VERSATILE MAGE: RISE OF A LEGEND

Outside the factory, a figure approached slowly, dressed in a purple outfit that glowed faintly under the moonlit sky. His steps were deliberate, calculated, and his eyes carried a solemn gaze as they pierced through the quiet night. The wind whispered faintly, but nothing could disturb the tense air around him.

"Lulu, you stay here. I'll go in and take a look," the man said quietly to the girl standing next to him, her high ponytail swaying gently in the breeze. His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable weight to his words.

Zhang Lulu, the girl with the high ponytail, stepped forward, a look of concern on her face. "Don't go in, they look very dangerous. Xu Zhaoting, why are you following these people? Just what are those half-human, half-monster things?"

Xu Zhaoting didn't turn to face her, but there was a flicker of something dark in his expression as her words reached him. Lulu had been by his side for a long time, but even she didn't fully understand what was driving him now. He had changed, and it all began when he caught that strange, familiar odor from one of the students earlier. He had been different ever since, focused, distant—almost as if something had awakened deep inside him.

"Don't ask, you stay here. If I don't come back within ten minutes, you must leave immediately. Remember, don't stay here!" Xu Zhaoting's tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. Lulu bit her lip but nodded, knowing there was no convincing him otherwise.

The truth was, Xu Zhaoting had been searching for clues about the Shadow Beast, a creature of nightmares that had haunted his past. Zhang Lulu had stayed by his side, helping him, but something changed when they were near the playground earlier that day. It was there that Xu Zhaoting caught the scent—a scent that sent chills down his spine and brought back memories he'd desperately tried to bury.

This was no ordinary odor. Xu Zhaoting would never forget the stench of those creatures, the same vile monsters that had appeared during the Calamity of Bo City. That day had forever altered his life, and now, once again, he found himself standing on the edge of that abyss.

When he followed that student, Xu Zhaoting quickly realized what he was dealing with. The student had a Dark Beast in tow—an abomination linked to the Black Vatican. Rage boiled up inside him at the mere thought of them.

The Black Vatican.

They were the ones responsible for everything. They were the ones who caused his family's death. His father, mother, little brother, and even his grandmother—gone, all because of the Black Vatican's monstrous schemes. He had been powerless back then, unable to save them, but not anymore.

He clenched his fists tightly, pushing the memory of the white paper with their names etched on it out of his mind. He couldn't lose himself to that grief now, not when he was so close to facing the demons who took everything from him.

Xu Zhaoting steeled himself as he approached the factory. He knew what he had to do. He had to confirm if the Black Vatican was behind this, and if they were, he would notify the Magic Courts immediately. But deep down, he knew that if it came to it, he wouldn't wait for anyone to handle this—he would deal with it himself.

The people from the Black Vatican deserved no mercy.

The factory loomed before him, dark and decrepit. Xu Zhaoting moved swiftly, slipping inside through a broken window. His senses were sharp, alert to every shadow and sound. The factory was vast, with plenty of places to hide, but Xu Zhaoting had an advantage now. He had recently Awakened his second Element—the Wind Element. It wasn't just a new power; it gave him speed, agility, and the ability to move like a ghost through the night.

Zhang Lulu remained outside, waiting anxiously, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't have any combat abilities and couldn't help Xu Zhaoting if things went south. All she could do was wait, hoping that he would return safely.

Xu Zhaoting moved silently across the steel beams that crisscrossed the ceiling of the factory. From his vantage point, he could see everything below. The space was eerily quiet, but it didn't take long for him to spot them. Four figures in grey cloaks, the unmistakable sign of the Black Vatican, moved stealthily through the shadows.

Xu Zhaoting narrowed his eyes. "One, two, three, four... strange. Why are they missing one?"

As if in answer, a cold voice echoed from behind him, sending a chill down his spine. "Are you looking for me?"

