Chapter 28: Stronger

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: StrongerWith a single thought, the circle in Lian’s mind shrank. If it had previously been as large as an open hand, it was now no bigger than a clenched fist. Drawing a smaller circle required less time, but Lian had not considered one critical issue: a smaller circle demanded far greater precision in its creation. However, for the task at hand—striking a stationary target—the risk was worth the reward. The crooked-teeth worm, with its searing aura, remained immobile, a perfect mark for Lian’s new approach. With remarkable speed, he traced the smaller circle in his mind. Just as he was about to complete the gesture— "Ignis Arde, Ignis Globus," he proclaimed with unwavering resolve, the arcane incantation flowing from his lips like a sacred vow. The spell took shape, and it was no longer a mere fireball. It was something smaller, swifter—a fiery projectile, akin to those launched by Sera during their journey, a blazing dart that cut through the air with lethal intent. The chanted formula had amplified the spell’s potency, rendering it far more deadly than Lian had anticipated. [Accuracy: 63%] Despite it being his first attempt with this new circle size, Lian had performed admirably. The fiery projectile streaked through the air, swift as a bolt of lightning, and struck the immobile worm directly in its abdomen, a precise hit that sent a shudder through the creature’s grotesque form. At that moment, the worm had been preparing another fireball of its own, but Lian’s strike sent it tumbling several meters across the sand. A small cloud of black smoke erupted, partially obscuring the monster. However, due to the projectile’s lack of explosive force, it did not kill the worm outright, though it inflicted significant damage. "Well done!" Lian thought, clenching his hand into a fist, a surge of pride swelling in his chest. He had successfully executed his first spell variant with notable effectiveness, a milestone that felt like a beacon of hope in this desolate wasteland. Without wasting another moment, he unleashed two more fiery projectiles in rapid succession. "Heh, not so fun now, is it?" he taunted, his voice laced with defiance. The projectiles sped toward the worm, striking its abdomen again, further enraging the crooked-teeth beast. Its body oozed blood, and its movements grew sluggish. It attempted to dodge the incoming strike, but its injuries hindered its mobility. BOOM— A massive explosion engulfed the monster. Sand, blood, and flesh scattered in all directions, a chaotic symphony of destruction under the unrelenting sun. "Wow, this is insane!" Lian exclaimed, his voice tinged with awe. He paused, his breath short and his heart pounding like a war drum in his chest. As the cloud of sand and smoke began to clear, it revealed the crooked-teeth worm’s body slumped lifelessly on the ground. Most of the creature’s form had been obliterated, while fragments of its remains lay scattered across the desert, still smoldering. The acrid stench of burnt flesh mingled with the oppressive heat of the desert. Lian wiped the sweat from his brow, spitting out another mouthful of sand, desperately trying to ignore the foul taste clinging to his tongue. "I did it..." he thought, his gaze fixed on the creature’s remains, a mix of exhaustion and triumph washing over him. Approaching cautiously, Lian noticed that the heat radiating from the monster had dissipated, allowing him to inspect the beast more closely. "I did a damn fine job!" he muttered enthusiastically. This was his first kill of a magical monster. Though it was relatively weak, its explosive power had been formidable, a testament to the raw potential of his newfound abilities. "Huh?" Lian exclaimed, catching sight of a glinting object in the distance, nestled among the charred remains of the monster. Drawing closer, he knelt to examine it. "No way!" he hissed, excitement bubbling in his voice. "This is a Mana Core! Only magical monsters can drop these!" Lian grasped the Mana Core, holding it up to the scorching sunlight, its surface refracting the light in a mesmerizing dance of colors. Before he could marvel further, a System notification flashed before his eyes. [Mana Core: Bronze 1] [Do you wish to absorb it?] "What?" "Can my System really absorb this thing directly without issues? Seriously? Or does it mean something else?" His mind raced with possibilities, teetering between caution and curiosity. Absorbing the mana within a Mana Core was considered impossible due to the vast amount of unstable mana contained within. The only