The Wolf of Chaos

The academy's marketplace, known as the Scarlet Bazaar, was a bustling hub filled with students and merchants.

Primarily frequented by first and second-year practical students and theory students, the bazaar was alive with vibrant activity.

Stalls lined the cobbled streets, offering everything from rare herbs and potions to enchanted weapons and magical artifacts.

The air was filled with the sounds of haggling and the enticing aroma of street food.

"Wow, this place is crowded and there are a lot of different students,"

Oasis thought as he navigated through the throng of people, his eyes scanning the various shops and stalls for a blacksmith.

After a few minutes of walking, he spotted a sign that read 'Ethereal Refiners' on one of the buildings.

"Ethereal Refiners," Oasis read aloud as he approached the entrance.

He stepped inside and was immediately struck by the cleanliness and organization of the shop.

Weapons, armors, and various artifacts were neatly displayed on shelves, each piece meticulously arranged.

"Not bad... not bad," Oasis thought, nodding appreciatively as he took in his surroundings.

An old man emerged from the back room, his eyes twinkling with a welcoming smile.

"Hey lad, welcome to Ethereal Refiners. How can I help you?"

"Oi, greetings, sir," Oasis responded politely.

"I'm looking for some weights or maybe some gravitational artifacts... i don't know..."

The old man nodded, understanding what Oasis needed.

"Oh lad, I've got you. I think an artifact would be best for you since you can use your mana to adjust the weight."

He gestured for Oasis to follow him.

"Come lad, I have some options for you."

He led Oasis to another section of the store, where a set of gear was displayed: a vest, armbands, a waist belt, and anklets.

"Here, this is the weight adjustment artifact set."

"But these don't look heavy. They just look like ordinary clothing," Oasis said skeptically.

"Yes, yes lad, that's the charm of it. Try this." The old man handed Oasis one of the armbands.

"Store some mana in it."

Oasis did as instructed, and the armband's weight suddenly increased, dragging him to the floor.

!!!

"Ka ka ka... easy lad. I told you," the old man laughed as he absorbed the mana from the band, decreasing its weight.

"What pure and potent mana this lad has," the old man thought to himself, impressed.

Oasis scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Oh, I see. Not bad, I like the set."

The old man smiled warmly.

"I like your attitude, lad, so I'll discount it and give it to you for 100 silver coins or 1000 low-grade mana stones."

"Alright, here," Oasis said, handing over a gold coin, equivalent to 100 silver coins.

"Come back again, lad," the old man waved as Oasis left the shop.

Oasis moved through the Scarlet Bazaar, feeling satisfied after securing the weight adjustment artifact set.

The marketplace was bustling, with students and merchants exchanging goods and information.

The air was filled with the scents of exotic foods and the sounds of lively chatter.

!!!

Suddenly, Oasis sensed someone approaching him quickly.

"Someone is approaching me, and fast at that," he thought, becoming alert as he felt a dangerous presence closing in.

"Interesting, he felt my presence," thought the figure, moving swiftly and silently through the crowd, not disturbing anyone as he advanced toward Oasis.

Before Oasis could fully react, the figure grabbed him by the forehead with a strong grip.

!!!

"Dammit, so strong," Oasis thought, struggling but unable to break free.

The figure continued moving, carrying Oasis effortlessly out of the marketplace.

Within minutes, despite Oasis's attempts to resist, they arrived at a clearing near a small river.

The figure then hurled Oasis into the river with the force of a missile.

"Dammit, who is this? He is so strong, I can't balance," Oasis thought as he skimmed across the water like a skipping stone. 

After a few moments, he managed to regain control using his wind magic.

Stabilizing himself, he leaped to the ground on the other side of the river, landing with a thud.

"Fascinating, Oasis, that's good," the figure shouted from the opposite bank.

As Oasis caught his breath, the figure leaped across the river, landing effortlessly beside him.

"Damn, he's coming again," Oasis thought, bracing himself.

"Nice to meet you, junior brother. Call me Zion," the figure said, his tone friendly but commanding.

"Oh, Senior Brother Zion, it's you. I can see you resemble Zane," Oasis replied, recognizing the family resemblance.

"Why is he so strong?" Oasis wondered, still feeling the aftershocks of their encounter.

"So you really are the disciple of my family," Zion said, studying Oasis closely.

"I only heard about you from Zane a month ago. I decided to pay you a visit after your fame started rising in the academy," Zion explained.

"I will go straight to the point: do not trust the Shadowfen family or any clan or family associated with them," Zion said seriously, his gaze intense.

The atmosphere near the river was tense yet charged with energy.

"I don't trust them, and they are always scheming, so be careful," Zion continued.

"Oh, thanks for the heads up," Oasis replied, taking Zion's words to heart.

"Cool, see you around," Zion said, moving away from the river with impressive speed.

"Wow, so that's the Wolf Monarch Glide," Oasis thought, impressed by Zion's magic technique.

"Zion, huh? Damn... Zane, your brother is really strong," Oasis mused.

"I need to get stronger. He is 16 and yet that strong, already at the peak of the Tabula Rasa realm,"

Oasis thought, feeling a mix of fascination and determination.

As Zion vanished from sight, the clearing near the river returned to its serene state.

Oasis stood there, the recent encounter leaving a lasting impression on him.

Determined to push his limits even further, Oasis took a deep breath and began to strategize his next steps.

The weight adjustment artifacts he had just purchased would be crucial in his training, helping him build the physical strength required to master the Dancing Phoenix Footwork technique.