Sorcerer: I want to be an Academic Prodigy

It must be said, having cultivated to the level of Ancient Kings and roaming the Star Realm River for years, they naturally had their own trump cards in hand.

The Red Bone King, Duweit, possessed exceptionally tenacious lifeforce. He was the first to break free from the constrictive tendrils, unleashing a surge of red-and-black interwoven energy that burst through the obstruction and transformed into black smoke tinged with a crimson gleam, fleeing far away.

Next was the Evil Wing King, Dokali, who quickly recovered her senses from disorientation. Her body began to swell uncontrollably, causing the tendrils entwining her to snap one by one.

Dokali's true form turned out to be that of a sub-dragon, equipped with two pairs of robust and fearsome Evil Dragon Wings.

The Evil Winged Dragon flapped its wings, preparing for its own escape.

"Not bad, but you're not going anywhere."

There was no way Ivan would allow his enemies to escape repeatedly. He casually hurled out a towering Soul Tower, which expanded dramatically in the wind and came crashing down upon the Evil Winged Dragon, who was ready to soar into the skies.

The Evil Winged Dragon wavered momentarily, though it was less pronounced compared to when she had been struck by the dark purple light, which had completely blanked her mind before.

"My lord, please show mercy. I'm willing to swear a Chaotic Oath and serve you henceforth."

Seeing the eerie, flame-wreathed tendrils closing in once more, Dokali felt her soul nearly leave her body in terror. In just a brief moment before, she had lost vast amounts of power and lifeforce. She hurriedly forced out a pleading remark.

Being a decisive individual, she didn't wait for Ivan's response before hastily initiating a Chaotic Oath, the contents of which were extremely disadvantageous to her.

This kind of Chaotic Oath was a commonly used method among those roaming the starways. Should anyone violate it, they would inevitably be dragged into the Chaotic World and obliterated by its forces.

Now, with her life on the line, Dokali could only gamble for a sliver of survival using this method.

"Speak. Show me your worth."

Her gambit seemed to work, as the terrifying lord eased his suppressive methods and asked in a faint tone.

"Beyond my own power, I also know some secrets about the High Chief, including his true race and the hidden mysteries of the Skeleton Battleship."

To save her life, Dokali's mind raced as she tried to reveal something of value.

"Continue."

Ivan further eased his oppressive techniques, replacing the tendrils that pierced into her body with simple bindings, and tempering the soul fire slightly.

Dokali, keenly aware of this shift, let out a faint sigh of relief. Her life seemed safe for now.

"The Red Bone King's true identity is that of a Red Devil hailing from the Abyss Plane. The Skeleton Battleship has secrets tied to the ancient bones of a beast forming its foundation. Judging from your earlier statements, I have a bold hypothesis—it's quite possible those ancient bones belong to the Supreme Red. Please take caution, master."

She didn't dare hold anything back, hurriedly spilling everything she knew.

As the second-in-command of a bandit gang, Dokali naturally noticed things most others wouldn't. However, constrained by the High Chief's unfathomable power, she had refrained from acting recklessly and kept her observations to herself until now.

But now, anything that could save her life was worth divulging.

"Have you been part of the New Crimson Legion?"

"Absolutely not. Duweit never revealed such an identity, so we had no chance to join."

"Very well, I'll give you the chance to join the Black Star Legion."

Ivan shifted back into human form while retracting all the tendrils.

To his left hovered a gray-blue small tower, the Wood Soul Tower, a Level 1 Original Force Treasure. To his right floated a Small Glazed Lamp, a unique artifact newly refined through his wisdom and power—the Lamp of True Insight.

This Lamp of True Insight possessed extraordinary properties, and the dark purple light earlier had been a demonstration of its capabilities.

At this point, Dokali had mostly recovered from the turmoil caused by the Wood Soul Tower, though the third and fourth bandit chiefs had grown extremely weak and were promptly sealed into the tower, utterly subdued.

"I am willing. Thank you, my lord."

Dokali, witnessing this scene, felt a chill in her heart and silently thanked her timely submission.

