When Allen quietly returned to Radiant Magic Academy, the plaza was still bustling. Augustine was leading the elders in repairing the shattered magic array.
The apprentices, guided by their mentors, retreated to their respective courtyards, their faces still showing traces of lingering fear.
Allen avoided the crowds and found his mentor, Eleanor.
He calmly explained his purpose, stating that he needed to find a place with abundant magical energy to attempt the breakthrough to Senior Mage.
Eleanor had long been aware of Marcus's disappearance and of the incident at Godfall Battlefield when Marcus had tried to take Evelyn away.
She had been very worried about letting Allen go out alone, especially since the Academy had just been attacked by the Demon Tribe.
But after Allen repeatedly assured her that he would act cautiously and avoid dangerous situations, Eleanor finally relaxed slightly, reminding him to be careful.
After saying goodbye to Eleanor, Allen did not linger. Taking advantage of the fact that order in the Academy had not yet fully been restored, he quietly left Radiant Magic Academy and stepped once again into Godfall Battlefield.
The magical energy in this space was exceptionally dense. He had already noticed the area's uniqueness during his last visit.
Now, needing to challenge the Senior Mage rank as a Human, he required such a rich and pure energy environment.
As long as he successfully ascended to Senior Mage, he would meet the enrollment standards of Luminara Magic Academy and could leave Radiant Magic Academy officially and without dispute.
Allen found a hidden spot in Godfall Battlefield and sat down, beginning to meditate.
He started guiding the surrounding magical energy to flow slowly into his body, nourishing the magical core that was about to ascend.
...
Meanwhile, at the Demon Tribe stronghold on the other side of Godfall Battlefield, in the dungeons of Blackrock City, a harrowing scene of torture was unfolding.
In the dark, damp depths of the dungeon, flickering oil lamps along the stone walls cast moving shadows, and the air was thick with the scent of blood.
"Speak! Speak!"
Whips cracked through the air, striking Matteo violently. Each lash brought unbearable, piercing pain.
Matteo was covered in wounds and could not help but let out shrill, agonized screams. Yet at this moment, more than the physical pain, it was the hopelessness deep in his heart that threatened to break him.
The jailer in front of him had tortured him relentlessly for three days and nights, yet had never asked a single question. It was as if he were simply enjoying the act of violence itself.
"I beg you! I will tell you everything! Just ask me!"
Matteo lifted his bloodied face, his voice hoarse and broken, trembling with sobs.
"If you do not ask, how am I supposed to know what to say…"
His former arrogance was gone, replaced entirely by fear of death.
The demonic jailer's face twisted into a grimace. He furrowed his brow, and his whip froze mid-motion.
He was confused as well. His orders had only stated that the prisoner must be interrogated harshly, but had never specified what to question him about or what information needed to be extracted from Matteo.
Thinking this, he snorted coldly, a cruel light flashing in his eyes, and shouted at Matteo,
"You still dare be stubborn!"
"Let's see whether your mouth is tougher, or my whip!"
Before finishing, he raised the whip again. It traced a sharp, ear-piercing arc through the air, lashing at Matteo violently while he growled,
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"You dare be stubborn! You dare be stubborn!"
Matteo's anguished screams echoed through the dungeon once more, yet the jailer showed no sign of stopping, treating it as a mindless release of his own malice.
...
A massive amount of magical energy converged toward Allen's magic core, yet his core was like a bottomless abyss. No matter how much energy it absorbed, it never seemed full.
For five consecutive days, he continuously guided energy into his core, until he finally advanced to Ninth-tier Intermediate Mage, just one step away from Senior Mage.
Augustine had mentioned more than once that advancing from Intermediate Mage to Senior Mage was not simply a matter of accumulating magical energy. It required a profound understanding of the essence of magic.
Only by comprehending the connection between one's own magic and the energy of the world could one break through the boundaries of their level.
But Allen felt no sense of a bottleneck. To him, as long as enough energy was accumulated, advancement was merely a matter of course.
He could not explain the reason himself. Perhaps the talent of this body was too extraordinary, making the obstacles to Senior Mage advancement almost negligible.
Three more days passed. Allen condensed the surrounding magical energy until it was nearly tangible and formally attempted to break through to Senior Mage.
