After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

On the third list, a young man with black hair and black eyes sat at a desk, holding a book the size of a palm in his right hand, his expression focused.

The breeze outside the window fluttered the curtains, and the warm sunlight fell on the young man's profile.

Like a lake rippling on a peaceful afternoon, harmonious and calm.

The young man's appearance was not stunning, even rather ordinary at first glance, but he had the kind of looks that grew on you.

This photo was an adventurer's promotional image, in the lower right corner, entwined like vines in a forest, were green artistic font outlining his title and the adventure team's badge.

McCarthy stared at the young man's face, sticking out her tongue to lick her dry lips.

Her long legs fidgeted, her toes tapping periodically.

This principal instructor of Ice Abyss possessed light brown skin and characteristic pointed ears, representing a race known for an unsavory lifestyle.

Regardless of the young man's strength, compared to that fur-covered Cast Steel Wolf Spirit, he was much better-looking.

Moving her gaze downward, McCarthy was slightly taken aback upon seeing the young man's level was only 37.

But Ice Abyss valued an adventurer's potential; current level was irrelevant.

McCarthy's surprise was akin to finding a slightly smaller chocolate bean when expecting a regular one, merely an offhand exclamation before she forgot about it. What really mattered to her was whether this man could be the genius Miro mentioned who might surpass Romanli.

Romanli was a quintessential top-tier academic-style adventurer from Azure Sky University's Spell Department, highly esteemed.

Unless unforeseeable events occurred, she was bound to become a Light Rank.

However, Ice Abyss's assessments were more rigorous; if Azure Sky University aimed to supply talents to the provinces, Ice Abyss aimed for the entire continent.

To train legendary adventurers, to reach the top of the World Tree.

In McCarthy's view, the young lady from the Roman Family was a perfect benchmark.

To be recognized by that legendary character in the Royal Capital as a Ten Star Adventurer, one must surpass this young lady from the academy.

Although she could directly ask Miro who the "third person" was, McCarthy enjoyed the thrill of unboxing surprises.

She sipped a cup of rich black coffee, leisurely reviewing the achievements section below the names.

For these Ten Star candidates selected from the provinces, level was not important, achievements were everything. What Magical Creatures they had subdued, which well-known adventurers they had defeated, career, innate talents, whether they grasped rare techniques as a Star Rank... all mattered more than level.

Yet this list stirred some doubts in McCarthy.

The achievements section was densely packed with tiny letters like ants.

"Murderous Crab Emperor... Goblin Prince... detailed strategy walkthrough..."

McCarthy muttered softly.

Each achievement was decent.

But somehow...

They left McCarthy feeling at a "Oh, that's fine" level.

Compared to Romanli's dazzling achievements as the first of Azure Sky University's Spell Department, Volgan's Wolf King candidate, they fell short.

McCarthy sipped her coffee, preparing to turn to the fourth list.

Just then, Miro spoke respectfully, "Madam, this batch of lists uses the newly released Composite Magic Paper from the Alchemy Workshop. If blue text appears on a list, please be sure to click it."

"Blue text?"

McCarthy was intrigued.

She picked up the list again and noticed at the end of the achievements section, the entries "[Slaying Red Heart City adventurer Slo]" and "[Joining forces to subdue the Silverback Giant Ape]," both of which were in blue text.

McCarthy's Battle Qi gathered at her fingertips, gently touching it.

Whoosh.

A palm-sized light screen emerged from the text.

"Magic link technology of the Royal Capital, huh... it seems the folks at the Alchemy Workshop haven't been idling," McCarthy mused with a nod.

The light screen showed a vast plain dense with wild grass and pristine white wildflowers.

It appeared to be noon, but the sun was obscured by heavy clouds, casting shadows over the plain.

In the center of the frame was a young man, his long sword raised, body engulfed in pitch-black flames.

When the wild grass touched the flames, it rapidly turned to ash, like a burnt-through paper lightly blown by a breeze and turning to dust.

McCarthy furrowed her brows, cupping her chin with her right hand, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

Then, the young man moved.

"Magic Heart Slash,"

he whispered in a voice so low it was almost a murmur.
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But McCarthy, being a Light Rank Adventurer, distinctly caught the name of the technique.

In the scene, a twenty-meter-long dark sword light appeared.

Everything it touched was obliterated.

As if a giant hand was erasing everything on a painting.

The moment they made contact, Slo's flame armor and Life Barrier were annihilated, and amidst his screams, he was sliced in two by the black sword light.

With McCarthy's expertise, it wasn't hard to see that Slo was no ordinary adventurer, his flame armor could mitigate incoming damage.

Still, he was instantaneously killed by the black sword light.

This technique was probably why Miro recommended him as a Ten Star candidate.

But for McCarthy, this scene wasn't a surprise.

It was a shock!

The silhouette, the technique, it was eerily similar to a certain monster she remembered.

The familiarity became increasingly intense.

A man who once entered Ice Abyss and completed graduation in just one week.

McCarthy slapped the coffee table, exclaiming, "That guy in black is still alive? How is that possible! Didn't he already..."

Suddenly, a pain shot through McCarthy's heart.

A cold blue light flickered at her chest, like a magic bomb ready to explode at any moment.