"Finished?" Audrey was initially stunned, then couldn't help but laugh. "I know, I explained it a bit, and you seemed to think you understood.
But it's not that simple.
In short, let's start with the basic sword techniques."
Not even the most basic sword techniques learned, yet he claims to have mastered the sword technique after just one viewing?
Even her most talented disciples took almost three years to master their first sword technique.
Elves have lifespans of two thousand years, and among the over ten disciples she'd taught, the shortest learning period was thirty years, while the longest took over a hundred years to graduate.
This human merely watched her perform a sword technique once, then listened to her brief explanation.
And just like that, he claims to have mastered it?
Even if he possesses an exceptional memory, able to memorize the sword technique in one go and perfectly replicate it, it would only indicate his talent in body control.
But in terms of mana and elemental control…
「Skill: Wind Fury, release 10% mana.」
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!"
Much stronger than Audrey's, a large swathe of wind blades erupted from Anyi's hand, creating waves upon the lake's surface, the water droplets sparkling under the sunlight.
"A?!"
Audrey's jaw dropped beside him, her expression a rare fluster – perhaps the only one in her over 1500 years of life!
A?
A???
The skill ended, Anyi ceased his movements.
"So, you've finished learning?" Anyi asked.
"Wa… wait… Let me… let me catch my breath…"
Audrey's legs went weak, she crouched on the ground, covering her forehead, her left eye still filled with complex emotions.
Wait! No!
Impossible?!
This human not only understood after a single viewing, but his mana control is impeccable!
Even her most talented disciple couldn't control their mana with such stability after graduation!
Monster… Monster!
How could this be a human!
This is a monster in human skin!!
A moment later, Anyi asked: "Can we continue?"
"Give me a moment!!"
Audrey suddenly stood up, pointing at Anyi;
"Your swordsmanship is already entry-level! But…
You haven't even called me Master!
Now, what should you do?!"
Anyi nodded, solemnly kneeling on both knees, then bowed deeply to Audrey, saying in a serious tone: "Master."
Audrey's nose twitched, tears uncontrollably welling up in her eyes.
She hadn't heard that appellation in hundreds of years.
Once, she was one of the twelve Royal Elves of the Elven King, at the very top of the entire race.
In the war a thousand years ago that devoured the entire Elven kingdom, only a dozen of her disciples survived, the rest lost or perished.
For hundreds of years, she had fled relentlessly, the last of her disciples slain by a monster eighty years ago. She thought she would die alone, her swordsmanship lost to the ages.
Then, as if heaven pitied her, a peculiar human appeared.
His strength surpassed that of ordinary humans by a thousandfold, he understood monsters, recognized elves, and after merely observing her swordsmanship once, he could perfectly replicate it!
And he could cook!
If there truly were gods, then Anyi was a treasure bestowed upon her by the heavens!
How fortunate she was.
Five hundred years of running, outliving elves who had died long ago.
On the verge of death, she had acquired a disciple so talented he could only be described as a "Monster."
Despite countless hardships and injuries, she felt she was the luckiest elf in the world!
"Right… From now on, you are my disciple.
I, Audrey Celeste, one of the twelve Royal Elves of the Elven King, bestow upon you the blessing of the wind!"
Audrey's eyes sharpened, her sword raised before her. An instant later, a furious gale swept across the lake, causing incessant ripples and rustling leaves and flowers.
It was like a sudden storm, but at its center, Audrey slowly floated, seemingly suspended.
Her pupils shone brightly; the wind from all directions, visible in the leaves and water, was rapidly dissipating… no, it was being drawn towards Audrey, under her control.
Meanwhile, the blue light in Audrey's eyes intensified.
Finally, the wind subsided.
The blue light, originally confined to her pupils, now enveloped her entire gaze, as if her eyes had lit up with blue lamps.
She slowly approached Anyi, half-kneeling, placing her sword on the ground.
Then she placed her right hand on top of Anyi's head.
"Receive."
Audrey spoke, but her voice echoed from all directions, like the wind itself, omnipresent!
【 Blessing Received: Wind's Blessing!
Agility boosted by 30%!
Wind Elemental Affinity: Max!
Wind Elemental Damage increased by 40%!
Damage reduction from Wind Elements: 60%!
Title Acquired: [Wind's Kin]】
Anyi stood there, dumbfounded.
Initially, the address of "Master" was due to her teaching him swordsmanship, prompting his immediate and willing acceptance.
But he never expected that simple address to yield such bountiful rewards!
Wind's Blessing!
This was a unique passive skill of Wind Elves, even in the game, it was only attainable in the late game, typically on a high-tier accessory!
