'How could he do that?' thought Duchess Amberblaze.
Recognizing someone's talent is not simple, especially in complex things like battling and combat. Even some experts need days or months before fully deciding if the person is genuinely talented or not.
Moreover, the judging criteria are usually based on someone's personal experience. For example, a fire elemental combatant may say someone who has a great affinity with fire is talented in combat but not in other aspects.
This kind of judgment is not wrong but also not correct. However, to judge someone if they are genuinely talented in combat or not, they need to be evaluated not just from one aspect but all aspects. It means the judge also needs to be proficient in these aspects.
While thinking about Angus, Duchess Amberblaze looks at her niece fighting the incoming Plague Hound and is once again surprised.
'No waste movement!! Good position! Accurate decision! Even an elite combatant in my squad is hardly able to do this. Isn't she like only eighteen years old? How could this be possible?!!' thought Duchess Amberblaze.
When people are battling against large crowds, they need to pay attention to their opponent and their surroundings. In this kind of battle, people will always reveal their flaws and be easily distracted.
Even an elite knight who has been training for dozens of years may not be able to do what Jayna has done right now.
Yet not only does Jayna manage to grasp her surroundings perfectly, but she also does not let her opponent touch even a single hair of her while using as little mana as possible.
The Duchess is like not looking at an eighteen-year-old combatant but an expert with dozens of years of experience.
'Wait for a second, if I am not wrong, Jayna started getting taught by Angus around twelve or thirteen. Does it mean Angus can teach her until she becomes like this in less than six years? Impossible!! Someone may teach her?! Maybe Leon?' thought of the Duchess Amberblaze.
"Mr. Boyfriend, does anyone else teach my niece in combat beside you?" asked the Duchess.
"Huh?! What are you talking about?" asked Angus back while still observing Jayna's fight.
"Well, I just want to know if Leon or anyone else happens to teach her in combat." replied the Duchess.
"No way. Like hell, I will not let other people teach Jayna. Even swordmaster Ban only qualifies to teach her a few sword arts and basic swordsmanship. Besides that, no one is teaching her, especially about battling things.
"Don't you know fighting is a very dangerous and complex art? One lapse of judgment could cost your life. There is no way I will let some untrusted person or even her father teach her this important thing." answered Angus.
Hearing Angus's answer, Duchess Amberblaze couldn't help but nod and agree with Leon's evaluation of Angus. Suddenly, a silver light flashed from behind them.
"Master Angus, it is done." said Lily.
Then, Lily gave a transparent box containing a shining sphere to Angus.
"Good. Hm… Lily, did you master the Sniper Shot spell?" asked Angus.
"Yes, Master Angus. I could cast it without chanting." said Lily.
"This has become a little bit boring. Even Anna can sleep peacefully right now. How about a little match, Lily?" asked Angus.
"Interesting? What is it?" said Lily as she gave an excited tone.
"Let's shoot those Plague Hounds with a Snipe Shot spell and whoever gets the least missed shot will win." said Angus while pointing at the Plague Hound.
*Whish* a small magic circle appears on Angus's finger [3rd Circle - Snipe Shot]. A Plague Hound's head exploded from Angus's spell in the blink of an eye.
"Hmm.. Alright." said Lily while also pointing her finger at Plague Hound.
Then, the Plague Hound's head explodes out of nowhere from Lily and Angus's spell. At the same time, Duchess Amberblaze couldn't help but feel weird at the sudden match. The Duchess noticed that although Angus said it was a little match, it was not simple as it seemed.
Angus and Lily always target the Plague Hound, who just comes out from the foggy area a few hundred meters from their location. Moreover, because they stay in high buildings near the sea, the wind is stronger and more unpredictable.
Snipe Shot is a very long-range spell. However, their accuracy is not too great without other supporting spells, especially in a windy area like this. Still, Angus and Lily are able to use this snipe shot easily. They can calculate all the wind and other factors before shooting it.
*Bam* *Bam* *Bam* More Plague Hound's head exploded as soon as they left the foggy area. With the little match of Angus and Lily, Jayna and the others can reach the foggy area more easily.
