In a situation where the enemies were in a state of confusion, I had some leeway and an opportunity to attack their backline. Previously, the backline intentionally chased me late to maintain their formation. From their appearance, it seemed like these backline monsters were support, healers, and magic DPS types.

Unplanned as it was, Thunderia Storm effectively halted these guys from carrying out their tasks, and it worked in my favor as well.

I spent more MP than I anticipated within just 30 seconds. Unfortunately, I haven't taken down a single one of them, but at least I managed to deal consistent damage and reduce their HP steadily.

Their backline was flattened on the ground half a minute later. As I entered the low MP phase, regeneration couldn't keep up if things continued this way. It feels like I dug myself into a rabbit hole with my own actions.

The skill I summoned from within my magic staff has disappeared, and the sky quickly returns to its bright state, illuminating the trail of destruction from our battle. At the same time, the surviving monsters regain consciousness.

"Guraa, guraa, graaa!"

I'll be in trouble if I don't do something immediately. With that in mind, I keep my distance from them. Far enough to prevent immediate attacks, but close enough to maintain their aggro towards me. Because if I stay too far away, the aggro will disperse and this challenge will reset.

At least, don't underestimate me. I've been kiting for years, so I know the safe distance to pull enemy aggro by instinct, even though I'm a magician, really.

The one or two seconds I gained are precious, and I seize the opportunity to drink a potion. Turning around, I point my magic staff forward and exclaim, "[Release Orbs: Magic Strom!]".

A whirlwind appears not far behind the monsters chasing me, pulling them back into the vortex. It will give me a few extra seconds, but it will be meaningless if I let it end just like that.

"[Release Orbs: Arrow Rain!]," I add.

The orb on my shoulders soar higher and then burst. Dozens or maybe hundreds of magic arrows fly through the whirlwind. The radius of this skill is narrow, so if I use it haphazardly, the results will be minimal. Also, it's not just the damage that I'm aiming for with this combo skill.

Magic Strom is useful for pulling monsters together into a tight spot before showering them with poisonous arrows. Yes, the Poison ailment status. But don't think this is already finished with just that.

I pointed the tip of my magic staff forward and readied myself. The dark red pearl that had been glowing for a while now turned almost transparent. In this state, the gem still possesses valuable and rare abilities.

"[Cast: Spellcaster's Depth!], [Cast: Reach Potential!], [Cast: Unreach Magic!], [Cast: Magic Acceleration!]," I recited. Instantly, my HP bar plummeted to half of what remained, along with a significant loss of MP. "[Cast, Infuse: Unreach Magic: Filame of Jehenna!]," I announced. Before long, the orb glowed with darkened, fiery matter.

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In this empty state of my magic staff after using Thunderia Storm, this pearl is capable of storing one high-level spell (must) by paying 1.5x the MP usage and 50% of the caster's total HP.

The HP reduction is percentage-based, so regardless of how much remaining HP I have, it will be taken half spontaneously. But in a situation where I'm not targeted by other monsters and not receiving any other damage, my health potion will catch up with this deficit. But for MP... well, what can I do? I've already said that I'm extravagant, remember?

There are several ways to reduce the casting time of a skill, but there are also specific skills that have a fixed cast time (FCT). No matter what you do, it can't be less than the FCT. So it's reasonable for Meteor to still be casting even after I've infused it into the orbs this far. Instead of letting this skill go to waste when the orb period ends, it's a good choice to release it now.

Besides, can my battle be considered long enough? I pondered to myself.

"[Release Orbs: Unreach Magic: Meteor!]." The orb shattered, unleashing the confined energy. A complex magic circle appeared beneath our feet, rotating,expanding, and duplicating to form a magical dome in which I stood.

Both my status bars were beyond saving. The Filame of Jehenna, currently cast inside the pearl, sealed my regenerative capabilities for a certain period. I couldn't move, accompanied only by my almost depleted status bars. I felt truly vulnerable, stripped bare with only my body.

If I were to be interrupted even slightly, everything I sacrificed would be in vain.

I didn't know what expression I was wearing at that moment, but I knew I was smiling wryly. I had never attempted this in previous versions of the game, and I wasn't even sure if this thing would truly be successful.

And here I stood! Proudly standing with two high-level spells in my hands simultaneously.

In an imposing stance, magic staff raised high, I exclaimed, "Filame of Jehenna!"

"Ugh," I groaned, "they also embedded temperature sensors, just as suspected from black flame... it's hot."

A great gust of wind in front of me was instantly tinged with the color of one of the gates of hell. The black flames quickly spread uncontrollably, easily overpowering the Magic Strom as they soared high into the sky.

And just as the storm period came to an end, so did the black flames.

Several surviving monsters (clearly, their HP was not normal) fell with a loud thud after being thrown by the storm of black flames. "You guys are stubborn, huh?" I murmured, unable to move.

Just when I thought the torment of this hellish world was over, punishment descended from the heavens above—the sky split open, revealing a supermassive, fiery meteor that consumed the patrol clouds.

Although it was already visible in the sky, the casting time for Meteor was still not fully completed. The enemies stood steadfastly, immediately realizing that I was doing something dangerous. Their aggro was locked solely onto me.

The distance between us was enough for them to reach me in a matter of seconds, but instead, I smirked ridiculously. They stood and attempted to approach me at a painfully slow speed. Thanks to the other ailment statuses from Arrow Rain, Slowed, I managed to secure a few crucial extra seconds.

That being said, negative statuses wouldn't last forever. Their distance from me now was four meters...three meters...two meters...one. "Huh, this is it," I muttered quietly, reflecting. This was an enjoyable battle, but what can you do? Where there's victory, there's also defeat.

I myself am not so perfect to win every battle I have, quite the opposite. I have more records of death than survival and victory.

Defeat, I'm accustomed to it.