The ten people facing Kairos had grim expressions.

The lad’s information ran across their minds.

A hero summoned from another world. Although he is a life magic user with a Class 9 Demiurge Aura, he displayed no knowledge of Aura Arts prior to his summoning. And it is likely the same for magic because all the spells Kairos used thus far was confined within the limits of Circle 1. Even for Chantless Spellcasting, he displayed poor aptitude, it was undeniable that this is the first time he learned this rudimentary skill.

Therefore they concluded, he came from a world that should be without magic and aura. Although the lad claimed to be a Great General and display feats of incredible physical strength even more than a dwarf, they had handled plenty of dwarves before. Even someone considerably stronger at the level of a dwarven war general can be contained with the right forces.

That was why there are three fighters equivalent to Class 9 employed for this mission, and plenty of Class 8 around. Those below this strength are even more.

However, in a single exchange… no perhaps it cannot be considered an exchange given how one-sided it was, Kairos had taken down five of them.

The traveller from another world that is thought to be a newbie in Aura Arts shown phenomenal power in battle. After reflecting on what happened, his opponents came to a conclusion: The strength they saw lies in the combat art.

Combat techniques exists no matter which world one is in, the only difference is the requirement differs.

Without a doubt, the skills Kairos displayed is truly top tiered, however, the main attribute Kairos used was physical strength, supplemented by the Sword Aura he developed.

It was a terrifying power that overcame his foes with fear. They faced him like they would against a Grand Cross Knight.

However, the next moment, more than a hundred magic arrow appeared behind the lad.

It was exactly a hundred and twenty, meaning that a dozen was prepared for each enemy.

The spell is a Circle 1 arcane type magic that every mage is familiar with, yet at this moment it felt oppressive to these Class 7 and 8 fighters.

The two remaining Stage 7 gnomish Forest Guards took the frontlines believing that their bulk and unique plant abilities will make them into sturdy bruisers.

Right behind them is the bearded nobleman, a powerful Class 8 Aura Knightlord – the word ‘lord’ is added to the title to those suitable to command the battlefield.

On the flanks are the remaining three Class 8 Aura Knights as well as the only Class 8 Aura Mage – a melee spellcaster popular in the human kingdoms.

Behind the bearded nobleman is the three elves.

A Circle 8 Assault Mage, a Circle 7 Spellsinger, and a Circle 7 Arcane Archer.

They felt ready to face this lad whom they judged to be a Class 9 Aura Pugilist – a role infrequently seen because humans lacked the physical endowment to be bestowed such a title.

The holders of Aura Pugilist titles are often dwarves who had somehow managed to learn about Aura, or humans who might be weaker physically but could use buff spells that made up that difference.

Still, Aura Pugilists might be rarer but are far from any real threat.

In fact, most consider them simple brutes except they have commanding presences.

However, this as a baseless misunderstanding.

Aura is infinite as long as one’s will does not break, and brutes tend to have a straightforward persistence that let them ignore pain and fear until the fight is over. In other words, the two attributes had amazing synergy.

Opposite from the general misconception, those that are strong know how powerful an Aura Pugilist actually is and they faced Kairos with great caution.

But when they saw the magic arrows, all of them were stunned.

It isn’t aura techniques or physical strength but magic?

Furthermore, the strength is only at the level of Circle 1 arcane spell?

The weakest offensive magic of the weakest type.

Even offensive spell from the Life magic branch is more dangerous than the arcane type that does not have any special property to it.

In the beginning, Arcane is the word to describe magic, the most fundamental use of mana.

All spells that do not have unique attributes are from the arcane branch, and all mages regardless of their affinity can use arcane type magic.

Magic like the Item Box Spell and Detection Spell, all of these are arcane.

Magic like Healing and Fireball are from other branches.

The reason offensive spells from the arcane branch are looked down upon is because of this. A Circle 1 magic from the fire branch has burning properties, while the arcane branch does not.

Then…

Why are they feeling such oppression from simple magic arrows?

Kairos smiled.

Arcane spells may not have special properties but they have special functionality.

Homing.

Piercing.

Spiralling.

Three unique functions had been added to the magic arrows.

None of the other branches, not even gravity or magnetic spells, has homing functions except the arcane branch.

The arrows had also been sharpened to the point that the piercing ability of certain spells like Icicle Stakes had been reproduced in a low-level magic that shouldn’t have such capacity.

A spin had been added as well to increase accuracy. Of course, it will not be rotating too fast as to create a gyroscopic drift but to maintain its trajectory route.

