How come this arcanist is invincible?

Chapter 58 Abnormal Creatures

The Third District, the Tower of Ashes.

Adrian, a nobleman who had met Kane once before, walked with a limp.

His expression was one of utter dejection, and the pronouncement of the official mage of the Gray Tower echoed repeatedly in his mind.

"Your perception of the magic network is very poor; the ether does not favor you."

"Perhaps you could try other paths."

With those words, he was officially turned away.

The others were then arranged to sign the Mage Tower Contract and receive apprentice robes.

He stood there all alone, able to clearly see the expressions on the faces of the "friends" he had once won over:

Those who were also from noble families immediately showed indifference;

Although the friend from a merchant family expressed regret, a hint of mockery was hidden in his eyes;

Those commoner apprentices whom he had never given a second glance looked at with schadenfreude.

"There's no way I don't have spellcasting talent! Someone must be sabotaging me!"

A series of suspects flashed through Adrian's mind.

This even included Kane, the commoner who was personally taken away by the master of the mage tower.

But he was unsure, since the two had only exchanged a few words and he had not offended the other party.

Perhaps it was the series of setbacks that made him overly suspicious.

"Go home? No, I can't go back."

Adrian gritted his teeth, his fingertips clenching until they turned white.

"Going back would mean utter failure. I need to establish myself in Shantar first, and then look for opportunities in other mage towers."

He gritted his teeth and took out the last thirty gold coins in his pocket, which was the last living allowance his family had given him.

As the heir to Gravel Town, he was all too aware of the territory's predicament.

After years of mining, the ore in the territory has long been depleted.

Most of the residents have left, and the town's population is far less than that of Nilfgaard, which is located near the Dark Forest.

Sending him to the Mage Tower was intended to help his declining family find a way out.

Soon, Adrian rented an apartment in the Fourth District for three gold coins a week.

He then rushed off to other mage towers without stopping.

"Once I become a mage apprentice, I can give up my house, and then..."

But as expected, only another, even more dilapidated mage tower responded.

For a monthly fee of 10 gold coins, he can become a mage apprentice.

Adrian didn't understand the concept of "paid work".

But as he looked at his nearly empty money pouch, his brow furrowed, then he stared at his hands, gritting his teeth:

"Why...why don't I have the talent to become a spellcaster...damn it!"

Despairing, he returned to his lodgings and fell asleep, exhausted and sleepy.

He woke up suddenly in the dead of night.

In the darkness, a figure wearing a black hood was seen sitting on a chair.

"Thief?!"

Adrian's heart tightened, and he instinctively reached to his side, only to find that there was no weapon.

Just then, a gentle voice rang out:

"Adrian Belmont, there's no need to panic. I mean no harm."

Adrian asked warily, "What do you want to do?"

"I'm here to help you—for example, to make you a spellcaster."

Adrian chuckled:

"Those mage towers all said I didn't have the corresponding talent."

What can you do?

The figure slowly rose, the voice calm yet carrying a certain allure:

"Did you know that there was once an apprentice just like you who was also deemed unqualified to cast spells?"

"But he not only successfully advanced, he also killed a second-tier professional in the city guard."

"The necromancer Flynn?"

Adrian was startled.

This matter had already been circulating among the apprentices.

"So, with just a simple ritual, you can become a spellcaster... Are you willing?"

The shadowy figure continued his words.

Adrian was tempted.

The setbacks of the Ash Tower, the indifference of companions, the decline of the family, the expectations of parents...

It felt like mountains were pressing down on him.

He remained silent for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

Even if it meant making a deal with the devil, he was willing to give it a try.

A satisfied smile appeared on the figure beneath the hood.

Adrian looked at him and asked:

"What should I call you?"

The shadowy figure slowly removed his hood, revealing a gentle face:

You can call me 'mentor'.

……

The Night Watch, the 13th Squad's encampment.

Reed had not yet arrived; Sienna, Gavin, and Braden were waiting.

Upon seeing Kane appear, Sienna blinked her emerald green eyes.

She seemed to want to say hello, and her two teammates also showed gossipy expressions.

But Kane merely nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd and landing on the wanderer Gavin:

Is it convenient?

"Huh? You're looking for me?"

Gavin pointed to himself, his face full of surprise.

Sienna's smile vanished instantly, while Braden looked on with amusement.

Kane said, "I'd like to have a friendly spar with you, but we'll stop short of a fight."

Gavin gave a wry smile and quickly waved his hand.

"Forget it! Last time your Cloud Mist spell made all the wooden weapons in the training ground moldy. If it happens again, we'll really have to deduct their pay."

Kane said, "Just find an open space, and use your own weapons."

