Charlie was numbly following Nidham, wearing linen shorts.
His bare upper body was covered with dense, centipede-like gruesome wounds.
His limbs were covered with dark gray hair, even the originally blond hair had been replaced by the deep gray fur of a wild wolf.
Around his neck was a black leather collar, attached to a black iron chain.
The other end of the chain was held in Nidham's hand.
Colin was silent inside.
If it weren't for the resemblance to his former appearance, he would hardly believe this was Charlie.
He felt no sympathy for Charlie, yet he couldn't help but feel vicariously sad.
"...Good morning, Lord Nidham."
Nidham approached slowly, and he hurriedly greeted him respectfully.
"Good morning."
Nidham nodded in response, his handsome face displaying an impeccable smile.
It was just too pale, almost ghastly white, giving an uncomfortable feeling.
Nidham continued walking forward.
But the iron chain in his hand conveyed a sense of resistance.
At the other end of the chain, Charlie stood still, staring at Colin with extreme hatred!
Especially after seeing the Silver Badge on his chest, the hatred seemed to materialize, almost devouring him!
Before this, he had learned of Colin's advancement.
But he didn't believe it was such a coincidence!
Why advance on the very day he attacked?
He was filled with hatred!
Even the pain of Nidham stripping the skin from his limbs and implanting the skin of a wind wolf couldn't cover the intense hatred in his heart, gnawing like ants on bone!
The beast blood had clouded his brain, he couldn't understand the logic behind all this, couldn't understand why he ended up like this.
But on every sleepless night tormented by the wolf blood,
Colin's detestable face always surfaced in his mind!
...Now he only hoped one day to drink Colin's warm blood, to tear and chew every inch of his flesh, every bone!!
Nidham observed this scene with interest.
He stood relaxed, yet possessed a distinctive aura. It was as if a finely dressed noble was watching a favored drama in a theater.
"...It seems my little dog has some history with you," Nidham finally spoke slowly, his tone light.
"...He was an apprentice in the same year as me, Lord Nidham," Colin replied calmly.
"Oh... I see." Nidham walked over to Charlie, and with his gloved hand, caressed Charlie's now slightly wolfish cheek.
"Come on, little dog." He patted Charlie's cheek.
Then turned around, leading the leash and continued walking forward.
Roar!!
Dang!
The metal chain instantly stiffened, and the steel under the immense force seemed to emit a sharp, twisting sound.
Colin reflexively stepped back.
The expression on Charlie's face in front of him was fierce, angrily opening his mouth wide to roar at him!
Even the skin at the corners of his mouth had cracked, blood oozing from the tears, flowing down the skin, condensing into tiny beads of blood on his chin, dripping onto the cold, hard gray stone floor of the Black Castle.
But he was completely unaware, only staring intently at Colin with his muddy eyes as if stained with blood.
His eyes were full of violent hatred!
"What's wrong, Lord Nidham?"
Just then, Holt suddenly appeared.
"Holt Team..." Colin subconsciously turned to look at Holt.
Swoosh!!
But before he could completely turn his head, a gust of wind came from in front, and Charlie suddenly leaped at him!
Buzz—
Colin instinctively used his steel armor and pulled a dart from his waist to hold in his hand!
But the distance between him and Charlie was too close, and caught off guard, he was still viciously tackled by Charlie, pressed against the cold, hard brick floor of the Black Castle.
Seeing this, Holt hurriedly raised his hand, a green light flying towards Charlie.
But immediately afterwards, a white light shot out abruptly from the side.
Hiss.
The green and white lights collided and ultimately annihilated each other.
"Lord Nidham?!"
Holt was taken aback.
"Don't be nervous, Holt."
Nidham gracefully gathered the broken black iron chains,
"Let my little dog catch up with him."
"...Don't worry, there won't be any issues, your subordinate is a Great Knight…even if he is torn to pieces, as long as he is alive, I can ensure his safety," Nidham said in a gentle tone, his lips still wearing that impeccable smile.
He paused, then added,
"Besides, do you really think your subordinate can't even handle my little dog…perhaps, he doesn't need your help at all."
A rare hint of annoyance flashed across Holt's gentle face.
Although Nidham said this, it was clear that even he didn't believe Colin could withstand his little dog.
Holt had no hope for it either.
In terms of life transformation through witchcraft, Nidham was the foremost in the School, even the Wizard Lap admitted that in some areas, he couldn't match him.
How could Colin, who had just advanced to an Intermediate Wizard, cope with the transformed Charlie?
Especially at such close quarters…
Even Colin being a Great Knight wouldn't help…after all, the human body has its limits.
"Aren't you afraid Lord Red Flame will be angry?!"
Holt said sternly, "This lad knows Lord Red Flame, and it's because of him that Leiden and Jerome from the Guard Team were dismissed!"
"Aren't you worried that Lord Red Flame will come after you?"
Nidham's smile remained unchanged, but a flicker of coldness passed through his eyes.
Although he and Berkeley were both among the top three Peak Apprentices,
Berkeley was universally acknowledged as the strongest…
Just as Nidham and Holt reached a standoff,
Splat!!
"Ah—!"
A sudden scream erupted!
Holt's expression changed, and he quickly looked over.
Nidham's smile widened slightly, and he turned his head with composure.
But the next second, his smile suddenly froze, and his pupils contracted slightly!
Charlie was curled on the floor in agony, his abdomen bleeding profusely, slowly pooling into a puddle on the floor. Not far from him, a bloodstained arrow lay on the ground—clearly the culprit behind Charlie's injury.
Colin stood unscathed on the side.
In reality, Charlie had failed even once to breach the formidable defense provided by Colin's Limit-Breaking Steel Armor; he had been momentarily overwhelmed and knocked to the ground, but then he had seized the opportunity to retaliate with a Limit-Breaking Arrow Shooting Skill.
At this point, the rage in Charlie's eyes also dissipated mostly under the pain.
He tried to push himself up, slowly moving toward Nidham, his eyes downcast, with a hint of regret.
'I was too impulsive...damn the wolf's blood.'
His gaze grew slightly unfocused, but the hatred in his eyes churned.
'Survive, only by surviving is there hope!'
"...Colin!!"
He struggled toward Nidham, his eyes filled with hope.
But the next second,
His hopeful eyes suddenly dimmed, instantly losing their vitality.
Thump.
The werewolf's body lost its strength and crashed heavily onto the floor.
Nidham, expressionless, lowered his right hand and then replaced it with a smile.
"Useless dog...doesn't deserve to live."
Then, he looked up at the unscathed Colin and bowed apologetically.
"I apologize, my dog must have frightened you."
His handsome face wore a sincere expression and a clean smile; if not for the overly pale skin, anyone would praise him: a sunny smile.
Having said that, he elegantly turned and left, with Charlie's body floating behind him through casting.
Before leaving, he also cast a Cleaning Technique to clean the floor.
Colin, standing behind, finally began to catch his breath.
He turned his head to watch Nidham disappear around the corner in the distance and then slowly turned back.
In front, Holt was looking at him with a face full of surprise.
After a while,
He finally spoke slowly, "Let's go, I still have to acquaint you with your duties. We can talk as we walk."