As he thought of this, a complex mix of emotions welled up in his heart, combining shock with a clear sense of self-awareness. Is this the foundation of an orthodox academic background? The sheer variety of spells they know, with specialized means to handle every situation. Whereas I...
He peered inward. As a Second-Grade Apprentice, his only reliance was still just those three basic 0-Circle spells: 【Detect Magic】, 【Energy Missile】, and 【Fireball spell】.
Though each had its uses, the gap between them in terms of the breadth and specificity of their spells was as vast as the heavens and the earth.
Yet, the moment this subtle trace of disappointment and envy arose, it was suppressed by an even firmer conviction: But I have the panel.
This single thought acted like an anchor, instantly calming his mind.
With the panel's proficiency boosts and trait enhancements, the power and effects of my 0-Circle spells have likely long surpassed what is normally considered 0-Circle. They might even rival similar basic spells of higher Circles.
What I lack isn't raw power, but the variety of my spells. There is no rush on this path, and there is no need to underestimate myself.
Quietly averting his gaze, he subconsciously swept his peripheral vision over the five Brass Rank adventurers behind him.
He had expected to see expressions of shock similar to his own, as the scene before them was nothing short of a miracle to ordinary mortals. Yet, the faces of those five men were exceptionally calm.
There were no gasps, no quiet whispers, and not even a lingering glance at the cave entrance widened by magic. It was as if what they had just witnessed was a daily occurrence. They quickly adjusted their positions, staring into the surrounding darkness with heightened vigilance, dutifully performing their roles as guards.
This excessive composure gave Matthew pause.
Something is wrong... Even the most experienced adventurers would find it hard to remain completely indifferent when faced with a display of power that defies common sense.
A suspicion, like a match struck in the dark, suddenly illuminated a corner of his mind:
Unless... they aren't just ordinary adventurers recruited on short notice who know little of a wizard's methods.
His gaze swept over the five men once more, analyzing them in detail.
They were well-equipped in a uniform style, and their coordination far exceeded that of a temporary group. They reacted to Sutton's and Herbert's commands with rapid precision. More importantly, they lacked the unfamiliarity and awe that ordinary people should have toward spells.
That's it.
A cold realization washed over Matthew.
These five are likely not some random helpers recruited on a whim, but private soldiers and henchmen that Sutton has secretly trained or tamed over a long period.
They've witnessed Sutton's methods and have probably helped him deal with many matters that are "inconvenient to speak of to outsiders." They've long grown accustomed to such magical displays.
Sutton usually seems to keep to himself and act on a whim, but who would have thought he was managing such forces in secret? It seems this one-eyed apprentice is by no means as simple and casual as he appears.
His deliberate display of "casually" recruiting helpers might very well be a disguise in itself.
Having figured this out, Matthew quietly raised his assessment of Sutton by a level, and the vigilance in his heart deepened.
The one-eyed apprentice appeared casual, but in truth, he hid sharp claws and acted with a meticulousness that far exceeded his outward demeanor.
Traveling with him was like playing with fire; Matthew had to tread carefully at every step.
But fortunately, everyone's goal at the moment was aligned—to explore the tomb that was suspected to be the "fall site of a Fifth-Grade Apprentice."
At least until they achieved their goal or decided on the distribution of the tomb's treasures, this temporary alliance of convenience remained relatively stable.
Sutton and Herbert needed Matthew as a source of supplementary information or a form of leverage that his association with the Fire Vortex Tower might bring, and they also needed the five Brass Rank adventurers as "tools" for pathfinding and protection.
Before their shared interests were realized, the likelihood of them turning on each other and weakening their own strength was extremely low.
Even so, I must prepare for the worst. If things go south, I have to make a quick judgment and escape decisively! Warning bells rang loud in Matthew's mind.
He quietly maintained his spiritual perception at its most sensitive state, spreading out like an invisible spiderweb to catch any trace of hostility or energy fluctuations in the air.
The rhythm of his steps, his distance from the people ahead and behind, and even the surrounding terrain that could be used for evasion were all being rapidly calculated in his mind.
However, after a rational analysis, he concluded that the probability of a sudden betrayal was indeed very low.
He had weighed the situation repeatedly before coming here:
First, the balance of power. On the surface, he was the weakest link—his strength as a Second-Grade Apprentice was almost completely transparent to Sutton and Herbert.
If Sutton truly harbored any murderous intent toward him, there had been countless stealthier, more effortless opportunities to strike back in the county seat or along the way. Why go to such trouble to lure him into these desolate mountains, especially with the even stronger Herbert present?
Doing so would only introduce unnecessary variables, which contradicted a wizard's pursuit of efficiency and control.
Second, the conflict of interest was minimal.
Precisely because his strength was low, the share of the spoils he sought would naturally be the smallest. Sutton's and Herbert's targets were clearly the high-level knowledge, rare materials, or magic items within the tomb that could aid their advancement.
Matthew knew his own limits. At his current level, he would be satisfied with some basic resources, magic stones, or simply the opportunity to broaden his horizons.
His "appetite" was not large enough to threaten the fundamental interests of the two core figures. Instead, he was temporarily needed for the potential information value his "Tower background" might bring.
Third, his trump cards and value. Matthew was by no means defenseless.
Since breaking through to a Second-Grade Apprentice, his Spirit had become "solid as steel." Its control, precision, and strength far exceeded those of his peers, greatly enhancing his premonition of danger and his microscopic perception of the environment.
More importantly, he possessed the incredible aid of the 【panel】. With its proficiency boosts and trait enhancements, the power and effects of his three 0-Circle spells—【Detect Magic】, 【Energy Missile】, and 【Fireball spell】—already approached or even surpassed those of ordinary 1-Circle spells. This was his hidden means for a sudden counterattack.
In addition, the 【Dawn Sword】 hanging at his waist was no ordinary weapon. It was highly compatible with his Silver Rank combat qi, serving as his greatest reliance as a Class holder.
If things truly came to a head and they had to fight, he believed that by combining the instantaneous burst of magic from the 【panel】's enhancements with the sharpness of the 【Dawn Sword】 and his own mobility as a Silver Rank, he stood a decent chance of breaking through or creating enough chaos to survive.
Furthermore, he still had defensive magic items like the 【Oath Ring】, making his survival highly likely.
Therefore, for now, I only need to stay vigilant and focus on the exploration. If any unexpected changes do occur...
Matthew's gaze swept over the backs of Sutton and Herbert ahead, then used his peripheral vision to glance at the adventurers standing silent as stone on either side. He calmly mapped out several possible escape routes and counterattack strategies in his mind.
...then I'll let everyone know that even the weakest link has thorns sharp enough to draw blood when broken.
He buried all his thoughts deep in his heart, his face remaining a picture of calm concentration.
...
...
Rate on N.U.
