VERSATILE MAGE: RISE OF A LEGEND

"This place has many vagrants living here. They wouldn't be integrated into the population data recorded by the police. This One-eyed Magic Wolf is so sly. It hides in the abolished construction site and then uses those wanderers that no one takes notice of as food," Light coldly snorted, his voice sharp and calculating.

Zhoumin was already terrified beyond words. Her bravado, once bold, had been swallowed by the fear surging within her. Originally, she had come here with the confidence of finding the source of the problem, but never in her wildest nightmares had she expected to encounter a Magical Beast that feasted on humans. Her legs trembled uncontrollably, and her face paled as she took in the sight of the massive wolf-like creature lurking in the shadows.

"This is an Advanced One-eyed Magic Wolf," Light commented, his tone eerily calm as he observed the beast from afar. The creature's grotesque figure lurked in the half-constructed building, waiting, watching.

Zhoumin stood frozen, unable to respond. Light quickly realized that Zhoumin, for all her arrogance at school, was just an ordinary girl when faced with a real-life threat. In a situation this terrifying, her bravado was useless—she lost the will to investigate further.

"You should leave this place first and call the City Hunter Team's hotline. While you're at it, have the police evacuate the residents and wanderers from the area," Light told Zhoumin with a firmness that left no room for argument.

Zhoumin looked at him, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. "What about you?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"I'll stay here and watch over it," Light replied, his gaze never leaving the beast that lurked in the distance.

Zhoumin blinked at him, her expression one of sheer disbelief. Both of them were third-year high school students, but there Light stood, completely unfazed by the sight of a monstrous, man-eating Magical Beast. She struggled to understand how he could remain so calm.

After a moment, it clicked for her. Light wasn't normal. This was the guy who had once killed a Spirit Wolf; it seemed like Magical Beasts didn't frighten him at all. With a mixture of awe and terror, Zhoumin hurriedly followed his instructions, backing away and pulling out her phone to call for help.

"This beast has the ability to transform into a Warrior-level creature," Light mused to himself, watching the wolf's every move with calculating eyes. "If I force it, it may transform right now."

Without hesitation, Light extended his hand, focusing on the surrounding debris. "Telekinesis: Grip," he muttered.

Heavy objects scattered around the construction site—chunks of concrete, metal beams, and piles of rubble—suddenly lifted into the air as if pulled by invisible strings. With a flick of his wrist, Light hurled them at the Advanced One-eyed Magic Wolf.

The impact was immense. The makeshift projectiles struck the wolf like a barrage of cannonballs, sending it crashing through multiple buildings and raising a thick cloud of dust. For a moment, all was silent.

When the dust settled, the wolf stood back up, though it was badly wounded. Its single eye glowed with rage as it locked onto Light, blood trickling from its battered body.

The wolf let out a low, menacing growl, and without warning, its back legs stomped ferociously. Its body lowered, and in an instant, it was like an oncoming train, charging toward Light with terrifying speed. The debris in its path—wooden planks, sand piles, and handcarts—were sent flying as the beast bore down on him.

Light remained unfazed. He extended his hand once more. "Telekinesis: Whip."

A force invisible to the naked eye struck the wolf mid-charge, sending it hurtling through the air. The beast slammed into a nearby building, its body crashing against the brick with a sickening thud. For a moment, it lay motionless, its head bleeding profusely.

Then, miraculously, it stirred. The wolf slowly rose to its feet, shaking its head in a daze. It held its paw to its injured head, almost like a human nursing a wound.

"It can even stand up from that? Is its body made out of iron?" Light remarked, a smirk playing on his lips.

He wanted this. He needed the wolf to be injured, to feel enough pain that it would trigger its transformation. Before the City Hunter Team arrived, Light wanted to witness the beast's evolution.

Without any visible cause, a ferocious aura began to converge around the wolf. The air around it seemed to warp, as if distorted by the sheer intensity of the power radiating from the creature. The energy became a violent gale that swept down the street, scattering debris and causing nearby buildings to tremble.

Light could feel the mad, beastly aura like a crashing wave smashing into him. The wolf raised its head and howled at the sky, the sound echoing through the abandoned street. The ground beneath them trembled, and the old, crumbling buildings began to shake as if the very earth itself were afraid.

Advancement.

Light's eyes gleamed with excitement. This beast was evolving, right before his eyes.

"This guy really is evolving, its body and blood vessels are boiling!" Light grinned, watching the wolf's transformation unfold.

