Even a novice can become a god

Ryan used the stealth techniques taught by Joe to disguise the knights. Without careful attention, no one could have associated this pile of bushes with a troop of knights.

Moreover, Ryan drew a magic circle on the breastplate of each knight. It was a phantasmal magic circle that he learned from Chris's magic book, which could create illusions for moving objects. Although it didn't have much power, it could deceive the enemy in battle.

Gradually, the rolling dust cloud got closer and closer. Soon, they arrived at the campsite. Perhaps those thieves hadn't discovered the knights in the woods. Groups of bandits were loosely walking towards the woods.

Ryan and the others led their horses and retreated slowly towards the woods in the rear. As long as they weren't discovered by the thieves, they still had a chance to escape.

When they retreated to the edge of the woods, the bandits still hadn't discovered them. Ryan secretly rejoiced. Just at this moment, a sharp whistling sound pierced through the air. The outermost knight was immediately split in two, and the two warhorses beside him were also cut into two sections. Blood and internal organs flowed out simultaneously.

Ryan looked up. Two magicians were flying in the air.

The second wind blade descended. Everyone dived into the woods.

After the wind blade split the treetops, it scattered into dozens of small wind blades, wreaking havoc in the woods. Branches and leaves flew all over the sky. The broken treetops plunged down, pinning a warhorse to the ground.

In the woods, all the bandits became active. There were figures waving weapons and rushing everywhere.

The knights drew their weapons. Ryan began to prepare the only magic he could use. Although Ryan originally didn't want to use this magic again before fully understanding it, if he didn't use it now, he might never have another chance to survive.

So, after much consideration, Ryan decided to take a risk and try.

As he chanted the extremely long spell and made gestures, he signaled Jack to mount his horse and get ready to break through.

Fortunately for Ryan, Jack was a rather smart knight. He immediately understood Ryan's intention, and all the knights mounted their horses and got ready.

At this time, there were no more wind blades descending from the air. Perhaps those magicians thought it wasn't worth using magic to cut trees.

They were gathering their magic power, preparing to carry out an effective massacre after the prey rushed out of the woods. The fierce bandits on the ground were getting closer and closer. Some even mounted their horses and prepared to surround them. If they weren't afraid of being accidentally injured by those magicians if they got too close, they would have rushed over long ago.

Ryan's magic was finally ready. As he finished chanting the last spell, the "Chaos Crystal Wall" flew out of his hand and enveloped all the knights.

"Charge!" With this command, Jack led the way out of the woods.

Dozens of wind blades tore through the sky and struck at the troop of knights. They split open all the obstacles in front. Almost half of a small patch of woods was completely leveled.

Ryan had never expected such a fierce magical attack. One or two magicians probably wouldn't have such a powerful attacking ability. Although the magic power of the wind blades was completely absorbed by the "Chaos Crystal Wall", the intense tearing sensation descended on Ryan again.

Thanks to sufficient mental preparation, Ryan didn't faint this time. Perhaps gradually getting used to this pain, Ryan was actually able to continue riding on the horse. Of course, Jack and another knight clamped him tightly on both sides. One of the reasons he could sit steadily on the horse was to prevent him from falling off.

Ryan turned his head with difficulty. There were a dozen or so magicians flying in the air, and more magicians were constantly floating up from the woods.

"So many magicians?!" said the knight beside him.

"It seems that this isn't a real bandit group." Jack expressed his opinion.

Indeed, if it were a bandit gang, there couldn't possibly be so many magicians.

In any country, magicians are a rare and respected profession. Although there are magicians who do evil deeds and join bandit gangs, such people are quite rare.

Basically, the laws of each country are quite lenient towards magician crimes. Moreover, being a magician is an enviable profession. Even if they do nothing, magicians recognized by the state will receive a generous allowance from the government every month. For example, Victor was able to live off this loophole.

It can only be the army of a country that has a considerable number of magicians.

This is an army disguised as bandits, the regular army of the Kingdom of Caoqi.

Almost everyone knew what kind of crisis they were facing.

If it were bandits, they would have a good chance of escaping. Because bandits won't do meaningless things. They won't bother to chase prey that offers little profit.

However, the enemies behind them are different. Once any knight escapes alive, this operation of disguising as bandits will be completely exposed. Therefore, they won't stop chasing until they cut off the heads of all the knights.

