Chapter 12: It Was All the Fireballs

In the gloomy corridor.

Zhang Kai and Xia Qingyue and the others stared wide-eyed at the pile of shattered bones, then turned simultaneously to look at Lin Mo in the center of the group.

“Dead… dead?” Zhang Kai’s voice was dry. “Three… only three fireballs?”

Xia Qingyue’s cold, clear eyes were also filled with disbelief.

As an A-rank water mage and a top student with a perfect theory score, she understood better than anyone what just happened meant.

Normally, even a Flame Mage with S-rank fire affinity would need at least six Fireballs to kill a full-health Level 5 Elite monster.

This blank-slate mage used only three—how is that possible…

And most crucially, that terrifying micro-management skill.

That fluidity, that precision in predicting the monster’s landing point, the control to halt mid-air and then accelerate again…

Could a mage who’d only awakened two days ago possibly do this?

This level of micro-management? Even the top fire mage students in Dragon Nation’s annual professional exams couldn’t achieve it.

“Crack.”

Lin Mo looked at them, casually pulling a bright red nut from his snack bag and tossing it into his mouth.

The crisp crunch echoed through the silent corridor.

Then he pulled out a few more and held them out to the others.

“Want some? They’re pretty spicy.”

“This…”

Only then did they realize.

Lin Mo had been eating snacks while performing such insane micro-management!

“No, no thanks…”

Zhang Kai replied instinctively.

“Oh, fine, don’t want any.”

Lin Mo didn’t insist, pulling his hand back.

【“Fireball” let out a cold snort: Pfft, scared already? Basic move. Wait till I hit you with “Celestial Petals”—you’ll piss your pants right here.】

“I say…”

He swallowed the pine nut, looked at them, and brushed the crumbs off his hands with a sigh:

“What are you all standing around for? Let’s move. This place is creepy—I want to clear it fast and go back to sleep.”

Hearing Lin Mo’s voice, they snapped out of their daze.

“Ah… oh! Right! Right!”

Zhang Kai shuddered violently, his gaze at Lin Mo now completely free of earlier disdain.

“Young Master Lin’s right! Young Master Lin is awesome!”

“I told you! Young Master Lin’s aura—clearly a hidden master! Those three fireballs? Wow, pure art! Art!”

Wang Meng scratched his head, grinning as he fawned.

Xia Qingyue looked at Lin Mo with complex emotions.

Originally, she’d thought this team-up was a difficult journey dragging along a “dead weight,” even preparing mentally to rescue Lin Mo at any moment.

But now it seemed…

Who the real dead weight was was still up for debate.

This seemingly lazy Lin family young master wasn’t some idle heir living off his family’s wealth—he was a true monster wrapped in sheep’s clothing!

“Everyone, regroup and keep advancing.”

Xia Qingyue quickly steadied herself; though stunned, as team leader she had to remain calm.

“Since Young Master Lin has such powerful output, we can afford to be slightly more aggressive in tactics.”

“Wang Meng, lead the way. Increase the pace.”

“Got it!”

With renewed confidence, Wang Meng roared.

At that moment,

Liu Weiwei, who had always been low-profile, suddenly turned pale, staring at the pile of bones ahead.

“Monsters… so many monsters!”

Their hearts tightened as they followed her gaze.

Where the Elite Phantom Spirit Cat had been, dozens of glowing blue eyes now blinked into view.

One pair, two pairs, ten pairs… at least dozens!

【Phantom Spirit Cat, Lv.5】

All Phantom Spirit Cats!

Though slightly smaller than the previous Elite, these were only Common-rank monsters—but there were far too many!

“Don’t panic! Just a bunch of Common-rank Phantom Spirit Cats! Besides their numbers, their stats are nowhere near that Elite!”

Xia Qingyue’s voice rang out, cold and composed.

Her gaze sharpened as she issued orders swiftly:

“Wang Meng! Activate ‘Immovable Mountain’—hold the front line!”

“Zhang Kai! Use ‘Arrow Rain’ to suppress the left flank—don’t let them flank us!”

“Weiwei! Shield Wang Meng, prepare for AoE healing!”

“Everyone, back against the wall—shrink the defense circle. We’ll clear them slowly…”

Before Xia Qingyue finished her tactical setup,

Whoosh—!

Another familiar wave of heat surged from behind her.

A bright orange fireball shot straight toward the dozens of Phantom Spirit Cats.

“Young Master Lin?!”

Xia Qingyue gasped instinctively.

This young master was too impatient…

This was a group of high-agility monsters!

Launching an attack now could instantly enrage them all and trigger a full-scale frenzy!

“Too reckless…”

But the next second, everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief as they stared at the fireball.

The fireball trembled violently, then split instantly in midair.

In an instant, it fractured into a dozen fireballs, like a miniature meteor shower of flame raining down over the cat horde.

“This… this is…”

“Multiple Explosive Fireballs?!”

“Isn’t that a beginner fire mage skill?!”

As a top student, Xia Qingyue recognized it instantly.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!

There was no time for anyone to think.

The dozen fireballs slammed into the cat pack.

Instantly, deafening explosions rocked the entire Gubao.

Flames surged skyward!

【Killed Phantom Spirit Cat, EXP +40】

【Killed Phantom Spirit Cat, EXP +40】

【…】

【“Fireball” laughed wildly: HAHAHA! How’s that “Multiple Explosive Fireballs”? Scared? I just mastered it yesterday!】

Xia Qingyue snapped back to reality quickly.

As team leader, she had to organize the assault immediately.

“Don’t stand there! Move!” she shouted. “Help Young Master Lin clear the monsters—don’t give them a chance to recover!”

“Wang Meng, finish off stragglers! Zhang Kai, snipe low-health targets!”

In truth, they barely needed to help.

Because Lin Mo’s assault never stopped.

Thanks to his top-tier “Purple Cloud Set,” which reduced cooldown by 60%, this powerful AoE skill normally had a long cooldown.

But for Lin Mo?

Only six seconds passed!

Whoosh—!

A second fireball shot out, splitting again into a dozen fireballs midair.

Under this terrifying firepower, less than half a minute passed.

The battle ended.

Xia Qingyue stared blankly at the piles of shattered bones ahead.

Dozens of monsters at the same level, in her original expectation, would have required the entire team to coordinate carefully and draw them out for at least ten minutes.

But now?

In less than half a minute, the world fell silent.

“Incredible… Lin Shao…”

Zhang Kai spoke dryly.

Everyone turned their gazes once again to Lin Mo, who was snacking.

“...Uh…”

Lin Mo felt embarrassed under their stares.

He was just snacking and watching the show—this was all Xiao Huo’s work, nothing to do with him…