"Anna, you're injured."

"It's nothing serious. I've used magic healing ointment. A few days of rest and I'll be fine." In the Magic Beast Mountains, injuries are inevitable, even for mages.

"Let me help you change the bandages."

"Dick, you perverted rogue, trying to take advantage of my sister again?"

"Why not? I want both sisters, haha!"

Anna, with her serene demeanor, chuckled. Dick was the source of the sisters' joy. Over time, they had grown accustomed to his antics. In some ways, Dick exuded a certain charm—his bright, handsome appearance only added to it.

"Dick, if not for Uncle Taita's desperate rescue, I might not have made it back this time."

"What happened? Were there casualties?" Dick was aware of the dangers of hunting in the Magic Beast Mountains.

"We encountered a Tier-4 magic beast. We simply couldn't defeat it. Of the four intermediate warriors, only two returned..."

"As long as Uncle Taita is alive, that's what matters." Dick knew such battles were far beyond his current abilities. The mountains were full of intermediate warriors fighting for survival. Who knows? Perhaps one day, news of Uncle Taita's death might arrive unexpectedly.

"Uncle Taita is around fifty years old now, isn't he? It seems unlikely he'll have the chance to advance to a high-level warrior."

Anna understood what Dick was implying. "You must have heard about the threats from the Snowy Battlefield and the Western Grasslands. Whether royal or family warriors, all are obligated to serve in battle—there’s no escaping it. Even wandering warriors like Uncle Taita, without noble patronage, receive some support from the kingdom, including access to intermediate warrior techniques. The kingdom ensures they continue training."

Anna had trained for a long time and knew more about these things than Dick.

Since avoiding the battlefield was impossible, every bit of strength gained was another layer of protection in the war to come. Dick understood this now.

"In some ways, it's better than being bound to a noble family. There's more freedom. While the kingdom provides training techniques, it doesn't restrict the warriors' movements. And if these warriors distinguish themselves on the Snowy Battlefield or the grassland borders, they can even enjoy a comfortable retirement."

Rogue warriors were still warriors. Their strength was a valuable asset. The kingdom could not afford to ignore this group of fighters. Properly organized, they formed a strong force. The Yan Kingdom, already the weakest, had to make the most of every ounce of strength.

Is it better to rely on nobles or the kingdom? It's hard to say.

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For now, the Royal Magic Academy and the warrior schools in the capital were the most peaceful havens. At least, people like Harvey, the chubby mage, wouldn’t need to worry about the battlefield before they turned thirty. Anna, now a Tier-3 mage, wouldn't have to see battle before sixty unless she chose to.

In a battlefield of thousands, a Tier-3 mage unable to cast large-scale attack spells wouldn’t stand a chance. Even the most skilled intermediate warrior would struggle to survive in such chaos.

Only intermediate mages, capable of casting wide-area spells, were truly valued by the army and kingdom.

The reason mages were held in higher regard than warriors was simple. Dick could defeat Tier-3 warrior Zhao Haibin, but there was no way he could take on Anna, even as a newly advanced Tier-3 mage. The speed, frequency, and power of Tier-3 spells were far beyond Dick’s ability to withstand.

Even intermediate mages' single-target attacks could overwhelm him. For example, Anna’s Tier-2 water magic swords could be cast almost instantly. A dozen of them at once, and even Dick’s swift "Fire Cloud Step" wouldn’t help him evade. He could only brace himself for Anna’s preparation of a more powerful Tier-3 spell.

At this stage, no matter how hard Dick trained, a Tier-3 spell would leave him half-dead. And that was only because Anna was holding back.

The tales of warriors overcoming mages might be true, but for now, Dick couldn’t fathom it.

If strength wasn't enough, he’d just have to keep working harder.

Anna provided Dick with some blood and meat from a Tier-3 magic beast, which would greatly strengthen his body.

At the viscount's third training ground, after a grueling ten-minute battle, Dick was left battered and bruised.

"This time, you didn't win, but next time, I'll take you down for sure," Zhao Haibin, equally worn out, said bitterly. Despite Dick’s cunning tactics, Haibin still failed to defeat him.

Both of them were improving.

"Pray that you advance to Tier-4 quickly. My progress as a Tier-2 warrior will definitely outpace yours. By the time I reach Tier-3, I'll flatten you," Dick boasted. He wasn’t discouraged by the stalemate. If anything, it confirmed that his training speed wasn’t lagging behind.

"You don't get it," Zhao Haibin sneered. "Warriors who train in advanced techniques only unleash their true power after reaching the intermediate stage. By then, your magic won't be as threatening. No matter how skilled you are in both magic and combat, it won’t matter."

"Oh, really?" Dick wasn’t entirely sure. Could it be that those legendary warriors who defeated mages had done so because they trained in advanced techniques, which only became effective at the intermediate level?

"Besides, training as a mage is even harder. Who knows if you'll ever reach Tier-4," Zhao Haibin pointed out. He wasn’t wrong—advancing as a mage was more difficult and much slower. Warriors who trained in advanced techniques often reached Tier-4 before twenty.

But a Tier-4 mage? The Magic Academy’s standard for that was at least sixty years. Anna was considered a prodigy for reaching Tier-3 by nineteen.

"That's not entirely true. Dick's magic gives him a good edge over qi techniques. It still holds an advantage," said Grandpa Taylor.

"Exactly, Zhao Haibin. I'm a whole level lower than you, and you still can't beat me. So why are you bragging?" Dick mocked.

"Hmph!" Zhao Haibin grumbled, clearly frustrated. It was true. Next time, he'd make sure to win and restore his pride.

Uncle Taita, ever diligent, provided some valuable guidance for both Dick and Zhao Haibin. As someone who had no formal teacher in qi cultivation, Dick deeply appreciated the advice from such an experienced warrior.

"My turn!" Zhao Wanying, now an eager Tier-3 warrior, was ready to challenge Dick.

"Hah! Little brat, come here and let me give you a proper beating!" Dick grinned mischievously.

Despite her advancement, Zhao Wanying was still inexperienced in both qi accumulation and battle techniques. Poor Wanying didn’t stand a chance against Dick, who thoroughly trounced her. After teasing the younger warrior, Dick found himself in a much better mood.