Jonn watched the crimson sun sink below the horizon, marking the third day since the harrowing events near Littlewood.

As dusk settled in on this balmy evening, he eased Windy into a gentler pace, preparing to make camp for the night.

The past few days had been a blur of relentless travel, with the group barely pausing long enough to tend to their basic needs. Jonn hadn’t even taken stock of his newly acquired resources, his mind consumed with putting as much distance between themselves and Littlewood as possible.

By the end of that sweltering afternoon, however, his nerves had steadied, and a quiet confidence had taken root. He was fairly certain they had reached the Barren Hills of Deepshadow.

He continued riding Windy for a short while as darkness claimed the sky, with Ice padding alongside them. The white wolf’s recovery had been remarkable; though not yet at full strength, he moved with impressive speed and endurance. The combination of rest, Jonn’s herbal poultices and medicinal concoctions, along with the blue mana crystals, had worked wonders on his healing.

Finally, Jonn dismounted in a strategic spot nestled between the hills. The natural formation offered excellent coverage, concealing their presence from any travelers within a three-kilometer (1.86 miles) radius.

The moment his boots touched the dark soil, Jonn set about making a modest campfire and preparing his sleeping arrangements. Though he’d barely rested in recent days, the scattered three hours of sleep per day had been just enough to keep him functioning.

I must have covered enough ground by now, he mused, turning Hewet’s ring over in his calloused hands.

It’s time to delve into these {Spells}. Learning one or two daily should suffice—I should achieve basic mastery of them all before reaching the village.

Beyond the four {Spells} he’d wrested from the Riverash Family, Jonn had acquired a fifth one, discovered among the possessions of the most powerful mage he’d encountered near Littlewood.

His recent acquisitions extended far beyond just the five {Spell} books. The haul included two enchanted artifacts, twenty-two gold coins, several hundred pieces of silver, an assortment of maps, correspondence, and unexamined texts, plus various magical resources—including the precious Aether Tears.

The three Acolytes he’d looted after their demise had carried substantial wealth in their garments and spatial storage items.

Jonn had claimed their storage devices—a necklace, a bracelet, and another spatial ring. Yet none of these Littlewood mages’ items could hold a candle to Hewet’s ring. The combined storage capacity of all three newly acquired items barely reached one-fifth of his ring’s capabilities!

With a pulse of mana through the ring on his right hand, Jonn ignored the coins, cards, maps, and non-{Spell} related books in his storage.

Yet even as he sorted through his spatial inventory, his thoughts drifted to the enchanted chain and spear from his recent confrontation. The violent clash between the two items had left both significantly compromised.

Scorching Spear

Durability: 21/120

Item Class: Unusual.

Quality: Average.

Weight: 6.8 kg.

In its prime, the spear had granted its wielder a four-point boost to their [Strength] attribute. Now, in its damaged state, the enchanted artifact’s enhancement had dwindled to a mere two points.

The enemy’s enchanted chain had fared even worse, reduced to nothing more than an exceptionally durable, mana-responsive length of metal. Its magical properties were now locked away, rendering it useless to Jonn unless he could locate a specialized blacksmith mage.

The second enchanted artifact, however, had emerged unscathed and showed considerable promise.

Spirit Wand

Characteristics: Enhances {Spell} learning rate and amplifies {Spells} channeled through it. Grants +3 points to both [Intelligence] and [Wisdom], while providing a +1 point [Luck] bonus during use. {Spell} accuracy doubles when cast with it.

Durability: Indefinite.

Item Class: Unusual.

Quality: Well Crafted.

Weight: 0.2 kg.

Almost instinctively, Jonn materialized the [Spirit Wand] alongside his five {Spell} books. Beyond the four tomes acquired from the Riverash Family vault, he’d got a {Spell} called Living Chains—a {Spell} that could synergize with the cursed chains from the elderly mage’s arsenal.

Unable to fully utilize the chains, Jonn set Living Chains aside and surveyed his collection for the most promising {Spell} to master first.

Let’s see… I have Delusion of Force, Hex of Silence, Ice Whip, and Meteor at my disposal.

According to their descriptions, each {Spell} fell into distinct categories: Delusion of Force belonged to illusion/mental manipulation; Hex of Silence was classified under silencing/control; Ice Whip represented elemental magic/conjuration; and Meteor stood as the pinnacle of elemental magic/mass destruction.

He studied the sparse details on each {Spell}’s introductory page while perched on an improvised seat before the crackling fire that cast dancing shadows around his camp.

Windy had settled a few meters away, while Ice maintained his vigilant watch from the opposite side of the horse, his keen senses alert to their surroundings.

The desert expanse of the Barren Hills of Deepshadow remained eerily quiet, broken only by the soft whisper of wind and the occasional pop of burning wood that anchored Jonn to the present moment.

My priority lies in offensive capabilities, he reasoned, which immediately eliminates Delusion of Force. Creating illusions of superior strength holds little appeal—that {Spell} can wait until last.

From what I understand, mages face limitations in both the types and quantity of {Spells} they can master—if capacity permits, I’ll circle back to Delusion of Force after mastering the others.

Jonn harbored no illusions about Delusion of Force’s potential. According to the tome, the {Spell} not only projected an image of enhanced strength but also induced primal responses—fear, doubt, and hesitation—lasting up to five minutes. Such capabilities could help avoid confrontations that even his current abilities couldn’t handle.

