VERSATILE MAGE: RISE OF A LEGEND

The Three Step Pagoda was something that every single person dreamed of getting. It was a treasure that had remained out of reach for centuries. Warriors, magicians, and power-seekers alike would kill for just a single chance to enter its sacred grounds. And yet, here stood Light, giving up his opportunity to enter. What was the reason behind his decision? Why would anyone turn down such a powerful, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

Light had already walked to the center of the pond in the plaza. The air was thick with tension as people gathered, watching his every move. The number of people surrounding him only increased with each passing moment, but not a single one dared to take the first step toward him. They knew well enough not to underestimate him, but greed for the Shadow Beast was palpable in the air.

Behind Light, the eerie figure of the Corpse General dragged the chained Shadow Beast along. The beast struggled, snarling in fury, but the Corpse General held it firm, its strength unwavering. Like its master, the Corpse General showed no sign of weakness or fear as they faced down the growing crowd.

"Who wants it?" Light asked casually, pointing at the Shadow Beast.

His voice echoed across the plaza, cutting through the tension like a blade. Everyone's eyes were on the Shadow Beast—an elusive creature, powerful beyond measure, and desired by all.

"Let me just casually mention this," Light continued. "In my old town, there's an exceedingly special type of spring water. I was originally going to enter an agreement with this Shadow Beast, but this guy…" He paused for effect, looking at the creature with disdain. "…ended up swallowing the bottle that contained that spring water. If you want the Shadow Beast, you can have it, but what I want is that bottle of spring water inside it."

There was silence for a moment. Then, whispers broke out among the crowd.

"This guy… he knows our objective!"

"He's baiting us!"

"So what if he's baiting us?" Fu Tianming, a rough-looking man from the front of the crowd, clenched his teeth in frustration. "Everyone wants the Shadow Beast! So what if we steal it? There's no way anyone will find out!"

"Yeah, this is our only chance. I don't want to go back and face the Deacon with a failed mission," someone else murmured from behind him.

The crowd, emboldened by their own greed and desperation, began to inch closer.

"Sir Priest, you've said enough," one of the men muttered, trying to caution their leader.

The Priest, a tall and ominous figure draped in a dark cloak, stood motionless, his eyes burning with resentment as they bore into Light. The man's calm demeanor did nothing to hide the fury within him.

"Sir, I've investigated it just now," said another man, who had quietly approached the Priest. "The Shadow Beast's breath does indeed have the scent of the Underground Holy Spring. The Underground Holy Spring is in the stomach of the Shadow Beast. It's real."

The Priest's gaze narrowed.

"Sir, we've also confirmed that there is no one from the Magic Courts nearby. As long as we can deceive the school's eyes, our actions will go unnoticed," said Hui Yi, one of the Priest's disciples who had been hiding among the students, disguised as one of them.

The Priest nodded, but before he could respond, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Bai Zangfeng, it's you!" Light's eyes had landed on a familiar face in the crowd. "I've been feeling very apologetic toward you due to how brutally my undead treated you. So as an apology, I'll give you the Shadow Beast."

Light's sudden declaration left the crowd stunned. Everyone turned to look at Bai Zangfeng, who stood frozen in disbelief. Light nodded toward his Corpse General, who promptly tossed the restrained Shadow Beast directly to Bai Zangfeng.

For a moment, there was dead silence. Then, like wolves who had caught the scent of blood, the crowd erupted into chaos. Students, magicians, and other onlookers surged toward Bai Zangfeng, their eyes gleaming with greed. They charged at him, desperate to get their hands on the Shadow Beast.

"Violent Wave, Banishment!" a mighty voice rang out above the commotion.

The pond's waters immediately responded, rising in a towering, swirling mass. The water coiled in the air like a serpent ready to strike. Those who had been charging toward the Shadow Beast were suddenly thrown into a panic.

"It's Violent Wave! Retreat!"

Curses and shouts filled the plaza as people scrambled to escape the terrifying force of the water magic. But no matter how fast they ran, they couldn't outrun the violent turbulence that surged toward them.

