Wizard: From Zero-Circle Wizard to the Omnipotent Lord

Lynn's mind raced as he formulated a plan. Although he was a First-Level Apprentice Wizard, he was still just that a First-Level Apprentice. 

The Daze spell he had mastered could significantly affect ordinary people, but the current situation was entirely different. 

Every examinee who had entered the Furnace trial possessed the potential to become a wizard. 

In other words, their innate mental power far surpassed that of ordinary people. 

"The effectiveness of my Daze spell…" 

Lynn furrowed his brow, already concluding that the spell's effect on the blond-haired youth would undoubtedly be weaker than what was described in the Beginner's Meditation Manual. 

"One chance… I only have one chance." 

His gaze sharpened, and his fists clenched involuntarily. 

He knew full well that he wasn't skilled in close combat and had never received any formal combat training. 

The blond-haired youth before him was strong, and there was no room for error. 

What Daze could provide was a brief moment of confusion. 

According to Lynn's understanding, if the target were an ordinary person, the effect might last around five seconds. 

However, since the other party was also a wizard apprentice with innate mental power, Lynn estimated that the spell's effect would last only two to three seconds at most. 

Two to three seconds for a skilled combatant was enough time to deliver a fatal blow. 

But for Lynn, it was far from sufficient. 

His physical strength was average, and his body hadn't undergone rigorous training. 

If he couldn't close the distance and strike a vital point within that short window, this life-or-death battle would be lost. 

"When he approaches, he'll sense my presence or the traces I've left. This means I only have one opportunity to strike, with no second chances…" 

Lynn's thoughts grew calmer, and a feasible plan gradually took shape in his mind. 

He knew he couldn't afford to panic or act rashly. 

Not far away, the blond-haired youth, accompanied by his Earth Rhinoceros Beast, slowly made his way deeper into the forest, seemingly searching for any stragglers. 

Lynn held his breath, hiding behind a thick tree trunk, his heightened mind powerfully focused on the surrounding sounds. He waited until the footsteps faded into the distance and disappeared completely. 

Only then did he slowly release his Breath Concealment spell, letting out a long exhale before pinching the bridge of his nose. 

"The plan is set… but the difficulty of executing it still makes my heart race…" 

Lynn took a deep breath, clenched his teeth, and scanned the tattered robes he was wearing. 

He selected a longer piece of fabric and carefully tied it to his Earth Rhinoceros Beast. 

Then, he quickly searched the forest for a suitable ambush spot. 

After choosing a location with varied terrain, Lynn tethered the Earth Rhinoceros Beast to a thick tree and deliberately hung a piece of torn cloth behind it. From a distance, it looked as if someone had accidentally exposed a corner of their robe. 

Time was of the essence. Lynn knew the blond-haired youth could return at any moment, and beads of sweat soon formed on his forehead. Despite this, he forced himself to remain calm, suppressing his anxiety. 

"Three steps to the plan: bait, weapon, kill! Step one complete!" 

Lynn glanced around, selecting an ambush point near a few corpses that hadn't been devoured. 

Since moving the bodies would be too labor-intensive, he chose a spot close to them to save time. 

Thanks to the mental power advantage of being a First-Level Apprentice Wizard, Lynn had an exceptionally clear memory of the surrounding terrain. He quickly simulated the blond-haired youth's possible line of sight: 

"A trainee examining a corpse, with the Earth Rhinoceros Beast by his side. From that path, the target would be visible…" 

Once the ambush spot was confirmed, Lynn dragged two corpses to position them around the area, while tightly gripping a broken bone fragment from one of the dead. 

The bone's jagged edge was sharp, like a natural blade. 

"Breath Concealment!" 

With all preparations complete, Lynn quickly cast the Breath Concealment spell, completely masking his presence. 

He carefully hid his body beneath the two corpses, quietly waiting for his prey to arrive. 

Although the corpses hadn't yet decomposed, the feeling of lying among the dead sent chills down Lynn's spine. Waves of nausea and fear washed over him. 

But he knew this was the only method he could come up with in such a short time. If he didn't stay with the dead now, he'd soon join them once the blond-haired youth discovered him! 

Suppressing his discomfort, Lynn blended completely into the environment, not daring to make a sound. 

Finally, his keen ears picked up the sound of footsteps in the distance. 

The footsteps grew closer, each one pounding like a hammer against Lynn's heartbeat. 

"Tap!" 

"Tap!" 

The sounds were clear and heavy, carrying a cold, rhythmic tone. 

A cruel smile curled on the blond-haired youth's lips as his gaze locked onto the faintly visible corner of a robe behind the tree. 

After hunting down over twenty people, he had become increasingly adept at this deadly game. 

Aside from a few physically strong examinees who had delayed him slightly, the rest had been like helpless rabbits delivered to his doorstep. 

Of course, "even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit." The blond-haired youth wasn't sure about the size of the person behind the tree, so to avoid any surprises, he decided to approach cautiously. 

