Chapter 378: The Guardian Family

Chapter 378: The Guardian Family

Inside the luxurious carriage on their way back, Ren immediately opened the wooden box containing 11 Soul Crystals and grasped them all.

[Ding! Detected Soul Crystals that can enhance Mental Power Liquidation. Do you wish to accelerate absorption? (Note: System absorption can eliminate impurities and complete the process in one go.)]



"Yes!"

Instantly, Ren felt a portion of the silvery mist in his mind start to swirl and transform into a silvery liquid.

The silvery liquid began to increase, and after a few seconds, this growth began to subside.

Since there were eleven Soul Crystals, compared to the three he had received from the beautiful woman Jennifer previously, Ren noticed a more noticeable improvement this time.

Ren glanced at his system panel:

Mental Power: 88 (Liquidation 42%)



"With just eleven crystals, it only increased by 10%." Ren furrowed his brows, thinking to himself.

"No wonder, with their exorbitant prices and minuscule increases, most noble offspring probably can't afford them."

"Unless they're from the top families in the Imperial City, but for them, the biggest issue is the side effects. They can't use them consecutively like I can; they need to stop for a period after using each Soul Crystal."

Soon after, upon returning to the Bavaria family mansion, Ren couldn't resist the temptation of the new Second-Level Magic. After greeting Anna, he went to the study and opened the scroll.

An hour later.

In the training room, as Ren chanted the incantation, he pointed at a wooden dummy a short distance away.

A dim silver light flashed around the dummy, and a square metal cage, resembling those used to detain prisoners, suddenly appeared, enclosing the dummy within.

"Amazing! Is this the effect of manipulating surrounding metal elemental particles?" Anna exclaimed in surprise.

"And it's so thick!" Anna approached and examined the cage, using her fair and slender fingers to feel the sturdiness of the cylindrical bars, amazed by their strength.

Ren smiled and nodded.

According to the scroll's description, the thickness of the metal cage's bars should be about two fingers wide.

But the cage Ren had created was as thick as an adult man's wrist.

Ren knew this was due to his top-tier metal element affinity and the combined boost from the Steel Heart Advanced Meditation Technique.

At that moment, a system prompt appeared:

[You have learned the Metal Cage and gained related insights!]



[You have understood a new skill - Metal Cage]



[Your skill Metal Cage has improved, Experience +3]



Simultaneously, beneath the War Hammer Wizard (Legendary) panel, a new icon appeared.

The icon depicted a square metal cage with uniformly spaced bars.

Below the icon, a line of text read:

Metal Cage lv1 (1/100)



Metal Cage lv1 Effect: Consume a certain amount of Mental Power to rapidly form a metal cage around a single target by manipulating nearby metal energy particles using a specific magic model.

(Note: Casting time 3 seconds.)



After practicing for a while, Ren discovered a problem.

The difficulty of improving proficiency in Second-Level Magic was several times harder than First-Level Magic.

"Knock knock knock!"

At that moment, a knock sounded at the training room door.

"Come in!"

A young man appeared at the door, dressed in a silver knight's armor with golden thread embroidery, and bearing a striking resemblance to the Duke of Munster in facial features.

Ren immediately guessed the young man's identity.

"Greetings, Lord Ren. I'm Halowen," the young man said with a sunny smile, exuding sincerity.

"Greetings, Halowen," Ren replied.

"And this must be Miss Anna," Halowen nodded politely towards Anna.

"Greetings, Lord Halowen," Anna curtsied gracefully.

"Hmm? Is this the Second-Level Metal Sorcery 'Metal Cage'?" After the introductions, Halowen's gaze fell upon the metal cage enveloping the wooden dummy that Ren had created.

When he looked at Ren again, his expression had changed.

Hallowen, nicknamed 'Bavaria's Spear,' had surpassed his father, the Duke of Munster, in strength. He was a legendary figure.

A few days ago, he had received a message from his father about a young man named Ren, who was being transferred to the Imperial City's Swordmaster Headquarters and would temporarily reside in their family's mansion.

To be honest, Halowen had initially thought his father was being overly courteous.

His father's message had explained that Ren had been of great help to the Munster Province and the Bavaria family during his time at the Munster Swordmaster Division, and that this young man possessed extraordinary talent.

But was it necessary to be this polite? However, now it seemed that Ren's talent was not just extraordinary but exceptional on a scale rarely seen across the entire empire.

It was well-known that the path to becoming a stronger wizard was far more challenging than that of a knight. For someone of Ren's age to be a Second-Level Liquidation Wizard, and a rare metal sorcerer at that, it meant something extraordinary.

