Ella once again recalled her duel with Jared, and she found the perfect comparison point to judge his strength.
"Dealing with a Master Level beginner knight is manageable. Unless it’s a smooth Aura Blade, I might even be taken lightly."
This was Ella's judgment. Just a year ago, Jared seemed like a formidable opponent, but he was just a fourth-class magician. However, in just one year, Jared had grown rapidly to become a fifth-class magician.
More importantly, the magic Jared wielded possessed overwhelming destructive power, unlike any other magician of the same class.
"The magic missile I thought of was nowhere near what I faced. I have never seen so many wind orbs before."
The image remained vivid in her mind. The moment those orbs shot from Jared's fingertips, there were easily more than eighty burst forth, flying toward her. A typical magic missile would not send out more than five orbs, but Jared unleashed sixteen times that firepower.
Ella had given Jared a nickname in her mind: the Hidden Dragon. With such skills, he could claim a top position in any empire’s magical society. While he might not become the captain of the Imperial Magic Corps due to his class, he certainly had the strength to surpass the vice-captain.
Yet, Jared seemed to have his own thoughts about matters; he rarely revealed his strength and never boasted or bragged. He would only show his true power when necessary. Unaware of this, Ella had attacked him during the mock duel, unable to touch a single hair on him, and ended up completely humiliated.
The thought of that mock battle became a source of embarrassment in her mind, like a dark history she would rather forget.
"I must challenge him again, no matter what."
Being someone with a strong sense of pride, Ella was already planning her next attempt.
"Everyone speed up! Even if there are some minor pests targeting us, we’ll sweep them away! Focus on advancing forward and keep your guard up against the surroundings!"
"Yes, understood!"
As soon as Ella's command was given, all the members of the elite guard responded in an orderly manner, increasing their pace. They were indeed impressive, being the elite chosen after enduring Ella’s rigorous training. Moreover, each member wore top-tier gear, carrying fine weapons and armor while proudly donning the insignia of a black lion with a golden border on their shoulder pads.
"Perhaps it’s time to settle down?"
Ella thought while observing the Aggressio Guard. Seeing the explosive growth of Jared and the domain of Crivia, investing her future with Jared began to seem like a promising idea.
It wasn't just Ella considering this; many mercenary groups had recently begun relocating their bases to the Crivia domain, all aiming to build connections with Jared to enhance their own value.
"I’ll need to see how this operation turns out first."
Ella gathered her thoughts and quickened her pace. The core of this operation was to draw out the Umbra cult's full strength, led by Cluj.
Meanwhile, at that moment, I quietly followed behind the transport convoy, moving alone without any escorts. I considered bringing Dery along, but it could be risky if a battle broke out, so I left her by Haze's side.
"Indeed, the invisibility spell is quite useful. As long as I don’t show any intent to attack or take an offensive stance, I can remain hidden."
I was using the fifth-class invisibility spell, keeping myself concealed. The invisibility was sustained, requiring magical renewal every minute, with each renewal consuming eighty mana. In <Paradiso>, a fifth-class wizard typically had about 1,200 mana.
This meant I could keep up invisibility for a maximum of fifteen minutes before my magic would run out. Thus, it wasn't suitable for long-term concealment since I would inevitably reveal myself after that period. However, with my mana stats over six thousand, this was hardly a burden.
I could sustain long-term invisibility for almost fifty minutes with my own mana. Additionally, I had the option to fully recover my mana once a day through the prayer of Mudidus. Moreover, the 'Lucky Ring - Blessing of Flehrer' allowed me to recover thirty mana per minute, making my effective mana consumption one minute equal to fifty.
"At this moment, I need to send a strong message that whoever dares to touch me, especially the dark faction, will face dire consequences. Would calling it intended aggro suffice?"
The operation was something I had meticulously planned from start to finish, designed to target the Umbra cult with a definitive strategy. If I didn't attract aggro, that would be far more frustrating for me. In the story structure of <Paradiso>, characters aligned with the Demon King’s army and the dark cult faced grim endings.
Particularly with Lena from the Wall of Wailing, her ending was truly tragic. Ultimately targeted and executed in a public square by the so-called 'player', she became a victim of public wrath, with angry crowds taking delight in tormenting her before her execution. Given her crimes within the story, such brutal vengeance seemed almost too lenient.
Nonetheless, the Demon King’s forces were designed to embody the principles of cause and effect, delivering judgment and punishment wholly consistent with the theme of good triumphing over evil. But if I were to betray that notion and cooperate with the Demon King’s forces in this life? I could confidently say that I would become a target for all curses and destruction with a 99.9% probability!
