Not only Bazel, but everyone around him was also stunned.
Especially the young wizard Fire Condor, who had previously mocked Ronan. He now looked like a duck caught by the neck, his mouth agape, unable to utter a word.
No one knew better than him the difficulty of this test.
The Terra Beast, with traces of ancient rock giant bloodline, amplified by a berserk potion, was beyond terrifying.
Yet it was defeated in under two minutes?!
By a mere early first-level wizard?!
What kind of domain power was this?
What kind of extraordinary domain power allowed an early first-level wizard to leap two minor realms and so effortlessly dispatch a beast nearly at the second level?!
Fire Condor's mind was a whirlwind. He was already contemplating how to apologize for his previous ignorant and foolish provocation.
Having vented his anger on Bazel, Tulpa turned to leave.
His gaze involuntarily fell on the handsome youth by the test door, his bald head's veins pulsing with a mix of shock and pain.
But his expression softened.
His anger was directed solely at Bazel; he would try to befriend the "genius" who had cost him dearly.
"Uh..."
Tulpa was about to approach the youth but saw him walking toward someone else.
When Tulpa's gaze landed on that person, his powerful mental energy flared up again like a volcanic eruption.
"Benigo."
Tulpa's cold voice echoed in the room.
"You still dare to show up?"
"That's not your concern."
Benigo tapped his pipe, smiling and shaking his head, "You're still the same, Tulpa. As foolish as ever."
"You!"
Tulpa's face contorted slightly, quickly turning cold.
His eyes flicked between Ronan and Benigo, as if suddenly understanding something.
"No wonder... very well."
Tulpa sneered, "Benigo, I hope you maintain that confident and fearless look inside."
With that, Tulpa turned and left.
Benigo's smile faded, his voice calm, "Aren't you forgetting something?"
Tulpa paused briefly, then tossed a gleaming object without looking back.
Benigo caught it casually, tossing it to Ronan without a glance.
Ronan caught it, looking down to see a beautiful silver badge, embossed with the Ring's emblem and a small silver ring beneath.
"A core credential. With this, you can freely enter and leave the Ring."
Benigo took a drag from his pipe, saying casually, "Let's go, I'll show you around."
"Okay."
Ronan followed quickly as they left the room, leaving Bazel and his group, who had been used as a scapegoat and embarrassed.
Bazel watched Ronan and Benigo leave, his chest heaving with emotion.
He didn't particularly regret anything, but felt a peculiar sense of humiliation, his left cheek's metal scar burning slightly.
But...
None of that mattered now.
Bazel took a deep breath, his eyes flickering rapidly.
"Benigo! So that was Benigo!
"No wonder he wore 'three rings' but had only late first-level strength—I almost forgot such a person existed in the Seventh Ring."
Bazel slowly took a communication stone from his storage pouch, speaking softly into it, "Remember Benigo? The genius expelled from the Ring?
"He's back, breaking his agreement with those people.
"Travis has been seeking Demon Tungsten, hasn't he?
"Tell him, Benigo has what he wants.
"And now is the perfect time."
Benigo had said he'd show Ronan the real Seventh Ring.
But once they entered the area exclusive to official Ring members, Benigo told Ronan to explore on his own, leaving him to handle personal matters.
Ronan was speechless at Benigo's "irresponsibility," but he had no obligation to guide him.
Their deal was complete once Ronan received the Ring membership credential; all that remained was Ronan's part of the bargain.
Ronan stood in an expansive plaza, surrounded by the glow of a massive rune array, with the Seventh Ring's silver-white tower seemingly within reach.
Beneath the tower, various structures bustled with official Ring wizards coming and going.
Fortunately, Ronan's robe was also silver-gray, making him blend in among the silver-clad wizards.
Looking around, Ronan felt a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, similar to when he first entered Hoddam Academy, but much more intense.
Every step Ronan had taken was hard-won, as if luck often overlooked him, but he eventually achieved his goals.
He opened his character panel, noting a line of text in the skill section.
—[Ice Ball - Desperate Freeze (Master 3/1600)]
In the three days following his agreement with Benigo, he had just managed to advance this zero-level spell to master-level.
[Ice Ball] had evolved into "Desperate Freeze Ball," a transcendent domain!
Though the low proficiency meant the spell's effect wasn't exceptional, when used as an anchor in the [Permafrost] "Cold Domain," its power exceeded Ronan's expectations.
The "Cold Domain," influenced by the domain power of [Desperate Freeze], transformed into a "Domain of Despair" with a potent aura of despair!
Three first-level ice spells, one master-level zero-level spell with transcendent domain power, four spell anchors, plus the "Arliss Ice Ring Necklace" doubling ice spell power, resulted in the devastating effect...
Seen when Ronan instantly killed the stone-armored beast in the test.
It surpassed all his other spells, becoming his second ace, only behind [Immaculate Body]!
Given its terrifying growth potential, it might one day surpass [Immaculate Body], becoming Ronan's primary trump card.