Sure enough, the tremors from the ground indicated that a large troop was approaching from behind. Since there were magicians in the sky who could fly and direct targets, the knights knew that it was almost impossible to deceive the pursuers behind. Moreover, with those deadly magicians in the sky, don't even think about splitting up and escaping.

Now, the only hope was for night to fall quickly.

While Ryan and the others were desperately fleeing, two knights who had broken through had already met the large troop behind. After hearing their reports, Joe ordered the whole troop to stop temporarily.

In the princess's carriage, seven main members of the envoy sat together. The two knights recounted the information they had obtained in front of the esteemed envoys once again.

After hearing the reports of the two knights, the princess turned her head to look at the old magician with white hair beside her.

The magician closed his eyes, and his pair of withered hands slowly raised horizontally in front of his chest and formed a ball shape. A series of mysterious notes were slowly uttered from between his lips. Those notes were slow and long, with a low and dull tone. Tension filled the narrow space, and the others waited quietly.

A long time passed, and finally, the magician opened his eyes.

Seeing the princess's doubtful eyes, he comforted her, "Don't worry. Only two knights are sleeping forever in that land of eternal darkness. The other knights are still alive in this world. However, those two knights had their lives taken away by magic. One of the knights' souls told me that there are dozens of magicians among the enemies. But our young magical messenger is protecting the lives of most of the knights with his magic power."

"Dozens of magicians?" Oliver asked eagerly.

Obviously, the old magician was not a person who liked to repeat answers to the same question. He closed his eyes tightly.

"It doesn't seem like any bandit gang," Haowen analyzed. "A bandit gang simply couldn't have so many magicians."

"Then can we go back to our country?" Jistan said.

Obviously, his words caused a lot of people to feel annoyed. Oliver glared at him fiercely. Jistan also knew that it was very inappropriate for him to say this at this time, and he shrank back into his body.

However, there was one person who cared a great deal about his suggestion. The young prince said, "If the Kingdom of Caoqi has already dispatched its army, then this diplomatic mission is meaningless, and we should consider going back to our country."

Because of the prince's special status, for a while, no one spoke casually.

After a while, the magician who had been resting with his eyes closed slowly sat up straight. His fully open eyes were sharp and deep, filled with an infinite sense of oppression.

The prince couldn't help but step back a little.

"It's still too early to say this."

Although the prince had a high status, he didn't dare to contradict the elderly man in front of him.

The magician in front of him ranked second in the Kingdom of Sophie. Besides the Grand Wizard Naga, he was the most revered magician. Since this diplomatic mission was of great importance, the king personally requested this old man to be the consultant for the envoy.

"That's right. Since they want to disguise themselves as a bandit group, it means that they are not a troop truly commissioned by the king. It might be a private force of the hardliners in the Kingdom of Caoqi. If we return to our country, it will give them an excellent excuse, and then war will be inevitable," Haowen said.

Everyone turned their heads to look at Joe, who had remained silent all along. Only Joe seemed completely calm and unconcerned from beginning to end, as if this matter had nothing to do with him at all.

Seeing that everyone was waiting for his decision, Joe straightened his expression.

"Alright, since there are enemies ahead, let's go around them! Oliver, pick a few who can fly and scout ahead. This is a very important responsibility. Don't let those rascals discover us. Haowen, you'll lead the way. We must travel overnight now and reach Caladan as soon as possible. You need to replan the route. Make sure we can resupply water along the way, avoid meeting those guys, and stop at campsites as little as possible. Oh, and you two, the princess and the prince, shouldn't you get off and stretch your legs? Sitting in the carriage all the time isn't good for your health. Haowen, prepare two warhorses for them. Leave these two carriages here." Joe arranged everything in one go and then was about to announce the end of the meeting.

At this moment, Oliver asked, "What about Ryan? What about those knights?"

Joe turned his head and looked at Oliver and said, "There's such a big open space. Do you think they won't have anywhere to escape?"

Looking into Oliver's anxious eyes, Joe patted his shoulder and said, "Don't worry. If they can escape from those guys once, they can escape a second and third time. If you don't have any practical way to help them right now, at least you can pray for them."

