Impressionistic Villain: Achieving Wizarding Supremacy Through Experimentation

The convoy slowly made its way to a clear stream.

The scenery here is indeed delightful: the river water is crystal clear, and the fish can be clearly seen swimming in it; the vegetation on the banks is lush and green, and small animals can be seen darting and playing among the plants.

"The view here is really nice, don't you think, Silian?" Leo asked, holding Silian's hand.

"Really? I think Andy is prettier." Sirian's tone was tinged with resentment.

"Sirius, I..." Leo was about to say something.

York keenly sensed that something was amiss and immediately turned to leave—he dared not disturb the two of them, lest he overhear something he shouldn't and offend them for no reason, which would be truly unjust.

"Heh, York is really 'filial,' isn't he? What's wrong? Aren't you going to serve him properly now?"

Nia's voice, filled with undisguised sarcasm and hostility, came from behind.

"Oh? Isn't this junior Nia?"

York turned around, his face showing no anger or displeasure, but rather a mocking smile. "You must have enjoyed the scenery along the way, haven't you?"

Just as tensions were rising between the two, and a conflict seemed imminent—

"ah----!"

A piercing scream suddenly shattered the tranquility of the riverbank!

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw an apprentice from the Tower of Eternity by the river, clutching his own throat with both hands!

The action itself was bizarre enough, but what was even more terrifying was that he was able to squeeze out an extremely painful howl from his choked throat!

"What's going on?!"

Leo rushed over upon hearing the commotion, and his face instantly darkened when he saw the apprentice's contorted appearance.

"N-I don't know!"

Several apprentices nearby, who were also catching fish, were terrified. "We just got here, and he suddenly started acting like this! He used witchcraft, but it didn't work at all!"

"Yes, without any warning!"

Leo was about to step forward to check on the situation and try to find a way to save them—

"Oh my god! River! River...!" Another terrified scream rang out!

Before the words were even finished, everyone who had come into contact with the river—regardless of the depth—just like the first person, suddenly grabbed their own necks with both hands!

"ah----!"

"Ugh—!"

Painful screams rose and fell! They clutched their throats, their bodies contorted and convulsing, yet they still managed to let out chilling and agonizing screams!

The once clear river water has now become murky and dark, gleaming with an ominous light.

"Enemy attack! It's 'Black Rat'!" Leo's face turned ashen as he shouted, "Everyone! On alert!!!"

The command was like a thunderclap, jolting the somewhat bewildered white wizard apprentices awake. They hurriedly formed a defensive formation, their faces filled with fear and unease.

The eerie postures and heart-wrenching screams of those who fell victim to the scam instilled fear in everyone's hearts like cold vines.

Just then, a melodious and obscure female incantation slowly rose and fell, carrying a strange rhythm:

「*~>~~*-*「>、：：**、.、」

A faint golden aura emanated from Silian's body, and pure magic flowed slowly around her as if it were a tangible substance.

As she chanted, a miracle occurred:

The apprentices, who had been struggling in agony, slowly loosened their grip on their throats, and their agonizing screams gradually faded, eventually leaving only heavy breathing.

This scene greatly calmed everyone's tense nerves, instantly dispelling the atmosphere of panic; some even began to mock with contempt.

"That scared me to death! I thought they were something special, but these 'black rats' are nothing special at all!"

"Exactly! Senior Sister Sirian solved it with just one spell!"

"Don't be afraid, everyone! When you see those cowardly bastards, beat them to a pulp! Let them see how powerful we are!"

"Yes! Catch them and give them a good humiliation!"

The apprentices lowered their guard, their morale soaring, and they clamored to find the dark wizard apprentices and take revenge.

however--

Just as this relaxation and clamor reached their peak—

The apprentices, who had calmed down and were standing with their hands hanging down, suddenly froze!

Immediately afterwards, their loosened hands, as if controlled by invisible iron clamps, swiftly and unexpectedly gripped their own necks again!

This time, the action was faster and more ruthless!

then……

"Click—!"

A series of teeth-grinding sounds of bones cracking suddenly rang out!

Those apprentices actually broke their own necks with their bare hands! An incredulous shock and a deep-seated despair were frozen on everyone's faces!

A deathly silence instantly enveloped the riverbank.

The apprentices, who were just moments before shouting that they would teach the "black rats" a lesson and were ready to humiliate them, now looked as if they had been choked, their faces pale and silent. The only sounds in the air were the gurgling of the river and... the dull thuds of a dozen corpses falling to the ground.

"Cough...cough cough...cough cough cough!"

A sudden, uncontrollable fit of violent coughing broke the silence.

"Sirius! How are you?!"

Leo quickly steadied the swaying girl beside him. Sirian's face was ashen, and a trickle of blood oozed from her lips, clearly a result of the magic backlash.

"No...it's nothing..."

Sirian shook her head with difficulty, her gaze fixed on the dozen or so twisted corpses on the ground, her eyes filled with painful self-reproach.

She was so close... If she had just a few more seconds, she could have...

"Don't panic, everyone!"

Nia's voice suddenly rose, carrying a penetrating power that was meant to be calm, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

He knew that morale was on the verge of collapse and he had to salvage it immediately!

"The fact that these black rats resorted to such underhanded sneak attacks just shows that they are few in number and weak! They dare not engage in direct combat! As long as we hold our ground and show our true abilities, they can't do anything to us!"

"Nia is right!"

Leo suppressed his shock and anger, immediately stepped forward, and his voice regained the composure befitting a disciple of the Tower Master of the Eternal Tower.

"They're nothing but a bunch of rats hiding in the gutter, trying to trip us up! Now, everyone, gather around me immediately! Form a tight defensive formation! Let them have nowhere to attack! As long as we don't panic, they won't have a chance!"

His sharp gaze swept across the entire room as he issued the command:

"Everyone with detection and tracking capabilities, act immediately! At all costs, drag those damned 'black rats' out of their rat holes! Find them, and we've won!"

These words acted like a shot of adrenaline, instantly injecting energy into the panicked crowd.

The apprentices seemed to have found their leader, and they flocked to Leo's side like a tide, sticking close together.

The apprentices with detection abilities were ignited with fighting spirit, their eyes flashing with hatred as they unleashed their most treasured secret techniques—mental scanning, magical energy tracking, elemental perception…

Various investigative methods flashed and shone, determined to find the attackers hiding in the shadows and grind them to dust!

"Oh, oh, oh, you all look so cute right now, little 'lambs'!"