Chapter 1: The Legendary Mage (Part 1)

　　On the barren plain, along a dried-up dirt road, a caravan was slowly making its way forward. There were more than a dozen wagons, but they were protected by a mercenary team of several dozen people. As they walked, they chatted, seemingly discussing the profits from this trip, and many faces were lit up with smiles.

　　On a distant hill behind them, a squad of cavalry silently appeared. Their lances gleamed, their armor was bright and clean, and they watched the caravan ahead in silence. They were by no means ordinary bandits—they were regular army.

　　A man who looked like a general turned to glance at the mage beside him and suddenly asked, "Are you sure?"

　　"Absolutely," the mage nodded, pointing at the caravan. "The item is on someone in that caravan."

　　The general reached for the sword at his waist, drew it, and pointed it toward the sky. With this motion, all the cavalrymen held their breath, watching as the shining sword was swung down, pointing at the caravan: "Attack!"

　　Boom! As if igniting the gunpowder of the cavalry regiment, hundreds of cavalry charged toward the caravan in a mighty assault.

　　Hearing the thunder of hooves and the shouts of the charging force behind them, the last few caravan workers at the rear barely had time to react before the cavalry’s sharp lances pierced through them. As these men fell, the mercenaries proved their mettle, grabbing their weapons and facing the frenzied cavalry. In each of their eyes, a red light flared, as if they were not facing regular cavalry, but a mere rabble.

　　"Go!" someone suddenly shouted. Then, a figure darted out of the caravan like a ghost, leaping onto the most magnificent horse at the very front. With a shake of his hands, the big man’s steed shot forward like an arrow.

　　Not far ahead on the plain was the border of the neighboring duchy. As long as he crossed the border, the army behind would be powerless to stop him—unless they wanted to start a war. But even if they dared to start a war, as long as he revealed what he carried, the duchy’s army would protect him as if he were their king.

　　Closer! Closer! The border was in sight, and the duchy’s soldiers on the other side had also noticed this lone, strange rider. Whoosh—the warhorse carried him across the border, while the cavalry behind were still charging madly after him.

　　"Those spices and magic cores all belong to the duchy!" the big man shouted. The soldiers on this side seemed to realize what was happening, quickly forming a defensive formation to protect him. Since he said so, it meant the immensely valuable goods behind him now belonged to these soldiers—or rather, to this very group.

　　"Stop! Do you want to start a war?" The leader who had received the goods shouted at the charging cavalry, as if threatening them with war to make them halt.

　　"Hand over that man and what he’s carrying, or I’ll give you war right now!" The general’s words left no room for negotiation, and the cavalry showed no sign of slowing. As the general spoke, a figure was already rising into the air.

　　"A mage!" Seeing the crazed cavalry charging and the figure in the sky, the leader cried out in shock and quickly moved aside, afraid of blocking the cavalry’s path. The soldiers behind him scattered like startled birds and beasts, exposing the big man behind them.

　　The big man, thinking he was safe, saw this scene and couldn’t help but shout, "You idiots, do you know what I’m carrying?" Unfortunately, he only managed to shout this before he could say no more.

　　"Whoosh!" With a sudden sound, the big man on horseback felt a pain in his body, though not much agony. However, his magnificent steed suddenly buckled and slowly collapsed to the ground.

　　Only then did the big man feel a sharp pain in his body, and a line of blood became increasingly visible on his chest. Realizing this, he let out a cry, but his voice was abruptly cut off as his upper body tumbled down, blood pouring everywhere.

　　The mage’s figure suddenly appeared behind him, floating in the air. He glanced coldly at the corpse, snorted, and bent down to search it carefully. Moments later, he took a piece of beast hide from the man’s leg, which looked like a leg wrap. Holding the hide, the mage pulled a damaged magic scroll from his chest. When the two were put together, they fit perfectly, forming a seamless whole.