I woke to the sounds of the storm as a loud bang shattered the peace of the early morning. It wasn’t ’weather for going outside, so I decided that I would spend that day increasing the proficiency of my spells. At first, I removed stones blocking the cave entrance to let some fresh air and light inside. I felt hungry, so I brought a piece of meat from my [Item Box]. I munched on it with great enthusiasm. To train my skills and spells, I decided to fire them randomly at the trees. I would stop when my mana would reach half, as it was always good to have some reserve in case of emergency.

I charged [Death Lightning] and threw it at the nearest tree. Effect of it was evident as tree ended up shattered and burned.

‘What even is the effect of death attribute damage on living stuff? I wish that I could summon a pure death attribute spell to see it. I never managed it back on earth, but here with the system, I have a pretty good chance to find out.’ While keeping reserve, I managed to cast [Death Lightning] 9 times with my current mana before needing to rest for 40 minutes to recover mana. I had to repeat this whole cycle two times to gain any results as it seemed that using spells in actual combat boosts their growth rate.

System Announcement

Proficiency of [Death Lightning] increased to 4

Level of [Hastened MP Regeneration] increased to 3

You gained a new skill [Improved Mana Control I]

I checked the description of [Improved Mana Control] and found out that it is supposed to make spell casting easier and more effective while also decreasing the cost of spells by 5 per level with a minimal price of spells being 20. It also improves spell damage by 5 percents per level.

I was a little surprised because I had skipped basic mana control if there even is such skill. However, after minutes of thinking as I waited for my mana to regenerate, I come with the theory that it’s for the same reason that I have no walking or breathing skill, simply said it’s a most fundamental part of my body.

When my mana recovered, I returned to my training. This time I trained my [Death Flame Fireball]. It had lover mana cost, and I got a new skill to decrease mana cost so I could cast it 14 times before spending half of my mana and resting.

This cycle repeated several times as I spent the rest of the time until noon training both of these skills with these results.

System Announcement

Proficiency of [Death Lightning] increased to 5

Evolution of [Death Lightning] is available

Level of [Hastened MP Regeneration] increased to 4

Level of [Improved Mana Control] increased to 2

Level of [Astrapomancy] increased to 3

You learned spell [Ball Lighting I] as a reward for reaching level 3 of [Astrapomancy]

Level of [Pyromancy] increased to 4

You learned spell [Flaming Wave] as a reward for reaching level 4 of [Pyromancy]

Proficiency of [Death Flame Fireball] increased to 4

I was pleased and proud of these results. When I ended, it was already noon, and the rain had stopped, so I decided to eat something. Sadly my only current meal option was the remains of the last meal in my [Item Box]. They were now cold but still acceptably fresh.

‘I hate cold meat, fat always sticks in my mouth, and it is rubbery but still better than shits in the lab that I was being fed with.’

My mood became sour at the premise of eating cold, unseasoned meat, but I had no better option.

After meal, I decided to develop a new splash damage spell. It was because the presence of the wolf pack reminded me of the need to have some multitarget attack option. As a base, I used [Flame Wave]. Then I enchanted this spell with the death attribute I isolated from [Black Flame Fireball]. It was pretty easy and intuitive work, as all I needed to do was extract a small part from one spell and splice it with another spell. Basically, the whole structure of spells is similar to the code of a program. Once you learn the basics of programming and see an example of a program in front of you, it becomes pretty easy when facing the same problem as that one solved in the example program. Especially with the system pre-made spells from which I could steal some interesting parts. Sadly, I still couldn’t create a pure death spell as it required medium, for example, fire, to carry it as there is no physical representation of death.

It took me only an hour of tinkering before I gained a new spell.

Ding!

System Announcement

You learned a new spell!

[Death Flame Wave I] has been added to your spell list

You gained a new title [Spell Tinkerer].

I wanted to go out and farm some XP, but I remembered something important ‘Ohh, I almost forgot that I can evolve my [Death Lightning].’ My curiosity quickly pushed my plan for hunting to the background. Without any waiting, I willed to evolve my spell.

Spell Evolution

First, read information: It is possible to select only one option at a time. In future evolutions, this option may or may not show up again to combine with options chosen before. Even after evolution, it is still possible to use an old version of the spell.

