I, the wizard, the foolish Buddha

(Chapter 6K)

Upon advancing to a formal wizard, the chrysalis must transform into a butterfly, signifying assimilation by Aleyah, by the madness within one's heart. Therefore, when advancing to a formal wizard, one must undergo tribulation!

Others do not face tribulation when advancing to a major realm. If they cannot break through a bottleneck, they simply cannot break through it. But every time I advance to a major realm, I must undergo a tribulation!

If I fail to overcome it, I will be devoured, seized by madness, and transformed into a Butterfly Immortal.

I must devise a plan, or else, in the future, not only will I go mad, but I will also become the vessel for the descent of 'my inner demon, Aleyah'!

At that time, the entire world will be swallowed by this giant butterfly!

I cannot become a butterfly, or else I will become like that 'Gibberish,' achieving madness and transforming into a bizarre form.

By then, everyone in this world will become sacrifices for my apotheosis! And I myself will be the first sacrifice to my inner demon!

No wonder my cultivation is so rapid; the more I descend into madness, the faster my cultivation progresses.

This is assimilation into my inner demon!

I truly am a wisp of the Evil God's will!

A wisp that retains benevolence and possesses normal thought.

When Roland reopened his eyes, he was drenched in sweat.

“I cannot possibly kill that giant butterfly, but I should be able to find a way to prevent myself from transforming into a butterfly when I advance to a formal wizard.”

The path of a wizard is the path to godhood, but Roland wishes to become a normal god, not one of those bizarre entities.

If it were a Twilight Wizard, they probably wouldn't care; to them, a bizarre god and a normal god are both gods. If advancing to a formal wizard means becoming a god, who cares what kind of god it is?

That is a shortcut! Apotheosis in one step!

But Roland rejects this vehemently. After all, anyone with a semblance of normalcy would never want to become a mad immortal or insane god whose body and mind are bizarre.

Regarding preventing assimilation by Aleyah, Roland currently has two ideas.

One is to assimilate with a natural wonder, using the wonder to anchor himself. When he advances to a formal wizard, having this anchor should provide a way to avoid becoming a butterfly.

Usark followed this path.

If I were to consult with Mentor Usark on this path, then, under his guidance, I should be able to navigate it smoothly.

But this path is a dead end at the Second Circle Wizard level. There will be no further progress in the future.

The second path is to follow the path of the Twilight Wizards: choose a mystery and assimilate with it. This path is smooth, with no bottlenecks in the future, but it is like drinking poison to quench thirst.

Because this path, like becoming a butterfly, will lead to becoming a bizarre entity.

A moment of carelessness could lead to becoming a 'Pupa Tumor' like 'Twilight Tower Master Zoe'.

Becoming a butterfly is a demonic path; becoming a Pupa Tumor is a fiendish path!

Both are heretical paths, and heretical paths with no good end.

Roland is indeed walking a heretical path, a demonic path. But he wants a good ending.

“However… since the Twilight Wizards walk a heretical path and know how to assimilate with mystery, they must also know how to prevent assimilation into mystery.”

Roland suddenly realized that he needed to interact more with Twilight Wizards.

The best option for interacting with Twilight Wizards is undoubtedly the battlefield, but it is also the worst option.

Because once he engages with Twilight Wizards, encountering a formal wizard could easily obliterate him, this small fry.

Moreover, how would he have time to study the lore of the Twilight Wizards while constantly fighting and killing on the battlefield?

The best course of action is to find a territory, a territory on the border, like Dal Town.

This way, he can engage with Twilight Wizards in depth without getting involved in the war.

He might even have the opportunity to sneak into the territory of the Twilight Wizards and learn from their schools.

Along the way, he has already secured many 'territory selection opportunities' on his lifeline. There will be many territories to choose from.

Senior Anna is helping him with the territory matters, and when she has news, she should present him with many options. He can then see if there are any suitable ones.

Once he has a suitable border territory, the problem of transforming into a butterfly will have a lead, and perhaps he can even build a City God Temple for Lady Heraka, accumulating some merit.

A wizard's territory is a wizard's tower—that is, a cave dwelling~

He would be responsible for protecting a region of secular land, and the people in the secular world would usually pay him tribute.

He could cultivate immortality in his cave dwelling and collect protection fees, without having to manage worldly affairs, which would be very carefree.

The matter of the territory is not urgent; Senior Anna will help him handle it, and he can just wait for news.

What is currently imminent is the 'human tribulation'.

The conscription order has already been issued, and once he is drawn into the battlefield, even if he obtains a territory afterward, they will not let him leave. All subsequent plans would be ruined.

He needs to find a high-level apprentice to replace him in service.

