Pseudo-Magus

The interior of the tower was the same obsidian black color as the exterior. It was very simple without extravagant stuff like pictures or trophies made of monster parts, truly fitting the pragmatic nature of the Magi.

The first level of the tower was the place where apprentices gathered. There were all kinds of stalls; some sold special metals, others sold potions and herbs, and some sold weapons.

Some stalls were used for administrative purposes, like the management center or the exchange center.

In a corner, groups of apprentices could be seen looking at the huge screens on the wall.

At the entrance of the tower, there was a blue platform accompanied by a statue of a lion. It served as the portal to the upper floors of the tower.

Zatiel and Ezequiel entered the first level of the tower and headed to the place where the management center of the tower was located. Many apprentices looked at them and murmured, but Zatiel ignored them.

The reason for the attention was that Zatiel was dragging a wounded person by the neck.

Of course, it was Nick who was so terrified of the duo that he didn't dare to be stubborn and did as he was told, bringing them to the management center. But beside fear in his eyes, there was hatred as he looked at Zatiel.

Although he was trying to hide it, to Zatiel it was so obvious that he might as well scream, but he didn't do anything.

Firstly, because to Zatiel, this person was insignificant and could never pose a threat, and second because if he were to kill him, it would definitely cause a lot of trouble and maybe even Rank 1 Magus would get involved. After all, they were not part of the tower yet, and although most magic towers don't meddle if apprentices start fighting, killing was prohibited.

Zatiel knew that he wasn't strong enough to fight against a Rank 1 Magus yet, and even if he were, from what he could tell about this tower, the person who controlled it was definitely superior to rank 1.

After a couple of minutes, they arrived at the management center. There were four apprentices in charge of the stall. From what he could see, every one of them was a Rank 2 Apprentice. Zatiel went to the one that was unoccupied and reading a book.

The apprentice was a middle-aged man. Despite his age, he was barely a Rank 2 Apprentice, meaning that his chance of becoming a Magus was null.

"Hello, I wanted to know the procedure to become part of the tower and also where I could exchange some magical creature parts for magic crystals," Zatiel asked.

The apprentice barely looked at Zatiel with a tired face, but he was instantly startled, not because of Zatiel and Ezequiel's strength as Rank 3 Apprentices, after all, in this place, that level of power was not uncommon.

What attracted his attention was the wounded person that Zatiel was carrying. He recognized Nick immediately, after all, the apprentice had made himself famous for being a brutal person, but now he was being dragged like an animal.

"What are you doing with him?" The apprentice couldn't help but ask.

"Oh, he is just our guide. Don't worry about it. Now, you haven't told us what we asked," Zatiel responded as if nothing had happened.

"Yes, sorry for that. I am Richard. I will give you the information immediately," Richard said, scared. He didn't dare to offend someone who dared to drag a Rank 3 Apprentice like a dog.

"Good, now that you are no longer needed, you can leave," Zatiel said as Nick fell, making him smash his face on the ground.

Nick picked himself up from the ground, and contrary to what most were expecting, he started to leave the tower without a word. But although he looked emotionless, if you could see his eyes, you would detect immense hatred.

'He is not completely stupid,' thought Zatiel.

Ezequiel saw the man leaving, and his years as an assassin and instincts as a Neo-Demon let him detect the hatred that he was hiding. He knew that it was never good to leave unfinished business, so he was preparing to handle it immediately, but just when he was about to act, a voice was heard in his consciousness through the core.

"Don't do it. The problems that it will carry outweigh the threat that he represents. If you want to get rid of him, wait until you can do it without anyone knowing, and don't worry, you won't have to wait for long. I am sure that he will come back on his own very soon."

Ezequiel looked at Zatiel and nodded.

"I'm sorry for that. Please continue."

"Ah, yes. To become part of the tower and be able to use the facilities, you had to sign a contract. Since you were apprentices, the contract was very simple. The principal point was that you had to undertake a certain number of tower missions at every determined amount of time.

Of course, if you wanted to complete more missions, you could do it. The reward was in magic crystals and merit points. Merit points were a currency used to obtain certain materials that couldn't be exchanged with simple wealth," Richard said as he delivered the contracts to Zatiel and Ezequiel.

'It is simple. Although it doesn't provide much help, and we will have to pay to use most of the facilities, we will be able to use the tower to rest and experiment. The best part is that it isn't anything too binding.'

"Okay, we have no problem with this. What else needs to be done?"

"We also had to scan your magnetic force field to make an investigation and be sure that you were not wanted for some crimes."