Soon, Jayna and the royal guards enter the foggy area, followed by others. As soon as they enter the fog, they find the fog becomes thicker and they can't hear the outside.
'An isolation or barrier magic?!!' thought everyone.
Before long, they find the fog area becomes more strange as they can't find the Plague Hound anymore. All they see is the thick fog. Then, they start to hear someone scream.
"Impossible!! You are dead! No!!" screamed one of the knights.
"Stay away from me!!" another person also screamed.
Like a domino, everyone started to scream even the elite royal guard near Jayna also screamed in fear and became hysterical. Some people even become completely crazy and attack their surroundings. Even a few decide to suicide or die from severe panic attacks.
At the same time, Jayna also feels her surroundings have changed and shows some kind of illusion. She begins to see some of the Fire Phoenix's painful memories along with hers.
The illusion changes and keeps making her remember what she fears the most. However, she didn't react and looked at the surroundings with a cold face.
After a while, "Is that all?" said Jayna coldly.
Not getting a response from the surrounding, "Compared to Angus, this kind of thing feels like a cheap imitation." said Jayna.
Suddenly, Jayna was covered with a hot crimson flame and taking a sword drawing stance [Sword Art - Morning Break]. *Swish* At the same time, everyone from the outside could see a flash of fire coming out from the Fog area in a split second.
"Hmm.. They should never do that. Now, Jayna is super pissed off." commented Angus while shooting another Plague Hound.
At the same time, the fog began to disappear, revealing Jayna and everyone slowly. Not far from Jayna, a few people with the same clothes as Plargos were cut in half and the entire building in the back.
Only an old man wearing a massive black cloak wielding a black scepter survives. The old man looks like an average person with white hair on his head and beard. However, his skin looks pale yellow and has various red rashes and many black spots on it.
Few Karum knights who survive the illusion begin to notice this person's complexion.
"Shit!! Get away from him! He is the Plargos Cardinal!" yelled the Karum knights.
Every religious organization has its own rank and title. However, some are similar for every religion, such as Sacred Maiden, the Pope, and Cardinals. These three are the most important positions inside a religious group.
Unlike other titles and ranks, these three titles cannot be given but must be achieved. To get these ranks, they need to do a lot of tests from their God. In some way, they are chosen by their god.
Moreover, these people could use some of their god's power with certain limitations. Using the power bestowed by their god, they could become like a pseudo-seventh-grade combatant in a short time. Furthermore, they will also have the power which their God governs.
Plargos is the Evil God of Plague and Illness. Hence, their cardinal also has this kind of power. Before the surrounding knight could react, some of them began coughing and vomiting black blood.
This is the power of Plargos Cardinal. They can infect their surroundings just by being nearby.
Seeing something wrong with the surrounding knight, "My Lady, I think we need to retreat first!" said one of the Royal Guard.
"You go first." replied Jayna shortly.
Then, Jayna covered herself in flame and charged toward the Plargos Cardinal. The Cardinal didn't expect someone to dare get closer to him. His plague infection skill becomes stronger as people get closer to him.
He could kill any lower-grade combatant in less than five minutes with his current power. Moreover, his plague also inflicted pain and weakened them slowly. Basically, any lower-grade combatant will be immobilized in pain just by being near him.
Despite his initial surprise, he could still react appropriately. The old man is not only a Plargos Cardinal but also a sixth-grade magician with rich battle experience. *Clang* Jayna's sword clashed with Cardinal's scepter and pushed him back.
"Weird.. How could you not get infected?" commented the Cardinal before flying in the air.
Jayna didn't reply and created a pair of fire wings on her back before pursuing the Cardinal. *Whoosh* The Plargos Cardinal and Jayna begin to fight in the air. One is trying to cut down the other while the other tries to create distance and shoot low circle spells.
"Hee.. a sixth-grade magician. Don't you want to help her, Mr. Boyfriend?" asked Duchess Amberblaze.
"Hmm.. He will be good practice for Jayna." replied Angus.
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