Karen strode arrogantly at the front of the trial team.

  Behind him followed a dozen or so new apprentices who had only recently entered the academy. Each of them wore a mix of curiosity about the trial and anxiety that they could not hide.

  If Allen were here now, he would recognize them immediately. They were the same apprentices who had encountered the demons at Umbra Gorge and later participated in the talent test.

  The group moved slowly along the forest path. The trees grew increasingly dense, and the Gale Demon Forest was now clearly in sight.

  Karen stopped and slowly turned around, scanning the team before finally resting his gaze on Graham, who was trailing at the back.

  He beckoned to Graham with a hand and said,"Graham, your magic level is the highest among these new apprentices. You will go ahead and lead the way, set an example for the others."

  Graham's face immediately darkened.

  He knew Karen was deliberately making things difficult, pushing him to the front to face the Shadow Creatures as punishment for warning Allen behind Karen's back.

  But he had neither the strength to resist nor the courage to oppose Karen, so he gritted his teeth and silently moved to the front of the group, cautiously leading the way.

  "Everyone be careful. The Gale Demons in this forest are only low-level Shadow Creatures. They are not very strong, but since your combat experience is limited, dealing with them can still be tricky."

  Karen followed behind Graham, his gaze sweeping the forest, speaking casually to the apprentices behind him.

  One timid female apprentice stepped forward a few steps and asked,"We are all following you for this trial. With you here, there should be no danger for us, right?"

  In their eyes, Karen, as the son of an academy elder, was undoubtedly the team's core support.

  They had also heard rumors in private that Karen's magic level was mostly built up using the high-grade magical potions provided by Elder Marcus, but even so, it was far beyond what these newly enrolled Junior Mages could hope to match.

  Karen smiled and slowly nodded."Naturally. With me here, these are just a few low-level Shadow Creatures. They won't harm you in the slightest."

  His tone shifted slightly as his gaze swept across the group, his words carrying a pointed meaning."That said, everything depends on the person."

  "You have all been sensible. The things I have instructed you to do over these days, you have handled well. Naturally, you will receive my attention in the academy going forward."

  "But some people will not be so fortunate."

  As he spoke, Karen's expression suddenly grew cold. His gaze locked onto Graham's back as he led the way, the malice in his eyes completely unhidden.

  For the past few days, he had been quietly rallying the apprentices who had come with Allen to fabricate the rumor that Allen was colluding with the Demon Tribe, spreading it farther and farther.

  But Graham had refused to play along. Not only had he not supported Karen, he had even secretly warned Allen, ruining Karen's plan. That debt, Karen decided, would be settled properly in the Gale Demon Forest.

  The female apprentice beside him immediately understood and quickly followed Karen's lead."Karen, the people you're talking about… could it be Graham?"

  She deliberately raised her voice to make sure Graham, who was leading the way, could hear.

  "He is following that core apprentice now and clearly does not take you seriously at all!"

  "He saw Allen being accepted by Elder Eleanor as a core apprentice and thought he could ride that to success. What an idiot. Not a single ounce of sense in him!"

  "That Allen has absolutely no magical talent whatsoever. He is a complete and utter waste."

  "That Allen only hides behind that bitch, never even dares to step outside the academy. Pathetic."

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  Before the girl could finish speaking, a sharp slap suddenly echoed through the forest.

  Karen suddenly raised his hand and delivered a fierce blow to her face. The force was so strong that the girl staggered and fell to the ground.

  "Who did you call a bitch?" Karen's face twisted instantly, his eyes burning with fierce rage.

  The girl collapsed on the ground, clutching her burning cheek, her eyes filled with shock and injustice.

  She could not understand what had just happened. When Karen had instructed them to spread rumors, his insults toward Evelyn had been harsher than any of theirs.

  And now, she had merely repeated his words, and he treated her this way.

  She opened her mouth, her throat tight, but could not say a word.

  Karen cast her a cold sideways glance, then snorted disdainfully. His tone was arrogant and dismissive.

  "Do you think Evelyn is something you wastes can manipulate? The words I had you spread were only meant to confuse people. You actually took them seriously?"

  With that, he spun around sharply, turning his back to everyone. The fury in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by obsessive zeal. He muttered to himself:

  "That woman is always high above me, ignoring me completely. Finally, there is an opportunity, and she actually brought that waste into the Eleanor Estate!"

  "This is a golden chance. Otherwise, with her temper, she would probably never look at me properly in this lifetime!"

