CHAPTER 71: DISCIPLE CULTIVATION SYSTEM CH71 THE PLAN PT2.

"It won’t work!"

Valaria’s statement was clear as day... for her at least.

All she got from Kai and Kiara were confused looks, which she tried to alleviate by explaining her reason.

"He’s not a sadist... it’s a role... a convincing role, but it’s not true to his personality."

Defending Art almost made her want to puke, but it wasn’t her fault she knew so much about him.

"His whole persona is false." She added, trying to paint the true nature of Art to her current teammates.

Kai actually didn’t know what to say since he had never met Art, but Kiara, pushing her witch hat up slightly, glared at Valaria with a strange look.

If what she said was actually true, it meant Art all this time might have taken notice of her and had been faking his personality every time he stepped out of his home.

"Please enlighten us more about Instructor Art." Kiara said growing intrigued by how Art had noticed her presence.

"Well..." Val scratched her cheeks with a blissful look and began, "...he actually hates witches."

"Heh!" Enko giggled, her attention drawn to Kiara’s hat.

"His favorite weapon is the sword and he has a knack for looking after others."

"How do you know that..." Kai interjected wondering about the relationship between Valeria and the man know as Art.

"I’d rather not say."

She actually didn’t know why, hence she played it off.

"What I’m trying to point out is... Art won’t toy with us. I’ve noticed he’s rather stressed lately, and if I’m right, I know by the time we face him, he should be at his limit. He’ll come at us full force, but in the process he might have to overlook other things."

"You’re saying we create a diversion," Kai tried to affirm.

"No, we should face him in a straightforward manner. Make him think there’s a trap waiting for him and put him on edge."

"...a mid-battle trap," Kai confirmed.

"Yes. We go in with honesty while setting up the trap as we fight him."

Valaria continued setting a plan into motion.

"I could conjure up a restraint if it came to it," Kiara suggested, tracing the air with mana.

"We should use runes."

After thinking it over, Kai presented such a conclusion.

"Aura users can still sense mana, hence he will notice the moment you begin the spell. Runes don’t emit mana until they’re complete. All we need to do is get rid of the asphalt, scramble the ground with a wide pattern using our footwork, and you finish the rest."

Kai’s plan hung in the air, awaiting further suggestions to modify.

"Using our footwork..." Kiara repeated trying to see if such method was possible.

"It could work... but the patterns would be rough. It would be like trying to decipher a message from a toddler’s scribble. In essence, it will be a mess but... I can manage."

She was the granddaughter of the strongest man alive; turning messes into opportunities sounded right up her alley.

"I’ll have to isolate the necessary patterns to keep the mana flow smooth and precise. It might take a while and lots of Will, but as long as you can keep him within the rune’s range, restraining him should be possible."

"I could keep him busy," Kai said, his voice low and steady. He then covered his arms in blue aura to prove his point.

"I have intent. He might outrank me, but I can still put up a fight, especially if I have Enko aiding me."

"I can barely withstand Trish’s blows, what more someone a rank above her."

With her self-esteem now shattered, Enko complained, her shoulders slouched.

"Trish must have done a number on her," Valaria thought, seeing how dejected the dragon was. Her Master had once told her dragons were the most prideful creatures around, even more so than demons.

To see a dragon denounce her worth was so rare that Valaria was glad Trish had eliminated herself or else she would have done a number on her.

"Just fight like a mage, this once," Kiara counseled before turning her attention to Valaria.

"As for you, your inability to harness Aura would be a nuisance, but you still aren’t sitting this one out."

"I never intended to," Val affirmed, earning a look of respect from Kiara and Enko.

"Good. How confident are you in her archery skills?"

"I knew how to throw a spear to hit its mark."

"Even better." Kiara smirked and chanted a spell.

The air grew cold as a bluish mist gathered around her palms, extending in length before solidifying to form a robust spear made of crystal ice.

"Here."

She tossed it to Valaria, who caught it with minimal effort.

The chilling sensation emitting from the spear cooled her palms and calmed her nerves, making her body feel lighter and less restricted, as if she was back to being able to harness her aura.

"Physical enhancement," she muttered in amazement.

She knew that spell existed but she didn’t expect a first-year to be able to use it.

"Judging by your expression you must be amazed by my brilliance. Which I understand, of course, since I’m so talented, but I’ll have to burst your bubble this time. The spell isn’t perfect."

Arrogance quickly shifted into that of a lecturer as Kiara began explaining the limitations of her spell.

"Think of the spear as a temporary aura core. It’s fragile and limited and essentially a battery. It will power you up, but when broken or run out, you’re no longer superpowered. So avoid parrying since I’m no factory."

After the lecture, Kiara added a warning which Valaria agreed to comply with.

After that, the four of them went over the plan a few more times, added a few more modifications, and even created a signal for when the rune was supposed to be activated.

When all was done, they concluded and began preparations to put their plan into practice.