The scorching sun hung high above, its harsh rays filtering through the gaps in the foliage, while a gentle breeze stirred the air, lifting dead leaves from the ground and carrying traces of hot breath.
"Marcus, you're absolutely useless! You don't even dare participate in the Mana Core awakening ceremony. You're truly a disgrace to the Blackthorne Family!"
A young man dressed in blue brocade robes stood on the stone steps, looking down at Marcus who had fallen to the ground with a contemptuous expression. Behind him stood several boys and girls, all wearing mocking smiles on their faces.
Marcus slowly rose from the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, staring at Theodore before him, a glimmer of coldness flashing in his eyes.
"Theodore, are you finished with your tantrum?" Marcus's voice was calm, and he appeared completely unperturbed by the blows and kicks he had just received.
Theodore was slightly taken aback, then sneered: "What? You, a piece of trash who doesn't even have a mana core, still want to fight back?"
Marcus didn't answer. He lowered his head and brushed the dust from his clothes, then looked up at the sky, as if he didn't care at all about the presence of these people.
He had endured this kind of intimidation far too often.
He was the legitimate son of the Blackthorne family head, and should have enjoyed glory and wealth, becoming the family's pride. Unfortunately, when he was born, the magical assessment revealed that he was someone without a mana core, unable to cast magic, and since then he had become the family's laughingstock.
In this world, not having a mana core meant being ordinary for life, without any status worth mentioning.
Seeing Marcus's lack of reaction, Theodore felt bored, snorted coldly, and left with all the others.
Marcus stood in place, staring at the sky, his eyes flickering with complex light.
"Really... unable to practice magic?"
He clenched his fists and turned to walk toward the back mountains of the Blackthorne estate.
The back mountains were forbidden territory, and legend said that it was once the place where a powerful grand wizard had fallen, filled with unknown dangers. But Marcus had long been accustomed to coming here, and only here could he find a bit of peace without having to face the family's cynicism.
After walking for about half an hour, Marcus reached the edge of a cliff. He sat on a blue stone, gazing at the rolling mountains in the distance, his heart full of confusion.
"Am I really just an ordinary person?"
At this moment, there was a strange rumbling sound beneath his feet, and Marcus suddenly realized that the ground under the blue stone had collapsed!
"Oh no!"
Before he could react, his entire body fell into the darkness below.
After what felt like an eternity, Marcus slowly opened his eyes to find himself lying in a dark cave.
"I'm... alive?"
He struggled to stand, observing his surroundings through the dim light, and found that it was a natural cave. The stone walls were covered with strange glowing moss, making the entire cave appear mysterious and eerie.
Just as he was about to explore further, an ancient voice suddenly came from the depths of the cave.
"Ah, since you were able to reach this place, this is your opportunity."
Marcus was suddenly startled and quickly looked warily toward the source of the voice.
He saw that in the deepest part of the cave, on a simple stone platform, there was a golden tome emanating a dim light, and the voice was coming from that book.
"Who? Who's speaking?" Marcus frowned and asked.
The tome trembled slightly, and a spirit slowly emerged, transforming into an old man with white hair and beard, his eyes profound, as if he could see everything in the world.
"I am the tome spirit of the Codex of Ten Thousand Spells. You may call me Master Grimm." The old man's voice was rich, carrying a hint of majesty.
"Codex of Ten Thousand Spells?" Marcus looked suspiciously at the golden tome.
Master Grimm smiled slightly and said slowly: "This is the inheritance left by the Supreme Grand Wizard of ancient times, recording the most powerful magical spells, magic runes, and various magical powers lost to this world."
Hearing this, Marcus's heart suddenly leaped.
Ancient inheritance? The most powerful magical arts in the world?
If this were true, couldn't he change his fate?
As if seeing through Marcus's thoughts, Master Grimm chuckled and said, "However, if you want to gain my approval, you still must pass a test."
"A test?" Marcus took a deep breath, his eyes flickering with determination. "I accept!"
Master Grimm nodded with satisfaction, waved his hand gently, and golden light immediately enveloped Marcus, drawing him into a strange space.
Golden light came like a tidal wave, Marcus felt his body become weightless, in the next second, he was already in a strange space.
Here, his surroundings were filled with faint golden mist, and beneath his feet were floating stone tablets, each carved with ancient runes, faintly emanating mysterious fluctuations.
"This is..."
Marcus looked around, his eyes full of amazement. He was clearly in a cave, so why had he suddenly arrived in such a strange place?
At this moment, Master Grimm's voice sounded again: "This is the testing space. If you want to inherit the Codex of Ten Thousand Spells, you must pass the trial."
Marcus took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm, and asked in a deep voice: "What does the test consist of?"
Master Grimm smiled slightly, extended his hand, and three thin veils of illusion suddenly appeared before Marcus, with three choices written on them.
The first choice read: Potion Trial. Brew a complete potion within the allotted time.
The second choice read: Combat Trial.
The third choice read: Survival Trial. Survive in a dangerous environment for seven days.
Marcus frowned slightly and pondered for a moment.
All three choices seemed very challenging, each with different levels of difficulty. Marcus knew this wasn't a decision to be made carelessly - his future depended on this choice.
"Potion Trial..." he murmured softly, his eyes looking at the first choice. He had no experience in brewing potions whatsoever. Without a mana core, he had never even touched magical ingredients before. This choice seemed very risky for him.
"Combat Trial..." Marcus shook his head. Fight a wizard? Even the weakest wizard had power far beyond his capabilities. Without magic, how could he possibly win?
His eyes then turned to the third choice. "Survival Trial..." This might be the only reasonable option. Although he had no magical power, he was accustomed to living in hardship. Years of facing intimidation and humiliation had forged his mind into something strong.
"I choose the Survival Trial," Marcus said firmly.
Master Grimm smiled broadly, as if he had already anticipated this choice. "A wise choice, young man. Sometimes, true strength doesn't come from dazzling magic, but from the toughness of heart and the will to endure."
The space around Marcus began to change. The golden mist slowly faded, replaced by the scenery of a dark and terrifying wilderness forest. Tall trees towered with branches twisting like giant claws, and strange sounds echoed from the distance.
"This is the Shadow Forest of Death," Master Grimm explained, his voice echoing in the air. "A place where even experienced wizards are reluctant to enter. You must survive here for a full seven days. This forest is filled with dangerous creatures, poisonous plants, and deadly natural traps."
Marcus swallowed hard, but his resolve didn't waver. "What am I allowed to bring?"
"Only the clothes on your body and your wits," Master Grimm answered. "No magical assistance, no special equipment. You must rely on your instincts to survive."
Suddenly, a rumbling roar was heard from within the forest. Marcus felt his hair stand on end. Whatever was in there, it definitely wasn't friendly.
"Your trial begins now," Master Grimm said before his figure disappeared, leaving Marcus alone at the edge of the terrifying forest.
Marcus took a deep breath and stepped into the forest. Each step made dried leaves crackle under his feet. The air felt humid and heavy, filled with the aroma of wet earth and something rotting.