110 Mania.

Valerian looked at the two people coldly and said, “I do not acknowledge those who act as if they are supreme.”

The old warrior looked at Valerian and said, “You sure have the gall to act like this in front of me.”

The boy snapped his fingers and said, “Terra Liga.”

His action was so sudden and quick, that none of the people had the chance to react, the legs of the old man were covered in the stone, he wanted to act up before Valerian appeared in front of him, and chanted, “Petra Chirothecam.”

The fist landed on the temple of the old man, making him dizzy. The old mage on the side reacted, and said, “Aqua carceris.”

He tried to restrain the child but Valerian placed his hand on the table and jumped across the table and kicked the mage in the head. The mage was hit so hard that he directly fainted. The room was directly silent, Valerian overpowered the two commanders in a matter of moments. That was not something they expected when the second prince told them about the boy earlier.

Valerian stood beside the mage and then he looked at the dizzy warrior as he asked, “Do I still need to acknowledge you?”

The old warrior woke up by this question and said with a clenched fist, “I apologize for my uncouthness, Your Highness.”

Valerian did not respond and looked down at the mage and said, “Sanatio Lucis.”

.....

His palm showered the latter with a healing light on the mage and the person soon woke up. The mage was similar to the warrior, he bowed his head and said, “I apologize to you for my behavior, Your Highness.”

Valerian replied, “You two people need to realize that the level of strength is not the parameter to decide victory or defeat. What matters is how that strength is used, so stop looking down on the weaker people.”

His tone was calm and composed, radiating the aura of a noble. The two old people were convinced by his words. Vertex sighed and said, “This is the Lagun Fortress. It used to be the first defense fortress of the Lumen empire. Later on, the Duke managed to win the Tenax City and thus this place became the second line.

Commander Rubrum is the leader of the warriors, Commander Flavus is the leader of the mages, and Commander Mund leads the common soldiers.”

The three commanders stood up and they bowed slightly. Valerian knew that the biggest force of the military was composed of normal humans, he cast a gaze at Commander Mund, and said, “Did the patrol team spot any traces of activity in the region?”

Commander Mund shook his head and said, “No sir, the intruders are very skilled. The forest can easily be marked, but they did not leave any traces. The ground does not have any footprints and the trees are not marked as well.”

Valerian nodded, he looked at the two old people, but they did not say anything. It was understood that even the warriors and the mages had not found anything in the forest.

Vertex said, “The blood guards are monitoring the forest from the skies but we have also not found anything.”

Valerian said, “Then we need to inform the city guard of Lagun City, to not let anyone inside the city.”

His suggestion was serious, after all, they could not let the berserks inside the city. They had no idea what the enemy would do if they got inside the city brimming with civilians.

Vertex nodded and replied, “It has been down already, the city is closed, and the city guards are checking everyone.”

Valerian nodded and said, “I will go to the forest and meet up with Silk, there must be some clues. Mobilize the warriors and have them comb through the forest. If they find any beast corpse that is not natural, have them inform me quickly.”

The commanders nodded and then with Vertex, he moved through the fortress, when they came out it was still raining. Valerian looked around and said, “Your Highness, you wait here, I will move out alone.”

That said, Valerian jumped off the boundary wall, and rushed into the forest. Vertex mumbled, “No matter how many times he does this, I am surprised by his guts.”

Quies nodded and said, “Indeed, last year when he ran away from the city palace and spent two months inside the forest, Her Highness had almost lost her mind. But this guy came back with a grade two. This child is anything but ordinary.”

At this moment, only Quies and Vertex were standing under the rain, while the commanders were mobilizing the troops below. They had understood that Valerian might be young, and weak, however, he was quick enough to take them by surprise.

Yes, it was not that they could not see his movements, but they did not expect those movements. Being a battlemage, Valerian was strong and versatile enough to deal with all of them to some extent, if they were not prepared.

...

Valerian rushed in the direction told to him by the second prince earlier to regroup with Silk. The speed was not slow, the silver fox was supposed to meet them at the fortress but it had yet to arrive. Suddenly, a big bird landed behind the boy, and a calm voice sounded, “Your Highness, we found some movement, and your beast companion is also there.”

Valerian stopped in his footsteps and without saying anything else, he jumped on the back of the bird and said, “Go!”

The soldier nodded and then the mount flew away. Valerian was accompanied by two blood guards. They traveled in a straight line. They did not speak anything on the way. Some sounds of struggle were obvious. The soldier said, “Your Highness, it is below.”

Valerian looked over the shoulder of the bird and said, “You go back to the fortress and inform the people. The blood guards will go and aid the beasts. The enemy is not just warriors but seven grandmasters.”

That said, the silver-haired child jumped off the bird, with the blood guards. Th seemed to have a tactical understanding. Valerian cast a few wind magic spells and changed their path slightly. They landed behind the spot where the enemy was entangled in a fight with the magical beasts.

The three people landed smoothly on the ground, the thuds were not noticed as the surroundings were filled with roars and metallic clangs. Valerian had found Silk, sitting under a tree untouched from the rain. He walked over to her side and sat down. The blood guards had gone to irritate the beasts from the shadows and have them attack the seven berserks even more.

Valerian patted the head of the fox gently and asked with a growl, ‘Was it easy?’

Silk nodded and replied, ‘They were traveling at a fast speed when the beasts roared back to signal me. I made the beasts go and pick fights with the magical beasts in the area and lead them all to surround these guys. Master, you must ask your people to not land and deal with this thing from the air. Or, just wait it out till the magical beasts had gravely injured them. It is not wise to walk in to play a hero.”

Valerian nodded and said, “You are very wise if only half the humans in the world were like you. This world would have been better.”

The fox was pleased with his comment and rubbed her head gently against his palm. The soldier on the flying beast has also met with the people in the fortress and warnings have been issued. It would take an hour for the people to arrive. Valerian looked at the situation in front of him with squinted eyes.

He smiled and said, “Say Silk, should I go and fight with this guy?”

His expression was revealing a tint of mania. Silk would have wailed if she were a human. She replied hesitantly, “Master, you can go and try but do not be careless, that person is a grandmaster.”

Valerian stood up and said, “Oh, I have always wanted to try facing a grandmaster at his best. Old Quies will not use his best skills when fighting with me.”

He did not know why but his eyes had turned into vertical slits. The silver eyes were glowing dimly in the dark forest, looking scary as hell. Valerian flexed his limbs and the body emitted crackling noises, and then his figure vanished.

As he grew closer to the man and the beast fighting in the distance he found that the beast was a lion, with its mane set on fire. The boy let out a low roar from his mouth, and the attacking beast pulled back.

The grandmaster was surprised by the sudden retreat of the beast when he noticed a dark figure rushing at him from the corner of his eyes. The man punched the figure, with his hand glowing red.

Valerian met the attack completely head-on.