Sword God in a World of Magic

Shang and Astor spent the day together, and when evening arrived, they split apart.

Shang went back to the academy and trained in his mastery over his Affinity, which was different from training in mastery over Mana.

Mastery over Mana was more of a general, all-encompassing mastery, while mastery over an Affinity referred to the specifics. When compared to Spells, one could say that mastery over Mana would increase one's ability in regards to all Spells, while mastery over an Affinity referred to one's ability in regards to only Spells of a specific category.

When dawn arrived, Shang left the academy and went to one of the walls on the eastern side of Warrior's Paradise. This was where the group was supposed to meet.

Shang could see a couple of hunters walking around in teams.

Everyone was getting ready for a day of hunting.

It took a couple of minutes, but eventually, Astor arrived with his team.

Surprisingly, Shang recognized all of them.

The team consisted of three people, with Astor being the leader.

The second person on the team was a smaller man with long green hair and two long rapiers. He wore one of the black sets of leather armor that the Hunting Guild sold.

Shang knew this guy.

Back when Shang had taken part in his first lesson in the Caterpillar Class, he had been the one that had insulted him several times. Later, it came to light that he was simply envious of Shang since he had assumed that Shang was some progeny of a rich family. He even apologized for his treatment of Shang later.

It was Elver.

Sadly, judging by his getup, Elver didn't manage to enter the General Stage grade in the Warrior's Academy.

Shang also knew the third person.

It was a tall woman with short, grey hair. She carried a huge hammer on her back and also wore the typical set of black leather armor that the Hunting Guild sold.

Shang remembered how they had made a deal. In exchange for helping her adapt to fighting beasts, she gave Shang information about different metals. Sadly, the deal hadn't been relevant for very long since Shang had managed to upgrade his sword very soon after their first meeting.

It was Sarah.

met them occasionally about a year ago during class, but their power wasn't enough to rival the strongest students in the class, which

had diverged, they hadn't talked much anymore. Shang's

the end, they had only been classmates, and that was

looked at Shang with a polite expression while Sarah looked at him with furrowed

said with a bright

greeting. "Nice to meet you. My name's Elver, and I'm the runner of the team. Thank you for helping us today!" he said in

Astor tried to suppress

tell them,

at Elver. 'I guess he didn't recognize me. Well, I can't fault him. I changed a lot over the last

a look at Astor, who

of the way as Sarah stopped in front of Shang,

I'm the

her hand to

though it had been years since Shang had been on Earth, the reflex of shaking an offered hand was still ingrained in him. As a professional athlete, Shang had needed to shake so

hand into Sarah's

her grip with what seemed

doing this, and it also explained

my strength?" Shang asked as

anymore," she said. "I apologize for my rude behavior, but I became doubtful of your

You always were very

while Elver looked at Shang with a

asked with a bright smile as he

Sarah asked with

"I'm Shang," Shang said.

second, Elver and Sarah

heard that name

then, they remembered that young kid that had become incredibly powerful in

academy?" Elver asked from the side

world with such a weird

ago, we saw each other

smile, which looked a bit awkward since he smiled so rarely. "I've been busy with one mission