[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-idle-tycoon-system":3,"chapter-idle-tycoon-system-idle-tycoon-system-chapter-114":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Idle Tycoon System",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1828348,2431,"Chapter 114: Tier 1 Opponent.","idle-tycoon-system-chapter-114",114,"\u003Cp>Tier 1 classification meant that such creatures were comparable to novice-rank mages in terms of combat capability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They possessed magical abilities, some intelligence, and survival instincts that made them genuinely dangerous opponents rather than training dummies with claws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’re not weak by any standards. This would be a real test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah turned toward Lola, who had been observing his beetle massacres with obvious amusement. Her expression suggested she viewed it as entertainment rather than serious combat training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think I can handle fireflies at my current strength level?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time to get an expert opinion on my actual capabilities. I don’t want my new strength to get to my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm...That’s a good question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lola’s ruby eyes studied him for a few seconds, evaluating his experience, wind manipulation skills and overall combat readiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’s calculating my survival odds. That’s either reassuring or terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can, but it will be difficult. You’ll most likely get injured during the fights,\" she replied after carefully considering his question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After answering his question, Lola’s expression turned to her usual teasing one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But don’t worry. I’m here to protect you... Darling.\" Lola winked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wink she delivered made Noah roll his eyes at her constant flirtation attempts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even discussing potential life-threatening combat, she finds ways to be seductive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ed brothers positioned themselves with alertness. They knew that their job as protectors was going to be tested soon enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah felt excitement building despite the acknowledged risks. Fireflies represented a legitimate advancement opportunity. They were creatures that could push his developing abilities toward their current limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Real combat against worthy opponents. This is how skills actually improve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fireflies waited in their hunting zones, ready to test whether Noah’s rapid development translated into genuine combat effectiveness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time to find out if wind manipulation works against opponents who fight back with magical abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hunting grounds for fireflies lay deeper in the Crimson Mountains, where the terrain was slightly more rocky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is definitely more dangerous territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ed brothers had arranged themselves in a protective formation around Noah, their weapons drawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bound by an oath, they took their new responsibilities seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fireflies nest in the thermal vents; they use the natural heat sources to amplify their magical affinity,\" Ed explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So my enemy has an environmental advantage. That makes it more difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lola moved beside Noah, her expression relaxed and confident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a master-level mage, her power far exceeded anything they might encounter. For her, this expedition was more of a stroll rather than genuine danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’s enjoying this, probably curious to see how I handle the fireflies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first sign of firefly presence came through sound rather than sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The firefly had a distinctive buzzing that made it extremely annoying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bzzt! Bzzt!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound made Noah’s teeth ache with its piercing frequency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That noise is incredibly annoying. How do these things not drive themselves insane?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There,\" Edd pointed toward a cluster of thermal vents where multiple fireflies moved with agitated energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s probably attracted by our approach.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fireflies emerged from their nesting area with hostile intent immediately apparent. Each creature was roughly the size of a large puppy, but their proportions were abnormal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had oversized wings that generated the maddening buzzing sound, bodies that glowed with internal fire, and prominent pincers that clicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’re bigger than I expected. And those pincers look sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three fireflies rose into the air with aggression, their wings creating the maddening sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here we go. This is the first real test of wind manipulation in real, life-threatening combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah drew the Zealous Quickblade and immediately began channelling wind magic around the blade’s edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elemental enhancement created visible air currents that increased cutting power and provided ranged attack options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the enhancement wasn’t significant. As a tier 2 weapon, the Zealous Quickblade didn’t have the elemental channelling that stronger weapons offered. Nonetheless, it still did the job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wind-enhanced swordsmanship. Let’s see how this works.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first fire fly dove toward him with alarming speed, its pincers spread wide for a crushing attack. Noah attempted to dodge while launching a wind blade toward the creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That attack was too slow!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The firefly’s natural agility exceeded his expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It twisted mid-flight, avoiding his elemental attack while raking pincers across his shoulder. The impact sent him stumbling backwards, blood seeping through torn fabric.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’re fast. Much faster than beetles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bzzt! Bzzt!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second fire fly attacked from his blind spot, breathing a stream of concentrated flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before it could reach him, Lola raised her hand and did a casual swooshing gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stream of fire was immediately extinguished. As for the second firefly, it was squashed to death by Lola’s casual gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Noah’s gaze land on her in astonishment, she smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Continue, don’t worry about any interruption. For now, just focus on one. You can worry about multiple targets later,\" She added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah nodded, a grateful look on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay, that second firefly had given me crucial information. They can use fire breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eddie stepped forward, about to give Noah some clues on how to tackle the firefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You need to—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let him learn,\" Lola interrupted smoothly, her ruby eyes fixed on Noah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first firefly circled Noah, clearly looking for an opening, its compound eyes tracking his movements while maintaining distance in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bzzt! Bzzt!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The firefly launched a concentrated flame stream that forced Noah into desperate evasion. The magical fire scorched the stone where he’d been standing, leaving smouldering patches that radiated heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay, I can sort of understand its attack pattern. It uses the fire stream as a ranged attack, plus those pincers for close combat or maybe to defend itself up close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah attempted a wind blade counter-attack, but the creature’s aerial mobility made targeting difficult. It twisted through the air with the flexibility and agility that only flies have in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too slow, again. My attacks can’t keep up with its speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The firefly dove suddenly, pincers spread wide for a crushing strike. Noah raised his sword defensively, but the impact drove him backwards with bone-jarring force.\u003C\u002Fp>",1018,"2026-06-09T06:05:14.334Z",1,"novelbin.me","99b7b87bf5828750f17e793345251c403f660c68057ba0a61572327c03ecfb7f","idle-tycoon-system-chapter-115","idle-tycoon-system-chapter-113",438,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fidle-tycoon-system-cover.jpg"]