known methods to utilize them involved runic language to craft artifacts or refining them into magical pills. However, the effects of such pills were limited—a human could only consume one per rank, and a second would have no effect, a strict rule of this world’s magical laws. Lian pondered for a moment before deciding to proceed with the absorption. He was not fond of the unknown, but the System had consistently aided him thus far. Moreover, he was too weak. He needed to grow stronger, a burning desire that outweighed his fear of the consequences. After mentally affirming his choice, the Mana Core vanished from his hands. A stream of glowing particles surged toward Lian, flowing into his dantian and throughout his body, a cascade of light that felt like a river of power. An incredible warmth began to spread within him, invigorating at first. But soon, the sensation intensified, becoming almost unbearable— "Damn it, I am burning up!" he shouted, snapping his eyes open and frantically inspecting his hands and body, panic seizing him as he feared the worst. Though his body appeared unharmed, the side effects of the System’s absorption of the Mana Core began to take hold. "This is my fault!" he cried, tears welling in his eyes as he collapsed to the ground. "Trusting the System? Great idea, but I cannot experiment with new things in a place like this!" His voice was a mix of regret and frustration, echoing across the desolate sands. After several agonizing minutes, the intense burning sensation began to fade. Lian breathed heavily, his body once again drenched in sweat. "Damn, I would give anything for a shower... I stink to high heaven," he thought distractedly, struggling to his feet, his body trembling from the ordeal. "Huh? What is this feeling?" Lian examined his body, sensing a newfound strength coursing through him. It was not a breakthrough, but something else entirely. "I get it!" he murmured, performing a quick dash to test his theory. "I was right—now I have more mana! I can cast more fireballs without risking mana depletion, and the more mana I possess, the stronger my body becomes! I feel like I do not need to fear an Iron 3 anymore!" As was only fitting, the moment Lian declared he could handle an Iron 3 with ease, the sand beneath him began to tremble, a cruel reminder of the desert’s relentless challenges. "Oh, no, not again?!" he shouted, leaping backward. Two worm heads emerged from the sand, mere meters away. They were the same size as the monster he had just defeated, but lacked the reddish hue, their pale forms a stark contrast to the fiery corpse nearby. "Damn it, are you its cousins or what?!" Lian yelled, clenching his fists. "Can you not leave me alone for five minutes?!" His frustration boiled over, a storm of defiance against the endless threats. The two worms wasted no time. With a hiss, they opened their mouths, ready to lunge at the boy. But thanks to his newfound strength, Lian evaded their attacks with greater ease, dodging with a grace honed by survival, his movements fluid like a desert wind. "I am not the same as before! Now I will kill you, you filthy worms!" he declared, sidestepping their tandem bites before standing tall and assuming a combat stance. "Geometric Spells, Circle!" he shouted, closing his eyes for a brief moment. The circle materialized in his mind, now as familiar as the back of his hand. But this time, he sought to do something different. He recalled the earlier sensation when he had shrunk the circle for a faster projectile or enlarged it for a slower, more powerful one, a spark of inspiration that fueled his creativity. "If I can make the circle smaller or larger... perhaps I can create more than one?" he thought, mana coursing through his veins like liquid fire, a torrent of power that begged to be unleashed. With a swift motion, he envisioned two smaller circles side by side in his mind. It was far more challenging than he had anticipated. Maintaining two shapes simultaneously made his temples throb, as if his brain were on the verge of exploding. "Come on, Lian, you can do this," he urged himself, gritting his teeth. "Ignis Arde, Ignis Globus!" Two fiery projectiles, smaller but faster, shot from his hands toward the worms. One struck the first monster square in the face, sending it reeling. The other, however, missed its mark, exploding in the sand a few meters from the second worm, a near miss that kicked up a cloud of dust. [Accuracy: 48%] "Damn it, I must do better!" Lian cursed under his breath, his determination unyielding despite the setback. Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m