The most powerful wizard in the magic world

Those proud apprentices thought they could easily climb over his trap, but they were greeted by the harsh explosion of explosive potions and the strong smell of gunpowder. Several corpses were scattered deep in the jungle, and the badges flickered faintly in the morning light, as if mocking the severely injured glory.

"What foolish children," Gelling said to himself, with a hint of irony on his lips. He slowly walked towards the badges, picked one up, and stroked the engraved pattern on it with his fingertips. The battle just now was like a short play, and he, as the director, easily controlled everything.

"Hey, Gerling! Why haven't you come back yet?" A deep voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts. Carl, a loyal follower, walked quickly from not far away. The slightly hurried footsteps sounded particularly harsh in the quiet environment.

"Don't worry, I'm not going back." Gerling was still observing the badge carefully, with a hint of greed in his eyes. He knew that this was crucial to his subsequent plans.

"These poor little guys have nothing now. Their master will definitely be very angry." Carl frowned and said coldly.

"So what if I'm angry? They are just chasing for fame and fortune. I'm not interested in being jealous of their halo." Gerling answered calmly without looking up, his brows still furrowed on the badge.

"You know, some people won't let this go easily. They'll track you down. You can't kill them without paying the price." There was a hint of uneasiness in Carl's tone, and his hand unconsciously stroked the hilt of his sword.

Gellin pretended not to hear anything and continued to fiddle with the badge. Finally, he put it in his arms and turned to walk into the shadows. "They are just trying to find an excuse for their own incompetence. I will make them understand that my methods are never something they can understand."

"But this operation is too intense. If their master finds out..." Carl's voice was low and urgent. "Gerlin, we may face unprecedented danger."

"Danger? That's exactly the excitement I'm looking for, Carl." He smiled slightly, and that smile was like a knife, sharp and cold. "However, you can choose to retreat. After all, some people are not suitable for this path."

“I don’t want to back down.” Karl’s tone was firm, with stubbornness in his eyes, “I’m just reminding you to be careful.”

"Okay, let's talk about it later." Gerlin waved his hand lazily, signaling him to stop discussing. But his thoughts had already drifted to the next goal. As an apprentice who had not succeeded so far, he was more eager to gain real power in this way.

As they went deeper, the shadows became thicker and thicker, and the surrounding trees seemed to begin to tell the heavy past of this land. Gradually, they came to an ancient stone altar, which seemed to be faintly conveying some ancient call.

“Isn’t this the legendary forbidden place?” Carl’s tone was mixed with a trace of awe. “It is said that a great wizard once performed a ritual here, and then disappeared without a trace.”

"Ritual? Energy?" Gerlin turned around, his eyes flashing with a strange light. "You always like to use those ancient stories to make fun of me. I have no interest in them."

"Gerlin, wait a minute, if we stay here too long, we might attract something." Carl looked around, his expression becoming more and more nervous.

"What do you think can scare us here?" Gerlin's tone was cold and contemptuous, completely unaware of the danger he was about to face. At this moment, rolling green smoke emerged from the center of the ancient altar, and a low whisper sounded, as if summoning some kind of power.

As the smoke rose, a strange smell gradually gathered in the air. Gerlin was caught off guard by the fluctuation of an invisible force, and his heart beat faster.

"Go!" Carl yelled, pulling Ger's hand and trying to drag him away from this strange place.

"I haven't finished investigating yet!" Gellin was unwilling to let go, his eyes fixed on the gradually clearing image in the center of the altar. It was a vague outline with various shapes, as if it was a giant beast crawling out of the abyss, with a strange glow emanating from its empty eye sockets.

"Gerling! This is not something you can control!" Carl became more and more flustered, with cold sweat dripping down his face.

"Who said I can't?" Gerlin breathed quickly, as if driven by his own ambition. He took a step forward, trying to get closer to the gathering power.

"The arrogance of the ignorant! You will bear the consequences at your own risk!" The whispers became more and more obvious, like an ancient curse, striking Gerlin's heart.

At this moment, the stone surface of the altar suddenly cracked, and a dazzling beam of light shot straight into the sky, illuminating the surrounding trees and shadows, and also illuminating the gradually distorted expression on Gerlin's face.

"We should go. It's a long road and we can't stay here for long!" Carl's voice was like a final cry. He grabbed Gerling's hand and tried to drag him back to the world of reason.

"Leave? Why would I want to leave?" With the flames of fanaticism and obsession burning in his eyes, Gerling turned around and stopped Carl's action. He was intoxicated by the miracle before his eyes as if he was cursed. "This is the source of power! This will be my victory, and I will surpass everything!"

"You don't know what you are doing!" Carl was angry and anxious, his tone almost desperate, "Let go! We will be swallowed up!"

But Gerlin's eyes were already filled with blind darkness, calling him to take a step forward. His fingers touched the edge of the altar, and he instantly felt a heat flow from his fingertips, as if invisible energy was calling him, stimulating the desire hidden deep in his heart.

Carl fell to the ground helplessly, and Gerling's face looked even more ferocious and fanatical under the strong light. Bewitched by power and called by the abyss, he seemed to have forgotten his original pursuit. When the boundless darkness swept over him, only despair and madness emerged in his heart.

Instantly, the space around him seemed to be torn apart, and an irresistible force surged into Gerlin's body, directly approaching his soul. It was as if in an instant, he lost control of himself.

Carl struggled to get up from the ground, watching his friend being gradually swallowed by the darkness in despair, his heart filled with fear. He understood that this apprentice who once had ideals and ambitions was about to put an end to his past underestimation of the enemy.