Atlas had won!
“Ha... ha ha ha!”
Laughter bubbled up from deep within him. He pulled off his helmet, letting the cool air hit his sweat-drenched face.
Before him lay the massive body of the Orc, its enormous form riddled with cracks that glowed faintly with fire. The stone club it had wielded shimmered with the same fiery aura.
A notification flashed in his vision:
[You have killed Elite Moltencrusher Lv. 53]
[You obtained Emberguard Band]
[...]
[You received 26,445 Exp]
[Exp: 180,231/217,396]
[Level: 49]
[You have successfully completed the challenge. You have earned your rewards.]
[Common - Piercing Thrust leveled up to 8]
[Common - Sweeping Strike leveled up to 6]
[Common - Defensive Stance leveled up to 9]
[Common - Ground Slam leveled up to 6]
[Common - Power Strike leveled up to 10]
[Elite - Flurry of Spears leveled up to 3]
[Epic - Inferno Fortitude (Passive) leveled up to 2]
Atlas began reviewing the notifications that appeared in his vision one by one. The battle had earned him several skill level-ups, each one a major boost to his abilities. But what caught his attention the most was a special item he had received: the Emberguard Band.
It was a bracelet, heavy and etched with glowing runes. He slipped it onto his left wrist, feeling the heat pulse faintly against his skin. Before continuing, he checked the item's detailed effects:
[Emberguard Band]
[A heavy, rune-inscribed bracelet that radiates heat, reinforcing the wearer’s durability.]
[Molten Endurance: Reduces stamina consumption by 15% when under attack.]
[Blazing Resilience: Grants a 20% resistance to fire-based attacks and reduces damage from burning effects.]
[Lava Shield Pulse: Releases a small AoE pulse of fire every 10 seconds when surrounded by three or more enemies, dealing minor fire damage and pushing attackers back slightly.]
“Wow,” Atlas muttered, admiring the bracelet. The combination of stamina conservation, fire resistance, and area-of-effect damage made it an incredible asset.
Atlas also unlocked several new talents and skills.
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[You have successfully evolved Perfect Rhythm (A) into a New Talent: Elemental Spear Mastery (S)]
[Elemental Spear Mastery (S)]
[The spear becomes a conduit for elemental power, amplifying the user's combat prowess and instincts. Every strike, motion, and defense flows seamlessly with the surrounding elemental forces, creating an unstoppable rhythm in battle.]
Another Rank-S talent! He couldn’t help but smile, satisfied with the extraordinary talent he had just unlocked. While it was still centered around his spear, he didn’t mind.
If he ever wanted to learn other weapon types in the future, he could still train this talent and potentially evolve it into something more versatile.
Over the past few weeks, his spear had been his lifeline. From endurance runs to practicing attack patterns, and even in real battles against monsters, the spear had been an extension of himself. By combining all of that with his elemental power, it was no surprise that this talent had finally taken form.
[You have unlock new skill Epic-grade Resonant Spear Field (Passive Skill)
[The spear creates a resonant energy field during combat, amplifying elemental effects and providing subtle enhancements to the user.]
[Increases elemental damage by 15% for spear attacks.]
[Allies within a 10-meter radius gain a +5% evasion and defense boost while the spear field is active.]
[The field adapts to the active element:]
[Fire: Boosts allied attack speed by 10%.]
[Water: Gradually restores stamina.]
[Air: Increases allied movement speed.]
[Earth: Reduces incoming damage by 10%.]
He even unlocked a new skill. And, this one turned out to be a passive skill!
The beauty of passive skills was their sheer efficiency. They consumed no mana and less stamina compared to active skills and didn’t require deliberate activation—they triggered automatically, adapting to the user’s situation.
What made this particular skill even more incredible was that it didn’t just affect him; it also extended its benefits to any allies nearby.
Atlas couldn’t help but notice how much his bond with Morganna and Lyrassa had influenced the kinds of skills and talents he’d been unlocking lately.
[You have unlocked a new skill. Epic-grade Elemental Spear Resonance (Passive Skill)]
[Synchronizes the user’s elemental mastery with the spear, creating a deep bond that empowers both weapon and wielder.]
[The spear passively radiates an aura of elemental energy, enhancing elemental crit damage by 15%.]
[Successful dodges, and parries release a minor elemental pulse, damaging and staggering enemies within 5 meters.]
[While holding the spear, stamina regeneration increases by 10%.]
Another incredible skill! And once again, it was a passive skill!
This was an upgrade to several abilities he had gained, combined into something extraordinary. This passive skill significantly increased his damage output potential while also providing a massive boost to his stamina regeneration.
It was clear that the stamina-focused training Atlas had dedicated himself to was paying off in a big way. The relentless runs, the grueling drills, and the continuous sparring had not only improved his endurance but also directly influenced the type of skills he was unlocking.
[you have unlocked a new skill. Epic-grade Crystalline Spear Flow (Passive Skill)]
[Enhances the spear with water and ice elements, focusing on precision and control.]
[Spear strikes slow enemies by 10%, stacking up to 30%.]
[Successful hits create a small shield of ice around the user, absorbing 5% of incoming damage for 5 seconds.]
[The shield regenerates after 10 seconds of inactivity.]
And yet another Epic-grade skill!
This time, the skill was infused with water and ice elements. It seemed this development was a direct result of Atlas frequently using water-based abilities during his training. Over time, his water skills had naturally advanced, branching into the Ice Element.
Water had always been his basic common element, with the highest affinity. Because of this, unlocking this skill felt like a natural evolution, one that came with the most potential for growth.
Atlas scanned through the notifications one last time, ensuring he hadn’t missed anything.
After taking a moment to compose himself, Atlas decided to review his overall status.
He knew for certain that his total stat points had increased drastically.