How did Kairos come to understand the logic behind this…? Well, after reading enough books, learning about precession, yaw of repose, or air density isn’t a great difficulty.

In fact, the shape of the magic arrow itself had been altered.

If an expert is to measure the shape of Kairos’ magic arrow, they will be impressed about how aerodynamic it is made. A piercing nose attached to a teardrop tail. It is similar to the beak and body of a bird or a swordfish.

Of course, the tail end of the magic arrow is sharp instead of fanned out like an actual bird, because unlike a wild animal that needs to correct itself constantly, the spell prioritised speed and accuracy.

This design… It is the same as a peregrine falcon in mid-dive.

No, perhaps for the single purpose of striking its target Kairos’ magic arrow is even greater.

Though it is a Circle 1 spell, it has become an unfair existence through the power of knowledge.

Kairos admits to having less talent in fighting than anyone else he met thus far, but he will never lose to someone else in the path of knowledge.

The saying, ‘Knowledge has no first, Power has no second’ (文無第一武無第二) shows how limitless the prior is.

It isn’t hard to understand that power, or combat strength, has no place for those who come second. Those who seek the way of the sword will be killed as soon as they lost to their enemy. To be unkillable is the same to be the strongest, and that is why ‘Power has no second’.

Then what about ‘Knowledge has no first’?

It’s because those following the way of the book has no limit as new information and data are created daily.

Kairos who seeks this path understands that except for a truly omnipotent God, no one can claim to be first place in knowing everything, therefore ‘Knowledge has no first’.

While his foes are confused by the apprehension they felt from a Circle 1 magic, Kairos is also looking carefully at them. He had to apply his knowledge in all his battles to make up for his lack of control, slow reaction speed, and difficulty in mastering techniques.

The Heavenly Sight had placed markers on all distinctive features as well as plotted out the optimal combat actions to take.

But at this time, his face suddenly paled and the magic arrows behind shook slightly.

A wave of fatigue washed over him. Kairos had been fighting as a wounded person and had long past his limits.

It is a miracle that he managed to tolerate for so long.

His injuries threatened to go out of control and Kairos is forced to immediately adjust the energy in his body. He had been holding a fine balance by his will alone, if he allowed his wounds to rampage on their own he will lose conscious immediately.

The ten people observing him noticed this almost immediately and they spring into action.

The closest gnome reached out his arms at Kairos and dozens of twines rushed forward trying to envelope the lad.

At the same time countless mushrooms blossomed on the second gnome.

While the first gnome trapped Kairos, the second one will weaken him.

Unfortunately, they were naïve to act without waiting for the rest.

Against a stunned opponent, even someone who is deemed as a true monster, their decision to not miss an opportunity might have been accurate.

Their only mistake is that they still see Kairos as a dangerous foe while his enemies on Gaia already regarded him as a calamity.

A frightening, immeasurable disaster that exceeds any logic and understanding.

Could a mere brute achieve such compliments from his foes?

Kairos who had adapted to the pain and suppressed his injuries was just in time to see the approaching vines, however, the gnome had a smile on his face as he believed there wasn’t enough time for the lad to react.

There is no place to run and no defence that the twines could not overwhelm.

Yet, Kairos calmly recited the name of a spell as a warm blue light flashed in his hand, “Create Water.”

It was a ridiculous spell that caused the jaw of gnome who is attacking to drop.

Water and plants have a great affinity, unless it was enough water to drown everything.

But Create Water is a Circle 1 water branch spell.

Is he trying to water the plants?

At the same time as Kairos activated the spell in one hand, he struck the vines with his sword in his other hand.

The gnome sneered as he ridiculed Kairos in his mind.

This fool is definitely a brute like all the Aura Pugilists. So what if he is at Class 9?

This senseless way of fighting will be fatal. It was an embarrassment to even consider him at the level of a Grand Cross Knight – the top amongst the Class 9 Aura masters.

More and more vines surround Kairos until he is entangled into a bundle.

Outside, spores from the mushrooms growing on the second gnome turned the air grey.

Inside the ball of vines Kairos could feel his skin covered by fungi. They taking root despite his superior physique.

The rest that was about to release their own attacks hesitated as their expressions were replaced by glee and scoffing.

Then, a crack appeared on the twines.

They stiffened with anxiety, then the worst thing imaginable happened.

*BOOM*

A fearsome fireball engulfed everyone nearby instantaneously. The flames spread with insane speed but disappeared just as quickly.

The floor cracked from the massive force causing the embassy to crumble.

Amidst moans and groaning, a single person embraced by a giant ball of water remained unfazed.

