Although this was a classroom for the Twinsage Sorcerers, at the moment, only one person was inside. This sorcerer was the current leader of the Twinsage Sorcerers, and also their most powerful member. The Twinsage Sorcerer stood silently before the window, contemplating how to deal with the mysterious intruders. There was no doubt they bore hostility toward the many sorcerers of the academy, and they were formidable. He conservatively estimated their strength to be at least on par with the top sorcerers from each school. If that was the case, the ordinary sorcerers would stand no chance against them. Furthermore, their movements were a mystery. He knew the grand lifts had been destroyed, yet they had somehow reached the Church of the Cuckoo. He couldn't fathom how. As he pondered, a man and a woman suddenly appeared outside the window before him. The Twinsage Sorcerer reacted instantly. The two figures before him were the intruders, and it seemed they intended to break in through the window. Sellen’s Azur’s Glintstone Staff shimmered with magical light as a jade-green glintstone barrier materialized in the comet's path. The barrier Sellen conjured was unlike those of other sorcerers; it possessed the solid substance of glintstone, granting it astonishing defensive power. The barrier steadily absorbed the impact of the Glintstone Comet before shattering and dissipating completely. Meanwhile, Bai Shi had already kicked the window open and vaulted into the classroom. The Twinsage Sorcerer was already gathering a second spell, but Bai Shi sent him flying with a kick. The sorcerer crashed through several desks and chairs, rolled twice across the floor, and finally came to a stop. Though the kick was almost an afterthought, for a sorcerer, its force was nearly unbearable. He cursed himself inwardly. He should have struck them down while they were still outside the window, but now they were inside the classroom. One against two—the disadvantage was immense. His best chance was to escape, summon the other ranking sorcerers, and face them together. But as he pushed himself to his feet, he realized he could no longer escape. Sellen had already moved to the classroom’s main door. As she placed her left hand on it, countless jade-green glintstone crystals spread and grew, sealing the entire entrance. “Well, apprentice, we're in luck.” “The very first one we found is a big fish.” “This one is the head of the Twinsage Sorcerers. Even among the other preceptors, few can compare to him.” “He certainly put in his share of effort when they came after me back then.” Sellen turned to face him. The Twinsage Sorcerer finally got a clear look at Sellen, and a chill ran down his spine. “A persistent ghost, aren't you, Sellen.” “If we could have killed you back then, we never would have left a witch like you alive.” “Now that you *can* be killed, have you come here to walk right into a trap?” Sellen laughed, covering her mouth. “Walk into a trap? You're awfully confident.” “Your nightmare has returned at last.” “Heh. All of you should have known this day would come.” “I suffered no small amount of torment at your hands.” “Instead of putting on a brave face, you should be thinking about your last words.” Since they didn't seem to be in a rush to attack, he decided to stall for time. He would use the moment to observe and analyze his opponents, and to catch his breath. That kick had been no gentle tap. “So, there are two of you?” “I’m curious how you managed it. There should only be one key.” “Oh, I see. It must be that little body-swapping trick of yours, isn't it?” “You scurried around like a rat back then, swapping from one body to another just to stay alive.” Sellen had tangled with them many times before, so she wasn't surprised he knew of her methods. “You're quick on the uptake, but it's useless now.” “Before long, that head you’re so proud of will be shattered into a thousand pieces, just like glintstone.” “And it won’t just be you. The others will soon be joining you, one by one.” “But I’m a benevolent soul. I’ll let your deaths have some value—you can be stepping stones for my apprentice’s magical education.” “Oh, and don’t bother with that little trick to call for help.” “I’ve already interfered with the flow of magic, and you know as well as I do how soundproof this room is.” Seeing that his subtle maneuver had been exposed, the Twinsage Sorcerer stopped hiding it and let the glintstone shard in his sleeve drop to the floor. Since Sellen showed no intention of fighting, the Twinsage Sorcerer turned