Chapter 291: Defense Power Testing (Part 2)

Chapter 291: Defense Power Testing (Part 2)



But what terrified Brina even more was the fact that her scream should have quickly caught the attention of her family and servants.

However, up to this point, she hadn't heard a single sound or movement from anyone.

This made her increasingly uneasy.

Brina decided to escape through the window, and as soon as she opened it, she could—

But the next second, she froze.

Just as she had looked up at the window, she saw the boy who was supposed to be in the corridor outside the door, now sitting on the windowsill, still holding the female puppet, staring at her blankly.

"Ahhhh!!!"

—

Meanwhile, Rain was quickly calculating in his mind as he walked towards the training hall.

"If I allocate skill points to the new spell 'Metal Barrier' and directly upgrade it to level 2, the casting time should be reduced by about 20%, from 3 seconds to 2.4 seconds, according to the previous standard."

"But 2.4 seconds is still too slow."

"With 2 skill points, reaching level 3 would reduce the casting time to 1.9 seconds."

"And with 3 skill points, it would be level 4, with a casting time of around 1.5 seconds."

".

"With all 5 skill points, it would be level 6, resulting in a 1-second casting time."

"It can still be optimized."

"So, if I first practice to level 2 'Metal Barrier' and then allocate all 5 skill points, it would be level 7, meaning a casting time of just 0.8 seconds!"

Rain's eyebrows raised in surprise. With a casting time like that, it would be quite impressive, as it had broken the 1-second barrier.

For an ordinary wizard or apprentice, achieving this level of proficiency would likely require six to seven years of hard practice, including syllable compression exercises.

Of course, it would be even better if the time could be shortened further. "But that would require at least 5 more skill points!"

Rain glanced at the combat professions on his system panel. Both the Warhammer Wizard (Legendary) and the Weapon Master (Legendary) were not easy to level up quickly.

"It seems that when the time comes, I'll have to consider a job change to earn skill points faster."

"Runes?" Two words flashed through Rain's mind.

Ever since Kraya mentioned it to him, he had been thinking about learning runes from a rune master.

"It's possible that runes are related to the subsequent job change for a blacksmith."

As he thought, Rain soon arrived at the training hall.

He clearly remembered the welcoming girl's words from last time; she had said that on the third floor, there was a spell power testing room, while the second floor, where he had been before, was mainly for testing extraordinary combat skills.

Rain quickly made his way to the third floor and found the room labeled "Spell Power Testing Room."

The door was open, revealing an indoor training room with an area of four to five hundred square meters, but there were significantly fewer people than in the attack power testing room on the second floor.

This was understandable, as from Rain's perspective during the Swordbearer assessment, the number of pure wizard apprentices was less than ten percent.

Even including those who were also training as knights, the total number was still relatively small.

In the Dragon Empire, there were generally fewer people with excellent wizard talent than those with good knight talent.

As for the Swordbearers and some special departments, the reason they had a considerable number of wizard apprentices and wizards was that the empire had carefully selected and gathered individuals with such talents.

It was similar to Rain's previous research institute, where most members held at least a master's degree.

Inside the room, seven or eight Swordbearers in colorful wizard robes were conducting tests. When they noticed the young Rain standing at the entrance, they turned to look at him.

Rain merely glanced around and then left.

He didn't want to reveal his extraordinary level of metal elemental affinity.

Previously, when he was in the testing room, he had seen the standard divisions posted on the wall, and anything above 90 was considered extraordinary.

This was an extremely rare level of affinity, especially in the larger elements like water and fire, and even more so in the smaller element of metal.

Spell power testing was highly likely to expose a tester's talent, as with similar spells and mental energy, a significant difference in spell power would indicate a difference in talent.

Rain approached the service counter and asked, "Excuse me, is there a private room for spell power testing here?"

"Yes, sir, but there's a fee for using the private room," the young female staff member replied, her mouth slightly agape in surprise.

"That's fine," Rain nodded, although he didn't know what the fee was, he was confident he could afford it.

At the same time, Rain handed over his crystal emblem.

The staff member's eyes widened further, and she respectfully took it, saying, "Your Excellency, please follow me."

Soon, Rain followed the staff member to a room on the left side of the third-floor corridor, near the innermost part. "Sir, this is it," she said as she opened the door.

As the door opened, Rain saw that the room was about a hundred square meters in size and contained several uniquely shaped devices.