"Water Elemental classmates, hurry up and deal with it! With each competitor gone, we have a better chance!" someone shouted over the chaos.

An Intermediate Water Magician, now stepping forward, walked effortlessly on the surface of the pond, guiding the water's attack with fluid precision. Behind a large maple tree, a strict voice commanded, "Violent Wave!"

A second wave of magic followed. More water elemental spells were being cast now, and a third and fourth Violent Wave crashed into the crowd. Layer upon layer of water swept through the plaza, tossing people aside like leaves in a storm. Hundreds of people were washed away by the onslaught of water magic.

Light had already retreated to a safer distance after handing over the Shadow Beast.

"You crazy Water Magicians! Since you don't want any of us to get the Shadow Beast, then you won't either!" a voice roared from the crowd. "Brothers, stop hiding! Let's get rid of these Water Magicians. They're just stirring up trouble, leaving them here benefits no one!"

Enraged by the relentless water spells, the crowd turned their aggression toward the Water Magicians. One by one, the Water Magicians were trampled underfoot by the mob, who had now abandoned all caution.

"Dean, at this rate, there'll be fatalities!" Zhou Zhenghua, a teacher overseeing the event, could no longer hold his silence.

"Activate the Great Nyx Regime Formation," Dean Xiao ordered solemnly. "Suppress everyone's powers before this gets any worse."

The plaza had devolved into chaos, and the battle royale was spiraling out of control. Although the fight had only been raging for a short time, the growing number of combatants made it clear that someone would get seriously hurt—or worse.

Fortunately, the school had prepared for such a scenario. The plaza was chosen for this reason: beneath the surface lay the Great Nyx Regime Formation, a powerful, ancient magic capable of suppressing even the mightiest of spells.

Nyx Regime was an Advanced Shadow Magic that used Shadow Magic Stones to conduct a Star Path, transferring immense energy to the formation. It was said to increase the power of the formation tenfold, and in this case, it was meant to contain the entire area.

As Dean Xiao gave the order, the night sky was suddenly engulfed in darkness. A massive, shadowy hand reached down from above, slowly descending toward the plaza. The shadows from beneath the Taming Beast Iron Cage surged upward, forming a colossal array of shadow magic.

Ai Tutu and Mui Nujiao stood atop a nearby rooftop, watching in shock as the entire area was plunged into darkness.

"A Constellation… It's an Advanced-tier Great Magic Formation!" Mui Nujiao exclaimed, her voice filled with awe.

"What's going on?" Ai Tutu asked, her eyes wide with confusion. "I can't see anything!"

The Nyx Regime had completely swallowed the plaza. The once-bright sky was now an endless void of shadow, making it impossible to see anything beyond a few feet. The darkness was so thick it felt as though it was suffocating them.

"Sir Priest, there's a big formation here," Hui Zhu whispered nervously to the Priest. "Could it be that we've been discovered?"

"Don't panic," Yu Ang, the Priest's right-hand man, replied calmly. "If they were targeting us, they wouldn't use a formation that traps the students as well. The school isn't going to risk the lives of its own students just to expose us."

"Sir Priest, the formation is meant to suppress the might of Intermediate Magic and prevent accidents," Fu Tianming quickly interjected. "I overheard a teacher talk about it after a few drinks."

Yu Ang's expression darkened. "And you're just telling us this now?!" He glared at Fu Tianming, his frustration evident.

Despite the tension, Yu Ang knew the Nyx Regime was a problem. But there was an advantage—while the Nyx Regime could suppress their magic, their Dark Beasts were already cursed creatures, immune to the formation's weakening effects. In this shadowy domain, their creatures would thrive.

"Don't panic, this is a Great Magic Formation set up by the school! If I'm not wrong, this is the Advanced Shadow Magic, Nyx Regime, and it's been strengthened many times," Song Xia declared confidently, her voice cutting through the rising tension.

Song Xia, one of the stronger rookies, was well respected. Among the female magicians, she was the only one who could face Mui Nujiao on equal footing. Her calm demeanor in the face of the rapidly escalating situation earned her approving glances from those around her.

