The Legendary Mage (Alavin)

"We'll flee the Northlands."

"What of Stormcast? Alavin won't abandon his kin." Celesse knew Alavin well. The Mallister family was his foundation, his sanctuary.

"He has no choice but to leave."

At that moment, a majestic holy might enveloped the dark forest. Hamund swiftly turned, his cold gaze locking onto a distant mountain.

Atop the mountain peak, amidst the howling winds, Lord Viperbane stood with his hands behind his back. His divine authority was vast. His Mindfulness spread like an oceanic tide over the vast forest. Behind him, nearly a thousand hunters formed a massive web, a cacophony of human and beastly roars, as they rapidly swept through the trees, disturbing the birds and driving the Magi-Monsters, throwing the twilight forest into chaos.

"Hmm?" Lord Viperbane's brow furrowed as his Mindfulness detected an anomaly kilometers away.

It was too late for Hamund to hide. Gritting his teeth, he scooped up Mariela and Celesse and fled. "Run!"

"Is that Lord Viperbane? He's caught up so soon!" Celesse and Mariela paled.

"Have I foung them? Heh, lucky me." Lord Viperbane punched the sky, unleashing a surge of golden battle intent that transformed into a terrifying storm, twisting and thundering, shattering the clouds. The overwhelming energy swept through space, stirring the forest and drawing the attention of the nearby hunting parties.

He found them! Eighty percent of his party dashed at full speed while the remaining split into two groups, one heading off to inform the Grand Elder's party and the other to the Amber Valley squad, both searching in different directions.

...

Deep in the valley under the cloak of night, Alavin, bare-chested, sat cross-legged in deep meditation, studying the secrets of Gigas Grasp. He had made some progress with Shell. His body brimmed with warm Inner Strength Vigor, flowing through his muscles like a gentle stream, surging with a monumental sense of power. His fists now possessed a formidable force of ten thousand pounds. Such rapid progress was inseparable from the nourishment of his golden blood. The Vigor produced by Gigas Grasp also stimulated the blending of golden blood with his body. Complementing each other, they continued to transform Alavin's constitution.

"What kind of Combat Magic is Gigas Grasp?" Eyla was curious as to why Alavin chose to train in this particular Combat Magic at this stage.

"It seems to be for cultivating Inner Strength, capable of unleashing tremendous power," Godfred had asked Carlys, who said it was a force-type Combat Magic designed to extract the latent potential of the human body. It was said to have been discovered in an ancient ruin long ago by a former Commander, but its demands on one's physique were extremely harsh, deterring most from attempting it.

"Lord Alavin is already so fierce, and now he seeks even more power. He's turning himself into a beast," chuckled Grima.

"He's practicing Swordsmanship, thunder magic, and now strength as well? He's not afraid of wearing himself out." Godfred suddenly asked, "Lady Eyla, what's the secret behind the Lord Alavin's legacy? Can you share with us?"

"In simple terms, he can maintain relentless energy and high fighting spirit at all times, and it just keeps going. He can't get tired, and he can't die," Eyla giggled. Only someone with such abnormal stamina would dare to attempt training in three sets of Combat Magic at once.

Godfred and Grima awkwardly twitched their mouths.

Seeing their strange expressions, Eyla teased, "Eh, you two seem to have gotten the wrong idea."

"Absolutely not! No way are we thinking of anything untoward!" Both shook their heads resolutely.

Eyla smirked devilishly. "When you go back, tell Helna that Alavin doesn't tire and can't die. She can find him so many women for him, and in a few centuries, he could create a whole nation! We'll call it the Great Alavin Empire!"

She couldn't help but laugh uproariously at her own joke.

Godfred and Grima shook their heads with a bitter smile. "You sure have some wild thoughts."