Chapter 106: Advancement
Just as Rex had suggested, the Sky Arena proved to be an excellent training ground for Alex. According to Rex, the arena was divided into three zones: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The beginner zone had ten sections, the intermediate had five, and the advanced zone had only one. To Alex, it felt similar to different servers in an online game.
Currently, Alex was in the last "newbie server" of the beginner zone. Most participants here were apprentice mages who had recently joined the White Tower, while those in the intermediate zone were full-fledged mages who had left their apprenticeship behind. The advanced zone, meanwhile, was reserved for the truly powerful mages.
Though Alex often heard the saying, "There are no useless spells, only useless mages," the reality wasn't so simple. Some spells reveal their strengths and weaknesses only through actual combat, allowing mages to adapt them to their battle style accordingly.
Although Alex specialized in evocation, he had cunningly chosen divination as his initial combat tool, as its spells complemented his time manipulation abilities perfectly. Among the spells, his favorites were the first-level Insightful Defense, the second-level See Invisibility, and the fourth-level Misfortune Suppression.
Insightful Defense was a spell that allowed the caster to understand the defensive properties of their opponent. For Alex, who was both a paladin and a mage, this was invaluable—it was like a "scan" ability in games, letting him identify an opponent's attributes and then attack their weaknesses. He had incorporated this game tactic into his combat style.
See Invisibility was self-explanatory. Although Alex could use his enhanced senses to detect subtle changes, mage invisibility was complex and difficult to perceive. Many mages preferred to secure an advantage before launching attacks, making See Invisibility essential for Alex.
As for Misfortune Suppression—that was purely for Alex's enjoyment.
Misfortune Suppression was straightforward: it reduced the target's luck to the lowest point for a set period, making them encounter the most unfortunate outcomes in every action. Since it wasn't a direct "attack," it was seen more as a "curse" or "blessing." Many mages neglected to cast protective spells against such effects at the beginning of a match, resulting in them inexplicably stumbling, falling, or even botching spells, causing magical backlash.
With these tools, Alex's typical combat routine involved first using Future Sight to gauge his opponent's opening move—whether offensive or defensive—and then tailoring his response accordingly. He would either counter their spell or break through their defenses, followed by a swift cast of Lesser Magic Missile Storm. By the time he'd completed this cycle, most opponents had already surrendered. For the rare few with unyielding resolve, Alex simply stepped forward and kicked them off the platform—as a paladin, his close combat skills were as sharp as his spells.
As Alex climbed the ranks in the Sky Arena, word of his prowess spread among the mages, and he became a hot topic of discussion. The reason was simple: Alex's methods struck them as utterly bizarre.
Thanks to the combination of Time Stop and Future Sight, Alex's opening spell was almost always instantaneous. Since he didn't chant, many mages assumed he'd mastered both "instant casting" and "silent casting"—advanced techniques generally reserved for senior mages. Yet, Alex had never shown any spells above the fourth level.
Furthermore, what baffled the other mages the most was how Alex perfectly countered their spells at the start of every duel, whether they were attacking or defending. While the divination school did have spells like Insightful Defense and Foresee Counter, Sky Arena's rules required everyone to wait until the match began to cast any spells.
This meant that if Alex and his opponent began casting spells simultaneously, Alex's would invariably counter their opening move.
This was intriguing, to say the least.
Even more remarkable was that Alex maintained an undefeated streak in the Sky Arena.
Unbearable!
A novice mage with an unbeaten record? Among the Sky Arena participants were many senior apprentices of the White Tower, and while they knew Alex wasn't part of the White Tower, they couldn't accept him effortlessly besting its members.
After all, almost all of Alex's matches ended with quick knockouts, which the other mages found hard to swallow. Were they truly so weak that he could dispatch them with ease?
In reality, this had much to do with Alex's combat philosophy.
Through his study of magic, Alex likened mages to guns, with spells as bullets. Some bullets were ordinary, some armor-piercing, and some incendiary for area attacks. In theory, a mage could fire spells endlessly, only stopping when they jammed or overheated. But, practically speaking, a mage's "carrying capacity" was limited. Like a special forces soldier, they couldn't carry unlimited ammunition; they had to select specific "magazines" based on the anticipated fight.