After some pleasantries, Halowen's eyes lit up as he looked at Ren. "Lord Rayn, would you mind if we keep it short and have a little spar?"

Ren was taken aback for a moment. He looked into Halowen's clear and fervent gaze, and a smile crept onto his face.

Interesting.

He hadn't expected that the eldest son of Duke Munster and the first-in-line heir of the Bavaria Family would be a battle maniac.

It made sense, though; otherwise, at his age of around thirty, it would be impossible for him to have reached the formal Legendary tier and earned the title 'Bavaria's Lance'.

"Of course." Ren, having a good impression of this first meeting with the eldest son of Duke Munster, readily agreed.

However, before that, Ren intended to enhance his abilities with some skill points.

"The three-second casting time for the Metal Cage is too slow; it's completely impractical for real combat."

"Perfect. I'll use this opportunity to integrate this new magic into my own combat system." Ren thought to himself.

After all, opportunities to have a Legendary-tier fighter as a sparring partner were rare.

Ren glanced at his remaining skill points on the attribute panel.

With 16 skill points remaining, after using 2 points on Steel Heart Meditation, he still had 14 points left, more than enough to enhance the Second-Level Magic 'Metal Cage'.

This was the very reason he had been diligently practicing tailoring skills in Munster.

Better safe than sorry!

Without hesitation, Ren instantly invested 11 skill points and an additional 8 golden skill points into the Second-Level Magic 'Metal Cage', bringing it to level 20!

In an instant, a torrent of profound memories related to the magic 'Metal Cage' flooded into Ren's mind.

Ren felt as if he had entered a mysterious space, endlessly practicing the Second-Level Magic 'Metal Cage' for over a hundred years, mastering the compressed incantations and hand gestures as if they were second nature!

After a few seconds, when Ren had absorbed the memories and returned to his senses, he smiled at Halowen.

Hallowen felt as if the smile on Ren's face suddenly exuded an enigmatic and profound aura, causing him to feel a chill. He immediately raised his level of respect for Ren to a higher level.

"Lord Halowen, let's begin."

"Of course, Lord Ren. I'm about to make my move, please guide me!" Halowen said, picking up a nearly three-meter-long lance from the weapon rack nearby, his face turning solemn.

"Whoosh!"

Hallowen took a quick step forward, raising his lance for a thrusting attack as he rushed towards Ren.

As a titled knight, he needed to close the distance.

Especially in Halowen's eyes, Ren was an extraordinary wizard.

But the next moment, he was stunned.

He was blocked.

At that moment, he found himself trapped within a square metal cage.

"This... this is Second-Level Magic? Was that an instant cast? Your Second-Level Innate Magic is actually 'Metal Cage'?" Halowen's eyes widened, his expression resembling that of someone who had seen a ghost.

0.04 seconds earlier.

Ren pursed his lips and pointed a finger at Halowen, and the Second-Level Magic Metal Cage responded instantly!

"Clang!"

Hallowen's body radiated with willpower as he threw a heavy punch with his right hand, causing even the bowl-thick metal bars to deform instantly.

With just two strikes, he broke free from the metal cage.

As a Second-Level Magic, even after Ren's enhancement, it was unrealistic to confine a Legendary-tier close-combat fighter for too long.

But Halowen's expression was unusually solemn.

Others might not understand, but he himself was the clearest about it.

He had just used nearly eighty percent of his strength to break out of the cage, and the binding strength was almost on par with a Crystal Wizard's Third-Level Magic.

Meanwhile, Ren had already finished casting the Second-Level Magic 'Cutting Net', and a large net radiating silver light enveloped Halowen, leaving no room for evasion.

At the same time, Ren leisurely increased the distance between them once more and began casting another magic.

Thus, after clashing with the sharp metal net, Halowen was once again caught in Ren's near-instantaneous 'Metal Cage'.

Since this was just a spar, Ren naturally refrained from using his magic kill moves, and Halowen also held back his signature moves.

In this situation, Ren directly overwhelmed Halowen with his two Second-Level Metal Magics, leaving him completely frustrated.

He couldn't catch up.

There was simply no way to catch up.

For Ren, the purpose of this spar was to familiarize himself with the control and field effect of the Second-Level Magic 'Metal Cage', so he repeatedly tested his new magic.

After several minutes of mutual restraint, the two stopped, neither claiming victory.

Hallowen panted heavily, staring at Ren in a daze.

Damn, this wizard's talent was even more exaggerated than what his father had described in his letter.

For several days, the two of them would chat and exchange ideas.

Both of them loved combat and hailed from the Munster Province, so they quickly became familiar with each other.

