[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware-":3,"chapter-just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--chapter-56":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Just Became a Mage, and My Skills Got Self-Aware? What the Hell?",{"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},2356666,4610,"Chapter 56: Offense Is the Best Defense","just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--chapter-56",56,"\u003Cp>Xia Qingyue ran back without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The triplets chased after her relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mages are naturally short-legged, and these triplets had undergone inhuman physical and combat training since childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, Xia Qingyue was caught.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still running?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mocking voice came from behind Xia Qingyue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spun around sharply, her staff flashing with light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several azure water arrows shot through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the front-line tank didn’t even raise his shield—he simply sidestepped left, effortlessly dodging the water arrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the brother on the left accelerated, swinging his great axe horizontally, cutting off Xia Qingyue’s escape route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perfect coordination…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Qingyue’s pupils shrank sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she could react, a third figure appeared silently behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goodbye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold voice echoed beside her ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of blade light sliced through her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two’s attacks followed immediately after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less than three seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft white light erupted from Xia Qingyue’s body, forming a semi-transparent light cocoon that enveloped her entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Soul Protection’ activated—this meant Xia Qingyue had been eliminated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While in protection state, Xia Qingyue was immune to all damage but lost all mobility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could only stand frozen like a statue until the exam ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu strolled over slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Running? Why stop now? Oh right—you can’t move.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re despicable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though her body was immobilized, Xia Qingyue’s voice remained icy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, you’re too naive. All’s fair in war—that’s strategy, that’s brains, got it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu sneered dismissively, “In this world, the victor is always king. The process doesn’t matter—only the result does.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Result?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Qingyue stared fixedly at Zhao Yu and laughed coldly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you really think you’re a match for Young Master Lin? With your ragtag group? Zhao Yu, you overestimate yourself and underestimate Lin Mo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Zhao Yu’s smile vanished instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xia Qingyue, pay attention—this is Black Mud Swamp!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The environment here is a natural counter to fire and earth. Add dozens of elite candidates—what does Lin Mo have to win with?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stay right here, open your eyes, and watch how we surround and kill your master. Hahaha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within the Misty Wasteland, at the edge of the Black Mud Swamp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mist here was thicker than at the periphery, and glowed an eerie gray-black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo stepped onto the soft ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He frowned, lifted his foot, and stared at the black sludge caked on his sole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This place… really makes me uncomfortable…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo narrowed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【‘Fireball Spell’ is weak: What the hell is this place? It feels awful all over.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Tu, try raising a Mud Wall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo instructed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【‘Earth Shield Spell’ felt slightly uncomfortable too, but responded immediately: Got it, Master! Rise!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground trembled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wet, black sludge barely rose from the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less than two meters high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo fell silent, walked forward, and tested it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he applied slight pressure, the soft wall collapsed instantly into a puddle of sludge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【‘Fireball Spell’ burst into laughter: Hahaha! That’s hilarious! Brother Two, what kind of wall is this? This is shit!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【‘Earth Shield Spell’ sounded on the verge of tears: Th-this isn’t my fault!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【‘Earth Shield Spell’ paced frantically: I tried my best, but I just can’t harden it at all!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo stared at the puddle of sludge, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earth was half-disabled; fire was weakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this Zhao Yu’s confidence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo rubbed his chin, rapidly calculating the current situation in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu’s side had many people—and they were humans, not mindless monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Humans use tactics, understand feints, and coordinate well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Lin Mo possessed the invincible ‘Lava Armor,’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the problem was: its duration was only five minutes, with a one-hour cooldown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once he activated the armor, the enemy wouldn’t be foolish enough to engage him head-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d surely exploit their numerical and terrain advantages to kite him, dragging out the five minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his only crowd-control skill, the Earth Wall with a five-second cooldown, was rendered useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the armor’s time expired, he’d be at a disadvantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Offense…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo glanced at his skill bar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fireball and Multiple Exploding Fireballs both had cooldowns—three seconds and fifteen seconds respectively…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Against a smart human team, it was uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Flame Pillar,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>though its range and damage were high, that bright red warning circle was far too obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It worked fine against unintelligent monsters or immobilized targets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But against these clever, agile elite candidates…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without control skills to coordinate, they’d simply dodge the red circle—no way to hit them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like this is going to be tricky…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【‘Earth Shield Spell’ grew more anxious: Master, what do we do? My wall won’t stand—if they focus on you, I… I can’t block them! Should we just not go?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait—control…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Lin Mo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He told Earth Shield Spell: “Xiao Tu, shift your thinking—don’t try to harden this sludge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【‘Earth Shield Spell’ confused: Huh? If it doesn’t harden, how do we block damage? How do we protect you without a wall?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No—offense is the best defense. If you immobilize them, whether to kill or spare them is up to us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【‘Earth Shield Spell’ snapped alert: Huh??】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Try controlling the sludge—make it flow, like super glue. Understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【‘Earth Shield Spell’ froze.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【In its nonexistent mind, a new world’s door seemed to slowly open.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【‘Earth Shield Spell’ murmured to itself: Offense is the best defense… don’t think about hardening… make it flow?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【‘Earth Shield Spell’ seemed to grasp it: Right! If we control them, then Brother One swiftly eliminates them—that’s also protecting Master!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【‘Earth Shield Spell’ grew excited: Master, let me try!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Try it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo pointed to an open patch of ground ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gloop… gloop…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previously still black mud began to churn, forming a slow-spinning vortex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Control room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Lei had been delighted at the sight of the collapsed earthen wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Lin Mo began staring blankly at the ground, and soon the muddy surface began to writhe; his smile vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wenchang’s pupils contracted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The mud… is flowing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This kid, he can’t possibly…”\u003C\u002Fp>",1026,"2026-06-21T04:41:49.398Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","81ed07073ed207e77cc4603108ede941859d92fd38df326e484e375ed1d06a78","just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--chapter-57","just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--chapter-55",374,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fjust-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--cover.jpg"]