Xu Zhaoting's heart raced as he spun around, his lightning-fast reflexes kicking in. Standing not too far behind him was another grey-cloaked figure, their presence cold and menacing.

His mind raced. How did they find him? He had been so careful, so sure that they hadn't noticed him following them. Could it have been a trap all along?

"Lightning Strike, Wrath Shock!" Xu Zhaoting's instincts took over as he quickly summoned his Lightning Element, his hands crackling with fierce energy.

The cloaked figure tilted his head, seemingly unfazed. "It's Lightning Element. Who the hell are you?" he asked with an eerie calmness.

Xu Zhaoting didn't answer. His focus was solely on the battle ahead. However, just as he was about to unleash his spell, something changed. The entire factory suddenly came alive with movement. From the exits, the windows, and the shadows, black figures emerged—one after another, surrounding him.

Xu Zhaoting's eyes widened as he realized he was completely surrounded. There were Dark Beasts everywhere—on the ground, on the steel beams above, and blocking every possible escape route. His heart pounded in his chest as he counted at least twenty-five of them.

The lightning in his hands crackled violently, illuminating the factory in sharp, erratic flashes. But as the light flickered, so did his hope of a quick escape. The situation had just become far more dangerous than he anticipated.

Outside, Zhang Lulu saw the flashes of lightning and heard the guttural screams of the creatures inside the factory. Her heart sank as she realized that Xu Zhaoting was in serious trouble.

"Zhaoting…" she whispered, fear gripping her.

Against her better judgment, Zhang Lulu ran toward the entrance of the factory. Her heart pounded in her chest as she saw the twisted, grotesque forms of the Dark Beasts through the flickering light, crawling and writhing on the ground. She was about to run inside when a figure stomped on Xu Zhaoting's battered form, his face already covered in blood.

"Scoundrel, you dare to ruin our plans!" the cloaked figure spat, pressing Xu Zhaoting's face harder into the dirt.

"We need to move quickly!" Hui Si, one of the grey-cloaked figures, called out urgently. "Our great Deacon told us to bring him away immediately. We don't have time to waste."

"I'll take him," Hui Yi, the leader of the group, said with cold authority. "You can kill the girl. And make sure you clean up everything—don't leave a trace."

But just as the Dark Beasts prepared to charge at Zhang Lulu, a new voice interrupted the grim scene.

"I don't think so."

From the shadows stepped Light, his expression unreadable as he locked eyes with the grey-cloaked figures.

"The objective has arrived! Go! Hurry up and go!" Hui Yi barked, his eyes narrowing at the sight of their true target. The other grey-cloaked figures quickly issued commands to their Dark Beasts, preparing to attack Light.

Outside the iron door, Light stood in front of the heavily wounded Xu Zhaoting, his eyes filled with cold determination. He had no intention of letting the Black Vatican carry out their twisted plans.

Light summoned his Warrior Class Corpse General, the hulking figure materializing beside him with a low growl. "Crush them," Light ordered simply, his voice steady.

Without hesitation, the Corpse General launched itself at the Dark Beasts, tearing through them with brutal efficiency. Limbs and dark, twisted flesh flew as the monsters fell one by one. Within moments, the battlefield was already turning in Light's favor.

"Take Zhaoting to the infirmary. I'll handle them," Light said to Zhang Lulu, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Zhang Lulu hesitated for a moment, but then nodded and quickly carried the unconscious Xu Zhaoting out of the factory, disappearing into the night.

As soon as they were gone, Light's expression shifted. His true power began to awaken.

With a single thought, Light unleashed a devastating attack. His Corpse General had already killed a third of the Dark Beasts, but now it was time for him to finish the job.

Hui Yi, who had been watching with smug confidence, suddenly froze as the tide of the battle shifted. Their objective—the one they thought would be easy to capture—was far more dangerous than they had anticipated.

"Hurry up and go!" Hui Er shouted frantically, panic creeping into his voice as Light's power overwhelmed them. "We'll take the opportunity while his Undead is busy!"