Current evolutions for [Death Lightning]:

[Focused Death Lightning]

Focus lightning into a concentrated beam of plasma, increasing its max range by 300%.

Spell proficiency will gain additional range bonuses.

[Chain Death Lightning]

Lightning can chain up to five times.

Each chain decreases damage.

Spell proficiency will increase the max amount of chaining.

[Death Lightning II]

Increases damage scaling.

‘All of these are good options. One is basically a long-range sniper attack. The second is good against multiple opponents, and the third one is the same as the current one, only stronger. I can ignore the second option as I already have my [Death Flame Wave] to fight multiple opponents. My fireballs are pretty decent at the medium range but are too slow and inaccurate for long-range fights, so I will go with the first option.’

I made my decision and acquired [Focused Death Lightning] and walked out to hunt some fresh meat and farm a few XP.

An hour passed, and I was still walking without any set destination. Suddenly wolves appeared out of shadows, surrounding me. They slowly circled around me while growling and showing their fangs. There were at least ten of them.

‘Are you kidding me? I just acquired spell ideal to fight against multiple enemies at once, and only an hour later, I meet the whole pack of wolves. Is this coincidence?’

Without waiting for them to attack first, I fired [Death Flame Wave]. It looked like a sea wave made of black flames as it flew towards three wolves. One of the wolves managed to jump out of its trajectory, avoiding any damage. Two others weren’t so lucky as one of them was directly hit, dying instantly, while the other one partially avoided my attacks but was still covered in ugly burns, slowly suffering on the ground.

Ding!

System Announcement

You killed LV 7 [Dark Wolf]

You killed LV 8 [Dark Wolf]

You obtained 196 XP

You obtained 270 CE

You are now level 7

You gained 5 stat points for levelling up

“Argggg” pair of wolves rushed on me from behind while others blocked my escape paths. Without any hesitation, I quickly unlocked [Sky Foothold] to get out of the encirclement.

Ding!

System Announcement

You gained a new skill [Sky Foothold]

However, wolves weren’t waiting for me as one of them managed to reach me and tore my clothes, skin and muscle on my back. Twisting my face in pain, I jumped and then, using an invisible foothold, I jumped again. I flew over the surprised wolves and broke out of their circle. They quickly started to encircle me again, but not giving them any chance, I promptly threw another [Death Flame Wave]. Three surprised wolves were turned to cinders.

System Announcement

You killed LV 7 [Dark Wolf]

You killed LV 7 [Dark Wolf]

You killed LV 8 [Dark Wolf]

You obtained 287 XP

You obtained 390 CE

Proficiency of [Death Flame Wave] increased to 2

Level of [Pyromancy] increased to 5

You learned passive skill [Fire Resistance I] as a reward for reaching level 5 of [Pyromancy]

Then the biggest wolf, presumably leader, attacked me from the side. I swiftly shifted my side to avoid. However, the wolf swiftly changed the direction of his attack and managed to bite off a piece of meat from my hip before rushing away. Blood poured out of my injury, threatening me with massive blood loss. I quickly ignited my hand with [Torch Hand] and cauterised my wound while grinding my teeth.

Ding!

System Announcement

Damage of 460 received.

Status effects [Bleeding] gained

Status effects [Bleeding] removed

You gained a new skill [Pain Resistance I]

My pain, while still strong, immediately weakened. Meanwhile, another wolf jumped on me from back, but I managed to double jump again, avoiding his attack while throwing my purple fireball on it. It flew directly into its fang barring head. It burned down in a burst of purple flames, giving me enough XP to increase my level to 8. Jumping again, I increased the distance between the rest of the wolves and me. They were fast, but I was much stronger and faster than in my first fight against a wolf. So I easily created distance between us, allowing me to launch two series of two death fireballs. Three of them missed, but the fourth hit leader, who intentionally blocked my attack with its own body to protect its subordinate. When my flames touched the leader, shadows come out of him, creating some kind of protection. My flames dissipated, leaving the leader injured but alive. This attack also finally increased proficiency of [Death Flame Fireball].

Unexpectedly the leader lowered his head towards me, and after few moments other three surviving wolves joined him.