Becoming a god starts with enhancing fire arrows.

Rhodes took the special piece of paper containing magic and slowly unfolded it.

A line drawing intricately engraved with magical patterns appeared before my eyes, these complex lines seemingly forming a precise magical loop on the paper.

Rhodes felt as if his mental energy was being drawn in, and his magic was stirring within him. He had a strong urge to close his eyes and meditate.

Why is this happening?

According to the original owner's memories, she had never had such a feeling when she came into contact with magic marks before.

Is it related to the system? Or did I suddenly have a breakthrough?

Or perhaps the mark itself is special.

With that thought in mind, he casually activated an appraisal skill.

【Name: Magic Mark】

[Type: Roll]

[Quality: Rare]

[Description: A scroll that can enhance meditation efficiency and has a very small chance of granting magical insights]

Rhodes' attention was drawn to the last line of text.

He can even comprehend magic?

However, those talented magic-based classes can also comprehend magic through meditation; magic marks only play a supporting role.

If it is a mythical level magic mark, can it guarantee that the meditator will comprehend magic?

Rhodes remained expressionless, thanked Barnaby, put away the papers, and planned to go back and study them with Paril.

"When will the lizardmen arrive?" Avira glanced past Barnaby and looked out the window.

"Today," Barnaby said.

"Since it's information I obtained through psychic communication, it shouldn't be wrong. I just don't know if the lizardmen will change their strategy if they see that the members who came to scout haven't returned."

"Probably not," Rhodes speculated. "These lizardmen have always been arrogant, treating humans like livestock. At most, they'll send more people."

There probably aren't any mid-level experts here.

Rhodes silently added to himself.

Barnaby nodded slowly: "Then I'll trouble the three of you to wait here for a while longer."

As he spoke, he suddenly gestured to his three apprentices: "Oh right, I was so angry when we met yesterday that I didn't have a chance to introduce my disciples to you."

"Rosa, Joanna, Liam."

"After failing the guild's test, they are now learning about magic markings from me."

The two women and one man who had been sitting on small stools listening to the conversation behind them hurriedly stood up and bowed to Rhodes and the others.

A pang of sadness welled up inside me.

I never imagined that my peers who took the Adventurers' Guild test with me back then would now be on equal footing with my teacher.

Rhodes nodded politely in response, then looked at Barnaby: "Will they also be involved in the battle against the lizardmen this time?"

He remembered that the three of them didn't possess any practical magic; they only knew some simple tricks.

"I didn't want them to come in the first place, after all, Yuxi Village is my own business, but they insisted on joining me in the war, saying they hoped to improve themselves in actual combat."

"Therefore, once the war begins, the role my disciples can play may be quite limited, and I hope you will not mind."

Rhodes shook his head: "Of course I don't mind."

Sending an apprentice who has never experienced real combat to face lizardmen is inherently risky.

Did the three of them come along because they were upset?

The water glass on the table was quickly emptied.

Just as Rhodes was about to suggest going outside for a walk to observe the surroundings, Barnaby's tense voice suddenly rang out from behind him:

"They're here!"

Everyone inside immediately went into battle-ready stance.

Barnaby closed his eyes, seemingly sensing something; a few seconds later, his brow suddenly furrowed.

"I set up reconnaissance posts throughout the village, but these lizardmen didn't infiltrate at all; they just brazenly surrounded the village."

Rhodes was taken aback.

Are these lizardmen really that arrogant?

How could a town guard openly engage in human trafficking without any attempt to conceal it?

Barnaby's face was as still as water.

He also underestimated the arrogance of the lizardman guards. His original plan was to lure them out of the village after they infiltrated, thus avoiding harming innocent civilians.

It's difficult to use the old methods under the current circumstances.

Avira stepped out of the side door of the cottage, nimbly leaped onto the roof in a few quick movements, and used the chimney to conceal herself as she surveyed the entire village.

A moment later, he returned to the house.

"How is it?" Rhodes asked.

"The lizardmen, dressed in uniform armor and equipped with spears and shields, surrounded the area, numbering around twenty."

"The three lizardmen leading the way were dressed as warriors, mages, and priests. They did not participate in the encirclement, but walked towards the central square of the village surrounded by several individual guards."

Just as everyone was about to discuss the matter, a loud shout rang out from outside the window:

"Listen up, people of the village."

"There are fugitives we need to capture lurking in your village."

"Everyone, gather in the center of the village now and come with us back for the investigation!"

"If the group is not assembled within five minutes, it will be considered harboring a fugitive!"

Mrs. Esme was startled by the sudden shout and rushed towards the group, panicked: "What happened?"

"It's alright, Mrs. Esme. Please stay in your room and don't go out," Barnaby reassured her, then looked at Rhodes:

"This is just an excuse they're using to hunt down the humans in the village. I only killed two damned reptilians; I have no other criminal record. Please believe me."

He was afraid that Rhodes would become suspicious of him after hearing the lizardman's shouts.

"I believe you, Mr. Barnaby."

Rhodes smiled slightly and asked Mrs. Esme for one of her husband's coats and trousers.

If Barnaby were truly a fugitive deceiving himself, he would have run away long ago; why would he bother guarding the village?

Rhodes commanded, "All of you, prepare for battle. Attack according to my signal."

"Avira, take my staff and don't stray too far from me."

As he spoke, he ran his fingers along the disguise ring on his hand, transforming himself into the appearance of an old man.

"Listen up, people of the village."

"There's a fugitive we're looking for lurking in your village..."

The shouts outside the window continued, and several figures gradually gathered in the square.

Rhodes also came out.

He was dressed in tattered clothes as he walked toward the lizardman who had called out to him.

"You lowly humans, stop in your tracks!"

Rhodes obeyed and stopped, looking at the three lizardmen in front of him who were clearly the leaders.

[Elite-level Mage]

[Elite Warrior]

[Elite Priest]

Everything went pretty much as I expected: three elite-level warriors and most of the rest were trainee-level warriors.

"I am the village chief of Yuxi Village. May I ask, sir, what exactly is going on with this fugitive?" Rhodes asked without hesitation.

"Human, who do you think you're talking to?" the lizardman shouted fiercely, sticking out his scarlet tongue and staring at Rhodes with disgust.

It cannot accept being questioned by a human.

The lizardman priest standing in the middle briefly blocked his way before slowly approaching Rhodes.

He spoke calmly: "You're the village chief, that's good."

"Go and count the number of people gathered. Cooperate obediently and kowtow to me, and I can forgive your earlier offense against the superior race."

"otherwise."

As it spoke, it slowly extended its claws toward Rhodes' throat, the meaning of which was self-evident.

"Alright."

Rhodes suddenly drew the rapier hidden under his coat.

It thrust forward without warning.

The sharp blade pierced straight through the priest's hand!

Why is a pastor standing so close?