Especially when they talked about Ren's recent trip to the Marne Province.

"Huh? Lord Ren, you know Lord Luther too?" Halowen's eyes lit up as he spoke.

"Yeah, we're pretty good friends. And he should be arriving in the Imperial City soon as well," Ren smiled and nodded.

"Is he here for the Dragon Knight Cadet assessment? He mentioned it to me last year, I didn't expect him to be my competitor in this batch of selections," Halowen laughed.

"Lord Ren, by the way, are you also planning to participate in this batch?" Halowen suddenly remembered the newly arrived Blood-Feathered Horned Eagle Beast in the family estate's stables.

Indeed, Lord Ren before him was also a Flying Knight, meeting the requirements for the Dragon Knight Cadet selection.

Compared to Luther, Halowen considered himself on par, with not much difference in their combat strength.

However, for some reason, Halowen always felt a bit apprehensive about Ren, and he certainly didn't want to encounter him during the selection.

Suddenly, the Golden Emblem in Ren's pocket started to vibrate slightly.

One of the special functions of the Golden Emblem was to convey simple specific messages within the Imperial City.

The frequency of this vibration indicated that there was a situation at headquarters that required Ren's presence.

"Lord Halowen, I have to go to headquarters. See you tonight."

"Of course, Lord Ren, take your time."

Half an hour later.

In the Swordmaster Headquarters' mission hall, inside Anthony's office.

"Lord Ren, sorry to disturb your rest. Your assigned mission is here."

Read the error-free version at 69 Book Bar! 6=9+Book_Bar.

The person speaking to Ren was an old acquaintance, Anthony, the head of the reception department.

It was then that Ren realized that the other party also held the position of Deputy Head of the Mission Hall.

"Hmm? Assigned mission? So fast, but I only reported three days ago, and I already have an assigned mission today? According to the rules, isn't it once every three months?" Ren raised an eyebrow, his gaze slightly unfriendly as he looked at Anthony.

"This... This is a directive from above. The rule is indeed to complete a mission within three months, but it doesn't specify which day within those three months."

As Anthony awkwardly explained, he pointed upwards.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Ren knew that he was being targeted.

As for who was behind it?

There were several possibilities, but the most likely suspect was the Dram Family.

"What about the specifics of the mission?" After a while, Ren asked, looking at Anthony's slightly evasive eyes.

"Uh, Lord Ren, here's the specific mission content, hehe." Anthony chuckled awkwardly as he quickly handed over a stack of documents to Ren.

Ren flipped through it and saw a hideous black dragon-like flying dragon on the first page. Its appearance resembled that of a giant dragon, but according to the annotated dimensions, it was much smaller, with a body length of only twelve meters.

Below it was a detailed report: 'Venom Dragon'. Estimated Legendary Peak strength in Nom Province.

"Legendary Peak? Do you also think this assigned mission is suitable for a newcomer like me, Anthony?" Ren looked at Anthony with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"Hehe, it's probably because the higher-ups know that Lord Ren is young and talented, with extraordinary gifts," Anthony said, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief as he struggled to find words of praise.

He knew full well that there was something fishy about this.

This mission to kill the Venom Dragon was one of the most difficult tasks currently available at the Swordmaster Headquarters.

After all, if it were any more challenging, it would be considered an Epic-level task.

This was a job for the Imperial Guardian, not a Swordmaster.

"If I'm joking, am I? Refusing an assigned mission is not allowed," Anthony's expression changed as he spoke.

"Alright, I'll take it. But I need to recruit team members, so give me some time."

Ren nodded, looking as if he had reluctantly agreed.

In truth, he had been smiling inside since he saw that the target was a dragon-like creature.

Although he didn't know what the person behind this was thinking, if the target was a dragon-like creature, even without their arrangement, Ren would have volunteered to complete this mission.

After all, to further enhance his Dragon Bloodline, he needed to absorb the blood essence of various powerful dragon-like creatures.

The stronger, the better!

"Of course! You can depart within three days at the latest. We have a dedicated airship at headquarters that can take you directly to the destination."

"Great!"

Watching Ren's departing figure, Anthony couldn't help but shake his head, sighing inwardly, "What a waste, such a talented young man, and he's offended the higher-ups."

He was also helpless in this situation. If he didn't listen to his superiors, his position could be taken away at any moment.

Half an hour later.

In the Swordmaster Headquarters, inside Greenwood's room.

"Did he accept it?" Greenwood asked anxiously.

"Yes," Nathan nodded.

"Good, hehe. Now it's impossible for him to back out. Half the job is done.

