VERSATILE MAGE: RISE OF A LEGEND

Old man Fang Gu's eyes flashed with anger. "You come here, making wild claims and questioning our integrity. We have no obligation to prove ourselves to you. Our village has maintained its secrecy to protect ourselves from those who would misuse our knowledge. If you cannot accept that, then you are no longer welcome here."

Light's frustration mounted, his hands clenching into fists. He felt the weight of his mission, the faces of those lost in Bo City flashing in his mind. He couldn't leave without understanding how the disaster happened. "If this spring has any connection to the disaster in Bo City, I need to know. I can't ignore the possibility that it could be used for similar purposes. I can't afford to walk away without answers."

Chief Fang Gu's glare remained steely, unmoved by Light's words. "This spring has been here long before Bo City, long before any of your kind even knew magic existed. Our village has safeguarded its secrets for generations."

Light's resolve only hardened as the memories of Bo City's destruction resurfaced. "I understand your anger, but my city was destroyed using spring water with properties identical to this one. The evidence is concrete. If it wasn't stolen from here, then it must have come from one of the other villages with similar springs."

The tension in the room grew thick, the villagers standing by silently, unsure of what would happen next. Light took a step forward, his voice cold and unrelenting. "If the water wasn't stolen or given away, then explain to me why there's a trace of the same spring water from Bo City. The Black Vatican used it to annihilate thousands of innocent lives. Are you saying there's no connection?"

Fang Gu straightened, his anger only growing. "We had nothing to do with the destruction of Bo City. Whatever happened there is not the doing of this village."

Light's patience was thinning, but his mind remained sharp, focused on uncovering the truth. "Your village. Does it mean other villages also have spring water?"

Fang Gu hesitated, but finally answered, "No, we're not the only village. There are six other villages in this region with similar springs, each as protected and hidden as ours."

Light narrowed his eyes. "So, seven villages in total. If the water didn't come from here, it had to come from one of the others. You understand, Chief, that if someone within one of those villages sold or leaked the spring water to the Black Vatican, they're responsible for the massacre in Bo City."

Fang Gu's face tightened, his features drawn into a hard line. "I won't let you imply that any of the villages would have dealings with those monsters. The spring is too precious for such betrayal."

Light's voice dropped low, filled with determination. "Precious enough that someone could have been tempted. Or perhaps manipulated. I need to know the names of those villages, Chief. This is not just about finding the truth—it's about preventing another disaster."

Fang Gu stood silent for a moment, his hands trembling with restrained rage. He finally let out a heavy sigh. "I'll give you the names, but you'll find nothing."

Light nodded, his jaw tight with frustration. "I have no choice. Lives are at stake, and if I have to drag the truth out from the shadows, I will."

### A Trail of Lies

Light left Fang Gu's village, setting out to visit each of the remaining six villages, determined to find the truth. He traveled tirelessly, his mission clear in his mind. But with every village he visited, the answers remained the same—denial. Each chief claimed no knowledge of any stolen spring water, no involvement with the Black Vatican. It was as though they had all rehearsed the same lines.

Frustration gnawed at Light, but his persistence paid off when he noticed something strange during his visit to Sunny Goat Village. The village's well, known as the Kun Well, held the lowest level of spring water compared to the others. Something was off.

"That means they were lying, and someone must have used the spring water," Light thought, suspicion filling his mind. His frustration boiled over into a ruthless determination. If they wouldn't give him the truth willingly, he would take what he needed.

### A Ruthless Plan

Thinking about the lives lost in Bo City, Light devised a plan, one that was as effective as it was ruthless. He would take three-quarters of the spring water from each village by force, ensuring that no one could misuse it again.

When he returned to the villages, his demands were met with resistance. The chiefs pleaded, their voices desperate, but Light's resolve was unshakable. He was an Advanced Mage, far beyond the abilities of the Intermediate Magicians who tried to oppose him. They stood no chance.

