Chapter 221: Storm Crows (Part 2)

Chapter 221: Storm Crows (Part 2)



Just then, the sound of leather boots tapping on the floor reached Rain's ears from outside the door. It was Major Marika's footsteps.

"Knock knock!"

"Come in!"

As expected, it was Marika, dressed in a fitted naval uniform.

Marika was about to say something, but seeing the two members of the Leviathan Squad, she couldn't help but smile brightly and said, "It seems that the two of you from the Leviathan Squad are acting much faster than I imagined. Rain, it looks like I won't need to relay the news from the fleet after all."

"That's right, Major Marika," Rain smiled and replied.

"In that case, I won't disturb your conversation any further." Major Marika smiled and turned to leave.

She left behind only the silhouette of her large, round-cut skirt uniform, which couldn't help but catch Trevor and Nathaniel's attention. They exchanged a glance and then turned to look at Rain, smiling as they said, "Rain, it seems that the 'Flower of the Sixth Fleet' of the Imperial Navy, Major Marika, is quite concerned about you."

"Hmm?" Rain glanced at the two of them and saw their knowing looks. He shook his head slightly and denied, "You two, there's nothing going on between Major Marika and me."

"We're just work colleagues."

"Haha, Rain, there's nothing now, but that doesn't mean there won't be anything in the future." Trevor winked and said with a smile.

"Trevor, since Rain doesn't want to talk about this topic, let's get down to business." Although Nathaniel said this, his playful gaze still made Rain smile wryly.

"That's right!"

"Rain, before teaching you the Sharpening Spell, I need to trouble you to sign this confidentiality agreement first." Trevor took out a thin sheepskin scroll with faint waves of energy and handed it to Rain.

"Of course." Rain nodded and took the scroll to examine it carefully.

The scroll listed various prohibitions, such as 'Without the consent of the Imperial Navy, no wizardry or extraordinary battle techniques obtained from the Imperial Navy shall be disclosed. It is limited to personal study and use.'

The faint waves of energy seemed to be a wizardry formula of some sort.

After a while, Rain picked up a quill and quickly signed his name.

After signing, Rain keenly noticed that the energy waves had undergone a subtle change and connected with his essence waves. This was likely due to the activation of the formula attached to the scroll.

Seeing this, Trevor smiled and handed Rain a pale yellow beastskin scroll, saying, "Rain, this is the Sharpening Spell and the wizardry model. Take a look first, and we can discuss it later."

"Okay, thank you, Trevor." Rain smiled.

After seeing the two of them off, Rain carefully read the beastskin scroll.

After reading it several times, Rain discovered that the new metal elemental wizardry, 'Sharpening Spell,' had a visualization difficulty similar to the fire elemental wizardry, 'Radiant Flame,' and wasn't too difficult.

Since Rain had already mastered three wizardries, 'Scorching Touch,' 'High Temperature Field,' and 'Radiant Flame,' he didn't encounter too much difficulty when learning this metal elemental wizardry.

After about half an hour, and five or six failed attempts, Rain succeeded for the first time! A faint, slightly dazzling silver light suddenly appeared on the surface of the radiant greatsword in Rain's hand. This light was different from the piercing light that radiated outward; it was more like a watery halo.

At this moment, the flowing silver liquid on the surface of the greatsword was quite beautiful.

At the same time, a system prompt appeared:

[You have learned the Sharpening Spell, and your related insight has improved!]



[You have understood a new skill - Sharpening Spell]



[Your skill, Sharpening Spell, has improved. Experience +1]



At the same time, below the Apprentice Wizard (Extraordinary) panel, next to the Radiant Flame icon, a brand new icon appeared.

The icon's border lit up slightly, and the pattern on the icon was a hiltless blade emitting light, surrounded by multiple short horizontal lines representing sharpness.

Rain focused his attention on the new icon and saw a line of small text below it.

Sharpening Spell lv1 (1/100)



Sharpening Spell lv1 Effect: Consumes a certain amount of essence to activate a specific wizardry model, stimulating the surrounding metal elemental energy particles, increasing the sharpness of a metal weapon for about one minute.

(Note: Casting time 3 seconds. Power is proportional to the caster's essence.)



After a moment of thought, Rain took down a decorative steel shield hanging on the wall of the room and lightly slashed it with his sword.

A sensation of cutting through tough leather reached his hand.

Rain had expected this, but he couldn't help narrowing his eyes slightly. He hadn't expected the effect of the Sharpening Spell to be so good.

He carefully recalled the scene from a few days ago when he fought Trevor. Rain realized that the Sharpening Spell Trevor used, although very fast, didn't seem as effective as his own.

