’Learn new Magic...’

Wei’en sighed. ’I’d better wait.’

He had to admit that he had indeed been provoked by the Liaison Officer’s arrogance this time.

Decisions made at times like these were mostly irrational.

At the same time, Wei’en was also well aware that with his Origin Power, he would split off more "Origin Sub-bodies" in the future.

This meant that his Secret Art Mage system had greater potential for growth.

Therefore, his top priority was to learn more of the fundamental knowledge of the Secret Art Mage system, especially regarding the enhancement of "Origin Sub-bodies."

Only then could he maximize his advantages.

Besides, with his current physical attributes, learning one or two offensive Magic spells wouldn’t be much help... Their attack power wouldn’t even be as strong as a flintlock pistol.

Thinking of this, Wei’en gripped the handle of the silver-white flintlock.

A familiar and intimate feeling washed over him, as if the weapon were an extension of his own body.

He even knew precisely the destruction he could cause with this flintlock; every detail was crystal clear.

Effective range of 120 meters, optimal range within 50 meters, how to pack the gunpowder, the choice of shot, disassembly and assembly, and potential modifications...

Wei’en raised the flintlock, took aim, and mouthed, "Bang."

’Perhaps I should choose to learn Magic from the Blood Spirit or Mechanical School, prioritizing strengthening my body—including my speed, strength, and reflexes.’

’Combined with the use of the flintlock, I could gain the greatest advantage during the apprentice stage...’

[Congratulations on surviving a tense and exciting day. Evaluation: A weakling who has glimpsed a corner of the True World. Reward: Survival Points +3.]

When Wei’en saw this notification, he realized a new day had arrived.

He immediately dismissed the thoughts from his mind. Both Blood Spirit and Mechanical Mages would partially modify their bodies, which was not what he wanted.

He then cleaned up the chipped corner of the desk, washed up simply, and climbed into bed.

"It certainly was a tense and exciting day."

’I hope I don’t run into that ’God of Wet Dreams’ again tonight...’

...

...

Wei’en lay in bed, his forehead drenched in sweat, his heart pounding like thunder.

He felt as if he had once again fallen into a void-like abyss, returning to that endless darkness, surrounded by oppressive, twisted monsters.

It was those mummified corpses—those withered, twisted, mummified corpses.

They staggered around him, surrounding him completely. Their shriveled cheeks twisted into savage, grotesque smiles, revealing two rows of sharp, yellowish-brown fangs.

"No one will care about you... No one will care if you live or die... Become one of us..."

The cacophony of voices echoed in his mind, laced with cold mockery.

He felt isolated in this desolate world.

The giant eye tore through the darkness, filling the entire world. It stared at him mockingly, as if to say, "You are useless. You don’t deserve to exist."

"This world has long since descended into madness..."

"Only despair is eternal, only despair..."

Countless twisted arms replaced the mummified corpses, frantically tearing at his body, trying to drag him into the Endless Abyss.

"Gula... Yier..."

Wei’en struggled, roaring loudly. Fear and despair continuously eroded his mind, and the excruciating pain in his body made it impossible for him to distinguish between dream and reality.

He wanted to escape, but his feet felt as if they were trapped in a swamp.

The more he struggled, the deeper he sank.

"Luno... Luno... Luno..." (Despair... Despair... Despair...)

The Lord of Despair, Gulaier, shrieked madly, as if wanting to turn the entire world into a land of endless despair.

In a daze, Wei’en saw the gloomy-faced Lisi, the savagely grinning Marco, and the aloof Tina...

They stared at him, their eyes filled with indifference...

Hmm?

Tina?

Seeing the white-haired girl, her face still as aloof as ever, Wei’en instantly became lucid, realizing it was a dream.

At that exact moment, a flash of panic crossed the giant eye. "No—"

The surrounding space began to tremble violently, and the withered, twisted arms retracted back into the eye one by one.

CRACK.

With the sound of shattering glass, the entire space instantly broke apart, dissolving into endless darkness...

Wei’en shot up, gasping for breath. His forehead was soaked with sweat, and his heart pounded like thunder. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Hah... Hah..."

’The Lord of Despair, Gulaier...’

Wei’en thought of the giant eye from his dream, deeply puzzled.

’I clearly resisted the corrosion of the Origin before, so why am I still having this kind of nightmare?’

Just then, two red notifications appeared in his mind.

[You have been corroded by the power of despair. No mutation has occurred. Evaluation: This is a gift from the Lord of Despair, Gulaier, to a Desecrator. You’re welcome. Special Reward: Survival Points +3, Spirit Level -1 (Temporary: 1 day).]

[Note: When your state of mind fluctuates, you are more susceptible to contamination.]

’My state of mind fluctuated?’

Realization dawned on Wei’en, followed by a wry smile.

Faced with the Liaison Officer’s condescending disdain, his emotions had fluctuated, affecting his state of mind, which was why he had been contaminated by the Lord of Despair’s power...

’So arrogance is an original sin. Being provoked by it carries such a great risk.’

Wei’en wiped the sweat from his head, glanced out the window, and saw that the red moon was still high in the sky. He lay back down to calm his mind.

This time he didn’t run into the "God of Wet Dreams," but was instead backstabbed by the Lord of Despair.

"Can’t relax for even a moment..."

After these two nightmares, Wei’en had come to realize that the Extraordinary World was filled with too many unknown dangers.

’To survive, I not only need great power, but I also have to learn to always maintain a calm, restrained, and imperturbable state of mind.’

He didn’t mind the loss of one Spirit level; on the contrary, he was incredibly glad to have discovered this rule of survival.

It was just as the instructor from the Ghost Soul School had said: A Wizard does not fear anything known; the unknown is what is most dangerous.

With that thought, Wei’en slowly drifted off to sleep...

...

...

At some unknown time, two Xiaoxis appeared directly above the bed, their eyes wide as they stared unblinkingly at the two people on it.

To be precise, they were staring at the white-haired girl who had suddenly appeared on the bed.

"Baba..."

"Luno..." (Despair...)

But upon seeing the white-haired girl’s vacant eyes, the two brothers quickly shut their mouths, their gazes drifting to the ceiling as if to say the weather was nice today.

Seeing that they had quieted down, Tina stiffly turned her head to look at the side of Wei’en’s face.

’Partner...’

She recalled the lecture from the busty woman after work yesterday. "Don’t transfer the contract target so easily. Wei’en is quite good, though, but you two can’t live together, blah, blah, blah..."

Tina liked Wei’en.

That was what she had thought then, just as she was now, having appeared on this bed through the power of the contract.

Partners should sleep together, not just live together.

Tina understood.

Just then, the panel silently displayed a very, very faint notification.

[Your partner contract with the Calamity-type has changed. You have received a reward from the God of Contract—Partner Transfer. Effect: Intense feelings of longing for your partner can allow you to instantly appear by their side.]