The Glitched Mage-Chapter 45: Primordial Wilds

Time passed within the Created Space, where exhaustion, pain, and limits held no dominion over Riven.

The battles were endless.

One after another, enemies were summoned—fought—destroyed.

The system threw everything at him. Mana beasts with towering frames and elemental cores that burned like dying stars. Human-like warriors wielding magic so refined it could rival an elder's. Creatures birthed from nightmares, dripping in shadows and malice.

But Riven never stopped.

His movements sharpened with every clash, his spells refined in the crucible of relentless combat.

His flames—once bright and untamed—turned darker, deadlier.

Scorching Chain burned colder, its fiery bindings no longer just searing flesh but devouring the mana of those caught in its grasp.

Ember Cloak, once a simple enhancement, transformed into something more—a living armor of black fire that no longer just protected but lashed out, a second skin of destruction.

Crimson Mirage evolved into a perfect deception—heat-flickering afterimages that didn't just fool the eye but warped mana perception itself, making it impossible for enemies to distinguish the real from the false.

Infernal Burst—his most destructive attack—became something far beyond a mere beam of condensed fire.

It was a tear in reality, a lance of pure abyss, burning not with heat alone but with the void's hunger.

It pierced. It consumed. It erased.

Hours blurred into days.

The battlefield shifted countless times—icy tundras, molten wastelands, gravity-defying arenas—but the outcome was always the same.

Riven stood victorious.

His black flames coiled around his limbs like obedient specters.

By the time the system's final notification flickered before him, he barely needed to read it.

[[ Training Complete ]]

[[ Wrathful Flame Set – Mastered ]]

[[ Abyssal Flame – Integrated ]]

[[ All Fire Skills Have Adapted to Abyssal Variants ]]

Riven stood in the silent void of his training space, abyssal flames flickering at his fingertips. Cuts and bruises littered his body, dried blood clinging to his skin—a testament to the relentless battles he had fought. But he hardly felt it. Pain had become background noise.

'System, take me back.'

The Created Space shuddered, cracks splintering across the artificial sky. Then, like glass shattering, it disintegrated around him, the void swallowing everything before light surged back into his vision.

Reality returned.

The familiar training room materialized before him, the faint hum of mana stabilizing in the air.

Nyx was already at his side, silent as ever, steadying him as he lowered himself onto a chair that Krux had dragged over.

"You've grown stronger," Nyx observed, her obsidian eyes scanning him with quiet approval.

Riven smirked, stretching out his sore limbs. "You could say that."

The training had done more than refine his skills—it had accelerated them beyond what he thought possible. The system's estimated five days had been cut down to just three, but inside that space? It had felt like more than that. Countless days of nothing but battle, fire, and shadows.

"I feel like I'm already falling behind, my liege," Krux muttered, his golden eyes glinting with barely restrained impatience. "Though I am grateful to exist in your shadow, my hands burn to hunt—to kill."

Riven let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. "Don't worry. I have plans for you both… I just need some time to put them in motion."

Nyx and Krux exchanged a look before sinking soundlessly into his shadow once more.

Riven exhaled before slipping the keystone into his pocket. The room was still his for a few more days, and he intended to make use of it. But for now—

It was time to move.

He stepped out of the training hall and made his way toward the Second-Year Market District once more. This time, he wasn't just browsing—he was scouting. He retraced his steps from the previous day, weaving through the crowds, taking in the shops and stalls with a sharper eye.

Had he missed anything? Something worth his attention?

His pace slowed as he approached the Monolith of Power.

The towering slab of obsidian stood as an unwavering pillar in the training grounds, its surface glowing faintly with shifting names.

Riven's gaze swept over the rankings.

Names flickered, shifting positions. Some rising. Some falling.

And then—one, in particular, caught his attention.

Kai Seren – Rank 210

Riven almost laughed aloud.

Kai, the arrogant second-year who had picked a fight with him back in the first year, wasn't even within the top 200.

For all his bravado, all his boasting—he was mediocre at best.

His eyes flicked further down, scanning the list.

Cole Drakar – Rank 201

…Cole?

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Riven's smirk widened into something dangerously amused. So his dear older brother was just one rank shy of breaking into the top 200.

The thought sent a ripple of amusement through him. Cole, the golden son, the favored heir of House Drakar, struggling just to claw his way up.

"Are you heading to the mana beast islands?"

The casual chatter of two second-year girls caught Riven's attention as they strolled past the training grounds' exit. Their conversation was light, effortless—yet the words they spoke carried exactly the kind of information he was looking for.

"Yeah! I'm heading to the Arctic Wastes," one of them replied, her voice filled with excitement. "I need Snow Fox blood for a potion."

Riven's lips curled into his most charming smile as he turned on his heel, stepping smoothly into their path.

"Excuse me," he said, his voice soft, polite—disarming.

Both girls stopped abruptly, their eyes widening as they took in his presence.

"Sorry to interrupt," he continued smoothly, his expression one of mild curiosity. "I'm new to the second year and couldn't help but overhear you both discussing the mana beast islands. I was wondering—how do you enter them?"