The One-eyed Magic Wolf's bones began to crack and shift, its muscles contorting grotesquely. Bones sprouted from its shoulder muscles, forming sharp spikes that jutted out like deadly spears. Its backbone grew larger, piercing through its skin and muscles, creating a thorny ridge along its spine. Blood dripped from the newly formed spikes, glistening beneath the pale moonlight, making the creature look all the more terrifying.

Finally, the transformation was complete. The One-eyed Magic Wolf had evolved into a Warrior-class creature—a Bone Tyrant Wolf.

Its aura had become overwhelming, spreading out in all directions like a suffocating blanket.

"Now, it's time to slay you, you trashy beast," Light muttered under his breath, his expression turning cold and resolute.

The Bone Tyrant Wolf let out a ferocious roar, its massive body tensing as it prepared to attack. Without hesitation, it leaped toward Light, its claws outstretched, ready to tear him apart.

"Telekinesis: Punch," Light commanded.

A massive, invisible force struck the wolf in mid-air, sending it crashing across the street, its body tumbling for nearly 100 meters. The ground shook from the impact, and the wolf lay motionless, stunned by the sheer power of Light's telekinetic blow.

Light began channeling his energy, forming a Star Map beneath his feet. He focused on his next spell, pouring his magic into the air around him.

"Space Rhythm: Void Sword Slash," Light whispered.

Suddenly, hundreds of shimmering, invisible slashes cut through the air like blades of light. The Bone Tyrant Wolf's body was torn apart, deep cuts forming across its flesh as the void slashes struck with unrelenting force. Blood poured from the wounds, but the wolf was not yet dead.

Light wasn't done. He channeled more energy, his hands moving gracefully as he prepared his next attack. This time, he unleashed the full force of his Intermediate spell.

"Space Rhythm: Crush."

The Star Map beneath Light's feet glowed brightly as a rhomboid shape appeared around the Bone Tyrant Wolf, trapping it in a cage of spatial energy. Slowly, the cage began to compress, squeezing the wolf's massive body into a tight ball of flesh and bone.

From the beginning to the end, the creature didn't make a sound. In just two Intermediate Magic spells, the once-mighty Bone Tyrant Wolf had been reduced to a grotesque, unrecognizable carcass.

Light approached the mangled remains of the beast, his expression unreadable. Slowly, he reached into his shirt and pulled out the Little Loach Pendant.

The moment the One-eyed Magic Wolf had died, the pendant began to tremble, reacting to the presence of the wolf's soul. A faint, silvery glow emanated from the pendant, and a strand of the wolf's soul slowly floated out from its mouth, hovering in the air for a moment before it was pulled toward the pendant.

The Little Loach Pendant absorbed the soul, the faint glow around it intensifying for a brief moment before it settled back into a dull shimmer. The pendant let out a soft, almost childlike sound, as if it were satisfied after a good meal.

Satisfied with his victory, Light quickly left the area before the City Hunter Team arrived.

A short while later, the City Hunter Team arrived at the scene. The destruction left behind was immense, with buildings reduced to rubble and a large mass of twisted, bloody flesh lying in the middle of the street.

One of the hunters, Guo Caitang, surveyed the scene with wide eyes. "A Warrior Class Magic Wolf… But it's dead? How? Who could've done this?"

The other hunters exchanged worried glances. "There are still hidden experts in Bo City capable of slaughtering such a creature?"

Guo Caitang shook his head in disbelief. "A Warrior Class Magic Wolf, a Magical Beast that isn't supposed to appear in the city, still showed up… Something bad is happening."

Yang Zuohe from the Magic Association arrived shortly after, his face pale as he took in the sight of the destruction.

"Mr. Yang, I think we should sound the alert," Guo Caitang said. "The frequency of these Magical Beast appearances is too high. Something's not right."

The disturbance caused by the One-eyed Magic Wolf had finally settled down. Yang Zuohe stood before the large glass window, gazing out at the horizon, deep in thought. "Our Magic Association is already in discussion with the Hunters Union. The government is also contemplating this matter. The only thing is that we already sounded the alert not too long ago, so sounding another one in such a short time could very easily give rise to panic," Yang Zuohe replied worriedly.

Light had been quietly listening to the conversation but remained silent, lost in his own thoughts. After dealing with the One-eyed Magic Wolf, he felt a strange unease. Though the threat had been neutralized, there was something more significant, something lurking that no one could yet see.

After returning home, Light immediately ran to his treehouse. The small wooden structure nestled within the thick branches of a large oak tree was Light's sanctuary. This place was Light's holy ground for cultivating. Most of the time, there wouldn't be any people disturbing him, allowing him to immerse himself in his thoughts and practice.