Just then 

"Roar!" 

A low growl suddenly rang out! 

An Earth Rhinoceros Beast leaped out from behind the tree, its nostrils flaring as it caught the scent of a stranger. It let out an angry roar directed at the blond-haired youth. 

Lynn, hidden beneath the corpses, felt his heart leap. 

He knew the Earth Rhinoceros Beast's nature well once it sensed danger, it would instinctively protect its master. 

And this was the key part of his plan! 

The appearance of the Earth Rhinoceros Beast indeed caught the blond-haired youth off guard, but a fierce glint quickly flashed in his eyes. 

"Opportunity!" 

He knew this was the moment when his opponent's weakness was exposed, and he couldn't afford to miss it. 

"Die!" 

The blond-haired youth sneered, lunging forward like a leopard, a sharp bone dagger in his hand a weapon he had taken from a corpse, prepared specifically for killing. 

His original target had been the neck, but due to the Earth Rhinoceros Beast's sudden roar, he didn't have time to adjust. Instead, he aimed for the exposed part of the robe. 

"Rip" 

The bone dagger effortlessly tore through the robe, but in the next moment, the blond-haired youth's pupils contracted sharply. 

No one! 

The area behind the tree was empty! 

"What's going on!?" 

The blond-haired youth's mind went blank, but before he could react, a wave of intense dizziness overwhelmed him. 

Daze had been activated! 

Lynn had been prepared, waiting for this exact moment! 

The instant the blond-haired youth lunged, Lynn decisively cast Daze. 

The blond-haired youth's movements faltered, his body swaying slightly as his fierce expression turned blank. 

Disoriented, his attack trajectory went completely off course. Not only did he fail to hit his target, but he also lost his balance and fell to the ground in a heap. 

Lynn's nerves were taut like a drawn bowstring. Seizing the opportunity, he pushed the two corpses off himself, gripping a sharp bone dagger in each hand. A wild, ruthless glint flashed in his eyes! 

"Now!" 

He pounced on the fallen blond-haired youth like a starving tiger, casting aside all fear and hesitation. He raised the bone daggers and stabbed furiously at the youth's head and neck! 

Once! Twice! Thrice! 

Lynn's arms seemed infused with boundless strength as he repeatedly struck the blond-haired youth's eyes, neck, and other vital areas. 

Blood splattered, the metallic stench filling Lynn's nostrils and making him want to vomit, but he couldn't afford to stop! 

Although the effect of Daze was short, it was enough to determine life or death. 

In those brief two to three seconds, the blond-haired youth was completely incapacitated, a defenseless target. 

However! 

"Roar!" 

As soon as Daze wore off, the blond-haired youth erupted with a furious roar. Like a wild beast, he threw Lynn off with all his strength. 

"Ah!" 

Lynn crashed to the ground, the bone daggers slipping from his hands. 

The intense impact sent searing pain through his body, and his head felt as if it had been struck by a hammer. Dizziness and agony overwhelmed him, leaving him almost unable to move. 

The blond-haired youth clutched his neck and eyes, the pain driving him to let out a beast-like howl. 

He touched the wounds on his face and neck, his hands coming away drenched in hot, sticky blood. 

"No!" 

"Impossible!" 

He roared through gritted teeth, gripping the bone dagger tightly as he slashed wildly at the air around him. 

His vision was blurred, and he could barely see anything. Blood poured from his face and neck, drenching him completely in crimson. 

At this moment, he looked like a devil risen from hell, exuding a suffocating aura of ferocity. 

Meanwhile, Lynn was utterly exhausted, his body weak and limp. 

He lay on the ground, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, struggling to keep his eyes open. 

The scene before him set off alarm bells in his mind the blond-haired youth, though swaying unsteadily and weakened, was still wildly swinging the bone dagger like a cornered beast, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment. 

Blood gushed from the blond-haired youth's neck, his frantic movements causing it to spray even more violently. Thick, red liquid soon covered his entire body. 

With every movement, a mist of blood filled the air, the heavy metallic scent suffocating. 

"Hold on… just a little longer…" 

Lynn clenched his teeth, his nails digging into his palms as he forced himself to stay conscious. 

His eyes remained fixed on the blond-haired youth, his nerves stretched to the breaking point. 

Finally, the wild slashing slowed, the blond-haired youth's movements becoming sluggish, his unsteady body no longer able to hold itself up. 

As his blood drained away, his strength was completely spent. 

"Thud" 

The blond-haired youth's body finally gave out, collapsing heavily to the ground. 

A deathly silence instantly enveloped the blood-soaked area, broken only by Lynn's ragged breathing. 

Lynn lay stiffly, his gaze fixed on the blond-haired youth's corpse as if he couldn't believe he was still alive. 

His throat was too dry to make a sound, the tension in his soul finally easing as an indescribable exhaustion washed over him. 

"I won…" 

He murmured, a bitter yet relieved smile tugging at his lips.