Wizard: Starting With the Knights Breathing Method Chapter 2: The [Black Snake with a Candle] and [The Mad Knight]

Deep within the castle's foundations lay a subterranean chamber.

This was a hidden sanctuary, a place Levi had never once stepped foot in before today.

A mechanical device groaned as it rose from the floor, revealing the entrance to the secret room.

Inside, an ancient piece of parchment that had survived the passage of centuries rested quietly. It was covered in scarlet pigment, featuring a chaotic array of scribbles and notches that formed a mystical circle.

At the edge of these markings sat a black-scaled serpent, its form appearing to coil around the entire castle. The depiction of the great snake was abstract, with a solitary candle flickering atop its jaw.

“This is the Black Snake Breathing Method, the ancestral legacy of the Snyder family. The Snyder blood in your veins serves as the only key to unlocking its power. I suspect this breathing method alone holds more value than the entire valley,” Knight Fred stated with a heavy tone.

Levi’s breath hitched as he realized his journey was finally beginning.

According to his knowledge, Knights categorized breathing methods into four distinct tiers: superficial, excellent, perfect, and legendary.

Ninety percent of all existing breathing methods are merely superficial.

This is due to the whims of fate, as no man can truly master his own destiny. To reach the rank of Great Knight, one requires 90% talent, 9% luck, and 1% hard work. Such a path is defined by excellent breathing methods.

Perfect breathing methods are the exclusive domain of high nobility, such as Dukes, and are incredibly rare to encounter.

As for the legendary tier, those exist almost entirely in myths.

A defining trait of any breathing method ranked excellent or higher is that they are typically hereditary. The Black Snake Breathing Method was a secret technique belonging solely to the Snyder lineage.

There had been those who tried to steal such bloodline-bound methods. The outcomes were always grim: their Cultivation would either degrade to a superficial level, or their internal blood vessels would rupture as they descended into madness.

Many believed this was a protective curse designed to thwart thieves.

Levi, however, felt no fear regarding this, as the blood of the Snyders flowed through him.

Under the tutelage of Knight Fred, he spent approximately half a month practicing within the confines of the secret room.

Knight Fred remained by his side throughout the process. Even though he did not possess the specific knowledge of the Black Snake’s rhythm, his vast experience allowed him to offer Levi vital guidance.

One morning, Levi snapped out of a trance-like state while holding a peculiar posture. He was drenched in sweat, his skin flushed a deep crimson as his veins throbbed beneath the surface. He struggled to catch his breath.

It felt as though his blood was boiling, surging through his body at a violent pace. His internal energy was being consumed rapidly, replaced by a wave of ravenous hunger.

“Hu... hungry...”

He let out a low, guttural growl, sounding more like a predator than a man.

Knight Fred was prepared for this moment. He immediately presented a tray filled with roasted meat, a bowl of goat's milk, a large serving of bread rolls thick with fruit jam, and a side of boiled cabbage.

The meal was a balanced mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins. While most nobles in this world looked down on vegetables as "peasant food," Levi understood that a proper diet was essential.

He finished the food with the ferocity of a gale, and slowly, the gnawing emptiness in his stomach began to fade.

Despite consuming enough to feed two grown men, he felt only 80% satiated.

In that moment, a proficiency panel manifested in his mind:

Levi SnyderBlack Snake Breathing Method: Level 1 (1/1000)

The appearance of a skill on the panel confirmed that his training had officially taken root.

Now, his only task was to grind and improve.

This milestone also signaled his transition into the ranks of a Knight Attendant.

An apprentice must pass through three distinct phases before becoming a true Knight: Shield Squire, Sword Squire, and finally, Quasi-Knight.

A Shield Squire focuses on defensive mastery. A Sword Squire masters advanced offense. Once the breathing method and external martial techniques are fully synchronized, one becomes a Quasi-Knight. The final hurdle is the condensation of the Seed of Life.

Success grants one the title of an invincible Knight on the field of battle; failure often means the path of the Knight is closed forever.

“It appears our Young Master has successfully initiated the Black Snake Breathing Method. While your progress is slower than your father’s, you have already surpassed the majority of people. Be warned: the hunger will be intense. Always ensure you have ample food before you begin your practice,” Knight Fred cautioned. “If you don't, the starvation will consume your sanity, turning you into a beast driven by base instincts. That is how ‘Mad Knights’ are born, and the Church burns them all at the stake.”

Mad Knights were often commoners who sought the breathing method to protect their kin or to rise above their station.

However, by walking the razor's edge of madness too often, they would eventually lose themselves and slaughter the very families they sought to protect.

Knight Fred’s eyes clouded with emotion at the mention of these fallen warriors. Coming from a lowly background himself, he understood that brush with insanity all too well. It was for this reason he remained eternally loyal to the former Baron, the man who had saved him from such a fate.