"Are you daring to challenge me without using the Strength of the Ancient Dragon Species? Indeed, commendable bravery."
My brother drew a sword staff, the breeze subtly flowing across its blade.
It was a special magic wand, with a long sword hilt, a magic gem embedded at the sword's tip, engraved with the Jade Key Family Crest, and a blade length close to a short sword.
"In that case, let me see..." After locking gazes with the Hero's fearless eyes for a few seconds, he slowly spoke.
"Show me your 'power'."
My brother's voice was low, the emerald green pupils reflecting the figure of the Hero.
"Moreover, with this, most of the previous preparations I made have become useless.
"Adding to it that your equipment is of such good quality, challenging me outright... not an unwise choice indeed."
"Preparations...?" The Hero was momentarily stunned, then quickly recalled the actions and the recent words of her brother over the past few days, and suddenly grew tense.
[Hero initiates skill: Global (Preparation Time +30)]
2d107+30+30=d107(34)+d107(60)+60=154
[Thousand Forms Array (Ritual Level magic stacking and delayed activation)]
5d156=(55)+(16)+(24)+(57)+(56)=208
Note: Intelligence/2 D preparation time, requiring 120 for one stacking, maximum stacking is 6. Due to the Critical Success in preparation time, the value of the Thousand Forms Array will reduce the Hero's Perception value.
"Wide area Perception, quite fast reaction, and the method is correct."
Without stopping the Hero's suddenly unfolded Perception field, my brother casually commented.
The Hero's Perception spread like a tide, covering the entire Viscount Mansion, the faint array patterns on the ground interweaving into complex geometric patterns, like a giant net spread over the land, the pulses of magic power secretly surging within, finally converging on my brother.
Observing this scene, the Hero's throat tightened slightly, she couldn't help but swallow.
"Brother, this is..."
"Stacked Ritual Magic." My brother's voice was as calm as if he was explaining some common knowledge in class.
"Delayed activation, effects multiplied, if prepared, it can annihilate a medium-sized Arcane Surge in one strike."
The Hero's eyes widened.
"Don't worry." Seeing his sister's sudden panic, my brother's expression was faintly smiling, he gently waved the sword staff, the air around them swayed at once, the array patterns underfoot emerged, then disintegrated.
"I'm just accustomed to being prepared for any eventuality." After saying this, he turned around.
"Follow me, to the backyard training ground."
The Hero was momentarily stunned again, hurrying to keep up with her brother's pace towards the seldom-visited training ground.
As a Military Merit Duke, perhaps the history and luxury of the Viscount Mansion couldn't compare to those of the hereditary nobles inherited through generations, but in the construction of the training ground and Arcane Workshop, it undoubtedly ranked among the top in the city.
Although it did not have a towering Mage Tower like traditional mages, with the power of nobility and their father's generous investment, the Viscount Mansion's Arcane Workshop boasted not only complete facilities but also undeniable quality, allowing many incredible studies to be completed without stepping outside.
Previously, the Hero didn't understand these things, having only a partial understanding of her father and brother's Mage level, but after returning home half a year later, she only then realized that many aspects of her home were no less impressive than the Count Mansion at the borders.
In comparison, the treasure-level sword staff in her brother's hand appeared somewhat modest.
As they proceeded, the disintegration of the array patterns accelerated, the magic pulses around the young man ahead began to fall, yet his expression remained indifferent, his gaze as cold and stern as ever.
In fact, he never intended to transform the Viscount Mansion into a frontline position under their father's watchful eye. The array patterns laid out were merely to probe the rumored power from the Great Demon.
Their father wouldn't idly watch as he and a runaway Phoenix clashed, potentially destroying the entire Viscount Mansion, so the constructed position focused more on concealment and rapid activation, now discarded without regret.
But noticing the occasional look towards his sword staff from behind, his brows imperceptibly furrowed slightly.
This sword staff was a treasure-level piece of equipment, a coming-of-age gift from their father, the Jade Family Crest on it symbolizing the glory of the Viscount Mansion.
However, despite its excellence within the same level, not reaching inheritance level meant it was only as good as it gets.
Inheritance level equipment generally relies on the Ancient Method of Forging, and such implies instability and low yield, so even for their father, the Pantheon Mage, it was hard to find a suitable inheriting wand for him.
Although he was outstanding among the Legendary Mages and had continually learned and honed alongside his father, with no lack in strength and essential equipment, his personal accumulation was relatively weak.
Yet this sister of his, out for just half a year...
He glanced at the tightly gripped Finger Claw in the Hero's hand and her anklet, his expression momentarily complicated, quickly calming down.
Forget it, thinking excessively on things that don't belong to oneself is futile.
Unaware of the brother's glance, the Hero tightly gripped the Finger Claw, calming her rapidly beating heart.
She was about to fight her brother next... She used to not even dare to talk back, now it was directly escalated to a fight, what to do? Could she win? She probably wouldn't be instantly defeated...
But before reclaiming her calm, they already arrived at the training ground's entrance.