Dragon Tribulation of All Realms

Chapter 45: Seeing Through Insight as Powerful as a Monster
a woman.

A woman wearing a silk robe as smooth as flowing water, with the cuffs and hems embellished with gems and pearls, her long light crimson hair falling to her ankles but not touching the ground, and her thin silk gloves unable to conceal her slender fingers.

A woman whose face cannot be seen clearly and whose facial features cannot be identified, but the only feeling is that she is incredibly beautiful.

She appeared here.

She sat opposite Wu Chen.

She should have been like a boulder dropped into a pool, creating a raging wave. However, despite her presence, no one besides Wu Chen noticed her. Even when Wu Chen jerked himself to his feet, half unconsciously and half automatically, no one paid him the slightest attention.

It wasn't a dream. Wu Chen was very familiar with what a dream was.

Then, this must be the effect of illusion.

"…Hera Molly?"

"You can indeed call me that." The woman under the witch's pointed hat raised her head slightly, and as if she had received some permission, her delicate and beautiful face was also revealed to Wu Chen. "What's your name?"

"Daxter."

"Interesting! It's your name, but it's not entirely your real name. Remember, even if you use this name, the contract you signed will still be valid. You'd better learn to protect yourself in a more appropriate way."

Wu Chen opened his mouth.

He had something to say, but he didn't dare say it now. He felt that his whole body might be tense, but he just couldn't muster up the slightest bit of hostility.

Is it... an illusion?
"It's not an illusion. It's your own body instinctively avoiding danger. Hmm...it really is your own body. I thought you were some unrecorded dragon priest who sealed away his power and memories and reincarnated in a new body."

His scalp tingled slightly. Wu Chen was certain that his dragon sacrifice mask was perfectly placed in his dream. That was a mysterious place that could transcend the universe and should never be discovered by anyone.

If he was discovered, it would mean that there was a residual aura on him. Or maybe it was when he activated the elemental standing stone...

"You have the self-control to remove the mask. You are indeed a person with potential. You were able to read my notes in such a short time. You do have a talent for studying the arcane."

"...What is your purpose?" Wu Chen gritted his teeth.

"You should be able to guess."

His eyelids drooped slightly. He couldn't believe that the witch in front of him would wait for him in the tavern of this small village in advance. In other words, he must have done something to attract her attention.

—Because I finished reading her notes.

"Are you...here to accept a disciple?"

"That's wrong. I have no plans to recruit apprentices. But you can indeed become an apprentice at the academy. I've had someone write it into your file. And this is your identity badge."

A badge leaped from her sleeve and landed lightly in front of Wu Chen. It looked like a pentagram bound by complex runes, supported by a small disc of unknown material.

She knew that Wu Chen would definitely agree, and there was no room for probing or bargaining here.

"Grab it and imbue it with your magic. The academy's barrier will be able to identify you and allow you to approach. If something happens to you and you die or become trapped, the academy will send someone to track down the mark and rescue you or collect your body."

"If the mark is lost..."

"It won't be lost." The witch's voice was flat, as if she was stating a simple and straightforward truth. "It's a magic spell. Once activated, it becomes a part of your soul. You can use it to store a spell below a high level and cast it at any time with a thought. It also restores your magic power."

A student ID card, the kind that automatically pays.

"...like a brand?"

"If you feel it interferes with your privacy, then find a way to break it yourself. I believe you should have the confidence to become a high-level wizard. Once that happens, you can forge and improve your own sigils." Her words made perfect sense; the problem could indeed be handled this way. Wu Chen nodded and took the badge. Before infusing it with magic, he closed his eyes briefly.

In a moment, in a dream.

A friend appears beside you silently, and everything around you freezes in an instant.

"How do I buy this?" Wu Chen glanced at his friends. This was undoubtedly the most superior and authoritative appraiser.

[Magic Academy Emblem—Use this to grant a magic marker, a prerequisite for admission to Winterhold's Academy of Magic and a one-time location marker. The wearer can set the conditions or default to automatically activate upon vital signs reaching zero. This marker also slightly increases mana regeneration and can store a low- to mid-level spell, which can be released at the user's discretion after charging.]

——[To purchase this emblem, you need to pay 1000 resource points and 1 level 1 purchase voucher.]

It’s actually the real thing.

There really is no pit here!

Wu Chen nodded to his friend, opened his eyes, and returned to reality. A moment passed, and the magic power in his body silently seeped into the emblem in his hand.

Blue light flashes.

The insignia of unknown material melted, and an etched pentagram appeared on the back of Wu Chen's right hand before slowly fading. The little mana he had consumed was quickly restored. Compared to his usual level without any bonus, the increase was around 30%.

This kind of thing that doesn't take up any equipment slot should only appear in supermodel mods. But now it's in my hands, so there are no balance issues at all.

"Very good, you are now a member of the academy. As for your name, you can register with Mirabelle yourself when you arrive at the academy." The witch's gaze swept over Wu Chen, her slender eyebrows raised slightly. "Then, as your senior, I now have a commission for you."

She didn't wait for Wu Chen to express his opinion and directly stated the specific content.

"There's a wild wizard who killed a graduate of the academy and stole his research. This wild wizard is currently hiding near this village. He possesses the experience and combat prowess of a standard mid-level wizard. He also possesses a high-level spell whose effects are unknown, but which should be classified as a transmutation spell."

"His name is Gerd, an elderly Nord man. Although he possesses advanced spells of Transmutation, his primary focus is likely destruction and illusion, and he prefers to operate at night. In other words, he's most likely a vampire. He's already aware of the danger. But don't worry, at most he'll become desperate and sacrifice this entire village before fighting his way out. He knows that if he leaves this village, he'll be exposed to me."

Vampires in the Elder Scrolls possess certain unique traits. Besides their blood-drinking nature and fear of sunlight and fire, the most notable is their innate advantage in learning destruction, illusion, and the necromancy of the summoning school. Even the most inexperienced vampire can easily learn some low- and mid-level corresponding spells. This is precisely the vampire's superiority in the arcane realm.

"My commission for you is to find him and eliminate him before he takes action. Try to do it before he starts killing people. In other words, it's best to eliminate him tonight. In return, I will teach you some secret spells that only wizards in the academy can master. I will also give you a potion that will increase your magic power reserves to that of an intermediate wizard. Of course, if you can find the body or soul of the deceased graduate, I will have other rewards for you."

Her fingers traced, and the figure of an old wizard holding a staff appeared before Wu Chen. It was undoubtedly a sinister face covered in spells, with a hooked nose and wolf-like eyes—one would remember it with just one glance, but it was hard to tell if there were any traces of misleading illusions.

"Saving the town from a powerful and evil wizard?" Wu Chen's mouth twitched slightly. "For a beginner, isn't this a bit difficult..."

"If you lack confidence, I can also give you a simple commission like slaying ten ice wraiths in the wild and collecting twenty Nirnroot. Of course, the reward will be reduced accordingly. Also, I believe you must be carrying a mission. You won't give up this opportunity to gain power."

She does have a point.

Wu Chen really had no reason to give up.

But even so, at least we should advance...

"Well, I can give you an advance on your reward. You could definitely use it."

A ball of light silently appeared in Hera Mori's hand. It was undoubtedly a sealed technique.

"A technique for adjusting your mental state. At least next time, if you fall asleep in front of a serious wizard and wander into a special Oblivion plane, they won't easily discover you."

Wu Chen was horrified.

(End of this chapter)