"It can even be used with [Immaculate Body]. Within the first level, there's likely no stronger control spell than the 'Domain of Despair.'"
Ronan's eyes shone as he quickly planned his strategy.
Benigo hovered at the edge of a silver-white metal floating island.
He put away his pipe, taking out a small communication stone, speaking softly into it.
Soon, the rune array surrounding the floating island flickered, opening a gap.
Benigo was about to enter when someone emerged to greet him.
"Brother Ben!"
The newcomer was a golden-haired, golden-eyed young man, exuding the powerful mental energy of a second-level wizard, as handsome as a sun god.
His eyes shone with excitement, arms outstretched toward Benigo, speaking incoherently.
"I can hardly believe it, it's really you!
"You've really come back, Brother Ben."
"Nono. Long time no see."
Benigo smiled as the young man appeared, and they embraced lightly in midair outside the floating island.
"Brother Ben, you..."
After releasing Benigo, the young man, called Nono, sensed the aura emanating from him, frowning, "Have you really lost so much strength?
"You can't even maintain second-level power."
"Soul ailment is like that; without a solution, it just keeps declining."
Benigo said calmly, "But I've found..."
"It's great you're back now!"
Nono interrupted excitedly.
"Brother Ben, you may not know.
"Recently, two Nepha's Keys have surfaced, and the ancient wizard faction's Mirror Court relic space can finally be fully opened.
"I have confirmed news that the ring leaders will awaken for this.
"It's your best chance to rise again. If you find a potion to heal your soul in the Court, you could not only return to your peak but perhaps surpass it."
Benigo's eyes flickered at Nono's words but quickly steadied.
He shook his head, saying, "Nono, actually, I'm here to ask you a favor."
"What is it? Tell me, Brother Ben."
Nono replied seriously, "There's no need for formality between us; if it's within my power."
"It's nothing much."
Benigo handed Nono a communication stone.
"I'm planning to leave the Ring soon, but there's someone I hope you can look after if possible.
"You know about Lanny and those people... I don't want him targeted because of me."
Benigo spoke coldly, and Nono nodded solemnly, though soon his face showed deep regret and disappointment.
"Brother Ben, are you... really leaving?"
"Yes, Nono."
Benigo's voice was gentle as he embraced Nono again, lightly patting his back, "Until we meet again.
"Take care."
Nono reluctantly watched Benigo leave until he vanished from sight.
Then Nono's expression slowly turned calm, even indifferent.
"The genius who broke the record for fastest three-ring ascent, once hailed to reach the pinnacle, crowned by the Seven Rings."
Nono looked at the communication stone, murmuring, "Once so brilliant, unstoppable...
"Now, a pitiful stray dog."
He shook his head, crumbling the stone into powder, scattering it to the wind.
"Hall of Inheritance."
Ronan stood before a beautiful stone palace, hesitating briefly before entering.
Just then, a voice spoke nearby.
"You didn't join the Ring to switch to earth spells, did you?"
"What do you mean?"
Ronan turned to see Benigo with his pipe.
"This is the inheritance site for the [Elemental Ring].
"The Seventh Ring's [Elemental Ring] inheritance amplifies earth spells... You didn't join the Seventh Ring without knowing this, did you?"
Benigo looked at Ronan with a slightly amused expression.
Ronan paused, replying, "I hadn't even heard of the Silver Ring having another inheritance besides the core [Silverization] sigil and metal spells."
"You think the 'Silver' in Silver Ring was added just for flair?"
Benigo looked exasperated, taking a drag and explaining, "Originally, it was just the Magic Ring; 'Silver' was added later."
Ronan was taken aback.
"The Magic Ring's most powerful inheritance is the [Elemental Ring] sigils, corresponding to seven elements, held by the seven ring leaders.
"The split [Elemental Ring] isn't as potent as the later metal [Silverization] sigil, so metal wizards became mainstream, and 'Silver' became the new flagship."
"Your talent in ice spells is impressive, even reaching domain insight early. If you don't plan to switch, the Fourth Ring would suit you best."
Benigo explained.
Ronan was hearing this for the first time, perhaps not a secret, but just due to his lack of information.
"What does a single-element [Elemental Ring] sigil do?"
Ronan asked.
"Doubles the effect of single-element spells."
Benigo said calmly, "Combine all seven, forming the complete [Omni Magic Ring] sigil, and the effect amplifies all spells sevenfold!"
[Omni Magic Ring]... Sevenfold spell amplification?!
Ronan's mind reeled, blurting out, "Then why split the sigils? A stronger inheritance was possible!"
"Because..."
Benigo looked into his eyes, exhaling a smoke ring, "No one can withstand the sevenfold omni amplification.
"Energy flow seven times the norm—no wizard's body can handle such an impact.
"Even the ring leaders, half out of the mist, reaching for dawn, can't.
"The spell wouldn't even form; they'd die first."
"Uh..."
Ronan was stunned, not expecting this reason.
Whoever said wizards only needed an immortal soul?
A frail body, unable to harness powerful inheritances even when presented.
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