'A mage apprentice, huh...'
The universally acknowledged strongest apprentice profession was knight.
Next was warrior. Mage ranked pretty far back.
Because at this stage, mages did not have enough magic power in their bodies to cast more than a few spells. They were easily defeated, especially on a small arena stage.
For someone to dare challenge him after Eugene had defeated a knight, it could only mean he had absolute confidence in himself.
This composure and confidence could not be faked.
"Your fighting style is very aggressive. I like it. Interested in working for me?" Falco's words carried the arrogance unique to nobility, but his tone somehow made it hard to dislike him.
"I am used to being independent," Eugene said, adjusting his grip.
He did not like restrictions. That was why he had not followed his father's dying wish to try joining the Church of Truth or Church of Dawn, the top choices for commoners.
If nothing unexpected happened, he would not be staying in this small city for much longer anyway.
Faced with Eugene's rejection, Falco was not angry. He was just casually suggesting it, appreciating talent. He valued Eugene's solid martial arts foundation.
"Need a moment to rest? Can your left hand still grip a weapon?" Falco pointed out the issue with Eugene's condition.
Others had not noticed, but he had spotted it early on.
"It is fine. I still have one hand," Eugene said. That short rest time would not help much anyway, and Eugene had not used much stamina.
"Then thanks for holding back."
The ring on Falco's left middle finger glowed faintly. Then he reached out and pulled a potion from a void pocket.
'A spatial ring! This guy has serious backing...'
Eugene was slightly shocked. This kind of portable spatial tool was incredibly expensive. Even among low-level professionals, not many had one.
"Catch."
Falco tossed the potion. The red liquid in the glass bottle, aided by some mysterious force, landed steadily in Eugene's good hand.
'Impressive magic power control. This guy is a manipulation-type mage apprentice...' Eugene's attention was completely on how precisely his opponent controlled the potion bottle.
Mages generally split into two directions: manipulation and energy shaping.
The former mainly focused on guidance when casting spells, cultivating mental power, and could perform many precision-based magic spells.
The latter focused mainly on magic power cultivation and energy shaping. The stronger the magic power, the greater the power of the shaped magic.
While there was not much difference normally, their combat styles differed greatly. Manipulation mages specialized in elemental puppets, rock control, fire serpents, and other intricate magic. Later on, they excelled at mental and soul magic with high attack accuracy.
Energy shapers used large-area spells like flame storms and chain lightning. The later stages showed even greater differences.
Energy shaping required greater magic power talent, while manipulation required higher mental power.
Of course, there were all-rounders too, but mage energy was limited. Trying to do everything often meant being good at nothing.
"But I do not like taking advantage of injured opponents," the noble-like mage apprentice said.
Hearing this, Eugene shifted his attention from his opponent's manipulation precision to the potion in front of him.
He recognized this potion. It was the famous recovery potion, a classic potion made by alchemists.
It could heal most injuries that were not too severe. It worked both externally and internally.
A bottle like this was worth a gold coin. Regular professionals were reluctant to use them, since one gold coin was enough for an ordinary family's food expenses for a month.
'Really generous. Looks like I definitely asked for too little earlier.' Without hesitation, Eugene poured half the bottle on his hand. The red liquid seeped through the bandage and into his skin, helping repair Eugene's palm, though the effect was reduced due to his magic resistance.
Internal use would work better, especially since Eugene also had Enhanced Digestion.
But Eugene did not want to lift his mask in front of everyone, even though it was just a fake face.
"Let's go."
After casually handing the remaining potion to a nearby servant, Eugene took his staff and aimed it at the young master before him.
Apprentice-level combat prohibited the use of professional-level items, though this fairness was actually quite limited.
Non-professional low-level items, or even just a set of adamant armor, was enough to create a gap.
However, most who came to this arena did not have good equipment anyway, since non-professional items were just transitional.
As both sides nodded to each other, the second defense match immediately began.
This time, Falco initiated the magic first.
Instantly, Falco's body wavered. When it settled, four identical Falcos appeared.
Then, the five Falcos ran around the arena stage, taking five positions and surrounding Eugene in the center.
Low-tier magic: Mirror Image.
'Silent casting? Or a magic item?'
Eugene held his staff, but his eyes hidden under the mask kept watching Falco's true body.
This was an ability from the Talonclaw Falcon. Besides granting Eugene dynamic vision, it also let him see through low-level magical illusions.
'A coincidence? No, he is not affected!'
Falco also noticed this. He discovered that this arena defender wearing the spotted mask was coming straight at his real body!
