IRM Chapter 59

Bard and Tang had thought they were already strong enough that nothing would surprise them anymore.

Just like when Ji Chi passed the warrior and ranger trials, they only reacted with indifference; even if Ji Chi had told them at that moment that he was some ancient god, they probably would have just responded calmly.

But——

“Do you know magic?” Ji Chi asked very seriously, not at all like he was joking.

Bard & Tang: “???”

Bard looked completely bewildered. “No! Isn’t that obvious? What kind of misunderstanding do you have about professions?”

Ji Chi irritably scratched his head.

He was really getting fed up with this trial. Although reluctant, he had to admit that with his pitiful fireball spell, trying to pass the level 99 profession mage trial… there wouldn’t even be a 0.01% chance, okay!

Ji Chi asked with his last glimmer of hope. “Really not even a little? Then who’s going to take the trial?”

Tang looked utterly confused. “We really don’t know any… Wait, aren’t you a mage?”

Ji Chi put on a deadpan expression. “I’m not, don’t look for me, I’m just a cute and lovable mascot.”

Just as Bard and the others were trying hard to figure out the big shot’s thought process, the sea surface in the distance suddenly raised massive waves, with surging seawater violently crashing against the metal island, creating loud echoes.

It was a huge water-repelling magic array that looked like a transparent hemispherical dome, covering a team of dwarves who were less than four feet tall.

The tallest dwarf standing in the center was someone they had met not long ago.

Bard’s face darkened suddenly. “Anthony? How are you here!”

Anthony stepped onto the island surrounded by a crowd of dwarves. He noticed something wrong with the ground material, ground his toes, and somewhat disdainfully brushed away the sand. “That’s a good question, why am I here…”

He raised his head, and a somewhat mocking yet somewhat smug smile appeared on his fat face. “I warned you very early on, I understand you too well, teacher.”

Bard really couldn’t figure out how he had found such a hidden place, his brow furrowed tightly.

Anthony slowly paced to Bard’s side, leaned close to his ear, making exactly the same motion as when they met before the auction, and whispered softly, “You might not know, but I’ve been troubled by a problem lately… What do you think should be done if an expensive slave runs away disobediently?”

He smiled meaningfully. “So, I crafted a little something. This thing was originally supposed to be buried in a slave’s scalp, but how could I bear to treat my teacher that way?”

Anthony chuckled out loud, his finger lightly hooking.

Bard heard the sound and looked down, shocked to discover that a small bulge had appeared on his ever-present tool leather case. The next second, sharp cold light flashed, and a spider-like small device broke out of the bulge.

Anthony bent down to pluck it from the leather case, sighed once, with a hint of regret in his tone. “When I used it to track down an escaped slave before, he was still cursing me!”

“But what he didn’t expect was that this little spider is my most prized device.” Anthony held the little spider, swaying it back and forth, his words filled with a bloody atmosphere. “It can completely separate a person’s skin from flesh while they’re still alive…”

The more Bard listened, the angrier he became, his face flushing red. He stared fixedly at Anthony, gritting his teeth. “I really regret… actually teaching such a scoundrel like you!”

Anthony had heard too many similar curses over the years, but Bard’s words were particularly grating. He sneered coldly. “What’s the use of regret? How many people regret not killing me earlier, but don’t they still have to kneel before me one by one, crying and begging me to spare them!”

Anthony looked up at the temple before him, his expression brightening somewhat. “But don’t worry, teacher, soon you’ll become one of them too.”

Ji Chi had been coldly watching them for a long time, deep thoughts swirling in his eyes. Finally, he took action——

“Tang! Help me hold them off! I’m going to complete the last mage trial! The temple will open for us then!”

Ji Chi shouted loudly, his tone full of urgency, quite heart-wrenching. He rushed toward the last dark stone platform with all his might, but his actual speed wasn’t much faster than Brandon’s.

Tang: “…”

If I hadn’t seen you run leaving afterimages, I really would have believed your act.

However, as a chief mercenary, Tang had cooperated with countless people and could immediately understand what Ji Chi wanted to do.

The big shot was really going all out to avoid taking the mage trial… Tang still couldn’t quite understand it.

Tang put on a serious expression, also adopting a solemn appearance. “Got it! I’ll do my best to hold them off for you. Run faster, don’t let them get there first!”

Tang positioned himself protectively behind Bard while warily facing the small dwarves in front of them.

The servants following Anthony numbered over twenty, almost all combat-oriented guards, with warriors and rogues making up the majority, and only two or three mages.

Seeing their behavior, Anthony narrowed his eyes. After being outmaneuvered at the auction house, he remained very cautious about these people and would never be deceived without clearly understanding the situation.

However… he inconspicuously scanned the surroundings and discovered battle traces everywhere, along with scattered bloodstains, and several corpse-like shadows sinking in the seabed (the mermaid who had been ordered by Ji Chi not to move).

