Chapter 51: Magic and Martial Skills, Rationality and Sensibility

Chapter 51: Magic and Martial Skills, Rationality and Sensibility

“Well then, let me see just how powerful you are!”

The vampire woman fumed at the words, transforming into a streak of red light and charging at Airael.

Airael’s pupils constricted.

Although she had spoken lightly just a moment ago, it was clear now that these vampires were far from ordinary.

After all, surviving all these years while challenging the two dominant races of elves and humans made that quite evident.

If they lacked any real ability, they would surely have vanished into the river of time by now.

Still, even though the vampire woman’s displayed strength was quite formidable, it just wasn’t enough against Airael.

A high-level vampire was comparable to a high-level warrior.

Perhaps due to their racial abilities, they were stronger than regular high-level warriors, but that still wasn’t sufficient to bridge the gap.

Not to mention Airael’s racial stats were downright absurd compared to vampires.

Even the royal vampires couldn’t hope to match her in that regard.

As the woman dashed towards her, Airael erected a Magic Power Shield in front of her.

The red light crashed against the golden barrier and could advance no further.

The other three observing vampires felt their pupils contract in shock.

The implications of this scene were all too clear.

The opponent’s strength was truly beyond their reach.

Moreover, she appeared to be not just a swordswoman, but also a highly powerful mage.

In an instant, the three vampires started harboring thoughts of retreat.

Unable to breach Airael’s Magic Power Shield, the woman’s form became visible amidst the red light.

“What are you waiting for? Let’s gang up on her!”

She took two steps back and shouted at the three spectators, preparing to attack Airael once more.

But Airael had no intention of remaining on the defensive any longer.

Before the woman could strike again, Airael withdrew her shield and launched her own attack.

With a powerful push off the ground, Airael, crackling with electricity, charged at the woman, her speed rivaling that of the earlier onslaught.

When she reached the woman, she lunged at her heart with a lightning-wreathed sword.

The woman barely dodged the fatal strike, but Airael’s blade went slicing down her arm.

Ignoring her severed arm, the woman hurriedly retreated, her face betraying her fear as she stared at Airael.

The expressions of the other three weren’t far off from panic.

While the woman’s earlier focus on them had been a factor, Airael’s timing and unveiled power left no room for doubt.

“Do you still think I can’t defeat all of you on my own?”

After scoring a solid hit, Airael didn’t press her advantage but instead asked the woman.

Airael’s tone was filled with confidence.

It was her first time demonstrating such effective close combat abilities in real battle.

In that instant, Airael realized that magic and martial skills were vastly different.

Magic required the caster to maintain rationality at all times to control the surrounding Magical Elements.

Losing control could lead to disastrous consequences.

But martial skills were different; the visceral feel of sword meeting flesh could ignite a passionate fury.

In that process, one’s power only grew stronger.

In other words, magic leaned towards rationality while martial skills inclined towards sensibility.

Shaking her head, Airael reminded herself to focus on the fight at hand.

With the enemy still present, thoughts of rationality and sensibility could wait; she wasn’t in a rush to carve her path as a battle mage.

“Hmph! I was just careless before, which is why you found an opening!”

The woman retorted.

“Is that so? Well then, how about this time!”

With those words, Airael suddenly reappeared in front of the woman, swinging her sword at the woman’s head.

The woman’s eyes widened.

So fast!

“Dodge!”

Just as she thought her head was about to be cleaved off, a voice snapped her back to reality.

Returning to her senses, she saw Airael’s descending sword was blocked by a blood-red barrier.

The woman quickly threw herself back to evade.

As she barely escaped, the blood-red barrier shattered.

Airael stood firm, gazing ahead.

Suddenly, a blood mist began to rise before her.

The earlier voice had come from that direction.

Before her, the three male vampires watched Airael closely, their instincts telling them to act, but they feared their lack of strength would only redirect Airael’s attention to them.

Thus, they remained inactive.

Unlike the impulsive woman, they were the rational types.

They wouldn’t engage in anything uncertain, especially something so dangerous.

Within Airael’s sight, a figure of an old man emerged from the blood mist.

The old man looked up at Airael, his gaze sharp. “You may have some tricks, but this is our territory.”

“This is your territory?”

Airael smirked.

“Are you sure about that?”

The old man’s expression changed, and he said, “Though this land belongs to the Machia Republic now, it was once ours.”

“Old man, I’m telling you that once, the entire world belonged to me!”

Airael scoffed at the old man’s words.

Past glories were still just that—past. They had to face the harsh reality of the present.

“Stop your nonsense! Let’s see what you’ve got, and see if you’re worthy.”

With a final declaration, a blood-red Magic Circle appeared beneath the old man.

As the circle activated, countless blood needles surrounded him.

The sheer number of blood needles was enough to make one’s scalp tingle.

“Go!”

With a soft command, the countless blood needles surged towards Airael.

“Block it for me!”

Airael called out, conjuring a golden Magic Circle in front of her.

As the magic circle activated, an enhanced Magic Power Shield manifested in front of her.

The blood needles hit the shield, creating rippling waves.

However, the shield held firm, showing no signs of collapsing.

Just when Airael thought she could block all of his magic like this, a sudden shift occurred.

Under the old man’s control, the blood needles converged, reinvigorating the previously dispersed blood energy, forming a terrifying Blood Spear.

“Go!”

Once the Blood Spear was formed, it flew towards Airael.

Airael continued to brace against the attack with her Magic Power Shield.

When the Blood Spear struck the shield, it only caused a massive ripple.

“If that’s all you’ve got, then it’s my turn next.”

As Airael prepared to counter-attack, she suddenly sensed something amiss.

The Blood Spear in front of her didn’t dissipate but continued to gather strength, aiming to break through her defenses.