Chapter 45: Realization: Flame Pillar!

Trial Tower, Level 21.

With a ripple of spatial distortion, Lin Mo was teleported to the center of this level.

“Examinees, pay attention!”

“The monster on this level is a highly mobile flying creature! Prepare yourselves!”

“Countdown: 60 seconds!”

The cold broadcast voice echoed through the hall.

Lin Mo stared blankly at the ground.

He was waiting.

Waiting for “Fireball” to infer a new skill.

At this moment, under the shared perception of “Earth Shield.”

The ground, once ordinary in “Fireball”’s view, became a skin pockmarked with countless tiny pores.

If he compressed fire elements and channeled them down these nodes, then detonated…

Hum—!

The air suddenly grew scorching.

Beneath Lin Mo’s feet, the ground faintly glowed with a dark red aura, as if molten lava surged below.

Immediately, a series of notifications popped up on Lin Mo’s panel.

【Your skill “Fireball” has successfully perceived the earth’s texture!】

【Your skill “Fireball” has spontaneously inferred and unlocked the intermediate fire skill—Flame Pillar (Lv.1)!】

【Flame Pillar: Generate a ring of fire on a designated ground area. After a brief delay, a high-pressure column of flame erupts, dealing massive fire damage to all enemies within range. Cooldown: 15 seconds】

【Lv.1 Effect: Can unleash 5 consecutive pillars. Each level increase adds one pillar. Cooldown: 15 seconds.】

“Did it?”

Lin Mo’s eyes lit up.

He stared at the new skill description on his panel, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Is this the value of an intermediate skill?

Starting with five pillars—if fully leveled, the image… he couldn’t even imagine.

Still, the “red circle” warning mechanism, though slightly silly, was acceptable when paired with control or terrain-limiting skills.

【“Fireball” rejoiced: Hahaha! It worked! I did it!】

【“Fireball” dispersed its surrounding turbulent flames and, for once, glanced at “Earth Shield” beside it.】

【“Fireball” snorted: Hmph. This time… you’re actually useful. I grant you preliminary recognition.】

【“Earth Shield” blushed: Really, it’s all because the Master is amazing! If not for his insight, I never would’ve thought of this! The Master is forever the god!】

【“Fireball” nodded, thoroughly pleased: Hmm… this human may be lazy normally, but at critical moments, he’s not bad. When I become a forbidden spell, you both will be the greatest contributors.】

“Enough, enough. New skill acquired. Let’s get to work.”

Lin Mo mentally cut off the two skills’ mutual flattery.

“Little Earth, raise the wall!”

【“Earth Shield” fired up: Got it, Master!】

Boom—!

The ground trembled.

Taking advantage of the moment, Lin Mo didn’t idle.

He activated his attribute panel’s inventory.

There, several unused skill books lay quietly.

The exam hall didn’t prohibit carrying these skill books, only one-time skill scrolls.

Lin Mo immediately consumed all remaining skill books.

Hummm—!

Streams of light flew from his inventory and pierced into Lin Mo’s body.

【Your skill “Fireball” devoured “Flame Shock,” “Chain Fireball,” “Personal Flame”…!】

【“Fireball,” “Multiple Explosive Fireballs,” “Infernal Spiral Dragon Ball,” “Flame Pillar” have gained massive proficiency!】

【Current skill levels: Fireball Lv.18 (maxed), Multiple Explosive Fireballs Lv.18, Infernal Spiral Dragon Ball Lv.18, Flame Pillar Lv.18】

【Your skill “Earth Shield” devoured “Rock Skin”…】

…

Within mere seconds.

Skill books worth millions of Dragon Nation coins were all consumed as nourishment.

Lin Mo’s skill bar was utterly transformed.

All skills, including the newly unlocked 【Flame Pillar】, were raised to his own level: Lv.18.

Lv.18 Flame Pillar…

Base five pillars, plus seventeen levels of enhancement—that’s… twenty-two pillars total!

“Perfect.”

Lin Mo snapped his fingers.

He glanced at his empty inventory and began calculating.

“But this consumption is huge. After the exam, I’ll have to go back and restock with Mom. Also get some lightning-element skill books.”

“If I get into the Dragon Order Class, Mom might be so happy she gives me extra pocket money?”

At that moment, the countdown in the broadcast hit zero.

“Monster teleportation initiated!”

Hum—!

Within the hexagonal earthen cage, the teleportation array flared brightly.

Space twisted, and figures materialized.

Exactly twenty Level 22 monsters filled the cramped space to bursting.

Half of them were grotesque 【Bloodthirsty Bats】.

As soon as they landed, they froze.

Towering earthen walls surrounded them on all sides—no gap, no opening.

Before they could react—

The ground beneath them suddenly glowed with vivid red circles.

One, two, five…

Dense red circles instantly covered the entire cage floor, every inch, leaving no blind spot.

Simultaneously—

Above them, a rain of fifteen fireballs plummeted from the sky.

【“Fireball” laughed wildly: Welcome to… the Inferno!】

Boom boom boom boom boom—!

Twenty-three Flame Pillars erupted simultaneously from the ground.

In that instant—

The world inside the earthen walls became a hell.

Fireballs rained from above; flame pillars surged from below…

The poor monsters didn’t even have time to scream before they were reduced to ash.

Flames roared skyward, reddening half the Trial Tower space; even the thick earthen walls glowed red-hot.

Lin Mo stood at a distance, feeling the heat wave rush toward him, calmly pulling out a sealed bag of new snacks.

“Tsk tsk tsk…”

“No wonder intermediate skills are valued—this burst power outshines all previous ones.”

“I can’t imagine what high-level or forbidden spells would be like…”

【“Fireball” let out an ecstatic sigh: Aaaah!! So satisfying! So brutal! I adore this new skill!】

【“Earth Shield,” staring at the towering flames, swallowed hard: Bro, you’re insane. I feel my walls might collapse from the shock…】

【“Fireball” roared with laughter: This is nothing! Wait till I become a forbidden spell—you’ll see what true flame really is!】

A few seconds later.

The flames faded.

【Congratulations, examinee Lin Mo! Level 21 cleared!】

【Time taken: 3 seconds!】

The broadcast announced the end of this one-sided massacre.

Lin Mo stretched lazily, his bones cracking with crisp pops.

“Next level.”

He casually glanced at a red-glowing surveillance camera in the corner.

He didn’t know—

On the other side of the camera, someone was about to feast.