The Synthesis Wizard

Starlight Calendar 1257, Summer Moon (June).

Shimmering City, Dragonheart Knight Academy.

The weather was hot, with a gentle breeze blowing.

The academy was filled with an equally heated atmosphere.

Today marked the graduation assessment for the first batch of students from the Dragonheart Knight Academy.

Early in the morning, the fourth-year students gathered in the training ground, discussing the upcoming graduation assessment.

"I wonder what form the graduation assessment will take?"

"The academy has kept it well hidden, only revealing the details once we reach the assessment location."

"Whatever it is, since the assessment is in the underground world, it won't be easy."

"I've heard the underground world is dangerous, full of monsters. I hope the academy doesn't make the assessment too difficult."

Students gathered in small groups, buzzing with discussion.

Outside the training ground, students from the other three grades watched curiously, hoping to glean some information, as they too would face the same assessment in the future.

"Sheehan!"

Struggling to push through the crowd of lower-grade students, Sheehan finally made his way into the training ground, searching for his friends. He soon heard a familiar voice calling him.

Turning, he saw Ruge and Solano waving at him.

"Why are you so late?" Ruge complained, giving Sheehan a playful punch on the shoulder.

Sheehan scratched his cheek, smiling, "The headmaster called me over for something."

Ruge's eyes lit up, and he threw an arm around Sheehan's shoulders, whispering conspiratorially, "Did the headmaster tell you anything about the graduation assessment? Share it with me—we're brothers, after all!"

Sheehan shook his head, "Don't get your hopes up. You know how strict the academy rules are. The headmaster wouldn't break them. He just encouraged me."

Ruge was disappointed.

"Come on, the headmaster is so rigid. You're the top of the fourth year; what's the harm in giving you some information?"

"It's precisely because Sheehan is the top of the fourth year that the headmaster believes he'll do well and won't break the rules to help him secretly," Solano smiled, dimples showing, then turned to Sheehan, "Sheehan, are you ready?"

"No problem!"

Sheehan raised his right hand confidently, striking a pose to show off his muscles.

"This time, I'm definitely taking first place!"

Ruge said enviously, "I heard the top five in the assessment get a tier-3 dragon blood fruit and a mysterious prize."

The higher the level of dragon blood fruit, the stronger its effect.

The lowest level, tier-1 dragon blood fruit, is for squires.

First and second-year students, and some third-years who haven't yet become knights, usually consume tier-1 dragon blood fruits.

Tier-2 dragon blood fruits are for knights.

Only knighted students are eligible to consume this level of fruit.

As for tier-3 dragon blood fruits, it's said one can help an intermediate knight advance to a high knight.

This graduating class has eighteen intermediate knights, including Sheehan.

Securing a tier-3 dragon blood fruit means an immediate advancement to a high knight.

How could that not be envied?

"Man, I want a tier-3 dragon blood fruit too," Ruge said enviously.

Solano chuckled, "The top five will surely be taken by the intermediate knights. We should aim for the top fifty; they get a tier-2 dragon blood fruit."

"Tier-2 dragon blood fruit isn't nearly as good," Ruge muttered.

But being a cheerful person, he quickly moved on, switching to the topic of the mysterious prize.

"What do you think the mysterious prize is?"

"I bet it's something from the base," Solano said with a hint of longing. "I've heard there are many wondrous things there; even the dragon blood fruits come from there."

"Could it be a legendary magic item?"

"That's unlikely. I've heard only wizards can use magic items, not knights."

"Could it be a potion?"

Ruge and Solano speculated eagerly, while Sheehan remained silent, a strange expression on his face.

The headmaster had indeed called him over, not just to encourage him, but also to reveal the mysterious prize's true nature.

Ruge was right—it was a magic item.

Called 'magic tattoo construct,' a powerful magical item knights can use.

The headmaster also said every graduate would receive a set of level-1 magic tattoo constructs, but only the top five would get the more powerful level-2 constructs.

It's said that equipping a high knight with a level-2 magic tattoo construct grants them grand knight-level combat power!

Hearing this, Sheehan was stunned.

Turning a high knight into a grand knight just like that—the magic tattoo construct's effect was incredible!

Had the headmaster not said it himself, Sheehan wouldn't have believed it.

"People always say wizards' magic items are amazing, but I never quite believed it. Now I see the rumors are true."

"If magic items are so powerful, how powerful must the wizards who make them be?"

Sheehan wondered in amazement.

Thinking about joining the knight guard after the graduation assessment and working alongside legendary wizards made his heart race, feeling as if a whole new world was opening before him.

"Sheehan, what are you daydreaming about?"

Ruge's voice interrupted his thoughts, waving a hand in front of Sheehan's face.

"Nothing," Sheehan replied vaguely, turning to the training ground entrance, "The headmaster is here."

The crowd of lower-grade students at the entrance quickly dispersed as Moritz led a group of instructors inside.

After a brief speech, they left the academy, heading out of the city.

Soon, Sheehan learned their destination.

Many knew of a forest near Shimmering City, heavily guarded by the army.

It's said to contain a mining area, with tons of ore transported out daily.

Sheehan had wondered why a mining area needed such security, now realizing there was more.

The forest not only housed a mining area but also an entrance to the underground world.

Passing through the forest's outer blockade, the group soon arrived at Camp 1.

Seeing hundreds of clay golems transporting ore, the students couldn't help but widen their eyes.

"What are those?"

"I think they're clay golems, made of clay."

