New Skills

Over the next month or so, Silas devoted most of his spare time to practicing Balzaha Lightning. To his surprise, as his understanding of the "burst" principle behind Vishanti Energy deepened and his proficiency with the fundamentals improved, Balzaha Lightning leveled up far faster than he had expected. It felt like he had cleared his internal energy channels; from then on, his cultivation naturally progressed smoothly.

Finally, late one Friday night, after he precisely shattered another dummy with a concentrated teal bolt of lightning, the Balzaha Lightning icon on the skill tree blazed with dazzling light, jumping from LV4 to LV5!

[ Ding! Congratulations, Host! Balzaha Lightning has reached its maximum level! You have successfully unlocked the fourth-tier Vishanti Origin spells: Borsat's Thunder and Sekern Red Belt! ]

The system prompt rang out. Above Balzaha Lightning on the skill tree, two new and far cooler icons lit up! One depicted violent red lightning, while the other showed several intertwined crimson energy bands.

Silas perked up and immediately began trying them out.

He focused first on Borsat's Thunder. He held his hands loosely before his chest, and the golden runes of the Ring of the Ragaddor appeared once more. This time, however, violent red energy swiftly flooded into the golden glow! He thrust both hands forward!

"Borsat's Thunder!"

An incomparably thick crimson lightning beam, scorching like lava and carrying an aura of destruction, shot explosively from the center of the Ring of the Ragaddor! After striking the first dummy, the beam did not dissipate immediately. Instead, like a living red lightning serpent, it violently leaped toward the second dummy beside it, then the third! It bounced four or five times in a row, each impact triggering a violent explosion and blasting every dummy in its path into charred fragments! Its power was several times greater than Balzaha Lightning!

"Whoa! Now that's some power! Awesome!" Silas nodded in satisfaction as he looked over the wrecked training ground.

Next, he turned to Sekern Red Belt. He extended his right hand, spreading his fingers as he imagined binding and entanglement.

"Sekern Red Belt!"

Several crimson-glowing energy bands, as alive as living creatures, shot from his fingertips! Like intelligent venomous snakes, they swiftly wrapped around an intact dummy in the distance, binding it tightly from head to toe! The dummy struggled desperately, but the crimson energy bands did not budge. Instead, they tightened further and further!

[ Oh, right, a friendly reminder, ] the system said smugly. [ Once Sekern Red Belt successfully binds a target, its energy structure is extremely stable and possesses the property of being 'indestructible.' Unless the caster voluntarily releases it, or the target's magic far exceeds the caster's, it is nearly impossible to break or escape through any external force. ]

"Indestructible?" Silas's eyes lit up. "Nice! This'll make catching people or trapping things way more convenient!"

He could feel the considerable drain on his magic after casting two advanced spells in succession, yet his face was full of excitement. He was extremely satisfied with the power of the fourth-tier spells. He had Borsat's Thunder for offense, Sekern Red Belt for control, and Seraphim Shield, which combined offense and defense, was within reach. His combat ability had risen to another level.

"Looks like it's time to find an opportunity... to test these new toys in real combat." Silas looked at the dummy bound so tightly by the red belts that it could not move, a mischievous grin curling across his lips.

After successfully mastering the fourth-tier Borsat's Thunder and Sekern Red Belt, Silas's confidence soared. He pulled up the skill tree, his gaze passing over the spells already lit up and landing on the still-gray icons higher above, his heart filled with longing for greater power.

However, he first thought of another crucial skill. "System, I have a question," he asked, stroking his chin. "How exactly am I supposed to practice that Lord of Hogus magic-dispelling spell? I can't exactly play around with it in front of a mirror by myself, can I?"

The system's answer was simple and brutal:

[ Most effective method: Find someone to attack you with magic, then practice dispelling it in actual combat. ]

Silas's face immediately fell. "Forget it, forget it! That would hurt too much! And where am I supposed to find a sparring partner willing to help me practice getting hit without killing me?" He immediately abandoned the idea. The risk was too high; it did not fit his survival-first principle.

"Better see what goodies the fifth tier has first. Give me some motivation." Silas focused his attention on the fifth tier of the skill tree.

Above Borsat's Thunder and Sekern Red Belt were two new gray icons, their designs even more intricate and mysterious, radiating an irresistible glow.

The system began its explanation at just the right moment, its tone carrying the solemnity of introducing ultimate weapons:

[ The fifth-tier Vishanti Origin spells are the highest level currently available for the Host to preview. They are— ]

As the system spoke, the first gray icon faintly lit up, revealing its form: a complex pattern composed of seven layered, slowly rotating energy rings, with an extremely compressed and heart-palpitating energy core condensed at their center.

[ Synigrus Seven Suns. ] The system's voice carried a trace of reverence. [ This spell requires seven Vishanti Energy rings to be formed around both hands. Through extraordinarily precise control, magic is compressed and layered seven times to its limit, ultimately firing a highly concentrated, unstoppable arcane laser from the central point. Its penetrative power and single-point destructive force rank among the very best of Vishanti spells. ]

Silas imagined himself wearing seven energy halos around his hands and firing a devastating beam, and he could not help swallowing. "This... this sounds like a Jedi unleashing their ultimate move in Star Wars! That's insanely cool!"

The system continued. The second gray icon lit up, depicting a cluster of pure, holy golden flames that nevertheless contained the power to burn all things to ash.

[ And Vishanti's Flame. ] The system's tone grew even more solemn. [ This is the most extreme form of energy release within the Vishanti Magic system. It summons and controls sacred flames originating from the Vishanti itself. Pure gold in color, they can purify evil and burn away darkness. This is the purest power of light, as well as the most violent destructive energy. It is one of the ultimate manifestations of Vishanti Magic in terms of offense. ]

"Vishanti's Flame... golden fire..." Silas stared at the icon, as though he could feel its scorching yet sacred aura. "Sounds like the ultimate weapon for burning all kinds of demons and monsters!"

Looking at the two ultimate spells on the fifth tier, whose descriptions alone made his blood boil, Silas felt his motivation to level up surge once more! Although he knew there was still a long road ahead before he could max out the fourth tier and unlock the fifth, having a clear goal made everything worth looking forward to.

"Synigrus Seven Suns... Vishanti's Flame..." Silas murmured, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "All right! If I want to unleash moves this cool, I'd better work harder!"

He closed the skill tree interface and began gathering the energy for Balzaha Lightning again. Though the training process was tedious, whenever he thought of one day wielding the Seven Suns rings or scattering sacred golden flames, the hardship before him no longer seemed like much. The road to becoming stronger was always full of temptation.