"This time, we really took a big loss, using up several bottles of Elemental Potions in a row!"
"I'm even worse off, getting stabbed by a spear for no reason!"
"Most importantly, we gained nothing at all!"
The faint sound of conversation drifted out.
Botning and his companions looked disheveled, as their luck had not been on their side this time. Not only had they gained nothing, but they had also lost a significant amount of their resources.
Hunting Fishmen was no simple task.
They didn't have anything like the Mirage Orb that Celine possessed, which could help them divide their forces and hold off the Fishman Warlock leader.
"Someone's ahead!"
Suddenly, a companion's warning snapped Botning out of his thoughts.
The wilderness was desolate and silent, and the meeting place was a small valley formed by some hills. This meant that the two groups only noticed each other when they were already very close.
Botning glanced over and felt reassured. "Just a few newcomers who were promoted last year. I know them; they're no threat."
"Promoted just last year?"
An Old Apprentice said meaningfully.
Juniors meant weakness.
Weakness meant vulnerability.
Although there might be exceptions, the probability was very small.
Even if something unexpected happened, they were confident they could escape.
Botning's eyes lit up as he instantly understood his companion's implication.
"Our luck hasn't been great this time, but theirs might be better!
If we happen to run into a small tribe we can handle…
We might just come away with some gains!"
Average apprentices needed more resources to advance, and their financial gaps were even larger.
But unfortunately, their ability to earn money was limited.
He had been particularly short on funds recently.
With that, he exchanged a glance with his companions, and they spurred their Undead Warhorses forward, speeding up their approach.
...
"Someone's coming!"
Roy's increasingly powerful spiritual senses picked up on something.
He noticed movement on the other side of the fork in the path and looked up, his expression immediately changing.
"Botning?" The others, hearing the warning, were also greatly surprised. "And those others, they're all Old Apprentices who've been around for years..."
Running into them suddenly in this remote wilderness, everyone had a vague sense of foreboding.
Even when they were low-level apprentices, they had already heard whispers of the dangers in the wild.
It wasn't just monsters.
Fellow human apprentices from the tower could often be just as dangerous.
"You lot, get off your horses.
Throw out all your backpacks and bags."
The Old Apprentices sneered at them, looking at them like lambs for the slaughter.
Renien and the others were momentarily at a loss, unsure of what to do.
Roy also frowned.
Although his enhanced body could run quite fast, getting off his horse would almost be like handing over his life, leaving him at their mercy.
He silently reached into his pouch, pretending to undo the straps, but actually aiming for the opening.
Unexpectedly, behind Botning, several companions suddenly pulled out crossbows and fired a volley of arrows.
They acted without hesitation, not even waiting for a moment.
Even the earlier words that seemed like a robbery were just a ruse to confuse them.
As everyone was stunned, Roy's hair suddenly grew wildly, transforming into multiple writhing black serpents that deflected the arrows.
This Wizard Body Modification had already shown some results. Each strand of hair acted like a tentacle, and although it couldn't form an impenetrable defense, the chaotic flailing was more than enough to block most projectile weapons.
As long as they did not contain any Wizardry Energy or spell effects.
The onlookers were greatly shocked by the scene.
Roy, however, acted swiftly and threw out a test tube containing the Orchard Curse.
Botning and the others quickly dodged, only to find the liquid spilling onto the ground, sizzling and causing their expressions to change slightly.
Such strong corrosive properties!
"He dares to resist...
Kill this brat first!"
Several people turned their gaze to Roy, realizing it was the result of some Wizard Body Modification.
Unlike ordinary physical enhancements, such modifications often came with various bizarre and extraordinary abilities.
Even for their team of fully enhanced Old Apprentices, it posed a minor threat.
But just then, they all caught a whiff of a scent reminiscent of apple wine.
A slight sense of unease washed over them, followed by an inexplicable feeling of lightness.
The surrounding wilderness seemed to transform, the night sky shimmering with a kaleidoscope of colors, and stars blinking one after another.
Roy and the others across from them appeared to morph into humanoid serpents with multicolored snake heads.
This eerie scene left them mentally disoriented, their rationality and hallucinations intertwining, their consciousness struggling.
It wasn't until the clanking of chains rang out that they were jolted awake.
A shadowy figure was hurled by Roy, lunging like a serpent.
His target was Botning, with whom he had previous grievances. Among these Old Apprentices, he only knew Botning and not the others.
Botning snapped back to reality, drawing his sword to slash at the chain, only to hear the clang of metal against metal.
The chain coiled like a snake, wrapping around him with immense force.
"Help... help me!"
Botning's neck was constricted, and he felt himself unable to breathe. He desperately pulled, trying to free himself.
But the chain only tightened further, mimicking the constriction of a giant python. The moment it sensed his strength waning, it tightened even more.
This forced Botning to redden with exertion, using all his might to resist the crushing force.
He was utterly shocked, his mind reeling.
How could this be?
Wasn't Roy a seventh-year apprentice, the same level as Trides?
He had only just been promoted last year...
How could he possibly know Wizardry, and use it so skillfully!
The others were equally horrified, but instead of helping, they scattered.
"Wizardry... it's Wizardry!"
"Don't confront it head-on, don't be reckless!"
Renien and the others, though slow to react, finally came to their senses and began firing their crossbows wildly.
Botning gathered his strength again, comparable to that of an intermediate knight, and pulled with all his might. But just then, a crossbow bolt struck his right arm, causing his eyes to widen in shock.
The strength he had mustered dissipated like a punctured balloon, leaving him deflated.
He was struggling to breathe...
Botning grew increasingly frantic.
The chain perfectly simulated the constricting habits of a snake, its force steady and unrelenting.
The pain had caused him to slacken slightly, and now his carotid artery was being squeezed even tighter, his brain beginning to suffer from oxygen deprivation.
The faint magical energy granted by his enhancement could temporarily replace oxygen, allowing him to hold on a bit longer, but it was rapidly depleting.
Botning's face showed even greater terror, his struggles and pulls becoming more desperate, but all in vain.
Because his exertion was merely a self-perceived effort; in reality, as his stamina waned, his resistance grew increasingly feeble.
Roy spurred his horse forward, thrusting his lo
ngsword fiercely into Botning's chest.
Blood gushed forth, and Botning's eyes widened in shock before he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
The others, witnessing this, scattered without hesitation, vanishing in an instant like startled birds.
(End of Chapter)