"Clay? That's amazing!"

"Wizards are incredible!"

Exclamations echoed.

Some students couldn't resist touching the clay golems passing by.

It was their first time seeing moving humanoid clay.

Moritz and the instructors didn't stop them, just smiling indulgently.

They too had been amazed upon first seeing the clay golems.

After passing through the camp, the group entered a cave.

Seeing the stone golems guarding along the way, the students exclaimed again.

Afterward, they exited the stalactite cave, rode mantas across the serene lake, and landed on an island in its center.

Manticores awaited on the shore to guide them to the assessment location.

Throughout the journey, the students were in awe, marveling at everything they saw, as if stepping into a strange and wondrous new world.

"This is the underground world," Solano murmured, her pretty face full of amazement.

Sheehan and Ruge also looked around in wonder.

It was their first time seeing such a bizarre place and strange creatures.

Everything before them seemed like a fantastical new world.

No, that's not right.

Compared to the surface, the underground world was indeed a whole new world.

Soon, led by the manticores, they reached a cave entrance.

The entrance was enormous, over ten meters high, wide enough for twenty people to walk side by side.

The cave ceiling was studded with fluorite, emitting a faint glow that lit the area near the entrance.

Further inside, it was pitch black, the darkness seeming ominous.

"We're here," Moritz said, raising a hand to signal them to stop, his expression solemn as he addressed the group:

"The assessment location is this cave, filled with complex tunnels like a maze. Your task is to find the crystal balls placed inside."

Moritz opened his palm, revealing a crystal ball.

The egg-sized crystal ball was perfectly round, a translucent pale blue with three glowing stars inside.

"Each crystal ball has a different score. For example, this one in my hand has three points represented by the three stars."

"Your final score for this assessment will be the total points from all the crystal balls you collect."

"The assessment lasts ten hours. When time's up, everyone must stop collecting crystal balls immediately. Also, you're forbidden from stealing others' crystal balls. Remember, red-eyed crows monitor the assessment, so don't try to cheat."

"Furthermore, monsters guard the crystal balls. The higher the score, the stronger the guarding monster. Know your limits."

"Now, take the light-sensitivity potion and rest for ten minutes before starting the assessment."

With a wave of his hand, Moritz had instructors distribute the light-sensitivity potion.

After taking the potion, the students found their vision clearing, no longer dim.

"Amazing!"

"This is a wizard potion? Incredible!"

"Finally, I can see clearly."

Many students marveled, while others prepared for battle.

Sheehan began checking his weapons and equipment, making final preparations.

Despite his confidence, the fourth year was full of strong competitors, and he wouldn't underestimate them.

Ten minutes passed quickly.

With Moritz announcing the start of the assessment, the students entered the cave.

"Good luck!"

"You too!"

Wishing each other luck, Sheehan, Ruge, and Solano parted at the entrance, each taking a different path.

As they ventured deeper, the forked paths multiplied, and the students gradually spread out.

Soon, Sheehan found himself alone, the others having disappeared.

The dark underground passage was deathly silent, with only the faint echo of footsteps.

Sheehan cautiously observed his surroundings, instinctively gripping his sword hilt.

The air was cold and damp, biting into the bone, making Sheehan, experiencing the underground world for the first time, uncomfortable.

Thankfully, having taken the light-sensitivity potion, he wasn't worried about not seeing his surroundings.

As he walked, Sheehan noticed that every so often, a crow hung upside down from the cave ceiling, its eyes an unusual blood-red, its body covered in hard scales.

"These must be the red-eyed crows the headmaster mentioned."

After cautiously testing them, Sheehan found the red-eyed crows unmoving, merely staring at him, confirming his guess. Ignoring them, he continued beneath them.

After about a hundred meters, he reached a fork with three tunnels.

From the leftmost tunnel came a rustling sound.

Sheehan hesitated, then chose the left tunnel.

Where there are monsters, there's a higher chance of finding crystal balls.

Not far ahead, a multitude of blood-red glowing eyes appeared in the darkness.

Looking closer, he saw pairs of cold, red animal eyes.

Squeak, squeak!

With a sharp cry, a swarm of rats charged from the darkness, rushing at Sheehan like mad beasts.

Sheehan's expression tightened, but he didn't panic. He quickly retreated to a corner, backing against the wall to prepare.

The Dragonheart Knight Academy taught more than just cultivation; it also imparted combat skills.

Besides regular sparring among students, there were many practical courses on fighting wild beasts and monsters.

In combat, Sheehan was no longer a novice.

With a swing of his sword, he sliced a rat in half, then shoulder-bashed another trying to sneak up on him. His sword vibrated violently, cleaving through the air with force.

Wave Slash!

Buzz!

A low hum echoed in the air.

A powerful force erupted, tearing apart over ten rats, creating a clear gap in the swarm!

Such a strong attack disrupted the frenzied rat swarm's assault.

Taking the opportunity, Sheehan caught his breath and slew two more rats.

He saw that these monsters weren't much stronger than regular people; they just had numbers. Any knight could easily handle them without being surrounded.

Soon, Sheehan successfully wiped out the rat swarm.

Stepping over the rat corpses, he hurried in the direction they came from, soon spotting a stone pillar with a crystal ball atop it in the tunnel's center.

Three points glowed inside.

"Three points earned!"

Sheehan picked up the crystal ball, excitement on his face.

Taking a deep breath, he continued onward.

With his first success, he felt even more motivated.

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