Chương 93: The Future

"I really would lose myself trying to choose..." Just listening to Marven describe it was enough to make Zeliel's imagination run wild. He could almost picture himself pushing open the doors of the Vault and selecting a priceless treasure. So many treasures...

"These are only a small part of what's inside." Marven smiled.

"Only when the day comes that you truly become an Intermediate Mage and enter the Vault will you understand what the foundation of the Mage Guild truly means."

"I'll definitely work hard to improve myself!" Zeliel's voice was filled with determination.

"I believe in you." Marven placed a hand on Zeliel's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze of encouragement.

"Keep working hard. If you ever encounter any problems with magic, you can come find me anytime."

"Yes. Thank you, Mentor Marven." Before he realized it, night had already fallen. The bright full moon slowly climbed above the eastern horizon. The noise and excitement of the day had long since faded away, leaving the entire Mage Guild wrapped in a peaceful silence. Zeliel walked alone beside the artificial lake at the center of the Guild. The evening breeze brushed gently against him, carrying a faint chill of autumn.

Along the roadside, enchanted luminescent stones emitted a soft glow, illuminating the path beneath them like a scene from a dream. The excitement and exhilaration from earlier gradually disappeared. Leaning against the stone railing beside the lake, Zeliel gazed into the distance and began thinking about his future path. The cultivation route Marven had described this time was completely different from when he advanced from a magic apprentice to a Junior Mage.

Back then, he only needed to focus heavily on Intelligence. But now... Whether it was reaching the required mana strength shown by the crystal pillar, or mastering a Tier 4 Multi-layer Spell Matrix spell, both Spirit and Intelligence had to advance together. Neither side could be lacking...

"I wonder what attribute threshold is required to become an Intermediate Mage..." Zeliel let out a quiet sigh. His gaze drifted upward. From the shadowy peaks of ancient towers in the distance, to the reflection of stars and moonlight shimmering across the lake. His mind gradually became clearer and calmer. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. The road ahead was already visible. But the journey would be long and difficult.

He stopped thinking about things that were still far beyond his reach. His gaze became focused once more.

"Just keep moving at my own pace. One step at a time." Graywood Forest. In a ruined clearing deep within the woods, a bloody scene was unfolding. A deer that had stepped into a trap lay collapsed in a pool of blood. It had not completely died yet. Its body trembled violently from pain and fear, while faint, weak cries escaped its throat. The green-skinned abominations surrounding it found the sound annoying. One goblin casually raised a wooden club. Then— Crack. The club smashed down onto the young deer's skull.

Red and white fragments scattered across the ground. The weak cries instantly stopped. The goblins erupted into excited, greedy cackles, jumping and waving their crude weapons around. They were just about to swarm forward and feast on their hard-earned prey when a massive Hobgoblin swaggered over from the side. The smaller goblins immediately fell silent. Like flies being driven away, they hurriedly moved aside. Fear filled their expressions. The Hobgoblin reached the deer's corpse.

Ignoring the drooling gazes of its own kind, it tore off the fattest hind leg with one hand and shoved it directly into its mouth. Blood dripped from the corners of its mouth. It chewed greedily, stuffing fresh deer meat and warm organs into its jaws, completely indulging itself. The ordinary goblins could only stare. Their throats moved as they swallowed, making quiet gulping sounds. Finally, after eating its fill, the Hobgoblin tossed aside the cleanly gnawed bone. It let out a satisfied burp. Then it left.

Only after the Hobgoblin was gone did the smaller goblins finally move. After holding themselves back for so long, they rushed toward the ruined corpse and began fighting over the remaining food. But they failed to notice... A deadly killing intent had already locked onto them. The Hobgoblin lazily lay on the ground nearby, basking in the sunlight while digesting its meal. Its eyelids grew heavier. It was almost asleep.

At that moment— A brilliant blue light erupted without warning from a bush more than ten meters away! Arcane Missile! The spell crossed the distance in an instant. Before the Hobgoblin could react, the projectile struck directly into its chest.

"BOOM!!!" A violent explosion shook the forest. The Hobgoblin didn't even have time to scream. Its chest was torn apart by the raging arcane energy. Chunks of flesh, shattered organs, and charred bone fragments scattered through the air like fireworks.

"Perfect!" Hidden in the grass, Zeliel clenched his fist in celebration. The ambush had succeeded. The goblins that were still fighting over their meal froze completely. Their crude minds struggled to comprehend what had just happened. The strongest creature in their entire group... The mighty Hobgoblin... Had been instantly killed by a single spell?! Are humans coming to wipe us out?! Fear was their first instinct. The goblins immediately wanted to turn and flee.

However, when they saw the attacker clearly, their movements stopped. Only one human emerged from the bushes. There were no other enemies. A mage... A lone mage! The goblins' savage instincts immediately took over.

"Grah! Wala wala!" (Only one human!)"Gik-gak! Hurr!" (Kill him! Eat his flesh!) The nine goblins reached a decision instantly. They roared and shrieked as they charged toward Zeliel, crude weapons raised high.

"Ha..." Zeliel revealed a cold smile.

"You're not running away."

"Instead, you're coming closer to me?" He raised the ashwood wand in his hand. Wind Blade! Invisible blades flashed through the air. Zeliel's casting speed was astonishing. The distance of only ten meters was no different from a death line for the charging goblins. As they sprinted forward, the five goblins at the front were cut down one after another. Their bodies were sliced apart by the invisible blades. They collapsed into the dirt, screaming. Not a single one managed to touch even the edge of Zeliel's clothes.

The remaining four goblins finally reached him. They were now within striking distance. The cruelty in their eyes intensified. Four against one. And the opponent was a mage. A mage who would be helpless once enemies reached close range... They could win! The most cunning goblin quietly circled behind Zeliel. Then it suddenly leapt into the air. Its spiked club was raised high. With all its strength, it smashed toward Zeliel's head. But at that very moment— A layer of flowing mist suddenly appeared around Zeliel.

"Bang!" The club struck. But it felt as though it had smashed into a cloud of cotton. The tremendous force behind the attack was effortlessly redirected by a strange, gentle force. Mist Veil!

"Not bad..." Zeliel smiled softly. He slid the ashwood wand back into his belt. Then he drew the slender sword hanging at his left waist. Turning around— He unleashed a sweeping slash.