Chapter 138: High-Tier Skill: Divine Punishment: Thundercloud Purgatory!

【TRIAL MAP CODE: DEMON KING CASTLE】

【An ancient kingdom was once bathed in light, until the "Demon King" descended.】

【The "Demon King" erected an impregnable dark fortress and seized the kingdom's greatest treasure, the Heart of Light.】

【Darkness engulfed the land; the kingdom teetered on the brink.】

【To reclaim the light, the kingdom assembled all its warriors into a vast coalition army, vowing to breach the Demon King Castle, recover the treasure, and restore light to the world.】

【FACTION DIVISION】:

Heroes' Faction, Demon King Faction (Demon King and his elite guard).

Heroes' Faction Victory Conditions (achieve one):

1. Penetrate the inner depths of the Demon King Castle and successfully recover the 【Heart of Light】.

2. Kill the Demon King.

Demon King Faction Victory Conditions (achieve one):

1. Hold the position; if the 【Heart of Light】 remains unclaimed when the time limit (4 hours) expires.

2. Launch a counterattack, invade the kingdom, and destroy the 【King's Statue】.

After reading the document, Xu Wenchang rubbed his stubble, lost in thought.

"This map… is interesting."

"It tests defense while offering a chance for counterattack."

Xu Wenchang instinctively asked:

"But… who's the Demon King?"

Guhe looked at him as if he were an idiot and retorted:

"What do you think?"

Xu Wenchang paused, then chuckled awkwardly, "Hehe… of course."

"That kid, when he fights, is more like a Demon King than the Demon King himself."

Guhe nodded with a smile:

"Then it's settled."

"Tomorrow, let's see whether the heroes can slay the demon—or whether this Demon King… will wipe out the entire hero coalition."

…

…

The next morning.

Lin Mo opened his eyes groggily to the crisp chirping of birds.

"Hmm…"

He stretched, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

"I wonder how the boys did last night."

Lin Mo rubbed his sleepy eyes and automatically opened his personal panel.

【LEVEL: Lv. 7 (5%)】

"Whoa!"

"Level 27?"

Lin Mo's eyes lit up.

"Sure enough—only by pushing yourself can you have a future!"

He sighed.

He then eagerly opened the 【Battle Log】.

Lin Mo couldn't wait to see what shenanigans his skills had pulled last night.

【Your skill "Fireball" met again with "Lightning Strike" in the core region of Thundercloud Ridge.】

【"Fireball" struck first, mocking "Lightning Strike" for only dealing single-target bursts and being inefficient at clearing mobs.】

【"Lightning Strike" sneered back, saying it wouldn't bother with a fire-wielding brute.】

【The two immediately engaged in a mob-clearing race.】

【To prove itself, "Fireball" pushed its limits, charging into a group of Lv. 5 Flame Lion Beasts.】

【In extreme rage and a burning obsession to outdo its younger brother, "Fireball" entered a state of enlightenment…】

【Congratulations! Your skill "Fireball" has unlocked the intermediate fire skill, Flame Roar!】

【Flame Roar (Lv. ): Intermediate fire skill. Condense lotus fire and launch a fan-shaped wave of flame forward, inflicting devastating damage to all enemies along its path and applying a powerful knockback effect. Cooldown: 60 seconds.】

"!!"

Lin Mo's eyes widened at this.

Not bad, little Fire!

This skill's effect…

It's basically a massive bulldozer skill. When facing a mob, unleash this and the scene will be spectacular.

Good, good.

Lin Mo was already eager to test the new skill.

But the battle log wasn't finished—he decided to keep reading.

【Seeing "Fireball" unlock a new skill, "Lightning Strike" felt unprecedented pressure.】

【As a naturally gifted lightning skill, "Lightning Strike"'s pride wouldn't allow it to lose to a fireball that just yelled nonsense.】

【"Lightning Strike" gazed at the sky's clouds, then flew alone into them, channeling thunder into the clouds, summoning heavenly lightning and merging itself with the storm.】

【Amidst the lightning's purification, "Lightning Strike" achieved enlightenment.】

【Congratulations! Your skill "Lightning Strike" has unlocked the high-tier lightning skill, Divine Punishment: Thundercloud Purgatory!】

"What the… hell?!"

Lin Mo leapt straight out of bed.

He rubbed his eyes, doubting he'd misread.

"H… high-tier?!"

"No, it's definitely high-tier!"

"Damn, no wonder little Thunder's a genius—he goes straight for high-tier?"

【Divine Punishment: Thundercloud Purgatory (Lv. ): Summon a storm cloud that relentlessly hammers all enemy targets within range with indiscriminate lightning strikes, dealing massive damage. Each bolt inflicts "Paralysis" and "Conduction" effects. Cooldown: 2 minutes.】

"Whoa—"

"Massive damage!"