For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, realization dawned in the eyes of the girl on the left.

"Y-you just need to pay at the gates in the Navigation Hall," she stammered slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"But your first entrance is free!" the other girl, the one heading to the Arctic Wastes, chimed in with a bright smile. "Just let them scan your talisman, and they'll let you through."

"We're about to head there now. Do you want to come with us?" the first girl offered, her voice more confident this time.

A few students nearby slowed their steps, some openly staring, others whispering behind cupped hands.

"Did she just invite him?" someone murmured.

"Wasn't that Serena Deveroux?" another whispered in disbelief. "Why is she talking to him?"

"He spoke to them first!" a male student hissed angrily. "How shameless! Does he actually think he can talk to the second year's top beauty?!"

Riven sighed internally. I see how it is.

Smiling, he shook his head. "Thank you for the invitation, but I have a few things to take care of first.

"Maybe next time, then." Serena winked, before the two girls giggled and walked off.

Riven turned on his heel, making his way toward the Navigation Hall. Maybe talking to them was a mistake. The attention it brought was annoying, but in the end, it didn't matter.

He had the information he needed.

His eyes flicked over the walls lined with teleportation gates, scanning the engraved plaques beside them until a few caught his attention.

Mana Beast Islands—Authorized Entry Only.

A slow smirk crept onto his lips.

Riven's gaze swept over the towering Navigation Hall, its walls lined with teleportation gates, each leading to a different corner of the academy's vast territories. Carved into the obsidian pillars beside each portal were detailed descriptions of their destinations.

He took his time, scanning through them.

— Arctic Wastes: A frozen land teeming with cold-resistant mana beasts, ideal for ice-attribute mages seeking rare materials.

— Blazing Rift: A volatile volcanic region filled with fire-elemental creatures and rich in emberstone deposits.

— Serpent Marshlands: A humid, labyrinthine swamp, home to venomous serpents and water-affinity beasts.

— Stormfront Peaks: A mountainous battlefield where wind-elemental creatures reign supreme, lightning storms constantly raging above.

There were at least twenty islands listed, each one catering to different elemental affinities and ranking levels.

But one, in particular, stood out.

— Primordial Wilds: The largest and most diverse of all the Mana Beast Islands. An unrestricted hunting ground where creatures of all affinities roam freely. Dangerous and unpredictable. Only the strong survive.

Riven's smirk deepened.

He wasn't interested in standing out—not yet. If he chose the Blazing Rift, people might assume he was just another Drakar specializing in fire magic.

But the Primordial Wilds? It was the perfect choice. Big enough to blend in. Dangerous enough to let him test his limits.

He strode forward, stopping before the large teleportation gate labeled Primordial Wilds. The runes inscribed on its surface pulsed faintly, reacting to his presence.

A staff member stood beside it, a bored expression on his face. "First time entering?"

Riven nodded, retrieving his talisman.

The man barely glanced at him before pressing a crystal plaque against the talisman's surface. A faint hum of mana resonated through the air.

"First entry is free," the man muttered. "After that, you'll need to pay with merits or mana cores. Just follow the guidelines—don't stray too deep if you don't want to die."

"Noted."

With that, Riven stepped through the portal.

The shift in space was instant.

One moment, he was surrounded by the smooth, polished architecture of the academy. The next—

A dense, ancient forest stretched out before him, its towering trees so massive they disappeared into the mist above. The air was thick with mana, far richer and wilder than anything he had felt at the academy. The ground beneath his boots pulsed with latent energy, the soil itself saturated with magic.

Distant roars echoed through the jungle, the cries of beasts hunting, fighting, surviving.

Riven took a slow breath. This place… was alive.

Around him, groups of students had already scattered—some moving in squads, others venturing alone. The Primordial Wilds wasn't just a training ground; it was a free-for-all battlefield.

Perfect.

He flexed his fingers, letting a small flicker of abyssal flame coil around his fingertips before vanishing. His flames were different now, more refined, more… complete.

Riven's gaze swept across the dense underbrush before he stepped deeper into the forest. The moment he was certain no one else was nearby, he let the shadows unravel from his form.

Nyx and Krux emerged soundlessly, their presence seamlessly blending into the untamed wilderness around them.

"This place…" Nyx murmured, her obsidian eyes widening slightly as she scanned the towering trees, the thick foliage concealing countless unseen predators. "There are plenty of mana beasts here—but something else lingers too."

Krux, on the other hand, grinned as he inhaled deeply, his golden eyes gleaming with excitement. "Ah, what a marvelous place! I can already taste the bloodlust in the air—so many beasts just waiting to be slaughtered."

Riven ignored his enthusiasm and got straight to the point. "I need both of you to gather as many mana cores as possible—but don't let yourselves be seen." His tone was sharp, leaving no room for argument. "If I'm going to dominate the second year, I need currency—and a lot of it."

Krux's grin widened. "Yes, my liege!" He unsheathed his sword, the blade gleaming even in the dim forest light, before vanishing into the shadows, his presence dissipating into the wild like a predator on the prowl.