But there was no escape. Light's telekinesis activated, dividing his will into ten parts. In an instant, he crushed ten Dark Beasts into a pulp, their bodies collapsing into blood and gore.

In just a few moments, the Dark Beasts that had been an unstoppable force were reduced to nothing. The grey-cloaked figures were next.

"Not so tough now, are you?" Light muttered under his breath as he stepped forward, his eyes glinting with determination.

The night was far from over, and the battle had only just begun.

The Dark Beasts, creatures notorious for their speed and cunning, were usually more than enough to handle two or three Intermediate Magicians. They moved in packs, striking with coordinated precision and overwhelming their targets. Yet, as the blood and flesh of these beasts painted the ground, the four disciples of the Black Vatican realized that their prey was not a helpless sheep but a savage tiger, and they had woefully underestimated him.

"Re... retreat!" Hui San stammered, his face drained of color. Fear gripping him, he turned on his heels and ran without a second thought.

"Split up!" Hui Er, who managed to maintain a sliver of composure, barked at his companions. His calm demeanor was the last semblance of leadership, knowing full well that staying together would only mean certain death.

The five of them scattered in different directions, fleeing for their lives. But Light's gaze tracked them all, cold and calculating. Beneath his feet, a faintly glowing Star Path began to form, its threads intertwining in a barely visible weave of power.

"You," Light said, pointing at Hui Yi, "go after that one." His voice was calm, almost disinterested, as though commanding an army. But he wasn't in a hurry. The shadow beneath him darkened, forming into a complex Star Atlas, pulsing with a strange, ominous energy.

From his chest, a Shadow Needle silently materialized, unseen by those who fled. It shot forth, guided by a sinister aura, and in the blink of an eye, Hui Si, who had been running with all his might, froze in place. His body contorted in a bizarre posture, unable to move, his face pale with terror. When he glanced down, he saw the cause: a massive shadow spike had skewered his own shadow, pinning him in place.

"Fire Burst, Rupture!" Light shouted, and a ball of fire condensed in his palm. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the blazing orb into Hui Si's mouth. The man didn't even have time to scream as his body was consumed from within, flames tearing him apart.

Meanwhile, Hui Er had been running for his life, occasionally glancing over his shoulder to check if Light was in pursuit. Panic gripped him, and just as he turned around again, he nearly collided with the grim reaper himself.

"Fire Burst, Burning Bones!" The flames this time were directed straight into Hui Er's chest at point-blank range. He screamed in agony as his flesh melted and the inferno invaded his body, burning him from the inside out. Light turned away from the gruesome scene, paying no mind to Hui Er's dying wails.

His eyes now fell upon Hui Wu, who had seized the opportunity to flee. Hui Wu, a Wind Magician, was fast—faster than the others. A gust of wind trailed behind him as he dashed away, desperation fueling his every step. He had always been a loyal follower of the Black Vatican, hiding in plain sight as a Wind student at Pearl Institute.

But none of that mattered to Light now. "Fiery Fist, Exploding Heavens!" he called out, his hand igniting with searing red flames. Hui Wu glanced back just in time to see the firestorm coming for him, his eyes wide with terror. He tried to shift his direction with Wind Trail, but it was too late. The moment the flames hit, he was consumed, his body vaporized into black dust, leaving nothing behind.

The last of them, Hui Jun, had managed to run quite a distance. As an Earth Magician, he used his element to traverse the terrain with remarkable speed, hoping to escape the same fate as his comrades. But Light was already prepared.

With a commanding gesture, Light summoned his Hell Hound. The beast leapt forward with terrifying speed, hunting down the fleeing Hui Jun. Not long after, a bone-chilling scream echoed through the night, signaling that the Hell Hound had finished its grim task.

And just like that, the battle was over. Light stood amidst the carnage, unflinching and unrelenting, the last traces of his foes reduced to ash and echoes.