his attention to Bai Shi. Sellen called him apprentice, but judging from his actions earlier, their relationship was likely more complicated than that. Bai Shi was wearing an ordinary Carian Knight Helm, appearing like any other sorcerer, so there was little to discern. He could sense the man's mana reserves were decent, but he didn't seem to be a top-tier sorcerer. He had never heard of the witch Sellen having an apprentice before. And that kick, combined with the way he’d burst through the window—that was not the behavior of an ordinary sorcerer. She must have taken him on as an apprentice after escaping her imprisonment. If so, he couldn't possibly be that strong. He was most likely a warrior who’d dabbled in sorcery halfway through his training—a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. The man’s own power was roughly on par with Sellen’s; there was a gap, but it wasn't significant. To have this apprentice face him was a blatant insult, an attempt to humiliate him. “The witch’s apprentice, hmm...?” “I don’t know what silver-tongued lies she used to deceive you, but you’ve undoubtedly made a poor choice...” “Your teacher seems to have a lot of confidence in you. She looks quite fond of you, in fact.” “I wonder if she’ll be crying over your corpse after my magic tears you to pieces.” Bai Shi shook his head at him. “Are you done? If so, prepare to meet your end.” Before the words had even faded, two identical Glintstone Pebbles shot from Bai Shi’s staff and collided with the Twinsage Sorcerer’s own, intercepting them in midair. Bai Shi raised an eyebrow. He hadn't even finished speaking, and the man had already attacked. How utterly unsporting. The next moment, a spiraling Glinstone Dart shot toward Bai Shi. Bai Shi’s conjured magic shield was shattered by the highly penetrative Glinstone Dart, and immediately following it was a Glintstone Comet trailing a long tail of light. Bai Shi sidestepped, letting both spells graze past him, then casually flicked a Glintstone Comet of his own in retaliation. Seeing Bai Shi’s agility, the Twinsage Sorcerer felt his theory had been confirmed. Sellen’s apprentice was most likely a warrior by trade. The Twinsage Sorcerer unleashed a spray of Crystal Barrage to detonate the incoming comet, while simultaneously conjuring a magic shield behind him to block Bai Shi’s dual-cast ambush pebble. All the while, he was continuously backing away, trying to create distance between himself and Bai Shi. But his caution was pointless. Bai Shi had no intention of closing the distance. Why waste such a good sparring partner? He planned to wring every ounce of value out of him before striking him down. And so, a fierce exchange of spells erupted between them. Amid the flurry of glintstone flying back and forth across the classroom, Bai Shi carefully observed his opponent’s every move. Battles between sorcerers were often homogenous, unlike the varied duels between warriors. Simply pouring more mana into a spell didn’t necessarily make it more powerful. The very structure of a spell dictated its mana cost. The only way to increase its power was through a deeper understanding of it and subtle optimizations. Thus, at higher levels of sorcery, lower-tier spells were used less frequently, as their power had a definitive ceiling. A fight between sorcerers of similar skill often came down to a contest of details and mana reserves. Until a decisive moment presented itself, it was usually a tense war of attrition. Whoever landed the first hit and broke the opponent’s rhythm had all but sealed their victory. In the past, positioning and movement were crucial. But with the invention of spells that could create magic shields from thin air, duels had become much more static. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✦𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✦𝙣𝙚𝙩 And because magic shields were so useful in sorcerer-on-sorcerer combat, every student at the academy learned how to use them. After all, for a sorcerer with a fragile body, having protection versus having none were two completely different realities. While countering Bai Shi's attacks, the Twinsage Sorcerer's summoned magic shields were small and precise, consuming very little mana, while his Glinstone Dart was exceptionally effective at breaking through them. The man was also proficient in dual-casting. Bai Shi only needed to observe his combinations to save himself a great deal of time in experimentation. Bai Shi memorized these details in the heat of battle, and soon began to