Chapter 204: I Won't Give Up

Angus decided to test the cloak artifact more by wearing it all over his body while keeping his presence as low as possible. He also makes his mana core to be undetected. Then, he decides to go around the camp while wearing the cloak.

Combined with Angus's superb stealth ability, he managed to suppress his presence. He begins to test his stealth ability under the cloak artifact. 

Actually, Angus's stealth ability is already excellent. Only a few people may feel his presence if he is truly intent on hiding his presence. However, he lacks the means to hide his body in terms of visuals.

After walking around the camp undetected for a while, he arrives at Jayna's training area. He decides to test his stealth ability by approaching her.

Currently, Jayna is practicing her swordsmanship while Ilgor is found to be collapsing nearby. During their training, both of them managed to fight equally in close combat with only pure technique. 

This is quite a surprise for Ilgor since he has high mastery in terms of his weapon. Moreover, Ilgor could feel that Jayna is improving as they continue to fight. It feels like Jayna could read his movement after some time.

However, Ilgor's mana capacity is not as high as Jayna's, leading to his defeat a few hours ago. During this time, he couldn't help but look at Jayna as a monster that may be on par with his master. 

Although in terms of experience, she still lacks, her combat sense is very good. Combined with the vast mana and fire mastery, an ordinary grade three combatant is no match for her.

While recovering his mana, 'As expected of the master's woman, she is not an ordinary person. It seems I need to work harder to be useful for my master.' thought Ilgor.

Suddenly, Jayna stopped her training and looked in a specific direction.

'Weird, I feel someone is staring at me from there. But, my Arctic Heart didn't perceive anything from there.' thought Jayna while looking in a certain direction.

After a while, she decided to brush it off and continue her training. At this moment, A Firebolt appeared out of thin air from the direction Jayna looked before. *Bum*

As she didn't expect such an attack, Jayna got hit at her side. Fortunately, her fire resistance managed to resist the firebolt, but she still gets hurt a little bit from its force.

"Urgghh… Who's there??!" groaned Jayna.

Before she could react, another Firebolt came from her opposite side out of thin air. Once again, she got hit from her side.

'An invisible person?? How many of them? I couldn't perceive them at all.' thought Jayna while keeping vigilance towards her surroundings.

Looking at Jayna getting attacked by an invisible person, Ilgor decides to stand up and approach Jayna. However, a fast firebolt hit Ilgor's head mercilessly. Ilgor couldn't help but fall to the ground.

Then, a whisper was heard by Ilgor, "Don't interrupt and pretend to lay down." said Angus.

At this moment, Ilgor feels his swirl tattoo active and forces him to obey Angus's order. Looking at Ilgor down, Jayna decides to approach him. But once again, Firebolt appeared out of thin air from her side and stopped her.

Learning from her mistake, she managed to parry the Firebolt with her sword. However, the Firebolt keeps coming from her surroundings. She feels like being surrounded by few people at once.

Jayna managed to parry some of it but still got hit by some unexpected Firebolt. She felt helpless as more Firebolts hit her. She persisted and kept her guard while enduring the attack. She also tried to slash blindly while trying to guess Angus's position using [Analyze].

However, her combat experience and knowledge about of situation are not enough to make [Analyze] work properly. Still, she tried to persist despite getting hurt. 

After a while, Jayna finally kneels on the ground as she gets exhausted from her previous training and Angus's Firebolt. As she wanted to give up, she saw a vision.

"It hurts.. Why?? I don't want to do this anymore. I… I am tired. Please let me rest… B-But, I can't. I can't even complain. I must go on. Alone. For I am Fire Phoenix." as Jayna heard a mature woman's voice from inside her head.

Unbeknown to Jayna, during this time, the Firebolt attack stopped. Then, she opened her eyes and took a battle stance while holding the sword.

"No, I am different. I may be Fire Phoenix, but I am also Jayna Heart, and I am not alone." said Jayna resolutely.

Seeing Jayna's resolute face, Angus once again continued his attack. Unlike before, she managed to dodge some of the Firebolt and parry them. She still got hit by a few Firebolts, but her condition is better than before.

