Chapter 24: A Battle to the Death

"AI chip, how long does it take him to cast Partial Petrification and Fireball?"

"Partial Petrification: 1.9 seconds."

"Fireball: 2.5 seconds."

Hutson's mind raced with calculations. As he had observed, spells cast through enchanted items were slightly slower than those conjured directly. 

His opponent's reaction time would give him a narrow window to strike.

A detailed top-down view of the meteor crater appeared in his vision—AI chip's tactical map overlaying reality.

The red-haired boy stood still, wary of making the first move. He, too, was cautious. He didn't dare approach recklessly.

Hutson remained crouched behind cover, knowing well that Fireball's destructive power was nothing to take lightly. He had to be precise. Moving low and carefully, he crept around the side of the dirt mound, keeping to the enemy's blind spots as mapped by AI chip.

The red-haired boy's instincts were sharp. He noticed the shift in Hutson's position, his enchanted ring flickering with a faint green glow—ready to unleash an attack at any moment.

Hutson edged closer, his fingers tightening around his bowstring.

Then, in one swift motion, he nocked three arrows at once, leaped out of cover, and let them fly.

As the arrows cut through the air, Hutson tossed aside his steel bow, drawing his longsword and charging forward.

The red-haired boy's pupils constricted. Reacting swiftly, he dodged sideways while activating Partial Petrification, his chest turning to hardened stone.

The first arrow struck the ground where he had stood.

The second buried itself in the dirt nearby.

The third met his petrified chest, bouncing off harmlessly in a spray of sparks.

Hutson saw his opening. He surged forward, blade flashing in the dim light, the steel's gleam reflected in his opponent's widening eyes.

The red-haired boy's ring flared with green light. A fireball materialized before him—at this close range, escape was impossible.

But Hutson didn't stop. He didn't even hesitate.

Instead, he accelerated.

The fireball launched forward, colliding with his raised sword in a deafening explosion.

BOOM!

Flames erupted, sparks flying in every direction.

"Reckless fool!" The red-haired boy sneered, confident in his victory.

Then, from within the storm of embers, a figure burst forth.

Hutson emerged, his hair ablaze, his clothes half-burned, his arms and shoulders seared by fire.

But he felt nothing.

His sword was still in his grip. His steps never faltered.

The red-haired boy's smirk vanished. A chill crawled up his spine. Impossible...

A split second before he could cast Partial Petrification, his world spun violently.

The last thing he saw was his own body—standing headless—before his consciousness was swallowed by darkness.

Hutson didn't stop. He drove his blade into the fallen corpse's vital points a few more times, ensuring the job was done.

Only then did he slump to the ground, pulling out his pocket watch.

A soft, white glow enveloped him, rapidly healing his burned flesh, though scars remained.

"Remaining mana: 40%."

From the very beginning, Hutson had chosen to gamble everything. Holding back would have only led to his death. His opponent had been too accustomed to caution, too reliant on his magic.

 When Hutson had charged head-on, tanking the fireball, the red-haired boy had been caught completely off guard.

At the end of the day, wizard apprentices were still human—decapitation killed them all the same.

Hutson pried the enchanted ring from the severed hand. The moment he touched it, an influx of information flooded his mind.

"Soro's Fireball Ring: Enchanted with the Zero-Rank Spell—Lesser Fireball."

Besides the ring, he rummaged through the boy's belongings, finding a small fortune in gold coins and an old book:

"Zero-Rank Spells: A Detailed Guide to Partial Petrification."

Nothing else of value. He held up the ring, channeling a sliver of mana into it.

A small fireball materialized instantly, flickering with heat.

He cast it downward. The flames engulfed the lifeless corpse, ensuring no trace remained.

"Remaining mana: 5%."

Fatigue washed over him like a tidal wave. His mind ached, as if he had been awake for days without rest.

Still, he had no time to linger. This red-haired apprentice had a master somewhere. Hutson had no intention of waiting for retribution.

