Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys

It seems that the Dragon Vein Evolution Potion Buchanan gave him last time really had some issues.

"Rein, if the Second Prince invites you to join, find a reason to refuse." Cleya's face became serious as she spoke.

"Hmm, I've already refused." Rein nodded.

"That's good."

Suddenly, Cleya smiled and said, "Rein, it's been a long time since we last sparred in Meister, how about a match?"

Hmm?

Hearing Cleya's words, Rein was initially slightly taken aback, but then he laughed and said, "Of course."

Since her bloodline awakening, Cleya's strength improved rapidly, but she had heard of Rein's incredible battle achievements after coming to the Imperial City, and she wished to see it for herself.

The two quickly arrived at the training room.

"Rein, then I'll start now."

"Alright."

Cleya drew the dual-handed greatsword from her back, holding it at an angle.

Judging from the starting posture, Rein noticed Cleya was still using Arcadian Swordsmanship.

"Whoosh!"

With Cleya's long, elastic legs just gently pressing on the ground, she shot forward like an arrow, charging straight at Rein, the greatsword tracing a silver arc as it slashed downwards at a forty-five-degree angle.

"Clap!"

Facing Cleya's remarkably swift slash, Rein merely raised his right hand and casually struck, deflecting the greatsword's blade to the side.

Instantly, a hint of surprise flashed in Cleya's eyes.

She anticipated Rein might dodge, retreat, or use witchcraft for defense, but she certainly didn't expect him to effortlessly neutralize her slash with seventy percent of her strength.

However, Cleya's subsequent reaction wasn't slow.

As the greatsword's blade was deflected, she quickly adjusted her steps, re-energized, and seamlessly shifted the slash into a sweep aimed at Rein's waist.

And this time, the result was even more astonishing for Cleya!

Because Rein's right hand snaked out like a venomous serpent, seizing the blade of Cleya's greatsword with lightning speed — barehanded against a blade.

Naturally, facing Cleya, Rein showed restraint, not deploying Metal Morphing Spell to damage her weapon.

"Cleya, your strength has improved, not bad."

"Though, you haven't used your full strength, have you?" Rein laughed as he spoke, releasing his grip.

"Your strength..." Cleya's eyes widened, momentarily dazed.

Though she had heard Rein's strength seemed greatly enhanced, hearing is still different from seeing.

After this real exchange, Cleya truly realized the fearsome level of Rein's power.

She recalled back in Flashgold Town, merely exerting two or three tenths of her strength could easily defeat Rein, who had just learned the breathing technique.

But by the time they were in the County Town, she was no longer Rein's match.

However, at that time, it was still somewhat balanced, at least when it came to a duel between dual-handed greatswords.

But now?

Rein could easily defeat her barehanded, and with one hand!

Moreover, the crucial point was that Cleya's power wasn't static; after her bloodline awakening, she too had made leaps in progress, yet unexpectedly, the gap had widened.

Nevertheless, Cleya had her pride, even if she couldn't defeat the barehanded Rein.

She definitely couldn't let Rein defeat her with just one hand!

"Rein, I will use my bloodline talent." Cleya's eyes sharpened as she spoke.

"Alright."

Rein immediately realized, his easy victory with one hand seemed somewhat hard for Cleya to accept.

Cleya's dual-handed greatsword glowed with a dense white Original Force light, and simultaneously, deep cyan air currents swirled around her long and rounded legs.

"Swish!"

Cleya's knees bent slightly, toe touched the ground, and she vanished from her spot, appearing before Rein the next moment.

And Rein was still battling with one hand, only this time his right hand was enveloped in a layer of Hardened Essence Gold.

"Clang! Clang! Ding!"

Rein stood motionless, single-handedly countering Cleya's Leap Slash from various angles, chopping and sweeping, and for a moment, sparks flew everywhere!

However, a trace of surprise still flashed in Rein's eyes.

Cleya's speed had increased by fifty percent, and in her current state, she was near quasi-legendary power.

Looking at it this way, Cleya's power growth rate was indeed very fast.

"Sword Blade Storm!" Cleya shouted delicately, exerting the Advanced Secret Skill of Arcadian Swordsmanship with all her might.

In an instant, several whirlwinds appeared on the field, and Cleya spun like a top, her greatsword sending waves of energy surging in all directions.

Rein thought for a moment and then smiled, directly casting a second-level defensive witchcraft on himself.

"Iron Armor Technique!"

As a layer of dark silver metal film covered Rein's body, a series of metallic clangs echoed, akin to the dense hammering sounds in a blacksmith's shop.

The blade of Cleya's greatsword struck the shield exuding a dense metallic sheen.

Not only did it cause no damage, but it also made Cleya's wrist tingle with numbness from the rebound.

This made Cleya stop her Sword Blade Storm, her beautiful eyes widening in shock as she looked at Rein, saying:

"This... this... is second-level Metal Witchcraft?"

"You're already a Second Level Liquidized Wizard?"

Cleya couldn't be more familiar with Rein's growth trajectory.

In a little over a year, growing from nothing to a Second Level Liquidized Wizard?

Even the Wandering Bard's songs wouldn't dare write such a story!

"Yes, but Cleya, your power growth rate is also very fast; now you're already close to the quasi-legendary level." Rein nodded with a smile.

He also intended to gradually reveal his wizard-side strength.

Otherwise, revealing the strength of a Third Level Crystalized Wizard all at once might be even harder to accept.

"Compared to you, I feel my power has instead regressed." Cleya shook her head and said.

"By the way, Rein, let me ask you something; who is this Miss Anna that Bo He mentioned?"

"Hmm?" For a moment, Rein froze.

"Uh... this...."

...

Meanwhile.

Sword Bearer Headquarters, General Augustus's office.

"What are the current movements of various cult organizations?" General Augustus asked in a deep voice.

"Very active, but we judge this should be surface phenomena, aimed at relocating the Empire's strongmen from the Imperial City." Major General Tatia replied crisply.

"In the past few days, we have already discovered that many of the cult's legendary strongmen have disappeared in various provinces, and we suspect they may have already arrived near Imperial City Tamriel."

"Hmm, this aligns with our predictions. Their target should also be the Dragon Valley Secret Realm." General Augustus nodded.

"Strengthen personnel screening, and after the initial results are out, conduct a secondary screening of personnel background information."

Even though these personnel lists had already undergone two screenings before participating in the Dragon Knight assessment, Augustus clearly was not at ease.

The destruction caused by insiders could sometimes be far greater than by external enemies.

"Yes, Sir."

"How is the preparation at the Star Mage's Platform?" Augustus asked again.

"Sir, everything is arranged appropriately, with four layers of defensive witch arrays fortified for now. In terms of air defense, the Royal Griffin Guard will mobilize two whole battalions to handle air defense for the Star Mage's Platform."

"Additionally, the military department has also mobilized an airship fleet for assistance."

"For ground defense, it's even more heavily guarded, including the elite of the military department, inner guard units, and our Sword Bearers, amounting to three lines of defense."

"By then, the Star Mage's Platform will boast defenses second only to the Imperial Palace." Tatia reported.

"Very good." Augustus nodded.

As the command center for this operation, the defense of the Star Mage's Platform couldn't be emphasized enough, especially when Marshal Alfred was the overall commander of this action.

...