Receiving this blessing meant that all future skills related to 【Wind】 would be effortless for him.
Furthermore, the 30% Agility boost might seem insignificant in the early stages, but if he could raise his Agility to 300, he'd gain an additional 90 points!
Equivalent to 90 levels more than a hero with the same 300 Agility!
This meant he could allocate more points to other attributes or reach the Agility cap sooner than others.
Looking at Audrey, the blue light in her eyes faded, replaced by a hint of weariness.
Communicating with nature consumed mana and stamina.
Anyi bowed deeply again: "Thank you, Master, for your grace."
Though… it was only the first day, wasn't Master's blessing a little… hasty?
"Alright, I'm tired."
Audrey leaned on Anyi's shoulder to stand, then walked somewhat unsteadily to the shade beneath a tree.
"Let me sleep a while… As a disciple, you must protect me while your Master sleeps."
"Yes."
When Anyi replied and stood up, he found Audrey had already closed her eyes, sleeping soundly.
As for how he knew she was asleep…
The leaves previously clinging to her body, no longer controlled by mana, had dispersed, becoming simply a covering.
At that moment, Anyi only sensed her exhaustion.
He didn't know this was the most peaceful sleep Audrey had had in hundreds of years of running.
If Anyi knew, he might say…
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Master, you trust me too much?
They had only just met!
But Audrey probably knew:
If Anyi was untrustworthy, then… she'd just be unlucky.
Returning to the present, Anyi went back to his base, to his room, and finally lay down on his bed.
Memories flooded back – eight months spent with his Master, slaying countless powerful monsters.
Finally, the memories slowed, settling a year after the birth of the Holy Hero.
That year, Audrey died.
...
Anyi's solitary journey lasted a long time, but the true turning point, the moment he began actively avoiding close relationships, was Audrey's death.
Before that, he'd chosen a path of solitary revenge, but Audrey's presence accelerated his quest, so he hadn't refused her company.
Afterwards, he sealed his heart, refusing to spend more than a month with anyone during his protracted revenge.
He recalled a month before Audrey's death, when they'd built a fire in the forest to rest.
Audrey emerged from behind a tree, carrying her usual light armor, but she wore a light white nightgown.
She sat by the fire, stowing her armor in her backpack.
Looking at the flickering flames, then at Anyi across the fire, she asked: "Anyi, have you ever thought… about having a child?"
"That's a sudden question."
Anyi didn't overthink it; Audrey was an elf, he was human; they had differing concepts and morals.
Audrey often asked odd questions, nothing really strange.
She'd suddenly think of something, then want to know how her familiar things differed from human knowledge.
"If you want a serious answer, mine is 'not yet'.
Because the extermination of monsters isn't over.
If the extermination of monsters ends, and the Demon Lord is slain, perhaps I will consider it," Anyi said.
"Actually, elves don't have the desire for children until a certain age."
Audrey explained, as if imparting some esoteric knowledge to Anyi.
"Well… how to say it, there's simply no such urge, neither mentally nor physically?
Even with a loved one, it's simply companionship, without excessive intimacy."
"Perhaps it's because of their long lifespans," Anyi said. "If there's too strong a reproductive instinct, the population would grow uncontrollably.
It would also affect the elves' mana cultivation and willpower.
Training magic and improving mana requires intense focus, and can't be disturbed by worldly desires."
"I didn't expect Anyi to know so much."
Audrey praised, then continued;
"But in comparison, humans have short lifespans, so they have a strong reproductive instinct during their prime years, right?"
"Yes." Anyi nodded.
"But Anyi shows no sign of it at all. Have you been suppressing it?" Audrey asked with a smile.
"There's no such necessity," Anyi said.
With 【Lustlessness】 and 【Gluttony】, the hero was merely a heartless monster-extermination machine.
Reproduction? Desire? He had no such thoughts.
"Wait! Ah, are you secretly going off to relieve yourself?!" Audrey exclaimed.
"It's not necessary in that aspect… Because of divine blessings, I can forgo such thoughts until the extermination of monsters is complete." Anyi explained.
Audrey had interacted with other Heroes in recent days and knew about their systems. But…
"Come to think of it, it's not something you should share with outsiders! I understand, I understand." Audrey, feigning comprehension, nodded.
"Think what you will." Anyi lazily replied.
This Elf was old enough to have seen several human dynasties rise and fall; her frankness wasn't surprising. But it did remind him of something.
"Master hasn't had children?" Anyi asked.
"No! I only recently passed fifteen hundred and a few decades!" Audrey exclaimed. "And I was hunted for hundreds of years, where's the time for children?!"
"Wasn't the Elven race destroyed a thousand years ago? Why only hunted for hundreds of years?" Anyi asked.