After all, the human body has its limits.
Through his battles in the Sky Arena, Alex noticed a common flaw among nearly all the mages—they loved to first secure an unassailable position, then slowly and steadily chip away at each other, hoping to ensure victory.
It was like a movie scene where the protagonist and the boss shoot at each other until they're out of bullets, without a scratch on either side, only to wrestle in hand-to-hand combat. Finally, the hero manages to grab a gun and deliver the fatal blow to the boss… Who fights like that in reality?
If most mages could be compared to machine gunners, then Alex was more of a sniper—one shot, one kill, and then he'd disappear without a trace. Spraying bullets wildly just wasn't his style. This efficiency meant his battles ended so quickly that it often left the watching mages stunned.
"Number 652 defeated, Number 684 advances to 652," echoed the arena announcement.
"Looks like that kid won again," a mage in the stands remarked with a smile as he watched Alex turn and leave the arena. He had fiery red hair, slicked back meticulously, giving him an oddly mature air despite his youth. The red-haired mage then glanced at his companion.
"I heard he came from the Tower of Thunder—seems that mentor of his has found a worthy successor."
"But he isn't a White Tower apprentice."
The bespectacled, black-haired mage beside him snorted, watching Alex's retreating figure with a glint of disdain.
"A mere rogue mage—getting this far is already an achievement for him… but this is as far as he'll go. This arena belongs to White Tower apprentices; we're not here to be hunted."
"Oh?" The red-haired mage looked at his companion, intrigued.
"Don't tell me you're planning to take him on yourself?"
"Of course."
With a confident smirk, the bespectacled mage stood up.
"I'll show him who's the hunter and who's the prey."
As he turned to leave, the red-haired mage chuckled, watching him go.
"Ah, still as proud as ever… but…"
A smug smile appeared on the red-haired mage's face.
"Since we've got ourselves a newcomer slayer, let's see just what that little mage is truly capable of."
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Chapter 107: Newcomer Killer
"Almost there, huh?"
Looking at his current rank, Alex raised an eyebrow. The Sky Arena doesn't make you challenge opponents strictly by rank; instead, it gives you a range. For example, with Alex ranked 652, his opponents are from ranks 600 to 650. If he defeats an opponent, he gains their rank, while the defeated challenger automatically drops a rank.
Since entering the Sky Arena, Alex has defeated over forty mage apprentices. Admittedly, many of them were less than impressive. In his mind, Alex couldn't help but compare them to Charles and that destructive mage—these opponents were simply miles apart.
Now, Alex just hoped to encounter a few skilled mages to improve his rank.
"Ding."
Just then, a crisp bell sounded, followed by a voice in Alex's ear.
"Contestant #652, Contestant #500 has challenged you. Do you accept?"
"Oh?"
Hearing the magical prompt, Alex's eyes narrowed. He knew from his invisible servant that members with enough points in the Sky Arena could spend them to select specific opponents. But Alex hadn't intended to use this feature. His goal wasn't to target anyone in particular but to gradually understand the fighting styles across different ranks of mages. Still… it seemed he had caught someone's attention.
"Accept."
Alex chose to accept without hesitation, guessing that someone probably disliked him or simply wanted to have some fun at his expense. This "newcomer killer" game was all too common, especially in online games where high-level players camp at the beginner village's entrance to hunt new players. Many games now prevent PvP until a certain level to keep new players from quitting in frustration.
As a lead game designer, Alex always had ways to ensure those troublemakers ended up calling him "Grandpa."
The platform soon moved to another arena. Alex stepped off the platform and took his position. Moments later, he saw his opponent across from him—a mage wearing a dark robe, sporting brown hair and round glasses, with a crystal-studded staff in hand. He certainly looked more imposing than the apprentices Alex had faced before.
"So, you're that rogue mage from the Thunder Tower?"
The man's face showed unmistakable arrogance as he looked at Alex.
"Honestly, I didn't expect a rogue mage to defeat so many juniors in the Sky Arena… I have to admit, you've done well. But unfortunately, this is as far as you go."
With that, the man raised his staff.
