Chapter 192: A Fierce General’s Breakthrough
Although tensions were high on the border between the Pruck and Akutas Kingdoms, with both sides on the brink of war, Black Forest Island remained peaceful and calm.
After Duane returned, aside from handling some administrative duties and meeting with people from the Holy Radiance Court twice, he spent all his remaining time training.
His training was unlike anyone else’s. Others would raise their combat skills by wielding swords and shields, or they would venture into Thorn Valley to hunt beasts for real-world combat experience.
Duane, on the other hand, would brew a cup of Hot Spring Mountain Tea and spend his time in Meditation, drawing diagrams, performing Enchantments, and practicing Magic.
In the following days, besides enchanting his own Storm Greatsword, he also took the weapons of seven Warriors of Middle Level or higher—including Kaelon and Raymond—and enchanted them all with the Blazing Fire effect.
However, during the process, a shortage of Basic Magic Crystal Stones led to an insufficient supply of Magic Crystal Powder.
Coincidentally, High Priestess Sara of the Holy Radiance Court came to his door, seeking to cooperate with Duane.
And so, Duane bought 100 Basic Magic Crystal Stones from her.
Although the High Priestess naturally didn’t have that many on hand, the Church Court sends a ship over to restock and resupply every six months.
This transaction of 100 Gold Coins was a great relief to Sarah and her people; at least now they wouldn’t have to worry about being evicted for not having enough rent money.
In total, Duane performed eleven Enchantments. Three of them failed, putting his success rate at around 72%.
All this hands-on practice raised his Basic Enchantment Skill Level from Entry to Skilled.
Meanwhile, his Skill Level for the Enchanted Blazing Fire rose from Initial to Entry.
The former increased his Enchantment success rate.
The latter increased the number of times the enchantment’s effect could be used.
For example, an Initial Level Blazing Fire effect could only be used 5 to 10 times, whereas an Entry Level one could be used 10 to 15 times.
Most Enchanted Weapons on the market could be used between 5 and 15 times, and they sold for exorbitant prices.
Take the Blazing Fire effect, for example. The material cost was nothing more than a single Level 2 Fire Attribute Demon Core and a Basic Magic Crystal Stone, totaling 2 Gold Coins.
But after being processed by an Enchanter, the selling price could multiply tenfold to 20 Gold Coins!
Spending 20 Gold Coins on an Enchanted Weapon that could only be used a dozen or so times made many people hesitate; after all, it was a significant expense.
This was precisely why Enchanted Weapons were not in widespread use.
This, in turn, gave Duane a huge advantage.
As his Skill Level increased, the number of uses for his enchantments would continue to grow.
At the same time, his higher Enchantment success rate effectively lowered his production costs.
When these two factors were combined, if he sold his items at the same price as the market but they could be used more times, a buyer’s choice was obvious.
Unfortunately, he was the only person on Black Forest Island with this ability. He couldn’t mass-produce the weapons, which limited the amount of money he could make.
Furthermore, Black Forest Island couldn’t currently produce enough high-quality swords.
So, Duane could only operate like a small workshop, producing top-quality Enchanted Weapons in limited quantities.
「Afternoon.」
「Simone’s small courtyard.」
With the help of the Magic Potions Duane provided, Simone was recovering quickly and could now sit up in a wheelchair.
High Priestess Sara and Manny of the Holy Radiance Court happened to be in the courtyard with him.
Holy Light surged between Sarah’s hands, lending her a sacred aura.
"Holy Healing Technique!"
As Sarah whispered the words, holy light poured from her hands, falling upon Simone and completely enveloping him.
Simone felt as if he were bathing in a warm ocean.
The tingling, almost itchy sensation told him that his wounds, even the bones beneath his skin and muscle, were slowly mending.
The Holy Healing Technique lasted for a full five minutes!
Sarah’s breathing grew ragged, and a sheen of sweat beaded on her forehead.
Normally, a Holy Healing Technique only lasted for a few dozen seconds at most.
But Simone’s injuries were so severe that the healing time had to be extended.
