Ivan made his way to a martial arts arena within the castle.
Inside the martial arts arena, there were targets for testing spells, with magic defense graduated degrees of 6. One could determine the attacking power of a spell by the marks it left. Vine Entanglement was a supportive spell, so measuring it with the magic targets would certainly be inaccurate.
“Vada equa vara alahmasu—-“
The incantation, said to be in the language of elements, needed to be chanted or murmured to help draw energy particles and thereby further enhance the spell’s power. After he had learned it, even his Linguistics Skill Experience Points had increased by a few.
A verdant vine appeared, floating around the magic target, tightly entangling it, loop after loop.
As thick as a pinky finger, it could stretch up to three meters.
Ivan took a large step forward and slashed down with his sword, as if he were cutting through a layer of tough bark. The vine broke and instantly dissipated into energy particles.
“It has a certain tenacity, yet it can hardly withstand the sharp edge of a Knight’s sword.”
Vine Entanglement was not a defensive spell, what it sought was the binding strength and toughness of the vines.
He immediately cast Vine Entanglement again, pulling at the verdant vine with both hands. At first, it wouldn’t budge, but when he used Combat Energy, the vine slowly ruptured and vanished before his eyes.
“Its toughness is between 3 and 4 graduated degrees, with top-quality magic-casting materials, 5 degrees might not be the limit. No wonder the mentor rated it highly malleable.”
A satisfied smile appeared on his face, for the daunting aspect of a spell lay not in its lethality, but in its unexpected modes of attack, which were difficult to guard against.
While casting Vine Entanglement, he could materialize the vines directly upon the target, leaving no chance for it to dodge. This method could also be used against ordinary wild beasts. When facing fellow apprentices, the spell description stated that due to the interference of the energy fields around apprentices, the vines had to be materialized beside the target before entwining.
After two spells, he had only one-third of his spiritual power and Mana left, not enough to cast a third spell without causing self-harm.
Spiritual power and Mana could be restored through meditation or sleep.
Ivan then practiced a Breathing Method for a while before leaving the martial arts arena.
On his way, he encountered the little green winged snake, Lahr, and an unfamiliar Cloud Fog servant, whose body seemed to be filled with drifting snowflakes, and he could feel the chill emanating from it.
“Lahr, is this an enemy?”
He looked with surprise at the disheveled, blond-haired girl being escorted, a prisoner.
Nobody should have been able to infiltrate the island, let alone attack the castle.
The blond girl, Pearney, glared at him irritably: “Kid, I’m your senior, your upperclassman, got it? Show some manners when you see your upperclassman, didn’t your elders teach you that?”
“Shut up, it’s not your turn to speak.” The little green winged snake slapped her with a wing, forcing her to bow her head. “You dare to be so arrogant after attacking Dark Lahr. If Sorcerer Toyennes hadn’t forbidden us from killing you, I would have already buried you by the dock.”
“She is Pearney, a very disobedient apprentice. Ivan, you should not take after her.”
The little green winged snake and the Cloud Fog servant did not linger, continuing to press Pearney toward the highest point of the castle.
“She must be Earl Hobson’s niece Justine mentioned. Considering her body constitution, it doesn’t seem like there was a problem there. Why did she attack Dark Lahr?” Ivan paused thoughtfully but did not call out to the little green winged snake.
After several encounters, he had more or less figured out Lahr’s character: playful, attention-seeking, and fond of arbitrary naming, yet very principled, never going against what Sorcerer Toyennes had said.
He had a vague feeling that he would not be a match for Lahr right now.
Since the encounter with Pearney, for some reason, Ivan suddenly felt a sense of urgency, as if something was about to happen, a foreboding like the approach of a storm.
…
Three days passed.
[Meditation Skill Experience Point +10]
[Meditation Skill: Lv1 (31/100)]
[Runes Skill Experience Point +2]
[Runes Skill: Lv1 (5/100)]
The 12th meditation rune had been conquered, and another two days had passed. Quickly, his spiritual power rose to 3.6 graduated degrees, exactly corresponding to the 12th meditation rune.
Strength: 3.0, Agility: 3.8, Body Constitution: 3.7, Spirit: 3.6
These were his current stats. His mental power was fast catching up to his body strength, but he had entered a slow improvement period. Whether it was Combat Energy or spiritual power, he was still far from advancing.
Sounds were coming from outside, causing the contemplating Ivan to frown.
“Let me share something with everyone. I, Laurie, have become a 2nd Class apprentice ahead of you all. I’m sharing my joy with you to inspire everyone’s morale, hoping—-“
The voice clearly penetrated the room through the door, the speaker likely not far from his own doorstep.
This guy, time and again, was he really thinking I was so unflappable? Ivan walked over and pulled open the door, sure enough there was a figure standing in front, enthusiastically delivering his speech of jubilation.
Laurie happened to turn his head, his face brimming with an irrepressible smile, “Ivan, you’ve come at just the right time. You should also share your insights with everyone. After all, becoming a 2nd Class apprentice isn’t an easy task, and everyone needs encouragement.”
“Or I can discuss some spell issues with you, Vada and Vara Ala Māsu—-“
Ivan had already been brewing a spell, and he quickly recited the incantation.
“No, what are you doing?” Laurie’s face changed dramatically. Before he could take a few steps back, a lush vine emerged to his left, winding towards him like a snake. “Ivan, we can talk this out, talk this out.”
This was his first direct confrontation with a spell, and heaven knows if it would leave him half-dead. He hurriedly made soothing sounds.
“Remember, do not provoke me.”
Ivan dispelled the ‘Vine Entanglement’ and turned back to his room, leaving Laurie with a face that turned from pale to ashen. Experience tales at M V L
Of course, fighting wasn’t allowed in the castle. He had just intended to scare Laurie, not expecting him to be so easily frightened.
At the same time, he confirmed something. The book of magic was right: Vine Entanglement would be disrupted by the aura around the apprentice and couldn’t bind directly, which could be considered a small drawback.
[Energy Particle Skill Experience Points +6]
[Energy Particle Skill: Lv1 (41/100)]
The experience points were an unexpected delight. He had convincingly shown his capability, earning acknowledgment of his strength from the other apprentices, thus attaining some reputation and converting it into corresponding subject experience points.
The time had come to late at night.
Ivan woke up alertly to find a faint glow in his vision, flickering just above his eyes.
There were energy fluctuations!
He sat up and quickly moved to the side, extended his palm, and casually flicked on a lantern hanging on the wall; it ignited and cast a dim light.
Observing for a few seconds, he realized that the faint glow was seeping through the wood; something was hidden inside the ceiling beam on one side.
With a deft jump, he caught the beam nimbly, hanging from it. His fingers wrapped in Combat Energy, he forcefully plucked out a gemstone bead, and with a slight sway of his body, he gently landed on the floor.
After being touched by him, the gemstone bead quieted down.
“Secret Method Seal?”
At a glance, Ivan saw the spell of the Secret Method Seal on the gemstone bead.
After thinking it over, he transferred some Mana to it and activated the Secret Technique on it.
The gemstone bead vibrated slightly, and a faint voice emerged, “Lucky young man, I congratulate you for finding a magic artifact hidden deep within the mist. As the magic artifact spirit, I will bring you endless strength and wealth. Rejoice in your heart.”
Hearing this, Ivan’s face turned somewhat dark. Is there no one who can speak normally these days?