Chapter 61: Magic Runes

Kadyn snapped open his eyes, and his shivering legs crumbled as he fell on his butt. His clothes had been covered in sweat while his body twitched and convulsed. Ten minutes later, he calmed down and again stood up, taking a deep breath. He gritted his teeth and shouted. "Appear!"

Barret once more emerged out of nowhere. He looked at Kadyn and mocked. "I've seen all kinds of people in my life, but never someone like you. Masochist."

Kadyn clenched his knuckles in fury and dashed towards Barret. However, he realised that he was standing inside a swamp and could not budge from his place while his body started to sink. His face changed, and he struggled to free himself. Alas, the more he struggled, the faster he sank into the swamp. It took around fifteen minutes before his head went inside the marsh and stopped breathing, lifeless.

"Appear!" without resting, he again shouted and struggled to stand on his trembling legs. 

"Haha, you're a tough nut to crack," Barret laughed. "However, no matter how hard you are, I will crack you ultimately. And you don't need to worry about your sister. You know what I mean? Kekeke."

"Bastard!" Kadyn's eyes turned red when he heard his words and lost his reasoning. However, before he could take a step further, spikes poked out like sharp javelings from underneath him and pierced through his body, pinning him to death, as the blood and faeces spattered all about.

Just like this, the training continued. Kadyn endured all the physical and mental torture that his enemy showered him with. As time passed, he started to gain some immunity over the provocative words of Barret. He didn't do anything rash. Nonetheless, he was just an Elementary Rank Magus. How could he compare with Rank 1? No matter how he tried to counter, he died a miserable death. 

He didn't even realise that his temperament had changed somewhat. He wasn't as rash as before; he tried to find different methods to counter the attacks of Barret. He also realised that Barret knew only three Rank 1 spells that he previously used.

At this moment, Kadyn dashed towards his nemesis, who was looking at him in disdain. "Die, you brat!" 

As his shout reverberated, spikes pierced at him. However, Kadyn was ready this time and a dark elemental power surged out from him and a star pattern circulated around, as his body disappeared—Darkness Walking. He had gotten this six-star pattern from the lottery. Not long before he successfully awakened his six darkness stars. Now he could use the Darkness Walker to avoid the Rank 1 spell. That was some achievement to boast about.

"Haha, nice trick," Barret sneered when he saw that Kadyn successfully avoided his attack for the first time. "However... do you think that a puny Elementary Magus like you stands a chance against me... a Spell Caster?!"

As he roared, a terrible pressure dawned over Kadyn; he fell on his knees, and the Darkness Star Pattern vanished like smoke. He glanced at Barret in shock and horror, with a pale face and a shivering heart. What a terrible power. What a terrible foe. He thought.

He realised that if it wasn't for the shop's protection last time, he would have become a dried corpse by now. The strength of the Spell Caster was beyond measure. He looked at Barret helplessly and saw a rune shining over his head. "Is that the Magic Rune?!" he screamed, and left stunned. So that's how Barret suppressed him. That was the power of the Magic Rune! Every Rune could give a special ability to its user. It seemed that Barret's rune gave him the ability to suppress.

Every magus needed to draw a Magic Rune inside their consciousness before becoming a Spell Caster. There were all kinds of runes—all of them with special abilities. Of course, some were strong while others weak.

However, runes were scarce. Powerful forces like the Magic Association monopolised them. Even if someone had the talent to become a Spell Caster, he won't be able to become one. Due to the lack of these things. 

"Haha, you aren't completely ignorant, brat." Barret laughed. "Now, die!"

At this moment, over ten swamps formed around Kadyn. The rune had enhanced his magic power as well! Though he wanted to fight and escape this predicament. He had no power or means, as he could not avoid those attacks. He fell in one of the swamps and died a miserable death once more. 

"Fuck, that was too overpowering!" he cursed, but the excitement shone inside his eyes. He wanted to become a Spell Caster! Only now did he realise the gap between two ranks. No matter how talented Elementary Rank was, even the trash Rank 1 Spell Caster would be able to kill him—the ultimate winner will always be a Spell Caster.

"That is not necessarily true." At this moment, a voice sounded inside his head.

Kadyn was overjoyed hearing it. It's been a long time since the system had spoken. Kadyn asked. "What do you mean?"

"There are special circumstances, you'll know in the future. Though I doubt you will be able to reach that level on Elementary Rank. Wait till you're Spell Caster, and you will be able to battle with the magus higher rank than you." System said nonchalantly, but Kadyn felt as if someone had poured the cold water on his rising ambitions inside his heart. What do you mean you doubt I won't be able to reach that level?

Although he wanted to ask some more questions, the system stopped talking. No matter what he asked, there was no reply. In the end, he sighed and gave up.

After that he ended his training and checked the time; it was 2 A.M. He felt fatigued; therefore, he stopped the practice and went to sleep. He needed to go to the auction in the morning, and he wanted to get that dwarf. Though he never thought about making him his slave. After all, he was from the modern civilisation and he felt very resistive towards such acts as slavery.