While Oliver was praying silently for Ryan, Ryan in the distance was also silently praying in his heart. Praying that the horses wouldn't become exhausted; praying that it would get dark soon; praying that those magicians would quickly run out of their magic power; praying that the sandstorms that often occurred in the wilderness would appear immediately.

However, perhaps because he had made a contract with the demon, none of the things he prayed for came true.

Not only did the sandstorms that usually attacked from time to time not appear, but the sky also didn't darken at all. The magicians were also energetically pursuing them. Since there was no storm, they used the Wind Wing spell, which consumed the least magic power.

In this situation, these magicians could continue flying for a large part of the day. On the contrary, Ryan and his companions' mounts already seemed a bit tired.

Since three warhorses had been lost earlier, one knight gradually fell behind. When Jack suggested that he change his warhorse, the knight refused and decided to flee in another direction. Everyone knew that this was actually a suicidal suggestion. But there really wasn't any other way.

Amid everyone's well-wishes, the knight turned and galloped in another direction.

The remaining knights changed horses repeatedly. However, the long run made the warhorses' speed slower and slower. But the magicians didn't dare approach the fleeing group in front easily, all thanks to Ryan's strange magic. The originally confident concentrated attack was completely useless, greatly underestimating Ryan's strength by all the magicians.

"If only I could use other magics," Ryan kept muttering to himself. Since he last used this magic, Ryan had tried countless times to use various different magics, but although he could clearly feel the flow of magic power, he still couldn't use any simple magic.

"It seems you're in trouble," a voice sounded in Ryan's ear.

Ryan immediately realized that it was the demon Mostar speaking.

Sure enough, the voice continued, "I have a very suitable magic that fits your current situation perfectly."

After speaking, a magic emerged in Ryan's mind.

Although he didn't know what this magic was for, Ryan still closed the "Chaos Crystal Wall".

He began to chant the newly learned spell. This spell, like the part of the spell for the "Chaos Crystal Wall", was extremely long and composed of an unknown language.

Ryan had no idea what this spell meant, only knowing that the last sentence stated the name of this magic - "Dark Banner".

As the spell was completed, countless black feathers flew into the air. Once these black feathers left Ryan by more than ten meters, they immediately turned into a ball of pitch-black smoke and shot into the sky. They seemed like living creatures, searching for targets on their own.

The magicians flying in the air were immediately surrounded by several balls of smoke. The magicians, like headless flies, flew all over the sky.

Soon, one by one, the magicians stumbled and descended to the ground. Most of them miscalculated their landing speed and plunged headlong into the mud. Even if one or two magicians managed to land successfully on the wasteland, it was clear from their appearances that they were far from unscathed.

The pursuers behind, seeing a large number of magicians falling all at once, were also thrown into chaos.

Moreover, the strange dust clouds in the sky were gradually drifting towards their direction. Soon, the leading troop of cavalry encountered it head-on. Countless thick black fumes enveloped them, and a series of neighing and cries for help arose one after another.

"Stop! Stop!" a leader commanded.

The pursuers halted.

"What's going on?" the leader turned back and asked a middle-aged magician wearing a bright red robe behind him.

"It might be some kind of smoke magic," the magician replied uncertainly. There were smoke-type magics in all four elemental magic systems, but their effects were not as significant as the one before them.

The thick black smoke was completely opaque. Those hit by this magic, like those afflicted by a blindness spell, immediately lost their sight, and what's more, this smoke couldn't be dispersed, which was beyond the magician's imagination.

The magician pondered for a while, then spread his arms and immediately erected a huge barrier, enveloping everyone around him. The surrounding black fog gradually gathered and tightly wrapped around the entire barrier.

Seeing that there was no immediate threat, the magician finally relaxed a little and said, "This magic doesn't seem to belong to any of the four elemental magics I'm familiar with."

After a pause, he continued, "I heard that Matos from Sophie is here this time. It's very likely that he cast this magic."

"What Matos? What four elemental magics?" a burly bandit with a face full of stubble asked beside him.

In his heart, the magician actually quite disliked these bandits. If it weren't for his master's insistence on cooperating closely with these bastards, he wouldn't want to bother with such people who knew nothing about magic.

However, now that there was such a powerful magician in the enemy camp, it was necessary for the people around him to understand a bit more about magic.