"The Sky Arena is the White Tower's hunting ground. A rogue mage like you reaching this level shows real potential. But sadly, you're not a mage of the White Tower, so this is where your journey ends."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Alex raised his eyebrow. He understood the implications. The Sky Arena had been created to train mages from the White Tower. Those who hadn't earned a place in the White Tower were essentially free punching bags for practice.
As the man had put it, this was a hunting ground; rogue mages were the prey, and White Tower mages were the hunters. They would hone their skills by chasing down their targets and improving through the process.
But when the roles reversed, it was an entirely different story.
"So, you're just the White Tower's guard dog?"
"You…"
The man's face darkened at Alex's unfiltered insult, and laughter erupted from the nearby stands. Alex wasn't aware of this man's reputation, but the White Tower mages watching knew very well. Although a member of the White Tower, the man had limited talent and little chance of advancing. Rank 500 was his peak, and he used it as an excuse to stay put, frequently "educating" newcomers—especially rogue mages.
After all, the reason rogue mages are considered "rogue" is because their training is incomplete. The bespectacled mage, as a practitioner of conjuration in the White Tower, had undergone systematic training and kept a few trump cards up his sleeve, allowing him to consistently come out on top.
Although many in the White Tower disapproved of his actions, they considered it beneath them to deal with someone like him. But hearing Alex's blunt remark just now, several spectators couldn't help but find it amusing. To most mages, anyone who loses their drive for growth is no longer truly one of them. And for this bespectacled mage, who resorted to bullying newcomers just to maintain his position, they certainly held little respect.
On second thought, he really did resemble the White Tower's guard dog.
Hearing the laughter from the stands, the bespectacled man's face darkened further. He knew he didn't hold much status within the White Tower, but he was still somebody. Now, thanks to this damn rogue mage, a single remark had turned him into a mere "guard dog." He knew well enough that regardless of today's duel outcome, that nickname would spread throughout the White Tower.
"Fine."
With this realization, his expression grew even darker.
"You're quite arrogant for a rogue mage. I really can't stand you."
"Understandable, given that you look worse than I do."
"You...!"
"Hahaha!"
At this point, the audience had burst into open laughter. After all, Alex's jab had hit home. As they say, a person's face reflects their character, and this man's plain looks, combined with his round glasses and lack of a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, didn't exactly make him charismatic. Alex, on the other hand, was brimming with charm, with a C++ allure that made him the center of attention wherever he went, outshining most celebrities.
No one had noticed the difference until Alex pointed it out, and once they compared the two, they couldn't hold back their laughter.
"You... Fine!"
The bespectacled mage's face was now ghostly pale. He abandoned his usual approach of intimidating Alex. Typically, rogue mages would cower before him or hurl insults, but none of that had ever fazed him. He hadn't expected that this rogue mage could drive him to the edge with just a couple of remarks. He decided that enough was enough; words wouldn't win this.
"Prepare to witness the true power of a White Tower mage!"
"I'd advise you not to presume to represent the White Tower."
Looking at him, Alex smiled slightly.
"Honestly, if I were a White Tower mage, I wouldn't want you representing me. It's too embarrassing."
"You..."
If the bespectacled mage had heart problems, Alex's words would have given him a heart attack. He felt the eyes of those around him filled with disdain, contempt, and even schadenfreude. Clearly, just as Alex said, they wanted nothing to do with this guy as their representative.
"Die!"
The bespectacled mage was on the verge of tears. He hadn't expected his parting remarks to be twisted so effectively by this infuriating rogue. Now, he was certain—no matter the outcome of this fight, his standing in the White Tower was finished.
But before that, he had to vent his anger!
With this thought, he abandoned all restraint. Reaching out, he brushed his finger across his ring, and in the next moment, two brilliant flashes erupted. Emerging from the light, two massive white wolves, as tall as warhorses, fixed their fierce gaze on Alex, growling with fury.
So, a fellow summoner, huh?
Looking at the summoned white wolves, Alex was a bit surprised. But he quickly let out a sigh.
It seems this deserves some seriousness.
With that thought, Alex casually tossed aside his staff.
Then, he silently drew the Skybreaker Sword.
(End of Chapter)
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Hello, beloved readers and supporters!
I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you'll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including:
📚 Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn't have to wait!
💬 Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do.
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