Chapter 4: Red Robe Mage

Hyena Werewolves are an evil humanoid monster species that worship the god of hatred and slaughter Erisnu; they revere strength, and are bloody and cruel.

As nocturnal carnivores, Hyena Werewolves often ambush humans in the wild at night, skinning and dismembering them as food reserves.

Such ferocious monsters can actually coexist peacefully under human leadership?

Naimi Xisi thought for a moment and decided to scout the situation first.

Juan Ce Long extended his slender, agile fingers, constantly shifting gestures, and the mysterious draconic language in his mouth rang deafeningly.

Second-circle Illusion Spell—Invisibility Spell! In the next instant, Juan Ce Long's body seemed to merge with the air and vanished, yet a careful eye could still see the floor's slight depression and the creature's residual heat.

As a Conjuration and Divination sorcerer, Juan Ce Long's great Spellcasting Ability lets him master all spells of those two major schools without instruction, yet Conjuration and Divination together comprise only a quarter of the Eight Major Factions of spells, and Illusion, evidently, is not among them.

"Phew, luckily the book Red Robe Mage Apprentice Must-Learn Spell I found earlier contains the Invisibility Spell," Naimi Xisi said, turning a satisfied circle and testing the spell's effect.

Although Naimi Xisi's sorcerer bloodline limits him to releasing Conjuration and Divination, he learned three spells from other schools in a spellbook he once found in the tower.

First Circle Evocation Spell—Magic Missile.

First Circle Abjuration Spell—Shield Spell.

Second-circle Illusion Spell—Invisibility Spell.

Invisible Naimi Xisi spread his broad wings, bearing Juan Ce Long upward into the sky; this phenomenon, contrary to dynamics, became reality under magic.

Juan Ce Long's yellow eyes shone like deep gems, casting a faint glow in the canopy atop the forest; he flew toward the Hyena Werewolves, silent as air, vanishing like a ghost among the dense foliage.

Suddenly, Naimi Xisi halted abruptly, hovering midair.

He saw.

In the nearby forest, six Hyena Werewolves marched with a resonant, powerful rhythm, their steps leaving a trail of firm footprints on the woodland path.

Each of them bore a wild, fierce gaze; the sharp claws and rough leather armor in their hands proved they were the forest's true hunters. Behind them, a black-robed human appeared unusually mysterious, his face veiled by a thin shadow that seemed to merge with the surrounding night.

As the Hyena Werewolf pack ventured deeper, the forest grew gloomier and quieter. Occasionally a branch swayed slightly from their passage, rustling—a lone sound that broke the deathly silence.

And Naimi Xisi, whose breath still carried lingering flame heat, stirred not even a breath of wind; he was like an invisible shadow, watching everything closely.

The black-robed human seemed to know the area like the back of his hand; he led the Hyena Werewolves through the trees, avoiding any obstacles that might reveal their trail.

Naimi Xisi couldn't help but become puzzled: that human truly coexisted peacefully with a pack of Hyena Werewolves?

He watched the hulking monster leading the Hyena Werewolf pack and grew alert.

That was a Barbarian Soldier among the Hyena Werewolves, the leader of their settlement; each Barbarian Soldier is the largest and most volatile Hyena Werewolf in the tribe.

If the Barbarian Soldier were absent, a leaderless pack might be tamed, but even a Barbarian Soldier coexisting peacefully with that human? That seems far from simple.

Naimi Xisi instantly sensed that the black-robed human was likely the toughest opponent among these uninvited guests.

Barbarian Soldiers possess strength equivalent to a fifth-level Warrior; they submit only to power, proving that the human can at least subdue a fifth-level Warrior. "Mind, tell me their information," Naimi Xisi called in his mind.

As the embodiment of Mind Power, Mind can pierce any creature's spirit and obtain its strength information.

"Five Hyena Werewolves of third-level Warrior rank, one Hyena Werewolf leader of fifth-level Warrior rank, and a sixth-level Red Robe Mage."

Naimi Xisi's eyes widened. Red Robe Mage? Why would a Red Robe Mage come here? He immediately thought of the dilapidated high tower he hides in, which contains many books introducing Red Robe Mages and their homeland—Sai Er.

Perhaps this Red Robe Mage came for that tower; Naimi Xisi recalled the information from those books, his gaze turning serious.

The so-called Red Robe Mage is the ruling class of Sai Er, a nation not far from the Yinbu Tu Kingdom.

They are evil and cruel, possessing an intense greed for all magic and anything related to it.

In fact, the high tower in the forest once belonged to a Red Robe Mage, a Khazark.

Khazark is the official title for a Sai Er overseas outpost officer; long ago, a portion of the Yinbu Tu Kingdom was seized by Sai Er for a time, and this Mage Tower was a product of that era.

"What could a ruined Mage Tower possibly offer that would make a Red Robe Mage muster forces to come?" Naimi Xisi furrowed his brows deeply, his draconic face contorting.

In fact, a sixth-level Mage does not frighten him; although Juan Ce Long's body is weak, his scales possess all the abilities of a True Dragon, including strong anti-magic resistance.

Moreover, being aloft, even a third-circle Spell cannot pose sufficient threat to him.

Furthermore, a sixth-level Mage normally has only two third-circle Spell Slots, giving him enough means to kill him.

But he worries about the forces behind this Red Robe Mage.

Sai Er is one of the foremost powerful nations on the Feren Continent, thanks to its mighty magical might.

Red Robe Wizards serve as Sai Er's ruling class, comprising the Eight Major Factions, which include hundreds of Red Robe Mages ranging from sixth to thirteenth level.

Not to mention the chiefs of the Eight Major Factions: seven mages whose Spellcasting Ability reaches the ninth-circle level, and a Legendary Mage! Even a normal Juan Ce Long, despite reaching the Extreme Elder Dragon Stage, would likely not dare to stride across Sai Er.

Naimi Xisi shook his head; returning to the tower to flee was now too late, yet he could not abandon the gold coins, gems, and Peng Peng—well, the gold coins and gems were slightly more important.

"." Juan Ce Long waited expectantly.

Second-circle Divination Spell—Hunting Mark! Bright red runes appeared behind the black-robed human, silently merging into his body, and from Naimi Xisi's perspective the opponent's form instantly emitted a conspicuous red aura.

The vast majority of low-level Mages are glass cannons; the limited Spell Slots mean even if they have protective spells, they are few.

Hunting Mark allows Naimi Xisi's spell to track the target until a kilometer away, after which it loses effect.

From his lofty height, he will make that Red Robe Mage learn what a spell battery is!

(End of Chapter)