Sorcery Monarch

Chapter 94: Surprise or Not?

 

Hall never expected the Lord's spellcasting coordination to be so swift.

 

Faster than most spellcasters he had ever seen!

 

“Is the Lord really just a low-level arcanist?”

 

“Or are arcanists really this powerful?”

 

“From all the wizards, warlocks, and clerics I’ve seen at his level, none of them can even compare…”

 

“And, even though he’s using scrolls, the sheer number of spells the Lord casts is staggering…”

 

“…”

 

While Hall was lost in thought, the remaining seven or eight trolls had already bypassed their burning companions and were charging straight for Matthew.

 

The trolls were furious, feeling humiliated by the destructive power Matthew unleashed so effortlessly.

 

The high-level troll had learned its lesson this time, warily eyeing Matthew's possible tricks and not rushing in alone. Instead, it charged with the others in tow.

 

Not far off to the right, troll soldiers and warriors were locked in a fierce battle with the soldiers.

 

The soldiers on the left, having regrouped, were fending off the regular trolls with relative ease.

 

The trolls’ strength and weapons weren’t enough to break through the shield-bearing soldiers, who firmly held their ground.

 

The formidable Besib, along with more than a dozen barbarian soldiers, was wreaking havoc on the battlefield.

 

Meanwhile, some opportunistic adventurers, noticing the stalemate, joined the fray, attacking the smaller group of trolls on the right.

 

The more astute adventurers, knowing the saying "If the nest falls, no egg remains unbroken," headed to the left, supporting the soldiers with ranged attacks to ease the defensive pressure.

 

Alice and her group of adventurers were closing in on Matthew’s position.

 

They knew full well that whoever controls the money is the most important!

 

Protecting Matthew meant turning captured trolls into solid gold coins.

 

Not to mention, if they saved the Lord, their rewards would undoubtedly be greater than capturing a few trolls.

 

The trolls had surrounded Matthew, yet he remained focused on the outer battlefield.

 

The soldiers were fighting with remarkable determination and showed excellent teamwork. Though there were already over a dozen casualties, they still held the trolls at bay.

 

But the longer the fight dragged on, the more it would favor the trolls with their extraordinary regeneration abilities.

 

“It’s time…!”

 

Ignoring the regular trolls, Matthew locked his gaze on the approaching high-level troll, raising his staff and chanting loudly.

 

Startled, the high-level troll instinctively dodged to the side.

 

But nothing happened—there was no attack.

 

The troll looked up at Matthew, who was smiling calmly. His staff emitted no mana fluctuations at all!

 

Had it been tricked?

 

No more spell slots!

 

A spellcaster without spell slots was no stronger than a lamb ready for slaughter!

 

“The sacrifice to my god has arrived!”

 

The high-level troll felt certain, gripping its short sword, which trembled as if excited to drink the blood of a human spellcaster!

 

It lunged forward, its massive body crouching low, demonstrating speed beyond an average troll as it darted toward Matthew like a coiled spring.

 

High-level skill—Assault!

 

This troll actually possessed a complete assassin’s skillset!

 

How strange!

 

Yet, instead of fear, Matthew felt a surge of absurdity and anger as he watched the troll’s charge:

 

“Multi-classed as an assassin? Did it really think it had me cornered?”

 

The troll was correct in one aspect: Matthew was indeed out of mana, unable even to cast spells from scrolls.

 

But he had experience points!

 

A total of 15,000 experience points!

 

“Spend 2,000 experience points to level up Arcanist to Level 3!”

 

“Arcanist level increased, mana replenished, maximum mana increased to 270!”

 

As Matthew leveled up, he could feel mana flowing from the depths of the Weave, cleansing and rejuvenating his soul.

 

His understanding of the arcane deepened, and he became more attuned to the structure of the Weave.

 

In simpler terms, Matthew’s abilities had taken a significant leap forward.

 

“Knowledge +3, now 201 (Legendary), Meditation +4, now 164 (Transcendent)!”

 

The mana replenishment was merely a side effect!

 

Resisting the urge to continue leveling up, Matthew knew the dangers of doing so.

 

Leveling up once or twice in a month was rare but not unheard of.

 

But leveling up multiple times in one day—that would definitely raise suspicions!

 

Raising his staff again, Matthew faced the high-level troll, which had closed the distance to just four or five meters. This time, it showed no intention of dodging, thinking arrogantly:

 

“Fool me once, shame on me. But now…”

 

A multicolored beam of light shot from Matthew’s staff, hitting the high-level troll dead on.

 

“Ding, you have cast Sleep at Level 5 on an 11th-level troll assassin. Willpower check in progress…”

 

“The target failed the willpower check. The spell succeeded!”

 

The high-level troll assassin, mid-assault, suddenly faltered, its eyes glazing over as it forgot how to control its body, stumbling forward.

 

It had intended to outpace the aging Arnold and reach Matthew to deliver a fatal strike.

 

But it never expected that, as a high-level class, it wouldn’t be able to resist Matthew’s 1st-level spell!

 

The sleeping troll assassin wouldn’t understand that Matthew had specifically chosen Sleep because he knew it couldn’t resist it!

 

“If it were a high-level warrior, maybe it’d make sense. But you’re just an assassin—how could you be so cocky?”

 

“Sneaky and always looking for a one-hit kill—that’s what a real assassin does.”

 

“This direct assassination approach? You clearly haven’t been beaten enough!”

 

Matthew’s eyes gleamed as he quickly cast another spell on the slumbering high-level troll assassin.

 

The troll, still stumbling forward, was about to collapse from its inability to maintain balance.

 

Once it hit the ground, it would likely wake up from the shock!

 

But it wouldn’t live to see that moment!

 

Arnold, charging forward, even in his old age, lacking his former speed and explosive power.

 

But against a defenseless enemy, he could still keep up. Without hesitation, Arnold brought his greatsword down.

 

Crack!

 

The troll's hard spine blocked the sharp, heavy sword.

 

But Arnold’s strength broke through, cutting deep into the troll's body.

 

“Aargh…!”

 

The slightly frail figure of the troll crumpled to the ground. The immense pain jolted the high-level troll assassin awake, unleashing a blood-curdling scream.

 

However, with its neck half-severed and blood spraying everywhere, not even its extraordinary regenerative abilities could save it without immediate treatment.

 

Trembling in fear, it clutched its gushing throat, attempting to rise, but a dark green streak of light struck its head.

 

Splat!

 

The highly destructive Melf’s Acid Arrow pierced straight through its skull!

 

“Ding, you have killed an 11th-level troll assassin. You gained 1,000 experience points and 1 skill point!”

 

“Surprising people—that’s what spellcasters do best.”

 

Matthew lowered his staff slowly, meeting Arnold’s amazed gaze with a slight smile.

 

Suddenly, a black spear flew through the air, piercing Matthew’s chest in an instant!