Chapter 30: Trial of Elements – Phase 4 Begins
As Ryo stood amidst the vast battlefield, the system's voice echoed in his head.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Phase 4 – Use only Elemental Manipulation to defeat your enemies. All other offensive abilities have been sealed.]
Before he could react, the ground trembled violently. Monstrous roars filled the air as a wave of creatures emerged from the dense fog ahead—ogres wielding massive clubs, trolls with regenerative abilities, wyverns circling in the sky, and hulking vampire behemoths covered in thick armor-like flesh.
Ryo exhaled sharply. No blood magic, no physical enhancements, and no draconic abilities? Just elements?
The battlefield erupted into chaos as the monsters charged at him.
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The first wave consisted of ogres—brutish giants covered in crude armor, each swinging massive tree-trunk clubs.
Ryo raised his hand, manipulating the earth beneath them. The ground split open, forming jagged spikes that impaled their legs, causing them to stumble. With a snap of his fingers, a concentrated blast of wind howled through the air, slicing through their exposed flesh like a thousand invisible blades. The ogres roared in agony before collapsing.
Before he could catch his breath, a squad of trolls charged forward, their grotesque bodies regenerating from their injuries.
Regeneration, huh?
Ryo clenched his fists, channeling fire magic. A massive surge of blue flames erupted from his hands, engulfing the trolls. Their roars turned to agonized screams as their bodies burned beyond the point of regeneration. Their charred remains crumbled into ash.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed overhead.
Ryo barely had time to dodge as a wyvern swooped down, its razor-sharp talons grazing past him.
He jumped backward, flipping midair before landing smoothly. The wyvern circled above, preparing for another strike.
Ryo focused on the air around him, condensing the moisture into sharp ice shards. With a flick of his wrist, he launched them toward the wyvern. The shards tore through its wings, forcing it to plummet. As it crashed to the ground, he manipulated gravity, increasing its weight to ten times normal—crushing the beast under its own weight.
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Just as he began catching his breath, the ground shook violently. Emerging from the shadows were three towering vampire behemoths, their crimson eyes glowing ominously. Unlike regular vampires, these creatures were massive, standing over six meters tall, their bodies covered in an obsidian-like exoskeleton.
One of them vanished instantly, reappearing right in front of him with terrifying speed. Ryo barely dodged as its massive claws slashed the air, creating shockwaves.
Fast… and their armor is ridiculously tough.
Ryo knew brute force wouldn't work. He needed a strategy.
He stepped back, raising both hands. The air around him crackled as he summoned a powerful lightning storm.
"Thunder Wrath."
Dark clouds gathered overhead, and in the blink of an eye, a barrage of lightning bolts rained down upon the behemoths. Their armor absorbed most of the impact, but it was enough to stun them momentarily.
Taking advantage of the opening, Ryo manipulated the surrounding sand, forming massive quicksand pits beneath their feet. The behemoths struggled, sinking deeper as the sand turned into an unbreakable binding force.
"Let's see how you handle this."
Ryo clenched his fist, and a vortex of compressed wind surrounded the sinking behemoths. He combined it with fire, creating a burning tornado that engulfed them completely.
The creatures roared in fury, but asphyxiation and flames finally brought them down.
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Phase 4 Ends
As the last monster collapsed, the battlefield fell silent. Ryo exhaled deeply, his body drenched in sweat.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Phase 4 Complete.]
His body felt heavy, exhaustion creeping in. The system voice echoed again.
[Phase 5 will begin in 30 minutes.]
Ryo collapsed to one knee, catching his breath.
I don't even want to think about what's coming next…