"Wait!" the masked man called out to Helag.
He hesitated, though his expression was hidden, his reluctance was palpable.
"Do you have anything else?" Helag asked impatiently.
The masked man produced an ice block containing a large, beating heart.
"The heart of a Stone Giant!"
"Why is it frozen?"
"This is the heart of a Stone Giant. Normally, even with this and the Moonstone Grass, it wouldn't be enough to trade for the Voodoo Doll. But this heart is preserved with Cold Worm Grass, maintaining its vitality for two years!"
"With this and the Moonstone Grass, it should be enough to trade for your Voodoo Doll," the masked man said, holding the ice block.
Helag was genuinely tempted. This item was highly valuable for a second-level wizard apprentice.
The heart of a Stone Giant was a crucial ingredient for the Dawn Dusk Potion, necessary for advancing to a third-level wizard apprentice.
The main issue with this material was its short shelf life, requiring second-level apprentices to hunt Stone Giants when ready to advance.
For wizard apprentices in organizations, this wasn't a big problem due to access to hunting channels.
But for rogue apprentices, finding Stone Giants was difficult and dangerous, as they were usually near wizard organizations.
Cold Worm Grass was also a rare potion ingredient, more valuable than the Stone Giant's heart.
Using it to preserve the heart was extravagant but necessary for these apprentices.
The masked man, a second-level wizard apprentice, had likely prepared this for himself.
Offering it now showed his desperation for the Voodoo Doll.
Helag, needing a Stone Giant's heart for his advancement, found this offer appealing.
He said, "This is good. Add the Ice Spike spell model, and we have a deal."
The masked man hesitated before handing over the Ice Spike spell model. "Deal."
His voice was cold, filled with underlying hostility.
Helag wasn't worried about offending him, expecting future trouble anyway.
The trade proceeded under the supervision of Crowfall Town's officials, with both parties exchanging items.
"Deep Blue, check these items for tracking spells."
Helag immediately scanned the items, suspecting the masked man might have tampered with them.
[Scanning…]
[No traces detected.]
Deep Blue's results surprised Helag, finding no residual magic on the items.
Helag stored the items in his spatial ring, a separate space preventing tracking.
He headed to the large stone at Crowfall Town's center, placed his hand on it, and channeled magic.
The world spun, and he vanished.
After Helag left, the masked man appeared by the stone.
According to Crowfall Town's rules, there was a ten-minute interval between departures.
The masked man waited the required time before using the stone to teleport.
***
Helag landed and surveyed his surroundings, using the stars to orient himself towards Ryan City.
He had no time to retrieve his horse and needed to move quickly.
His location was off-course, further from Ryan City.
After an hour of fast travel, he sensed someone pursuing him.
Turning, he saw the masked man on horseback.
Helag fired two Corrosive Arrows, one at the horse and one at the man.
The masked man dodged, rolling on the ground before rising.
"Shadow Swarm," the masked man chanted, summoning a swarm of mosquito-like black creatures.
The swarm attacked Helag.
"Dark Energy Shield!"
"Ice Shield!"
"Mana Shield!"
Helag cast three shields, the swarm depleting them.
"He knows so many shield spells!" the masked man exclaimed.
Rogue apprentices usually knew few spells, often lacking even one shield spell. Helag had cast three.
"Plus the Corrosive Arrows earlier, that's four spells," the masked man thought, realizing Helag was formidable.
But retreating wasn't an option; the Stone Giant's heart was too valuable.
Helag drew his sword, advancing while his shields held.
The swarm obscured his view, but Helag moved steadily forward.
The masked man redirected some of the swarm for defense, forming a bone spike in his hand.
Helag continued his advance, harassing the masked man with Corrosive Arrows.
The masked man's Mana Shield soon crumbled under the assault.
As Helag closed in, the masked man's bone spike was nearly ready.
Suddenly, Helag vanished.
The masked man, startled, realized too late.
A sword pierced his chest.
"Blink…" the masked man muttered, collapsing as the swarm dissipated.
He hadn't expected Helag to know Blink, a difficult zero-level spell.
The spell model was rare, usually accessible only to wizard organization members.
Learning it was also challenging, requiring significant time and effort.
As he fell, the masked man realized Helag must belong to a wizard organization, given his mastery of multiple zero-level spells.
He had underestimated Helag, treating him as a rogue apprentice, and his greed for the Voodoo Doll and Stone Giant's heart led to his downfall.
TL/n -
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Wizard + System (up to Chapter 157+)
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