"Now, this should work."

Ainen upgraded A-rank Mark of the Hunter to S-rank Flame Hunter's Mark!

[Flame Hunter's Mark]

Rank: S

Attributes: Mystic, Fire

Effect:

—> You can mark a target within your vision at the cost of 50 Mana. The marked target will be detectable live within 1 kilometer of you, giving you a sense of the target's pinpoint directions. You can also see a special trail left behind by the target. The mark cannot be erased as long as you are feeding it 5 Mana per second. This connection will be broken if the target is 100 kilometers away from you, and the target would be able to erase the mark.

—> The damage against the marked target is increased by 10%. If attacked by fire-attributed attacks, the damage increases by 20%, and there is a higher chance of inflicting burn. (Burn: Burns vitality per second and reduces healing).

'It's a massive improvement, Ainen. This is very good. Your Windbloom Lance will be even more powerful with this.' Lord Black nodded his imaginative head. 'If you can learn the Mystic Attribute of this skill completely, it would be even better. It's a fairly common Mystic Attribute that is easily pilable.'

'Oh? Is it Mark?'

'Yep. Mark. This Mystic Attribute is used in a myriad of ways by higher rank powerhouses in their skills. The one hour you spent trying to get your head around this skill's core was worth it since you can sense Mark and influence it already.'

'Yeah. I should be able to learn this Mystic Attribute sooner rather than later.'

'But for now, it's time to create Dune Blaze Art.'

Ainen had no difficulty in creating that.

He was already experienced in how to give his Palatebloom Flame new aspects from different elements when he created Zephyrus Flame Art.

Using characteristics of both Sand and Fire in a flexible way to create spells with more potent effects.

Ainen decided to create a solid defensive spell first.

His vision was creating a swirling mantle of burning sand that could transform into glass and stream of sand swiftly switching between states to act as a kind of mobile defense.

After ten minutes, he was done.

A stream of hot, burning sand, like countless fiery stars, swirled around him.

In the next moment, they converged and transformed into a glass with fiery pathways that streamed rapidly, circulating burning sands. Any attack would be blocked, and the projectiles would also be disintegrated by the fiery pathways that would attack whatever contacted the glass.

This wasn't a normal defense that just endured incoming attacks. Aside from defending, it would also destroy the attack to deal with it quickly.

'Alright, I'll name this Scorched Dune Mantle.'

Ainen sat down again and started brainstorming for the next spell.

A control-type spell that could immobilize or at least slow down the Werewolf.

The ice from the werewolf inflicted slow on him, especially whenever a part of him was frozen.

Ainen combined Sand and Fire and started molding their structure while brainstorming.

Soon, he came up with an idea and created a spell.

'Let's name this…Dustflare Bindings.'

Dustflare Bindings: Chain-like projectiles of burning sand that hook onto enemies or surfaces, searing deeply and forming into glass, connecting to the target completely and being impossible to remove without getting injured. Once latched, Ainen can either pull enemies closer or anchor them in place by hardening into molten glass entirely. The chain can also be snapped to create a fiery backlash explosion.

'This is impressive and deadly, but you have to hit the enemy. If they dodge or defend, it's over.'

'Yeah, so I need another spell…if a target is flying, the best way to disrupt their flight is with wind. I got an idea.'

Ainen then created the fourth spell of Zephyrus Flame Art, which he named Swirling Blaze Slam.

Swirling Blaze Slam: Forming a mini flame vortex around the target that swiftly creates downward wind pressure, disrupting the target's movement or flight and forcing them into downward motion.

The good thing about this spell was that as long as a target had Flame Hunter's Mark, Ainen would be able to use Swirling Blaze Slam around them to disrupt their movement and slam them down.

'With this, it will be easier for me to hit targets with Dustflare Bindings. Then I can finish them off easily.'

'Good. Might as well make your first combo. Chaining skills to ultimately end your opponent without giving them a chance to escape.'

Ainen grinned. 'That's the plan.'

He went on to create a third spell for Dune Blaze Art. This time, an offensive one. Deadly offensive.

Solar Dune Impalement.

Condense molten sand and fire into a single, drill-like lance that strikes with the focused intensity of a solar flare while spinning like a drill for increased penetration. Instead of exploding outward, the spell penetrates inward — melting, grinding, and vitrifying whatever it touches…until it hits the threshold temperature point, at which it would explode for maximum damage.

'Alright, this is it.'

Ainen stood up and practiced with the spells for five minutes before he challenged the first floor again.

"Awooooo!"

Same scenery, same enemy.

The werewolf arrived with an attack, its claw projectiles shooting at Ainen before it even landed this time.

But Ainen was prepared.

The stream of burning sand around him instantly solidified into three-layered glass, blocking the attack completely despite the werewolf having higher magic potency!

Flame Hunter's Mark.

Ainen's eyes glinted.

The werewolf howled as a blizzard once again shrouded everything.

It lunged at him with its claw, gleaming while icy shards shot at him from above in a two-pronged attack.

Ainen's eyes glinted. Swirling Blaze Slam!

Around the marked werewolf, the air twisted. The sand particles caught the heat from his mark and spun into a fiery vortex. The wind howled downward, violent and invisible, slamming the werewolf from mid-leap into the ground.

Meanwhile, the Scorched Dune Mantle defended against the icy shards easily. The good thing was that this skill defended him automatically. All he had to do was provide energy to keep its quantity high after every clash.

"Nope, you're not going anywhere."

The werewolf he slammed was about to get up, but Ainen's five fingers had already unleashed Dustflare Bindings.

Chains of molten sand erupted from his hand like striking serpents, hooking onto the werewolf's limbs. The chains sizzled against its icy fur, embedding deep and melting through flesh before hardening into fiery glass.

"Awoooo!!" The werewolf howled.

The werewolf roared, struggling, trying to pull free, but the harder it struggled, the deeper the bindings fused. Moreover, using its own ice was only making the glass tougher because Ainen was adjusting the temperature, using its own ice to harden the bindings.

Ainen walked towards the werewolf leisurely.

"And I was struggling in the previous duel." Ainen wryly smiled. "Skills really make a big difference."

'Indeed. Each of those spells is actually S or S+ based on their technicality power.' Lord Black wryly smiled.

'Nice. Now then, let's finish this.'

Solar Dune Impalement.

Two spears/lances of solar gold formed, warping air around them as they spun rapidly with the mechanism Ainen structured.

The molten lances punched through the werewolf's chest and head, piercing straight through. Veins of orange and gold light flashed across its body like lightning trapped beneath skin before the beast exploded and turned into motes before vanishing entirely.

[ Congratulations. You have cleared the first floor. ]

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.