Raven is a good choice. As long as he catches up with Amber, he can find a 'vassal' who can replace him on the battlefield through her channels.

Amber seems to be going to the King; he needs to go too. The Crystal Princess's illness is not important; what is important is for the King to help him postpone the conscription order.

Roland does not plan to do this mission. He plans to give the King a benefit, and then, when the territory comes down, he will leave.

Having made up his mind, Roland did not rush to set off.

He had just advanced, but he was preoccupied with miscellaneous matters and had not had time to assess his situation.

He felt the surging and solid magic power throughout his body and began to peruse the Aleyah Grimoire.

Now that he has advanced to a high-level apprentice, it was very smooth due to thorough preparation. However, after seeing the butterfly, Roland's heart became filled with mixed feelings.

However, the surprise outweighed the worry.

Heaven never seals off all exits. He is already defying fate. He cannot stop moving forward just because there is great terror ahead.

“My magic power was originally vaporized, but now it has begun to gradually liquefy. After becoming a formal wizard, the magic power should be completely liquefied. No wonder there is such a great chasm between formal wizards and apprentices. The magic power density between the two must differ by many times.”

[Roland]

[Realm: High-Level Wizard Apprentice (0.86%)]

[Abilities: Advanced Valerian Swordsmanship (96%), Intermediate Herbology (18.6%)]

Roland lacks subsequent swordsmanship cultivation methods, so he has not deliberately cultivated swordsmanship these days.

But after fighting Anna for half a year, his swordsmanship has greatly improved.

When he was previously stuck at the bottleneck of a mid-level apprentice, his magic, swordsmanship, skills, etc., would improve each time he had insights (madness) into the lower world.

He did not go mad much in the Black Forest, but he went completely mad in the End World. So many skills are almost full.

Herbology directly broke through the elementary level and had a significant increase.

As for various spells, they have all been upgraded to Level 4.

Level 4 magic—generally speaking, only formal wizards can research magic to this extent.

Although Roland's magic power cannot use magic to the extent of a First Circle Wizard, this high-level apprentice has reached the level of a 'mentor' in his understanding of magic.

[Cantrips: Several Level 2-4 Spells: Ignite IV (87.6%), Arc IV (19.57%)]

[Magic: Modified Chain Lightning IV (19.57%). Several Level 3-4 Curses: Mind Blast III (78.3%)]

[Holy Seal (Passive): Dawnfire IV (62.5%)]

[Forbidden Arts: Elementary Forbidden Transformation II (17.8%)]

Zzzt

Terrifying arcs of electricity emerged from Roland's hand. He pointed towards the window, and it flew thirty meters away, hitting a small tree about the height of a person.

The trunk of the small tree emitted yellow-brown flames and then burst into flames, breaking off on the ground.

If a person had been standing there, they would probably have suffered the same fate.

This was just Arc, and he did not use the Gray Staff.

The damaged Gray Staff can no longer bear Roland's Level 4 magic.

Roland admired the snowy scenery outside the window while perusing his various spells in the Aleyah Grimoire.

The contents of the Grimoire allowed Roland to understand his situation more intuitively.

After he advanced to a high-level apprentice, his magic damage and effects have been improved to a certain extent.

In addition, his understanding of many spells has reached the level of a formal wizard (Level 4 magic), and the effect of the magic is also very powerful.

Although the consumption of Level 4 magic is very large, Roland's magic power is just right. If he now uses potions and the Night Amulet to disguise himself as a formal wizard, most people would probably find it difficult to see through.

Arc now has nearly 2 units of damage, which is almost comparable to the lowest level of Lightning.

The damage of Chain Lightning was originally 10 units at Level 3. Now it has increased by a full 40%, reaching 14 units. After concentrating on a target, it will also explode into a bunch of arcs. If it continuously concentrates on multiple targets, the arcs will be in large patches.

Now, a mid-level apprentice simply cannot withstand the attack of this high-level apprentice Roland.

If two mid-level apprentices stand together, even if they have protective wonders in their hands, if they are hit by this move, jumping back and forth a few times, they will be electrocuted into coke.

Lightning magic is undoubtedly the most explosive killing move in Roland's hand.

Ignite, this cantrip, with the blessing of the Fire Emblem (effect and penetration +1) and the Fire Snake Staff, also has very considerable continuous damage.

But if we're talking about the most terrifying spells in Roland's arsenal, it would be 'Mind Blast' and those vile curses.

[Shadow Emblem: Dark Magic Effect +2, Efficacy +2, Deterioration +2, Mutation +2, Resistance +3]

Roland mused inwardly, 'The effects of the Shadow Roar potion are truly extraordinary. It's far better than the Fire Emblem I comprehended after solely consuming Fire Vine Roots back then.'