There is a strong resolution in Jayna's eyes as she keeps dodging and parrying the attack. Angus also didn't slack back and keep firing Firebolt faster while occasionally using [Beast Walk] to change his spot.

As Jayna keeps dodging and parrying, she suddenly enters a trance state. Her movements become more refined. Currently, she feels like to perceive anything one meter surrounding her.

Angus also notices this and decides to move closer to Jayna. This makes his Firebolt travel faster since the distance is reduced. At first, Jayna could still parry some of the Firebolt, but she later got overwhelmed again.

Suddenly, she used [Fiery Burst] towards Angus's location. But, Angus changed his position by using [Beast Walk]. However, Jayna already managed to perceive his whereabouts and decide to pursue him.

Until finally, Jayna collapses on the brink of mana deficiency. Because of her momentum, she couldn't control her body and almost hit the stone ground. At this instant, Angus grabs Jayna's body to prevent her from falling.

"Fiuuhh… that's close. Anyway, it seems you managed to improve once more." said Angus.

"Haa.. Ha.. Meanie… I don't Ha.. Even have... energy.. to be angry." said Jayna in a rough breath.

Then, Angus gives Jayna a mana potion to prevent her from entering a mana deficiency state. 

After Jayna recovered a little bit with the help of the mana potion, "Haa.. What's that? How could you become invisible? I couldn't perceive you even with the Arctic Heart at all." asked Jayna.

"Ahh.. Apparently, I got two artifacts from the arena rewards. One is these metallic boots. The other one is this cloak that could become invisible blending with the surroundings." said Angus.

"Ehh.. Two artifacts!! That's great. No wonder you could even hide you from my Arctic Heart detection."

"Ahh… about that… Actually, it is my stealth ability. I just use the cloak to cover my appearance. As for hiding my presence, it purely comes from my stealth skill."

"H-Huhh… but how??"

"Hmm… Let me show you. Could you sense me now?" said Angus while erasing all his presence completely.

At this instant, Jayna feels like Angus's presence is gone. If she is not looking at Angus, she may not notice that he is in front of her. She does not even feel any mana fluctuation from Angus. It feels like Angus didn't exist at all.

"This… Teach me!! You must teach me!!" said Jayna in excitement.

"Nope, can't do it." replied Angus immediately.

"Ehh.. Why??" asked Jayna.

"Because it is too hard for you now. It will take a long time for you to reach this state. Besides, in terms of stealth skills, you barely reach to be one with nature. This erasing technique is more advanced than that." Explained Angus.

"Boohoo… Well, sneaking around is also not my battle style anyway." said Jayna while pouting.

"Hahaha… Yes, you are right. Your battle style is more suitable for a frontal attack. But, it didn't mean you could not train in stealth. Maybe in the future, I will teach you if you manage to improve your stealth capability." said Angus.

Then, Jayna begins to remember something, "So, Did you manage to tame them?" asked Jayna.

"The Artifact?? Nah… I just barely unseal its first seal. It will take some time to translate and solve the next seal. So, I will leave it be for the time being." said Angus.

"Ermm.. you will not become obsessed with them, right?" asked Jayna meekly.

"Obsessed with them?? For what??" asked Angus back.

"Ahh.. forget it. It's good that you get a precious artifact." said Jayna.

Looking at Jayna's face, "Did someone you know become obsessed with the artifact??" asked Angus.

"Errr… I-It's nothing." said Jayna.

"Hmm… Well, I am not sure what happened to the person you know. But, rest assured, even if the artifacts are great and precious, it is still not as precious as you." said Angus.

'This is also not the first time I handle a sentient item. But, she doesn't need to know that for now.' thought Angus inwardly.

"Alright, then I believe you. Anyway, Angus, you are too cruel. I still feel sore all over my body from your Firebolt." said Jayna.

"Ehh… really. Then, maybe next time, I will increase the attack." said Angus with an evil smile.

"Err… No.. No...  I mean.." as Jayna didn't know how to respond.

"Don't worry. I may not like others to hurt you. But, I still will not go easy on your training." replied Angus with a grin.

Looking at this, Jayna couldn't help but sigh at her fate. But, she is also happy as this means she also will get stronger.