Sorcerer’s Handbook

It’s over!

Ashe stared at the Crimson Chains covering his body, falling into a bewildered stupor.

Putting aside how to break free from these chains, even if he managed to, the Wind Blade above his head wasn’t exactly for keeping cool.

The Wind Blade was only targeting Valcas because he was boldly obstructing its path. Once Ashe decided not to continue kneeling, it was hard to say whether the Wind Blade would choose him, an easier target, to squeeze first.

Moreover, Ashe had no way to break free from the Crimson Chains!

It’s over; this was certain death. Should he call the Swordswoman? But aside from spectating, there wasn’t much she could do…

Just as Ashe tried to empty his mind, preparing himself for end-of-life care, he suddenly felt a slight movement.

No, it wasn’t him moving; it was the ground.

Looking down, Ashe noticed the ground beneath him seemed ‘alive,’ carrying him backward as if he were swimming, with the Crimson Chains showing no reaction. After all, the chains were connected to the ground, and naturally, they moved with it.

Could it be that the wise earth recognized me as a handsome and kind-hearted environmentalist and decided to save my life?

But when Ashe was carried to the edge of the platform and saw Harvey summoning a spirit to control the earth, he was deeply moved by this sincere prison friendship.

“If you want to die next time, could you come to me? I’m quite skilled, and I offer after-sales service. You just need to give me your spirit as a reward before you die,” Harvey said in a hushed voice. “If the Executioner mistakenly kills a non-trial target, it can go into a berserk mode and attack indiscriminately. There have been one or two incidents like that before, with the Death row inmates getting wiped out!”

“…I was just about to resolve to be tolerant of your… preferences.”

“What?”

“Why do you have an Earth Magic spirit? Aren’t you from the Necromancy Faction?”

“Nowadays, the common burial methods include in-earth, cremation, and water burial. As a Necromancer, mastery of Earth Magic, Fire Magic, and Water Art is essential. Otherwise, how can one be a Necromancer?”

Well, Ashe had thought that being a corpse scavenger was just a side job for Necromancers, not realizing that the main Occupation direction for Necromancers was to join a funeral home.

Clang!

Valcas suddenly thrust his longsword into the ground, and a deep yellow Sword Qi erupted, forming a barrier around him like a fortress, shielding him from the chaotic flow of the Wind Blade.

“Miracle Sword Barrier,” Nago commented appreciatively. “A very nice Swordsmanship Defensive Miracle, but it will only give Mr. Uhl a moment’s respite. Such futile struggle, how laborious, how humble, but don’t worry, the Titan Executioner will swiftly end his suffering… Oh?”

Facing the Titan Executioner, who approached like an avalanche or a tsunami, Valcas did not retreat or show fear. Instead, he adopted the Elves’ sword stance, called forth several spirits, his body aglow with Circulation, his longsword ringing out. Amidst the howling gale, a dark symphony of slaughter suddenly played, as if the Grim Reaper had descended!

“If I’m not mistaken, Mr. Uhl is now preparing the new Swordsmanship Miracle that he, as a Researcher, has invented – the Ruthless Finale!”

Nago seemed excited as well: “His last research report was published nine years ago. Back then, the Ruthless Finale was too cumbersome to be tested in Combat, but now, after nine years, Mr. Uhl has perfected the Ruthless Finale and even intends to use it to counter the Tribunal!”

Elves wielding swords, ominous music in accompaniment, the underdog challenging the verdict, the sinner defying judgment!

Watching the solitary figure in front of the Titan Executioner, Ashe couldn’t help but ask Harvey, “Why him?”

“Hmm?”

“Why did he get 50% of the votes? It should have been me who got the most Redemption Tickets, considering the crimes and exposure. No matter how I think about it, it shouldn’t have been Valcas who got the most votes, let alone an absolute majority of 50%… What exactly did he do wrong to provoke such wrath?”

Harvey glanced at Ashe, “Isn’t it obvious?”

“What’s obvious? I’ve looked at his criminal record, it’s quite ordinary, far less significant than yours.”

