Chapter 0020

While everyone else shows a stunned look at the retreating figure of the Silent Panther, the three experienced black hair mercenaries went to check on the wounded. When they were certain the girl suffered no life threatening injuries, Amber address the crowd, “The Silent Panther is a level 2 beast specializing in ambushing tactics. Like its name suggests, it silently stalks its prey from the tree tops then attacks. If it does not kill its prey within the first three strikes, it runs away. The reason it prolongs this fight was because it was encircled and our behavior differed from the regular human tactics which are to surround it and attack it from all sides. It waited for an opening then ran.”

“If you knew what it was going to do, then how come you didn’t intervene in the fight,” someone from the crowd yelled.

Tempest followed along with the crowd and nodded at the question though in her heart she already knew the answer. They were here to kill the Sundered Lion, a level 3 magical beast that is ten times stronger and deadlier than the Silent Panther. If they couldn’t handle the Silent Panther then the chances of winning against the Sundered Lion is dismal.

The opening gambit of the Silent Panther was a test for the group and for each member to assess the strength and weakness of the others.

“Why do we have to? On the road to immortality, the strong get stronger and the weak stays weak or die. Expecting someone to save you and offer you all the resources needed to become strong for free is nothing but a pipe dream. I know in your eyes I’m merely a lowly mercenary without status or cultivation, but Jean Grentnore is a lofty princess at Body Tempering 7. Her status, talent and beauty is above everyone here, yet she still has to hunt down the Sundered Lion with the rest of us. What makes you think you’re better than anyone else here?” Amber laid the bare truth in front the pampered ladies.

Emery, standing off to the side agreed with her tactics. They needed to hammer the truth into these arrogant women before they confront the Sundered Lion or they will become a liability instead of useful cannon fodder.

Everyone looked at each other before as one turned to Jean. Jean gave them the helpless pampered princess in need of rescuing look, complete with frightened eyes, pale complexion and a fragile vulnerability, like a beautiful orchid grown in a greenhouse, unused to the wind and rain of the real world.

Onlookers came to the conclusion that Jean got her cultivation due to her family providing resources for her, just like Jean intended.

The weak lambs then turned to the other notable person in the group, Tempest. Emery might be a candidate for leadership, but her actions displayed her message louder than an opera singer hitting the high notes through a thousand speakers, everyone here need to depend on themselves. She is strong, but she has no intention of protecting the weak. Given her antisocial personality, the group fear she might sacrifice them when her life is on the line.

Tempest understood the need for protection in uncertain times, she really did, but she is a reincarnator in a strange world with no experience whatsoever. She didn’t even get the cheat every reincarnator gets when they arrive in a new world, the previous body memories.

“Don’t look at me. I sell charms for living. If you need charms, you can come to me, everything else, ummm...” Tempest openly denied.

Without a strong person standing out, the group turned toward Amber with expectation. If she was willing to take the lead then she must have a plan.

Amber was pleased everyone looked towards her for leadership. The three liars knew if the group remained divided, they can forget about killing the Sundered Lion. Walking out of the forest might be a miracle.

“I will implement two rules. If you don't like it, leave. If you want to continue on the expedition but aren’t willing to contribute to the kill, then you get nothing. One, no talking unless we break for camp for the night. The Silent Panther is an ambush type ferocious beast that attacks the weak while weary of the strong. The reason it attacked us is because the complaints being aired all day attracted its attention. Only idiots make unnecessary noise. Two, you will do as you are told. In exchange for following the rules, I promise I won’t treat you as cannon fodder or ask you to something that will definitely kill you.”

Everyone looked at each other then at Amber, trying to decide if she is a worthy leader. Killing the Sundered Lion represents a chance in a lifetime for them, but they must live in order to redeem the reward. They knew working as a group ensure the highest chance of survival as well as completing the mission, but the mind of a human is a treacherous thing with plenty of examples of siblings killing each other for treasure, children killing their parents for power, much less strangers.

Tempest, acting like the idiot everyone perceives her to be, broke the silence. “Okay, but my attacks are ranged so if anything gets close to me I’m gonna run.”