emulate them. If this was the extent of his opponent's skill, then even if Bai Shi restricted himself to using only sorcery, defeating him wouldn't be difficult. Though the Twinsage Sorcerer's strength was considerable, and the power of his spells was greater than Bai Shi's, Bai Shi's mana reserves were far more vast. In terms of total mana, the difference wasn't huge. But Bai Shi was blessed by the sun, and his mana recovery rate was much faster than his opponent's. Suddenly, Bai Shi saw the Twinsage Sorcerer raise a second staff in his other, previously empty hand. The long-frustrated sorcerer spoke in a cold, indifferent voice: “You are already dead.” The next instant, while maintaining his magic shield, he led with a Glinstone Dart, followed by two Comet spells that shot toward Bai Shi at incredible speed. All four spells had been cast simultaneously. Both Bai Shi and Sellen were startled. Bai Shi had just grown accustomed to the rhythm of their intense exchange, and this sudden burst of power caught him completely off guard. The Glinstone Dart pierced his shield once more, and the Comets were too fast, following right behind it. Both Comets slammed squarely into Bai Shi, and the exploding glintstone fragments flew everywhere, completely engulfing his figure. Seeing both Comets hit their mark, the Twinsage Sorcerer let out a breath of relief. Comet was one of the most advanced spells in the academy, possessing astounding power and speed. Even a single hit would have made it impossible to leave a complete corpse, let alone two direct hits. “Sellen, your apprentice is dead. You’re next...” But to his surprise, Sellen’s expression showed no hint of worry or grief, only a slight puzzlement. Sellen was trying to figure out how the Twinsage Sorcerer had accomplished that feat. It wasn't something one could do just by picking up two staves. Dual-casting and split-casting were two entirely different mechanics. Normally, even a combination of the two would result in four spells of two types cast in pairs, or perhaps one independent spell and two repeated ones. But just now, he had used three different spells to produce four projectiles. Strange... The Twinsage Sorcerer pointed his staff at Sellen and spoke with a hint of mockery: “You truly are a witch, Sellen. Your own apprentice dies right in front of you, and you don’t feel a shred of sadness.” “A shame for that sorcerer. He surely never imagined he was just a tool for you.” Sellen shot him a glance, annoyed that he had interrupted her thoughts. “Who said my apprentice is dead?” The sorcerer thought Sellen was just being stubborn and was about to retort with another taunt when he heard a voice from behind him: “Your next line is: ‘That’s impossible!’” The Twinsage Sorcerer spun around and froze on the spot, staring at Bai Shi, who looked completely unharmed. Only now did he finally understand what the sorcerer from the Church of the Cuckoo had meant when he said, "He's not a sorcerer." The Glinstone Dart had already broken through Bai Shi's magic shield, so those two Comets had struck his body with their full force. Those two spells should have pierced right through his body and then through the classroom wall. Or, even if they lacked that much power, they should have blown his body to smithereens. But right at this moment, the flesh beneath Bai Shi’s sorcerer robes was merely a bloody mess, studded with glintstone shards. Beyond that, there were no deeper injuries. Not even his internal organs had been damaged. For a moment, he began to doubt himself. Had it been so long since he’d been in a real fight that the power of his spells had waned? Bai Shi patted his mangled body, brushing off the glintstone fragments embedded in his flesh. “Honestly, you didn't even play along with my line. You have no sense of humor at all.” “And here I was, going along with your bit just a moment ago.” “But you must be quite surprised. It’s a pity you’re wearing a glintstone helm, otherwise I’d love to see the look on your face right now.” Seeing the stunned and speechless Twinsage Sorcerer, Bai Shi felt a wave of disappointment. He had heard his opponent utter a classic line, and his body had automatically responded with the famous comeback. But of course, the man would have no idea he had unintentionally played into a famous meme. Bai Shi shook his head, casually removed his helm, and chugged two Flasks of Crimson Tears. Instantly, the mangled flesh on his body began to heal at a rapid pace. The sorcerer finally snapped out of it, slowly forcing out a few