The magician racked his brains on how to explain these things simply, because it was really hard to imagine that these roughnecks who were good at wielding spears and sticks would have a strong understanding of magic.

After thinking it over, he explained, "The so-called four elemental magics refer to the magical skills that control the four main elements that make up the world: water, wind, earth, and fire. Besides the magics that control these four elements, there are also theurgy that borrows the power of deities and light magic, as well as psychic magic that only affects the minds of living beings. In addition, there are very few magics that can affect space."

Looking around, he saw that several leaders seemed to understand (of course, he didn't care about those obviously cerebellum-developed but cerebrum-weakened bandits), and continued, "Most magicians are proficient in the four elemental magics, like me. Only priests can use light magic, and the casting of space magic cannot do without the help of magic arrays. The only thing that could have such power is theurgy, but magicians proficient in theurgy are quite rare. As far as I know, only the Grand High Priest in our country and Matos from Sophie, especially Matos, who studied the power of the forbidden god of the underworld, Ladochos Kranis, which is the most powerful among all theurgies. In my opinion, the magician being protected in the front troop must be Matos."

"Could it be one of Matos's disciples? If there were a magician with such power, he wouldn't be out alone with just a few knights. From their formation, they should be an advance scouting party," the leader asked.

"That's unlikely. I've never heard of Matos having any disciples. Those who study theurgy can't use other magics in their lifetime. Therefore, without a special reason, no one would be willing to learn this magic. Moreover, Matos studied the most forbidden magic of all theurgies, the magic of the god of the underworld. Matos himself also cultivated this magic for special reasons, and I heard that he swore never to spread this magic," the magician denied.

"Then could it be that someone learned the magic of the god of the underworld on their own?"

"If a kind of theurgy could be learned so easily, there wouldn't be so few theurgists. You don't know that Matos was originally a Grand Wizard. In order to learn the magic of the god of the underworld, he gave up all his abilities and all his achievements. Ordinary magicians simply have no way to communicate with deities."

"If it is Matos, then what is he doing there? Moreover, as a magician, he should be able to escape on his own. Why doesn't he leave those knights behind and save his own life? He surely doesn't think that his magic is so profound that he can take care of all of us by himself. If he were a Grand Wizard like Cobilio, it might really be possible."

The leader said doubtfully.

"It's quite possible. The god of the underworld is originally the deity in charge of death, and the magician who activates the 'Spectral Steed' can escape faster than flying," the magician muttered to himself.

"But how did he know that we were going to attack them? And it was clearly an accidental encounter just now. It didn't seem like an ambush. Moreover, if he didn't want to protect those knights, he should be able to escape," another magician beside him reminded.

The magician who obviously had a higher status exchanged a glance with the leader of the bandit group, and the same thought popped into their minds simultaneously. They said in unison, "Who is he protecting?"

"Brilliant, really brilliant. Disguising the prince as an ordinary knight and sneaking in as a small troop, leaving an empty shell of a troop behind to wait for us to be tricked. Brilliant, truly brilliant," the leader kept nodding as he spoke.

"Hehe, it seems that we are quite lucky. If we had attacked that escort troop according to the original plan, even if we had captured it, I'm afraid it would have been of no use. The Sophie people are really quite cunning. Unexpectedly, now the goddess of luck has descended upon us. In this vast desert, we actually bumped into them," the magician said happily.

"But now, we must first figure out how to get out. Also, are you confident that you can defeat Matos?"

The leader's words left the magicians stunned.

To be honest, facing an unknown Grand Wizard-level magician was also considered extremely dangerous for them. Moreover, no one could guarantee that they could definitely break through the most mysterious magic of all - the magic of the god of the underworld.

Not to mention that these bandits were trapped in the dark magic, thinking hard.

Ryan, who was fleeing desperately, only then realized that his body had exceeded its limits. The stinging pain all over his body and the numbness in his hands made it impossible for him to sit on the horse. Jack held Ryan's belt tightly beside him, preventing him from falling off the horse.

No one dared to stop. The wasteland was simply the courtyard of the bandits. It was extremely difficult to shake off a group of bandits' pursuit on the wasteland.

