Lightning Strike Technique

Studying...

It wasn't as though he hated studying that much.

It was just that the thought of starting from scratch to learn obscure, difficult knowledge in an unfamiliar otherworld gave him a headache.

"I understand."

But driven by his desire for magic,

Lu Cang still accepted the magic book.

He opened the first page.

The text was obscure and difficult. Of course, it couldn't possibly be Chinese characters.

Yet just as he could naturally understand Kumiloni and the others when they spoke, Lu Cang could somehow read these strange-looking words as well.

Thankfully, he could understand them. If he couldn't, that would have been troublesome.

He would have had to start by learning how to read.

Contents:

History and Origins of the Lightning Strike Technique...1

Lightning Runes...20

Spell Structure of the Lightning Strike Technique...25

Chant for the Lightning Strike Technique...29

Essentials of the Lightning Strike Technique...29

Prospects and Variations of the Lightning Strike Technique...32

Heh...

This magic book was not particularly thick, with only thirty-five pages in total.

Yet nineteen of those pages were mainly about its history and origins.

"Ah, you don't need to read the beginning."

"Just read page twenty-nine first," Iz said.

Good. Iz, you really were a decent teacher. Thankfully, you weren't going to lecture him on a long, tedious history of the Lightning Strike Technique.

For an apprentice who wanted to cast magic, those things were completely unimportant.

Lu Cang flipped to page twenty-nine.

[Chant for the Lightning Strike Technique]

[Wild power of thunder, I call upon the descent of lightning—bring down punishment!]

"As a first-tier spell, the Lightning Strike Technique doesn't require the construction of a casting array."

Iz walked over to Lu Cang.

He handed Lu Cang a slender, lightweight Magic Wand resembling a conductor's baton.

A clear red gemstone was set into the tip of the Magic Wand.

"Come on, face that open patch and chant the spell."

"Try to see whether you can cast it."

Lu Cang accepted the Magic Wand. "Thank you."

Hearing his instructions, Lu Cang let out a breath of relief.

He only needed to chant the spell?

If that was all, then there was no need to pull out a magic book and scare him like that.

Lu Cang took a deep breath.

He chanted the spell he had just seen in the magic book. Its writing was clearly different from the other text, but he could still understand it and pronounce it.

"Wild power of thunder."

The magic power within him began to surge. The lightning elements around him merged with his magic power, gradually becoming a part of him.

The process was incredibly wondrous, a sensation impossible to experience on Earth.

"I call upon the descent of lightning."

Crackle!

Sparks burst from the tip of the Magic Wand, electric arcs dancing across it and making Lu Cang's heart skip a beat.

Electric arcs and sparks had represented danger on Earth.

But now, they were magic he wielded himself.

"Bring down punishment!"

The chant was complete!

At that instant, Lu Cang felt as though he had gained control over the power of lightning.

Almost naturally, a feeling rose within him that he could pull a bolt of lightning down from the sky!

Without hesitation, he swung the Magic Wand!

As the Magic Wand swept down!

A slender streak of lightning struck toward the earth!

Boom!

Lightning Strike Technique!

The lightning pierced the ground, leaving behind a patch of scorched earth amid the grass.

"Magic learned—Lightning Strike Technique (LV:1)"

"Lightning Strike Technique Proficiency EXP +10000"

"Lightning Strike Technique (LV:5)"

As the Lightning Strike Technique descended, a hazy realization also surfaced in Lu Cang's mind.

His understanding of the Lightning Strike Technique had deepened.

"Haha, not bad." Iz laughed with his hands on his hips.

"As expected, you have quite the talent for magic!"

Kumiloni was somewhat surprised as well. She praised him, "You actually cast the Lightning Strike Technique after reading the chant only once."

Lu Cang asked curiously, "Isn't that normal?"

Kumiloni shook her head with a faint smile. "No. Normally, after receiving a magic book, a mage needs to carefully read its records and sense the flow of magic power according to its descriptions."

"After simulating the flow of magic power, they must communicate with the corresponding element. Chanting the spell is only the final step."

"If they still cannot cast the magic, they have to reread the magic book and try to understand it several more times."

Oh... so that was how it worked.

No wonder they had pulled out a magic book for him. He had been wondering why they did not simply tell him the chant verbally if that was all he needed.

But if that was the case, perhaps he truly did have considerable talent for magic.

Then again, it might have been an effect of his talent.

"Divine Proficiency Evolution"

"Easier to master new skills. Proficiency gains for all skills are ten thousand times the normal rate."

"Once proficiency requirements are met, mastered skills can evolve."

"Can view skill proficiency progress."

Perhaps it was because of this talent that he had learned the Lightning Strike Technique on his first chant.

Of course...

It was also possible that he simply had exceptional magical talent.

As Lu Cang marveled inwardly, he faced the open space in the distance.

He was just about to chant the spell again.

But another feeling suddenly arose within him. He somehow felt that the chant could be shorter.

"Lightning Strike Technique (LV:5)—Shortened chant, slightly increased power"

"Lightning descends, bring down punishment!"

A shorter, faster chant.

Boom!

Immediately afterward, another bolt of lightning came down!

The first strike had been only a thin streak of lightning, as narrow as a hemp rope. But on this second casting, the lightning was already as thick as an arm!

Its power was much greater as well!

"The chant... was shortened?"

Kumiloni's face was filled with astonishment.

This child had shortened the chant on only his second casting?

His magical talent truly carried hints of Iz's.

"Again!" Iz grew excited when he saw Lu Cang's magic.

It had been a long time since he had seen a true genius.

Lu Cang nodded!

"Lightning Strike Technique (LV:8)—Even shorter chant, moderate power increase"

"Thunder!"

Boom!

For the third casting, he used only two syllables!

And he spoke even faster!

The instant the final word left his mouth!

The lightning had already crashed down!

This time, the lightning was even larger and thicker. After striking the ground, faint electric arcs still lingered in the air!

"Lightning Strike Technique (LV:10)—No chant, significantly increased power"

Whoosh!

Lu Cang's heart surged with excitement!

He could feel the magic power within him stirring, joining together with the lightning!

The open sky and earth seemed intimately connected with his soul!

He swung the Magic Wand again!

Boom!

A purple pillar of lightning struck down like a gigantic python! Then a second bolt immediately followed! A third!

"Proficiency level increased—Lightning Strike Technique (LV:12)"

"Proficiency level increased—Lightning Strike Technique (LV:14)"

"Proficiency level increased—Lightning Strike Technique (LV:16)—No chant, Double Lightning Strike Technique, greater power"

Boom!

Beginning with the fourth strike, he was casting completely without chants.

This child's magical talent was truly terrifyingly high.

Boom!

Boom, boom!

Lightning swept across the earth, scorching patch after patch of grass-covered ground into blackened soil. Yet every overlooked patch of charred earth was always soaked by gentle streams of water.

Enjoying spellcasting was a good thing.

Iz had no intention of dampening the enthusiasm of a child who loved casting magic.

The feeling of controlling supernatural power was wonderful. The feeling of being able to cast magic was incredible!

He was a mage now!

Calling the wind and rain—this feeling was pretty great.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit him.

Why was his vision going dark?