A fireball collided with the yellow sand, merely sparking before disappearing, as if absorbed by the sand.

Indeed, the Sand Guardian naturally possesses energy absorption characteristics, allowing the Small Fireball Technique's energy to be easily absorbed.

Robert wanted to try again, but felt terribly exhausted, spiritually fatigued, hardly able to use the Small Fireball Technique ring again.

Duke said, "Once you become a Great Knight, you should be able to use it a couple more times."

Robert knew he lacked spiritual power and couldn't force its use.

The game's realism was extraordinary; he felt exhausted in reality and wanted to log off to sleep.

Duke didn't keep him here, so Robert logged off at the shop entrance, vanishing instantly.

"Is this a teleportation or..." Duke pondered watching Robert log off, having seen players log off many times. It didn't seem like teleportation, but he didn't understand the vanishing.

Unable to conclude anything, he picked up Robert's Magic Spells and Shadow Breathing Technique to read.

With half a month left to fill the Coordinates Earring's energy, Duke planned to stay in Azure Vault City, farming skill proficiency while praying at the Light Sect to gain Power of Faith.

...

Five days later.

In the Divine Statue of Light's hall, Duke came alone to pray.

Holy Daughter Dali and the Bishop had just left, allowing him extra time to gather Power of Faith.

The vast hall was empty, with him alone meditating before the giant Divine Statue of Light, amplifying the stillness.

Duke calmed his spirit, quickly connecting with the statue, receiving the Power of Faith.

He guided the Power of Faith into his mind for storage.

As Duke immersed in absorbing Power of Faith, an insidious, cold, malicious, and greedy wave like a snake seeped in.

The intent came from behind; Duke sensed the chill on his neck, knowing the opponent's deadly intent.

He quickly reacted, surrounding himself with floating sand forming a tight shield.

Moments later, a bizarre dagger stabbed deep into the sand, penetrating a meter despite magic metal reinforcement.

Duke was grateful for his quick response and Sand Guardian's automatic protection, forming a barrier of sand instantly.

Otherwise, with such a strike's power, survival seemed unlikely.

He turned and saw a short figure in a dark robe, about one meter thirty tall, exuding cold malice and murderous intent.

"This must be a top assassin from the Shadow Council," Duke thought, his expression grave.

He recognized the aura similar to a previous encounter with an assassin.

The assassin's robe covered his head entirely, revealing only a parched mouth, appearing elderly.

"Seems the intel was wrong; there's someone inside the church..." The assassin's voice was aged, raspy, as he swiftly attacked with the dagger again.

Duke stood ready, infusing magic power into the surrounding sand, enhancing its defense.

The assassin vanished like a ghost, reappearing in Duke's blind spot.

"This speed... it must equate to Level 2 Life; normal Level 1 Life wouldn't react," Duke mused.

Judging by speed, the opponent's strength should equal a Second-level Knight, far exceeding his own.

The assassin circled into Duke's blind spot, striking at the neck side, blocked again by the timely sand.

"What's happening..." The assassin found Duke's reactions bizarre despite his moderate strength.

Normal mages couldn't react so quickly, unable to summon magic force instantly.

The assassin, over years, had assassinated many mages, even a Great Mage, a Level 3 Life, yet killed by his dagger.

Though many factors favored him, he remained proud from it.

Unexpectedly encountering Duke, a strange wizard, with significant strength difference, unable to defeat quickly.

The assassin knew he could break Duke's defense eventually.

But he was short on time, planning for a quick decisive action, surprised by this fighter's resistance.

The assassin glanced at Duke wrapped in sand and then at the Divine Statue of Light, contemplating before rushing toward the statue.

He threw the dagger, which struck the statue with great force, leaving a hole from which white light seemed to emanate.

Though Duke didn't know the purpose, he needed to prevent it, especially seeing something hidden within the statue.

"Gravity Slowdown!"

Duke hadn't used the spell in a while, casting now, increasing the assassin's gravity tens of times.

The high speed, slowed significantly by gravity, now detectable without invisible movements.

The assassin slowed while charging the statue, feeling his body unusually heavy.

Although gravity wasn't an unbearable burden, slowing the speed significantly.

Duke's sand reached the statue first, encasing it with walls seven or eight meters thick.

The hall concealed the statue, replaced by an iron wall of thick sand.

The assassin saw the heavy wall, raging internally, realizing the mission's failure.

Just meters away, thwarted by Duke's interference, unable to reach the target.

Elsewhere, Light Sect members noticed the disturbance, heading toward the hall.

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