As a thief surviving in the Star Realm River, her status beneath the Red Bone King indicated little hesitation toward submitting to others. Betraying her allegiance to join someone else hardly weighed on her conscience.

Moreover, with the Chaotic Oath already sworn, this would surely be her final change of allegiance.

This lord didn't seem inclined to treat her as a mere slave or servant, which was indeed a good turn of events.

Thus, Ivan skillfully incorporated Dokali into his Black Star Legion. From this moment forward, she became the third Ancient King of the legion, with the second being Jenny, who had advanced to Level 5 seven years prior.

"The Devil Clan?"

"Indeed. The Devil Clan is typically categorized by color-coded branches. Red Devils often wield power over fire and thunder, as well as the eerie Nether Ghost Power."

After settling the matter of the Evil Wing King, Ivan began carefully pondering the identity of the High Chief.

So, it turned out to be a member of the Abyss Plane's Devil Clan. How very interesting. The interwoven histories between sorcerers and Devils could hardly be summarized in a few words, and now there was an opportunity to delve deeper into them.

His thoughts stirred, a contemplative expression forming.

At this point, the High Chief had already returned to the Skeleton Battleship and would likely refrain from revealing himself easily again.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield below, companions like Yunfen and Sairang, guided meticulously by Ivan, wielded magic artifacts and employed formations to devastating effect. Their tactics far surpassed that of the star bandits, causing their foes to retreat steadily without Ivan needing to intervene.

"My lord, allow me to lead the way for you." Dokali, ever perceptive, noticed his intention to head toward the Skeleton Battleship and willingly prostrated herself as his steed.

"Fine." Ivan didn't refuse.

As he stepped onto the back of the Evil Winged Dragon, he undertook another act—relinquishing the concealment of his earlier sensing. Once more, that uneasy feeling welled up within him.

This unease seemed instinctual.

Sorcerers and Devils.

If his suspicions were accurate, the two races were natural archenemies. The origin of this enmity likely involved higher-level truths, reaching up to the great will of the Danaila Plane itself.

After all, the emergence of sorcerers was facilitated by the great will of Danaila, who instilled a mission within them, creating this fateful opposition between sorcerers and Devils.

This revelation would undoubtedly be of great significance to the entire sorcerer world.

"Swish!"

The Evil Winged Dragon flapped its wings forcefully, swiftly bringing Ivan above the Skeleton Battleship and diving straight into its depths.

Guided by Ivan, the Evil Winged Dragon made no pause, flying directly toward the inner sanctum of the battleship, apparently heading straight for High Chief Duweit.

"Damn you, Dokali! How dare you betray me?! You'll all pay with your lives!"

Duweit was waiting for them within a palace. Seeing the state of the Evil Winged Dragon, the situation could not have been clearer. Enraged, the High Chief erupted into curses.

The palace was spacious and empty, carrying a faint air of an ancient shrine.

"Hah! You, the almighty Red Bone King, ran off all by yourself earlier—some leader you are!"

The Evil Winged Dragon landed in front of the palace, retorting angrily at the words it had heard. If only the High Chief had lent a helping hand before, there might have been a fighting chance. She wouldn't have surrendered so readily.

And yet, this shameless figure still had the audacity for criticism.

Ivan ignored the pair's exchange of insults, focusing instead on two noteworthy objects within the palace: the Crimson Legion's war banner and an ancient war drum likely tied to the same legion.

The banner and drum sat on either side of Duweit, positioned not far from him.

In just a short time, much of Duweit's prior injuries had healed.

Furthermore, as the true inheritor of the Crimson Legion, he likely held other hidden cards, yet Ivan showed no signs of hesitation.

"Traitor, do you have the courage to announce your name?"

"If you want a fight, then fight. Look at your endless chatter—what kind of leader are you?"

"You wretch! I'll grant your wish and send you to your death!"

Duweit could sense the peculiar connection between their entities, yet his boiling hatred left no room for such contemplation.

No matter the circumstances, his objective remained the same: annihilate that person in front of him.

With Duweit's furious roar, the war banner stirred without wind, and the war drum beside it sounded without being struck. Familiar crimson light surged from all corners of the battleship, swiftly enveloping the palace in its glow.