Chapter 7: The Wizard Apprentice's Combat Power
Chapter 7: The Wizard Apprentice's Combat Power
At the end of Frostfall (November), the first snowfall blanketed the land.
Blackstone City was enveloped in a silver-white shroud, a vast expanse of snow.
On this day, Su Nan's progress in learning the Mage Hand spell reached 100%.
['Mage Hand' learning progress has reached 100%, you have acquired 'Mage Hand']
A flood of information surged into his mind. Su Nan closed his eyes for a moment to absorb it, then opened them and looked at the book on the table. He whispered a series of strange syllables.
The moment his voice rang out, the book trembled slightly and then slowly floated into the air, moving up, down, and side to side as he directed it with his gaze.
The effect of the Mage Hand spell is to make distant objects levitate and move at will.
To an outsider, it would look as if an invisible spectral hand were moving the objects.
This is precisely why the spell is called Mage Hand.
Among the many zeroth-level spells, the Mage Hand is one of the most practical.
Whether for surgical experiments or potion-making, using the Mage Hand can save a lot of effort.
In combat, the Mage Hand can also be used to control weapons and attack enemies from a distance.
The effective range and the weight it can lift depend on the caster's proficiency and mental strength.
This is why Su Nan chose the Mage Hand as his first spell.
With the Mage Hand, making potions and extracting Lizardman blood would be much easier in the future.
"What should I choose for my second spell?"
With a thought, three spellbooks floated out of the bookshelf and landed on the table.
Acid Splash, Sleep, and Flash.
The effects of these spells were self-explanatory from their names.
After some consideration, Su Nan decided to learn the Sleep spell first.
To advance his knowledge in biological modification, he had captured many small animals for experiments.
If he mastered the Sleep spell, his experiments would be much more convenient.
Since the Black-Scaled Lizardmen had retreated and the territory no longer required his participation in battles, there was no need to rush into learning attack spells.
In fact, the combat power of a first-level wizard apprentice is generally not considered strong.
When first promoted, a first-level apprentice is only slightly more powerful than an ordinary person in terms of mental strength, able to draw in external energy particles and store them in their body, forming a concept of mana.
As they meditate and improve their mental strength, their body gradually becomes stronger due to the subtle immersion and enhancement by the energy particles.
At this stage, a first-level wizard apprentice is not much stronger than a squire.
Compared to a squire, a wizard apprentice has a bit more resistance to magic, but is far inferior to a knight.
Only after mastering two to three attack spells does a first-level wizard apprentice truly become combat-ready, capable of matching a full-fledged knight.
This situation continues until they advance to the second level.
A second-level wizard apprentice can initially control energy particles, significantly enhancing their physical strength. With the aid of spells, even a peak knight would find it difficult to match them, and only a grand knight could stand against them.
Additionally, a second-level wizard apprentice can form a pact with a magical pet and use magical items.
A second-level wizard apprentice with a magical pet and combat-oriented magical items is a formidable opponent, even for a grand knight.
At this point, the true gap between a wizard apprentice and a knight becomes apparent.
Reining in his thoughts, Su Nan picked up the Sleep spellbook and began to read.
[Reading the Sleep Spell Model, 'Sleep' learning progress +0.08%]
[Reading the Sleep Spell Model, 'Sleep' learning progress +0.08%]
Time flew by.
Following Frostfall, the coldest and most challenging month of the year, Dormancy (December), also passed.
On the fifth-to-last day of December, the Black-Scaled Lizardmen finally retreated, trudging through the snow in disarray.
The war that had lasted for over two months finally came to an end.
After a five-day respite, Blackstone City welcomed the first day of January, the Winter Harp month, in the 1249th year of the Starlight Calendar.
This day marked the New Year of the Starlight Principality.
Despite the howling cold winds, the city was filled with a festive atmosphere. Houses were adorned with lanterns, and children ran about in groups, their cheeks rosy from the cold, but their laughter was infectious.
In the inner castle, the banquet hall was bustling with activity.
Young maidservants hurried back and forth, serving steaming ham, cheese, dried fruits, and fine wine.
Knights gathered around the tables, clinking glasses and laughing heartily, their voices echoing through the hall.
Old Gellar, overseeing the preparations, couldn't help but reflect on the scene. In previous years, due to the damage caused by the Black-Scaled Lizardmen, the former lord and his generals had been too preoccupied to even consider a New Year's celebration.
But this year was different.
According to Knight Jodan, they had inflicted severe losses on the lizard raiders, who fled back to their lair before the first snowfall.
The surrounding villages had suffered minimal damage.
In gratitude, the serfs delivered various agricultural products to the inner castle on New Year's Day.
What puzzled Old Gellar, however, was the mention of Young Master Su Nan. The knights and generals all seemed to attribute their success to him, speaking of him with deep respect.
This left Old Gellar bewildered. After decades in Blackstone City, he sensed that something positive was changing in the city.
"Lord and Young Master Su Nan have arrived!"
A sudden exclamation rang out, and the hall fell silent. Everyone turned to the entrance.
Kuei and Su Nan walked in side by side, both dressed in fine attire. They shared a striking resemblance, both handsome in their own ways.
Kuei, the elder brother, was tall and muscular, his body sculpted like a Greek statue. Su Nan, though still lean, had a lean and wiry build, exuding a sense of sharpness. His eyes, deep and bright like stars, commanded respect.
Their arrival drew everyone's attention.
"Lord."
"Young Master Su Nan."
The knights bowed respectfully, addressing Su Nan with the honorific "Lord" instead of "Young Master," a sign of deep respect.
Kuei strode to the front of the crowd, raising his glass.
"Thank you all for your hard work last year. Tonight, let us drink and feast to our heart's content!"
The knights erupted in cheers, the noise nearly shaking the roof.
Su Nan watched the scene quietly, picking up a cup of fruit wine from the table and taking a sip.
After two months of energy particle immersion, his physical strength had increased to 2.79, almost reaching the peak of a squire. Because he could absorb energy particles, he didn't need to eat as much as other squires to replenish his energy.
If necessary, he could go for months without food.
Now, he ate more for the enjoyment of it.
Just as Su Nan finished his drink, Kuei approached him.
"Why not join the others for a drink?"
"I prefer to enjoy my peace."
Kuei, understanding his brother's nature, didn't press further. He smiled and said, "I have some good news. I've found what you were looking for, and it should already be in your courtyard."
(End of Chapter)
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