Chapter 278 - 277: Special Attribute Fighting Qi

Chapter 278: Chapter 277: Special Attribute Fighting Qi

The two Wooden Swords shattered completely at almost the same instant, leaving both men holding nothing but bare hilts.

Huff... huff...

Gray and Maki were both panting slightly.

Judging by the state of things, it was a draw.

On the sidelines, Marcus and Valles exchanged a glance, the surprise on their faces impossible to conceal.

’Gray’s progress is really fast... He can already fight Maki to a standstill.’

Even Maki seemed impressed as he looked at Gray.

After all, he had been a Middle Level Swordsman for over two years.

In terms of practical combat experience and how he utilized his Fighting Qi, Maki was far more seasoned than Gray.

But even so, when they sparred, they could only manage a draw.

Maki was well aware that while Gray’s already exceptional Swordsmanship was part of the reason, the most important factor was that his Fighting Qi came with the Wind Attribute.

In the world of Professionals, although it was all broadly called Fighting Qi, there was a cruel hierarchy.

When a Warrior advanced from Junior to Middle Level, they gained full mastery over their Fighting Qi. However, the results varied from person to person.

Most Middle Level Professionals had the most basic Fighting Qi, without any special attributes.

For example, Maki and Marcus.

Their Fighting Qi had no attributes and only had the basic effect of enhancing their physical abilities and weapons.

But Gray was different. His Fighting Qi was cyan.

This was Wind Attribute Fighting Qi, which allowed him to boost his speed to an astonishing degree.

If his training advanced another level, even Gray’s slashes would carry additional destructive power.

The same was true for Valles.

His Fighting Qi came with the Thunder Attribute. Every Arrow infused with his Fighting Qi was far more destructive, exploding like a bolt of lightning.

Although a Middle Level Professional who had mastered ordinary Fighting Qi had a huge advantage when facing a Junior Professional...

...if they went up against an opponent of the same level who possessed Special Attribute Fighting Qi, they would undoubtedly be at a natural disadvantage.

’Damn it... That guy is infuriatingly talented.’

Maki sighed internally.

"That was exhilarating... What do you say? Another round?"

Gray clearly hadn’t had enough. "Want to switch to sturdier swords?"

"No way!" Maki waved his hand dismissively, looking like he was ready to call it a day.

CLAP, CLAP, CLAP...

A round of applause came from the doorway.

Zelir was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, his long, black coat swaying slightly in the cold wind.

He eyed Gray and Maki with great interest. "Brilliant."

Zelir had only just arrived, happening to walk in on their sparring match.

"Yo, Zelir."

They all waved in greeting.

"Whoa, that’s a nice Magic Robe you’ve got."

Gray’s eyes lit up. He reached out and felt the fabric. "This isn’t the same style as a normal Magic Robe. Must’ve cost you a lot, huh?"

"Of course... It was crazy expensive." Zelir shook his head slightly.

Valles also looked at Zelir with a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

Elves always appreciate beautiful things, and this outfit certainly appealed to his aesthetic sense.

After the pleasantries, Zelir stepped forward and clapped Marcus on the chest and Maki on the shoulder.

"Looks like your injuries have healed up nicely."

"Of course." Marcus smiled confidently.

He was a Vanguard, after all. When it came to taking hits and recovering, he was second to none.

And then there was Maki.

Judging from how he was just sparring with Gray, his arms moved freely, so he must have fully recovered as well.

"Zelir, you’re looking pretty full of life yourself, aren’t you?"

Valles asked with a half-smile, "What, can’t sit still? Ready to take on a quest?"

"Heheh, you know me best."

Zelir smiled. "It’s already snowing lightly. I’m afraid it won’t be long before the heavy snows seal off the mountains, right?"

Everyone looked up at the increasingly gloomy sky, where the fine snowflakes were starting to fall more densely.

Zelir wasn’t wrong about that.

After all, Black Stone Town was located in the northernmost part of the Sel Kingdom, and its winters were the coldest.

The first snow was just a prelude. In the next month or two, the snowfall would get heavier and block the mountain roads.

At that point, it would be basically impossible to even go to the Gray Wood Forest.

The Adventurer’s Association would also be in a state of semi-hibernation for a considerable period.

So if they still wanted to take on some quests, this was their last chance.

"Works for me. I also want to see how I perform in a real battle after my promotion," Gray voiced his agreement.

Marcus and Maki exchanged a look and both nodded.

It wasn’t just about training themselves... The more important reason was that they needed to earn money.

The equipment they had lost during the Falling Leaves Town incident wasn’t cheap, and after replacing it all, their savings had been more than halved.

There was no way around it; they had to put in the effort to make some money now.

...

「The next morning, at the Adventurer’s Guild.」

As the door was pushed open, a howling cold wind swept in, causing a wave of complaints from the Adventurers waiting in the hall.

"Who the hell was that!"

"Hurry up and close the door!"

"I’m freezing to death... What is this damn weather."

Unexpectedly, after the light snow yesterday, the Adventurer’s Association was much more crowded and lively than usual today.

They were all people hoping to earn some last-minute money before the heavy snows sealed the mountains.

Every little bit helps, right? They couldn’t just end up working as manual laborers through the winter if they really ran out of money, could they?

They’d freeze to death.

However, when they got a clear look at who had walked in, the complainers all fell silent.

It was the Marcus Squad.

Unsurprisingly, whenever they appeared, they would attract a great deal of attention, both overt and covert.

Especially after a major incident like the one in Falling Leaves Town not long ago, they were the subject of rampant private discussion.

"Look... That’s the Mage, Zelir."

"That outfit, tsk tsk... It just looks crazy expensive."

"I seem to remember him being pretty poor before, right?"

In the hall, there were quite a few Adventurers who had started around the same time as Marcus and his crew.

But after struggling and clawing their way along for so long, they were still just Junior Professionals.

Usually, they could only handle ordinary quests, occasionally daring to accept a one-star Junior quest.

But Marcus and his team had already become Silver Level Adventurers and advanced to Middle Level Warriors, their status rising again and again.

Now, they even took their quests directly from the small room on the right, the one for Middle Level tasks.

The gap between them was truly staggering...

"I’m so envious of them... Getting so badass all of a sudden."

"Tch, what’s it got to do with him? It’s all because the Mage in their party is so strong."

Someone said resentfully, "Give me a teammate like that, and I could level up like a rocket too!"

"Yeah, exactly..."

Ignoring the chaotic chatter, the squad crossed the hall and entered the room reserved exclusively for Silver Level Adventurers.

It was much quieter in here.

At the commission board reserved for Silver Level Adventurers, Zelir began to pick out a quest.