Moreover, because of knightly honor, Ryan's companions firmly refused to turn back and join the main force. Just thinking about the knight who voluntarily left the troop and walked alone in another direction, Ryan could roughly understand what they were thinking.

Although no one wanted to stop, the horses couldn't adapt to running for such a long time. When the sun set, all the horses were exhausted.

They found a nearby campsite on the map and walked towards it with their horses. Only Ryan was given special treatment by everyone, insisting that he stay on the horse.

The stars dotted the sky. Under the weak moonlight, the knights finally found that campsite.

Jack carefully placed Ryan in a wind-sheltered place. Each knight fulfilled their duties conscientiously. The tasks of standing guard and feeding the horses were all carried out quietly in the dark.

There was a well in the campsite. Water was the guarantee of life in this vast desert. The exhausted horses were taken to the well to drink the precious water first. In this desert, survival depended entirely on these loyal warhorses. It was the natural duty of every knight to take care of these warhorses.

The only one who could drink water before the horses was Ryan.

Leaning against the slightly warm hillside and looking at the bright starry sky, Ryan sipped the water given to him by a knight and was lost in thought. Once again, he had that comical feeling of why the son of a grocery store owner like himself was connected to all these things now.

It seems that all of this is entirely because of that bastard teacher, Victor. Whenever he thinks of Victor, Ryan can't help but wonder what Victor is doing at this moment.

However, he soon realizes how ridiculous his thoughts are. What else would Victor be doing? Other than sleeping off his drunkenness and then drinking again once he wakes up, if nothing unexpected happens, he must be drunk by now.

Thinking of Victor, Ryan can't help but think of his father. His father is also a person with a very regular life. In Ryan's memory, his father is like a person wound up with a clock, getting up on time every day, opening the store on time, starting business on time, closing the store on time, and then going to bed on time.

Under the influence of his father, Ryan himself used to be a person with a very regular life too. At this time every day, he would have gone to bed early to rest. How could he end up like this now, homeless and in constant danger? What on earth is the reason for all this?

Whenever he thinks about this question, Ryan can't help but think of his other teacher, Her Royal Highness Princess Chris. Sigh, if it weren't for this princess, how would he have gotten involved in this matter?

Whenever he thinks of this princess, Ryan feels as if a thorn has been stuck into him, and he can no longer sleep peacefully. The scenes of his suffering in the laboratory keep torturing his poor soul.

Ryan doesn't dare to think any further. At this moment, Jack comes over, carrying two blankets in his hands.

He gently spreads one blanket on the ground, then carefully picks Ryan up and lays him down on it, and finally covers Ryan with the other blanket with great care.

Ryan knows that because they left in a hurry, the whole troop probably didn't bring enough blankets. Now that Jack has given him two, surely someone else won't get one. So Ryan asks, "What about you guys?"

Jack of course knows why Ryan is asking and explains, "Don't worry. We can squeeze together. Moreover, they insisted that I bring these blankets. Thanks to you, we were able to save our lives, so we must protect you, our guardian angel, well."

Jack pauses and looks at his own squad, then says softly, "From now on, everything depends on you. Only you have the ability to lead them out of this land of death."

After saying that, Jack turns around and walks back to his team. After taking a few steps, he suddenly turns back and shouts, "It all depends on you."

His voice may not be loud, but it sounds so clear under this silent night sky that all the knights stop what they are doing and look over here.

Although Ryan can't see anything in the pitch-black night, he can clearly feel the great sense of trust from all the knights.

This sense of trust is like a huge pressure, which suddenly makes Ryan feel powerless all over.

Looking at the starry sky, Ryan silently contemplates.

All depending on himself? Ryan has never thought that he would have the ability to help others, let alone these brave and powerful knights.

All depending on himself? He is just a person who can't do anything and isn't even qualified as an apprentice, yet these knights who can each handle things on their own are relying on him.

If they trust him so much, will he lead them to death? If only he really had the strength to help them.

For the first time in his life, Ryan sincerely hopes that he can have enough power, power that truly belongs to him.

And for the first time in his life, Ryan feels a great sense of pressure, a sense of mission, a sense of responsibility.

Ryan lies quietly in the middle of the blanket, looking at the starry sky, waiting for the night to pass and the dawn to arrive.

Perhaps, when he wakes up tomorrow, everything will have an answer.