Rebirth : The Alchemist's Path

"I didn't expect this… you've been hiding your power well."

As Kennan returned to his spot by the wall, Corvin smiled as he spoke.

Before, when Corvin saw Kennan being bullied, he thought Kennan had been through the same kind of struggles as him.

But it turned out Kennan was far more powerful than he had imagined.

"If I told you that two days ago, I was nothing but a useless Nine-Star Magic Apprentice, would you believe me?" Kennan said calmly.

Corvin was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, I would believe it. To be honest, just a few days ago, I was a failure in my family as well."

Kennan looked at Corvin in surprise but couldn't help smiling, though he said nothing more.

"The first round of testing is over. Now we'll proceed to the second round: the disciple duels. If anyone wants to volunteer, you may step forward and choose your opponent."

Lawrence's voice rang out once more.

The members of the Sloe family exchanged glances. None of them seemed eager to participate.

Winning would offend someone, while losing would be humiliating.

"I'll go!"

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence.

Everyone turned to see who had spoken, and it was none other than Sloe-Fielding.

"Very well, Fielding. Who do you wish to challenge?"

Lawrence asked with a smile.

Though Fielding wasn't particularly strong, he had guts.

"Grand Elder, I want to challenge Sloe-Kennan!"

Fielding said, glaring at Kennan with a look of determination.

He refused to believe that Kennan had truly reached the rank of Archmage.

Fielding wanted to expose Kennan for what he thought was a lie and maybe even earn some recognition from the family in the process.

"Challenging Kennan?"

Lawrence was slightly taken aback.

In the past, such a choice wouldn't have surprised him, as Kennan was considered the weakest.

But now Kennan was a One-Star Archmage, while Fielding was only a Three-Star Mage. It seemed like a foolish decision.

"Are you sure? If anything goes wrong, you'll be responsible for the consequences," Lawrence warned, frowning.

"Grand Elder, I am sure! I want to challenge Kennan!"

Fielding insisted.

Seeing Fielding's determination, Lawrence turned his gaze toward Kennan in the corner.

"Kennan, do you accept Fielding's challenge?"

"I accept."

Kennan replied calmly.

He had intended to wait before taking the stage, but Fielding's reckless challenge forced his hand.

After speaking, Kennan walked to the platform, and Lawrence stepped aside.

"You may begin at any time, but try to avoid causing serious injuries."

"Boom..."

As soon as Lawrence finished speaking, Fielding impatiently drew his wand.

With a flash of light from the wand, a gust of wind appeared beneath his feet, and he quickly darted to the side.

This was a First-Tier wind spell called "Swift Wind," which increased the caster's speed.

"Wind Blade!"

Without hesitation, Fielding cast another spell from behind Kennan, sending a sharp green blade of wind toward him.

"Pathetic!"

"Boom..."

Kennan smirked. With a simple wave of his hand and a slight tremor of his magic power, the Wind Blade shattered.

"How… how is that possible?"

Fielding was stunned. That was a Second-Tier spell, yet Kennan had effortlessly destroyed it. Was Kennan truly an Archmage?

"Wind Blades!!!"

Gritting his teeth, Fielding unleashed his full magical power, sending dozens of Wind Blades flying toward Kennan.

As a wind-element mage, Fielding had only learned a few attack spells, and Wind Blades were his go-to technique.

If even Wind Blades didn't work, his other half-learned spells would be useless.

"Shatter!"

"Boom, boom, boom..."

But as the blades approached, Kennan casually clenched his fist, and all the Wind Blades shattered instantly.

"That boy really does have magical control. That's the skill of a Saint Mage—a power that lets them control the magic around them. Those Wind Blades were just condensed magic, and whether they shattered or not was entirely up to Kennan."

Watching the duel from the high platform, the onlookers shook their heads in awe.

Saint Mages were formidable because of their ability to control magic.

Even if a Nine-Star Mage Emperor cast a spell, a Saint Mage could easily dispel it using magical control.

What chance did Fielding, a mage of much lower rank, stand against Kennan?

"No way! How is your power so strong? This can't be…"

Fielding was frozen in disbelief as his attacks were effortlessly neutralized.

"You talk too much!"

"Wind Blades!"

"Whoosh…"

Kennan sneered, and with a single thought, ten Wind Blades materialized and shot toward Fielding.

"Shhh…"

"Ahhh!"

Fielding tried to defend himself, but the Wind Blades reached him in an instant.

With a slicing sound, the blades tore through his body, and Fielding let out a scream of pain.

"Thud…"

A second later, Fielding collapsed to his knees, his eyes glazed over as the aura around him flickered weakly.

"Debb, you're next!"

Before anyone could react, Kennan's gaze shifted to Debb in the crowd, his voice filled with cold menace.