CHAPTER 40: SQUASHING MOSQUITOES & TRAINING

Instead of running, instead of retreating, he stayed perfectly still, unmoving as a statue. The swarm surged forward, thinking their terrifying numbers had paralyzed him with fear. They believed his frozen stance meant he was too terrified to even breathe. But in reality, Ray was simply waiting—waiting for them to come closer, waiting for them to enter the range of his skill!

And when they did, Ray opened his mouth wide.

Max Power Fire Dragon Breath!

A terrifying, scorching force erupted from his mouth in a cone of destruction. The flames roared outward like a dragon’s wrath, engulfing the entire swarm of Monstrous Mosquitoes in a blazing inferno. The air shimmered under the heat as their bodies were reduced to ashes in mere seconds. Nothing of them remained except for the faint flicker of cores falling and clattering against the scorched ground.

A bunch of notifications sounded right after, bringing with them a much anticipated news.

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♦️

You have killed 12× Early-stage Iron Beasts. You have gained +24 EXP!

♦️

You have killed 8× Intermediate-stage Iron Beasts. You have gained +40 EXP!

♦️

You have killed 2× Advanced-stage Iron Beasts. You have gained +40 EXP!

♦️

You have killed 3× Peak Iron Beasts. You have gained +150 EXP!

♦️

Total EXP gained: +254 EXP!

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♦️The requirement to upgrade the Fire Dragon Breath skill has been met.

♦️ The Fire Dragon Breath skill (LV:1) has upgraded into Fire Dragon Magic (LV:2)!

♦️ Skill: Fire Dragon Magic (LV:2)

♦️ Effect 1: Allows you to conjure Level 1 Flames. The temperature of Level 1 Flames can reach as low as 600°C and as high as 1100°C.

♦️ Effect 2: Allows you to conjure Level 2 Flames. The temperature of Level 2 Flames ranges from 1101°C to 2200°C.

♦️ Effect 3: The conjured flames can be freely controlled as long as they remain within a 100-meter radius of the caster. You can shape them, move them, or change their temperature as you desire as long as they are not over a 100 meters away from you. Once they move beyond this range, they can no longer be manipulated.

♦️ Cost: Varies depending on the volume and temperature of the flames conjured.

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Ray thought that Level 2 Flames were simply terrifying.

To put it into perspective, the melting point of copper is 1085°C, which means that with full power level 2 flames, copper would melt like wax.

In fact, many metals and ores would not be able to endure temperatures exceeding 2000°C.

A jovial, battle thirsty smile bloomed on his face.

"With this skill, Bronze-rank demonic creatures like the Emberhorn Goat can no longer bully me with their obnoxious defense! If they dare to take my Level 2 Flames head-on, their tough metallic hides will melt like ice cream in the heat of a scorching summer day."

The cost of using this skill was still too vague, so Ray decided to run tests to determine exactly how much it consumed.

A small wisp of orange-red flame appeared in his palm—it was a Full Power Level 1 Flame. Conjuring it cost him 10 magic power. He dispersed it with a flick.

Right after, he focused harder. This time, a brilliant white-orange flame burned in his palm. The temperature was around 2000°C, a full power Level 2 Flame. Conjuring even a single wisp of it cost him 100 magic power.

He went further. Ray conjured four more wisps of Level 2 Flames at equal temperature and guided them together. They merged into a concentrated fireball. He hurled it at a massive boulder.

BOOM!

A massive explosion followed. When the dust and smoke settled, the boulder had melted into a pool of glowing, molten rock. The nearby trees didn’t escape either—their trunks charred black, and the fire leapt from one to another, spreading at an alarming rate. If Ray hadn’t intervened and used his Fire Dragon Magic to put out the fire, the forest would have been reduced to ashes in a raging wildfire.

This single powerful attack had consumed 500 magic power. Ray decided to name it Level 2 Full Power Fireball. With his current magic power reserves, he could only manifest four Level 2 Fireballs before exhausting himself.

He clenched his fists as excitement welled up in his chest.

He couldn’t help but wonder. Just how effective would this terrifying move be against a Bronze-rank demonic creature? Considering how terrifying a volley of full power level 2 fireballs would be, he believed it would help him get a instakill on a bronze rank creature if he used it wisely!

After practicing more and deepening his understanding of Fire Dragon Magic, Ray began collecting and storing the glowing demonic beast cores left behind by the slain Monstrous Mosquitoes in his interspatial ring.

He was only just finished with that task when attracted by the commotion, a Monstrous Mosquito appeared from far away.

This one was noticeably larger than the ones he had slain so far, its buzzing roar louder, heavier, and filled with menace. Its sheer size and the pressure it exuded made Ray’s expression tighten.

"Could it be... a Bronze-rank demonic beast?" Ray instantly began conjuring his strongest attack.

Twenty fiery wisps ignited in his palm, bursting into existence one after another. Their heat distorted the air around his hand, and together they blazed like small burning stars. The fiery wisps twisted and swirled as if alive, fluttering through the air like butterflies made of fire.

He directed them into formation.

The first five fiery wisps twirled together, condensing into a white-orange fireball that radiated searing heat, its temperature exceeding two thousand degrees Celsius. Another five gathered into an identical fireball, humming with destructive energy.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Ray hurled the two fireballs toward the incoming Monstrous Mosquito, their trails leaving arcs of flame in the air as they hurtled through the air towards it.

The remaining two sets of five wisps each, were condensed into fireballs that hovered close to him. He kept them as backup, as insurance, ready to be unleashed in case something unexpected happened.

Buzz!

The Monstrous Mosquito flapped its translucent wings violently.

In the blink of an eye, its massive form vanished, dodging the fireballs.

The next instant, it reappeared right beside Ray. It’s long, cone-shaped proboscis was like a rapier as it stabbed towards him.