Blood Fury grinned nearby, the brutality and smugness in his expression completely undisguised.
“Take me, for example. When I chose my title back then, I went with Blood Fury on purpose. When the enemy heard it, they thought I was a blood manipulator, but then I threw a punch, transformed into a giant hound, and bit them in half. The look on his face before he died, tsk tsk—I still feel smug just thinking about it today.”
Dark Stream looked at Ethan. “So, you need a title. This title will be recorded in the academy’s directory, appear on the registration form for the exchange tournament, and be remembered by wizards from other academies. From the day you obtain a title, your true name will only be known to you and those closest to you. This is a rule the wizarding world paid for with countless lives.”
Ethan looked up at the directors, his lips twitching slightly. “I see. In that case, I'll go with Nature.”
The air in the office seemed to instantly freeze.
Everyone turned their gaze to Ethan.
Blood Fury's mouth fell slightly open as his crimson eyes stared at Ethan.
Wait, what?
They had explained all of this so he would think it over carefully and give it proper consideration. How did he come up with one so hastily?
And he chose “Nature”?
Was he really that arrogant?
Nature.
This title encompassed far too much.
Metal, wood, water, earth, wind, lightning, light, darkness, blood, ice, and so on—every single element was ultimately a part of nature.
A newly promoted First-Tier Wizard casually claiming “Nature” as his title? What did he think he was?
The Master of Elements?
The World Will?
Ethan’s gaze swept across the faces of the five directors. “My lords, why are you all looking at me like that?”
Blood Fury took a deep breath and rubbed his face with his hand.
Dragging his fingers from his forehead down to his chin, the expression on his square face shifted from shock to speechlessness, from speechlessness to helplessness, and finally to a look of I should have known.
“Uh, Ethan, shouldn't you think it over a bit more?”
Convict's mustache twitched again. “The title 'Nature' is exceptionally grand. Do you know how many wizards in the entire District 77 want to use a title even remotely related to nature? Those people are either the absolute strongest among Second-Tier Wizards or the heirs to unique, ancient heritages. For a newly promoted First-Tier Wizard like you to use this title, you're practically asking to get beaten up the moment you step outside.”
Secret Eagle uncrossed her arms. “It’s not just getting beaten up. No matter where you go, people will want to test your mettle.”
Dark Stream raised his right hand. “A title is the first piece of information you present to an enemy. When enemies hear the title 'Blood Fury', they assume he manipulates blood, only to get smashed by a fist from someone who has already transformed into a giant hound. That is an information gap. If you call yourself 'Nature', what will the enemy think? They will assume you are a genius wizard proficient in multi-element composite spells. They will unleash their full power right from the start, without giving you any chance to test the waters.”
Ethan nodded. “I know.”
“...You know?”
“Yes.” Ethan's lips twitched slightly. “I want the enemy to go all out right from the start.”
The office fell silent once more.
Convict's hand finally dropped from his bald head. “Kid, are you worried you won't die fast enough?”
“No,” Ethan said. “I just find it annoying when battles take too long to end.”
Secret Eagle stared at Ethan for several seconds. “Blood Fury, this kid is incredibly arrogant.”
“Who taught him this?” Convict asked, glancing sideways at Blood Fury.
Blood Fury looked utterly speechless. “Don't look at me. I didn't teach him to be this arrogant. I'm just his mentor in name, alright?”
“Then it must be innate,” Dark Stream said.
Blood Fury looked at Ethan. “Are you sure about this?”
“I'm sure.”
“You won't change it?”
“I won't change it.”
Blood Fury nodded. He raised his right hand and traced several runic lines in the air with his index finger. These lines glowed dark red, their edges burning with a faint, blood-colored flame.
The runes hovered in the air for a moment before shrinking and condensing into a fist-sized, dark red mark that floated in front of Ethan.
“This is a Title Confirmation Mark,” Blood Fury said. “Inject your mental power into it, and your title will be officially registered in the academy's directory. Once registered, the title information on your identity plaque will automatically update. In the future, when others contact you through the plaque, it won't display 'Ethan Leo,' but 'Nature.'”
Ethan raised his right hand and tapped his index finger against the center of the mark.
A ring of faint, dark green light radiated from his fingertip, spreading along the edges of the mark.
The dark red mark began to change color, shifting from dark red to dark green, then to emerald green, and finally settling into a highly saturated, deep forest green.
The runic lines inside the mark rearranged, interweaving and fusing until they finally condensed into a tree-shaped pattern the size of a grain of rice at its center.
The mark vibrated slightly, then shattered silently.
The shattered fragments turned into fine motes of light, dispersing into the air.
The identity information inside his identity plaque had already updated.
【Name: Nature Wizard】
Blood Fury watched Ethan put away his identity plaque. “Alright. Now that your title is set, all that's left is to wait for departure.”
“The departure time?”
“Three days from now. Jingyuan Academy has already sent over the frequency for their teleportation array. Our scheduled date is in three days. Tsk, the teleportation fee alone is twenty magic crystals per person. Truly expensive.”
Blood Fury crossed his arms, a look of physical pain appearing on his square face.
Twenty magic crystals was not a small sum for any Three Rings Academy.
Although Jingyuan Academy would reimburse them, it still hurt to see that much wealth spent.
Secret Eagle looked at Blood Fury. “It’s reasonable. After all, Jingyuan Academy is located at the center of our District 77, at least one light-year away from us. Furthermore, the energy there is too abundant, which causes significant interference to the teleportation array.”
“Tsk, true.”
“Alright, let's disperse then. Meet at the main teleportation array in three days.”
Three days flew by in the blink of an eye.
Ethan stood before the main teleportation array, the stone flags beneath his feet painted grayish-white by the morning light.
The teleportation array was over thirty meters in diameter, its array patterns spreading outward from the center in layers. Every groove was inlaid with dark silver metal lines, glinting coldly under the morning sun.
Secret Eagle had already arrived.
She stood at the edge of the teleportation array, her short hair falling around her ears, the dark blue-green tattoos on her cheekbones giving off a faint matte sheen in the morning light.
Resting by her feet was a metal chest half her height. Its lid was tightly shut, and its surface was completely covered in sealing runes.
Convict squatted next to the teleportation array, idly rubbing a silver ring.
Ethan walked to the edge of the array and bowed slightly to the directors.
“My apologies, I am late.”
Convict stood up and brushed non-existent dust from his robe. “Everyone's here. Secret Eagle, let's get this started.”
Rate on N.U.
