Denise stared at the path that William and Marcel had taken. When she finally saw them returning, she sighed in relief. “You’re back,” she said, her voice tight with worry.

Marcel sat beside her, offering a reassuring smile. “Hey, no need to worry. I was just getting some water.”

She wasn’t buying it. “Getting water? In the middle of a forest, on an almost deserted island swarming with magical beasts?”

Marcel chuckled. “Okay, maybe it wasn’t the smartest idea, but I went during the day when it’s safer.”

Denise knew he wasn’t entirely wrong. Someone had to fetch water, and daytime was indeed the safest time. But the risk still gnawed at her.

Meanwhile, William sat nearby, chatting with his friends and listening to the distant chatter of other students. It was only the first day of their training camp, so most hadn’t done much besides sleep and eat after their exhausting journey. But tomorrow, their tasks would begin.

The gathering near the beach lasted until around 10 pm. By then, everyone was tired, including William. Though he still had some energy, he decided to turn in.

‘No point feeling sluggish tomorrow,’ he thought as he headed towards his cabin.

He sat on the bed inside his cabin and took out some of his magical tomes stored in his backpack and his inventory.

The last books he had been reading were about the history of demons. He’d been hoping to learn more about his own powers, but now he wanted to focus on acquiring new spells, particularly those that enhanced his attributes. But first, William opted to continue learning “Icy Weapon,” a spell that would grant his sword a boost in power by imbuing it with the ice element.

William practiced for an hour. He’d tried this magic before, but his progress was slow. It wasn’t clicking.

Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

Asura, his demonic sword, spoke to him mentally. “I don’t think you are good with ice magic.”

“Why is that?” William asked.

“Well, you have connections with the demon race. Demons are generally adept with the fire element, black fire, and some with thunder and black thunder, though that’s rarer. You should focus on those.”

Asura, an artifact containing the soul of an ancient demon, still retained some of his memories, though they were fragmented.

“Are you sure? So I was wrong to get these ice spells?”

“Yes, you were.”

“Damn it…”

William felt getting those icy spells had been a waste of time. He wished he could go back and choose something else.

‘Well, I’m already in the past, so…’

Frustrated by his lack of progress with the icy spells, William went to bed, hoping the next day would be better.

The first thing he heard the following morning was Professor Lincoln ringing a bell, summoning everyone.

Despite their reluctance to wake up, the students dragged themselves out of bed and met with the professor outside. The sun had barely risen, yet they were already assembled.

Professor Lincoln addressed them once everyone was present. “Get used to this. We’re rising early to get to work as soon as possible.”

The students exchanged glances, but no one spoke.

“As for the task, well, the first thing we need to do is find a good location for the academy. It can’t be close to the beach. So, our first priority is finding a suitable spot.”

William raised his hand. Professor Lincoln nodded, allowing him to ask his question.

“And after that? Will we be clearing the area of vegetation and any beasts?” William asked.

“That’s correct. We need to make sure this island is safe enough to start building, but clearing it of all the beasts is impossible. Look at how big it is,” Professor Lincoln said, gesturing towards the dense forest. “We should focus on finding a suitable spot and then clearing the area around it.”

The ideal location, the Professor explained, couldn’t be too close to the beach due to the risk of rising tides, but it also couldn’t be too far inland. It had to be somewhere in between. The students divided themselves into groups and began searching for a decent location.

William, however, decided to speak with the Professor privately.

“Wouldn’t it be more efficient to search for a spot using our flying mounts?” William asked.

Lincoln nodded. “Indeed. Shall we use your mount? It might be more discreet.”

They agreed to use William’s winged lizard, as it was smaller than Professor Lincoln’s. A smaller flying mount would attract less attention from any beasts inhabiting the island or the surrounding area.

Marcel and Denise decided to search on foot instead of joining them on the flying mount. William didn’t know their reason but didn’t question them; it was their choice, after all.

William and Professor Lincoln mounted the winged lizard and soared over the island, scanning for promising locations for their academy.

“Ideally, it should be near that river,” Lincoln said, pointing towards a flowing waterway. “This is the only source of drinkable water. We could use magic, but that’s something for the future. We need to focus on the present.”

The students weren’t skilled enough to create drinkable water—a challenging spell to master. Water conjured through magic typically contained mana, which could harm the drinker. Creating pure, mana-free water was a difficult feat.