From left to right, there were two multi-barreled devices resembling Gatling guns, while the one in the center was similar to a tennis ball launcher from his previous life.

The one on the far right was an attack testing device similar to the one on the second floor, but its surface was painted a bright silver color.

"Sir, this might be your first time here. Would you like me to give you a tour?"

"Yes, please."

"Sir, these two are defense testing devices. This one is a flame emitter, and that one is a jet emitter. They can shoot flames and jets of water, with a single-hole attack power of around ten degrees, and the maximum test limit is eighty degrees." The girl pointed to the 'Gatling' device on the far left.

Rain looked at it and asked, "Are there no other elemental damages, like frost?"

"I'm sorry, sir, but these are the only two types available in the division."

Rain nodded; two types were better than none.

"Hmm, what about this one?" Rain pointed to the middle device.

"This is a spear launcher with three speed settings: fast, medium, and slow," the girl explained.

Spears? That would be for testing physical attack power.

"By the way, sir, when testing your spell defense, please proceed gradually, and remember to keep your vital body parts away from the emitter. There are warnings about this on the device's nameplate," the girl added.

Rain nodded in understanding. "And this last one is for testing spell attack power, right?"

"Yes, sir. If you've been to the attack testing room on the second floor, you'll notice that this device resembles the ones downstairs, but its surface is coated with enchanted serilium, which significantly reduces energy damage."

"Enchanted serilium?"

"Yes, sir. It's said to be a special metal that can greatly reduce energy attacks, but I don't know much about it," the girl explained.

Rain nodded, committing the term to memory. He planned to visit the library later to research it further.

"Alright, you can go back to your duties. Thank you."

"You're welcome, sir. Please be careful, and feel free to call me if you need anything." The girl bowed slightly and left.

After a moment's thought, Rain began his tests with the first device.

Rain started with the flame emitter, intending to test a two-hole, or approximately twenty degrees, flame attack.

As the countdown on the flame emitter began:

"3"

"2"

"1"

"Bang!"

Two streams of fire shot out, striking Rain's hardened fine gold-transformed crane shield.

Rain easily withstood the twenty-degree spell attack.

Immediately after, he tested the three-hole, four-hole, and then five-hole settings.

"Hmm, it can still withstand this?" Rain wondered as he tried the five-hole setting.

After several attempts, Rain was pleasantly surprised by his discovery.

"So, the defense power of this 'Metal Barrier' spell is somewhat related to the resistance of the metal plate itself."

"Fine gold has average resistance to flames but excellent resistance to water jet impacts. Therefore, the difference in defense power between the two is nearly ten degrees."

"In that case..."

Rain's eyes lit up as he seemed to have an idea.

---

In the Task Hall of the Swordbearer Division.

Among the crowd waiting to turn in tasks, Evelyn, with her red hair, stood out for her beauty, but the fatigue on her face was undeniable.

She had just returned from Rosby County to submit a novice task.

The situation in Rosby County was worse than she had anticipated.

Her family, the Normans, a long-established viscount family in Rosby County, had suffered significant losses during the recent turmoil.

In fact, the situation in Rosby County, like that of Mayorst County City, had deteriorated due to the attacks of the Sea Tribe and the secret support of the Darkflame Church.

This time, she had brought her mother and some of the young elites of the Norman family to the provincial capital of Minster.

This was the Norman family's final preparation to avoid the worst-case scenario should the situation deteriorate further.

However, she couldn't help but worry about her father.

As a feudal lord, the Viscount of Rosby County couldn't leave his territory.

It was Evelyn's turn in line.

"Hello, how can I help you?" The female staff member smiled and stood up.

"Hello, please help me turn in the Bronze-rank task 'Transportation Line of Rosby City,'" Evelyn said, handing over her black iron emblem.

"Of course, ma'am."

Although it was just the lowest-ranked black iron emblem, the staff member knew that it still represented an Extraordinary individual, a Swordbearer! A huge gap separated them from ordinary people.

"Alright, ma'am, the Bronze-rank task 'Transportation Line of Rosby City' is complete, and 150 merit points have been recorded in your emblem.

Evelyn nodded slightly, her expression showing a hint of relief.

Finally, the new recruit mission was completed!

150 merit points... It wasn't easy earning them!

Many Swordbearers were injured during this new recruit mission.

She was one of the luckier ones. As a Peak Knight and Second Rank Apprentice Wizard, she often assisted with spells, making her encounters slightly less dangerous.

The Sea God Sect was more challenging than she had anticipated.