Bai Zangfeng, however, wasn't as calm. His face paled as he processed the implications of the Nyx Regime.

"Then, how can we find the Shadow Beast?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.

"When Light threw the Shadow Beast at you, I put a Magic Imprint on it. Just follow me, and we'll find it!" Song Xia replied with a smirk, clearly unbothered by the chaos around them.

Bai Zangfeng nodded, relief flickering across his features. Just as they were about to move, a nearby student sniffed the air suspiciously.

"It smells. Do you guys smell something?" the person asked, wrinkling their nose.

"I can smell it too… Damn, what kind of creature…" another muttered, looking around nervously.

The air had a distinct odor—something foul, animalistic, and dark. It was a scent that clung to the atmosphere as if the very shadows had begun to decay. The darkness around them had grown thicker, and vision was becoming increasingly limited.

The Nyx Regime had enveloped the entire area, transforming the once open plaza into a maze of shadows. No one could see more than a few feet in front of them, and the once bustling battleground had devolved into a series of small, disorienting pockets of skirmishes.

Light himself stood rooted to his original spot. He hadn't moved a single step since the Nyx Regime descended.

The Shadow Beast had disappeared into the darkness, its presence swallowed by the thick shadows. The Nyx Regime had effectively divided the entire area into numerous labyrinth-like battlegrounds, each isolated from the other. To many, it felt as though they had been trapped in a colossal shadow prison.

For Light, however, this was more of an opportunity than a hindrance. The Black Vatican had undoubtedly already begun moving under the cover of this enormous shadow formation. The Great Nyx Regime Formation, while providing a layer of protection from the outside, also served as a perfect cloak for the Vatican's sinister plans. They could easily slink through the darkness, but so could Light.

This massive, dark cage was meant to contain the chaos, but it would also trap everyone inside—including the Vatican's forces.

"This formation suppresses the power of those within it," Light mused aloud. "For most people, their combat prowess will suffer accordingly. However…"

A slight smile tugged at the corner of Light's lips.

"For someone like me, who possesses the Shadow, Curse, and Undead Elements, the Nyx Regime doesn't suppress me. It actually gives me an unlimited amount of space to move around in."

The truth was, while most saw the Nyx Regime as an insurmountable Shadow Wall, Light saw it as an opportunity. He could move freely within this dark domain, using it to his advantage. Fortunately, the Shadow Beast had already been marked by him, and he knew exactly where to find it.

Light chuckled softly to himself, his hand resting on the Little Loach Pendant that hung from his chest.

He hadn't actually thrown the Little Loach Pendant containing the Underground Holy Spring into the stomach of the Shadow Beast, as everyone believed. That would have been reckless. Instead, he had merely allowed the Little Loach Pendant to produce a small drop of the Underground Holy Spring's water. Just enough to leave its aura lingering on the Shadow Beast.

That faint scent of the Underground Holy Spring was all the Black Vatican needed to take the bait. Now, they were moving in, ready to strike. The trap had been set, and they were already caught in it.

Light's eyes gleamed in the dark as he assessed the situation.

"Either way, as long as it carries the aura of the Underground Holy Spring, the Black Vatican will definitely make their move. Luring them here was the easy part. Now, with the entire area covered by this enormous shadow net, there's nowhere for them to escape."

The darkness pressed in on all sides, but Light stood unfazed. His mind was already working on the next steps.

He reached up and touched the Little Loach Pendant once more, speaking softly to it.

"Little Loach Pendant, it's on you. Help me find the Shadow Beast," he said quietly.

The pendant pulsed against his chest, resonating with the energy of the Underground Holy Spring. As it did, Light could feel the connection strengthening. The pendant's subtle power expanded outward, weaving through the shadows, searching for the mark he had left on the Shadow Beast.

With the Black Vatican lurking nearby, Light knew the next few moments would be critical. His steps were soundless as he melted into the shadows, disappearing into the darkness, ready to confront the Vatican forces and secure the Shadow Beast once and for all.