Dark-type magic generally includes dark magic and necromancy. It is mainly based on the yin energy between heaven and earth, using spells, gestures, and tools to draw out this yin energy, channeling negative forces to concentrate and release power.

As for mastery of magic, it is difficult to say who is inherently more powerful, but a person's magical talent can be determined by their own qualities, making them more suited to certain types of magic. For example, those with a steady personality are more suited to light, earth, or dark magic, while those who are cheerful are better suited to white magic or fire magic, and those who are carefree are more suited to wind magic, and so on.

Magical skills can also be divided into several levels according to proficiency: magic apprentice, magic adept, mage, archmage, grand magister, and holy magister. However, it seems that there are no holy magisters on the continent, and even grand magisters are extremely rare.

Martial skills can be divided into three levels according to their rank: martial force, martial arts, and martial way. Martial force refers to ordinary-level martial skills; regular warriors, fighters, and most trainee knights and knights belong to this category. They possess basic combat skills, but only remain at the level of external force manipulation. The vast majority of martial artists on the continent can only stay at this level. Martial arts refers to those who have broken through the level of martial force and can use their cultivated inner energy to project outward. Their main feature is the ability to channel their vital energy outward in some way, which not only greatly increases their defensive ability, but also multiplies their attack power compared to the martial force level—this is commonly called battle aura. As for the martial way, it refers to those who have surpassed the stage of cultivating battle aura and have reached the level of controlling force and energy with the mind. All things in heaven and earth become as things within the heart. This is equivalent to the highest level of magical ability, such as a grand magister or even a holy magister. Naturally, such individuals are peerless powerhouses, but there are only a handful of such martial artists on the continent.

Volume One: Return from Exile

Chapter One: The Hunt

"Zhe, zhe, zhe!" Three deep, resonant shouts of anger came from a hundred meters beyond the edge of the forest. Almost as soon as the shouts reached the air, three silver-yellow crossbow bolts, arranged in a specific sequence and position, formed a mysterious chain and silently locked onto a figure leaping into midair, about to dart into the woods.

As the arrows slid through the air, they suddenly emitted a strange, piercing whistle, as if even the air itself could not withstand this chilling sound and began to tremble violently. The shafts abruptly exploded and shattered, instantly transforming into countless glowing, phosphorescent wooden splinters. With a shrill, ear-piercing screech, they formed a dense net that covered the entire area. The agile figure twisted in midair in a strange way, already having dodged the ambush of the three arrows, but this sudden mutation seemed to leave him little time to react.

"Blunt!" At this moment, any other form of defense seemed futile; the only wise choice was to delay and reduce the damage to his body. The dark figure's body suddenly curled up in midair, trying to avoid the brunt of the fierce attack. Meanwhile, the exploding wooden splinters rained down like a storm. The spell was still caught in his throat, and at the same time, the skin of the dark figure quietly began to change in a way no one could see.

As the sound of "crackling" impacts rang out, a large number of wooden splinters still easily pierced through the thin armor wrapped around the dark figure, plunging straight into his body. A low, pained growl escaped his throat. After a slight tremor, his agile body seemed to recover quickly. Without the slightest pause, he shot up like a hawk, heading straight for the forest just a hundred meters away. As long as he could hide in the woods, he would have another chance to escape the relentless pursuit of the hunters behind him. He dared not hope for complete escape, but if he could get into the forest, his chances would increase significantly. After all, having once been a disciple of The Oakgate gave him a considerable advantage in the forest.

Several armored knights riding thunder steeds dozens of meters away stared in shock. Someone had actually escaped from their leader's infallible Thunderbolt Sky Net and was still able to flee—this was simply unbelievable. The last knight in the formation even rubbed his eyes in confusion, as if unable to believe what he was seeing.

A flash of surprise appeared on the face of the leading middle-aged knight, but it quickly vanished, replaced by an even gloomier expression. He made no other move. The other knights had already stopped in their tracks when he fired the three crossbow bolts. They knew their leader's skill—once the Thunderbolt Sky Net was unleashed, even a holy angel would be doomed, let alone a thief. Of course, this was no ordinary thief.

However, but, actually, unbelievably—the knights could no longer find words to describe their feelings. Just as the figure was about to enter the woods, he suddenly stiffened in midair and fell straight down, landing with a "thud" and sending up a spray of grass clippings.