With a wave of his hand, Light extracted the precious water from the wells of each village, leaving only a quarter behind for the villagers' survival. His actions were swift and brutal, but necessary. He couldn't risk another catastrophe like Bo City.

### Return to Sunny Goat Village

At last, after visiting all the villages, Light arrived back at Sunny Goat Village. The sun was high in the sky, casting long shadows over the humble huts. The village had been eerily quiet since Light's last departure, the once lively streets now subdued and somber.

As Light approached the village square, the old man from before stepped forward, his hand raised in a feeble attempt to block Light's path. "You're not allowed in here again!" he declared, his voice firm but quavering slightly.

Light's eyes hardened. "I'm not here to be turned away. I need answers, and I won't leave until I get them."

Without waiting for a response, Light used his magic. The air around him shimmered with energy as he lifted the old man off the ground with Telekinesis. The villagers gasped in shock as the old man was propelled effortlessly through the village's defenses and thrown into the square.

The old man landed roughly, gasping for breath as he struggled to rise. The villagers watched in stunned silence as Light strode into the heart of the village, his demeanor unyielding.

Chief Fang Gu, who had been observing from a distance, rushed forward with a look of urgency and concern. "Why are you using violence?" he demanded, his voice strained. "What is the meaning of this?"

Light's gaze remained cold as he faced the chief. "I need answers, and I will do whatever it takes to get them."

Fang Gu's expression shifted, his anger slowly being replaced by a wary caution. "We are not involved in any conspiracy. The spring water here is indeed special and similar to the water used in Bo City, but we have not given it to anyone or used it for malicious purposes."

Light's cold gaze silenced him. "Your lies have run their course, Chief. I've already confirmed the truth. Your spring water levels are the lowest out of all the villages. Someone has tampered with it, and it's clear your village is hiding something."

Fang Gu's face paled, his hands trembling. As an Intermediate Undead Magician, he quickly began forming a star atlas to summon his skeletons. "You can't take the spring water. It's our lifeline. Without it, we can't survive among the undead!"

But before Fang Gu could complete his summoning, Light struck with precision. A bolt of lightning surged from his fingertips, paralyzing Fang Gu where he stood. "Stop this madness!" Fang Gu shouted, his voice filled with fear. "This isn't justice!"

Light stepped forward, his voice cold and unyielding. "Justice died with Bo City."

The villagers gasped, frozen in place as Light towered over Fang Gu. "Tell me the truth, and I will leave one-quarter of the spring water for your village," Light said coldly. "But if a single drop gets out, you will pay."

### The Hidden Truth

Fang Gu hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering with fear and desperation, but eventually, he broke. "The truth is, the water from our well started going missing around ten years ago. I didn't know why at the time, but it seems some traitors gave it to the Black Vatican for their experiments. One and a half years ago, the well dried up, and a huge supply of the Water of Kun went missing. Not long after, the Calamity of Bo City took place."

Light's expression hardened as he absorbed Fang Gu's words. The revelation that his birthplace had been destroyed because of the stolen spring water from this village was a crushing blow. His eyes burned with a mix of anger and betrayal.

"You knew all along," Light said, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "You could have told me this ten days ago. If you had, things might have been different for the other villages."

Fang Gu, trembling with fear, fell to his knees. "Please, show mercy. I didn't know who took the water or what it was being used for until it was too late. I swear, I only realized the full extent of the damage after the Calamity of Bo City. Please, spare my village."

His voice cracked with desperation. "We never meant for any of this to happen. Please, don't destroy us."

Light's gaze was intense, a dark storm brewing in his eyes. "I understand that secrets are sometimes necessary, but your failure to act when you had the chance has led to more suffering. This betrayal is unforgivable."