If not for the presence of instructors during this new recruit mission, the losses would have been even greater.

Through this new recruit mission, Evelyn realized that while Swordbearers enjoyed excellent treatment, the dangers they faced were also significant.

Although most missions were evaluated, unexpected changes often occurred. To continue completing missions smoothly, the requirements for strength were almost harsh!

For example, the Inner Leo behind her performed exceptionally well, killing a deacon of the Sea God Sect during this new recruit mission.

According to the instructor, he should receive three Bronze Mission Evaluation Medals as a reward.

This meant he could directly advance to the Silver Rank Swordbearer, with a qualitative improvement in treatment and the variety of exchangeable items.

"Please wait a moment, ma'am. I'll help you change your emblem."

"Okay, thank you."

This new recruit mission was successfully completed. Apart from the 150 merit points, the most important outcome was that she had advanced from a Reserve Swordbearer to a Full Swordbearer, eligible for the Bronze Emblem.

She had finally shed the 'newbie' status of a Swordbearer.

However, it was just a change in status. The loan from the Assistance Department still amounted to 1000 points.

"Ma'am, here you go. Your Golden Emblem," the female staff member respectfully handed over a large, golden emblem to Evelyn.

"Hmm?"

Evelyn's beautiful eyes widened, and she waved her hands repeatedly, firmly refusing, "No, no! You must be mistaken. I should be getting the Bronze Emblem!"

What did it mean to be a Gold Rank? They were the elite among the entire Swordbearer Division.

Most Swordbearers who had been around for a year or two were Silver Rank, while Gold Rank members made up less than a third of the division.

Seeing Evelyn's vehement denial, the female staff member looked puzzled and checked the name displayed on the emblem again, confirming, "Isn't this for Evelyn Norman from Rossby County?"

"Yes," Evelyn nodded.

"Then it's correct!"

"How can it be a Golden Emblem?" Evelyn's mind was still in a state of shock, unable to process the situation.

"The records show that you are an official member of the 'Mayorst Siege Hammer' squad. Captain Rain allocated three Silver Mission Evaluation Medals and 2000 merit points to you when he submitted the squad's mission completion."

"So, it's correct! You can be promoted to the Gold Rank."

"What?!" Evelyn was completely stunned.

What mission had Rain completed?

And why did he allocate so much to her?

Evelyn felt her mind couldn't keep up.

In reality, when Rain submitted his mission yesterday, the female staff member asked him about the allocation of mission evaluation medals and merit points. He thought for a moment and casually allocated a few to Evelyn.

In Rain's opinion, they were from the same squad, and it was a small favor to help her out.

He remembered that Evelyn had taken out a loan of 1000 merit points, so he decided to lend a hand.

As for the twin-tailed girl, Veronica, Rain naturally allocated even more to her, as their relationship was much closer. He casually gave her a Golden Mission Evaluation Medal and 5000 merit points.

Behind Evelyn, Leo and another Swordbearer recruit stood with their mouths agape, their expressions frozen in shock.

They were only a few meters away from Evelyn, within earshot.

When Evelyn showed her astonishment, the two recruits curiously listened in.

Upon hearing that Rain had allocated enough mission evaluation medals for Evelyn to be promoted to the Gold Rank, they were utterly shocked!

Rain must be at least a Gold Rank Swordbearer Captain!

Oh my!

The news quickly spread among the new Swordbearer recruits.

Second Floor of the Training Hall.

In the Attack Testing Room, several Grand Knight-level Swordbearers were testing their skills in pairs.

"Captain Angus, have you heard? Rain has been promoted to a Gold Rank Swordbearer Captain?" Vieri, who had just recovered from his injuries, was undergoing rehabilitation training and spoke to Angus beside him.

"What? Gold Rank?" The sturdy dark-skinned man exclaimed.

"Vieri, how did you find out?"

"I heard it from a senior member of the Boulder Squad who is also from Bobini County. His name is Remir, and he just entered the official Wizard rank a few days ago. I heard about it during a dinner gathering."

"Captain, what do you think? Should we ask Captain Rain for help in avenging Chris and the others?" Vieri couldn't contain his anger as he thought of his fallen comrades.

Since they had all previously served in the military, they had extensive combat experience.

They were reassigned by the military to ensure the safety of the supply line from Wales County to Mayorst.

During a convoy escort mission, they were ambushed by the Darkflame Church of Wales County. Although they successfully evacuated the transport team, they themselves barely escaped with their lives!

