Overpowered Wizard

Chapter 297: B3: C87: Selfishness and Updates 2

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“We did good work,” Zarian commented.

“I need more traits for all those advancers and combiners,” Hannah said.

“You think we get a cool laser gun for fighting aliens?” Gilbert asked.

“I’ve already reverse-engineered the magic rail cannons,” Hannah said.

“Yeah, but those aren’t, y’know, like real alien guns,” Gilbert argued.

“I want a cool alien dress from a far away world,” Bianca said dreamily.

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“Damn, I didn’t even know I did that much healing. And how the hell did I shoot up to being the 1st Healer?” Gilbert asked.

“Congrats! We probably climbed the ranks because we stopped the invasion.” Bianca clapped for him.

“Huh. I guess that makes sense. Still a shocker for me to be first in anything here in magic fantasyland,” Gilbert admitted.

“I’m a little envious. I don’t think I’ll get 1st Crafter,” Hannah grumbled.

Zarian paid more attention to the new skill evolutions and the Aura Drain trait Gilbert had gotten. Based on the names alone, Zarian felt Gilbert’s solo adventures into the high level wilderness shouldn’t go too badly. That and all of Gilbert’s earnings should give him a decent enough profile for dishing out damage or outlasting an enemy.

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Before anyone could say anything, Hannah’s aura supply and regeneration exploded into a new gear. The gushing aura overcharged nearby enchantments and pushed their capacity to their limits, making their booth private to where they were invisible and hard to seek.

So much aura ran from Hannah’s new trait through Zarian that he was getting drunk off it.

It took everyone some time to get their bearings, Hannah especially, her face reddening.

“Uh ... let’s continue, shall we?”

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They all nodded while adding in some congrats, Zarian especially. Hannah’s going to be okay on her own.

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“Damn, Bianca,” Zarian said.

The others looked at the Radiant Queen warily as Bianca continued to sit serenely at their booth, seemingly unbothered and unchanged. She slowly turned to Zarian.

“Want me to duel her?” Bianca asked. “I’ve held back because I feel it would do more harm than good. And ... Foodie’s hogging her attention.”

Zarian blinked. “Foodie?”

“She’s been challenging her auntie every couple of days,” Hannah explained. “It’s for the sake of your honor, and so far, Ariana seems to handle your daughter ... gently. Far more gently than she would with others.”

“Like I said, the mission to redeem remains the same,” Gilbert said. “As much as Ariana says she’s all evil, she’s not. She can be redeemed. Just gotta have faith.”

Zarian rubbed at his face. He was a mess. His little sister was a mess. But just like how he had some evil in him, Ariana might have some good in her.

Maybe Foodie’s presence might do even more good for Ariana. Maybe.

Though, Zarian had to admit, having a little goblin girl go up against the ultimate dragon goddess was a little extreme.

He glanced at Bianca’s cheery smile and thought over her offer.

“Maybe later,” Zarian said. “I think Ariana has more powers and tricks than she lets on. She remembers every loop. She’s ...”

“Going to have countless years of knowledge and practice,” Hannah finished. “Not only is she powerful, she has more time than any god around. She’s the ultimate regressor, in a sense.”

Bianca seemed to dim a little after hearing that. “Huh ... I didn’t want to say this because I’m no Debbie Downer like some people.” Bianca fluttered her eyelashes in Hannah’s direction before continuing. “But I might’ve gotten a lucky hit when Ariana least expected it.”

Zarian didn’t want to admit it himself, so he was glad Bianca recognized her one win on The Dragoness as a lucky one. That was wise of her.

He trusted she could handle herself just fine in the Promised Continent, especially with her free good +10. If she could dig deep enough, the damage Bianca could do in one attack would be too scary for even Zarian to face directly.

“Before you go, Bianca, want to have a few sword spars?” Zarian asked. “I could use the backup training in case people get close to me. And you’re ... well ... a sword saint now. So it’ll be pretty badass.”

“Okay!”