Those five minutes had nearly drained all of her Magic Power and Spiritual Power, pushing her to her absolute limit.
HMMMM~
The light gradually faded, and the Holy Healing Technique finally ceased.
Sarah took a deep breath, keeping her voice steady. "How do you feel?"
Simone opened his eyes, took a moment to assess his condition, and then jumped up from his wheelchair.
"Amazing!"
His face was filled with delight. "Thanks to your treatment, my injuries are almost completely healed."
He couldn’t help but marvel, "I never expected the Holy Healing Technique to be this powerful!"
A Level 2 Magic Healing Skill is a Light Mage’s specialty, but that technique can’t mend broken bones.
But the Holy Healing Technique was different.
Sarah had explained that this was a special Healing Spell unique to the Holy Radiance Court, one that would never be sold to outsiders.
Only members of the Holy Radiance Court were permitted to learn it.
Simone took out three Gold Coins and handed them to Sarah, who accepted them without hesitation.
To be precise, she had taken the initiative to visit him for two main reasons.
One was to earn money.
On Black Forest Island, people like Simone—wealthy and severely injured—were rare.
Since she and her people needed to be self-sufficient, they couldn’t afford to miss such a business opportunity.
Sarah’s second purpose was to use this opportunity to build a connection with Simone.
After all, he was one of Duane’s most capable subordinates. If the Holy Radiance Court was on good terms with Simone, their own standing on Black Forest Island would improve.
She could also use Simone’s healing as a form of advertisement. In the future, if Kaelon, Raymond, or the others were injured and wanted to recover quickly, they would naturally seek her out.
No brave Warrior would refuse a connection with a Mage possessing such powerful healing abilities.
The two exchanged a few pleasantries, and then Sarah left the courtyard.
"Father, you’re finally all better!"
Vera excitedly ran over, grabbed Simone’s pant leg, and cheered, her small head tilted up in delight.
Simone stroked her small head, then crouched down lovingly and gently pinched his daughter’s cheek.
"Come here, let me hold you," he said, opening his arms.
But Vera, thinking of something, dodged away. "Wait!"
She dashed into the house and came back out with something that looked like a waterskin. "Father, have a drink."
Simone froze.
Ever since he fled to Black Forest Island with his daughter, alcohol had been his constant companion, which had led Vera to believe he loved to drink.
In truth, it wasn’t just Vera; many people who knew him thought he was a drunkard.
But in reality, he wasn’t.
He only used alcohol to numb himself, to keep himself in a half-conscious state so he wouldn’t have to think about that painful period of his life.
Simone slowly took the wineskin. Then, a sharp burst of Fighting Qi shot out, piercing and tearing it open.
The action startled Vera.
But Simone just smiled and said, "Father isn’t going to drink anymore."
Little Vera’s eyes widened. "Why not?" she asked, confused.
"Because... I’m going to take you to find your mother."
"I have a mommy too?"
"Of course!"
This was the first time he had ever mentioned her mother to his daughter.
As he described her with memories and deep affection, three-year-old Little Vera began to cry bitterly.
In the middle of his story, Vera fell asleep in his arms.
Simone lovingly wiped the tears from her small face, then stood and carried his daughter to her bedroom. After laying her down, he took the enchanted Longsword from the wall.
He was no longer dejected as he had been before.
’The Baron was right. If I become a Scorching Sun Warrior, how could Viscount Raul still look down on me?’
He went to the backyard and began to exercise his long-neglected body.
Amid an increasingly violent surge of Fighting Qi, he swung his sword, tearing a deep gash in the earth before him, as if unleashing years of pent-up emotions.
"Even if he still refuses, I’ll just take her back by force!"
He seemed to have rediscovered the high-spirited confidence he’d had four years ago.
In that instant, the Fire Eagle bloodline within him seemed to awaken, and the Fighting Qi in his body grew fiery and intense.
In his abdomen, a Fighting Qi Spring began to form.
Simone couldn’t help but laugh as he mused aloud:
"The Baron was right. It was my own state of mind that held back my breakthrough."
This change in his state of mind allowed him to easily break through his bottleneck and advance to the Human Tier.