However, the {Spell} offered no tangible power enhancement. Once its effects dissipated, or if targets proved resistant to its influence, the caster would find themselves vulnerable.

This brings me to Hex of Silence, he contemplated. It can mute targets for up to ten minutes, disrupting {Spells} with verbal components and creating zones of absolute silence. While effective against mages, it doesn’t address my primary concerns — wild beasts, animals, and, to some extent, groups of humans.

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Though Hex of Silence could prove useful for securing private conversations, it ranks as a secondary or even tertiary priority. Even if I learned it now, I doubt I’d find frequent use for it.

Magical beasts didn’t require incantations for their innate abilities, and neither common animals nor ordinary mortals needed speech to pose a lethal threat.

Ice Whip requires no magical focus, though an enchanted whip would amplify its effects. I’ll master it after Meteor.

Having finally established his learning priority, Jonn immersed himself in studying Meteor—an advanced-tier {Spell} capable of manifesting a blazing celestial projectile that could wreak devastating destruction, leaving smoldering craters and setting vast areas ablaze.

Naturally, Meteor’s effectiveness scaled with its caster’s prowess, mastery level, and intent. In the hands of a mage possessing both substantial mana reserves and advanced {Spell} mastery, wielded with destructive purpose, it could transform entire battlefields into infernos of chaos.

As he delved deeper into its essence, Jonn experienced a familiar sensation, reminiscent of his [Air Palm] acquisition. His consciousness shifted to an ethereal plane where he witnessed the intricate sequence required to activate the {Spell}—from mana circulation patterns to elemental gathering, culminating in the manifestation of its devastating effects.

Though the spectral figure in this vision wielded no wand, Jonn observed how the {Spell} could be channeled through his enchanted artifact for enhanced potency.

His jaw slackened in awe as the illusory figure showed the complete activation sequence—hands and feet moving in perfect harmony—culminating in the creation of burning meteors that cascaded from above. He witnessed firsthand the raw, terrifying magnitude of its destructive capability.

This {Spell} transcended mere battlefield tactics; it held the power to raze entire cities and decimate vast agricultural lands—such devastating potential that its very existence seemed almost forbidden.

Yet Jonn had no intention of squandering such formidable power. He absorbed every nuance of the {Spell}’s illusory demonstration, feeling the combat technique gradually etch itself into his consciousness. Perhaps because of his innate {Resistance} to fire elements, his grasp of this level 4 {Spell} progressed faster than his earlier experience with [Air Palm].

Throughout his study, he methodically employed his arsenal of skills: [Analysis] to dissect the tome’s contents, while [Projection] and [Mana Manipulation] enhanced his comprehension.

Within mere minutes, he achieved the same level of mastery that had previously required extensive study in the village.

Congratulations! You’ve learned the Spell: [Meteor]!

Meteor

Description: A devastating spell that summons a blazing celestial projectile from the heavens, culminating in a catastrophic impact explosion. Designed for extreme combat scenarios requiring widespread devastation. The combination of impact force and generated heat renders this spell capable of laying waste to extensive areas. Functionality limited to open environments only.

Type: Fire spell; level 4.

[Costs: 80 mana.

Duration: 20-60 seconds.

Range: 300 meters.

Cast Time: 7 seconds.

Cooldown: 30 min.

Jonn Irondoom

Level 2 (61%)

Health: 345/345

Mana: 640/610 (+30)

Stamina: 313/313

[Attributes]

Strength 30.5 (+2) Agility 29.4 Dexterity 28.9 (+3) (+10) Constitution 34.5 Endurance 31.3 Intelligence 61 (+3) Wisdom 55.6 (+3) Charisma 21 (+3) (+10) Luck 20 (+2)

He consulted his status, reviewing the significant recent changes in his mental attributes—evidence of both his encounters with the two mages and the ongoing progress of his [Magic Farm] quest.

The animal count had inexplicably risen again, though Jonn welcomed this development. More creatures meant more progress points in his favor.

Setting aside that observation, he focused on locating [Meteor] among his roster of {Spells}.

Rising from his makeshift seat, he distanced himself from his companions, signaling his intentions to both Windy and Ice. Roughly 300 meters from his attentive audience, he established a target zone in the opposite direction, their curious gazes following his every move.

Wielding his wand, he channeled mana through his body, following the newly learned patterns, initiating the most complex magical ritual he’d ever attempted. The ambient heat elements gravitated toward him, particularly concentrating around his wand, generating a pleasant warmth that permeated both his exterior and core.

In that moment, Jonn’s very essence seemed ablaze as small spheres of molten magma materialized in the sky overhead, already descending toward his designated target.

Though he managed to conjure only three burning projectiles, their impact against the hillside unleashed a thunderous explosion, engulfing dozens of square meters in searing flames. The air itself became super-heated, while the ground subsided several centimeters.

Jonn only summoned three scalding balls, but when they reached the top of the hill in front of the young mage, a thunderous noise erupted from that position, with the surface of the area engulfed in flames for dozens of square meters. The very air in that area became scorching, while the ground sank by at least a few centimeters.

As the smoke dissipated, veins of magma emerged across the impact zone, leaving both animals and mage slack-jawed at the sheer magnitude of destruction.

Disregarding the acrid scent of scorched earth and the lingering tremors, a triumphant smile gradually spread across Jonn’s face.

Fire element {Resistance} has advanced to level 2! Congratulations, distributing promotion bonuses…