"Because the first few hundred years were spent trying to fight back, then after the counterattack failed, we were hunted," Audrey said.
"Master, how old were you when you became a Royal Elf? Based on the timeline, you were already very powerful in the Elven race a thousand years ago," Anyi asked.
Audrey had shared much of her past with Anyi along the way, so he knew these things.
"Around 400 years old! Very young!
Though my talent wasn't as good as yours, I was one of the youngest and strongest prodigies in the Elven race back then!" Audrey proudly boasted.
"Master is amazing," Anyi replied flatly.
Audrey stood, walked around the fire to Anyi's side, and sat close, pressing against him.
The distance was closer than before, she was practically leaning on Anyi, a borderline intimate feeling.
"Master, aren't you too close?" Anyi asked.
"Because I have a rather important question to ask you." Audrey smiled.
"What is it?"
"Are you interested in having a child with the strongest prodigy among the younger generation a thousand years ago?"
"Who was the strongest prodigy of the younger generation?"
"Didn't I just tell you?! Me! It's me!" Audrey cried in exasperation, pointing at herself.
"You said 'one of', implying there were others," Anyi stated logically.
"Don't be so obtuse! I can't tell if you're pretending to be stupid or genuinely are!"
Audrey pretended to be angry, then shifted the subject;
"So… the answer?"
"Aren't we master and disciple?" Anyi said.
"What does that matter! Before we were master and disciple, we were of opposite sexes!" Audrey said.
"Do you like me?" Anyi asked.
Audrey: "Seriously? After I practically offered myself to you, you have to ask this?"
"Because I didn't feel Master was embarrassed."
"Brat! I'm over 1500 years old! I'm not a fifteen-year-old girl!"
"Alright.
Then I refuse."
"And after all this, you still refuse?! Master is only slightly impaired! My female functions are perfectly intact!
Besides, I'm at the age where I want to leave behind descendants, what's wrong with having children!"
"I'd probably choose a fifteen-year-old."
"What?! You think Master is too old! By Elven standards, I'm still a vibrant young woman, okay!"
"Do you even believe what you're saying?"
"You… I don't care! Take off your pants!"
"No, I refuse."
Young woman?
She's clearly in the prime of her life!
This development was somewhat unexpected for Anyi.
After all… Anyi never had any excessive romantic feelings towards Audrey.
At that time, he didn't think anyone would like him.
Especially not his master.
It was his first realization that non-human species didn't necessarily have 【Lustlessness】.
Even if he wouldn't fall in love with another person, someone could develop feelings for him over time.
This affection remained unrequited until Audrey's death.
Amidst these somewhat pleasant memories, Anyi quietly fell asleep.
What would awaken him from his slumber… was the nightmare that followed that month.
...
In a sea of fire, dust billowed, and the sky was shrouded in thick, heavy clouds.
Monsters attacked the city; hundreds of Heroes fought fiercely. Anyi and Audrey were among those defending the city.
The master and disciple were almost the strongest fighters in the city. They'd faced Class 5 and 6 monsters, and even Class 6 monsters found it difficult to survive against them.
After learning 【Sword of the Rage】, Anyi's swordsmanship was no longer solely reliant on mana-powered skills.
His Strength was high, and combined with his fierce and unrestrained swordsmanship, many monsters couldn't withstand his attacks.
Reincarnated Anyi actually used physical attacks more frequently than skills, reserving skills only for clearing weaker monsters or slaying powerful ones.
Initially, Anyi and Audrey worked efficiently, expertly dispatching monsters. The monsters hadn't anticipated their strength and were steadily driven back.
The situation seemed favorable.
It should have stayed that way.
But…
Unbeknownst to them, this was a trap set for Audrey.
Audrey's escape had occurred a month after the Holy Hero's birth; eleven months had passed since then.
They assumed she was weak, defenseless, and easily dispatched by lower-tier monster lords. However, a mysterious helper appeared at her side.
While this helper wasn't exceptionally strong, they were more than capable of dealing with the lower-tier monster lords.
Then came the gradual deception, constantly evading capture yet always promising "soon, soon."
Nearly a year passed before the series of Lords finally revealed themselves.
News reached the ears of a Demon Lord Servant, who decided to capture Audrey personally.
In the past, each of the twelve Royal Elves of the Elven King possessed strength comparable to a Servant.
With attribute advantages, a Royal Elf had a high chance of slaying a Servant.
The reverse was also true.
However…
Audrey's current strength was less than a tenth of her prime.
Even with some mana restored, her internal and external injuries prevented her from regaining her former power.
But Servants were different.
They remained in their prime.
