"Advanced Upgrade? Is it really that amazing?"

Irene asked.

​​

As he heard about Advanced Upgrade, Fike couldn't help but feel a tinge of admiration for Maggie.

Among all the students, he alone had experienced firsthand the potential power of upgraded spells.

Fike thought to himself, 'This Maggie has actually developed a method to upgrade spells without utilizing any systems such as the hidden information or source spirits. How incredible!'

Teacher Maggie continued.

"The so-called Advanced Upgrade doesn't change the essence of the original skill. Instead, it simply boosts it, creating a more powerful, altered version of it."

Seeing that everyone was still confused, she elaborated further.

"Let me give you a very simple example.

"I believe that everyone among you should have a good understanding of the fireball spell. As the least powerful skill among all long-range spells, in everyone's eyes, the fireball spell simply appears as such."

Maggie picked up her staff and waved it, creating a small burning flame that hovered the air.

"However, do you think that this is the maximum potential of the fireball spell? Let's go on to see what it can look like after it has been upgraded."

Maggie tightened her grip on the staff, and traces of red light sparkled from the gem embedded at its tip.

The small flame instantly grew into a raging fire.

Not only was its size enlarged, but the temperature in the room had also increased.

Other than Fike, the students in the room were all dumbfounded at what they saw.

"Does everyone think that now, this is surely the final level of the fireball spell? No, it hasn't reached its limit yet!"

Maggie clenched her staff again and the red light that it exuded became even more dazzling, glowing with a hint of golden light.

The fire instantly turned into a roaring wall of flames.

The temperature in the classroom hit a boiling point, and most of the students were now sweating profusely.

Maggie put away her staff, and the wall of fire disappeared.

After a moment of silence, the audience burst into thunderous applause.

"How did Teacher Maggie do it? She's too strong!"

"Yes, yes! If I learned this move, wouldn't I be able to upgrade all my skills?"

Pleased with such excited students, Maggie continued.

"Regarding this Advanced Upgrade, I actually discovered it during a field trip in my early years.

"At the time, our team had been cornered by a powerful Exotic Beast, and everyone was on the verge of death. My companions had been severely injured, and we were desperate.

"Just as the beast had turned its sights on me, I used a fireball spell on it.

"However, at that moment, the spell ignited with extraordinary power. Whether it was the area it covered or the heat it gave off, it was clearly much stronger than an ordinary fireball spell.

"After we worked together to defeat the Exotic Beast, I began devoting my time to studying any and all information related to this phenomenon.

"After years of continuous research, I've finally deduced that the key conditions to triggering the effects of Advanced Upgrade are being in a heightened state of awareness, and an astute familiarity with the base set of skills.

"After succeeding in leveling up a skill once, you will maintain its heightened power forever."

Ah Fei interrupted with a question.

"Then what if you want to use a skill at the same level as before?"

Maggie replied patiently.

"Ah Fei has raised a very good question. That will actually be the main focus of this class.

"The answer to your question is simple. That is, you will have to learn to exert perfect control over your skills.

"To explain this in general terms, under normal circumstances, the power of everyone's skills in everyday use will typically be weaker than when they are released during an exam.

"And when you encounter danger, the power of your skills will also be much more potent than before.

"This is actually related to the level of control you have over your skills.

"This so-called 'level of control' is a completely separate aspect from skill proficiency."

"In fact, it can be compared to running. You can slow down and jog, or you can increase your speed and sprint. When you encounter danger, however, your overall speed will naturally become faster."

"But if you want your speed to be maintained exactly the same every minute and every second, everytime you use it… That would be difficult, right?"

The students listened with great interest, and Maggie continued.

"So, I'll be teaching you how to control your skills in this class!

"Please, follow me to the field!"

At her words, everyone headed to the field in an orderly manner.

When they had arrived, Maggie addressed everyone.

"Now, please release the most powerful fireball spell you can!"

Everyone began taking out their staffs and started channelling their skills.

Irene looked at Fike, who didn't seem to be doing so, and asked, "Fike, Where's your staff? Did you forget it in the dorm?"

Fike didn't bother with making up a reason, and simply replied sincerely.

"I don't need a staff!"

Irene looked at him in disbelief.

From the first time that she had laid eyes on Fike, Irene had gotten the sense that this young man was simple-minded.

'But he doesn't seem to be lying,' she thought to herself.

Thus, she asked further.

"Really? Then can you cast a fireball directly from your bare hands?"

Noticing Irene's disbelief, Fike simply stretched out his right hand.

In an instant, a huge, dazzling pillar of flame bloomed into the sky, the color of the flames tinged with gold.

As he knew that the temperature around the blast would be scorching, Fike had not released it in front of him. Instead, he had chosen to direct it up into the sky.

As Irene and the other students looked up at the pillar of flame, they could not help but stiffen their bodies in shock and fear.

They stood rooted to the ground in a daze.

"Damn, who set this fire? This is too excessive."

"Is that really a fireball spell? Why is it so exaggerated?"

"So that's the power of an upgraded spell? It's amazing!"

Seeing that everyone's self-confidence had been crippled by comparison, Fike immediately cut off his skill.

Watching Fike in action, even Maggie couldn't help but be a little surprised.

Throughout her many experiments, even she had never released a fireball with such power.

No, this couldn't be called a fireball anymore. It was simply Heavenly Fire.

"I didn't expect that Fike would not only grasp the concept of advancement so quickly, but that he could also release skills without relying on a staff!"

Maggie declared to the crowd, "It seems that Fike has already gotten the key to the upgrading!"

Upon hearing Maggie's words, the rest of the students realized that the Heavenly Fire had indeed been released by Fike.

They looked at him in awe and envy.

Fike thought to himself that his days may soon become lively again.