In an instant, the party facing him received critical damage. Even the most fortunate person suffered tremendous pain and had fallen into shock.

If they are told that the cause of all this came from the Circle 1 fire branch Candle Spell, they will begin to understand why Kairos is feared.

Why would such a weak flame force a party of powerful fighters to their knees?

The secret lies in the Create Water Spell he used.

In that split second when everyone attacked while he was dealing with his injuries, Kairos determined the best course of action: To gather moisture from his surroundings and cause a dust explosion when it turns arid. He cut the vines so that the spell could extract water from them as well, and of course, the fungus spores would naturally be nullified too. The resulting flames will sweep away the others while the water he gathered became his shield.

Usually Kairos’ vision narrowed in the heat of battle causing him to miss dangers. So far he had survived thanks to his superior physique and the miraculous True Heavenly Armour technique that help him negate deathblows. In fact, his focus in battle lies in protecting his friends and increasing the overall survivability, but when it comes to individual strength his combat ability is dependent on overwhelming power and quick thinking.

He lacks the fast reaction, deft control, and combat instinct that let someone be considered a battle genius.

Fortunately, the Heavenly Sight compensated his weakness.

If he was to handle this battle in the past, he would have to exert excessive strength to deal with the twines. And because he would not have time to identify what the second gnome is doing by growing mushrooms, he will be forced to resort to using a physical force strong enough to blow away whatever the enemy planned together with those arming themselves at the back.

It will be one large attack or two powerful ones and either way his injuries will worsen, crippling him for the rest of the fight.

His enemies will quickly recover and at that time…

Kairos secretly told himself he cannot be as reckless as before.

If those groaning on the ground or his previous opponents were to know what he is thinking, they will start questioning the meaning of life – if they haven’t done so already.

Alas, the dust explosion could only do that much and his enemies started getting up, beginning from those furthest away.

“What sorcery did he use?!”

There are no magic that could create such an upheaval. At least there are none with such power and activation speed.

Even Chantless Spellcasting requires the gathering of mana and proper use of the mana circuits prior to activation.

They had no time to discover what happened, because dozens upon dozens of magic arrows are flying their way.

The nearest gnome did not even have the time to scream and he was turned into a corpse. A single hole created by several magic arrows bore through his vines straight past his chest.

The hidden seed already turned to dust and the gnome greyed and wiltered.

The others were not much better, though they managed to fend off the arrows because they were not drained by Kairos’ Create Water spell.

Their injuries, however, were serious. Each of the magic arrows tore through flesh like a purely offensive Circle 3 spell. With a dozen targeting each one of them, it is on the scale of a Circle 5 spell.

Moreover, the places Kairos attacked are all their weakpoints.

If Circle 1 attack spells is comparable to being poked by a fork, Circle 3 will be the same as a dagger, while Circle 5 a cleaver.

Even an armoured knight will be wounded by a cleaver, much more when stripped of their protection.

Hitting their weakness is equal to striking the gaps between their shields for these Class 7 and 8 warriors.

Most importantly, those who are preparing a counterattack were disrupted.

They only realise now between their bouts of pain, that the lad is no mere brute. He is an overwhelming existence that can play them to their deaths with magic, aura, or brute force.

Unless the Spellsinger or the Aura Mage could do something and reverse this situation, it might be better to surrender.

Fortunately, the two had exceptional defences against magic. The two somehow managed to shield themselves from both the dust explosion and the magic arrows, escaping with the minimum costs. Seeing that they were up on their feet again, everyone’s hearts thrummed with hope.

The elven Spellsinger started her incantation. Waves of purple mana flickered above her as she strengthened their hearts.

Newfound resolve grew in them, aiding them against normal Aura influences. It will also strengthen the Aura fighters in the group.

Taking advantage of this boost, the Aura Mage also acted. He cried aloud, “Suppressive Aura!”

As his voice rang out, he unleashed his Class 7 Aura towards Kairos. Then his magic poured down at the same time. The magic and aura intermixed, solidifying, and turned into a great rock that will stick to his target’s back, slowing him down considerably.

In response, Kairos whispered, “Assassin Aura, hidden steps. Circle 1 Magic: Light Trickery”

Then, before their eyes, Kairos disappeared.

He had only learnt two things about using his aura, to direct it and to change its type. Even without using his physical strength and the formless stance, Kairos had found a way to crush his foes with absolute might.

They searched for him, yet they couldn’t see or sense anything.

Still, the frightening gaze on the small of their necks they feel is no lie.

A great and majestic predator is in their midst.