Nyx lingered for a moment, her expression calm yet watchful. Then, with a flick of her wrist, a tendril of shadow slithered from her fingertips, curling around Riven's chest before sinking into his skin like liquid night.

"I'm leaving a part of my shadow with you," she said softly, her voice carrying the slightest hint of concern. "If you face danger, I can return immediately."

Riven arched a brow. "Won't that leave you weaker?"

A smirk played on Nyx's lips. "I could leave more than half of my shadow behind and still wipe out every beast in this forest," she said smugly.

Riven rolled his eyes. "Then don't get too cocky and make a mistake."

Her smirk deepened before her form dissolved into the darkness, merging with the surrounding shadows as she vanished into the depths of the forest.

Riven advanced deeper into the Primordial Wilds, his steps barely disturbing the dense undergrowth. The air here was thick—saturated with mana—pulsing through the soil, the trees, even the very wind.

Above him, the towering canopy loomed, ancient branches stretching toward the sky, their shadows weaving an intricate tapestry of darkness. The scent of damp earth and mana-infused foliage clung to the air, a reminder that this land belonged to the beasts.

A distant roar split through the silence.

Deep. Guttural. Predatory.

A second followed, this one sharper, filled with malice, like jagged claws raking against stone.

Riven's smirk deepened.

The hunt had begun.

—x—

Minutes bled into hours as he hunted.

Riven was efficient—methodical. He didn't just charge at anything that moved. Instead, he stalked, watching from the shadows, analyzing his prey before making his move.

The first was a Flameclaw Panther, a sleek, mana-infused beast with dark crimson fur that shimmered like burning embers. It prowled through the undergrowth, its molten claws cutting through the foliage effortlessly.

It never even saw him coming.

One precise Scorching Chain, now blackened with abyssal fire, snapped around its limbs, binding it mid-leap. The moment it struggled, the flames devoured its mana, weakening it instantly.

A single Infernal Burst—a razor-thin, abyssal beam—ended it in an instant.

The mana core still pulsed with heat when he pulled it from the corpse.

The second was a pack of Nightfang Wolves, their fur blending seamlessly with the darkness, their movements calculated, predatory.

But Riven? He was faster.

Crimson Mirage scattered his afterimages across the clearing, confusing the wolves. They lunged at shadows, their fangs snapping at nothing.

By the time they realized their mistake, it was too late.

Ember Cloak flared to life, his body vanishing into a blur of black fire. He carved through them, each strike engulfing their bodies in devouring flames.

Only their mana cores and ashes remained.

The third was a Titan Basilisk, its emerald scales nearly impenetrable, its venom potent enough to melt through steel.

Riven grinned. A real challenge.

The basilisk lunged, its massive tail swinging in an arc that could crush trees but Riven dodged, flipping over the strike with effortless agility.

The beast opened its maw—poisoned breath spilling forth.

Abyssal Flame roared to life.He didn't dodge. He didn't need to.

Instead, he raised his palm. The black fire ate the poison, devouring it before it could reach him.

The basilisk hesitated, its glowing yellow eyes narrowing in confusion.

Riven moved.

With a flick of his wrist, Scorching Chain coiled around its thick neck, the abyssal fire burning deep into its mana-infused scales. The creature screeched, writhing as its own energy was leeched away.

It thrashed. Tried to break free.

But Riven was relentless. A final Infernal Burst—this time infused entirely with abyssal energy—pierced through the beast's skull, ending it instantly.

The thud of its massive corpse hitting the ground sent a shockwave through the clearing.

Riven exhaled as he bent over the corpse. The mana core he extracted from its chest was massive, swirling with condensed energy.

[[ Epic Mana Core Aquired ]]

Perfect.

Time Passed, but Riven did not stop.

One kill after another, he refined his abilities, pushed his limits, forced his new abyssal flames to adapt to everything.

By the time night was beginning to settle over the Primordial Wilds, Riven felt exhaustion gnawing at his bones.

He stood in a clearing, surrounded by ruin. The remains of mana beasts, nothing but scorched earth and ashes.

His black flames flickered along his fingers, curling like living entities, obedient. Controlled.

[[ System Notification ]]

[[ Hunting Report ]]

[[ Total Mana Cores Acquired: 47 Common, 16 Uncommon, 3 Rare and 1 Epic ]]

"Not enough." Riven exhaled, his breath curling in the cool night air. With a flick of his wrist, a fireball flared to life, lazily orbiting him, its warm glow casting flickering shadows against the twisted trees. The flames burned a familiar orange—untouched by his abyssal corruption.

For now, that was a good thing.

This ordinary fire served a purpose: a lure, a distraction, a feint. To any watching predator, it was nothing more than a simple light source, a beacon of careless warmth.

But the true danger lay elsewhere.

The moment the fireball flickered into existence, the forest stirred. Eyes—many eyes—glowed in the underbrush, reflections of hunger and malice as the beasts slithered, stalked, and crept forward. The air grew thick with anticipation, the unmistakable tension of creatures circling their prey.

Riven's grin sharpened.

At his fingertips, black flames coiled and twisted, silent and insidious, writhing like living things.

This was going to be a long night.

And he was going to enjoy every second of it.