Chapter 61: The Deranged Rocky and the Hidden Threat

After surviving several attempts on his life, Saul had already figured out how Sid operated.

He even suspected that the incident in Kaz’s lab had something to do with Sid.

If he hadn’t been teleported back to his dorm by Big Pink, he might have run straight into Sid arriving to clean up the scene.

“He sent Jenna here, probably intending for her to die in front of me. That way, he could pave the way for Rocky—or someone else after him—giving them a clear and justifiable motive to come after me.”

“He probably already knows I’ve learned a zero-tier spell. To make sure nothing goes wrong this time, he’ll have to come and confirm things himself.”

Saul looked up at Kongsha, keeping his tone as calm as possible. “I can already cast spells now. I’m getting stronger. If he doesn’t make a move soon, he’ll never get another chance.”

Kongsha’s mind churned slightly. Several eyes flickered in and out of visibility around her.

“But all of this hinges on one thing—Jenna really was sent by Sid.”

“I’m about fifty percent sure,” Saul said. “But I think that’s enough. Even if I’m wrong, it’ll only cost you a few afternoons—five days from now is our first apprentice test. He’ll have to act before that.”

After the test, Saul would be recognized as a standout among the new apprentices, already having mastered multiple spells. That would make Sid’s move even riskier.

“A few afternoons? You think I’ve got that kind of free time?” Kongsha snorted.

Saul showed an awkward expression. “Sorry, senior. I’ll try to think of another way…”

“The afternoon after tomorrow, then.”

Saul blinked in surprise. Why was she so sure?

“You’ve let Sid know that I’m your backer, haven’t you? The afternoon after tomorrow… that’s when I’ll be taking my test.”

Saul immediately frowned. “You’re saying… Sid will pick a time when you’re not around?”

“Of course. He’s been planning this for a long time. He’ll choose the best possible moment.”

Saul’s frown deepened. He gritted his teeth. “Can you ask your mentor to postpone your test?”

“No way!”

“But—”

“Moving it up, on the other hand, is perfectly fine.”

Kongsha smiled. She seemed to enjoy seeing Saul flustered.

“You don’t need that second potion I offered anymore anyway, right? So taking my test a bit early isn’t a big deal.”

Her eyes flickered in and out of sight, sometimes staring at Saul’s face, sometimes at his left hand.

“…Lucky you. Very lucky.”

Saul let out a long breath, his shoulders relaxing.

He lowered his head and wiped away nonexistent sweat from his brow.

—

Two days later. East Tower, second floor, Morgue No. 3.

Saul wasn’t running any experiments. He was sitting on the lab table, absentmindedly flipping through Speculation on Soul Vessels, a book he had just received.

It had been handed to him personally by Big Pink, who told him to study it thoroughly.

But staring at the silk pages, Saul’s legs were jittery and his brain couldn’t even process the words.

He’d often turn the page only to realize he hadn’t understood a thing from the last one, and would have to flip back again.

Knock knock knock!

It’s time!

Saul perked up immediately.

He hadn’t attended class these past two days. He kept his schedule erratic so people’s eyes would naturally fall on the morgue.

The waiting had been nerve-wracking but now that it was finally beginning, Saul found himself suddenly calm.

His legs stopped shaking. His mind cleared.

He stashed the book away and got up to open the door.

Standing outside was a haggard Rocky.

He clearly hadn’t washed or slept for days. Dark circles under his eyes, bloodshot and wild.

“What are you doing here?” Saul’s tone was laced with annoyance and surprise.

But his left hand was already raised to his chest.

“You killed Jenna, didn’t you?” Rocky stared at Saul, eyes full of fury.

“No.” Saul’s expression darkened. “Who’s been feeding you that nonsense? You know it’s forbidden to kill fellow apprentices, right?”

Rocky’s eyes reddened further. “Then why did I see her red dress here? What did you do to her?”

Saul froze. He remembered Jenna had worn a bright red dress that day.

But that dress had gone into the big chest with Jenna.

What had Rocky seen?

Saul forced himself to look annoyed. “I told you, I didn’t kill Jenna. And there’s no dress here. Someone’s clearly messing with you.”

But Rocky wasn’t listening. He mumbled to himself, “It was you, it had to be you… Jenna’s been blaming me these days… for not finding her sooner…”

Jenna? Blaming him?

Was Rocky possessed? Had he lost his mind?

Saul took a step back.

That movement triggered Rocky instantly.

“Don’t run! Give Jenna back to me!”

Rocky suddenly pulled a dagger from behind his back and lunged for Saul’s chest.

The blade shimmered with green light—it was poisoned!

Saul instantly raised his left hand to block the wild swing and quickly muttered an incantation, casting Demoralized Gaze.

But Rocky didn’t flinch. He took two steps back, then charged again with renewed force, muttering, “You killed her… you killed her…”

His movements were swift and precise—nothing like the timid Rocky Saul once knew.

If he’d had even half this skill last time, he wouldn’t have fled in panic.

“Who are you really?!” Saul circled around the table, dodging the frenzied attacks.

Rocky just grinned maniacally and lunged again.

Just then, the diary came fluttering out.

Saul could only dodge while glancing at the rapidly scrawling text.

[May 23rd, Year 314, Lunar Calendar.

You were attacked by an unknown consciousness possessing Rocky.

His dagger carries a terrifying cursed poison.

You were slashed across the chest, Your organs began to melt, black blood pouring from your mouth.

After a long battle, you defeated the enemy with a Strike Undead, thinking you’d finally survived.

But it wasn’t over.

A new enemy arrived.

A Fireburst Stone flew in from the doorway.

You saw fire… and hell~]

Someone else was outside!

Saul instantly realized another attacker was waiting and it probably wasn’t Sid either.

“A long battle? Then I need to finish this fast.”

Saul dove behind the teleportation platform and cast Strike Undead at Rocky.

The spell was far more powerful than Demoralized Gaze.

Rocky reeled as black smoke rose from his face and skin, his movements slowing visibly.

“A dead spirit possession, just as the diary said. If it hadn’t warned me, I wouldn’t have thought to use that spell so quickly.”

After all, Rocky looked very much alive.

Without that clue, it would’ve taken too long to guess he was possessed by a wraith.

But one Strike Undead wasn’t enough to take him down completely.

If this dragged on, it could really become a prolonged fight.

And Saul couldn’t afford that—the hidden attacker outside could strike at any moment.

Rocky leapt onto the teleportation platform, dagger raised high, trying to plunge it into Saul’s heart.

But Saul pulled something from his sleeve—a disposable magic wand he had traded a pile of credits for from Kongsha.

“Ice Dagger!”

(End of Chapter)

If you find any errors ( Ads popup, ads redirect, broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.