Chapter 41


    The hefty chains fell to the ground with a resounding crash, snapping the onlookers back to reality.


    A hush fell over the crowd, and even the warriors sparring on the training grounds paused, their


    attention drawn to the scene. Could it be that he was swinging the three-hundred-pound chains


    around as if they were but ropes of hemp? Was that burst of strength truly enough to repel someone


    at Stage V of Novice Mage?


    Incredible!


    "Bold move! That madman''s getting fiercer by the day."


    "Same as ever, that iron will shine through. Bending isn''t in his nature."


    "I do wonder, how has he stayed alive with such stubbornness? Anyone else would have met their


    end a dozen times over."


    "Has he not suffered beatings? So often has he been left bloodied, yet his hard luck has kept him


    alive, never once broken."


    "He was born a servant, yet he''s carved out the life of a lord. Quite the talent."


    "He''s always had the bearing of a lord. That''s just his spirit! Such a pity, if he weren''t condemned,


    he might have been an Elite Protégé."


    "No Elder would take him; he harbors resentment towards Cobalt Strike."


    "If you ask me, thed''s a threat. Heaven help us if he ever turns the tables, it''ll be chaos."


    The surrounding Protégés were used to such sights, having witnessed vin''s life-or-death brawls


    with the freshmen. Now, as a Novice Mage, he was taking on the seniors. It was expected, but the


    ferocity of his approach hadn''t changed one bit.


    vin paid no mind to the murmurings and dragged the chains into the arena, lifting a stone urn


    and departing from the scene.


    The Protégés, both on the grounds and off, turned their focus away, treating the event as a mere


    spectacle, and continued their training.


    Just then, vin noticed a handsome young man approaching from the other side of the arena.


    "Ah, he''se."


    Others took notice as well.


    "Look, it''s Galos! Galos has ended his seclusion!"


    "Ah, Galos, my love!"


    "It is indeed Galos, emerging after three months of seclusion. Could he have ascended to the


    seventh rank of Novice Mage?"


    "A fifteen-year-old at the seventh rank of Novice Mage, such talent is enviable, jealousy-inducing


    even."


    The neer became the center of attention, with squealing maidens and an excited buzz from all


    around. The atmosphere in the arena grew electric.


    vin set down his urn and also looked on.


    There stood a strikingly handsome youth, his mischievous smile rippling through his thick brows,


    always seeming to carry a hint ofughter. His skin was set off by rosy lips, sharp features, and a


    perfect jawline. His smile revealed a pair of fangs that added a touch of roguish charm.


    Galos, known as the Thunderbird!


    One of Cobalt Strike''s Elite Protégés, chosen by the Grand Elder at the age of ten for his prodigious


    talents, he stood at the forefront of his generation.


    His magical essence was akin to vin''s, both wielders of lightning. Thebat magic he studied,


    ''Thundervein Valor,'' personally selected by the Grand Elder, was a formidable spell even among the


    Tier-2 Novice Combat Magic.


    "Greetings, fellow Protégés, it''s been a while," Galos said, charmingly addressing the crowd. His


    smile deepened especially for the girls.


    "Have you reached Stage VII of Novice Mage, brother?" asked a plump maiden, eyes aglow with


    admiration.


    "Indeed, I broke through ten days ago and spent some time receiving guidance from my mentor. I


    have only returned today."


    Galos acknowledged with a nod. His admission was met with gasps of awe and a flurry of


    compliments. Of course, there were those who stood afar, grinning with envy. A fifteen-year-old at


    the seventh rank of Novice Mage was indeed worthy of being an Elite Protégé.


    "I''ve not sparred in a while, who wishes to test their mettle against me today?" After the


    pleasantries, Galos stepped onto the stage, issuing a challenge to everyone present.


    Among them were many at the seventh and even eighth ranks of Novice Mage, though older than


    him by a few years.


    Eager contenders were about to step forward when Galos added, "If none at the seventh rank dares


    to challenge, then let the eighthe forth."


    His words dismissed the other seventh-rank Protégés as unworthy opponents. A few at the seventh


    rank frowned but didn''t dare voice a challenge. Galos'' mastery of Thundervein Valor was far


    superior, and even as a new seventh-rank Novice Mage, hisbat prowess was likely no less


    than their own.


    vin stood silently at a distance, watching. Thunderbird Galos was the one he most wished to


    challenge; they both manifested lightning magic, and Galos had been training Tier-2 Novice Combat


    Magic from the start.


    Unfortunately, the gap between them was wide, and vin had never even been qualified to


    challenge him.


    "Galos, I ept your challenge," dered a senior Protégé, a practitioner of Cloudrift


    Swordsmanship, also at the seventh rank of Novice Mage. Confident, he dashed forward, fluid as a


    lightning. His sword gleamed like a streak of light, his assault fierce.


    "Ha, well met! I''ve mastered the fourth segment of Thundervein Valor, let''s see how many segments


    you can force me to use." Galos'' form blurred, leaving a residual image as he moved with lightning


    speed. His hand formed a w aiming for the man’s shoulder. It was so swift it dazzled the eye.N?velDrama.Org owns this.