Any single one could contend with Audrey in her prime, let alone her weakened state.
One day, above the city consumed by flames…
Everyone saw the sun fall.
An enormous fireball filled their vision, a colossal mountain crushing down upon the city!
Heroes, monsters, citizens, buildings, trees – all living and inanimate things beneath that fireball were reduced to dust!
It was a fireball capable of consuming the entire city.
Except for the Heroes and monsters on the city's edge, all living beings within the city were consumed, without exception!
Including Audrey and Anyi.
If Anyi had been alone, he would have likely been incinerated.
Without sufficient Durability, he would have been as fragile as paper under that enormous fireball.
It was Audrey who saved Anyi's life.
"Though I'm not very proficient in fire magic, don't worry!
If Master can survive, we survive, if not, so be it, it's fine to die together, isn't it?" Audrey forced a smile.
"Considering it's consolation, it's my duty.
Is there anything I can do?" Anyi asked.
It was as Audrey said – either they survive or they die together. Anyi, besides asking for assistance, could do nothing else.
"Um… this, fan me, it's going to be very hot soon," Audrey said.
Even at a distance from the falling fireball, Anyi and Audrey felt the intense heat.
"Yes, I'll try my best," Anyi nodded seriously.
"Rumble Rumble Rumble Rumble——!!"
The fireball descended, the roar of flames echoing incessantly, the terrifying heat wave felt even from a great distance, like being dissolved.
「Skill: Wrathful Wind Barrier.」
"Bang!!"
A gust of wind erupted from beneath Anyi's feet; a protective whirlwind instantly formed around him, shielding him and Audrey.
"Roar Roar Roar Roar——!!"
Finally, the fireball crashed down.
Anyi and Audrey heard the roar of flames, the cracking of the earth, and the howling wind; no other sounds were discernible.
Part of the fireball shattered upon impact with Audrey’s raised hand; the flames dispersed, failing to reach them.
The intense heat didn't cause Audrey to sweat profusely, as the sweat evaporated instantly in the high-speed airflow and extreme heat.
The brief two minutes felt like two centuries; Audrey's brow furrowed deeper, her face contorted in pain.
The hand she held aloft went from red to black, the moisture rapidly evaporating.
As if in a blast furnace, her originally pale, slender arm became skin and bone.
Her clothes, crisped by the heat, were shredded by the wind.
Unlike Audrey, Anyi, besides his clothes, wore system-rewarded equipment, preventing similar damage.
How long this inferno lasted is unknown.
According to later accounts, the fireball's descent, impact, and dissipation took only five minutes.
But by the time the fireball vanished, half of Audrey's arm was almost completely charred.
She felt no pain in her hand; even the nerves had been destroyed.
On the blackened earth, Anyi caught the falling Audrey, a white light flashing in his hand as the blue slime sword appeared.
The slime's viscous fluid enveloped Audrey's nearly necrotic arm, a sizzling sound indicating the unimaginable heat.
"Ah…" Audrey looked down at her ruined arm, giving a wry smile. "I can't wield a sword anymore…
Anyi, do you think I should use my mouth, my feet… or just switch to being a mage, even if I can't hold a staff?"
"Don't worry, Master… someone can help you.
Someone definitely can."
Anyi scanned his surroundings.
Indeed, besides the Heroes who'd been caught off guard and separated from their teams, about a dozen others had survived unharmed.
It wasn't due to their high stats, but because each Hero team usually had a member with a powerful life-saving skill.
Some protected only themselves or one other; others protected their entire team.
With the earlier dispersion of personnel and obstructing buildings, the locations of other Heroes were unknown, making it impossible to ask for help.
Now, however, the buildings were gone, and the nearby Heroes were clearly visible.
With the other Heroes’ powerful recovery skills, as long as the arm wasn't completely severed or charred, recovery was possible!
But at that moment…
A crimson figure appeared before Anyi and Audrey.
Without warning, it materialized out of thin air, seeming ghostly and ethereal.
【 Warning! Warning! 】
【 Bestiary Unlocked: Immortal Bird · Phoenix
Strength:? Agility:? Endurance:?
Durability:? Prana:? Intelligence:?
Techniques:?
Description:
One of the seventy-two Servants of the Demon Lord. 】
Clad in fiery robes, it was tall and imposing, possessing a man's physique but a woman's face.
"Greetings, Audrey Celeste."
It spoke in a deep, seductive voice, its tone gentle.
"Oh, don't mind my seeing your body, because I'm neither male nor female.
After all, I'm the only one of my kind.
Well, the gentlemanly reminder's over, let me introduce myself.
I am a servant of the Demon Lord, known among the monsters as the [Immortal Bird]…
Phoenix."