  Karen's voice grew quieter, yet full of sinister calculation.

  "Once Allen is dealt with, I will clarify all the rumors myself and claim they were malicious fabrications by these new apprentices."

  "Then I can remove the obstacle and make a good impression in front of her. Maybe she will see me differently…"

  Thinking this, Karen could not help but laugh triumphantly, pleased at how smoothly things were unfolding.

  He planned that after returning from the Gale Demon Forest, he would deliberately act close to Allen, pretending to show special concern. That way, if Allen really died here, no one would suspect him, leaving no opening for blame.

  Once his emotions calmed, Karen turned around, a gentle smile returning to his face. He walked slowly to the fallen female apprentice and extended his hand to help her up.

  "Sorry, I was too impulsive just now. I didn't hurt you, did I?"

  His fingers lightly brushed her cheek, causing her to shiver. She instinctively wanted to dodge but dared not resist.

  Karen withdrew his hand, laughed a few more times, then turned toward Graham at the front of the group. His tone became commanding again.

  "Graham, ahead is the Gale Demon's lair. Go first and clear the path, set an example for the others. Kill a Gale Demon so everyone can see."

  The group followed his direction and saw, not far ahead, a field of massive stone pillars, their surfaces riddled with irregular holes.

  Gale Demons had bat-like wings and were born with the ability to control wind-based shadow magic.

  Graham's face turned pale. He knew Karen was deliberately forcing him to die.

  Gale Demons live in groups, and there would surely be guards at the entrance. If he went forward alone, even the slightest mistake could mean certain death.

  The Gale Demons were extremely slow in magical development. Their clan had almost never produced a powerful Gale Demon, and most remained at a low level.

  Even so, facing them in groups, entering their lair alone was still a near-certain death sentence.

  Graham stared at the forest ahead, dotted with holes. He was only a Junior Mage, with limited magical reserves and very little combat experience. Entering the territory of the Gale Demons on his own was no different from walking straight into death.

  The fear and anger that had built up inside him finally erupted. Graham suddenly drew the short sword at his waist. He did not move forward, but instead turned to face Karen.

  "Karen! If you want someone dead, just say so! Why use such low and despicable tricks to kill through someone else?"

  A cold, fake smile appeared on Karen's face. He slowly clapped his hands, his tone dripping with mockery.

  "Very well. I instructed you to clear these Shadow Creatures, yet you refuse and even draw your sword against me. Are you openly defying the trial orders?"

  He then spun around sharply to face the new apprentices behind him, speaking with an inciting tone:

  "You all saw it. He resists killing the Shadow Creatures. Could it be that he is secretly colluding with them?"

  Upon hearing Karen's words, the others immediately understood and eagerly chimed in to frame him.

  They had already assessed the situation: the only way to survive the trial and gain protection within the academy was to flatter Karen.

  "Exactly! Karen is right!"

  "On our way to the academy, when we encountered the Shadow Creatures, I saw you, Graham, several times you could have struck, yet you hesitated and held back deliberately!"

  "I saw it too!" another apprentice quickly added, deliberately fabricating lies.

  "He even secretly gestured to the Shadow Creatures, bowing and nodding respectfully. Not even a trace of a Forces of Light apprentice's demeanor!"

  "Kneeling before Shadow Creatures like that, he is a disgrace to humanity! Sooner or later, he will betray the academy and join the Demons!"

  The others spoke maliciously, completely forgetting that Graham had protected them multiple times along the way.

  Hearing the twisted accusations, Graham's face turned ashen. His whole body trembled with anger, and the veins on his hands bulged as he gripped his short sword.

  "Ungrateful bastards! I protected you all on the way to the academy, and now that I am no longer needed, you turn on me?"

  "If Allen had not saved us at Umbra Gorge, you would have long been food for the Shadow Creatures!"

  "You are ungrateful and yet maliciously slandering me! I refuse to stoop to your level, and that has become my crime?"

  Graham's voice grew more agitated, bloodshot veins appearing in his eyes.

  "Allen saved all our lives in a moment of crisis. Helping him deliver messages and clear the rumors is the least I could do!"

  "Unlike you opportunists, crawling to Karen, playing the same disgusting game as him!"

  For the last statement, Graham looked Karen directly in the eyes, his voice full of contempt.

  "Outwardly pretending to adore Evelyn, yet spreading rumors and framing others behind her back. You are lower than beasts!"

  The smile on Karen's face froze instantly. A violent fury surged in his eyes, clearly completely enraged.