Chapter 22: Comprehension, Earth Flow Wall!

「？？？」

Lin Mo listened to the pig-slaughtering shriek echoing in his mind, and the whole person froze on the spot.

Good lord, so you can talk after all?

I was shouting at you for ages with no response, and now your voice is louder than anyone's?

But… danger?

What danger?

Lin Mo subconsciously glanced at the stone ten meters away.

The small fireball resting in Stone's palm at this moment was only the size of a fist.

It didn't even look as good as the Fireball spell he himself had cast.

That's it?

And this thing counts as dangerous?

Lin Mo glanced at the earthen shield in front of him, and his heart filled with speechless exasperation.

Does this 【Earth Shield】 have some kind of misunderstanding about the word "danger"?

Yet the 【Earth Shield】 in the skill column not only failed to calm down, but began to flash wildly.

【【Earth Shield】 trembling in terror: So scary! I can feel it, that fireball, it's sneering! Master, it's going to burn you to ashes!】

【【Earth Shield】 is starting to overthink out of sheer panic…】

【It believes a thin little shield simply cannot withstand such a "terrifying" attack! It needs to be thicker! Harder! More comprehensive protection!】

【【Earth Shield】 is desperately drawing earth element from deep within the ground…】

【Congratulations! Because your skill is terrified of death, it has deduced and evolved an advanced skill on its own — Earth Flow Wall (Beginner)!】

【Earth Flow Wall: Instantly raises a thick wall of earth and stone from underground, capable not only of blocking frontal damage but also of altering the terrain. Cooldown: 5 seconds.】

「……」

Lin Mo stared at the skill description that had newly appeared on his panel, the corner of his mouth twitching uncontrollably.

What the heck?

Being terrified of death, and comprehending Earth Flow Wall?

Before Lin Mo could even collect himself, Stone, standing in the distance, opened his mouth to ask:

「Young Master? Are you ready? 」

A simple, honest smile on his face, Stone patiently explained:

「Don't be nervous. Take a deep breath, and focus your spiritual power on the shield. 」

「I'm about to start attacking, okay? 」

Lin Mo glanced at the icon of his new skill 【Earth Flow Wall】, then glanced again at that harmless-looking miniature fireball in Stone's hand.

His expression turned a little odd.

「Uh… I'm ready. 」

The skill has already been comprehended, so that should count as ready, right?

Stone keenly caught the faint strangeness on Lin Mo's face, reined in his smile, and his tone grew exceptionally solemn.

「Young Master, you really don't need to worry. 」

「Your earthen shield right now may not look all that thick, but under my guidance, it's already more than enough. 」

「And I'll be holding back too, so just set your mind completely at ease. 」

「Based on my ten-plus years of experience as an earth-element mage, your shield can withstand it one hundred percent — it won't even so much as tremble. 」

「The main point this time is just to let you feel what it's like to block an attack. 」

A-Hu, standing off to one side, also chimed in cheerfully:

「That's right, Young Master, just put your heart right into your stomach. 」

「Don't let the fact that Stone is an earth-element mage fool you — he's got a pretty good handle on Fireball too. If he says it's enough, then it's definitely enough. 」

Ye Hongyu stood not far away; though she said nothing, she gave a slight nod, signaling that Lin Mo could rest easy.

Seeing this, Lin Mo felt nothing but a pounding headache.

What he was worried about right now wasn't whether he himself would get hurt.

What he was worried about was whether you lot would get scared…

But there was no way to explain that, so Lin Mo could only nod:

「Alright, bring it on, Brother Stone, I won't dodge. 」

「You got it! Young Master, watch closely…」

As Stone spoke, he gave his wrist a gentle flick.

「Go! 」

With a soft cry from him.

That orange-red miniature fireball shot toward Lin Mo, its speed nothing remarkable.

At the same time,

【【Earth Shield】 let out a despairing shriek: Ahhhh! It's coming! It's coming!】

【【Earth Shield】 in utter panic: Help! I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die! This is a finishing blow!】

【【Earth Shield】: I just comprehended a new skill, and I don't even know if it can block it — I can only try!】

【【Earth Shield】: I will protect Master with my life!!】

Boom rumble——!!!

Without the slightest warning, the ground suddenly began to tremble violently.

That commotion was as if a earth dragon were rolling over beneath the ground.

"Holy crap?!" Ah Hu's face changed. "An earthquake?!"

Ye Hongyu's pupils also contracted; a dagger appeared in her hand as she looked around vigilantly.

Even Shi Tou wore a completely bewildered expression.

The next second.

Amidst the confused gazes of everyone.

The ground before Lin Mo suddenly exploded open.

"Rise!!!"

Accompanied by a roar from 'Earth Shield Technique' in his mind.

Boom—!

Massive amounts of soil and rock erupted wildly from beneath the ground.

In the blink of an eye, a magnificent earthen wall stretched across between Lin Mo and that miniature fireball.

It wasn't a shield; it was a wall!

A colossal barrier standing five meters high, ten meters long, with a thickness reaching two meters...

A huge shadow instantly enveloped everyone present.

The clearing that had been bathed in bright sunshine just moments ago now seemed blocked by a small mountain.

And that miniature fireball, carrying its instructional significance, appeared so small and helpless before this Wall of Sighs...

The fireball struck the exact center of the 【Earth Flow Wall】.

It didn't even leave a single scorch mark before simply extinguishing.

Only a wisp of faint, lingering green smoke rose slowly before the massive wall, looking particularly desolate.

A silence as dead as death.

On the Rocky Beach, apart from the howling sound of wind blowing over the earthen wall, there was no other sound.

"This shield... no, this wall..."

Ah Hu stared blankly at that wall, murmuring in his mouth.

Ye Hongyu's hand, gripping the dagger, also froze in mid-air, her eyes filled with incredulity.

As for Shi Tou, his eyes were so surprised they nearly fell out onto the ground.

Looking at that earthen wall resembling a city rampart, he was completely disoriented in the wind.

This...

An Earth-element basic skill, Earth Flow Wall??

Just learned a basic skill, and in the next instant comprehended a basic-tier skill??

However, the key isn't that; the key is using an Earth Flow Wall to block my own fist-sized little fireball??

This... is that really necessary?

At the same time, 【Earth Shield Technique】 also wore an expression of relief.

【'Earth Shield Technique' trembled, emitting a sigh of survival: That was close... really too close!'】

【It remained haunted: In that instant just now, I even felt the countdown to death! That fireball was less than ten meters from the Master!】

【'Earth Shield Technique' proudly sought credit: Master, Master! How was my reaction? Wasn't it full of security? If not for me, you would have definitely kicked the bucket just now, turning into a pile of charcoal!】

"..."

Lin Mo stood behind the thick earthen wall and looked up again at this colossal object.

He reached out and touched the wall; that rough and hard rocky texture even carried the coolness from the depths of the earth.

This indeed provided a great sense of security.

But...

Brother, can't we have a bit of dignity for a skill?

A fist-sized little fireball, and you're making it look like the apocalypse; I'm really embarrassed, you know?