Young Master Greenwood slapped the armrest of his chair excitedly.

He had also considered the possibility of Ren refusing, and what he would do then.

In fact, he initially thought the odds of Ren refusing were slightly higher than accepting the task.

After all, this task was extremely challenging!

"What's the task?" Mia asked curiously, seeing Greenwood's happy and confident expression.

"Kill the Venomous Dragon!" Greenwood revealed, his face filled with satisfaction.

"What?! Isn't this one of the most difficult tasks at headquarters?!" Chandler, who was standing nearby, was also shocked.

He never expected that Greenwood would use his connections with the higher-ups at headquarters to assign this task to Ren.

This was simply too much.

He silently mourned for Ren in his heart.

If a small-town youth wanted to make a name for himself, he should listen and obey; otherwise, he was asking for trouble!

"Do I and Chandler still need to do something?" Mia asked, flipping her hair.

In her opinion, there was nothing more for her and Chandler to do.

"Has the news about Ren's promotion due to luck rather than strength spread?"

"It's already been spread by people at headquarters."

"Hmm, you two don't need to work hard. At that time, just join his team. During the battle, as long as..." Greenwood spoke in a low voice.

"This... Can't you wait until they both suffer heavy injuries or until after one of them is severely injured before sending someone to finish them off?" Mia felt that Greenwood's plan was a bit shameless.

"The opponent has killed three legends; their strength cannot be underestimated. I want to ensure foolproof success."

"Rest assured, I will have a powerful family member there to ensure your safety. Also, all the rewards for killing the Venomous Dragon will go to you."

"Alright, I agree." Chandler shrugged.

At the same time, inside a counter at the Swordbearer Headquarters' mission hall.

"I want to recruit a few team members." Ren handed over the Golden Emblem to the female clerk in front of him.

"Er, okay, Lord Ren, what are your requirements?"

"Mithril Rank, with a unique skill, preferably a Wizard. As for the number, five will do." Ren said.

When facing a flying creature like the dragon, ordinary knights would be less effective compared to flying knights. Naturally, wizards would be a better choice.

Additionally, the headquarters had a similar rule to the branches, with a team limit of six.

"Okay, Lord Ren, I've filled it out."

"Hmm, thank you."

That evening, at the Bavaria Mansion.

"Oh? Lord Ren has received an assigned task so quickly?" Hearing this news, Halowen's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Although he hadn't joined the Swordbearers, as the legitimate son of the Duke of Munster and a Griffin Knight, he was well-versed in the operations of most imperial institutions.

He immediately sensed something amiss.

"Someone must be pulling strings behind the scenes."

"Most likely." Ren nodded.

"By the way, Lord Halowen, do you know about the Dram Family?" Ren asked after some thought.

Previously, Ren didn't dare to ask this question. Firstly, he was unsure of Halowen's character, and secondly, he didn't know the relationship between the Bavaria Family and the Dram Family.

However, after a few days of getting to know each other, they became more familiar, and some matters gradually came to light.

"The Dram Family?" Halowen's expression changed.

He immediately associated this with the recent events.

"Do you need me to mediate?" Halowen asked solemnly after some thought.

This was already a very responsible statement. After all, they were in the Imperial City, not Munster.

Not everyone would give face to the Duke of Munster.

"No need for now, thank you, Lord Halowen." Ren smiled slightly.

"Hmm, the Dram Family doesn't have much interaction with our Bavaria Family, but I'm still quite familiar with them."

"Although they appear to be a Duke Family like ours on the surface, in reality, they have an Imperial Guardian in their family."

"In such cases, we usually refer to them as Guardian Families. Despite both being Dukes, there's a significant difference."

"Oh? There's an Imperial Guardian in the family?" Ren's eyebrows furrowed.

This was a bit tricky.

However, Ren wasn't the least bit afraid.

Ever since his battle with the projection of the Goddess of the Abyss, he had a clear understanding of his own strength. In his Dragon Man General form, he was at the peak of the legendary tier.

Even against epic-tier powerhouses, he had the trump card of the Soulbreaker Warhammer and felt no fear.

Additionally, he hoped to find an enemy that would give him the opportunity to use the core skill of the King of a Thousand Blades, 'Blood Frenzy'. Moreover, his strength had significantly improved over this period.

"That's right, and apart from that, the family also has several legendary-tier advisors. Furthermore, the Dram Family is deeply rooted in the Imperial City and has close relationships with many other influential families."

Halowin provided a detailed introduction.

Ren's focus remained on the Guardian.

"Dragon Knight Pantoskock, with the title 'Tempest Cloud'!" Halowen said with a grave expression.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end