Gavin's mouth twitched:

"I refuse! It took the three of us working together to barely defeat you; I would definitely lose in a one-on-one match."

"Besides, I have no interest in dealing with your spells—perhaps you should try the captain."

He hadn't forgotten the first time he tried to intimidate this newcomer.

The opponent used some kind of magic, and his strength suddenly increased, knocking the dagger out of his hand in one swift motion.

Kane said calmly:

"What if I don't use magic, but only employ basic wanderer skills?"

Hearing this, the group was taken aback.

Gavin, on the contrary, became interested, his eyes lighting up:

"Then you'll probably lose."

Gavin was very confident, while Kane smiled noncommittally.

Instead of renting a training ground, the two found an open space and stood there.

Sienna and Braden stepped aside and watched with great interest.

Gavin, holding two daggers, slightly turned his body, his eyes fixed on Kane.

Kane simply drew his new scimitar, his stance steady, without making any unnecessary movements.

next moment.

Gavin launched a sudden attack, Kane parried with his sword, and the two figures quickly crossed paths.

In terms of speed, Gavin is clearly ahead of the pack.

While Kane managed to block each attack, the scimitar was not as light and fast as a dagger.

Braden, who was watching the game, frowned and said:

"Kane shouldn't be a match for Gavin if he doesn't use magic or even that kind of sudden acceleration technique."

Sienna shook her head.

"Do you think Kane would start a sparring match for no reason?"

Braden looked at Gavin, who was eager to win, and suddenly showed sympathy.

……

"Kane, just admit defeat! Without those weird abilities, you're no match for me."

Gavin unleashed a barrage of dagger attacks, forcing Kane to retreat continuously, as he spoke.

Kane replied casually, "Who knows?"

Gavin said no more and his offensive intensified.

The daggers and scimitars clashed repeatedly, the sound of metal clashing echoing incessantly.

As Kane dealt with the situation, he also assessed his own shortcomings:

"As expected, without using water manipulation to accelerate blood flow, the speed and power are insufficient to suppress a first-tier wanderer."

"Moreover, there are indeed limitations to using a scimitar with dagger proficiency."

"However, scimitars are more suitable for fighting warriors, so I should probably specialize in learning sword skills later."

"That's enough testing. Next, let's test the new weapon's effectiveness."

Just as Gavin accelerated his attack, Kane suddenly spoke:

"Be careful."

Gavin's heart tightened as Kane suddenly increased the speed of his knife swings.

A sudden change in the rhythm of the battle can determine the outcome, so he hurriedly raised his dagger and blocked it with a "clang".

But with the next strike, Kane's speed suddenly slowed down again.

One fast, one slow, the rhythm is constantly changing.

Gavin felt as if he were fighting against two people with completely different fighting styles.

He even subconsciously thought of the "multiple combat styles" that only second-tier professionals could possess.

But he immediately dismissed the idea; Kane was essentially a spellcaster.

"No, I will fight back."

Just as Gavin made his move, Kane's blade speed was even slightly faster than it had been at its fastest, so fast that Gavin couldn't even react in time.

A knife tip was then steadily placed in front of his throat.

Gavin hesitated for a moment, then dropped the dagger and surrendered helplessly.

"I lost."

Kane sheathed his sword, continuing to summarize in his mind:

He hadn't fully utilized the effect of the Wind Dance Technique in reducing air resistance, but even so, Gavin was barely managing to hold his own.

When Gavin was preparing to counterattack, he pushed the Wind Dance technique on his scimitar to its limit, securing the victory.

The two put away their weapons and walked back.

Gavin couldn't help but ask, "Kane, you really didn't use any magic?"

Kane nodded: "No, I just used an enchanted weapon."

"You are more insidious than the devil."

Gavin couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Kane smiled and promised to treat him to dinner, at which point Gavin's displeasure vanished.

Kane was secretly pleased:

For an experienced wanderer like Gavin, hiring a sparring partner at the Adventurer's Tavern would cost at least several gold coins per session.

After the sparring session ended, Sienna stepped forward with a smile, about to speak to Kane, when a figure rushed over – it was Reed.

His expression was somewhat strange:

"What are you doing here? We've been looking for you for ages."

Braden asked, "Captain, is there a mission?"

"Um."

Reed nodded, his expression turning serious:

"That's right, a new mission has arrived. This time we're going to clean up the sewers of the Fourth District, where a lot of strange creatures have appeared."

He paused, then added:

"By the way, this is a joint mission, and we may be operating alongside 'The Lantern Bearers'."

"Lampbearer...Shar?"

Kane's heart stirred slightly as he recalled the name he hadn't seen since entering the city.

Sienna noticed the change in Kane's expression.