I Ascend to the Divine Throne through Arcane Means

Early the next day, the merchant caravan had already begun packing up the camp, ready to depart.

After extinguishing last night’s bonfire, Fink saw Lis coming over.

Last night, Lis had proposed to Fink that he was curious about the daily work of the Mercenary Group and asked if he could join Fink’s team for a few days.

Fink, who already considered Lis a friend, was naturally willing but worried that Captain Magat wouldn’t agree.

However, when he made the request to Magat, the captain just silently sized him up, nodded, and agreed outright.

When Fink excitedly went back to tell Lis the good news, Magat shook his head helplessly and said to a nearby teammate,

"Is this kid about to strike it lucky?"

The teammate gave him a knowing look and went to get himself another bowl of vegetable and salted meat soup with a smile.

...

"Good morning, Moriarty."

Fink greeted Lis, feeling that meeting a peer and friend on his first security commission with the caravan would make the journey less boring.

"Morning, Fink."

"When do we set off?"

"In a little while, we need to get moving ahead of the caravan to scout the path and ensure it’s safe before they depart."

Fink patiently explained the points Magat had taught him to Lis.

Feeling like a teacher gave Fink an unexpectedly good feeling.

Sometime later, Lis was walking with Fink’s team towards the journey ahead.

Everyone dispersed according to their assigned tasks to investigate the surroundings, while Lis and Fink followed beside Magat.

Initially thinking Lis might not keep up, Magat slightly slowed his pace, but seeing that Lis was quite at ease and even joking with Fink, he resumed his normal speed.

Scouting was boring, but Lis was in no hurry.

He had planned to experience most things on this training expedition.

After all, Lis needed to try things out bit by bit to see how much of his past gaming experience would apply in this real world.

At the same time, Lis had another plan in mind.

It was Fink. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

He wanted to assess Fink’s current strength and combat techniques.

Lis wondered if Fink showed any signs or the beginnings of the special combat skill "Blood Wolf Entanglement."

Lis was so fond of "Blood Wolf Entanglement" because it had a very special effect.

"Blood Wolf Entanglement" was a status combat skill that could create a layer of blood-colored airflow around the warrior’s body, increasing physical strength and enhancing the Strength Attribute to a certain degree.

What made this skill unique was the degree to which it enhanced the Strength Attribute, which was determined by the levels of the user’s other auxiliary attributes.

Lis remembered that when the "Blood Wolf Entanglement" skill level was at its highest, it could add ten percent of all attribute points, except Strength, to the user’s Strength.

Lis, in his past life, wasn’t a warrior, so he only had a rudimentary understanding of the skill, but he clearly knew that it was a very powerful ability for warriors, and many opted to join the Blood Wolf Knight Order just to obtain it.

But Lis didn’t rush to test Fink.

If there was no chance for Fink to show his skills during the exploration, they could spar when they returned to the camp in the evening.

However, soon Lis’s expression changed,

It seemed... things wouldn’t need to be that complicated after all.

Soon, Magat seemed to notice something too, his expression shifting.

Damn it, what’s the situation with the scout ahead? How did a Magic Beast slip through!

Muttering curses inwardly, Magat’s actions were nonetheless unaffected.

Clang~

Magat drew his Longsword, signaling to Lis and Fink to get ready.

As instructed, Lis did pull out his Longsword and placed it in front of him, planning to disguise himself as a Warrior who used a Longsword for this journey.

Fink also held a Long Spear, looking eager as if he was preparing to get some practice in.

Magat picked a pebble off the ground and fiercely threw it towards the trees to the right front.

In the blink of an eye, the whistling pebble vanished into the foliage.

A streak of verdant green shadow then fell from the tree.

Thud!

The shadow crashed to the ground, and Lis recognized at a glance what kind of Demon it was.

Bronze Demon Beast[Forest Python]!

This was a relatively common serpentine Magic Beast that could only grow to possess the strength of a High-level Bronze at most.

The Forest Python moved slowly but had immense strength, known for lurking in the jungle to ambush its prey. It killed by coiling its strong body around the prey and had no venom.

The excellent hiding abilities of the Forest Python seemed to have gone unnoticed by Magat’s teammate, lying in wait to ambush the trio.

However, this Forest Python, though apparently an adult Magic Beast, posed no threat to the three present.

Upon seeing the Forest Python, Magat too relaxed and sheathed his Longsword.

"Fink, go take care of that big snake."

Magat himself could have easily handled it, but this was also a good opportunity to let Fink get some practice with him watching over.

Fink nodded excitedly and, with his Long Spear in hand, approached the Forest Python.

Lis stood aside, ready to see what level the future leader of the Blood Wolf Knight Order was at.

The Forest Python was nearly ten meters long. Dazed by the impact from Magat’s stone, it soon recovered, coiling its body tightly, lifting its upper half, and flicking its bright red tongue at the approaching Fink.

Though Fink was somewhat excited, he did not rush to strike. Instead, he cautiously circled the Forest Python, observing it from a safe distance.

The Forest Python kept its eyes on Fink too, the threat from Magat preventing it from fleeing, leaving it no choice but to confront Fink squarely.

Fink was serious, his focus intensely on his opponent.

After a brief wait, Fink suddenly lunged, thrusting towards the head of the Forest Python as if to test its reaction.

However, the Forest Python was quick to move its head and evade Fink’s strike.

The Forest Python might be slow in speed, but that referred to its ability to move from place to place; its upper half could dodge quite swiftly in place.

Fink, well-prepared, promptly withdrew his strength.

Seizing the opportunity, the Forest Python’s body tensed up and, like a coiled spring, it leaped towards Fink.

That move was somewhat unexpected for Fink. Since he had closed in on the Forest Python, there was only about a meter between them, a distance the Python could easily leap across with its body’s strength.

Standing not too far away, Magat and Lis remained calm, seemingly unfazed by Fink’s perilous situation.

Magat looked at Lis, asking respectfully,

"May I ask what you think of young Fink?"

"He’s very capable, and it seems his physical condition is much stronger than that of an average Bronze Warrior?"

Lis watched Fink maneuver his Long Spear, striking the upper half of the Forest Python in an instant and leaping back, nodding as he asked.