Chapter 153: The Wielder of Chaos

Words : 1485 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

Chapter 153: The Wielder of Chaos"W-Wha..." Korvus was flabbergasted at what he heard, and a bit offended. The brat dared take preemptive measures against him?! "W-Well, honestly, yes," Hal replied, a bit embarrassed. The Deputy Headmaster was about to blow up, but Hal’s next words came out and soothed the old man’s heart. "But I didn’t do it out of disrespect for the Deputy Headmaster and his decisions," he continued. "It’s just that I don’t grow stronger the same way others do, so studying the ways of an Arcanist on the side doesn’t really hurt my potential. I also know that Lord Korvus has long been a master of the standard path, which is why it would be difficult for him to understand my unusual methods. But truly, doing this would actually help speed up my growth as a combat wizard, not delay it, so I do hope you understand. This is also my second request. Please allow me the same amount of freedom I’ve always had, as restricting me would only hamper my progress. Again, this isn’t me being willful. It’s just that this is truly the fastest way for me to grow." The two academy leaders fell silent at Hal’s words. The way the young man explained it was vague, but also somehow clear enough for them to believe him. After all, although Korvus’ ways were indeed fixed and impossible to adjust, the old man also understood that there were anomalies like Hal that nobody would understand. These people had always been the trailblazers of their unique paths, serving as the guides for those who would come after them. Perhaps they were witnessing the emergence of a new wizardry path? The path of not being bound by one element was an extremely chaotic one that had been tried by other geniuses in the past, and while they still became strong individuals, they ultimately ended up considerably weaker than the same caliber of geniuses who specialized in the paths prepared for them by their mana-bound artifacts. In short, they didn’t achieve their full potential. This was why it became normal to learn spells from a different element only to complement one’s main path and fighting style. Not for the sake of trying to master every other path and becoming a wizard with no weaknesses. A wizard’s most powerful spell must still come from the path decided by fate. For example, the fire element is simple, fast, and very powerful. But it had weak defenses. This was why its wielder must struggle and take the time to learn repositioning and defensive spells from other elements, such as Blink, Reinforced Earthen Wall, Mana Barrier, and other such spells. Even so, a fire-elemental wizard was ultimately considered weak defensively and had to rely on aggressive tactics to win. This was simply the element’s weakness. Every other path also had such weaknesses. Mastering every other element would naturally be preferable, as it would cover the other’s shortcomings. Unfortunately, fate didn’t allow it, as it would be impossible to be strong in every element due to the imbalance created by mana-bound artifacts. Furthermore, a wizard’s comprehension usually differed for each element. One would usually struggle mastering the water element if one were adept at learning fire. Sometimes, there was also the tragedy of a mana-bound artifact not aligning well with its wielder’s comprehension. In any case, nothing too fruitful had come out of a chaotic path, and it ended up ruining most of the geniuses who dared attempt. Korvus and Isolde didn’t know exactly how talented those ruined geniuses were, but they must admit that Hal, despite his spells being less powerful than his opponents’, had showcased the potential of this chaotic path. Perhaps because of his unreal comprehension. The two academy leaders couldn’t speak for people they hadn’t witnessed firsthand, but they could confidently say that no one came close to Hal Fennec’s speed of comprehension when it came to learning spells from all elements. There was simply no other eighteen-year-old, in any batch they had seen throughout their entire lives, who possessed such a vast arsenal of spells. ’Maybe he could do it?’ That was the thought in both Korvus and Isolde’s minds. "Well, as you know, it’s difficult for me to make a decision without understanding how you progress as a wizard. Like Korvus, I simply don’t want to see a talented seedling like you ruined. So if you want me on your side, you’ll need to share a bit of information." This time, it was Hal who fell silent. The headmistress was outright asking for his secrets. ’Should I tell them?’ he pondered. He would have to rely on someone eventually. The two should be among the few high-ranking people he could trust, at least based on his character judgment. Plus, there shouldn’t be anything to gain for the two even if they learned his secrets... "I believe you two are trustworthy, so I shall dare place my faith. While my path is unconventional, I, like the others, need time to reach my full potential. I sincerely hope I’m not making a mistake here, as I could easily be taken out by those with evil intentions in my current state." The two academy leaders fell silent once more, with Korvus even feeling a twinge of nervousness. Why the hell was the brat acting so mysterious? Was his true potential really worth all this suspense? After Isolde’s serious nod, Hal began his explanation, though he still planned to omit a few details and share only what was necessary: "So, first, the source of my power. If we’re talking elements, then I guess you could call me a Chaos Elemental Wizard? If that makes sense..." The two academy leaders’ brows furrowed. They had never heard of a Chaos element before. "Continue," urged Isolde. Hal nodded and quickly resumed. "Now, as for how I learn spells, I don’t. I obtain something called Chaos Points through a variety of methods, which is why I absolutely need freedom. With these points, I can acquire random spell cards, some with limited uses, and a few that have permanent durability. This is why I have such a vast arsenal of spells without needing to study them one by one from spellbooks. The only downside is that each spell has a predetermined power and speed." The two academy leaders were utterly mind-boggled and fascinated by what they heard. It was the first time they had heard of such a strange wizardry path, one that was somehow both extremely powerful yet also limited. Isolde was more disappointed than impressed, however, as this suggested that Hal Fennec might have a rather low ceiling. She could see right through his weaknesses. Or so she thought... "I see. Then your strength lies in having the widest variety of spells, but your limitation is that they’re only as strong as predetermined by the Chaos Spell Card. Did I understand that correctly?" "You’re correct, Headmistress," Hal confirmed. Korvus also felt a bit disappointed, coming to the same realization just moments after the Headmistress. "However," Hal suddenly added, "I can merge copies of each and make them more powerful. Technically, as long as I earn enough Chaos Points, my spells can be just as strong as those of someone specializing in a single path." The two academy leaders froze. This mechanic changed everything, making Hal’s future seem limitless instead of restricted. What if he obtained two hundred or even three hundred of the same spell card? Would he be able to cast a fireball as powerful as Ennya Kasai’s? Soon, Korvus and Isolde began to tremble with excitement. "T-Then, what about mana?" the old deputy asked anxiously, struggling just to breathe. "Do you really have one percent mana affinity? If so, how many of those spell cards can you cast before running out of mana?" The headmistress backed her deputy up with an urgent nod. This was a crucial question, as this might be Hal Fennec’s true limitation. "Regrettably, my mana affinity is indeed only one percent." Hal’s answer greatly disappointed the two academy leaders, though not for long: "But the spell cards cost maybe around ninety percent less than regular spells, so as long as I don’t neglect mana meditation, my mana pool should last quite a while. Perhaps even as long as those of my opponents in the Arcana Primis Cup?" He wasn’t entirely sure himself, but he had never run out of mana after just one or two battles, so he didn’t see it as a serious limitation. Korvus and Isolde froze for a moment, then the former suddenly burst out laughing, tears streaming down his aged cheeks. "Hahahahaha! My departed brothers, did you hear that? We have an actual chance! The empire... the beloved Imperium shall not fall and will continue protecting the families you left behind! Your sacrifices weren’t for nothing!!"

Chapter 153: The Wielder of Chaos

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