Arcane Aberration's Day of Suffering

The intelligence of an elemental creature is directly proportional to the energy it possesses. According to Velania, if a single Arcane Aberration or a group of them were to stumble upon the Conduit Crystal at the Western Temple, it is highly likely they would develop a certain level of intelligence and pose a threat.

In such a scenario, the mana overflowing from the Ley Line node would be continuously fed into these elementals. If left unchecked, it would likely result in catastrophic losses.

Therefore, Velania's intention was not for this group to completely clear the area—casting a wide net to catch more fish—but rather, the primary goal was to locate the destination of the flow-guiding array. Once the Conduit Crystal is recovered, everything else will be easy to handle.

"I'm going to go give some instructions; I'll leave this to you." Waving her hand, Velania walked into the tower.

"Alright, students, gather around..." Lanlos shook his head helplessly, pulling everyone together.

Although many were complaining about how troublesome the mission was, since the teaching assistant had spoken, they had to show some basic respect. Under Lanlos's arrangement, the group was fairly obedient, forming three-man squads and taking responsibility for different directions.

As for Lanlos himself, he chose to operate alone. After all, as a teaching assistant, if people found out he only knew 1st-level spells, he would be the laughingstock of the academy.

Watching the group scatter in all directions, Velania, standing on the Astrology Platform, revealed a faint smile. But perhaps it was just an illusion; that smile seemed to carry a hint of something sinister.

The reason the mission at the Western Temple could fall to the apprentices was primarily because these Arcane Aberrations were weak and possessed almost no desire to attack.

Looking at the small, blue-purple, inverted-teardrop-shaped fatty wobbling in front of him, Lanlos squatted down to bring his line of sight level with the two small spheres on its upper body that were presumably eyes.

Tsk, this thing is actually quite cute.

He reached out a finger and poked its chubby face cautiously. Accompanied by a buzzing sound from within its body, a jelly-like sensation transmitted to Lanlos's fingertip.

Just as he was considering whether to keep an Arcane Aberration as a pet, he used a bit too much force, and his finger plunged directly into its body.

"Oops, my bad..." Despite his words, Lanlos's finger kept churning inside the fluid-like interior, showing not even a shred of genuine apology.

At the same time, the Arcane Aberration raised its seemingly sturdy arms.

Lanlos didn't dodge, letting the creature's fists strike his arm and body. It felt like a child hitting him with an inflatable hammer—soft, squishy, and even bouncy.

Cute, and not a brain in sight.

So this is what "low desire to attack" means? Is this what 8 Charisma feels like? I love it.

With a kind smile, a flash of incandescent electricity sparked from the finger Lanlos had buried in the Arcane Aberration. Following a crackle of sparks, the Arcane Aberration vanished like mist. Picking up a fingernail-sized pale blue crystal from the ground, Lanlos couldn't help but sigh.

This was the first time he had witnessed the true power of Shocking Grasp. The last time, it had been neutralized by the black-clad figure's energy-resistant enchantment, which had dealt a significant blow to his pride. After all, enchantments are truly expensive, especially those that can self-regenerate mana after consumption; even in Quel'Thalas, they fetch a high price. How could I have possibly offended such a wealthy master—no, it should be a wealthy mistress.

Should I offer to pay with my body if we meet again?

While recalling every possible way he might have made an enemy at Fastherin, Lanlos tucked the Arcane Shard into his pouch and stood up to continue forward. The woodland here wasn't dense, and the visibility was relatively open, making it easy to spot wandering Arcane Aberrations. Plus, since they posed no threat and he had cast a shield spell on himself, Lanlos couldn't find a reason to be serious.

It was precisely because of this that he failed to notice a bush in the distance behind him shaking unnaturally.

Along the way, Lanlos experimented with various attack methods on the Arcane Aberrations.

Fireball and Arcane Missiles went without saying; the enemies had no ability to block, and as small elemental creatures, the magical damage would affect their entire bodies, resulting in almost certain one-hit kills.

Although Force Impact had the lowest damage, it could toss these little guys—who stood less than half the height of his thigh—high into the air like balloons, and few remained intact upon landing.

Mage Hand could even lift them into the air for a short while; the sight of their two short, chubby arms flailing made Lanlos hesitate for a moment. He almost wanted to put a leash on one and take it back. Of course, he didn't want to take a bite out of it in private...

Speaking of leashes, the 1st-level spell Animate Rope could be used, and it really could drag them along, though keeping them bound for too long would trigger their attack instincts. Occasionally, one or two Arcane Aberrations would even use magic, firing an Arcane Missile at him, but with his shield spell active, it was basically negligible.

As for Shocking Grasp, he was surprised to find that the applications of such touch spells were incredibly varied. Hugs, kisses, lifting them high, kicks, knee strikes, slaps—in short, as long as there was physical contact, it worked normally even through clothing. The word "grasp" was actually a bit misleading.

The biggest surprise was the combination of Shocking Grasp and the Windrunner Blade.

As the gleaming scimitar flipped in his hand, Lanlos whispered the incantation. As mana gathered, several sparks of electricity danced and collided on the blade. Sharp, terrifying whistles echoed in the air, making one's eardrums feel inexplicably numb.

