BANG!!

Seeing this, Aifei stomped hard against the cliff wall, yanking her sword free. Using the powerful recoil, she shot upward into the air.

Wind Magic—Wind Orb.

Midair, Aifei swiftly cast a wind-element spell. Beneath her feet, a small wind orb rapidly coalesced.

THUD!!

She lightly stepped onto the orb, using its faint support to leap again.

Hovering, she continuously conjured fresh wind orbs underfoot, hopping upward with practiced grace.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Amid the ascent, she deflected incoming ranged attacks with her blade. Her magic-infused sword effortlessly repelled every spell.

*Not bad. Teaching her wind magic wasn’t a waste.*

Watching Aifei’s wind orbs, I gave a slight, satisfied nod. During training, I’d specifically drilled her in wind magic. Though she couldn’t yet master the advanced-tier “Wind Wings,” she’d grasped the “Wind Step”—using the orbs’ minimal lift.

From my understanding of this world, most magic warriors lacked ranged spells, relying solely on close-combat magic, martial arts, or swordplay. That left them vulnerable in many situations—which was precisely why I taught her this. Mastering one path had merit, but supplementary magic like this would significantly elevate Aifei’s versatility.

“Is she even human?!”

The Demonkin stared in shock. To them, this aerial “Wind Step” was utterly inconceivable—demanding razor-sharp focus and control.

*How many years has this human trained?!*

“Once she lands, melee fighters charge! Ranged mages provide cover and ambush!” the elder Demonkin commanded sternly.

“UNDERSTOOD!!!”

Melee Demonkin snapped into battle stances; ranged ones fell back, eyes locked ahead.

“You’re all dead!!”

Bursting from the cave mouth, Aifei lunged. The Demonkin retaliated instantly.

“Agh! Agh!”

Melee Demonkin fell in seconds—few lasted two strikes. Ranged spells couldn’t even graze her.

*Die.*

As Aifei clashed with foes, one ranged Demonkin slithered into her blind spot and pressed a button on his bamboo tube.

Shoo~ A hair-thin poisoned needle shot toward her at lightning speed.

Dodging was near impossible. Even if she heard it, the needle was too fast—deliberately slender, nearly undetectable, especially mid-combat.

Yet Aifei subtly tilted her body… and evaded it.

“What?! This isn’t human!”

The Demonkin’s eyes widened. He pressed the trigger again… same result.

“Gods, this is uncanny! I won’t fight her!” Overwhelmed by terror, he turned to flee.

“Where do you think you’re going, little thing?”

I wouldn’t let him escape. In a blink, I teleported behind him and rested a hand on his shoulder.

“When did you—?!” He whirled, shock-stricken. He’d sensed no trace of me.

“Watching my disciple fight made my hands itch,” I said with a gentle smile. “Hmm… How about this? You fight me instead.”