Sitting on the roof of the tower, Light looked down at the Little Loach Pendant hanging from his neck. "How come the Little Loach Pendant didn't have any reaction after eating that Warrior Class Soul Essence? It's like it is sound asleep," he muttered to himself, tapping the pendant lightly.

No sooner had he spoken than the Little Loach Pendant responded. It was like an infant waking from a deep sleep, trembling slightly before letting out a soft radiance that covered its circumference by a finger-length. The light was unusual—thick and almost viscous, like silk slowly wrapping around the pitch-black pendant. Light stared in awe, watching it as it began to transform.

The sight before him was mesmerizing. "Is it... spinning a cocoon?" Light thought, watching the light cover the pendant in layers. The Little Loach Pendant, which had once been rusty and worn, was undergoing an evident transformation. It was no longer stained or dull; instead, it gleamed with a polished surface as glossy as jade.

Light could distinctly feel the changes. The warmth emanating from the pendant was comforting, flowing through his chest in a steady stream of energy. It was as though his entire body was being nourished by a source he hadn't tapped into before. When he was being nourished by the Spirit-grade Stardust Magic Tool, it had always felt like being soaked by a warm spring, his body relaxing from the heat. But this was different—this was a soft, subtle sensation, like being wrapped in silk.

The pendant's transformation left him with an unusual feeling. Even when he wasn't meditating, his Stardust seemed to grow slowly, a subtle but constant increase in power. And when he did meditate, the effects were profound, boosting his power more rapidly than ever before. The longer he meditated, the more his Stardust grew, rocketing his strength to new heights.

In the days that followed, Light spent much of his time alone, cultivating and absorbing the energy flowing from the newly transformed pendant. But his focus wasn't just on his own development. XinXia, his younger sister, had recently reached the standard age for awakening—15 years old. Light had discussed the matter with her, eager for her to undergo a special awakening ceremony at a prestigious location. However, XinXia had been firm in her decision.

"I don't want anything special, big brother," she had insisted. "I just want to be a mage, no matter what element I awaken."

Despite her wishes, Light couldn't help but make sure she had the best opportunity possible. He arranged for XinXia to awaken at the Oriental Pearl Tower, a place known for its exceptional energy sources. To ensure her safety and success, she was escorted by their older sisters, Su Hongxiu and Su Xuanhua, who were studying at the Pearl Institute.

The day of XinXia's awakening came quickly, and Light couldn't hide his anticipation. He waited anxiously for news, unsure of what element his sister would awaken. It wasn't long before a text message arrived on his phone.

"Big Brother Light, I awakened the Healing element! So if big brother Light ever gets hurt, I can use magic to heal you," the message read, complete with an adorable smiling face emoji.

Light's eyes widened in shock. Healing element? How did she awaken the Healing element? His fingers moved quickly across the screen as he sent a reply.

"Healing element? How come you awakened the Healing element?" he typed urgently.

As Light waited for her response, his mind raced. The Healing element was exceedingly rare, especially to awaken naturally during a first awakening. Most mages with such abilities came from ancient bloodlines or were blessed through intensive cultivation by their parents. His thoughts churned. Could it be due to her genetics? Or perhaps her parent's cultivation? Without either, it wouldn't be possible for her to awaken white magic.

Light leaned back against the tree trunk, his brows furrowed in thought. I need to know who her biological parents are. This revelation brought forth a storm of questions, ones he wasn't sure he was ready to confront. XinXia had always been his little sister, but now, with this unexpected awakening, secrets of their family's past seemed to rise to the surface.

Days passed, and Light's mind returned to the mystery of the Loach Pendant's transformation. Ever since its change, his cultivation had been advancing at an unprecedented pace. He felt stronger, sharper, and more attuned to the world around him. But there was something about the pendant's new form that intrigued him.

One evening, as he sat in his treehouse meditating, the pendant's soft glow caught his attention once again. This time, however, the light seemed to pulse in sync with his heartbeat, as if it had become a living entity. Light focused on the sensation, trying to understand what the pendant was attempting to communicate.

Slowly, a realization dawned on him. The pendant wasn't just an ordinary artifact—it was connected to something ancient and powerful, a source of energy far greater than anything he had ever encountered. And now, that power was coursing through him, amplifying his abilities beyond his wildest imagination.

As the days turned into weeks, Light's cultivation continued to soar. His meditation sessions became more intense, each one pushing him closer to the brink of a breakthrough. He could feel the energy of the pendant intertwining with his own magic, creating a bond that grew stronger with each passing day.

But Light knew that with great power came great responsibility. The secrets of the pendant, and the hidden truths about their family—everything was converging, leading him toward a path filled with challenges and revelations.