The winged lizard circled the island, providing a bird’s-eye view of the diverse terrain. Dense forests gave way to rolling hills, rocky outcrops, and hidden valleys. Lincoln pointed out various potential locations, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some were close to the river but lacked defensible positions. Others offered natural barriers but were too isolated.

After a thorough aerial survey, they spotted a promising location. Nestled between a curve in the river and a steep cliff face, it offered both access to fresh water and natural protection. A dense forest bordered the area, providing resources and potential camouflage.

“That looks promising,” William commented, peering down at the clearing.

Lincoln nodded in agreement. “Let’s land and take a closer look.”

They guided the winged lizard down, landing gently in the clearing. As they dismounted, William felt a prickle of unease. The silence was unsettling, broken only by the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of unseen creatures.

“Stay alert,” Lincoln cautioned, drawing his staff. “We don’t know what might be lurking nearby.”

They cautiously explored the clearing, examining the terrain and vegetation. The soil was fertile, suitable for cultivation, and the forest offered a variety of useful plants and trees. However, signs of wildlife were abundant – tracks in the soft earth, disturbed foliage, and the lingering scent of predators.

“This place has potential,” Lincoln said, “but it will need to be secured.”

William nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He could sense the presence of unseen eyes, watching their every move. He activated his mana sense, trying to pinpoint the sources of his unease. Faint auras flickered at the edge of his perception, revealing the presence of several creatures lurking in the shadows.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the trees, followed by the snapping of twigs. A large, wolf-like creature emerged from the undergrowth, its eyes glowing with predatory intent. More shapes materialized from the shadows, encircling them.

“Looks like we have company,” Lincoln said, his voice calm but alert. “William, stay close.”

The wolf-like creature lunged, its jaws snapping, but William was ready. He met its aggression with a surge of mana, activating Enhanced Strength and Swiftfoot. His muscles coiled with power, and his movements became a blur as he sidestepped the creature’s attack and countered with a swift slash of his sword. The blade, imbued with his mana, sliced through the creature’s flank, drawing a howl of pain.

More creatures emerged from the shadows – a hulking crab with razor-sharp pincers, a serpentine creature with scales that shimmered like oil, and a bird-like monstrosity with razor-sharp talons. William felt a thrill of adrenaline course through him. This was a true test of his skills.

He engaged the crab, its massive claws snapping with frightening speed. William danced back, narrowly avoiding the attack, then used Kinetic Burst to close the distance in a flash. He unleashed a flurry of blows, his sword striking the creature’s vulnerable joints with pinpoint accuracy. The crab screeched, its legs buckling beneath its weight.

Meanwhile, Lincoln was a whirlwind of arcane energy. He summoned thick vines from the earth, ensnaring the serpentine creature and constricting its movements. Thorns erupted from the ground, impaling the bird-like creature as it swooped low, forcing it to screech and retreat.

William, feeling a surge of confidence, charged towards the wolf-like creature, which had recovered from its initial wound. He weaved through its snapping jaws, his sword a blur of motion. He aimed for its legs, hamstringing it with a precise strike. The creature collapsed, howling in frustration.

But the battle was far from over. The crab, its shell cracked but its spirit unbroken, lunged at William with renewed ferocity. One of its pincers caught him off guard, tearing through his armor and leaving a deep gash on his arm. William gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain. He channeled his mana into his sword, unleashing a powerful wave of energy that sent the crab flying backwards.

Lincoln, sensing William’s predicament, unleashed a torrent of earth spikes, impaling the crab and ending its threat. He then turned his attention to the remaining creatures, his spells weaving a tapestry of destruction and control. Giant roots erupted from the ground, ensnaring the serpentine creature and crushing its bones. The bird-like creature, riddled with thorns, finally succumbed to its wounds, crashing to the ground with a sickening thud.

The clearing fell silent. William, panting and bleeding, surveyed the scene. The ground was littered with the bodies of their attackers. He felt a pang of regret for the creatures they had slain but knew it had been a necessary fight.

Lincoln approached, his expression grim. “Are you alright, William?”

William nodded, wincing as he examined his wound. “It’s just a scratch. Nothing I can’t handle.”

Lincoln smiled. “You fought bravely, William. I’m impressed.”

William grinned back, feeling a surge of pride. “Thanks, Professor.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep