Chapter 12-Graduation

After Ernst returns to campus, again, he meets with his dorm mates. They went to the restaurant to celebrate and chatted about everything happening in the campus.

Ernst turns serious and quiet and observed his dorm mates. They have been dorm mates for seven years and sad about leaving them but hardened his heart.

"Randy, Oliver, Eugene, I have something important to tell you." Ernst spoke after a period of silence.

His dorm mates, seeing how serious he was, look more attentive.

"I will apply tomorrow for graduation." With great difficulty, Ernst force out a sentence.

"Graduate?"

Randy, Oliver, and Eugene were surprised. Randy was the first to recover. "Ernst, why are you rushing to graduate? What's the big deal about graduating from the institute early? Isn't it great, we four buddies being together?"

The other two also tried to dissuade him. Ernst shook his head. "No. I have a responsibility waiting for me. Staying here will only slow down my progress. I want to travel and see the world."

"Ernst, are you already a 6th rank magus? Although a 6th rank magus is considered an expert in the outside world, there are many stronger people out there. Why don't you wait until you reach seventh rank before you graduate?" Oliver suggested.

Ernst just smile at them. "You will know tomorrow."

His dorm mates continued to discourage him, but gave up in the end.

After informing his dorm mates, Ernst went to his sister Anna's dorm room. She is now 3rd rank Wind-style magus and third grade student.

After knocking at the door, a beautiful blond-hair and blue eyes young girl with facial looks similar to Ernst shown up.

"Brother!" Anna jumps at Ernst and hugs him. Ernst also hugs her back. The brother and sister had not seen each other for more than four months. They chatted in the living room about his adventures in the Mountain Range of Magical Beast. He told his sister that he will apply for graduation tomorrow.

"Brother, is it true? Can I come?"

"Of course you can. My dorm mates will also be there. I will also inform cousin Yale later." After their chat, he left and went to Yale's dorm.

Yale's reaction is similar to his dorm mates and also dissuades him to graduate early. He forced him to tell his magus rank, but he did not tell Yale. He just requests to come with his brothers to watch the graduation.

The next morning, on the empty magical examination fields, thirty-four instructors were standing in line. In truth, four instructors were enough for a graduation test, but most of the instructors are bored and have lots of leisure time. Upon hearing Ernst early graduation, they all come to watch the fun.

Thirty-four instructors plus nine students-his sister Anna, Randy, Oliver, Eugene, Yale and his three brothers. Other than thirty-four instructors, there was even Vice Chancellor Deland who came out of interest. As Vice Chancellor Deland put it, 'if one of the three greatest geniuses of our institute is applying for graduation, of course I must be here to witness it'.

"Ernst, utilize the Earth-style magic spell 'Earth Spear Array'. Based on the speed and size of the earthen spears, we will be able to assess your level." One of the instructor, test giver spoke.

Ernst's slight shook his head.

Instead, he cast an Earth-style magic spell 'Howling Worldwolf' in his mind and he pointed the ground in front. Shortly afterwards, a large amount of earth elemental essence began to rapidly solidify and condense in front of him.

"Hooooowl!"

An angry howl could suddenly be heard, as an earth colored, three meter tall wolf quickly appeared in front of Ernst. The massive wolf was three meter tall and ten meter long. All the muscles on its body seemed as tough as steel.

"Howling Worldwolf!"

"Hooooowl!"

The Howling Worldwolf let an angry roar at the audience.

The thirty-four instructors were surprised. They knew what was implied by casting a 'Howling Worldwolf'.

"A fifteen years old, Earth-style magus of 8th rank. This…." Vice Chancellor Deland thought that the quiet Ernst Institute perhaps would not be quiet for a long, long time.

The nine students watching his graduation were also stunned. An Earth-style magus of the 8th rank compared to whole Yulan Continent can be considered a powerful figure already.

But if you added the words 'fifteen years old' in front of Earth-style magus of the 8th rank?, the effect will be different. The Radiant Church wouldn't care too much about an 8th rank magus because there were plenty of powerful figures in the continent.

However….

Fifteen years old, Earth-style magus of the 8th rank. Leaving the Radiant Church for now, perhaps every major power in the continent would be jealous to possess him.

Adding to him, the youngest master sculptor in the continent.

"Genius!" "Genius!" Vice Chancellor Deland was extremely excited. This was a miracle.

"Ernst, do you know what being fifteen years old 8th rank magus represented?" Vice Chancellor Deland ask.

"Fifteen years old…" Vice Chancellor Deland sighs with praise. "In the entire history of Ernst Institute, based on age, among all the students to reached 8th rank. You were the youngest."

An elder looking figure next to him spoke out. "Let's not discuss the Ernst Institute for now. If we look at the entire Yulan Continent as a whole, you are the youngest in all recorded to reach 8th rank."

Ernst already knew this, but he kept quiet and listen to them.

"Before you, the youngest magus in the entire history of the Yulan Continent only reaches 8th rank at twenty-four years old was a Saint-level Grand Magus who lived 8000 years ago. The previous second youngest who was now becomes the third youngest is also 8th rank when turned thirty. We can put it like this, aside from you, of those top ten young geniuses who reached 8th rank each earliest, six of them becomes Saint-level Grand Magus, while the other four becomes 9th rank Arch Magus."

"Based on your talent, becoming a 9th rank Arch Magus is effortless. You can become a Saint-level Grand Magus, even you don't work hard. After all, you are the youngest 8th rank magus in the entire history. I won't mention those magi that reached 7th rank when they were young." The elder looked at Ernst solemnly.

"Ernst, you are the most successful student in the history of our Ernst Institute. For the next few days, we ask that you please remain here at the institute. We will invite the most absolute painters and sculptors to come to paint paintings and carved sculptures of you, which we will treasure as memento in the institute." Vice Chancellor Deland said.

"Are you not really the reborn founder of our Ernst Institute? You shared the same name." Vice Chancellor Deland jokes.

Everyone laughs after hearing this and they disperse.

The number one genius in the entire history of Ernst Institute and Yulan Continent. A fifteen year's old Earth-style magus of the 8th rank. This astonishing news quickly spread across the entire Ernst Institute.

The entire Ernst Institute was turn upside down by this news. If a student is slightly better than their peers, perhaps he would be viewed with jealousy. But once an achievement reached a level as high as this, becoming the youngest in the entire history of Yulan Continent, they would only be filled with admiration.

In their eyes, Ernst future prospect were limitless. There's no way for them to compare with him.

Ever since Ernst becomes an 8th rank magus had spread out. Their dorm 1985 hadn't a single day of peace. A large number of people came to pay a visit, forcing him to hide. Now he is in Huadeli hotel with dorm mates. Few people dare to barge on this establishment.

"Knock!" "Knock!" "Knock!"

Suddenly, the sound of the door being knocked on could be heard.

Ernst frowns and walks over to the door. Opening it, he said. "I thought I gave an instruction not to disturb us?"

The manager of Huadeli hotel said awkwardly. "Young master, a Cardinal of the Radiant Church along with Clerics and Knights of the Radiant Temple have arrived and wanted to speak with you."

Ernst looks serious. "Alright. Send them to the reception area and I will meet them." He is not afraid of the people from the Radiant Church.

When Ernst enters the door, seven people are already inside the reception area. A Cardinal, two Vicars and four Knights of the Radiant Temple are looking at him. He knew their statuses and all of them are strong.

"Hello Ernst." The Cardinal smiled and stands up.

"Let me do some simple introductions. These two Vicars are my assistants, while these four Knights are members of our Ace Division of the Radiant Temple. My name is Guillermo, a Cardinal of the Radiant Church."

Ernst observed the Cardinal thinking of the same guy who invited the main protagonist Linley to join their ranks, making a novel feeling for him.

"Lord Guillermo, all the lords present, might I asks why you have come?" Ernst ask them with modesty while observing the people's reaction.

"Ernst, as a member of the Holy Union who possesses such an astonishing ability, a Cardinal likes me, feels extremely proud. I want to ask you, have you given any consideration to joining the Holy Union? If you join us, I can guarantee that you will immediately receive a rank of a Vicar of the Radiant Temple. In the future, becoming a Cardinal is not a problem." Cardinal Guillermo put his offer directly.