It was likely due to his affinity with metal elements. Rain nodded slightly.

He lightly tapped his right hand and canceled the new wizardry, then channeled his Grand Knight Aura into the radiant greatsword. At this moment, a faint glow emanated from the greatsword.

The effects of Essence were far less dazzling than the silver glow of the Wizardry spell 'Sharpening Spell'.

At this moment, Rain placed his greatsword flat on the desk, crossed his arms, and began to ponder.

He had already realized the difference between infusing Essence into a weapon and casting the Wizardry spell 'Sharpening Spell'.

Putting aside the power comparison, even in terms of duration, there was a fundamental distinction.

Once the Essence infusion ceased, the effects on the greatsword would instantly dissipate. However, the lasting effect of 'Sharpening Spell' could last for a full minute.

Therefore, when using a bow, although Essence could also be channeled into the metal arrowhead, once the arrow was released, the effects of the Essence infusion would naturally disappear as the arrow left the archer's hand.

But 'Sharpening Spell' was different; it could last for a whole minute, making it suitable for arrows and thrown weapons. The range of scenarios where it could be applied was far broader than Rain's current Essence infusion ability.

Then, Rain suddenly thought of something.

He picked up the greatsword again, first chanting and casting the Wizardry spell 'Sharpening Spell'. After the greatsword glowed with a watery silver aura, Rain continued to channel Essence into it.

On the blade's surface, a faint layer of phosphorescence was added to the silver membrane.

This made Rain nod in satisfaction; it was indeed possible to double-infuse.

But what about the effects? Driven by curiosity, Rain immediately tested the greatsword infused with both 'Sharpening Spell' and Grand Knight Essence. He swung it across the steel shield, and instantly, a sensation of cutting through butter transmitted from the hilt.

Hiss!

It was incredibly sharp!

Gazing at the smooth cut as if made by a cutting machine, Rain's pupils constricted. He knew he hadn't exerted much strength, yet the effect was far beyond his expectations.

This made him pause in thought, his eyes gleaming.

After a while, a knock sounded at the door.

"Please come in."

Trevor appeared at the doorway, smiling as he said, "Rain, I assume we can now proceed with the learning of 'Sharpening Spell', correct?"

"According to the learning difficulty of 'Sharpening Spell', I initially plan to divide it into ten days. Each day, we'll gradually progress through practice and learning, with each session lasting around two hours."

"Of course, Rain, if there's any need during this period, we can extend the teaching days."

"Recently, I think I'll mostly be in Fishing Harbor Town."

Trevor's words made Rain slightly taken aback.

Although Trevor was being very polite, and ten days could be extended if needed, the problem was that Rain had already mastered 'Sharpening Spell'.

After all, once he successfully cast it once, the system would notify him, indicating his mastery of the spell.

This left Rain in a bit of a dilemma.

It was a challenge for him, but not in the usual sense. He could choose to conceal this fact and learn 'Sharpening Spell' slowly with Trevor, but as the saying goes, 'Time wasted is life wasted'.

At this moment, Rain's attention was drawn to the brown greatbow Trevor carried on his back, and he suddenly had an idea.

Rain smiled and said, "Thank you, Trevor. Regarding the learning of 'Sharpening Spell', I'd prefer if you could combine it with archery in your explanations."

"In the previous battle, the arrows you infused with 'Sharpening Spell' left a deep impression on me."

Rain's words scratched an itch for Trevor.

After all, no marksman could resist praise for their archery skills.

Trevor's originally smiling face now beamed like a blooming flower, and he readily agreed, "Of course, Rain."

Soon, they arrived at the training room, where Trevor demonstrated the casting of the Wizardry spell 'Sharpening Spell' while holding his bow and drawing an arrow.

Although Trevor was explaining archery techniques rather than the spell itself, he did so with great enthusiasm.

Half an hour passed, and even Trevor, who wasn't the sharpest, realized that Rain seemed more interested in archery than Wizardry.

Trevor then understood Rain's primary purpose—he wanted to learn how to improve his archery skills.

After a moment's hesitation, Trevor spoke earnestly, "Rain, it's evident that you have a keen interest in archery. In the coming days, perhaps I can teach you some methods."

"These methods, regardless of the type of archery-related Extraordinary Combat Technique, will be beneficial."

Rain smiled and nodded, "Trevor, that would be excellent."

"Rain, in your opinion, what is the most crucial aspect for an archer to hit a moving target?" Trevor asked earnestly.

When it came to archery, Trevor became more serious.

Trevor's question made Rain ponder.

The answer wouldn't be physical attributes like strength or agility, nor would it be eyesight. After a moment's thought, Rain shook his head slightly.