As Fang Gu pleaded, Light's stance remained unwavering. "I need more than just apologies. Any additional details, no matter how insignificant they may seem, could help identify who took the water. If you have any information, now is

Light's expression darkened, his voice filled with cold determination. "Bo City is already destroyed. Thousands died because of that spring water. I will do whatever it takes to stop it from happening again. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear."

Chief Fang Gu's face contorted with fear and desperation. The gravity of Light's words weighed heavily on the entire village. The villagers, once proud and defiant, now stood in silent dread. The sun's rays felt harsh, casting long shadows over the village square, deepening the tension in the air.

Light's resolve hardened further as he took a step forward. "You knew your village was involved, yet you kept silent. You could have prevented further suffering by revealing the truth earlier."

Fang Gu's head hung low, shaking in despair. His voice wavered as he spoke. "I truly don't know who was responsible. I only realized the connection after the calamity."

Light's gaze swept over the gathered villagers, his sharp eyes scanning their faces for any signs of guilt or knowledge. They averted their eyes, their fear palpable as they shifted uncomfortably under his intense scrutiny.

"I'll be interrogating everyone in this village," Light declared, his voice carrying an edge of finality. "If anyone knows anything about the missing water or any unusual activities around the time it was stolen, now is the time to come forward."

No one moved. The village remained eerily silent. Light's gaze bore into them, his patience thinning. His voice, cold and unyielding, cut through the stillness. "Speak up or face the consequences. This is your last chance to provide any information that could prevent further tragedy."

But the silence persisted. The villagers exchanged nervous glances, but none dared speak. Light's frustration boiled over, his fists clenching in restrained fury. These people were hiding something—he could feel it—but none would admit it. With a deep breath, he turned back to Fang Gu, whose face was lined with exhaustion and fear.

"You've had your chance," Light said, his tone icy. "Since no one has any useful information, I will take the spring water."

The villagers gasped in shock, a murmur of disbelief rippling through the crowd. Fang Gu's eyes widened in horror as Light raised his hand, summoning his powerful magic. The ground beneath them trembled slightly as the spring well glowed with a brilliant light. With a flick of his wrist, Light began extracting the spring water from deep within the well. The shimmering liquid rose into the air, a large swirling mass of precious water suspended in front of him.

The villagers watched in stunned silence as 3/4 of their precious resource, their lifeblood, was taken before their very eyes. The water, rich with magical properties, was their survival among the undead forces that surrounded their village. Now, they were left with only a fraction of what they once had.

"Remember this," Light said, his voice icy and unrelenting. "If any more of this water is used for harm, you will pay the price."

He glared at the villagers, his warning sharp and final. "If you find any new information, leave a message at the Bell Tower Hunter Union in the Ancient Capital, and send it to the Shanghai Hunter Union as well."

Without waiting for a response, Light turned on his heel and strode away from the village, the massive sphere of water following him obediently through the air. The villagers, too stunned to protest, could only watch in silence as he departed, leaving behind a village stripped of its vital resource and a lingering sense of dread.

Light traveled for three days, the cold winter winds biting at his face as he made his way back to the Ancient Capital. The weight of what had transpired hung heavy on his mind. The mystery of the stolen spring water and its connection to Bo City was far from solved, but he had made a significant step forward.

Upon arriving at the Ancient Capital, Light's exhaustion was evident. His winter vacation had nearly come to an end, with two weeks already spent in his search for answers. Yet, despite the progress he had made, the truth remained elusive. The villages he had visited were tight-lipped, and although he had discovered the depletion of the spring water in Sunny Goat Village, there were still pieces of the puzzle missing.

But Light was patient. He knew the answers would come in time, and he was prepared to do whatever it took to find them. As the towering walls of the Ancient Capital loomed in the distance, he felt the weight of the spring water behind him, a reminder of the responsibility that now rested on his shoulders.

Bo City was gone, but Light would ensure that no other city would suffer the same fate. The stolen water, the betrayals, and the lies—he would uncover them all. And when he did, the Black Vatican would pay for every life they had taken.