Looking at the Windrunner Blade enhanced by Shocking Grasp, Lanlos couldn't help but smile from the heart. When playing with the Windrunner Blade, he noticed the hilt was also metal. Considering the essence of Shocking Grasp was electricity, he tried channeling the magic into the blade.

The result was gratifying.

The significance of attaching Shocking Grasp to a scimitar wasn't just about adding magical damage to the slash; the key was the paralysis. This underhanded... this "upright and honorable" method was often able to catch enemies off guard, and discharging electricity through a blade was at least much safer than touching them with his body.

As for why a mage would use a blade? Because it's cool!

Stepping forward into a lunge, his upper body leaning forward, Lanlos suddenly chanted a string of incantations. At the same time, a light mana gathered in his legs.

Speed Dash!

Whoosh!

Lanlos's forward speed became a blur, leaving only a trail of slowly rising dust. The nearly twofold increase in movement speed from Speed Dash made him look like a sprinting cheetah, crossing a hundred meters in the blink of an eye. Not far behind him, the Arcane Aberration that had been cut in half dissolved into mist amidst several arcs of electricity.

Looking at the sharp blade in his hand, Lanlos's eyes showed a hint of reluctance.

If I had known it was this useful, I wouldn't have left my name for that guy Lirath back then.

With a soft sigh, he sheathed the Windrunner Blade and bent down to collect the Arcane Shards.

The "coolness" was just a joke. Lanlos's current body originally belonged to a down-and-out elven noble who had learned the basics of archery, horsemanship, and swordsmanship. Coupled with the skills he had acquired from the demon, he was actually quite confident in hand-to-hand combat.

Although this body wasn't very sturdy, with Fel energy, if one were to count it, his close-quarters combat ability was currently much stronger than his spellcasting ability.

If he could, he would actually be quite willing to strengthen his physical combat capabilities.

But!

To gain an advantage in close-quarters combat, the most important things are a good blade, fine armor, and an incredibly hard shield. Those things all cost shiny gold coins!

However, most of the time, spellcasters spend much more than melee combatants; it's just that Lanlos hadn't noticed because he had the Keystone to assist him. Ordinary spellcasters studying the arcane have to copy from spell scrolls they can use. If it weren't for the Keystone's powerful calculation and projection, the price of a single spell scroll would be enough to bankrupt him. Not to mention his alchemy, enchanting, and inscription practice—all were successful on the first try. And because of his exaggerated learning efficiency and precise mana management, he never had to waste money on mana crystals or mana and health recovery potions during his studies.

It is very difficult for young people in this world to get ahead, so most people choose to join the military or established organizations with fixed salaries once they meet the standards, just to make a living. It's not that there aren't adventurers, but most are bottom-tier. Moreover, there is no mention of any guild halls anywhere; to earn a reward, one either has to advertise everywhere and take private commissions, or try their luck at city halls and tavern bars in various cities. If the market is good, one might feast on meat and wine; if not, one might end up turning to banditry.

In this regard, Lanlos was fortunate.

Shameless, base, filthy scum!

Beneath the shade of the thicket, the elf silently peeked her right eye out from the shadows. Her pale blue eyes, once as clear as the sky, seemed to gather dark, heavy storm clouds. Her resentment and killing intent felt as if they had manifested into countless flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder; she swore she would not rest until she tore that grey-haired youth to shreds.

Especially when she saw Lanlos staring at the gleaming blade with a look that shifted between glee and obsession, Vereesa felt a current that triggered her nightmares sweep across her chest. Though it was an illusion, the lingering humiliation and shame made her toss and turn, waking her from nightmares for several days in a row.

And when Lanlos's hand kept caressing the spot where the name 'Alleria' was engraved, Vereesa instantly bristled. It was as if she could see through this man's brain, witnessing her respected sister being subjected to horrific torment and humiliation in this pervert's thoughts...

No!

The absurd images in her mind made Vereesa tremble all over, even instinctively drawing her bow and nocking an arrow, wishing she could shoot him dead on the spot.

"Hmm?" An unusual aura flickered in his perception, and Lanlos turned his head in confusion. Aside from golden maple leaves rustling in the wind, there was nothing out of the ordinary.

It was about time to find a place to rest. Glancing at his remaining 24% mana, Lanlos took a deep breath, dispelling the faint sense of fatigue in his mind.

It was still dangerous for a spellcaster to travel alone; one had to cultivate the caution of keeping a trump card for survival. Leaving just enough mana to cast a shield spell and Speed Dash, Lanlos checked the sky, pulled out a regional map, and headed toward a sheltered clearing.

Only after his figure had disappeared for quite a while did Vereesa, hidden in the rear, emerge from the shadows.

Unlike her time at the academy, her attire was noticeably different. Her delicate curves appeared capable and slender against the brown leather armor, her conspicuous silver hair was completely hidden by a hood, and because she had been moving silently in the shade, she had almost blended perfectly into the surrounding environment.

Strangely, she was wearing a wide cloak in the jungle environment, and the mysterious runes carved upon it shimmered with a faint, strange aura under the afternoon sun. Furthermore, whenever she ceased her movements, her entire person seemed to become transparent, and even her presence vanished without a trace.

The previous encounter had taught Vereesa that this guy possessed remarkable perception. This time, with the help of the magic cloak, she was confident she would not repeat the same mistakes.

Although she could not kill him, she was determined to teach this shameless scoundrel a lesson he would never forget.