He gathered dry wood from the surroundings, stoking the flames until the body was nothing but ash.

Then, without looking back, he mounted his horse and rode away.

On his way back, he encountered a merchant caravan. His tattered, half-burned clothes drew more than a few concerned glances.

He tossed a handful of copper coins to a trader. "Clothes. Whatever you've got."

For ten copper, he donned a new set of garments and disappeared into the night.

Hutson's powerful, battle-hardened physique did not go unnoticed by the women in the caravan. Many cast lingering glances his way, some even boldly pulling aside the curtains of their carriages, extending invitations with coy smiles.

He merely chuckled, shaking his head in polite refusal. Changing into his newly acquired clothes, he nudged his horse's flank, galloping back toward Swan City without hesitation.

Upon returning home, the estate was eerily quiet. He was alone—Melissa was likely still at the academy.

Setting his belongings aside, he carefully unwrapped the Meteor Grass, washing it thoroughly. According to the Starry Sky Meditation Technique, it needed to be brewed into a medicinal infusion.

One stalk of Meteor Grass could be steeped three times before its potency diminished. Given the crater's vast expanse, finding even this single specimen had been an ordeal—one that had nearly cost him his life.

With practiced efficiency, he set the water to boil and began the preparation.

As the Meteor Grass simmered, the water took on a deep, eerie green hue, and an acrid, pungent scent filled the air. It looked—and smelled—like something utterly unfit for human consumption.

Hutson hesitated briefly, then poured himself a cup.

Waiting a moment for it to cool, he took a cautious sip.

The taste was indescribable. Bitter, metallic, and revolting.

Suppressing a grimace, he forced it down, his throat burning as he swallowed.

Then, closing his eyes, he began to meditate.

The Starry Sky Meditation Technique did not require the night; as long as one had gazed upon the stars, their imprint remained in the mind, serving as a gateway to deeper contemplation. Only when seeking new constellations did the practice demand the true night sky.

The effects of the Meteor Grass were immediate. The stars in his mind's eye grew denser, their formations solidifying at a remarkable pace.

Estimating the increase, Hutson concluded that meditation under its influence was five to six times more effective than usual.

As he emerged from his trance, a realization struck him.

"The difference between those with resources and those without… it's staggering."

Exhaling slowly, he reached for the tome he had taken from the red-haired boy:

"Zero-Rank Spell: A Detailed Guide to Partial Petrification."

Flipping through its pages, Hutson studied its origins.

The spell had been developed through the dissection of a Basilisk, a creature whose gaze alone could turn living beings to stone. Wizards, fascinated by its abilities, had sought to unravel the secrets of its petrifying magic.

Through rigorous research, they had successfully extracted the core principles and formulated Partial Petrification—a spell allowing a mage to momentarily transform parts of their body into hardened stone, enhancing both defensive resilience and physical attack power, all without the lethal drawbacks of full petrification.

Unlike higher-tier spells, Zero-Rank spells required no complex rituals. Instead, learning one demanded the construction of a spell model within the mind—a metaphysical blueprint that, once stabilized, allowed for instinctive casting.

Even among First-Class Wizard Apprentices, Partial Petrification was considered a fundamental technique.

Yet for Hutson, who had never before worked with spell models, it was still a formidable challenge.

A spell model detailed the precise mana circulation paths, flow mechanics, and corresponding spell formulas—a meticulous fusion of mathematics and magical theory. The more advanced a spell, the more intricate its formulas and parameters became, exponentially increasing the cognitive load required to master it.

Hutson smirked.

"I've conquered far more complex studies in my past life. A mere Zero-Rank spell won't stop me."

His resolve hardened.

"AI chip, analyze and construct the spell model for Partial Petrification."

"Task archived. Estimated time: 25 minutes. Estimated mana consumption: 34.7%."

Hutson sat back, eyes gleaming.

His journey on the path of wizardry had only just begun.