The Fire Emblem had three attributes, each with a value of +1 or +2. Even if I consumed more Fire Vine Roots in the future, I could only increase the values, not the attributes themselves.

But the Shadow Emblem comes with five attributes right off the bat, with initial values of +2 and +3. Even without further modifying myself with any potions, it's already terrifying enough.

The instantaneous damage of shadow magic is already high. But its true terror doesn't lie in its explosiveness, but in its DOT (damage over time) and debuff (negative effects).

Once someone is afflicted with a curse and it begins to deteriorate, the sustained effects will become increasingly terrifying.

Perhaps due to my own high resistance, nothing seems to happen when I'm initially cursed. But after a while, I might suddenly realize that my entire being has been corrupted.

Moreover, many curses come with negative effects that weaken resistance. Some curses are even specifically designed to deepen the damage.

Therefore, even earth elementals, which are immune to lightning and fire, will become more afraid of lightning and flammable than trees once they're cursed.

The best way to deal with curses is to wear enchanted items like the 'Moss Robe', which greatly reduces the effects and generation rate of curses.

But such items are often very expensive, and very few people can afford them.

If Roland had a dark magic artifact like the 'Heraca's Ring' in his possession, coupled with the Shadow Emblem, the effects of his dark magic would be amplified. Even if the opponent wore a lot of good equipment, it would be as if they were naked.

Without special protective equipment, one would be as fragile as paper, crumbling with a single touch.

The snow outside had lessened.

Roland got up and fed Foxfire some delicious potions. Then, he cast a few spells on it.

After leading Foxfire out, its hooves stepped onto the thick snow, yet left no trace!

Roland, filled with excitement, leaped onto the horse, pulling up his hood. In the light snow, he rode Foxfire slowly towards the distance.

He flipped through Aleyah's notes along the way, studying magic.

After a while, he shook the magic ring on his wrist, which resembled a wristwatch. Then, he took out the Gray Staff and playfully used various shadow magic spells on the passing trees and rocks. Soon, the trees in the snowy forest suffered.

He pointed his finger at a rock, and its surface peeled off as if it were rotting.

—Twilight Magic. Rotting Swelling.

Roland's eyes flickered slightly. He pulled on the reins, dismounted, and took a look.

He thought to himself, 'Before, when I used this spell on rocks, they wouldn't rot and swell. At most, they would just be corroded.'

Heraca's Ring, combined with the Shadow Emblem, made the effects of Roland's curses somewhat outrageous.

The effect of Rotting Swelling continued. When Roland came back to his senses, the rock was already riddled with holes, and a suspicious viscous fluid was flowing out of it.

That viscous fluid didn't look like 'melted stone' at all, but rather like golden blood!

Roland blankly touched the viscous fluid with his finger and smelled a sweet fragrance.

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"Honey?!"

Roland's expression became very interesting. He stuck out his tongue and licked it—it really was honey!

Roland grabbed his hair, feeling completely unwell.

As a professional wizard, Roland's understanding of magic had reached the level of a 'mentor'.

And he had been studying Twilight Magic for a long time.

He had a deep understanding of the Rotting Swelling spell.

But the more he understood the 'Rotting Swelling' spell, the greater the mental impact 'honey' had on him.

Rotting Swelling, as the name suggests, is very evil and very disgusting.

If something is hit by this spell, it will not only be covered in pus but will gradually turn into a pool of stinky pus and blood. The pus that flows out is also poisonous.

Even if he cast the spell on a stone, even if the negative effects were great, the stone should have flowed out 'melted stone' after it started to rot, or smelly and suspicious pus.

To exaggerate a bit, the stone should have flowed out pus and blood like flesh and blood. Then, some maggots would crawl out.

What is honey!

A small bee flew past Roland's eyes. Roland blankly looked at the 'riddled with holes' rock and found that it had turned into a beehive due to the continuous effect of 'Rotting Swelling'.

Some small bees were crawling out of it, flying happily in front of Roland.

Roland sluggishly grabbed a small bee, touched it, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Mutation! It's mutation!"

"The power of Heraca, and the mutation of my Shadow Emblem!"

"These little bees are Heraca's familiars!"

"They should have been maggots and flies. But in the mutation of my shadow magic, they turned into bee eggs and little bees!"

Roland suddenly realized something.

This shepherd was baptized when he crossed the Heraca Desert.

This baptism affected his magic, deeply affecting his shadow magic.

If that were the case, then when he released 'Rotting Swelling', the stone should have swelled and rotted like a piece of meat, growing stinky maggots and disgusting flies.

But the 'Mutation +2' of the Shadow Emblem affected all of this.

—Back then, after Roland created that superb Shadow Roar potion, Catherine said that its effect was very strange and checked the literature for a long time because of it.

