https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-349-Mordo-and-Kasichias-First-Update-/13460079/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-351-The-Proper-Way-for-a-Mage-to-Start-a-Fight-Third-Update-/13460081/
Chapter 350: Secret Art Mage (Second Update)
Chapter 350: Secret Art Mage (Second Update)
Pushing open the door and following the Ancient One into the large courtyard paved with green stone slabs, Jerry immediately saw dozens of people of different ages and skin tones, all wearing the distinctive mage robes of Kamar-Taj, engaged in various training exercises.
Among them, about half were uniformly drawing circles, seemingly focused on the Magic training required to open portals. The other half wielded various weapons that emitted Magic power, practicing close-quarters combat.
"Do mages need to practice close-quarters combat as well?"
Seeing the mages who clearly had a high level of combat skill, Jerry's face displayed a look of confusion.
In his mind, Mages were a ranged class, their combat style being to eliminate enemies with various spells before they could get close. Therefore, they should spend more time learning Magic.
Of course, he occasionally enjoyed close-quarters combat himself, but that was purely a personal hobby and not a serious combat strategy.
Seemingly understanding Jerry's confusion, the Ancient One smiled and explained:
"Carmen, not all mages are as talented. Some mages might spend their entire lives learning only a few spells. Many of them enhance their strength through magical artifacts that have been pre-infused with Magic.
Moreover, most mages cannot borrow as much Magic power as you can. For them, Magic is a force they use only when necessary."
In fact, while Kamar-Taj has a large number of mages, only a few can truly wield Magic with ease.
Apart from the Ancient One herself, only a handful of exceptionally talented individuals like Kasius, Mordo, and Wong stand out.
This is one of the reasons why the Ancient One places such importance on Jerry and wants him to join Kamar-Taj.
During the Battle of New York, Jerry's display of magical talent truly surprised her.
However, this is relative. Although most Kamar-Taj mages rely on magical artifacts for combat, and only a few can learn and use Magic proficiently, they are still powerful compared to most forces on Earth and even in the universe.
After all, even mastering a single spell makes one a superpower user. Mastering three or four spells is equivalent to having three or four different superpowers.
Kamar-Taj, this alliance of mages, is essentially composed entirely of superpower users, each with at least two or three different abilities.
Moreover, most of them undergo rigorous combat training daily, similar to ascetic monks, and possess various magical artifacts. Their combat capabilities far surpass those of ordinary people who suddenly gain superpowers.
Hearing the Ancient One's explanation, Jerry suddenly understood why the mages of Kamar-Taj were referred to as Secret Art Mages in the magic books of Asgard.
Unlike himself, who had learned so many spells that he could hardly count them, most Kamar-Taj mages might spend their entire lives mastering only a few spells.
For them, Magic is indeed a secret art, a trump card used in battle.
Furthermore, the power of Magic for Kamar-Taj mages does not come from within themselves but from Vishanti. Talented mages can borrow more Magic power to cast spells and can afford to do so.
Less talented mages can borrow only a limited amount of Magic power and cannot afford to borrow too much, so they must be more cautious when using Magic.
"It seems that, apart from the Ancient One, the other mages in Kamar-Taj aren't all that impressive after all!"
As a true Mage, these close-combat wizards didn't really impress him much.
"This is the Eternal Ring. It can assist us in feeling the power of Vishanti and also make it easier to cast spells. Without it, mages would find it very difficult to cast spells, much like your wand!"
Walking to the side of the courtyard, the Ancient One picked up a uniquely shaped ring and introduced it to Jerry.
Jerry took the ring and examined it, discovering that it indeed had the effect of amplifying his perception. When he tried to put on the Eternal Ring, he could clearly feel it guiding his mental energy, connecting him to an immensely powerful presence in the void.
To prevent any accidents, he immediately took the ring off.
As someone who didn't need to borrow power from any Dimensional Deities, he had no desire to establish any connection with them now.
"Carmen's magic seems different from ours."
The Ancient One, noticing that Jerry had taken off the ring after putting it on, casually mentioned.
Jerry's heart tightened at her words.
His biggest concern in coming to Kamar-Taj was the fear that his inherent magic power would be discovered, as he didn't know what the Ancient One might think of someone like him.
"Is that so? Maybe it's because I don't borrow my power from Vishanti!"
"Actually, where the power comes from isn't as important as how it is used."
The Ancient One didn't seem to care about the source of Jerry's power and didn't press him on which Dimensional Deity he borrowed from, only letting out a sigh.
To quickly shift the topic, Jerry hurriedly asked:
"High Sorcerer Ancient One, why don't I see you wearing the Eternal Ring?"
"For me, it's no longer necessary!"
The Ancient One took the Eternal Ring from Jerry's hand and placed it back on the table:
"Carmen, let me show you the library of Kamar-Taj. I think you will find it very interesting."
"Indeed, I can hardly wait!"
At the mention of the "Library", Jerry's eyes widened slightly.
The magic books of Kamar-Taj were the primary reason he was willing to take the risk of coming here.
However, just as Jerry was about to follow the Ancient One to the library, a mage named Kasius walked out of the hall and called out loudly:
"According to the Venerable One, Carmen's magic is on par with ours at Kamar-Taj. So today, I, Kasius, would like to humbly request a demonstration. I wonder if Carmen would be willing to share some insights."
The mages who were training stopped and gathered around upon hearing Kasius's words.
Kasius was currently the strongest and most talented among the Ancient One's disciples, having only been at Kamar-Taj for less than three years.
Now, Kasius was challenging a mage they didn't know and who wasn't from Kamar-Taj. This couldn't help but pique their curiosity.
"High Sorcerer Kasius, I don't think this is a good idea!"
The Ancient One's brow furrowed when she saw Kasius.
She admired this highly talented but tragically destined disciple, so even though she had seen many possible futures where he would kill her, she didn't give up on him.
She still wanted to teach Kasius well, making him a pillar of Kamar-Taj in the future, assisting the new Supreme Sorcerer in protecting Earth.
(End of Chapter)
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