"No, you can't kill me... please don't kill me!"
Feeling Roy's approach, Melina's face turned as pale as paper, and her body trembled slightly.
She tried to get up again, but the Blackening Potion was continuously eroding her flesh and destroying her functions, making it difficult for her to do so.
She could only maintain a limp posture on the ground, breathing weakly with her eyes closed.
"I was wrong, Roy!
I shouldn't have thought that you were new and easy to bully, and then come after you."
Melina said with deep regret.
Roy was slightly surprised: "That's it?"
He had been wondering why Melina had been chasing him like a sworn enemy.
So she really was just picking on the weak.
"I violated the alliance, I broke my oath, that's why I'm suffering this misfortune. I'm willing to accept punishment, willing to use treasures as compensation...
Treasures, yes, I have several treasures in my Spatial Ring, all obtained from Chalkland.
This is the treasure trove we explored on this trip, the things inside are of profound depth, don't you want them?"
Melina's voice was full of temptation.
"If you're willing to spare me, I can give you anything!
But if you're not willing to spare me, you'll get nothing!"
For a moment, Roy was indeed tempted.
He knew Melina was telling the truth.
Killing a Spellcaster who possesses a Storage Wizardry Artifact doesn't necessarily guarantee obtaining treasures.
These items are locked with Arcane Imprints, and technical cracking at best only gives you an uncertain "treasure chest," what you get from it is purely a gamble.
And violent cracking is even more likely to end up with nothing.
The Spatial Ring, that's something involving spatial power, not so easy to crack.
But hesitation was only momentary.
Roy thrust his sword, piercing her heart amidst her shock and astonishment.
"Roy!"
Melina's vitality was tenacious, even with her heart pierced, she still held on, clenching her teeth, trying to resist.
Only then did Roy notice that the color of her blood was somewhat off.
It seemed to be a Wizard Body Modification method similar to his own Blood Mercury, or perhaps a modification for eternal youth.
Although the density of Wizardry Energy was far inferior to his Blood Mercury, the weakness of the heart was also eliminated, making it not so easy to die from a pierced vital point.
At this moment, Roy suddenly sensed a mental force trying to communicate with the ring.
Melina was trying to retrieve something from it, but because of her severe injuries, her mind was somewhat dazed, so she couldn't succeed immediately.
"I knew it wouldn't be that easy!"
Roy snorted coldly, still decisive, he pulled out his sword and slashed down.
This attack was powerful, directly crushing her skull along with the brain inside.
A ghostly figure, faintly glowing with a white light, floated up.
Roy was slightly surprised, then realized that this was Melina's spirit.
He currently didn't possess such a powerful Wizardry that could casually crush both flesh and soul.
And Melina's mental strength was strong enough, or perhaps she had practiced some secret technique, allowing her to linger briefly.
Melina trembled with anger: "Why? Why must you kill me?
I had already submitted!"
"Sorry, I can't judge whether you're sincere or not.
If I had already attained the strength of a Wizard, perhaps I might have spared you.
But now, I can only ask you to meet your end."
Roy spoke in a deep voice while cautiously retreating.
"I hate this!"
Feeling Roy's resolve, Melina's remnant soul was utterly despairing.
"So close! Just a little more!
..."
She chanted a spell unwillingly, her low murmurs resonating in the air, causing the surrounding void to tremble.
Roy was startled: "No way, she can still cast spells in this state?
Wait, what kind of spell is this? It doesn't seem like the 'Summoning Art' she used before!"
He quickly distanced himself, preparing for another round of battle, or even a hasty escape.
But soon, he realized his worries were unnecessary.
Melina's chanting of the spell only accelerated her demise a thousandfold, as it intensely mobilized her spiritual power.
Her soul was struck as if by lightning, and suddenly, all her senses began to fade.
"Ah!"
In her wailing, her form dissipated like smoke, turning into faint white specks that dimly vanished into the air.
...
Roy waited for a while before approaching again to confirm that Melina was truly dead.
He first took her Spatial Ring, then stripped her of her clothes, throwing them aside.
He poured the Blackening Potion, and soon, smoke rose from multiple spots. Quickly, this senior sister turned into a fleshless skeleton.
Then, the skeleton's color gradually deepened, softening and dissolving in the small puddle formed by the flesh's liquefaction.
Roy inspected the items.
The short wooden staff, the clothes, etc., although they were all Enchanted Items with certain enhancements and defensive properties, they weren't worth much attention.
What truly mattered was the Spatial Ring, a Storage Wizardry Artifact.
With Melina dead, no one in the world knew the passphrase she had set. It might require 'Spirit Communication Art' or divination methods to attempt, and success wasn't guaranteed.
The investment and the potential output were also uncertain.
If he ended up with some worthless junk, it would truly be a loss.
And if he used the most brute-force method to crack it, it could easily damage the Aether Space inside, possibly yielding nothing.
The moment it was successfully opened, the contents inside would be banished to an unknown location.
Such things couldn't be nested into his own ring like a Russian doll.
Therefore, after a glance, he knew he couldn't handle this thing in a short time.
He simply pocketed this somewhat delicate silver ring, planning to ponder over it later.
"I've wasted some time here, I wonder how things are over there..."
Roy was hesitating whether to go back and check when he suddenly heard a loud explosion from several kilometers away.
It was the sound of Alchemy Bombs and Elemental Orbs detonating.
"They're fighting fiercely!"
He watched from afar for a while, then turned and left.
There was no need to wade into the muddy waters anymore. Entering Chalkland was to secure resources for future development, and he had already gained enough.
After returning, it was essential to digest what he had obtained and advance to a full-fledged Wizard!
Not everyone on this journey had the same intentions.
Some quick-witted individuals seemed to consider robbing him along the way, aiming for a risk-free profit.
However, apart from Olen, Balu, and Sophia, no other apprentices posed any threat to him.
They even recognized Roy from a distance and immediately turned around to flee.
Thus, the journey back was smooth and uneventful.
(End of Chapter)