Everyone sneered at the moron. Who isn’t going to run when a dangerous animal gets close to them?

“Please demonstrate your abilities. If you are a range caster as you claim then I’ll put you in the back.”

Tempest didn’t hesitate. She chain casts Wind Blade Ice Bolt, Lightning Strike successively, sending the Wind Blade towards Bailey, the Ice Bolt towards Senna and the Lightning Strike towards Amber.

The three blacked hair mercenaries showed their evasive skills by quickly dodging each attack.

Everyone was surprised by the speed of the attack. They knew if Tempest wanted to kill the three mercenaries then they would be as good as dead.

Jean and Emery confirmed Tempest was not as simple as she looked, however her actions were confusing everyone. Why was a high level magess doing in a mercenary camp created for the sole purpose of accepting disciples for the Brilliant Yin Sect?

“Alright, you can stay in the back and snipe the beast.” Amber assigned the strange newcomer as a rearguard with reluctance.

Everyone curse the shameless opportunist in their hearts. The scheming slut has an in with Aria, does she even need to show off her abilities?

All the mercenaries lived in the Magus Alliance all their lives. They knew a mage when they see one.

Going by the color of Tempest’s spell circle, she is a red mage.

It is hard for one mage to judge the strength of another mage.

The other domains have their methods of sensing their opponent’s strength, either by the aura of the soul, the essence of mental strength or qi emitting from a cultivator.

There is no method to assess the strength of a mage or a knight (other domains refers to them as body cultivators) after completing the skin stage of cultivation, hence the cultivators of the Magus Alliance are called the Senseless Cultivators, an insult as well as referring to the inability to sense the levels of the cultivators. Body Cultivators in other domains retains an essence or core of their cultivating method, allowing others to sense their cultivation levels while the knights of the Magus Alliance intertwine the theories of spirit into their cultivation technique confusing the senses of the cultivators of other domains.

Mages classify their cultivation levels by the amount of power the mage can infuse into their spell circle. The classification goes from red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and purple, with red as the weakest and purple as the strongest.

Mage classification is further complicated by their spell circle. A yellow mage can kill a red mage, but a red mage can easily kill a yellow mage. It is often said the difference between a mediocre mage and a great mage lies in their skills.

Mortals view mages as intellectuals, relying on their mind to defeat their opponents rather relying on brute strength. Tempest scoffs at that fallacy every time she hears it. In her view, a great mage has both power and skill.

The power aspect manifest in the color of the spell a mage is able to cast while the skill aspect is displayed through their spell circles.

A two layer spell circle is generally stronger than a one layer spell circle. A yellow mage is stronger than a red mage. Confusion arises when a red mage wields a two layer spell circle fighting a yellow mage casting a one layer spell circle. Who will win, of course it is the mage with the more battle experience.

For example a red mage with fire and wind spirits fight with a yellow mage with light and darkness spirits, the red mage will win. Wind compliments fire, therefore a two layer spell circle has synergy with the fire blazing and wind adding oxygen to the flame to increase the heat of the spell. Light and darkness are two opposite elements that coexist together, but there are no synergies between the two elements at the lower levels. At times the two elements are at odds with each other so when the yellow mage cast their spell, it might lower the effectiveness of the spell rather than enhancing it.

Tempest is a red mage with three elements. Her casting speed is incredible by any standards. So it begs the question, why is she here?

Those with keen intellect process the information given then slowly put up their guard against the seemingly stupid newcomer.

Tempest is aware of the group’s change in perception towards her, but she doesn’t know the reason why nor does she care. All she wants to do is kill the Sundered Lion, get some gold to further her travels.

“Who else has any special skills that require a position in the rear?” Amber yelled to the now quiet mercenaries.

No one said anything. Even though Tempest demanded to be in the rear, her skills proved she has the ability to slice ferocious beasts from a distance. No one in the group can match up to her range skills. Anyone speaking up now will be held in contempt by the group.

“Nobody? Then I’ll be assigning your position now.”