Kael’s eyes opened after ten seconds of intense concentration. A red fla appeared above his staff, but this wasn’t like his previous attacks. Hints of blue mixed with the crimson, creating a myriad of colours. The fla began to grow noticeably, expanding from the size of a fist to the size of a person’s torso within seconds.
The heat radiating from the technique grew to the point that everyone, including the Dugbog, sensed the imnse energy forming at Kael’s staff. The temperature spiked so dramatically that nearby vegetation spontaneously ignited without even being touched by flas.
Moon’s eyes widened at the scene.
Did he have so sort of breakthrough? How is that possible?!
Moon had been fighting alongside Kael for nearly two hours. He knew how powerful the young man’s flas were, having witnessed their destructive capacity firsthand. But this fla was on another level entirely. The mana density alone was terrifying, and Moon was certain this wasn’t part of any skill, since he had copied all the skills that Kael had.
Which ant Kael had probably gained so sort of breakthrough in his understanding during the battle itself. A mont of enlightennt that allowed him to push beyond his previous limits and access a technique that shouldn’t be available at his current level.
What a freak... Moon thought inwardly, impressed by the growing fire.
Then his eyes turned toward the Dugbog.
The beast recognised the danger. Its instincts scread warning as it sensed the gathering power. Wooden constructs erupted from every direction simultaneously, all converging toward Kael’s position in a desperate attempt to interrupt the technique before completion.
At that point, everyone shared the sa thought.
Protect Kael.
Moon imdiately unleashed a barrage of Explosive Flas, detonating the incoming wooden spikes and vines before they could reach halfway to their target. The support mage erected multiple overlapping barriers. The warriors positioned themselves as living shields, ready to intercept anything that slipped through.
The archer rained arrows into the Dugbog’s face, forcing it to partially close its eyes and disrupting its coordination.
The beast thrashed desperately, understanding on so primal level that if this attack completed, the fight was over.
But it was too late.
Kael’s fla had finished forming, a swirling sphere of red and blue fire.
"Move," Kael said quietly.
Everyone scattered imdiately, clearing the line of sight between the pyromancer and the beast.
Kael and the beast locked eyes in a brief mont that stretched until Kael released the technique
The sphere shot forward, not as fast as a normal fireball, but with infinitely more presence. It crossed the distance to the Dugbog, and the beast was unable to dodge due to the close proximity.
The mont the sphere made contact, a blinding flash made everyone’s eyes close. Moon had to squint hard to understand what was going on.
BOOOOOOM!
The explosion was beyond anything Moon had witnessed before. A mushroom cloud of fla erupted upward, consuming the Dugbog entirely. The shockwave knocked Moon backwards despite the distance, heat washing over him briefly.
Trees within fifteen ters of the blast were simply gone, vaporised instantly by the overwhelming heat. Those beyond burned like torches, flas spreading rapidly through the forest and filling the air with smoke and ash.
When the light finally faded, and Moon could see again, a large crater ten ters wide and several ters deep had ford where the Dugbog had stood. Molten rock cooled at its edges, glowing red-hot and radiating intense heat that made the air shimr.
Inside the crater, the Dugbog lay heavily injured, blood flowing from its body freely. Its wooden hide was charred black, cracked and smoking. One of its legs had been blown off entirely. Its breathing ca in ragged, laboured gasps.
But it was still alive.
"Finish it... off." Kael’s tired, low voice erupted across the battlefield. His body swayed as he lost his balance from exhaustion.
Marcus imdiately moved to support him, catching the pyromancer before he could collapse.
"Are you okay?" Marcus asked with concern written all over his expression.
Kael grabbed his head as if it was about to explode from pain. "I’m fine. Just go finish it. It’s not dead... yet."
Marcus helped Kael sit against a tree trunk safely away from the crater’s edge, then jumped down to join the rest of the team converging on the dying beast.
Moon had already begun attacking, sending constant Explosive Flas toward the creature without rcy. Each detonation tore through weakened flesh, opened new wounds, and pushed the Dugbog closer to death. The beast tried to manipulate the surrounding wood one final ti, but its mana reserves were depleted, and its control shattered.
After ten seconds of relentless bombardnt, the beast finally went still, succumbing to its injuries. The light in its eyes dimd until it beca hazy.
[You have slain a level 23 Dugbog.]
[You have gained 300 Lives.]
Moon couldn’t help but be surprised. He had expected to level up from that kill, a level twenty-three A-rank beast should have provided a good portion of experience. But the notification never ca.
Frowning slightly, he pulled up his status to check.
[ Na: Moon ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ Class: Classless, Pyromancer]
[ Level: 19 ][ 78% ]
[ Lives: 4579 ]
[ Strength: 28 ] [ Agility: 30 ] [ Constitution: 33 ] [ Mana: 40 ] ( 5 to all stats)
[ Attribute Points: 5 ]
[ Skills: Elental Attack, Five Elent Affinity, Tenacity, Silver Skin,
Pyromantic Affinity, Explosive Fla, Heat Sense(Limited Ti)]
[ Talent: Grim Reaper ]
[ Class Skill: Class Slot {1/1} ]
Seventy-eight percent. Just twenty-two percent away from level twenty, but that final push would require several more high-level kills.
The experience had been split among everyone who contributed to the fight. With six people attacking the Dugbog, Moon’s individual share was significantly reduced compared to solo kills. That was the trade-off for fighting in groups; shared danger ant shared rewards.
Still, three hundred lives and substantial progress toward his next level weren’t bad for a two-hour fight where he’d primarily focused on training Explosive Fla rather than pure efficiency.
Moon’s eyes drifted to the skill in question.
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