Lin Mo sucked in a sharp breath.

This was the first time such a description had appeared.

Intermediate skills only dealt "massive damage"; now, high-tier skills were described as "massive damage"!

And it added paralysis and conduction?

"…"

Lin Mo felt his head spinning.

He hadn't done a thing—woke up, and his skill panel now had an intermediate skill plus a high-tier one.

If Xu Lao found out his 27-level mage now controlled a high-tier skill, he'd probably drop his jaw.

Lin Mo took several deep breaths before calming his excitement.

He continued reading the final part of the log.

【"Earth Shield" watched the two brothers go at it like gods.】

【Seeing the blazing firestorms and the thundercloud purgatory, "Earth Shield" grew anxious. It believed it, too, was an elemental spirit and couldn't possibly be inferior.】

【Yet after much effort, nothing happened—finally, it admitted it was far inferior in talent to its elder and younger brothers.】

【Faced with the nerf from "Lightning Strike" unlocking a high-tier skill, "Fireball" broke down.】

【"Fireball" tried desperately to unlock a stronger skill, exerted itself for a long time, and ultimately failed.】

【"Fireball" muttered to itself: Why? This isn't fair! I'm done. Destroy everything… I'm tired…】

Looking at the final line, Lin Mo sighed and rubbed his forehead.

Little Fire…

Everything's great—except this fragile mindset.

Always breaking down, always saying "destroy everything, I'm tired."

He's your top worker, the team's elder brother—if he really goes depressive and quits, the loss would be huge.

"Sigh… guess I need to do some psychological counseling again."

Lin Mo sighed.

"Little Fire? You there?"

"Hello?"

"I know you're awake. Stop pretending to be dead. Talk!"

【"Fireball":?】

Seeing "Fireball" respond, Lin Mo cleared his throat:

"Ahem, Little Fire, what's wrong? You did fine last night."

"'Flame Roar'? What a powerful name!"

【【Fireball Spell】sighed mournfully: What good is power… Third brother is Gao Jie, Gao Jie! This life is unbearable…】

Lin Mo quickly comforted him:

"Little Fire, you must understand that talent is innate—Third Brother Lei truly has better talent than you, and we must admit that."

"But! Better talent doesn't mean you're necessarily stronger!"

"Look, you work harder than Lei! Don't you know diligence makes up for lack of talent? If you push hard enough, even a Forbidden Spell, we'll grind it out!"

At that moment,

【【Earth Shield Spell】said foolishly: But Master, Third Brother has been working hard too—he's been staying up all night grinding monsters for two nights straight…】

【Your skill 'Fireball Spell' has been critically struck! It realizes that 'Lightning Strike' not only has better talent but also works harder than it does.】

Lin Mo's temple twitched. "Shut up! No one thinks you're mute if you don't speak!"

Then he quickly turned back to soothe 'Fireball Spell':

"Little Fire, ignore what Little Earth says."

"Think about it—you have far more skills than Lei: Fireball, Explosion, Dragon Ball, Fire Column, Storm, Wind Wings… and now you've got Flame Roar too!"

【【Earth Shield Spell】muttered quietly: But Third Brother knows Gao Jie skills… that's Gao Jie…】

"?"

"Are you trying to die if you don't shut up?"

"Don't you want to eat earth-element food anymore?"

Hearing the threat of food deprivation, 'Earth Shield Spell' instantly cowered.

【【Earth Shield Spell】immediately clapped a hand over its mouth: Master, I'm sorry! I won't speak again!】

Seeing this, Lin Mo exhaled deeply and continued soothing:

"Little Fire, think—you were the first to follow me."

"You're the elder. That's an unchangeable fact."

"What's a Gao Jie skill? Keep pushing, and later, Superclass and Forbidden Spells will be yours for the taking."

"When that day comes, who will you need to bow to when you unleash a single Forbidden Spell?"

"Don't forget—you're destined to become a Forbidden Spell! How can a mere setback defeat you?"

Hearing these words,

the flames around 'Fireball Spell' flared back to life.

That's right.

I am destined to become a Forbidden Spell!

A mere Gao Jie skill? Just a temporary lead.

As long as I keep moving forward, I will become a Forbidden Spell someday.

【【Fireball Spell】erupted in blazing flames, its aura surging: You're right! I'm the elder! That's an unchangeable truth—I won't fall!】

【【Fireball Spell】glared at 'Lightning Strike' and said haughtily: Just a Gao Jie skill? Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—wait and see!】

【【Lightning Strike】:.】

Watching 'Fireball Spell' regain its fighting spirit, Lin Mo wiped sweat from his brow.

Being a hands-off boss is indeed satisfying—the only downside is having to handle psychological counseling.

Lin Mo checked the time.

It was 8: 0.

"About time."

"Wash your face and head out."