After an arduous hour of training I had already made some favourable results, choosing to train the less earth shattering spells for now I found my training speed to a likeable level.

Absorb is now level 7

Fireball is now level 8

Flame Spray is now level 7

Mana Manipulation is now level 9

Omit Chant is now level 6

With my new body I found that magic was slightly different to how it used to be, although I could launch magic from any source of my body I found the strongest concentration of mana was from my ruby crown, anywhere but my crown had a slower activation time and weaker effect.

With a little experimentation I found that I could enhance my body with mana but unfortunately I couldn't evoke a response from the blue screen, I assume it must be because it needs actual combat testing before it works.

Although the first 20 minutes training was slow everything changed when Mana manipulation hit level 5.

Passive (Dual Casting)Level5(35%)DescriptionCasting magic is simply child's play, casting two spells at the same time...not so much.

- The user can split focus and cast two separate spells at the same time

- split casting increases time (50%) and Mana cost (50%) on both spells being cast

- Can combine two (Advanced) spells to form a stronger spells

Although surprised it was a welcome change, with the addition of Dual Casting my training sky-rocketed, no longer limited to just the one spell I could easily train multiple spells at the same time, with that I had also managed to make a brand new spell.

Spell (Flame Beam)Level2(76%)DescriptionA combination of Fireball and Flame spray releases a beam of concentrated fire at the target

- Deals flame damage

- Base stats, Speed (10mph), Intensity (700°C), Range (3 meter), Mana cost (500)

- Intensity is (50°C) for every (500) Mana

Finally satisfied in my progress I decided to move on, I had to find a base in which I could safely hide away in if things get too hot, I had already ran into two life or death situations and I wasn't going to look for number three.

However before setting off I had to check on the village, despite the hostility I had faced so far it would be incredibly dangerous to run off into uncharted territory, especially with crazy paladins running around.

Setting off on what should have been a five minute walk to town instead took twenty minutes, my new body incredibly foreign I had to fight every step just to prevent myself from falling over, by the time I had reached the gates I had just only managed to grasp the art of swaying a tail without overcompensating while walking.

The once small town transforming into a walled off city, glowing red, smoke and embers raising from within was all that greeted me the town eerily quiet with not even a sounds of alarm I casually walked in.

Entering through the moss covered stone archway, I enter into the town, eerily vacant, not even a single person was in sight and yet destruction could be seen everywhere.

The attack that was unleashed onto the paladin had cut cleanly through the town, sparing nothing in its path even the nearby stone buildings that had avoided the blast were deeply melted, the furthest buildings having been spared the most damage were alight in a crimson fire.

Exploring the town my heart sunk, the remains of people reduced to only charred stains on the stone floor was an all too familiar sights in this town, those whom had been in their houses having also been unspared, all but reduced to that of charcoal

Suddenly I could hear a distant call, one which was gradually growing closer, after a minute I could hear the call again this time much louder.

"Honey? Jacob where are you? I swear you're always leaving me behind when I'm not looking, we have to visit my mum tomorrow so we need to be up bright and early"

From one of the side street a barefooted women stepped out, hands and feet burnt charcoal with tattered clothes and a stumble of a walk she finally walked over where I was observing her, with dead glaze in her eyes she stared at me for a moment.

"Excuses me sir I've lost my husband and child somewhere, I don't suppose you have seen them anywhere, my husbands the local paladin you should know him since he's always wearing that white armour when he's helping the orphanage out, he went out again during the day but hasn't returned, I went out to find him but that's when Jacob went running off somewhere as well, you sure you haven't seen them?"

Crap I can't tell her that I incinerated her husband "N-No I haven't sorry" I responded, her dead gaze turning back to her surroundings before she continued her journey.

Her calls gradually fading into the distance I let out a sigh and continued to look around.

After half an hour of searching I had finally managed to find a clue, having found him in a pit of murky water the man was anything but sane.

"The lord has saved me, the lord has saved me, the lord has saved me, the lord has saved me...." he repeated over and over and over again, as if he were chanting a spell.

"Excuse me sir" I called to him and yet his rambles continued, "Excuse me!" I said more sternly, growing annoyed I decided to try something out, "EXCUSE ME!" directing some killing intent at the same time the man finally stopped.

Turning his direction to me revealing seared eyes as if waiting for me to continue.

"Do you know of any deep caves around here" I asked.

"The trolls who live in the valley of friendship in the east are known to share their cave with anyone who ask, the adventure guild put a notice to tell people to stay away from them lest we ruin their tea-party" with that he paused as if waiting for a reply "How do I find them" I asked.

"Exit the big arch of the town and follow the road towards the lake, from there carry into the forest till until you encounter the troll hill" with that he returned back to his chanting.

Although he'd clearly gone off his rocker it wouldn't hurt to check this den out, it was better than nothing.

Satisfied I left the burning village towards the troll's base, the walk back to the lake uneventful I had plenty of time to practice walking and running.

The journey uneventful I eventually stumbled upon the location of what the man had called a "cave", was actually a huge dark hole in the ground, slanted enough to walk up and down a pile of bones littered around the entrance, a welcoming sight for anyone.

Deciding to risk it I ventured inside, trading the thick noisy forest for a dark smelly cave the cave lit up with a light tinge from my body, the sound of a grizzly bear put in a blender roared throughout the cave.

With slow steps I finally reached the source of the sound, there lying in a pile was a group of 5 trolls or what I could assume to be the trolls that is, they reminded me of the goblins, except they were mother fucking huge with tusks, disproportionate hands but without the decency of a lion cloth.

Name: Cave TrollLevel: ??Cave trolls are big lazy creatures whom love nothing more than to eat, mate and sleep, with their incredibly tough skin, regenerative blood and hulkish strength they are the bane of any weary traveller

With intelligence so low however their population remains stagnant as many of their young are eaten by their own parents by mistake- Active (Bridge Toll) Summons a demon goat to distract people, Consumes 25% health

- (Racial) Passive (Troll blood) Regeneration increased by a 100%, negated by fire

Hunched up so closely it gave me ample room to try out my poison breath, closing the distance between me and the sleeping trolls, with a satisfied grin I unleashed my poisonous cloud breath upon them, spending triple the cost I ensured that there was plenty to spread around.

Dragon's Vapour Breath is now level 2

The thick mist spreading around the cave the mist rushing in to fill everything in its toxic green mist before it submerged the trolls.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaa...." as soon as the mist covered them they let off their painful screams, the cave shuddered from their agony, all of them quickly jumping up except one, their numbers having already been reduced.

With continuous wails their bloodshot eyes found the source of the mist but it was too late, in a gruesome manner the corrosiveness increasing with every second their bodies started to melt away, their skin bubbling as their bodies fought against the mist.

In a futile effort the largest of them tried in a futile effort to rush at me, a few steps *CRACK* a wail escaping him has his leg eaten away at by the mist no longer could support him, his foot snapping under his own weight.

Within a minute the wailing finally ceased and I all but exhausted of mana released the mist, a further few minutes go by until the cave is finally clear, revealing the gooey remains of the trolls.

Level up

Level up

Level up

Level up

Level up

Level up

Level up

Level up

Dragon's Vapour Breath is now level 4

Finally having a moment of rest, I breathed a sigh of relief as I finally had found a source of safety, with my safe space ensured I continued on with my training.

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Authors note:

I swear I didn't mean to set the town on fire, it was like that when I got there!

Kinda curious as to whether anyone wants to ask me any questions about the story so far, hence why I have a poll

If you have any questions let me know, it won't effect the progress of any of the chapters