Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 50 (Part 2)
In fact, Rodin insisted on long sleeves to hide the runes he drew with his fingers, known as the hand-seal technique.
The hand-seal technique was Rodin’s secret weapon. The sleeves allowed him to cast magic without his opponent noticing, enabling him to cast far stronger spells than expected.
It was a unique tactic to confuse his opponents with unpredictability.
“We were talking about your bracelet. What kind of magic does it have?”
“It’s a combination magic.”
“Combination? What’s that?”
“The magic in this bracelet is called Reflection. It combines with other spells I use to create different effects.”
Despite Rodin’s explanation, Hedler didn’t understand. Lant gave up trying to comprehend and lay back on his bed.
“I don’t get it.”
“Reflection is a refraction spell. When combined with light magic, it can create illusions. With wind magic, it can make attacks miss.”
Rodin intentionally designed the artifact’s magic to be complex to reduce mana consumption.
By embedding half-formed spells, Rodin could use the bracelet’s magic every few minutes.
It was also easy to combine with his hand-seal technique, which was hard to notice.
“Ah, so it’s a magic-using artifact. Got it.”
“Are you sure you understand?”
“I can’t use it, right? That’s all that matters.”
It seemed like he didn’t understand at all, but Rodin gave up explaining further. It was enough that they knew it was a magic-using artifact.
In fact, Rodin had another artifact besides the bracelet. It was a dagger hidden inside his robe.
When fighting wizards, knights would do their best to engage closely. Knights were experts in close combat, while wizards were particularly vulnerable in such situations.
Once engaged in close combat, the knights’ chances of winning increased significantly.
Rodin had created a hidden weapon to deal with such opponents. If discovered, it would be meaningless, but if not, it could be a very useful weapon.
* * *
The Ingram Empire had finally decided to attack the Special Forces Training Center of the Riyaz Kingdom.
The target was only one person.
Their goal was to bring back the genius who became a five-circle wizard at the age of twelve.
It wasn’t an easy decision. Slavery was illegal in the Ingram Empire. Bringing back a citizen of an enemy country marked with a slave’s brand and using them as a slave was problematic.
Even the royal family had trouble making the decision, but they eventually approved the plan on the condition that it involved only one person.
“Is the target a 14-year-old slave?”
“The target is, but there’s more to do. First, we need to kill all the committee members. If they break the slave rods, our efforts will be in vain.”
“That makes sense.”
The one answering Duke Bernstein’s question was Count Ferrios, who had first heard about the 14-year-old five-circle wizard from Commissioner Albrecht.
“Is it just one more day?”
“Yes. By tomorrow, we’ll have the Special Forces Training Center in sight.”
The strike team from the Ingram Empire, meant to retrieve the young five-circle wizard, had crossed the border into the Riyaz Kingdom five days earlier.
The team comprised thirty members, including five-tier knights and five-circle wizards. Leading them was Duke Bernstein, a six-tier knight.
“Do you have a plan?”
“We’re considering three options.”
“Let’s hear them.”
“The first is to sneak in and steal the slave rods. That pig over there should know how to get in and out.”
Count Ferrios glanced at Commissioner Albrecht as he answered.
Duke Bernstein, the mission’s overall commander, also glanced sideways.
Commissioner Albrecht, keeping his head down, didn’t utter a word. He avoided making eye contact and kept his gaze fixed on the ground. After all, he was facing the famous Duke Bernstein.
The Ingram Empire had dozens of six-tier knights, but Duke Bernstein was among the strongest. During a war almost thirty years ago, Duke Bernstein had made his name by slaying hundreds of knights from the Alliance of Thirteen Nations.
Many of the slain knights were also six-tier, making him a figure of near-legendary status in the Alliance.
“What are the pros and cons?”
“The advantage is achieving our goal without a big fight. The disadvantage is that if that pig has a change of heart, our wizards could suffer great losses.”
Knights lacked the skill for stealth. Even Duke Bernstein, a six-tier knight, couldn’t infiltrate quietly.
To sneak in and retrieve the key, they would have to send a five-circle wizard. If discovered, survival would be difficult.
The enemy had two five-circle commissioners and a fourteen-year-old five-circle wizard.
“Forget it. It doesn’t suit us. What’s the second option?”
“A night raid. The advantage is we can press the confused enemy for a favorable fight. But the darkness increases the chance we might miss the commissioners.”
“That’s unacceptable. Next.”
“The last is simple. We attack in broad daylight, when everyone’s gathered. The advantage is eliminating variables and winning through strength. The downside is some of our knights might get injured or killed.”
Night was the time of variables. Utilizing the darkness effectively, a weaker force could defeat a stronger one, and it was possible for a weaker force to escape from a stronger one.
The strike force from the Ingram Empire already far outmatched the Special Forces Training Center. Instead of risking the unknown, it was better to overpower them in broad daylight.
“Is that all? No other drawbacks?”
“Well, a report might reach the Riyaz Kingdom’s palace, but given the time, it’s not a concern. It takes four hours round-trip on horseback. With their complex reporting system, we have at least six hours. We can achieve our goal and withdraw in that time.”
“Good. We’ll proceed with that. Once we arrive tomorrow evening, get enough rest, and attack the Special Forces Training Center in the morning. Asheron, position yourself between the Training Center and their capital, and use communication jamming magic. Block their communications for at least two hours. Can you do it?”
“Two hours is possible.”
Asheron was a five-circle wizard. Unless the enemy used six-circle communication magic, he could block it. However, it wasn’t an unlimited capability.
Blocking communication magic consumed more mana than using it. To block communication for two hours required as much mana as using it continuously for three to four hours.
“The operation starts at 10 AM. We’ll finish by noon and head home.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”