Ernst seriously stares at Cardinal Guillermo and said. "Lord Guillermo, to be honest, I'm just a fifteen years old this year. I'm not interested in joining any forces. I'm only interested in increasing my strength. Besides, I'm already a member of Dawson Conglomerate. We are not a member of the four empires and two alliances. The most important thing I like is to be free and not bound by any forces. The forces that will invite me to join them in the future, I will also reject them."

After hearing Ernst reply, the people from the Radiant Church are disappointed and unhappy. Those they invited before will agree easily and will not reject them. What happen today is rare incident. One Vicar looked at him with murderous eyes.

"Ernst, please think this through. We are one of the most powerful forces in the continent. We can provide you anything. About freedom, we can make an exception for you." Cardinal Guillermo invites him again.

"I'm genuinely sorry, Lord Guillermo." Ernst firmly replied.

Seeing Ernst firm attitude. Cardinal Guillermo sighs. He stood up and left with his people.

After the people of the Radiant Church left, Ernst also sigh. He knows the Radiant Church group is not good people. In the original canon, they abduct and massacre many innocent people. They are the same with Cult of Shadows.

Ernst feels he maybe abducted by different forces after he left the institute. He is not afraid in the least, but excited instead.

Ernst disliked to kill people, but for those wants to harms him and his family, he is merciless.

Visitors from other forces came one after another in the following days, but he rejects them all.

Days later, the paintings and the sculptures of him for the institute memento were finished.

Finally, Ernst says goodbye to his sister and dorm mates. He left alone and travel to Fenlai City at night on the remote road.

On the way to Fenlai City, Ernst feels that he is being followed. Suddenly, three people with green robes appear in front not far of him, blocking his way.

"Mr. Ernst, we come with no ill intentions. We just want to invite you to be our guest."

"Ernst, don't resist. My subordinates can easily capture you, let alone myself. Are you willing? Or must we use force?" The leader, a man covered with knife scars, spoke as he looks as Ernst hesitation.

Ernst looks at them coldly. "Why must I follow you guys?"

He looks at the small hill on his right and shouted. "Those hiding at the back of the hill, come out! There's no need to hide."

Behind the hill, five people walk out. He knew this people. One was a Vicar with four Knights who visited the hotel with Cardinal Guillermo.

"Mr. Ernst is really perceptive. Oh… There are also friends from the Cult of Shadows". The Vicar looks at the three-9th rank warriors from the Cult of Shadows.

"Mr. Ernst, if you follow us to the Radiant Temple, we will save you from the Cult of Shadows." The Vicar teased him.

"Nonsense, you are also here to abduct Ernst. Why pretends to be righteous when abducting someone? This is not the style of your Radiant Church." The group leader of the Cult of Shadows angrily bellowed.

Ernst observes the two opposing groups of people and smile. He mentally cast Earth-style magic spell 'Supergravity Field'. "Hey. Do you ask me if I agree? You two groups of people are not good."

His senses told him that, there is no one watching them in secret.

"Radiant Church and Cult of Shadows wants to abduct me. If I don't agree, they will silence me. Correct?" Ernst looks at them with killing intent and said in a cold voice. "When someone wishes to kill me, I will kill them first."

"Bang!"

The two groups of people become sluggish. They have a hard time moving as if they were in a mud. They feel that their bodies were being press by a mountain. Not only that, but they took out their weapons and ready themselves to fight.

Ernst walks out far from the two groups and mentally cast Fire-style magical spell 'Scorching Meteor Shower'. He wants to turn these people to ash. He will be suspected later, but the public knows that he is an Earth-style magus.

"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"

The people from the Radiant Church and Cult of Shadows felt a blazing heat coming from above. Hundreds of huge blazing meteors, the size of a house, heading their way. They looked angrily at Ernst. They are tricked.

"You are not an 8th rank magus, but a 9th rank dual element Arch Magus."

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"

They are horrified, but it's too late. The fire meteors hit them, and they died with grievances. Their bodies turn to ash.

Ernst picked up the transparent attribute bubbles in the ground and cast Wind-style magic spell 'Windshadow' and disappeared at night. Leaving a trail of ruins and a still burning ground.