Combat Instinct

Her pale golden hair was braided behind her, and she had beautiful blue eyes and a somewhat vacant expression.

Who else could it be but his personal maid?

"Welcome back, Miss Maid."

He returned her greeting with a warm smile and spoke with impeccable manners.

"Wuya, wuya."

A white blur suddenly flashed past. The next moment, it appeared in front of the butter and began devouring it.

With Roundball there, the atmosphere grew lively.

Aurelian clapped his hands, and soon a line of servants dressed in black filed in through the door, each carrying a plate of biscuits. They set them on the dining table.

"Roundball, this is your reward. Thank you for your contributions to the development of the territory. I had the chef make these for you."

"Wuya!"

Looking at the biscuits, which gave off a sweet aroma, Roundball was practically drooling. With a gulp, it swallowed the mouthful of buttered bread and plunged into the pile of biscuits, stuffing them into its belly one after another.

Aurelian could only shake his head helplessly.

After dinner, he washed up with the water Miss Maid brought him.

In a good mood, he returned to his room.

After nearly losing his life in the battle at Spruce Forest, and then enduring a bitter fight against Jeanne, Aurelian felt the newly gained Lower Rank Magic inside him stirring once more.

As expected, battle was the fastest way to improve one's magic.

He sat cross-legged on the bed and quickly settled into a meditative state, practicing the Star-Guiding Meditation passed down through the Archmond family.

The Star-Guiding Meditation was best suited to the Star-Forging Bloodline. Together, the two complemented each other and had helped Archmond's mastery of magic reach its peak. Of course, that was also thanks to the family's extraordinary talents.

Aurelian emptied his mind. The core of this meditation technique lay in sensing the light of the stars above the void, drawing it down, and connecting it with the Star-Forging Bloodline within his body to continually awaken the potential of his Legendary Bloodline.

The stars above the void could all resonate with the Star-Forging Bloodline, allowing their bearers to engrave them into their blood.

Every star was unique, containing a distinctive power and serving as a precious trove of secrets. That was the very foundation of the Archmond family's enduring position at the pinnacle of the world.

They were the shining stars in the heavens!

"Once my magic reaches Middle Rank, I'll be able to call out to the stars in the sky, summon the spirit of a star to protect me, and turn it into a power I can wield."

Aurelian closed his eyes and recalled the memories of his predecessor.

The Star Magic within him circulated faster, growing more vigorous. To advance his magic, he first had to transform it and elevate it to a higher level.

This was not merely a leap in quantity, but in quality as well.

Yet transforming his magic was no easy feat.

Aside from prolonged battles, he also had to keep purifying the magic within him and lay the groundwork for his eventual advancement.

Advancing his magic was no overnight matter. Even his Legendary Bloodline wouldn't change that.

After completing one cycle through the magic nodes, Aurelian wiped the sweat from his face.

He gathered a mass of Star Magic in his hand, excitement in his eyes.

Those life-and-death battles hadn't been in vain. His magic had begun to transform.

Both its strength and quantity had improved, though it still hadn't transformed completely or advanced to Middle Rank.

"I still haven't had enough practice."

Aurelian sighed. He felt that his current weakness wasn't his magic rank, but his killing techniques—or, more precisely, his combat instincts.

Combat instincts honed through countless trials until they became second nature.

Aurelian had felt this especially strongly during his grueling battle against Jeanne. He'd been outclassed in every way, whether in swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, or footwork.

In front of the battle-hardened Miss Maid, his combat instincts were like those of a pitiful child. He could only rely on his overwhelming magic to crush his opponent, the very embodiment of brute force overcoming skill.

But swordsmanship, footwork, and combat instincts were all crucial. He couldn't afford to neglect them.

Aurelian was striving to become a well-rounded warrior with no weaknesses. That was what it took to survive in another world.

He hopped down from the bed and realized his clothes were soaked with sweat.

He smiled. There was nothing for it; he'd have to ask Miss Maid to help him change and bathe again.

Hmm? Why am I looking forward to it? I'm a gentleman, not like I'm doing it on purpose.

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and the air outside was still bitterly cold. Yet Aurelian took his longsword and headed to the garden behind the main keep.

It was called a garden in name only. To Aurelian, it was nothing but weeds; there wasn't a single bright flower in sight.

Once again lamenting his poverty, Aurelian raised his sword and began to practice.

But soon, restlessness crept in. Practicing swordsmanship like this was simply too dull.

Just then, Miss Maid entered the garden, with Roundball bouncing along behind her.

Miss Maid drew Atonement and said evenly, "I'll practice with you. What you're doing now is pointless."

"But that could..."

Aurelian looked worried. He was afraid he'd lose control to his battle lust again and hurt Jeanne.

"Don't worry. Use all your strength."

Her tone was mild, but confident, carrying an air of composure.

He paused, then smiled. That was true. Even if he went berserk and unleashed his triple magic blast, Jeanne would still emerge unscathed.

"So I can fight without holding back?"

Aurelian raised Innocent Starlight and pointed it at Jeanne.

"Mm."

Miss Maid nodded and raised her own longsword, a cross-shaped blade.

"Here I come!"

Aurelian didn't hesitate. He lunged forward with Dash Slash. Ripples of blue spread across the azure blade as magic surged around it.

Miss Maid wasn't about to back down. She met his strike with her sword.

The two powerful magic weapons collided, sending out fierce ripples. They separated, then clashed again.

Their crisp ringing blows came one after another.

Aurelian shouted, "Watch out!"

The longsword in his hand had finished charging. A streak of blue swordlight shot toward the black-and-white-clad maid.

Boom—

A flash of golden light shattered the Star Magic, then returned it in kind.

Aurelian's expression was cool. He stood his ground without dodging, because there was no need.

The magic in his sword shifted form, building a barrier of blue ripples that stopped the golden magic in its tracks.

Aurelian used Ethereal Meditation to replenish the magic he'd spent, then charged forward again and resumed his battle with Jeanne.