This fear erupted in an instant!

Some scattered and fled. Others, realizing that Battle Qi could effectively resist the Death Magic Power, took the initiative to attack. Still others took advantage of the escalating chaos to fish in troubled waters.

And this chaotic situation reached a new stage when the first Adventurer rose as an Undead!

PSCHT!

Amid the chaos, a young woman with a blonde ponytail took advantage of the confusion to lop off the head of a Sea Race member with her sword. She immediately retreated to her teammate’s side and, frowning, asked the Arcanist, Avin, "Do you think this is his handiwork?"

"According to the rumors, he has a Divine Spirit Rat as a Servant Demon, and that rat can use simple Necromancy. Last night, he stopped us from dealing with the Rat Tide. Now, such a unique Necromancer Monarch has appeared... it’s hard not to connect the dots back to him." As they spoke, Arcane Radiance flared in Avin’s hands, and he conjured a series of exquisite, small energy shields to block attacks coming at his teammates from blind spots in the chaos.

"Then we retreat?" the blonde young woman said without any hesitation.

Although they hadn’t killed enough of the Sea Race on this trip, the current situation was gradually spiraling beyond their capabilities. If they delayed any longer... she had an item from her family to save her life, but the same couldn’t be said for her teammates.

As the captain, she had to be responsible for them.

"A wise choice!" Avin had no objections. If he were a Tier Two Grand Wizard, he would have let Sylvie continue fighting. But alas, he was not.

Arcanists were steady and methodical, with a rich variety of techniques. Their endless supply of Magic was enough to handle most situations, but they had a weakness: they always lacked truly powerful combat methods in any one specific area.

Even proper combat Wizards rarely mastered such things, let alone him.

Not all Wizards are the same.

"Retreat!"

After getting the approval of her team’s strategist, Sylvie immediately commanded the squad to break through toward the edge of the island. In the harbor of this third island, several ships from the Noy Clan were moored. Once aboard, they would be under the protection of the Noy Clan. Although they would lose their eligibility in the struggle for the island, they would save their lives.

In the nearby waters, not even the Sea Race dared to attack a Noy Clan fleet!

It had to be said, Sylvie was quite skilled to have dared enter the island battle with just four people. Even in such a chaotic situation, they managed an orderly breakthrough without a single injury.

However, even with their considerable strength, the breakout had left them utterly exhausted. The moment they boarded the ship, several of them collapsed to the deck. Only Avin had reserved some stamina, maintaining a last shred of dignity as he leaned lightly against the railing.

"To think even Sylvie is this exhausted. It seems this year’s island battle is quite fierce," a young man from the Noy Clan said in surprise as he walked over, taking in their disheveled state.

Sprawled on the deck, the blonde young woman, Sylvie, rolled her eyes at his words. "Cut the act. Don’t tell me you don’t know what’s happening on the island."

’Others might not know, but how could I not?’

The Legendary Wizard who had arranged this island battle was an ancestor invited by the Noy Clan—a Legendary Wizard who had reached Tier Five!

That was why the Noy Clan held such a special position in this island battle. The original purpose of this "ritual" was to weaken the new generation of the Sea Race.

They weren’t afraid the Sea Race wouldn’t show up, because it was an open conspiracy. If they came, they would be besieged by hordes of Adventurers. If they didn’t, their dignity would be trampled underfoot.

So this guy definitely knew what was happening on the island.

"Heh heh... That Isaac is certainly impressive. Worthy of the man who crushed the Eldest Princess in a frontal assault," the young man chuckled.

"Oh? He defeated the Eldest Princess? Head-on?" Avin, who was standing nearby, asked in surprise.

The Eldest Princess’s reputation was considerable, even greater than Isaac’s. Besides her noble status, it was also due to the path she had chosen. As a member of the Royal Family, she could have followed the path of a Legendary Mage even if she lacked talent as a Knight or in Magic Power.