Now it was the young master's turn to panic. His tried-and-true opening tactic had failed.
Rumor had it that professional-level warriors had the ability to see through low-level illusions, but was this guy not just an apprentice!
He did not want to fight this guy in close combat.
The staff danced fiercely in Eugene's hands. The staff was not the best weapon, but the techniques of almost all weapons could be used with a staff.
In just a few steps, using the staff as a spear, he struck with explosive speed!
Bang!
The steel staff struck the magic shield, creating some cracks. It looked like a few more strikes would break through the shield.
'How can his strength be so great! Did he hold back before?'
Falco was surprised. He knew exactly what his magic shield's limits were. That strike's force was close to a regular professional's.
Of course, Eugene had not held back before. The reason this strike was so powerful was simple.
He had used a martial technique: Leaping Fish Spear.
This was a spear technique imitating an arrow-nosed fish jumping out of water, merging body and spear into one, lunging forward like a leaping fish.
'You know what the biggest difference between warriors and knights is?' This was the first question Eugene's spear technique teacher asked him.
'Is it not because they could not become knights...' At the time, Eugene did not really understand the differences between professions.
He simply thought warriors lacked innate qualifications.
Professional-level knights could use battle aura, while warriors could only externalize their vitality energy after reaching the veteran level. Of course, some also called that rage aura.
'You are wrong, Eugene. Warriors are the inheritors of martial arts, and martial arts were created by the weak to fight the strong!'
The emergence of warriors was actually similar to warlocks. Both were paths explored by people without the corresponding innate qualifications seeking power.
But warriors were different from warlocks.
The martial arts warriors inherited were achievements gained through self-cultivation. Warriors believed more in self-training!
Whether martial techniques or martial arts inherited from the East, the original goal was always just one thing: to make the weak strong!
Seeing his attack fail to break through, Eugene decisively pulled back his staff. He took a deep breath, retreated two or three steps, then charged forward and leapt into the air!
Jumping up would certainly make Eugene unable to dodge, but he knew he had to fight quickly and decisively! Launch his strongest attack!
He simply did not have the energy to drag things out with a manipulation-type mage!
Using the momentum from his leap, Eugene struck downward from above, force concentrated in the staff. Like a cleaving strike, he unleashed his strongest attack with the force of a mountain crushing down.
Great Crushing Spear!
"Lightning Arrow!"
At the same time, Falco completed his spell. Two clusters of lightning crossed in his hands, shooting out blinding light.
The reason he did not choose Fireball, which had wider coverage and faster casting, and chose Lightning Arrow instead was simple.
Because Lightning Arrow did not need to waste effort targeting. The steel staff in Eugene's hand was the best anchor!
At this distance, Lightning Arrow dealt more damage!
In this moment, martial technique and magic collided.
The Lightning Arrow passed through the magic shield first and climbed onto the steel staff.
The scene looked like Eugene was wielding a lightning spear, commanding lightning in his attack.
At first glance, it really did have the flavor of a battle between supernatural beings.
As the dazzling light effect faded.
The outcome was decided. Falco's magic shield shattered, and Eugene's staff was pressed firmly against the young master's throat.
Eugene's Great Crushing Spear had precisely hit the same spot he had struck before, so this charged attack was guaranteed to break through.
"You lose."
At this moment, some scattered golden electric light had not yet faded from Eugene's body.
With Eugene's crisp declaration, the audience outside also erupted in cheers.
Eugene always lived up to expectations, resolving one challenger after another with the fastest, most unexpected combat methods.
"No... this is impossible."
Falco raised his head. Feeling the cold contact between his skin and the end of the staff, his expression changed dramatically in this moment.
He finally understood how his servant had felt. It was the feeling of being defeated by someone using basic combat techniques before you could even use your ultimate moves.
His opponent's techniques were so ordinary, so how did he lose!
Why had the Lightning Arrow not paralyzed his opponent!
"Glutton wins!"
As the other mirror images shattered, the referee announced the result.
"Yes, I lost."
As Eugene withdrew his staff, Falco had to admit the result.
"Just lucky," Eugene's voice came from under the mask. Then he extended his palm to his opponent, a gesture of reconciliation.
No one would discover what changes had occurred in Eugene's body the moment he was attacked by the electric current.
The faint blue tint under his skin was the reason for his victory this time: basic magic resistance.
This was a power built into every ogre's skin, and also the reason Eugene was cut off from the mage path.
While this resistance weakened potion effects, it also gave Eugene decent magic resistance.
Perhaps higher-level chain lightning could still hurt him.
