Chapter 62: This guy

“Boom—”

Night fell, and dark clouds blanketed the sky over Jianghai City.

A bolt of lightning split the heavens, illuminating the luxurious Lin family villa.

On the second floor of the villa, along a corridor lined with soft wool carpets.

Lin Mo had just finished dinner and was strolling toward his bedroom, a toothpick between his lips.

“Hurry up, hurry up! A heavy rain’s coming!”

“The clothes on the balcony haven’t been brought in yet!”

Two young maids ran past.

Seeing Lin Mo, they stopped and bowed.

“Good evening, Young Master!”

“Hmm, be careful, don’t slip.”

Lin Mo replied absently.

He glanced out the window and muttered:

“This damn weather changes on a whim. Guess tonight’s perfect for staying in bed and gaming.”

He pushed open the bedroom door.

Lin Mo dropped straight onto the sofa.

Comfortable.

He opened his career panel and glanced at the experience bar.

【Level: Lv.19 (99%)】

Tsk…

Lin Mo clicked his tongue, shaking his head in dissatisfaction.

How long has this been stuck? Why’s it still just a hair short?

The higher the level, the less realistic it is to level up outdoors.

Luckily, this is fully automated idle farming—still acceptable.

“Little Fire, why haven’t you leveled up to 20 yet? Got distracted by some female fireball?”

Lin Mo teased.

A few seconds later, the Fireball Spell responded angrily.

【『Fireball Spell』 roared: What’s all this noise? Are you trying to kill me? Female fireball?】

【『Fireball Spell』 solemnly declared: No women in heart, spell naturally divine! Females only weaken my explosive power!】

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow:

“So you’ve been dawdling all this time?”

【『Fireball Spell』 grinned wickedly: I’m luring enemies. Almost ready—let you see what true art looks like. Art is… explosion!】

Before he finished speaking,

【Killed Goblin Thrower x12, gained experience: 3680】

【Killed Goblin Warrior x13, gained experience: 3710】

【Killed Goblin Knight x10, gained experience: 3550】

【Killed…】

A flood of kill notifications began scrolling rapidly.

Immediately, a golden light rose within the bedroom, enveloping Lin Mo.

【Congratulations! Your level has increased to Lv.20!】

“Finally!”

Lin Mo’s eyes lit up as he sat up sharply.

He flipped his wrist—the skill book he’d prepared long ago appeared in his hand.

【Skill Book: Thunder Strike (Basic)】

Lin Mo took a deep breath, his eyes filled with anticipation.

“Learn!”

With a thought, the skill book dissolved into a purple stream of light and shot into Lin Mo’s third eye.

In his mind, it felt as if a thunderclap had exploded.

【Congratulations! You have successfully learned the Thunder-element basic skill—Thunder Strike (Lv.1)!】

【Thunder Strike: Launch a bolt of lightning to deal Thunder-element damage to the target, with a chance to inflict paralysis. Cooldown: 3 seconds.】

In his skill bar, a new lightning-icon skill appeared, radiating sharp, aloof energy.

The first to react was Earth Shield.

【『Earth Shield』 peered out curiously: Huh? Newcomer?】

Far away, several kilometers off, Fireball Spell also sensed it.

【『Fireball Spell』 instantly alert: Huh? Newcomer?】

【『Fireball Spell』 sneered: Hmph. So this is the Thunder-element, famed for its single-target burst? Wait—I’m coming back to give you a proper lesson.】

【『Fireball Spell』 status updated: Returning at full speed】

Lin Mo frowned and began lecturing Fireball Spell.

“Little Fire, we’re all family. Is this how you welcome newcomers? What do you mean by ‘give you a lesson’?”

【『Earth Shield』 immediately chimed in: Exactly! Master is right!】

【『Earth Shield』 looked sweetly at the new Thunder Strike icon: Um… Lei… Lei Third Brother? Hi there. You can call me Little Earth. We’re family now—let’s get along, okay?】

【『Fireball Spell』 sneered: Family? Hmph. To become my family, you must first earn my approval!】

【『Earth Shield』 weakly rebutted: Big Brother, that’s not right. Lin Mo is our master. If the master says we’re family, we should obey him…】

【『Fireball Spell』 roared in fury: Shut up! I’m destined to become a Forbidden Spell! I won’t be family with weaklings!】

Lin Mo sighed.

This family was more troublesome by the member.

Just then,

The newly appeared lightning icon flickered.

【『Thunder Strike』: Too noisy.】

The voice was cold, dripping with disdain and aloofness.

Lin Mo froze.

Huh?

This newcomer’s got some personality.

【『Fireball Spell』 instantly bristled: What did you say? Impudent! How dare you call me noisy!】

【『Fireball Spell』 erupted in flames: I am a noble being destined to become a Forbidden Spell! What are you, some new spark? How dare you disrespect me!】

【『Thunder Strike』: Idiot.】

【『Fireball Spell』: !!!】

【『Fireball Spell』 trembled with rage: Good! Good! You dare call me an idiot?!】

【『Fireball Spell』 burned with fury: Today, I’ll show you what true damage output looks like!】

Yet, Thunder Strike remained silent in response to Fireball Spell’s rage.

【『Fireball Spell』 grew angrier: Why aren’t you talking? So bold just now? Scared?】

【『Earth Shield』 cried: Please stop fighting!】

At that moment, Thunder Strike spoke again.

【『Thunder Strike』: Only the powerless scream like rabid dogs.】

Fireball Spell exploded.

【『Fireball Spell』: I’m furious! I’m furious! I’ll settle this with you! I’ll prove that in this family, Fire-element is the one true god!】

Lin Mo rubbed his temples, exasperated.

These skills really didn’t let him rest.

“Enough, Little Fire. Calm down. You’ve already mastered advanced skills. Little Thunder just arrived—aren’t you picking on him?”

【『Fireball Spell』 paused, finding that reasonable.】

【『Fireball Spell』 waved its flames magnanimously: I’ll use only my basic Fireball. Deal?】

Before Lin Mo could nod,

【『Thunder Strike』 let out a soft scoff: No need.】

【『Thunder Strike』 said calmly: Use your strongest move. Come at me.】

【『Thunder Strike』: The outcome… will be the same.】

Lin Mo: “...”

This guy’s showing off—full marks!

【『Fireball Spell』 laughed bitterly: Hahahaha! Fine! Very fine! See? So arrogant—I must show him what true skill beyond skill looks like!】

“Alright, alright. Let’s go to the backyard. There’s a training post for testing skills.”

Lin Mo stood up from the sofa.

He was also quite curious.

Is this lightning technique, with its outrageous boastfulness, truly powerful, or just pure showboating?

Lin Mo walked to the window and glanced out.

“Boom—”

The dull thunder seemed louder now.

Dark clouds loomed overhead, as if about to collapse.

“This damn weather feels like rain’s about to pour.”

“Let’s finish this quickly—the backyard is open-air; don’t want to get soaked like a drowned rat.”