Chapter 103: Invasion

The Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Reiden.

On the soft, luxurious bed, Kaelin and Nienna both lounged lazily, their snow-white, flawless backs exposed to the air, looking exceptionally alluring.

One was a queen, the other a maidservant, yet both gazed with adoration at the silhouette of the man seated in the chair before them.

"Don't forget to take the potion later."

Lin Wei spoke with his back to them.

Hearing this, a flicker of disappointment passed over both Kaelin's and Nienna's faces, but they still answered in unison, "Yes, my lord."

The so-called potion was a concoction Lin Wei had casually prepared to prevent premature offspring from being conceived.

Although he was a gifted student in biological mutation studies, he had also picked up some knowledge of potion-craft during his basic general courses. The reason he had brewed this particular potion was to avoid the burden of an accidental slip leading to consequences.

"Leave now. I need some quiet time alone."

Lin Wei turned his head and spoke to the two of them.

Kaelin and Nienna exchanged a subtle glance, then rose and draped their clothes over themselves.

"Wait a moment." Just as they were about to step out of the door, Lin Wei suddenly called out, "Kaelin, I'll need some death-row prisoners tomorrow."

"Death-row prisoners?" Kaelin's brow furrowed slightly, but understanding dawned on her in an instant. She looked at Lin Wei with a somewhat complicated expression, fully grasping his intentions, "How many does my lord require?"

"Twenty, perhaps..." Lin Wei himself seemed somewhat uncertain.

"Very well, my lord."

Kaelin and Nienna both bowed to Lin Wei, then quietly departed.

Only Lin Wei remained in the room.

It had been just moments ago, while Lin Wei was in the midst of pleasure with Kaelin and Nienna, that the voice of the intelligent sphere-core had sounded at his ear.

"Analysis model for the possibility of integrating the host with flesh and blood has been established."

At that moment, Lin Wei had lost all desire to continue. He ended things hastily and sent the two women out of the room.

Now, staring at the model analysis data displayed on his retina, Lin Wei pondered carefully: "For now, my body's data simply cannot fully fuse with foreign flesh. I can only transplant tiny fragments and plant the vitality in advance..."

"According to the sphere-core's projections, true mutational transplantation can only be attempted once I formally become a wizard... But even so, when I transplant the flesh fragments now, I still need to collect data through experimental subjects..."

This was also the reason Lin Wei had asked Kaelin for death-row prisoners.

...

A month later.

Nightfall.

The Shadow Forest.

Beneath the cover of the endless forest, the entire academy was sealed tightly within its confines.

Even though the sun had long since set beyond the western hills, apprentices still wandered back and forth along the academy's paths.

"Filinsol, have you taken on any external assignents recently?"

Cettori walked side by side with Filinsol.

Filinsol shook her head. "No. I haven't gone out since that external assignment the four of us took last time."

"In that case, why don't we go and claim another external assignment?" Cettori tilted her head to glance at Filinsol. "Since there's a required quota every year, we might as well finish it early, and then we can take things easy later. Look at Lin Wei—he'd barely finished his last assignment before he started a new one. And it seems he even went to some mortal kingdom."

Hearing Cettori mention Lin Wei, a slight pause appeared in Filinsol's gaze.

Cettori keenly noticed the change in Filinsol. Her crimson lips curled slightly as she teased, "It's only been two months since you last saw him, and you already miss him that much?"

"No, I just think his choice of assignment is suspicious. He's not the kind of person who acts without thought. Quite the opposite—he's always had a strong sense of purpose." Filinsol said.

Cettori frowned as well. "You're right. This assignment clearly isn't beneficial to his growth, so why would he take it?"

"Hm?" Cettori suddenly realized that Filinsol beside her had stopped in her tracks. She turned to look at her. "Why did you stop?"

At this moment, Filinsol seemed somewhat strange—her whole body appeared tense, as if she were trembling.

"Is there a problem?"

Cettori hastily reached out to support Filinsol.

"Don't move for now." Filinsol said to Cettori. Her expression was more serious than it had ever been, leaving Cettori at a loss.

Filinsol paid no heed to Cettori's perplexed look, and immediately closed her eyes.

The witch power and mental energy within her began to swirl and flow.

"Is she casting some kind of spell?" Cettori couldn't quite understand what Filinsol was doing.

Suddenly, Filinsol's eyes snapped open. A mouthful of blood sprayed from her lips, her face turning deathly pale, and she staggered as if about to collapse.

"Filinsol!"

Cettori was startled; she had never expected Filinsol to suddenly spit blood and faint. She quickly grabbed Filinsol's arm and drew her into her embrace.

"Cettori, quickly—take me back to the dormitory."

Filinsol clenched her teeth and forced the words out one by one.

"The dormitory?"

Cettori was utterly bewildered. From start to finish, she had no idea what was happening.

"There's no time to explain. Listen to me—hurry!" Filinsol bit her lip, speaking with unwavering determination. But as if remembering something, she hastily changed her mind, "No, not the dormitory. Go to the Forest Shadow Tower!"

"The Forest Shadow Tower? But that's where the dean and the elders conduct their business!" Cettori said.

"Do as I say. Hurry!"

Filinsol's body seemed severely drained, and her voice had grown much softer.

Seeing Filinsol's unyielding demeanor, Cettori had no time to think. She hefted Filinsol onto her back and, under the bewildered gazes of onlookers, ran toward the Forest Shadow Tower.

If Lin Wei had been there, he would have instantly recognized Filinsol's condition.

It was the aftereffect of using the Starry Path.

Just a dozen or so minutes after Filinsol and Cettori departed, a piercing cry echoed through the night sky above the Shadow Forest.

The call was clear and resonant, yet carried an overwhelming pressure. Some first-level wizard apprentices who had recently advanced felt dizzy and lightheaded upon hearing it.

Apprentices still on the road halted in their tracks, peering upward through the narrow gaps in the trees by the light of the moon.

"What made that sound?"

"It sounds like some kind of bird, but I don't think I've ever encountered one before..."

"My head is spinning..."

The apprentices began to chatter and speculate.

Yoo!

Another cry sounded.

As the piercingly penetrating sound waves fell, a massive fireball plummeted from the sky!

Boom!

The fireball crashed into the ground in an instant. The apprentices nearby were instantly consumed by the flames, not even managing a scream.

Silence reigned for a brief moment, followed immediately by the shrieks of the apprentices.

"Enemy invasion!"