Although sharp vision could help in spotting distant targets, it wasn't sufficient for moving objects.

At that moment, a word popped into Rain's mind.

Rain tentatively answered, "Trevor, I believe it's anticipation."

Trevor looked at Rain with an appreciative gaze and said, "Rain, your wisdom is truly remarkable."

"You see, when my archery teacher asked me this question, I spent a lot of time pondering and meditating, and it took me several attempts to get it right. I didn't expect you to answer correctly on your first try."

"It's all about prediction!"

"Unlike shooting stationary targets, to hit a moving target at a distance, you must anticipate their direction and speed of movement in advance. The further the distance, the more crucial the prediction."

Rain nodded, understanding this concept from his past life, where the saying 'a fraction of an inch can make a thousand miles of difference' held true.

If the initial prediction was off, the arrow would deviate by a slight angle from the start, and the further it traveled, the deviation could be measured in meters or even tens of meters by the time it reached its destination.

"Lord Rain, from your demonstration just now, I can see that you already have a foundation in archery, and your physical qualities are excellent. So, we can proceed directly to the next training."

"Now, let's begin the first training—shooting coins."

Trevor smiled and took out an Imperial gold coin from his pocket, flicking it into the air with his thumb. The golden coin spun in the air for a moment before falling back into Trevor's palm.

"In a moment, I'll flick this coin from thirty meters away, and you, Lord Rain, need to hit it before it lands. If you achieve a hit rate of over ninety percent, you will have completed the first training."

Rain nodded.

This purely technical training was more to his liking.

Obviously, shooting coins didn't require immense strength, but it demanded exceptional eyesight and prediction skills.

"Lord Rain, pay attention," Trevor said, standing thirty meters away.

"Ding!"

As Trevor flicked the coin into the air, Rain swiftly drew his bow and released an arrow.

Unfortunately, he missed the coin on his first attempt, but the distance between the arrow and the coin wasn't significant.

After several more shots, Rain seemed to grasp the changing speed pattern of the coin as it fell from its highest point.

Within ten minutes, he started hitting the coin occasionally.

Half an hour later, his hit rate approached fifty percent.

Two hours later, his accuracy reached over ninety percent.

Trevor was pleasantly surprised. He hadn't expected Rain to have such natural talent for archery.

"Excellent, Lord Rain. Your progress indicates that you have a remarkable talent for archery. Now, it's time to increase the difficulty. I'll move back to fifty meters."

"But let's take a short break first."

Rain thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright, Lord Trevor."

Trevor glanced at the two-handed weapons Rain had on his back and the metal bow in his hand, a thoughtful expression on his face. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Lord Rain, don't you think you're carrying too many weapons? The total weight must be slowing you down considerably."

"Yes, do you have a better solution, Lord Trevor?" Rain asked, sensing that Trevor might have a solution to his dilemma.

"I just remembered that last year, we worked with a squad from the Sword Bearers. Their captain used a rare Metal Elemental Wizardry to transform metal, turning a longsword into a metal shield in just a few seconds."

"So, I was thinking, if you could learn that wizardry, it might make things easier. At least, you'd only need to carry one two-handed sword or warhammer."

"If you can solve the issue with the bowstring, you might only need to carry a small amount of metal."

"Is there such a wizardry?" Rain asked, his heart filled with joy.

Without hesitation, he asked, "Does the Empire Navy have this wizardry?"

After all, even if he successfully joined the Wave Riders, it wouldn't be easy to exchange for this wizardry right away.

The Empire Navy's Special Department, the Wave Riders, required members to complete tasks of a certain difficulty level and earn task evaluations before they could exchange for items of the corresponding level.

If the Navy had this wizardry, it would be ideal, and Rain might even have a chance to acquire it.

"Yes, Lord Rain, I'm certain about this."

"Unfortunately, the Navy's special item exchange list doesn't include it. I'm sorry to disappoint you," Trevor said, shaking his head.

Rain couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

"By the way, Lord Rain, you're about to head to Minster Province for the 'Sword Bearers' organization's assessment, right?" Trevor changed the topic.

"That's right, Lord Trevor. You've shown interest in the Sword Bearers organization?" Rain asked curiously.

"Haha, Lord Rain, four years ago, I participated in the Sword Bearers' assessment and was rejected. That's how I ended up joining the Empire Navy's Wave Riders," Trevor explained with a bitter smile.

Rain was surprised to learn that Trevor had also taken part in the Sword Bearers' selection and had been rejected. But why was the assessment so difficult? It shouldn't be!

Could a Great Knight be rejected?

"What? Could you elaborate, Lord Trevor? As far as I know, the Sword Bearers' assessment shouldn't be that challenging. Were you rejected even with your status as a Great Knight and an archer?"

