335 Spotting a Double-headed Eagle Again Part 1 (1/2)

As the sky gradually darkened, a snow fox was spotted gazing at the camp compound. This magic beast was not very powerful. Actually, many magic foxes loved living near cities, and some even lived within them.

Small foxes preyed on rats and fed on the rubbish thrown away by humans. Hence, they lived in peace with humanity. Certain foxes in the south could even capture snakes and insects, just like domesticated cats.

Saleen sat atop a large rock, and his spirits were lifted when he saw such small animals moving about in the distance. No matter what happened, the city base would have to be developed.

Once the city was completed, it would have a defense network formed by the magic towers. By then, even the blood cavaliers would be helpless. Also, some snow foxes needed to be captured and bred in the city. No matter how beautiful a city was, there would be some parts which were neglected, and they would be filled with pests. With such animals around, the city would be much cleaner.

In this makeshift camp compound, the pirates had made a bonfire. The Chaotic Swamp was lacking in many things except for dead leaves. By sprinkling some cheap magic powder onto it, the bonfire would be able to last for a long time. Saleen did not oppose such an action. His agenda for coming to the Chaotic Swamp had been to attract the attention of the Holy See, not to sneak into the relic.

Had Saleen wanted to sneak into the relic, he would not have brought so many people along in the first place. It was a conspicuous affair to have more than one hundred pirates riding on bone horses. Anyone who paid slightly more attention than usual would know that a convoy was entering the Chaotic Swamp.

However, the pirates had become well-behaved after Saleen had executed dozens of them the previous time, and none of them indulged in alcohol and songs anymore. From afar, the camp appeared to be neat and quiet.

Saleen recalled the scene when he had been trying to escape from the Chaotic Swamp in the past. Back then, Nailisi had carried him on her back and run away frantically. At that point in time, Saleen was very afraid that the white deacon called Picasso would change his mind, as he did not even have the ability to retaliate at that time. Just how long ago had that been? At this moment, Saleen was actually making a grand comeback.

Saleen was now confident of achieving victory if he ran into a holy master who was the same grade as Picasso. The fight with Jola had built Saleen's confidence. The advantage a mage had was that they had many methods of obtaining victory over the enemy.

A mage who only casts fireballs is not a good mage. This sentence made sense. Combining different spells could give rise to thousands of combat techniques.

Saleen might not have been versed in many spells, but he would always use different methods for each battle. By observing the differences in his enemies, Saleen would employ different combat techniques. That was the advantage of a mage, which was understood by very little people. Most people thought that a mage's power stemmed from elemental control, but in reality, a mage's wisdom was more important.

People who were not smart enough would never become outstanding mages.

On the snowy ground in the distance, a lone snow wolf approached the camp compound slowly. When it spotted the over hundred bone horses standing in the camp compound, it hesitated for a moment before retreating. A magic beast was always more sensitive towards danger. A snow wolf would never be able to raid a camp compound like this.

Bam! Bam! Bam…

In a farther location, an unknown colossal magic beast was woken up from its deep slumber, and was now flitting about. Perhaps other magic beasts had disturbed its sleep, or it was so hungry that it could not sleep and had to forage for food.

Such was the reality in the Chaotic Swamp. Every single creature was fighting for survival, and none lived a peaceful life.

”Hm?” Saleen jerked his head upwards as a black figure flew overhead. He quickly took out his alchemical binoculars and looked upwards. Flying above Saleen was a double-headed eagle.

Saleen grew a bit nervous. A double-headed eagle? The black mages are in the Chaotic Swamp? Saleen could no longer sit still. He jumped off the rock before hastily making his way back to the camp compound.

Aini was training inside of a tent while Daniel stood guard. Daniel helped Aini willingly, because Aini was also a death mage. Furthermore, Aini was at a higher grade, so Daniel felt that he could learn more things as well. Seeing that Saleen had put on a gloomy expression, Aini knew that something unexpected had occurred. Saleen rarely revealed any negative expressions, unless there was something which troubled him deeply.

”What is it?” Aini retracted his death flames. At the moment, he and Saleen were in the same boat. Their relationship was not just that of friends.

”I saw a double-headed eagle just now!”

”What?!” Aini thought he had heard Saleen wrong. In his entire life, the largest crisis had happened when he had been surrounded by black mages in the baron's castle. Black mages were more abominable than rats, and just like rats, they had the ability to expand their communities.

Daniel's reaction was much more subdued, because he had not experienced such things before. Naturally, he would not know the horrors of the black mages.

Saleen and Aini thought of the headless riders and the evil dragons. Once those things became too great in number, their team would be obliterated.

The powerful evil dragons could break holes in the city walls, while the headless riders were simply swordmasters who felt no pain nor fear. In comparison, the blood cavaliers were easy to deal with. Even though a blood cavalier could not feel pain, it would no longer pose a threat as long as its limbs were chopped off.