heard Ace lecture on Logic. He was equally fascinating and charming then.
The brilliant Scholar Ace was the core reason Daina was so infatuated with him. At this moment, she felt transported back in time. She was now filled with anticipation for the future Wizard Academy.
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