The main ingredient of this potion was watered by Roland with forbidden magic.

The creator was also Roland, this strange Aleyah.

Now, Roland successfully advanced with this potion. Heraca's blessing to him therefore became strange.

So, forbidden techniques can resist mystery?

Then, can it resist butterflies?

"It's quite sweet," Roland said after eating a few more mouthfuls of honey and wiping his mouth.

Honey is precious!

Especially in the middle of winter!

The food in this little kingdom is really too bad, and there are no seasonings. Sugar is even used as 'magic medicine' to treat diseases!

Roland kept waving the Gray Staff, and then he heard a crackling sound. The Gray Staff, which had followed him for a long time, cracked.

Looking at the cracked Gray Staff in his hand, Roland felt distressed.

"This is a loss!"

Although it can still be used reluctantly, the Gray Staff is no longer suitable for Roland, a high-level apprentice.

It was already damaged. When Roland was still a mid-level apprentice, it was fine to use. But now, it is not so comfortable to use.

When using magic, he doesn't even dare to inject too much magic power, for fear that the Gray Staff will not be able to withstand his power and shatter.

Roland took out another magic staff, chanted a repair spell, and performed a simple repair on the Gray Staff.

Then, he took out a magic staff box and carefully put away his partner.

"In the future, I will find someone to repair you properly."

With that, Roland looked at the intact magic staff in his hand with fiery eyes.

It was obviously more beautiful than the Gray Staff, and it was more comfortable to use.

He had wanted to use it for a long time.

Now that the Gray Staff is broken, he finally has an excuse.

This is a burning magic staff with a strange snake coiled around it.

This magic staff came from Brown, the president of the Red Skull.

But interestingly, there was no mental mark or magic lock of Brown on it. When Brown fought Roland, he was forced to take it out.

This snake staff is very new. From the appearance, it looks more like something from the Snake Tower.

Mr. Brown obviously didn't do a good job in the forbidden area. He obtained this magic staff by accident. He didn't even have time to leave his mark on it. He just 'kidnapped' it.

Besides Brown, no one knew that this magic staff had fallen into his hands.

No matter how Brown obtained this magic staff, this magic staff has now returned to the hands of the Snake Tower wizard.

Roland, this Snake Tower wizard, should use this magic staff.

This magic staff has a great bonus to all magic.

The effect, hit rate, and generation rate have been greatly improved. The magic consumption has also been greatly reduced.

When Roland uses it to use some powerful magic, it already has a bit of the taste of a formal wizard's magic.

Especially curses and fire magic. It is easy to use.

If Roland used Brown's trick 'Raging Flames', the effect would never be worse than Brown's. Even stronger. Because he has the Fire Emblem.

If he adds some debuffs with shadow magic and then casts 'Raging Flames' on the target, this magic will become very terrifying.

After carefully observing it, Roland also found that there were several middle-grade magic stones on it, and it came with several fire magic spells, all of which had very high damage.

When magic power is lacking, you can use them to deal with enemies.

Clenching the snake staff in his hand, Roland felt a cheerful emotion coming from the magic staff, and his own magic power became restless.

A sharp look flashed in his eyes, and a dark aura burst out from his body. Then, he waved the magic staff in his hand fiercely.

For a time, bees flew in swarms, and sweet, sticky golden honey flowed out of the big stone.

[You have comprehended!]

[Forbidden Transformation Technique Comprehension +1]

[Forbidden Transformation Technique Comprehension +1]

[Forbidden...]

After downing several large jars of honey, Roland mounted his horse, a wide smile on his face as he flipped through Alaye's notes.

Then, he suddenly felt unwell.

Using this strange magic actually increases his transformation technique.

Why is that?

That doesn't make sense!

In a flash of insight, he suddenly understood.

"I get it, I get it!"

"The anomaly is a fundamental alteration, deeply connected to Alaye's core theories!"

"In essence, it's another form of 'Forbidden Transformation Technique'!"

"I've found a way to make the Forbidden Art stronger and stronger!"

Roland didn't know if the Forbidden Transformation Technique could deal with the butterfly, but judging from the 'Gibbering Servant' and 'Rotting Swelling' incidents, it could counteract the mystical, or rather, alter the evil elements within the mystical.

Perhaps, it would become an important element for him to advance to a 'normal wizard'.

In-depth research into the Forbidden Arts would be greatly beneficial in dealing with the butterfly. This 'method' needs to be strengthened.

Roland laughed and said, "As long as I use these strange magics to constantly drive myself mad, my technique will reach its peak!"

"Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"

Amidst a burst of mad laughter, Foxfire sped away with Roland.

Dear readers, please give me any kind of ticket you have, it just makes things look better.