words: “That’s impossible...” The Twinsage Sorcerer was indeed thoroughly shocked now. It wasn't just that the spells had done so little damage, but also because of his opponent's identity. He now recognized the man before him. It was none other than ‘Lord of Stormveil’ Bai Shi, who had had more than a few unpleasant run-ins with their academy. No wonder his body was so resilient. All the pieces of information suddenly clicked into place. They had initially targeted ‘Lord of Stormveil’ Bai Shi because they discovered he was the one who had freed Sellen from her prison. That was a critical point, and the reason they had judged him to be an enemy. It was only later, as Bai Shi’s power and influence continued to grow, that they had given up on harassing him. But no one had ever imagined that Sellen’s true identity was Bai Shi’s teacher... No wonder Bai Shi had inexplicably appeared on the Weeping Peninsula to rescue the secretly imprisoned Sellen. And now, Sellen had brought Bai Shi to the academy for revenge. ‘Your student is this powerful, so why were you still hiding?!’ ‘If you had just said Bai Shi was your apprentice from the start, none of this would have happened!’ The Twinsage Sorcerer’s final, desperate counterattack was ferocious, but ultimately useless. Bai Shi walked over to the sorcerer's corpse and kicked his hand, dislodging the staff and confirming he was dead. Master Sellen approached as well and said to Bai Shi: “Take off his helm. Let me see if it's anyone I know.” “He was behaving strangely during the fight.” “Normally, one staff should be more than enough, no matter the circumstances.” “And the combination of spells he used when he injured you was also very strange.” Bai Shi nodded, stepping forward to remove the helm and see the man’s true face. But when he tried to lift it, he found it wouldn't come off, as if it were stuck on something. Bai Shi drew the Sword of Night and Flame and struck the glintstone helm. As the helm shattered, the sorcerer's true face was revealed to the master and apprentice. Bai Shi stared at the corpse before him, which now had two heads, one on the left and one on the right. It was a bizarre sight. Was this some new type of two-headed Ogre Magi from the DOTA series? “Master, this man is...” Sellen had already formed her conclusion. “I know what you’re wondering, apprentice.” “Those two heads weren't there from the start. They were fused together later.” Unwilling to use her own staff, Sellen took Bai Shi’s and used it to poke open the corpse’s collar. “Look, you can see the marks here.” “These two were twin brothers, both of them once considered exceptional sorcerers in the academy.” “One was in the Twinsage school, the other in the Karolos school. His ability to use Comet earlier was thanks to his brother.” “If that's the case, then his spell combination isn't strange at all. One of them was dual-casting, while the other cast the two Comet spells.” “They played a significant role in kicking the Primeval Current sorcerers while they were down.” “And now look at them, using the very techniques of the Primeval Current to stitch themselves together with their own brother.” “Hmph. They couldn’t even learn the essentials.” “To think they would resort to such a method to increase their power. Utterly foolish.” Bai Shi looked down at the body on the floor and shook his head. He didn't know how the sorcerer had accomplished it, but it seemed to him they would have been more difficult to deal with as two separate individuals. The fallen sorcerer hadn’t been weak. In terms of pure offensive power, he was on par with a top-tier hero. But he still suffered from the common flaw of all sorcerers: a body that was far too fragile. Bai Shi glanced at the main door, which Master Sellen had sealed with glintstone. Their infiltration had pretty much run its course. Now that they had successfully reached the academy's main halls, there was no need to be stealthy anymore. The sorcerers still remaining in the academy were all from the faction that had chosen to rebel. The others had already been driven out. It was as if they had already purified their own ranks internally, which meant Bai Shi didn't have to worry about killing the wrong person. Bai Shi was here on one hand to rescue the Full Moon for Ranni, and on the other, to settle the score for Master Sellen. Without a doubt, every sorcerer currently inside the academy was a valid target. The time had come, then, to help two witches get their revenge. Ah, you mischievous monkey, why must you be so tempting...