"Finally... Now I just need to read that book again and I can use a second spell." Leon’s lips curved up into a smile amidst the struggle. But suddenly...

Something clicked in his mind. "Wait... What’s this feeling. It’s as if..." Leon whispered as his speed slowed down a little.

He didn’t even notice what was coming. A black palm covered with thick white fur grew bigger. And then!!!

Bam!

A tyrant beast’s arm slammed on Leon, blasting him away like a cannonball.

But Leon didn’t bother. Pain erupted inside him but it was as if he couldn’t even feel it.

He was still in the air when he raised his palm and stared at it. Steam materialized, condensing into a sphere. Soon, a perfectly round ice ball appeared in his palm. But he wasn’t done. He felt as if he could do more. "I.. I know what to do." More cold energy surged into the sphere. But instead of growing larger, it tightened, grew smaller being condensed.

Leon stared at the ice ball in amazement. Just before he hit a tree at his back, he straightened his hand toward the horde.

The ice ball shot forward. It felt as if the world had slowed down. He saw the ice ball shooting forward. Then slammed into a white bear. The moment it did.... 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Boooooom!

The ice ball exploded as the huge bear was sent flying like a rag doll.

Leon’s body hit the tree with a thud.

Crack!

He could hear one of his ribs breaking. But a smile spread across his face.

"That spell... It’s explosive ice ball. Truly a spell worthy of its name."

[2nd spell: Explosive ice ball

Comprehension level: .05%]

"I wasn’t just completing a task to learn a new spell. I was actually understanding how it really works. The basic. So that’s how mastering a spell can make me comprehend the next spell.

The monsters were rushing toward Leon in rage. Leon slowly pressed against the tree and stood up.

"Blarrghhh!" He coughed up a mouthful of blood. "You guys still haven’t grasped the situation, have you?" Leon smiled, wiping the blood from the corner of his lips. "But well, if you are that desperate to help me rise, then how can I not accept?"

Leon raised his both hands.

"Explosive ice balls." He whispered. The next moment, ice balls flew out from his palms one after another.

One ice bear was sprinting like a hungry predator. Five ice balls barreled on it.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

A chained explosion roared.

Frost covered, bloody chunks of meat erupted in the air.

Leon didn’t stop. The explosive ice balls rained down on the horde of monsters like heavenly judgement.

Snow and dust exploded. Angry and painful growls echoed before abruptly trailing off. The ground trembled beneath the continuous explosions. Snow scattered everywhere, revealing cracked earth beneath the white surface. Several trees near the edge of the forest had been blown apart, their broken trunks covered in frost.

After five minutes, Leon finally stopped. Nothing could be seen at first. But the dust and white steam slowly started to fade.

When the sight was cleared again, it became too spotless. Not a single tyrant ice bear was standing.

Leon collapsed on his knees. "Arghhhhhh! Fuck, it hurts." Finally the pain he had been brushing off, reached Leon’s nerves. His eyes became blurry, head heavy from the exhaustion. He looked at the panel.

[Second ice spell: Explosive ice ball

Comprehension level: 17.3%]

"Just 17? How many spells are there? Can I even learn them all before I die of old age?" Leon smiled warily. "Whatever. For now, I will just have to make do with these cores."

He walked toward the battered ground. Slowly, he collected all the monster cores.

"1... 2... 3... .... .... .... 67. Total 67, huh? Just the amount I needed. I may not be able to reach C-Class but these should be enough to help me achieve at least one breakthrough."

Leon sat down in a fresh corner, away from the battlefield. And then, he started to swallow them...

After the 29th core...

[Congratulations, host.

[Qi: 41,517,000/40,960,000.

You have absorbed enough Qi for a breakthrough.]

[You have reached the 6th level of martial apprentice realm.]

Leon continued his feast and only stopped after he had consumed all of the monster cores.

[You have absorbed Qi.]

[Qi: 38,557,000/81,920,000]

"Soon, these low class monsters will become useless for me. I mean come on man. 81,920,000 Qi? Is this for real?" Leon sighed helplessly.

"Should I continue? Or maybe I should just return to those three. I mean there isn’t much time before the sun rises anyway."

Leon shook his head and started walking back.

What he didn’t notice was a figure standing in the distance. A person wrapped in a cloak.

"He can use a sword that good? He can use ice magic as well? And, he has the ability to summon weapons?" A female voice whispered. "But, why is he hiding his strength to us? Now, I am sure he’s not one of Harold’s pawns. But I can’t say he is on our side either." The figure turned around and vanished into the darkness.

After breakthrough, Leon’s exhaustion and injuries had vanished. He was walking at a great pace. The sun was slowly rising into the horizon, golden light casting through the frost covered trees.

After two hours, Leon finally reached the location where Emily, Sol and Leon were.

When Leon arrived, they were already done with all their preparations.

"Hey. You didn’t run off after all." Sol said when he noticed Leon.

"Like I was ever going to do something so cowardly." Leon replied.

"Yeah, yeah. But that could have been better for you. You know this is a dangerous mission, right?" He looked at both Leon and Noah.

"We know. And I wish I could run off to somewhere. But my three comrades are trapped and they are only here because of me. No way I can leave them behind." Noah said.

"Are you ready?" Emily suddenly asked, looking directly at Leon.