Trevor shook his head with a bitter smile, "Lord Rain, back then, I was only a Peak Knight, and although my archery skills were decent, I didn't even make it past the initial trials."

"Initial trials?"

(End of Chapter)"Huh? Didn't Your Excellency Rain thoroughly understand this?" Trevor was now the one taken aback.

But soon, he chuckled and said, "That's true. With your strength, you need not worry about the initial trial. For you, the second trial is the key."

"Mr. Trevor, if you don't mind, could you tell me more about this initial trial and second trial?" Rain asked.

Upon hearing Rain's question, Trevor seemed to realize something and looked at Rain with a surprised expression, nodding, "Of course."

"The Empire's Swordbearer organization's assessment is divided into an initial trial and a second trial. After passing the initial trial, one can obtain the official Swordbearer status, which is a rare talent in the Empire. But only those who pass the second trial will receive the Empire's intensive cultivation and are considered the elite among the elite."

"To put it simply, Rain, you can think of the initial trial as a test for ordinary members, while those who pass the second trial are at the captain level. After the corresponding special training, members who pass the second trial can select personnel from the initial trial members to form their squads."

"As for the squads, Rain, you should have heard that Swordbearers also operate in squad formations. Captains not only have the authority to distribute squad spoils but also enjoy various other priorities."

"Oh, and the pass rate for the second trial is extremely low, probably only one-tenth of those who pass the initial trial."

Rain nodded.

Looking at it this way, he needed to improve his strength as much as possible before participating in the Swordbearer assessment.

For two consecutive days, Rain practiced archery with Trevor.

Now, he was attempting to hit a gold coin from a hundred paces away.

Through these days of practice, Rain's Blood Fury Archery had also made rapid progress, and just now, it had reached level 5!

As Rain practiced, he gained more and more insights into prediction. Suddenly, it was as if he had broken through a certain barrier.

At that moment, a system notification appeared:

[Congratulations! You have experienced an epiphany and unlocked the additional effect for ranged combat techniques: Precise Aim lv1 (Passive)]



[Precise Aim lv1 (Passive) Effect: You have a preliminary understanding of your opponent's movement trajectory and the weapon they wield. You can precisely control the landing point of each strike, slightly reducing the chance of your opponent dodging your attacks.]



(Note: Precise Aim is an additional effect for ranged combat techniques. It will automatically unlock upon meeting the conditions.)



An additional effect for ranged combat? Rain quickly checked his Legendary Weapon Master profession panel.

Blood Fury Archery lv5 (112/2000), with the additional effect 'Precise Aim lv1'.

(Note: Blood Fury Archery unlocks Precise Aim lv2 when the following conditions are met: 1. Blood Fury Archery lv7 or above; 2. Strength 16, Agility 20, and Constitution 18 or above.)



---

Several kilometers outside of Fishing Port Town in Myester County, two figures slowly emerged from the seawater. The leading figure was a skinny man in leather armor with a blood-red glow emanating from the blades on his waist, Wexman, who had been sent by Nehru.

Behind him, a slender woman in a black robe followed a step behind.

As they walked out of the water, their bodies were completely dry, not a trace of moisture.

If someone had been underwater at that moment, they would have seen that beneath the surface, both figures were enveloped in air bubbles.

"Zenina, investigate the defensive strength of the Fishing Port Town and find the location of that Rain. I think, if nothing unexpected happens, he should be in the Town Hall or patrolling the main streets."

Wexman turned to the black-robed follower beside him and said.

In the entire Leviathan Squad, Wexman had the fewest followers among the official members, which was directly related to his combat style.

He only had this maid, a rare third-class apprentice wizard of the Shadow School, skilled in Crow Control Technique and Shadow Curse, among others.

Basically, this female apprentice wizard, Zenina, would locate the target, and part of the Special Department), the Special Department is one of the six special departments.

"Yes, sir."

Zenina whispered an incantation, and as a wave of energy radiated out, numerous large crows flew in, indistinguishable from ordinary crows except for their size.

These crows, Storm Crows, were a special breed, skilled in group action. When gathered in sufficient numbers, they dared to attack even raptors. When dispersed, they could perform tasks like tracking and locating.

Soon, over a hundred Storm Crows took flight, soaring towards Fishing Port Town several kilometers away.

In Fishing Port Town, a dull 'caw-caw' sounded from the sky.

Many residents looked up, seeing a flock of crows darkening the sky. Soon, the crows dispersed, seemingly searching for something.

At the Town Hall entrance, two guards exchanged glances, each seeing worry in the other's eyes, sensing something amiss.

(End)

Chapter end