Chapter 18: 18 Combat Skills or Magic

Chapter 18: Combat Skills or Magic?

One of the three wild boars that invaded the camp was swiftly killed by MacKen, and the remaining two, sensing the unfavorable situation, turned and fled into the mountains, making it difficult to pursue them further.

Such a clean and decisive battle drew loud cheers from the surrounding guards.

Luo Ning examined the massive creature, nearly one and a half meters long and weighing several hundred pounds. In awe, he did not hold back and promised to add a piece of meat and a bowl of meat broth to the guards' meals starting from the next day.

This would not only strengthen the guards' physical fitness, making them train with more vigor, but also reignite their motivation.

After handing the wild boar's carcass to the guards for disposal, MacKen approached Luo Ning.

"Sir, after my breakthrough, I recalled some things," he said respectfully.

Luo Ning was taken aback. "Oh? Tell me, what things?"

"A few combat skills."

As MacKen explained, he crouched down and struck the ground with his fist. Luo Ning sensed an energy spreading across the earth.

"Poof!"

A sharp, earth-formed spear shot out from the ground ahead with incredible speed.

Luo Ning was certain that such an earth spear posed a significant threat to ordinary people. Without timely evasion, one would undoubtedly be pierced.

"Is this a combat skill?"

Luo Ning was puzzled. "Isn't this earth magic?"

"Magic?"

MacKen shook his head. "Apologies, sir, I am not well-versed in magic. But what I just used was an earth-based combat skill called 'Piercing Earth Spear.'"

Here, he expressed regret. "It is said that later on, a single Piercing Earth Spear combat skill can cause a large area of ground to become filled with spears. Unfortunately, my current combat energy is insufficient, and I can only produce one earth spear."

Luo Ning nodded slowly. "So combat skills can be executed like this."

He had thought that knights using combat skills would only wield knight swords to slash or emit light waves, but it turned out they could also alter the external environment.

Now it seemed that combat energy and magic in this world differed from what he had imagined.

"It appears that as your strength improves, you partially awaken some memory fragments."

This resembled how certain card characters in games unlock specific skills upon leveling up. "How many combat skills can you use now?"

"Besides this one, I can also use a defensive combat skill called 'Earth Wall.'"

MacKen explained, "It can raise an earth wall before us to block attacks like arrows."

Hence, it was said that knight strength significantly improves once they reach the intermediate level. Indeed, it seemed true.

The two combat skills MacKen mastered—one offensive and one defensive—both had decent effects.

"I currently lack other earth-based combat skills. When the opportunity arises, I will find two for you."

Luo Ning encouraged MacKen before retreating into his tent.

After this incident, he pondered over combat skills and magic.

He possessed dual attributes of wind and fire, and the Wu Shan family was fire-based. Before leaving, he should ask Luo Lans or Wekins for a couple of combat skills.

"And magic—where can I obtain magic books to study?"

Mages were scarce; even a marquis family had few mages in allegiance, at least Luo Ning's previous self had not encountered any.

"I wonder if the family possesses magic books for wind and fire attributes."

He still needed to return to Wu Shan Fortress, but it was not urgent. He would consider it after breaking through to the intermediate level. For now, he would first assess the situation in the mountain forest town.

Moreover, the seventh-day reward in the seven-day login was a light-attribute mage. Through him, Luo Ning should also learn some information about magic.

As for combat skills, the first purchase grand gift offered a fire-attribute knight, and learning from him would suffice.

The night passed without incident.

From the next day onward, the guards' enthusiasm for training skyrocketed.

Firstly, Luo Ning provided them with ample food: besides ordinary bread, each meal included a piece of meat and a bowl of broth, giving them strength for training.

Secondly, and most importantly, under Luo Ning's deliberate guidance, everyone believed that these exercises could increase the likelihood of awakening combat energy seeds. Those guards under eighteen trained with exceptional diligence.

Of course, diligence was one thing, but people always had moments of fatigue and desire to relax.

Thus, Luo Ning arranged punishment measures like push-ups and squat jumps—anyone caught slacking off would be penalized.

As for Luo Ning himself, he neither stood in military posture nor practiced marching steps. Instead, he practiced sword techniques and occasionally sparred with MacKen when time allowed.

Although he was often overwhelmed, his combat skills rapidly improved.

Thus, two more days passed. Luo Ning's team advanced, practiced, and rested simultaneously.

It was monotonous, but the gains were substantial.

At least after these three days of training, the guards understood commands.

By punishing a whole row for one person's mistake, they developed a slight sense of collective consciousness.

He believed further training would yield even better results.

As for Luo Ning himself, perhaps he truly was a sword technique genius—now he could withstand over ten rounds against MacKen (though naturally, with MacKen controlling his strength).

Additionally, Luo Ning received the fifth and sixth-day rewards from the seven-day login.

The fifth-day reward was a magical weapon named "Flameflow Sword." Besides high blade strength and sharpness, it bore engraved magical patterns.

According to the description, when activated with wind and fire attribute combat energy, this sword could produce scorching flameflow with formidable power.

Unfortunately, Luo Ning's current strength was limited. He could neither use this ability nor wield the sword continuously due to its weight, so he temporarily stored the Flameflow Sword in his space ring.

The sixth-day reward was a magical beast contract scroll. It was said that as long as the magical beast did not resist, using the scroll could establish a master-servant contract, allowing even the fiercest magical beast to serve oneself.

This was a precious item, likely difficult to purchase elsewhere, but Luo Ning had no immediate use for it and kept it in his space ring.

"In a few hours, I can claim the seventh-day reward."

Luo Ning anticipated that a light-attribute mage would appear among his subordinates.

Mages were scarce, and light-attribute ones were even rarer.

It was said that in other duchies, light-attribute mages saved many disaster victims and nobles through magic and even established the Church of Light. Whether this was true remained unclear.

"Unfortunately, after claiming this reward, the seven-day login will end."

This also meant that Luo Ning could only obtain one loyal subordinate through the first purchase grand gift afterward. To expand his team further, he would have to recruit and train individuals in the real world.

To elevate his noble rank and achieve greater ambitions, relying solely on the three superhumans brought by the cheat was insufficient.

Thinking of this, Luo Ning placed hope on the young guards in his team. Over these days of training, he witnessed their progress.

"MacKen, find a suitable spot ahead to set up camp."

"Yes, sir!"

MacKen rode his horse to the front of the team, observing the surroundings on both sides as they advanced.

A suitable place for overnight rest typically met two conditions: either relatively open terrain or proximity to a water source. With water supplies on the carriage, meeting one condition was sufficient.

However, along this stretch of road, MacKen observed that there seemed to be no particularly suitable locations.

As the procession moved forward, he suddenly tightened the reins, signaling the guards behind to halt the carriage.

"What’s the matter, Captain MacKen?" the guards behind asked, somewhat puzzled.

"It seems there’s a sound of fighting ahead." MacKen listened intently, then turned his horse around and headed back.

"You stay here for now—I’ll go to report to the Baron."

(End of chapter)