As he expected, the process went smoothly. There were no obscure insights to hinder him, and the fluctuations of his magic surged violently, allowing him to ascend steadily to Senior Mage.
After his advancement, Allen did not leave Godfall Battlefield immediately. He stayed there for another three days, familiarizing himself with the control of Senior Mage-level power.
Only when his magic was completely stable did he set off back to Radiant Magic Academy.
Upon returning to the Academy, Allen went straight to see Evelyn.
After a few days, her complexion had improved significantly, and she could move about normally. Once he confirmed she was out of danger, Allen went to find Augustine.
Allen went directly to the dean's office. Upon learning that Allen had successfully advanced to Senior Mage, Augustine was overjoyed.
He immediately took a recommendation letter from his drawer and handed it to Allen:
"Good child! Take this letter and report to Luminara Magic Academy quickly. Do not miss your chance to enroll."
With this recommendation letter, Allen no longer needed to take Luminara Magic Academy's rigorous aptitude tests or magical assessments.
The Academy only had one direct recommendation slot per year, allowing the recommended apprentice to enroll directly.
After receiving the letter, Allen deliberately showed off around the Academy.
In conversations with others, he constantly mentioned that he had the dean's recommendation and was about to attend Luminara Magic Academy, almost wanting the entire Academy to know this news.
He was not genuinely proud of this honor. He had another purpose.
Marcus, who had always been watching him closely and whose whereabouts were unknown, remained a hidden threat.
Actively searching for Marcus in the vast crowd was too difficult. It was better to throw out bait, making Marcus believe there was an opportunity to strike.
With Marcus's ruthless nature, he would never miss a chance to act while Allen was on his way to Luminara Magic Academy.
...
Along the road leading from Radiant Magic Academy to Aetherlan City, Marcus wore a dark expression.
He had just received word that Allen, who should have perished on the Godfall Battlefield, had returned to the Academy unharmed and had even advanced his magic rank.
The moment he learned this, Marcus contacted the assassins of the Dagger Tribunal. This organization, which made its living by hunting down bounty targets, kept its word.
After confirming that Allen was still alive, they immediately promised to continue the assassination mission.
"This road is the only route from Radiant Magic Academy to Aetherlan City," Marcus said, pointing at the winding path ahead."That brat is going to report to Luminara Magic Academy. He will definitely pass through here."
Two assassins in black cloaks stood beside him. Their gazes beneath the hoods were sharp, and a chilling aura radiated from them.
The two nodded slowly. One of them spoke, his voice hoarse and dry:"It is truly unbelievable. This boy's talent far exceeds our estimates."
"In just a few short days, he advanced from Intermediate Mage to Senior Mage."
"Someone like him must be eliminated early. If we wait, the cost of dealing with him will only grow."
The Dagger Tribunal had just obtained precise intelligence that Allen had successfully advanced to Senior Mage.
Considering that even at the Intermediate Mage level, he already possessed the strength to kill a Senior Mage across levels, the Dagger Tribunal had deliberately dispatched two Archmages this time. In their eyes, killing a newly advanced Senior Mage would be effortless.
Even if Allen was a genius capable of fighting across levels, there was no way he could withstand a joint encirclement by two Archmages.
Marcus was very satisfied with this arrangement and revealed a sinister smile.
"I never expected the Dagger Tribunal to be so trustworthy. With both of you taking action, this will surely be foolproof."
He paused, then said,"When you encounter that boy, if it is convenient, could you cripple his magic and leave him to me?"
The assassin on the left suddenly let out a soft chuckle and looked at Marcus."It seems your grudge against him runs deep. But I am afraid you will be disappointed."
Marcus froze and quickly asked,"Why? This should not be much trouble for the two of you, should it?"
The assassin slowly shook his head."The Dagger Tribunal only accepts assassination contracts. We do not involve ourselves in matters like crippling or imprisonment."
"If the target is not killed, his name remains on the assassination list. To the Dagger Tribunal, that is an indelible disgrace."
"So, he can only die."
Hearing this, Marcus felt a surge of regret.
He wished he could grind Allen to dust. Letting him die so easily was far too merciful for that brat.
Marcus let out a soft sigh, about to say a few more words, when the assassin on the right suddenly pressed a hand on his shoulder and said,"He is here."
