Chương 89: Unlock Conditions

Zeliel removed his shirt and lowered his head to examine his body. There was no exaggerated transformation where his muscles suddenly bulged into those of a massive warrior. The changes brought by this power were far more subtle. Zeliel could clearly feel that every muscle fiber in his body had been nourished by this strange energy, becoming denser and filled with greater explosive strength. The contours of his body had become more defined.

His posture had grown straighter, giving him a lean yet powerful appearance filled with agile, flowing grace. This overwhelming sense of vitality and strength felt incredibly satisfying. For a moment, Zeliel had the urge to punch the wooden table beside him just to test his power. But after considering the possibility of having to pay for the damage... He decided against it. I need to find somewhere and see exactly how much I've improved.

Zeliel quickly put his clothes back on, grabbed his rapier and whitewood wand, shoved them casually into his belt, threw on a thin outer coat, and rushed downstairs.

"Good morning, Zeli—" Behind the counter, Auro had just finished her night shift and was about to greet him. Then she watched as Zeliel shot out of the inn like a gust of wind. The airflow he created even messed up her bangs.

"W-What just happened?" Auro blinked. Her face was filled with confusion.... Outside Blackstone Town, beside the riverbank, the morning mist had yet to completely disappear. Zeliel stood there, feeling the power overflowing inside his body. A confidence he had never experienced before slowly rose within his heart. He could no longer suppress his excitement. It was time to test his abilities after the attribute increase. First— His physical abilities. Zeliel lowered his center of gravity and leaned forward slightly.

"Whoosh!" The next moment, his body launched forward like an arrow released from a bowstring. Zeliel accelerated rapidly. The grass along the riverbank blurred beneath his feet, while the wind howled past his ears. He could clearly feel the difference. His running speed had increased dramatically compared to before. More importantly, his bodily coordination had improved by an enormous margin. While moving at high speed, he could now execute movements such as sharp turns, sudden stops, and chained jumps with ease.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Every step landed precisely. Every part of his body responded exactly as he intended. There was no resistance. No awkwardness. Zeliel sprinted back and forth along the river several times before finally stopping, a slight sheen of sweat appearing on his forehead. He took a deep breath. His cardiovascular ability had also been strengthened. His endurance was far greater than before.

After resting briefly, Zeliel picked up a stone from the ground and held it tightly in his palm. He applied force with all five fingers.

"Alright..." Zeliel reluctantly opened his hand. The scene he imagined—crushing the stone into powder with sheer strength—did not happen. Apparently, his power had not reached that absurd level yet. However, there was still an unexpected benefit. The stone had sharp edges, yet even after squeezing it tightly, his skin wasn't cut. Only faint white marks remained. So Constitution really is useful. The physical test was complete. Next— Close combat. Zeliel placed his hand on the sword hilt. Then— Shing!

The rapier was drawn in an instant. The blade reflected a cold gleam beneath the morning sunlight. Holding the rapier felt much lighter than before. Every movement felt smoother and more natural. That was likely the result of his increased Strength and Agility. Zeliel had never learned any formal sword techniques. He simply relied on his instincts and swung the weapon. Slash. Sweep. Thrust. Rising cut.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Shing!" Every swing produced a sharp tearing sound as the blade cut through the air. Whether it was strength, speed, or the pressure behind each attack... Everything had improved by more than a single level. Each strike now carried genuine threat. He would never again be completely helpless if an enemy got close. Excitement flashed in Zeliel's eyes. He had a feeling that if he learned a few practical sword techniques, he might even be able to join a low-level adventurer party as a swordsman.

The confidence and security brought by a powerful body were something nothing else could replace. As expected of Mana Bond. Thinking this, Zeliel shifted his gaze back to the Talent Skill panel. Just as expected. A line of gray text had appeared, displaying the condition required to unlock his next talent. [Reach Mid-Tier Mage] Well... expected. Zeliel wasn't surprised. He was simply curious what kind of surprise his third talent skill would bring.

After fully enjoying the improvements brought by his physical enhancement, Zeliel finally turned his attention back to magic. He focused his mind and began examining the Spell Matrices he had long since memorized. With an Intelligence stat of 114, his mana manipulation ability had undergone a qualitative transformation. Many mana pathways that had previously seemed impossible were now easily achievable. His Spell Matrices could be further modified, becoming simpler and more efficient.

"This connection can be adjusted like this..."

"This rune's mana guidance route can completely follow a shorter straight path..."

"This mana conduction circuit doesn't need to exist at all..." Countless inspirations erupted within Zeliel's mind like a spring suddenly bursting forth. He didn't even need tedious spell practice. Simply reviewing the structures once was enough for him to effortlessly optimize numerous Spell Matrices. After reconstructing the improved versions, Zeliel immediately began testing them. Flame Breath! The complex spell charging process that originally required more than six seconds... Now— One. Two. Three. Four.

Just over four seconds. In such a short time, Zeliel completed the spell construction without even using his wand. The entire process flowed smoothly. The torrent of flames erupting from his palm was also nearly twice as thick as before. Arcane Missile! This convenient and practical Arcane spell had also received a significant improvement in casting speed. It broke through the five-second barrier. The condensed prismatic projectile shone brilliantly, radiating a far more dangerous aura than before. One shot.

"BOOM!" It shattered more than half of a massive boulder beside the river. Its destructive power had increased tremendously. Likewise, the charging speed of Severing Water had improved drastically. The water blade, thin as a cicada's wing, possessed even greater cutting power than before. As for his Tier 2 spells, there was no need to mention them. Every spell's casting time had been reduced to under three seconds.

Combined with the enhancement from the whitewood wand, Zeliel could now release them in just over two seconds. In future battles... Using overwhelming magical firepower to suppress enemies was no longer impossible. Then... Zeliel took a deep breath. A greater anticipation began rising in his heart. Now that he had become a Lower-Tier Mage... Mist Veil... He should be able to use it now, right?

Based on its description and the Mistwraith's performance in actual combat, Mist Veil was practically a physical immunity barrier. Once mastered, attacks without magic or Aura would no longer pose any real threat to him. His survivability would increase dramatically. Zeliel immersed his consciousness and focused his attention on the Spell Matrix of Mist Veil, which he had already completely analyzed. Previously, his mana manipulation ability had been insufficient.

Even though he understood the Spell Matrix, he had been completely unable to cast it.