But even by walking the normal Path of Wizardry for a Legendary Mage, she could have had a smooth journey by relying on the Royal Family’s resources, perhaps even becoming a leading figure of the younger generation. After all, though a Legendary Mage is still a type of Wizard, that path doesn’t necessarily require intellect; one can become very strong just by throwing enough resources at it.

And yet, she chose to make a deal with an Outer God and become a Mad Witch!

Of course, as Avin saw it, the Royal Family’s machinations must have played a part in this, especially since she had received an outpouring of royal resources.

Moreover, as an Arcanist, he understood the Eldest Princess’s true power better than others. For one thing, she had a Golem Legion—something that even average mid-tier Nobility couldn’t afford!

A Mage Tower—something not even every High-tier Mage could afford to build—she had one of those, too!

Not to mention, the Emperor of Terra had specifically created an Emperor’s Decree for her, safeguarding her transaction with the Outer God.

With all of that combined, her actual combat strength was frankly absurd!

But a ridiculously powerful Eldest Princess like that was defeated by Isaac in a head-on battle? An Official Wizard?

’How?’

This was the question in the hearts of everyone in Sylvie’s squad.

Sensing their confusion, the young man smiled faintly. He looked toward the island and said with deep feeling, "I can’t say much about the specific details; there’s a gag order from above. You can ask your own families. The only thing I can tell you is Great Arcanist Mensa Ballos’s evaluation of him."

"The Great Arcanist?!" Avin looked at the young man intently. "What did he say?"

"Isaac is a true Mad Witch!"

"A ’true’ Mad Witch? Are there fake ones?" Sylvie, having recovered some strength, used her longsword to slowly push herself up from the floor. She looked quizzically at the stunned expression on Avin’s face.

"...A lunatic!"

Avin’s cheek twitched. He didn’t answer Sylvie, only spitting out those two words after a long pause.

The young man gave a knowing smile. He’d had the same expression when he first heard it.

"Hey! Don’t just speak in riddles! Is that supposed to be high praise or something?" Sylvie said, a little annoyed.

Avin was silent for a moment. He still didn’t answer Sylvie, just shaking his head with a grave expression. "I can’t talk about this. When you’re supposed to know, you will. If you’re not meant to know, you wouldn’t remember it even if I told you."

Then, he looked toward the island. After staring for a moment, he asked the young man, "Isaac... he really isn’t going to perform an Evil God Ceremony here, is he?"

"He won’t. He told us about it the moment he arrived in East Port. He’s a rather interesting person. He doesn’t seem to be like the rumors describe him. He feels... quite prudent," the young man said with a strange expression.

Avin was speechless. ’A Mad Witch... prudent?’

’Either I’m going crazy, or the world is...’

Avin shook his head and sighed. "As long as he isn’t here to perform an Evil God Ceremony, then it should be fine."

After a brief pause, Avin seemed to remember something and said, "Oh, right. After the island battle is over, can you help me arrange a meeting with him? There’s something I’d like to discuss."

Avin wanted to try and persuade him one more time...

He grew even more alarmed, especially after learning that Isaac was a ’true’ Mad Witch!

If he was only eighty percent sure before that Isaac would do it, he was now certain of it. That guy would absolutely use an Evil God Ceremony in place of a promotion ritual!

Because that’s what true Mad Witches do!

Strongest, fastest!

That is their goal!

As for the risk...

Who among those who become Mad Witches would ever care about that?

All or nothing!

Avin didn’t care if Isaac lived or died. What he cared about was his own merit!

He did not want his name to be carved into history in such a manner.

The young man glanced at Avin with some surprise, but seeing that he didn’t want to elaborate, he didn’t press the matter. He wasn’t interested anyway. ’Whatever it is, if it involves a Mad Witch, it can’t be anything good, right?’

"Looks like it’s almost over."

BOOM!

The young man’s voice had barely faded when a beam of blood-red light shot into the sky!