What concerned him most were the six bright light pillars on the island, emanating from six stone platforms standing beside the island, and the Eastern mage disguised as a little girl was running toward the location of the last stone platform.

Anthony hesitated for a while, then still waved at a mage beside him, pointing in Ji Chi’s direction. “You go follow him.”

After saying this, he instructed the others. “You all, capture those two, be careful not to kill them. I haven’t properly repaid my teacher yet.”

All the small dwarves immediately sprang into action, swarming toward Bard and his companion. At the same time, a dwarf mage cast a haste spell on himself and quickly chased after Ji Chi.

Tang protected Bard while desperately resisting the dwarves’ attacks, looking overwhelmed and flustered.

Anthony smiled with satisfaction. He could feel that this Tang was using all his strength to block them, so… he turned his face toward that Eastern little mage.

Ji Chi finally reached the stone platform. Without even catching his breath, he intermittently read out the text on the platform. “Magic… senses all things, complex arrays turn seawater… into gentle wind.”

Anthony’s mage had already reached behind Ji Chi. Hearing this, he frowned, quickly chanting in his mouth while swinging his wind, trying to interrupt Ji Chi’s words.

But it was already too late. The last word escaped from Ji Chi’s lips, turning into gentle wind, and was conveyed to Chloe.

Chloe’s eyes reddened, and a solemn voice echoed around the island. “Trial initiated. Current trial profession: mage. Please have trial participants prepare before Chloe. Countdown: 3…”

Everyone clearly heard this statement.

Anthony’s eyes trembled as he looked toward Chloe in surprise.

He had noticed this terrifyingly ugly monster as soon as he arrived on the island, but since it had shown no movement and Bard and the others seemed natural, he had guessed they had already killed it.

But he hadn’t expected this monster could still speak human language and was related to trials!

Anthony had no time to think more. Seeing that Ji Chi had already been controlled by his servant, he quickly ordered another mage in the group. “Quick, you hurry to the monster!”

The commanded mage saw Chloe’s frightening appearance and couldn’t help hesitating, but immediately noticed Anthony’s cold expression. His whole body shuddered, and he quickly ran toward Chloe’s direction——

He would never forget the horrific sight of the mechanical spider skinning people alive, nor would he forget that such a spider was also buried behind his neck.

“2… 1… 0.” The countdown ended. Chloe lowered its head, looking at the fearful unfamiliar mage before it, then raised its head to glance at Ji Chi, who wore an expression of regret and sorrow. Its core, full of algorithms, was filled with great confusion for the first time.

Human complexities were so difficult for Chloe to understand.

Confusion aside, Chloe wouldn’t forget the process it needed to follow. It immediately assessed the mage’s level before it, said nothing, and simply transformed its right hand into a cage-like shape.

This cage wasn’t like the one Ji Chi had stayed in when he arrived. It was like a huge dark canister that enclosed the dwarf mage with a bang.

Seeing this scene, Anthony’s narrowed eyes suddenly widened, fanatical light shining through them, his whole body trembling slightly with excitement. “This is a device… Hahaha, this is a device! If I could get it… No! If I could make it, who would dare defy me! Hahaha!”

Hearing this, the servants beside him all felt a chill in their hearts.

The mage trapped in the lightless cage panicked. He didn’t know what this was for. He groped his way to the surrounding metal walls and pounded hard. “What is this?! I can’t see anything!”

He screamed hoarsely, but only muffled shouts reached the outside.

The mage calmed down slightly. He steadied his mind, quickly recited an incantation, and a bright fireball lit up at the tip of his staff.

While chanting, the mage felt something cool at his feet. He shone the summoned fireball downward and was horrified to discover that his shoes had already been soaked by cold seawater.

A flash of insight crossed his mind, and he seemed to understand the cage’s purpose——it wanted to drown him!

After understanding the monster’s intention, the mage actually felt relieved. Water-repelling arrays were his specialty; he had just led a team through the sea using such arrays.

The mage finally regained confidence, skillfully wielding his staff as streaks of fire outlined patterns at his feet. Just as the array was about to form——poof——the nearly completed array shattered like foam.

The mage was stunned, a drop of cold sweat appearing on his forehead. He kept reassuring himself that magic array deployment failures were perfectly normal, but the ominous premonition in his heart was already warning him that this trial was definitely not so simple.

The deathly silence of the trial ground made Anthony frown uneasily, but he didn’t dare go check, only suppressing his impatience and waiting patiently.

Time passed minute by minute. The seawater in the cage had already risen to the dwarf mage’s waist. He was already covered in cold sweat, his lips trembling so much he could barely recite incantations, the staff in his hands waving rapidly with tremor.

The fifth water-repelling array——failed! He finally broke down, staggering back to the cage wall, urgently pounding the thick metal walls. Water splashed around his body. “Let me out quickly! Save me! I’m going to drown!”

No one could clearly hear what the person inside the cage was shouting. Only the mage who had initially gone to capture Ji Chi, hearing the vague sound of water and those strange words, guessed the trial’s purpose. His eyes sharpened, and he shouted loudly. “Transformation array! Use a transformation array!”

