Veil of Destiny

Chapter 29 Epiphany

"In this world, there are two paths to becoming strong: the way of magic and the way of martial arts. Magic is divided into eight systems, while martial arts have countless schools and professions. Now tell me, who would win in a life-or-death battle between a Grand Magister and a Sword Saint?"

Dorian pondered for a long time before replying, "If it's a one-on-one duel, the Sword Saint might win. However, if they each lead an army, the Magister would undoubtedly triumph. The key to victory lies in time."

Mordix nodded, waved his staff, and a small chessboard appeared between them. Smiling, he said, "Come, let's play a game of chess first."

Although puzzled, Dorian agreed and began the game. The two necromancers soon played over a dozen moves.

As they played, Mordix explained, "In terms of sheer power, the Magister's magic far surpasses the Sword Saint's martial skills. Yet, in a one-on-one fight, the Magister would almost certainly lose because of time. This time factor stems from the control over power. The Sword Saint, though wielding smaller power, has absolute control over it. The Magister, on the other hand, harnesses the magical energy of the world to attack, which takes time to gather. Hence, before any battle, a Magister's preparation aims to gain time to unleash powerful spells."

The disparity in their chess skills was stark. The old necromancer continued to explain while effortlessly capturing two of Dorian's pawns, breaking his formation.

"People often think having power equates to strength, like assuming a fifth-level mage is stronger than a fourth-level one. For instance, my rook here on the board is far superior to your bishop." With that, Mordix's skeletal hand moved, capturing Dorian's bishop and solidifying his hold on the board.

Dorian mused deeply while the old necromancer's voice continued.

"Some wise individuals, upon reaching a certain level of power, realize that understanding, controlling, and utilizing power are crucial. They delve into these aspects. For example, David's swordsmanship isn't about brute strength but exquisite control, allowing him to overcome stronger opponents with finesse. Similarly, Fog Illusion, despite lacking physical strength, can easily break hard wood by understanding and manipulating the essence of matter."

"Ah, I see!" Dorian exclaimed, advancing a pawn and reorganizing his formation, forcing Mordix to retreat his rook.

"Good, you grasp quickly. Similarly, the key to victorious magic isn't the strongest spell but the most appropriate one. You have a natural instinct for this."

Despite their conversation, Dorian's pieces were soon decimated, leaving him with only three pawns, a queen, and a knight against Mordix's full array. Seeing no escape, Dorian's king was cornered.

Mordix waved his staff, spinning the chessboard. "Now, let's switch sides and play again."

Taking over each other's pieces, they resumed the game. Although Dorian's chess skills were inferior, his overwhelming positional advantage left Mordix with no room for a comeback. After several moves, Dorian cornered Mordix's king.

"Child, my chess skills far surpass yours. Why can't I win now?"

Dorian pondered and replied, "I understand. Absolute power forms the foundation of everything. When the disparity in power is vast, mere technique can't bridge the gap. David's swordplay, though elegant, lacks real power. A simple, direct strike is often more effective."

"Good, you understand. Your grasp of power far exceeds David's. Claiming to master the essence of power at his level is laughable. Most so-called continental strongmen are stuck at his level. If your powers were equalized, they'd be no match for you. However, the enormous gap in your powers can't be bridged by technique alone. It's like a heavily armed rat, invincible in its world, but powerless against a tiger."