Becoming a god starts with enhancing fire arrows.

The next day.

Rhodes and Avira both got up very early.

Since the operations were all at night, Rhodes decided to take advantage of the daytime to learn about sword chanting.

Avira held a light rapier in her hand; the blade was narrow and gleamed with a faint sheen.

I bought this sword at the Adventurers' Guild's trading post, and it's finally proving useful today.

She took a light step forward, her toes barely making a sound as she touched the wooden floor of the hotel.

"Today's lesson will combine spell incantations with elven dance movements."

"Watch carefully and learn well."

Avira swung her rapier in the air, her tall body spinning, shifting to the side, and leaning back with agility and elegance.

He then began chanting an incantation, which seemed to resonate with his body and the sword, creating a silent melody in the air.

Every nimble movement she made seemed to be in rhythm, perfectly matching the silent melody of the sword song.

Rhodes was somewhat lost in thought.

I always thought that as long as I learned the magic sword song, I could become a qualified sword chanter.

It now seems that combining sword songs with elven dance moves is the core of the sword chanter.

As the sword dance came to a slow close, Avira was quite pleased with Rhodes's dazed expression.

She gracefully handed over the rapier: "Did you understand? You try it."

Rhodes slowly took the rapier.

All the training I've done these past two days has focused on the incantation of sword songs; this is the first time I've actually picked up a sword for real combat.

He took a deep breath, calmed his thoughts, and focused intently on the tip of his sword.

He softly chanted the incantation and his body began to move lightly.

Thanks to his noble status and his early training in dance, his foundation and physique were quite good.

Recalling Avira's peculiar silent rhythm, I tried to sketch that sense of resonance in my heart and sang slowly.

"No, it's not about forcing the dance to follow the rhythm of the melody."

"Instead, let the melody of the sword song resonate with the sword, and let the sword move the body."

Avira interrupted.

Rhodes nodded and readjusted.

"No, don't stare at the rapier with your eyes, feel it with your heart."

"Imagination is the extension of your body, the drumbeat of your dance steps."

Avira interrupted again, her tone serious and instructive.

Rhodes regrouped after being interrupted.

They practiced like this until the afternoon.

Aside from Ivyla going out to buy lunch at noon, Rhodes devoted all his time to coordinating sword songs and sword dances.

There was no problem with chanting the incantation.

The sword dance moves are already well-practiced.

But for some reason, Sword Song just couldn't unleash its full power.

The sun is setting in the west.

Rhodes suppressed his growing impatience.

He closed his eyes and immersed himself in meditation.

He no longer focused on the movements, nor on the incantation.

Instead, imagine yourself as part of the sword in your hand, and imagine the magic as the blood flowing through the sword.

Gradually.

He felt like he had forgotten everything.

He had completely forgotten all the sword dance moves and techniques.

He unconsciously began chanting a spell.

For the first time, Rhodes felt as if the rapier in his hand resonated with a silent rhythm.

The magic he had infused into the rapier was transforming into a warm current, flowing from the hilt into his arm and instantly coursing through his entire body.

My senses suddenly became clear.

He could see the leaves trembling in the wind in the distance, and hear the sound of birds flapping their wings in the sky further away.

Rhodes felt his body become unusually light, and he began to dance to the silent melody.

The warm current formed by the magic circulated within my body, and every step I took was exceptionally smooth and natural, without the slightest stiffness.

He can clearly perceive every subtle change in his body's center of gravity and quickly adjust his balance.

This wondrous feeling of body, mind, and sword becoming one is as if one's Ren and Du meridians have been opened.

Rhodes had a sudden realization.

I can clearly sense that whenever I actively chant sword song magic, my agility and perception will increase significantly.

Moreover, the total amount of magic power within the body seems to have increased several times over.

If the total amount of magic power used to only allow for two and a half uses of the Shadow Step, now it can be used at least ten times.

The sword dance slowly came to an end.

Avella, unusually, didn't display an arrogant expression; instead, she offered a compliment:

"Not bad, you managed to combine incantations and sword dance in just eight hours. You do have some skill."

"Doesn't that make it seem like you're a good teacher?"

Rhodes, unable to contain his joy, returned the rapier to Avira.

After learning Sword Song, you will no longer be just a turret mage who can only deal ranged damage.

As a sword chanter, one can fight even when facing enemies in close combat.

Avira couldn't help but smile, seemingly enjoying the compliment.

She turned her head away, crossed her arms, and refused the rapier offered to her: "Keep this rapier. I don't like such flimsy weapons."

"Consider it a reward from the master to the apprentice."

Rhodes accepted the rapier without hesitation.

With the blessing of the sword song magic, tonight's operation is made even more secure.

......

Late at night.

Rhodes and Avira arrived at the underground entrance of the dilapidated church.

This time, Avira insisted on wearing heavy armor and wielding her greatsword, which contained lightning, citing the high probability of a battle.

But with her strength and agility, the heavy armor posed no burden whatsoever.

Rhodes pulled out a bottle of Dark Vision Potion and drank it down.

This potion will allow him to see clearly in the dark, just like an elf.

With preparations complete, Avira easily lifted the heavy stone slab, revealing a staircase leading to an unknown destination.

The damp air had a musty smell.

Upon closer inspection, a faint smell of blood can be detected.

Avira led the way with her greatsword, while Rhodes sheathed his rapier and stood guard behind, leaning on his staff.

The steps were long and completely dark.

The two gradually descended, and after walking for an unknown amount of time, they finally arrived at a huge, naturally formed stone platform.

Rhodes cautiously surveyed his surroundings.

Below was a huge underground space, and due to the limited range of darkness, the bottom was completely invisible.

The surrounding area is a three-dimensional network of passageways, platforms, caves, and bridges.

The main road winds along the rock face.

Some are naturally formed rock fissures, while others are regular man-made stone corridors inlaid with fixed magic array patterns.

These main roads branch off into countless side roads, which in turn branch off again, like an anthill, intricately intertwined.

Avira marveled at the structure below: "I'd heard that the 'Black Hand' controlled a vast underground network, but I never imagined it was this massive."

Rhodes roughly estimated the scale: "This underground network probably connects various locations in the town of Phil."

"Whether it's intelligence gathering, smuggling, or human trafficking, everything depends on this place."

Avira raised her greatsword, looking around warily: "So we got in so easily?"

Rhodes pondered for a moment and said, "That makes sense."

"An underground network of this scale could not possibly be guarded by the number of people in the Black Hand."

"All we need to do is have people guard the important caves or houses regularly."

"That way, even if outsiders come in, they won't gain anything."