Now onto the last one.

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Zarian held his tongue.

Nobody said anything for a few minutes.

“I’m going to sweat blood trying to keep up,” Hannah said, sighing.

“I’ll pray for the rest of us,” Gilbert said, also sighing.

“Come on, guys, it’s going to be fun! All we have to do is do our best!” Bianca raised a fist.

The other two glowered at her before breaking out the congrats for Zarian. It was going to be interesting seeing how they keep up the grind while he delved deeper into his own personal power.

Once they were all caught up and motivated by their gains and future prospects, they split off.

“You’ve been quiet, Para,” Zarian murmured as he walked the halls with more certainty.

“I enjoy listening,” Para said. “And I don’t need to speak to be present.”

Zarian leaned his face to the side and nuzzled his cheek against the scary phantom noodle coiled on his shoulder. At the very least, growing his personal power and expertise meant he could focus on weaving Para’s powers with his even more.

“I feel lighter,” he admitted.

Para nodded her little serpent head. “I know why. You don’t have to worry about our friends. They’ll be okay without us, and you can focus on yourself.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right. I guess for now, the Floridians can go solo and level up for themselves. And I can be ... more selfish. And that’s okay. That’s not bad.”

“No, it is not bad,” Para reaffirmed. “You deserve to take care of yourself, Zarian. Your friends are your friends because you can work well together and you can be away and still be friends. And isn’t that wonderful?”

Zarian found a hidden corner to wipe the wetness out of his eyes. He had to cast Void Parade to avoid Bianca who came running around the corner, as if sensing something that a Dark Emperor wouldn’t ever do in front of others.

Reappearing out of the void, Zarian stopped in front of Ruvaria’s room and knocked on her door.

She might not be there. She might be in her labs beneath the surface.

Still, she opened the door and appeared in front of him.

Zarian calmly got on his knees and kowtowed at Ruvaria’s feet.

“This foolish student apologizes to the teacher for breaking our lessons and neglecting our arrangements. This student must also ask that the teacher increase the intensity of the instructions and help make the student stronger and greater with power that comes from the wizardry and magic, and not fully from the heritage and name. Especially in the next two months, if the teacher is willing.”

He kept his head down. He didn’t use his aura to perceive Ruvaria’s reactions, leaving himself vulnerable and uncertain, his gut clenching tensely. After a long few minutes of nothing, he felt her porcelain hand touch his face.

She nudged his head off the floor until he was looking into her eyes, one real, one false, both shining with emerald light on a pale and pretty face.

“Yes, I can see it. You’re hungrier. More desperate, but not overtly so. Excellent.” Ruvaria nodded once. “Very well. I will put you through suffering and torment you’ve never seen and strengthen your foundations. By the time you reach the tournament, you won’t even recognize yourself completely.”

Zarian shook a little, her words striking like thunder. He knew he was in for a world of hurt, and he wanted nothing less.

Ruvaria nodded again. “Now stand and come along. There is much to do, student.”

For the next two months, Ruvaria put Zarian through training that went beyond what the modern elves knew. She put him through training from the Absolute Era, passed down from her ancestors to Ruvaria and now to Zarian.

She even showed off more of her time magic, stretching two months into six months within certain underground zones.

He needed the time. He had a lot to study, practice, and refine. He had a lot to suffer through as he sweated and vomited blood every other day, never getting much relief.

She put him under pressure that would’ve melted most students, flattened them into paste, rip their souls out of their bodies, or simply turned them to dust. She showed him a merciless teaching style that would’ve scared the devils of Hidden Hell.

But through her cruelty, she nurtured his transformation, as if she was creating a wizarding monster, a Sorcerer Prince, even. She gave him everything he could want in their limited time.

And Zarian loved every brutal and crazy second as he grew stronger and greater, his foundations deepening, his capabilities expanding, his focus sharpening to a fine edge.

Then their preparation was up, and the time arrived for Zarian to leave his empire and head to Carrowmore.