Chapter 70: Fighting Path

[Beast walk] [Dynamic Punch] *Bam* *Bam* *Bam* 

A series of punches landed on Jacob's [Fire Barrier]. As soon as Jacob feels Angus approaching, he flicks his finger and cast his [Fire Barrier] to protect himself

Angus keeps his barrage of attack without stopping. He knows that spell-like [Fire Barrier] may be a strong defensive spell but it also consumes mana constantly to maintain it especially after receiving this barrage of attack.

Looking at the barrage of attacks, "Impressive, your combat capability is as strong as the first-grade combatant probably almost reached the second grade. Let's take this to the next level." said Jacob calmly

Then, the duke begins to flick his finger to create a spark of fire. Then, the spark changed into a burst of flame towards Angus [2nd Circle - Flame Wave]. A surge wall of fire moving towards Angus.

Using his superb reaction speed, Angus managed to dodge this large scale attack even at close range [Beast Walk]. He already moved away the moment his father flicks his finger and cast the spell.

"Now, I look at it a few times. That's sophisticated footwork and movement skill. It is somehow like a combination of beast moves." analyst Jacob at Angus's [Beast Walk]

"So, what? it's not like you could copy it or find a weakness to it." replied Angus while he once again launched a barrage of attacks toward his father's [Fire Barrier]. *Bam* *Bam*

Once again his father created [Flame Wave] toward him and made Angus back away.

"Come one, It's all you got? I hear you could even resist and escape your aunt 'hug'." Taunting his father.

"Tch.. have you no shame. You are an adult and a six-grade combatant. This is bullying." said Angus while dodging his father's [Flame wave]. 

*Whosh* *Whosh* Jacob keeps creating and throwing flame waves towards Angus. he could dodge all of these flawlessly using his [Beast Walk]. Still, some of his clothes are somehow burning a little bit from the heat.

"Yet, you still could dodge it flawlessly. I believe not even a second-grade combatant could escape these attacks easily. Come one, Angus. If you don't attack back, you will be roasted soon." said Jacob while calmly create more [Flame Wave]

"Tch.. you cheat. This is child abuse. I demand my right as a child for child protection." said Angus before moving far away from his father.

"Huhh.. What do you mean by that? Also, did you think you could get away?" asked Jacob confusedly.

Jacob flicked his finger a few times [Fire Manipulation - Fire Cast] [3rd Circle - Fire Wyrm]. The duke manipulates the accumulated fire element in the room and creates a wyrm made of fire. Then, it began to pursue Angus.

At this time, Angus took out all his weighted clothes on his body and stored them in his wristwatch space storage. 

Looking at the approaching Wyrm, "Woahh… you could even create something like this?" said Angus in a surprising tone.

"But, it is too slow to catch up with me [Beast Walk]." as Angus dodge the approaching Wyrm easily with his newfound speed.

'He is becoming faster!!' thought Jacob while Angus approaching him.

Still, the [Fire Barrier] once again protects Jacob from Angus's attack. Jacob also not just stays idle and counters with [Flame Wave]. 

Dodging the flame waves at the last moment, Angus shot a few unexpectedly [Aqua Ball] towards his father at point-blank range. However, the heat from the [Fire barrier] could easily evaporite the [Aqua Ball] into a mist.

Using this distraction, Angus mutters something silently at fast speed. After the mist is gone, Angus creates a big magic circle in front of him while keeping his chanting.

Looking at the big circle in front of Angus, Jacob immediately shot [Flame Wave] to stop Angus. Unexpectedly, Angus manages to dodge it using [Beast Walk] while keeping his chanting.

Less than a second later, "Take this [2nd Circle - Flame Bomb]." as a big fireball launched at Jacob. *BOOM*

In the last moment before Angus's [Flame Bomb] reaches Jacob, he supplies tremendous mana to strengthen his [Fire Barrier] and safe from the explosion. Still, he is being pushed back from his spot.