Chris and his two companions were killed by the enemy's experts. One was named 'Wild Bull' Bidalr, whose knight armor had a distinctive design with two sharp metal ramming horns on each shoulder guard.

The other's name was unknown, but he was skilled in dark magic arrays. He started the battle by launching five Darkflame Fireballs, instantly reducing their numbers by one!

"The enemy is very strong. Even if Lord Rain can defeat them, it will still be a risky endeavor."

"Furthermore, if you ask Lord Rain to intervene, Vieri, have you considered the price you're willing to pay?"

"If Lord Rain is willing to take on the task of dealing with these two, Captain Angus, I'm willing to become Lord Rain's follower!" Vieri said solemnly.

He and Chris were close friends, and Chris's death was largely due to his attempt to save Vieri.

So, if there was a chance for revenge, Vieri wouldn't hesitate for a moment.

Upon hearing Vieri's words, Angus fell silent for a moment.

He hadn't expected Vieri to offer such a high price. Vieri was known for his exceptional knight talents, and if he were to become a follower, even an Imperial Marquis might not refuse.

---

Minster, Rain Manor.

"Hmm? Lord Rain is back?" As soon as Jenny returned, she heard Mint happily mentioning this, and her face lit up with surprise.

She turned to her mother, Jennifer, and said, "Mother, the problem you encountered can now be solved with Lord Rain's help."

"Hmm," the beautiful woman, who had been slightly worried, also looked delighted upon hearing that Lord Rain had returned.

Due to the turbulent situation in Mayorst, the sea trade route between the Eagle Federation and Port Town had been almost entirely cut off, forcing the merchant guild leader, Jennifer, to explore new business channels.

With Lord Rain's introduction, Jennifer had taken the first step, but as her business expanded, she recently contacted several larger merchant guilds.

Communicating with the leaders of these guilds wasn't going smoothly. They subtly hinted that if she wanted to cooperate, it was possible, but only after she engaged in extensive communication with them.

Of course, they had also heard rumors that this beautiful woman, although a small baroness from Mayorst, seemed to have an Imperial Swordsman backing her.

But unlike other county cities, Minster was a provincial capital and the location of the Swordsman Division.

Swordsmen weren't uncommon, and they all had powerful backers, so they didn't fear them as much.

Naturally, they wouldn't resort to coercion.

After Jennifer's efforts over this period, she had only made some minor progress, and if she wanted to take a bigger step, it would be extremely challenging.

After all, commercial competition in Minster was fierce.

Profitable businesses had long been dominated by established individuals and forces.

Trying to get a share of the pie was like snatching food from a tiger's mouth—nearly impossible without sufficient strength.

At this moment, Jenny seemed to have thought of something and joked, "Mother, it looks like tonight, Agatha and I should go out and have some fun. What time do you think we should return?"

Jenny winked as she finished speaking.

Jennifer instantly understood her daughter's joke, and her fair face flushed with embarrassment. She gently patted Jenny and playfully scolded her, "Even making fun of your mother, you're going too far!"

Soon after, Jenny found Agatha and said, "Agatha, I'll accompany you for a stroll tonight."

"Huh? Jenny, isn't Lord Rain returning today? How do you have time?" Agatha asked, surprised.

"Lord Rain just returned, and he probably has a lot on his plate. By the way, a few days ago, you mentioned a viscount's eldest son pursuing you, right?"

Jenny deftly changed the topic.

Agatha blushed slightly at this, and her attention shifted to the 'viscount's eldest son pursuing her.' "It's not an official pursuit. He invited me to an art exhibition these days, uh... I think it's the Oil Painting Master Franco Vancliff's exhibition, but I haven't given him an answer yet."

"Hmm? Oil Painting Master Franco Vancliff's exhibition?" Jenny became interested.

As a noble heiress, Jenny had studied painting from a young age and loved it. If she could accompany her best friend and also view a master's exhibition, it would be perfect.

"Yes, but you've been busy these past few days, and I felt it wasn't proper for me to go alone. Jenny, you're interested in the exhibition too? Then I'll ask him to take us tonight."

"I heard the exhibition lasts a week with a banquet every night."

"Hmm, Oil Painting Master Franco Vancliff's paintings are quite famous throughout the Empire. It's a great opportunity to appreciate his work." Jenny nodded.

"That's wonderful! I'll contact him right away. Jenny, I love you so much!" Agatha excitedly hugged Jenny and said.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end