But apprentice-level Lightning Arrow really did not affect him much.
"Losing is losing. You are definitely the strongest warrior apprentice I have ever seen." Falco graciously grabbed Eugene's hand. As he stood up, he also proactively extended an olive branch. "Let me introduce myself. I am the second son of Marquis Chromie, Falco Chromie."
'So he is a noble's second son.' Eugene now had a clearer picture.
This guy was probably gathering people to compete for the family inheritance. After all, such scandals were common, mainly because Engador titles could only be inherited by one person.
Better not get too involved with someone like this.
"Eugene Kaysin," Eugene said, withdrawing his hand and speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear.
He did not really care about exposing his name to this outsider. His name was clean at the moment anyway.
He mainly wanted to reveal the surname Kaysin. That was deliberate. Eugene wanted to know where this surname came from.
This noble from outside the city might have some information.
Of course, Eugene was not really trying to go home and reunite with his ancestors. He just wanted to find his family to more conveniently obtain resources, and then avenge his father!
He would use every chip he could.
"Are you an exiled noble?" Falco asked, confused.
On this continent, commoners had no surname, only a given name.
Noble surnames were divided into two types: prefix surnames and suffix surnames.
Putting the surname in front was usually something only royalty and grand duke-level families could do. Of course, if you were a high-level professional, you could do that too.
That was supposedly a custom from the distant, mysterious East.
Of course, Falco knew the truth.
It was not some imported custom at all. It was completely because Engador's royal ancestors came from the East!
It was just that due to long-term intermarriage, their appearance had become indistinguishable from the Yakin people.
As for suffix-surname nobles.
That was much broader. As long as your ancestors had been accomplished, you could legally have a suffix surname.
Regular commoners would not randomly imitate and take a suffix surname. After all, it was easy to provoke certain nobles and other commoners.
To play special, you needed to have the capital for it. If commoners randomly copied it, they would easily be ostracized by those around them, so some fallen exiled nobles would also give up their family surnames because of this.
"Sort of," Eugene said.
He neither denied nor confirmed, just gave an ambiguous answer.
Hearing the response, he also understood that this outside noble really did not know.
"If you have time, let me buy you a drink at the tavern," Falco extended another invitation to Eugene.
Exchanging full names often meant completing diplomatic relations. This was an unwritten rule among nobles.
He felt that since Eugene was an exiled noble, he was qualified to become his friend, so his tone had softened considerably.
"I am free tomorrow." Eugene's peripheral vision caught the referee approaching. He lowered his voice again to give an answer. This time he did not refuse, though he did not immediately agree either.
Mainly, he did not want to openly befriend an outsider under the noses of many nobles.
But he also did not want to offend people casually.
Selling himself as a subordinate, Eugene would not do it, but making a friend was acceptable.
More friends were always better than more enemies. This was also one of his chips.
He just did not know how this young master's servant would view him.
Probably pretty interesting.
"My uncle and I are at the Professional Association. You can find me there. I will be here for a week. Just give your name when you come," Falco said.
Sensing Eugene's lowered voice as a reminder, Falco also glanced sideways and saw the approaching referee. He also understood this was not a suitable place to talk.
After quietly leaving those words, he actively jumped down from the two-and-a-half-meter-high arena.
As a mage apprentice, strengthening the body with magic power was also part of the required curriculum. It was just that compared to warriors and knights of the same level, they seemed weak.
"Congratulations to our Glutton for successfully defending the arena!" The approaching referee grabbed Eugene's hand and shouted loudly.
Along with Falco's earlier action of jumping down from the arena, the cheers for Eugene inside the venue reached their peak.
The audience could not hear the two's conversation. After all, Eugene had not shouted it out this time.
So they just assumed they were exchanging threats.
'The Professional Association, huh... maybe I can make contact.' Eugene adjusted his mask. He needed to put some effort into preparing a more refined human face mask.
This human face mask was still too stiff. It might reveal flaws.
"Where is my remaining half bottle of recovery potion?" Eugene asked as he got off the stage. That thing was still worth half a gold coin.
He had deliberately saved half the bottle. He was not rich enough to throw money around.
"Right here," the servant cursed internally about how stingy he was, but still respectfully handed the recovery potion to Eugene.
Eugene took the remaining potion and casually stuffed it into his shoulder bag.
Then he touched his chest. Hidden in the leather armor there was his biggest gain this time, a more powerful meditation method: the Withered Tree Spring Renewal Meditation Method.
'Later, I will check out the black market... I still have to work in a bit.'