“It’s not the crimes listed in his record.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s the fault of his appearance, his Bloodline, his birth.”

Ashe blinked.

“He is an Elf, and that’s his biggest mistake.”

Harvey continued, “Appearance, martial prowess, intelligence, lifespan – Elves have advantages over other Races in all these aspects. Moreover, Elves are few in number, and to protect their communal interests, the fewer Elves are more likely to band together and help each other. The highly intelligent Elves would never skimp on the effort to assist their kin.”

“Elves are almost always adopted by the best Nurseries, seen as ‘stewards of society’, and widely involved in various managerial roles. With their longevity plus their outstanding appearance and exceptional knowledge, it’s almost impossible for other Races to compete with Elves for management positions. Though it’s said that managers and employees are equals, everyone knows that’s just lip service.”

“Who hasn’t experienced the brutality of Ogre colleagues, the laziness of Goblin co-workers, the sloppiness of Orc peers, and the harshness of an Elf supervisor in the workplace?”

“In the history of the Blood Moon Tribunal in Kaimon City, there has never been an Elf criminal. Not only because Elves are mostly in the upper echelons of society with no need to commit crimes, but also because Elves protect each other, relying on their Bloodline ties to form a united front – something other Races cannot do.”

“Goblins are shortsighted, Orcs are ignorant, Ogres are cunning, Humans are selfish… In front of Elves, we can only feel… inferior.”

“Even I cast a vote for Valcas just now.”

Harvey said softly, “This might be the only chance for most people to trample on an Elf.”

Ashe looked again at the Titan Executioner, but this time, he didn’t see a ferocious monster but rather a murky rage, the hysterical immense pressure of countless ordinary people coming together.

Although Ashe, apart from the Swordswoman, had never seen any ordinary people – the prison was filled with nothing but Prison Guards and Death row inmates – he could understand the sentiments of the people outside.

It was despair born from an orderly society, anger stemming from a chasm that seemed insurmountable.

In the Blood Moon Kingdom, where socialized rearing is the norm, most people are categorized from infancy into different levels of potential. Those with high potential are sent to good Nurseries, and those with low potential to poor ones. Right from the start, there’s a division, and the life outcomes as one grows up can be drastically different.

Those born into better circumstances, like the Elves, typically take on respectable occupations. Becoming a Sorcerer isn’t unusual for them; but for those born into worse conditions, as Ashe has seen from the criminal histories of Goblins, Orcs, and Ogres, they either do physical labor or become hoodlums, with a seemingly predetermined life trajectory.

And those at the bottom don’t even have the right to complain.

Because people of higher status are considered better than you, everyone comes from a Nursery, without any capital other than ability.

It’s just that their Talent is better than yours, which is why they could go to a better Nursery, and why they can gradually accumulate wealth like a snowball rolling down a hill, eventually standing on top of you.

A society divided by ability almost extinguishes the courage to cross social classes.

Ashe fully understands the meaning of the Blood Moon Tribunal.

Under the oppressive class barriers that suffocate people’s desire for a better life, twisted desires only breed resentment and anger.

When order dictates that you’ll never have your day in the sun, breaking the shackles becomes a matter of time. Moreover, in the Blood Moon Kingdom where the family system has completely vanished, everyone is an island, without any concerns for repercussions for their actions.

Thus, three things must be told to the public: First, breaking the law will lead to a terrible death; second, even those of high status can die a terrible death; third, those of you who are content with the status quo are the luckiest.

Ashe is a Sacrifice, Harvey is a Sacrifice, all Death row inmates are Sacrifices, and Valcas is the most satisfying Sacrifice of all.

Just as the Titan Executioner was poised to strike at a critical moment, Valcas suddenly turned his head and looked at Ashe.

Ashe was taken aback.

Why is he looking at me?

But in the next second, the Death row inmates around Ashe scrambled away from him, with Harvey even hauling earth to put distance between them. Ashe immediately understood.

Damn, Valcas wouldn’t be thinking of using me as a body shield, would he!?

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