Chapter 307: Adult Basilisk [GOLDEN TICKET BONUS]

The first thing Alex did was create a Lightning Element Rune, adding it to the collection of elemental Runes he had already developed. He now possessed Fire Element, Life Element, Kinetic Element, and Lightning Element Runes, each of which served a different purpose and gave him more options when constructing powerful spells.

His Fire Element Rune was particularly complicated because it consisted of three components: a Trash Rank Fire Element Rune, a B Rank Improved Fire Element Compression Rune, and a B Rank Improved Fire Element Stability Rune.

When combined, these three components formed a B Rank Fire Element Rune, allowing him to control fire mana much more effectively than before.

Alex had recently learned about Rune combinations from the Rune Compendium, and the information had helped him understand why he could incorporate the sub-runes of one elemental Rune into another.

Their actual functions mattered more than their names when determining whether they could work together, even if both sub-runes explicitly contained the words Fire Element in their names.

Fire and kinetic energy were closely related because heat was associated with the movement of molecules, meaning that the sub-runes responsible for controlling fire mana could also improve certain aspects of kinetic mana. The compatibility wasn’t perfect, but Alex believed that combining them would still produce a significant improvement.

He began modifying his Kinetic Element Rune, carefully incorporating the components he had selected from the Fire Element Rune. The process required considerable concentration, but his Advanced Battle Instincts Spell allowed him to work through the complicated structure without losing track of the relationships between the different components.

Once he finished, Alex examined the result using his Runic Eyes Talent and discovered that his Kinetic Element Rune had reached C Rank.

He felt satisfied with the improvement, since the Rune had jumped from Trash Rank directly to C Rank, giving him a much better foundation for controlling kinetic mana.

He took another deep breath, created a Mana Shuriken, and began spinning it before using the spell to lift himself into the air. Thanks to the improved Kinetic Element Rune, the heat generated by the shuriken no longer reached his body, allowing him to fly without worrying about burning himself during prolonged use.

After rising high enough to overlook the entire hill, Alex took an iron projectile from his inventory and began preparing his Mana Railgun.

This was the same attack that had once blocked the iron clubs wielded by the giant Wild Orcs, demonstrating just how much destructive power it could produce, but he intended to push it much further this time.

First, he used elastic mana to make the projectile spinnable, applying the knowledge he had gained from controlling the rotation of his Mana Shuriken. It was a difficult technique to execute because he needed to maintain the projectile’s stability while accelerating it, but his previous experience had given him enough control to attempt it.

Next, he incorporated Disruption Mana into the projectile to interfere with the Basilisk’s petrifying gaze. He couldn’t guarantee that the spell would completely prevent the projectile from turning to stone, but disrupting the effect should give it a better chance of reaching its target before the Basilisk could stop it.

Alex then began compressing Fire Element Mana into the projectile, gradually increasing the amount until it contained a considerable amount of destructive energy. He wasn’t finished yet, because he also intended to use Kinetic Element Mana to accelerate the projectile even further.

Using his Will, he hardened the kinetic mana around the projectile, although he knew the structure wouldn’t remain stable for very long. Once it began to destabilize, the accumulated energy would be released in an explosion, pushing the projectile forward with tremendous force and adding even more destructive power to the attack.

Alex repeatedly created new projectiles and practiced combining the different components, adjusting their structure whenever something failed to work as intended. Beads of sweat rolled down his face, but he barely noticed them as he concentrated on improving the attack while keeping his Mana Spheres spread across a large area to detect the Basilisk’s arrival.

He continued practicing until he suddenly sensed something inside one of his Mana Spheres, which had petrified after detecting a powerful presence entering its range. Alex immediately recognized that he no longer had time to waste, so he fired his Mana Railgun without hesitation.

The projectile shot forward with explosive acceleration, producing shockwaves so powerful that Alex nearly lost his balance in midair. At the same time, the giant Stone Basilisk was rapidly climbing the hill, and although it noticed the incoming attack, it had almost no time to react before the projectile struck.

A massive explosion engulfed the creature, releasing a flash so bright that the surrounding area briefly looked as though another sun had appeared in the night sky. Alex immediately began preparing a second projectile, ignoring the unbearable pain spreading through his head as he forced himself to continue concentrating.

He couldn’t afford to assume that a single attack would be enough to kill a High Rank Species monster, especially one that was fully rested and uninjured before the battle began. However, before he could finish preparing his second shot, the dust began to settle, revealing the result of his attack.

A gigantic crater had appeared in the middle of the hill, and the Stone Basilisk lay motionless at its center. Its head had been completely destroyed, while the rest of its body was severely burned and broken beyond recognition.

The force of the explosion had also destroyed a considerable portion of the hill, destabilizing the surrounding ground until a landslide began sweeping debris down the slopes. Alex continued floating in the sky and waited until the rumbling finally subsided, his expression changing as he realized just how much damage his attack had caused.

Several notifications appeared before his eyes.

[Level 15 Stone Basilisk (High Rank Species) killed.]

[You have level up. Level 15 → Level 16.]

[Disruption Mana Blade Spell has leveled up. Level 6 → Level 8.]

[Mana Circuit Spell has leveled up. Level 3 → Level 4.]

[Mana Sphere Spell has leveled up. Level 6 → Level 7]

[Mana Shuriken Spell has leveled up. Level 8 → Level 10.]

[Mana Shuriken Spell has reached Max Level.]

[Mana Shuriken Spell can now be evolved. Choose an evolution...]

..

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