Pierce watched Kian’s wretched end with a cold indifference. If a man dared to use another as a sacrificial decoy, he had to be prepared for the psychological weight of retribution.

  As if sensing Pierce’s thoughts, Kian’s eyes bulged wide. He gasped for breath in sharp, rattling heaves before his head slumped to the side, falling forever silent.

  Pierce shook his head and turned toward the two Arcanists. As he drew closer, their conversation drifted into his ears.

  "...The demonic aura isn't very dense. He likely hasn't been taking the serum for more than a month."

  "To think they dare reach their hands into the academy. Those wretches need a thorough purging."

  Seeing Pierce approach, Mowen and the stout Arcanist, addressed as Master Garrick, ceased their discussion and turned to him.

  "Masters, the spell model has been successfully transferred." Pierce handed over the Memory Crystal Orb with both hands.

  Mowen nodded slightly. With a flick of his finger, the crystal drifted into his sleeve and vanished.

  "Master."

  A familiar voice rang out. Pierce turned to see Yuna hurrying toward them. She first cast a somber look at the corpse of the horned horror before bowing respectfully to Mowen. "Master, I have already notified the Enforcer Team to handle the cleanup."

  She then bowed slightly to the stout Arcanist, smiling. "Master Garrick, it has been a long time. My mentor told me the news—congratulations on your advancement to a Rank 3 Arcanist!"

  Garrick laughed heartily, waving his hand. "I’m still far behind your mentor, child."

  Master? Pierce blinked, quite surprised.

  In the academy, Initiates usually addressed Official Arcanists as 'Master' or 'Sir' out of general respect. However, to use the term 'Master' as a personal address was a privilege reserved only for Direct Disciples. To think Yuna possessed a full Arcanist as a private tutor! This was an extraordinary honor within the Spire Academy.

  Arcanists were creatures of pure logic and self-interest; they rarely wasted time providing free guidance to students, let alone taking an apprentice—unless they encountered a talent so exceptional that their advancement to the higher ranks was a mathematical certainty. Pierce hadn't expected the gentle Senior Yuna to be such a top-tier prodigy.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Wait, he suddenly remembered—the owner of Garden No. 8 was indeed Master Mowen. This meant her mentor was not only an Official Arcanist but also a Master Alchemist.

  Mowen and Garrick didn't stay long. After giving Yuna a few instructions, they departed. Once they were out of sight, Yuna turned to Pierce, her gaze filled with undisguised admiration.

  "Junior, you truly continue to surprise me. I never imagined you could take down a Corrupted on your own!" Yuna remarked. "Even a newly transformed Corrupted possessed the physique and raw power of an Intermediate Knight."

  "It was mostly luck," Pierce replied modestly.

  Yuna shook her head, believing it proved Pierce’s exceptional capability. "At your age, you really aren't that far behind Cedric or Silas. Since you’ve helped the academy resolve this threat, there should be a significant Credit reward coming your way."

  Pierce felt a surge of excitement—yet another unexpected harvest. However, he quickly composed himself and asked, "Senior, what exactly is a Corrupted?"

  Yuna’s expression turned solemn. "You’ve heard of the Heterodox Cults, haven't you?"

  Pierce nodded. During the expansion into the Multiverse, Arcanists had encountered many powerful foes, from the Divine Planes where gods ruled over billions to the Abyssal Planes where demons roamed. Throughout the long wars, these rival deities and demon lords had extended their influence into the Arcane World, using power as bait to corrupt followers. The organizations they established in the shadows were known as the Heterodoxy.

  Cultists often orchestrated blood sacrifices to gain power from their patrons, becoming a persistent pest to the Arcanists. In any Arcane City, these cults were hunted without mercy.

  "Recently, a mysterious serum has been circulating in the Outer City. The vendors call it the 'God-Gifted Tonic.'" Yuna’s face darkened. "In reality, it is a serum extracted from the blood of high-ranking demons. Long-term consumption may boost one's stats, but it inevitably leads to mutation, turning the user into a mindless beast craving flesh. Arcanists call it the Demonization Serum."

  Pierce looked at Evan’s body. No wonder Evan’s progress had suddenly skyrocketed despite being so far behind—it was all thanks to the serum.

  "The serum comes from 'The Abyssal Hand,'" Yuna explained. "Since they dared to target academy initiates, the higher-ups will surely retaliate. Junior, you must be careful lately."

  Pierce nodded gravely. Shortly after, the Enforcers arrived, and the two returned to Garden No. 8.

  After finishing his routine tasks, Pierce walked home alone. Previously, news of cults felt like distant stories in the paper, but today’s encounter made him realize danger was lurking right beside him. This world was nowhere near as safe as he had assumed.

  Without sufficient power, he would have been the one lying cold on the ground today. Pierce touched the Spirit Spring Potions in his pocket and quickened his pace. He had never craved strength as desperately as he did in this moment.