'Tch.. as expected it didn't have enough power to break through his [Fire Barrier]. Well, at least I managed to move him from his spot.' Thought Angus while trying to calm his breath.

The last attack drains a lot of his mana and exhausts himself. Although what Angus did is simple, not many people could do the same thing with him.

"H-How did you do that?" said Jacob after looking at Angus's feat.

In the last moment, Angus managed to dodge the [Flame Wave] while chanting a spell. Not many people could do this as chanting a spell requires a lot of concentration or it could create a backlash towards the user.

For a magician, their most vulnerable state is when they are chanting a spell. Because they need to fully concentrate on their spell. However, Angus not only kept chanting but also used [Beast Walk] to avoid the [Flame Waves].

This multitasking act could only be possible after his intelligence passed the 30 marks. His mind processing speed makes him do two different things at the same time. 

Of course, it is not without repercussion. He will feel mentally exhausted after doing this. Combine with his mana and stamina drained from the fight, it is already a miracle he is not passed out.

"Err.. I don't know myself. I just felt like I could do it." replied Angus ambiguously as he also didn't expect to do such a thing as multitasking.

Hearing Angus reply, "*Sigh* Forget it, now I know what is your current level. If compared to other humans, you have the strength of around second to third-grade combatants."

"The only weakness you have now is your current mana capacity. Though, I think your mana capacity is compared to second-grade humans combatant." said Jacob after analyst Angus's strength from the previous combat.

Looking at Angus exhausted condition, "Let's take a break first while I explain how to form a mana core. Before that, I need to ask you how you managed to instacast [Aqua Ball]? If I am not wrong, you have fire element affinity."

"Err.. About that, I just control my mana and change it into water properties. Though it is not as fast as my mana changes into the fire." said Angus while creating a drop of water using his mana at the tip of his finger.

Looking at this, "T-This… You are my son, right? No wait.. Are you still human?" as Jacob doubted his son's identity.

"Ehh.. Of course, I am human. I just could control my mana better than others. as for your son or not you should ask mom not me. Hmph… Maybe I should ask mom myself?" rebuked Angus

"W-Wait… Of course, you are my son. Hahaha... I just never met a human race with this superb control of mana. The only race that I know is the elf race or demon race." explained Jacob before he spells his doom.

Jacob also begins to recount his experience when he fought with these two superior races during the two years inside the Dark Forest. During this time, it opened his eyes to how insignificant his power compared to them.

After making sure Angus didn't ask some unnecessary stuff with his wife, Jacob immediately brought the topic about the forming mana core.

Forming mana core is a more serious matter than Angus previously expected. Fortunately, he holds back to forming his mana core as soon as possible.

Mana core could be said as the second heart, once it is created there is no way to change it. As the second heart, it also dictates his future way of fighting.

In Firuman, there are many ways of fighting. The majority of them are classified into three. The First is the Warrior path who is proficient at skills, second is the Magician path who is proficient at using spells, the last one is the Hybrid path who is proficient at skill and spells.

All of them have their advantages and disadvantages. Most people thought that the Hybrid path is the strongest but it is also the most difficult to master. 

It is because they need to learn skills and spells. To master both skills and spells takes a long time that most of them will never master in their lifetime. 

Skill needs a lot of practice to become proficient while spells also need a lot of time to study each magic circle along with some calculation. Because of this, the Hybrid path also could be called Jack of all trade, master of none.

Each of these paths will require a different mana core. For example, The Warrior paths need to be skilled at instantaneous mana movement which needs a mana core that could control mana rapidly. 

The Magician paths need a lot of calculation and delicate mana control which need a mana core that could have superb control over speed.

As for the Hybrid path, its mana core is the most ordinary since it needs to be balanced between speed and delicate control.

Because of this, there are a lot of specialized mana cores for the way of fighting. Some people usually choose hybrids since they don't know what the future way of fighting they will use. 

But, this kind of thinking will also make them lose the opportunity to increase their combat prowess further. 

"So, what do you think? Which path will you choose?