"If I’m going to side with someone, I’d rather fully commit to the Radius faction." Having thought it over many times, this was the conclusion I had reached. Changing my mind was out of the question. For that reason, I wouldn’t collaborate or get close to the dark faction. Not until dirt filled my eyes.
Moreover, fighting against the dark faction offered plenty of opportunities for growth through battles and conflicts, with artifacts, titles, and unique cult relics as rewards. There were numerous privileges to monopolize.
"There is, however, one pesky individual I hope makes their appearance later." I frowned at the sudden thought of a face. Cluj had been someone I had grown tiresome of seeing every time I undertook a quest related to the Umbra cult in <Paradiso>. Regardless of our skill levels, at least I was familiar with his attack patterns.
However, within the Umbra cult, there was another figure shrouded in mystery whose strength I truly didn’t know. "The Dark Raven." I hoped that my encounter with him would be delayed. According to the story, he had an impressive combat record of 202 battles, winning each one. A figure with an undefeated mythos and also designated as the next boss monster after Cluj met his end at the hands of the protagonist (player) during the game's final chapter.
My knowledge ended there, as my previous self had passed away from overwork before witnessing the next update. Each time I thought of it, it felt like a sense of loss and sorrow. Now, I was just a remnant of that past self.
At that moment, a voice rang out urgently from a member of the elite guard who had been following behind me.
"To the right! A large group of figures is quickly approaching from the right!"
"I report! Members of the Umbra cult are swiftly moving toward us from the right mountain ridge!"
Boom! A loud sound echoed from the direction we had come, followed by the crashing of trees and rocks. It was clear that someone was trying to cut off our escape route with malicious intent.
"It’s finally time." I glanced at the title I had displayed prominently. Although it was still inactive as I hadn't achieved the necessary goal, it was something I desperately wanted to fulfill.
[Heavenly Man Cleaver: 0000 / 1000]
"For the sake of this title, I won’t let a single one escape." I had always approached battles fiercely, but this time, I was truly ready to fight with my eyes blazing.
Kind demons are simply dead demons. The followers of the dark cult have no future; they sold their souls to the devil.
Thirty minutes later.
On a ridge overlooking the battlefield, Cluj was silently observing the situation. Having received intelligence about a massive transportation of gold and supplies from the Crivia domain, he had eagerly brought his members along. However, before arriving, a familiar instinct began to stir within him—a suspicion that the situation was flowing too perfectly as he desired. Thus, at the moment he decided to make the final advance, Cluj distanced himself from the battlefield.
He would observe the unfolding events; if things turned in his favor, he would join the fray, and if not, he would withdraw. The subordinates remained oblivious to Cluj’s plans, believing their strong leader would soon join them as they fought valiantly.
However, the Aggressio Guard led by Ella was no ordinary group of soldiers. They were elite warriors honed through intense training and equipped with top-level gear. They maintained their formation calmly, responding wisely to the ambush with tactics suited to the situation.
So far, so good. The cult members had also been elite fighters, trained sufficiently in the art of battle. But the problem lay elsewhere.
While Cluj saw the first unit fighting fairly evenly against the Aggressio Guard, the second unit was being ruthlessly trampled by a single foe. He couldn’t help but let out a smirk.
"Heh heh heh, was it all by design?"
As his subordinates fell one after another in battle, Cluj’s expression remained calm and composed. It was as if he was watching a bug struggling helplessly in water, finding a twisted enjoyment in the slaughter of his own men.
"I knew you would come… So I intentionally dropped bait, and you aimed at the bait? Clever. Jared! You’re quite the crafty one. I’ve never seen such a cunning fool!"
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Cluj applauded. When he first intervened in the civil war of the Kingdom of Sinders to deliver a so-called 'big blow' to the Umbra cult, he had little interest in Jared. He thought him meticulous but dismissed him as merely lucky. But this time was different. To be frank, he felt completely blindsided. Had the subordinates he brought been mere "sacrificial pawns," it could have been a significant blow.
"Damn… Feels like crap."
While Cluj smiled, the venom in his words dripped with frustration. His path thus far had been smooth as a bullet train, but now he faced an obstacle that was fully prepared to block him. An opponent who was neither foolish nor weak, but instead one who seemed to see through his every plan.
"Damn XX."
Unable to suppress his fury, Cluj finally stood up from his seat. "I shall show you the incarnation of hell."
With that, he set his sights on Jared, who was demolishing his men like autumn leaves falling in the wind.
Five hundred. That was the number of his subordinates who had been utterly defeated by Jared through various means, meeting a gruesome death.
End of Chapter 92.