Ethan looked at the Treant. "What is the reward for ranking first in battle merit?"
"Oh, right, right. You are indeed first on the merit ranking."
The Treant's leaves quivered. "The top rank on the Battle Merit Ranking receives three rewards. First, one piece of high-level knowledge, which can be selected from thirty-three designated types. Second, ten magic crystals. Third, a one-time Tier 3 Wizard battlefield rescue authorization, valid until the end of this World War."
Ethan's eyebrows shot up.
Ten magic crystals, one piece of high-level knowledge, and one Tier 3 Wizard rescue.
The rescue authorization, in particular, was essentially an extra life on the battlefield.
Of course, for Ethan, it wasn't strictly necessary.
Still, it was better to have it than not.
"I want to see the knowledge list."
The Treant nodded and swiped a slender finger across the crystal display.
A palm-sized, pale green light screen emerged from the surface of the display, listing thirty-three rows of text in dense detail.
Ethan's gaze swept across the words.
《Energy Particle Superposition State Control》
《Multiple Casting Architecture and Mental Power Diversion》
《Stability Study of Elemental Composite Structures》
《Wizardry Model Superposition Principles》
《Multiple Spellcasting and Overlapping Wizardry Release》
《High-Density Energy Compression Techniques》
《Soul and Mental Power Synergistic Theory》...
Thirty-three pieces of high-level knowledge—the name of each one exuded an air of profound complexity.
Ethan's gaze lingered on the list for a few breaths before finally settling on 《Multiple Spellcasting and Overlapping Wizardry Release》.
The ability to release multiple spells simultaneously during combat and overlap different spells to increase their power.
This was perfectly aligned with his combat style.
With his current mana recovery speed and consumption reduction, he could easily handle the burden of casting multiple spells at once.
After all, his current use of composite spells relied entirely on being forced through by his passives.
With this high-level knowledge, once he fully mastered it, there would definitely be a massive improvement.
"This one," Ethan said, pointing at the row of text.
The Treant looked down, its leaves quivering slightly.
"Multiple Spellcasting and Overlapping Wizardry Release. Are you sure about this choice?"
"Confirmed."
The Treant nodded. "Very well. Follow me."
The Treant's leaves gave a soft shiver.
The surrounding scenery warped and folded once more. In the blink of an eye, the two were back in the main hall of the Supply Exchange.
The Treant's leaves rustled as it stepped forward with its long legs, heading toward the entrance.
Ethan followed behind.
They left the Supply Exchange and walked along the stone path toward the central district of the fortress.
After walking for about fifteen minutes, the trees ahead began to thin out.
A high tower emerged from above the canopy. The tower's body was constructed from deep blue wood, its surface flowing with dense runic patterns.
The spire towered high, glinting with a cold, metallic luster under the ghostly green light of the protective shield overhead.
The Wizard Tower of the War Fortress.
The Wizard Tower belonging to Wizard Jade Shadow.
A Treant guard stepped out from its post, blocking Ethan and his companion.
"Halt. Rockleid, you are supposed to be serving at the exchange. Why have you abandoned your post again?"
Rockleid's leaves suddenly drooped before snapping upright as his voice rose half an octave.
"What do you mean, 'abandoned my post'? I'm bringing him to claim his merit rewards! He's the merit leader! High-level knowledge! According to the rules, he has to enter the Wizard Tower's library!"
The guard Treant's dark green leaves quivered slightly.
It turned its head, its emerald-green eyes scanning Ethan.
"The merit leader?"
Rockleid's leaves shook even more excitedly as he pointed a slender finger at Ethan.
"Check for yourself! Ethan Leo, Blood Bone Tower Academy, thirty-one million, four hundred and twenty thousand merit points! Rank one!"
The guard Treant looked down at the crystal display in its palm.
Its leaves all stood straight up in an instant.
It looked up, its dark green eyes scanning Ethan again, this time lingering for much longer.
"Confirmed. Merit leader, Ethan Leo. Rockleid, you may return. I will take over the exchange of high-level knowledge for the merit leader."
Rockleid's leaves drooped halfway. He muttered something under his breath and turned to head back toward the Supply Exchange.
After a few steps, he looked back at Ethan once more, his leaves quivering slightly.
The guard Treant's dark green leaves unfurled as it prepared to lead Ethan into the Wizard Tower.
Suddenly, the sound of wings flapping came from above.
The sound was very light, as faint as thin paper rubbing together in the wind.
Ethan looked up. A figure darted out from a window on the upper floor of the Wizard Tower, its six wings glinting with a metallic luster in the light.
The Energy-Eating Insect.
Its size had shrunk significantly since their last meeting; it was now only the size of a kitten.
Its six wings vibrated at high speed, tracing an arc through the air before landing precisely on top of Ethan's head.
Its six slender legs scurried about, finding a comfortable spot in Ethan's hair before it settled down.
Ethan froze completely.
Wait, buddy, are we really that close?
This move of yours is making me very nervous.
I've decided that when I pluck your wings in the future, I'll use less force and do it slowly.
The Treants guarding the Wizard Tower all bowed their bodies simultaneously.
"Lord."
The Energy-Eating Insect raised a forelimb and waved it. Its mouthparts opened slightly, and one leg tapped Ethan. "Jie-jie-jie, little apprentice, we meet again. What are you here for?"
Ethan suppressed the urge to snatch the bug off his head and maintained a respectful tone.
"Lord, I am ranked first in battle merit. I have come to exchange it for high-level knowledge."
"Oh? High-level knowledge?" The Energy-Eating Insect's voice drifted down from above, sharp and tinged with amusement. "Can you even handle that stuff?"
Ethan carefully weighed his words.
"If I cannot learn it now, I will learn it after I promote to a Wizard."
Silence lasted for two breaths above him. The insect's forelimb tapped on Ethan's hair, creating a faint clicking sound.
"Jie-jie-jie, you've got spirit. I like it." Its wings vibrated slightly, sending a ticklish sensation across Ethan's scalp. "It just so happens I don't know what to do with the quota my master gave me this year. How about this, little apprentice—want to make a deal?"
Ethan's heart skipped a beat.
A deal.
The Energy-Eating Insect was a Second-Tier lifeform and the slave beast of Jade Shadow Star.
Anything such a being needed a Third-Tier apprentice to do would definitely not be simple.
"Lord, please speak."
The Energy-Eating Insect tapped Ethan's head once.
A translucent shield rose from the surface of Ethan's body, completely isolating him from the outside world.
"Since you're the merit leader, your combat strength is definitely sufficient," the insect's voice echoed inside the shield. "The center of this world is a World Tree. Beneath that tree is a spring. Take this, and go fetch me a gourd of that spring water. How does that sound?"
An emerald-green gourd floated down from the top of Ethan's head.
Ethan reached out and caught it.
The gourd felt slightly heavy in his hand, weighing about two or three pounds.
It was made entirely of some kind of emerald-green wood, with fine runic patterns flowing across its surface.
The plug at the mouth of the gourd was made of dark silver metal, engraved with a ring of complex sealing runes.
This was a Wizardry Tool, and its grade was not low.
Rate on N.U.