The trapped mage vaguely heard his companion’s voice and finally understood.

By this time, only the mage’s head remained above water. The life-or-death moment triggered unprecedented potential. His eyes hardened, he bit his lip hard, and the pain helped his thoughts calm down again.

Complex intersecting magic patterns gradually took shape as the water level rose. At the last moment before the mage’s mouth and nose were submerged, the bright red array was finally steadily etched on the ground.

The water level slowly stopped rising. The salty seawater swirled in the cage according to the array and transformed into wisps of gentle breeze.

This trial lasted over ten minutes for those watching from outside, but for the mage undergoing it, it felt like walking between life and death.

His magical power was exhausted, and his whole body ached.

When the cage lifted, the mage collapsed directly on the ground, his face extremely pale, looking so weak it filled those unaware of the situation with dread about this trial.

The red light in Chloe’s eyes finally faded, changing to a blue like the ocean and sky.

Its steady tone seemed to change, as if with anticipation, as if with joy. “All professional trials passed. The temple will open in ten minutes.”

After Chloe finished speaking, it walked to the front of the temple, knelt down with a thunderous sound, and remained quietly without speaking or moving.

The entire island fell into silence, everyone’s faces grave, because they sensed that the island beneath their feet was trembling slightly.

Anthony’s burning gaze fixed tightly on Chloe and the temple, filled with greed. He grinned, and the palm-sized ruby on his chest flashed with bloody light. “This really is quite a bargain for us…”

Anthony slowly turned his head, looking at Bard. “Sorry, teacher, I originally wanted to spare your life, but this thing is too incredible. I’m really afraid something might go wrong with you again.”

“So,” Anthony’s eyes turned cold, like a venomous snake that had been lurking for years, “thank you. I’ll let you die without pain.”

Bard listened to his words calmly, then slowly began to smile. He asked Tang to remove all his disguises, and a somewhat aged but still vigorous old dwarf appeared before Anthony.

He walked up to Anthony, the master and disciple facing each other across long years.

Bard looked at the familiar face from his memories and sighed. “I know you’ve always felt that I didn’t want to teach you because you were a slave’s son. Actually, that wasn’t it. Your character was too poor; you couldn’t immediately learn such profound knowledge, as that would have harmed you…”

Bard said lightly, “This was my mistake. I should have stuck to my original decision. That way your life would have been longer.”

Anthony narrowed his eyes and sneered. “I thought you were begging for mercy using past events. From your tone, this sounds like a threat?”

He couldn’t help but laugh heartily. “Where exactly do you get your confidence? From this man beside you who doesn’t even dare show his face? Or from that weak mage over there who can’t even catch his breath?”

Anthony raised his hand, the golden gems embedded on his body dazzling, and said contemptuously, “You’re absolutely right! Now is definitely not like before. Today, I have the most elite troops, the most enormous wealth. What exactly do you have to compare with me?”

Bard thought quietly for a moment, then said seriously, “Then… the most powerful mascot?”

Anthony’s smile froze. “Huh?”

Ji Chi clapped his hands and walked over from the stone platform’s direction. The mage who had controlled him earlier was already collapsed unconscious beneath the illuminated platform.

“Six minutes left. Are you doing this, or am I?” Ji Chi asked casually, turning his face toward Tang.

Tang smiled helplessly. “There are over twenty of them. You’re really overestimating me.”

Ji Chi nodded indifferently. “Alright, then I’ll do it.”

A blood-red summoning circle lit up beside him. After the light flashed, a chubby, basketball-sized black dragon emerged, still wearing a piece of white eggshell on its head.

Ji Chi looked at it with some surprise. “It’s you this time.”

The little fat dragon flapped its wings vigorously, let out an “aowu” sound, and affectionately nuzzled against him.

Anthony coldly watched their relaxed manner as if no one else was around. His heart felt heavy for some unknown reason, but he still couldn’t help snorting coldly. “What is this stupid thing? A mascot?”

Ji Chi stroked the little black dragon’s smooth, cool body and looked up with a smile. “No, I’m the mascot. As for it…”

As Ji Chi spoke, he raised his hand to lift the half eggshell from the little black dragon’s head——

“Its name is Nidhogg.”

The little black dragon, with its eggshell removed, suddenly froze. Its golden pupils contracted, revealing white, gleaming fangs. Its small body began expanding and growing larger. Menacing bone spikes on its back almost pointed straight to the sky. Black dragon wings spread with a whoosh, covering the sky and blocking out the sun.

The Dragon of Despair, several times larger than the island, lowered its long neck, its golden eyes gazing at the dwarves who were smaller than half of one of its fangs.

At this moment, the most shocked was not the dwarves who felt like they were in a dream, but Tang, who had been protecting Bard all along.

He slowly removed all his disguises, his black hair and black eyes trembling slightly. “That is… Nidhogg?”