A magnetic force field was produced from the energies that all beings carried on their bodies.

The higher the amount of energy, the stronger the force field, and since it was unique to every individual, it was normally used as a means to recognize someone. After all, making some changes in your physical appearance was very easy with spells.

'It's normal that they investigated, but it doesn't matter. When I became a Neo-Demon, everything about me changed, and that includes my force field.'

"Okay, you can begin immediately with the scan."

Richard nodded and picked a crystal from his desk. After giving the command to the crystal, a wave of energy scanned both Zatiel and Ezequiel.

[Bip.. external energy trying to assess the host, permission to interrupt.]

"Denied."

'This time it was able to act, I guess that the wave at the entrance of the city was too subtle for the chip's current abilities.'

The scan lasted 3 seconds, and information was being sent to Richard through the crystal in his hand.

"We have no information about a crime associated with either of you, so as long as you signed the contract, you would become part of the tower."

Zatiel and Ezequiel delivered the signed contract to Richard.

"I have uploaded the information in the contracts. Now if you follow me, I can take you to the place where you can get your magic robes and a guidebook about the tower. It is the same place where you can exchange your carcasses."

Richard guided them to another stall not far from where they were, in which an old man who was a Rank 2 Apprentice was sitting.

It was very normal for these jobs to be taken by people with little talent, after all, the other apprentices with a chance to become a Magus would never waste their time on this type of job.

"Hey old Hal, these are the new apprentices. They need magical robes and also need to exchange some parts of magical creatures."

"Who are the new ones and what do they bring?... Oh, so it is you."

The apprentice named old Hal had already seen Zatiel and Ezequiel when they entered, bringing Nick with them, so he knew that these were people he should not offend. He immediately gave them their robes, black for Zatiel and white for Ezequiel, matching the color of their hair, and also a crystal to each one of them.

"This crystal has all the basic information about the tower, such as the facilities, the classes you can take, and much more. If you put the crystal on your forehead and try to guide your consciousness into it, the information will start to appear in your mind."

Zatiel nodded as he saw the boy starting to go through the information in the crystal. As for him, he had a more efficient and faster way of doing it.

"A.I. Chip, scan the crystal and imprint the information directly into my mind."

[Bip... starting scan,

Scanning completed

Uploading information.]

Zatiel felt a current of electricity go through his brain as the information started to appear in his mind. As he went through the new information, a voice distracted him.

"Okay, I have finished checking. Most of the magical creatures are on the border of the strength of a Rank 2 or 3 Apprentice. According to the parameters established for the tower, you will receive 223 magic crystals."

"That much!" Richard couldn't help but exclaim. After all, his salary was barely 10 crystals a month, and he saw someone making a transaction for more money than he made in a year.

Old Hal was already used to this type of transaction, so he didn't say much.

Since Zatiel was satisfied with the amount, the transaction ended quickly, and the old man handed him a bag with magic crystals. As for the expression of the apprentice, he didn't take it into account.

"Thanks for the help."

"It was nothing. Also, this is the place where you deliver the material of the mission, so I guess we will see each other often."

"See you soon then, and you too," Zatiel said to the old man and Richard, but he didn't go very far when Richard reached out to him.

"Is there something else?" Zatiel asked the apprentice who was making a troubled face.

After a moment, and seeing that no one was looking in their direction, Richard came closer to Zatiel and started to whisper.

"You have to be careful. Nick's older brother is a Pseudo-Magus, and a very powerful one. He will definitely come to you for hurting his brother."

Zatiel saw the apprentice and understood why he was helping him. Reaching into his bag, he took 30 crystals and gave them to him.

"Thanks for the help."

"You're welcome!" Richard said as he took the crystal and returned to his desk with a smile on his face.

Ezequiel was listening to everything, and concern was shown on his face. He knew that it would be easy to kill a Rank 3 Apprentice with his strength, but a Pseudo Magus was supposed to be much stronger, and he didn't know if he could defeat them.

"Master, will there be trouble?"

"Don't worry, little EZ. As long as we are in the same rank, nothing can present a threat to us," Zatiel spoke with a carefree expression.

Ezequiel nodded, and his expression returned to his usual calm one. To him, his master was always right.

Zatiel looked at the boy and smiled.

'He still doesn't understand how strong he is. Barely 3 months ago he was just a normal boy, and now he was able to defeat a Rank 3 Apprentice with just his body. If it wasn't for his opponent having a strong body, he would have killed him in the first exchange.'