Lightning!
That's right—crackling currents surged from Kael's body, weaving a dense web of electricity around him. The air itself seemed to warp as nearby pebbles and debris levitated inexplicably, as though drawn by some unseen force radiating from him.
"T-this…" The Snow Bear Beast stammered, its face twisting in terror. This was the power of lightning! Something no human had ever wielded before!
In the blink of an eye, a crackling electric field enveloped Kael. Stones and rock fragments around him shattered into dust under the voltage, scattering like ash in the wind.
"The fusion of the Millennium Ice Essence's power with my own, catalyzed by the Fusion Elixir… has birthed a new mutation. Is this… the Thunder Element?" Even Kael was stunned.
While his strength had surged to the peak of Level 7, the ancient ruins' restrictions still capped his advancement beyond that threshold.
But far more exhilarating was the elemental metamorphosis within him.
His primary affinity, fire magic, had clashed with the water-aligned essence, and under the elixir's influence, the two underwent a frenzied mutation.
From this chaos, his body had nurtured something unprecedented—the Thunder Element!
"Lightning… this is the power of lightning."
Kael slowly opened his eyes, awed by the sheer force coursing through him.
This discovery was nothing short of miraculous. The raw potency of thunder surpassed all expectations.
Since the dawn of magic, no recorded mage had ever harnessed lightning. Thunder was a mythic element—elusive, enigmatic.
Without this serendipitous convergence—the Millennium Ice Essence, fire magic, and the Fusion Elixir—Kael would never have touched this power. Even now, the odds of replicating this fusion were infinitesimal.
Rising to his feet, Kael exhaled deeply, emerging from his meditative trance.
No mage before him had mastered thunder. That meant an uncharted path lay ahead—one fraught with challenges, but also boundless potential.
One thing was certain: Thunder Magic's supremacy dwarfed conventional elements, making it a tier-defying force.
"Now I just need thunder-based spell incantations—fortunately, The Book of Immortality has those covered." Kael mused, his brow smoothing.
For anyone else, mastering an unfamiliar element like thunder would require painstaking trial and error—deciphering its properties, experimenting with elemental arrangements, and crafting spells from scratch. But Kael wasn't "anyone else." Though equally new to thunder, he had The Book of Immortality as his cheat sheet.
The ancient tome indeed documented thunder magic. Previously, Kael's body couldn't resonate with the element, rendering the knowledge useless. Now? A different story altogether.
Thunder was a rarity, beyond the reach of ordinary mages. Yet Kael had somehow activated it within himself, placing him in an exclusive league.
"The Book of Immortality lists plenty of thunder spells—perfect for my current needs. Looks like I'm officially a thunder mage now. Not a bad upgrade." He accepted the shift with ease.
After scanning the tome and memorizing several practical incantations, Kael noticed the Snow Bear Beast gawking at him.
"What? Staring at me like I'm some monster?" He chuckled.
"Y-y-you are a m-monster…" The beast stammered, still shaken by the pure, overwhelming energy of the lightning.
Amused by its terror, Kael shrugged. "Just lucky, that's all."
His gaze swept over the creature before he hoisted it up. "Come on, let's see what's deeper inside." The platform wasn't the cave's end—another chamber beckoned, piquing his curiosity.
If the Sevenleaf Herb had been waiting outside, what treasures lay within?
The thought spurred him forward.
"Let's check it out." Clutching the beast, Kael advanced along the platform, his eyes sharp, scanning for hidden wonders.
Then—
"This is…" He froze.
At the cavern's heart loomed a colossal entity.
And colossal was no exaggeration.
A towering mass nearly ten meters tall—like a small hill—its colossal frame shuddering with thunderous snores. A massive magical beast, sound asleep.
"A magical beast! Damn it!" Kael's heart clenched. Instead of treasures, he'd stumbled upon a monster.
This creature's sheer size and muscular build marked it as some aberrant species, sparking both awe and wariness in Kael.
It lay curled on its side, armored in thick scales. Though its face was hidden, the beast's imposing form alone was enough to send chills down his spine.
Critical detail: Unlike explorers, the creatures native to these ancient ruins weren't bound by the Level 7 restriction. Level 8+ beasts existed here.
Even in slumber, the raw menace radiating from this one had Kael on high alert.
The Snow Bear Beast instinctively trembled.
"H-h-high-tier magical beast…" It was on the verge of tears again. "First terrifying thunder magic, now this?! Give me a break!"
As an intelligent magical beast, it recognized high-tier aura instantly. This thing was at least Level 8, possibly higher.
The gargantuan creature shifted slightly, its silver-scaled body rolling to fully face them.
Now visible: a rhinoceros-like monstrosity, its entire body plated in metallic armor, crowned by a single golden horn. The beast slept deeply, its snores so deafening Kael fought the urge to cover his ears.
An absolute unit.
"This is a Jadehorn Rhinobeast—a Level 8+ apex predator even in these ancient ruins! They usually travel in herds, so why is this one alone?" The Snow Bear Beast trembled, equal parts terrified and confused.
Jadehorn Rhinobeast!
Kael had heard of them—ancient aberrant magical beasts renowned for their terrifying power. But beyond rumors, he knew little else.
One thing was certain: stumbling upon a sleeping Jadehorn Rhinobeast in this cave was notgood news.
The beast shifted again, its massive head now less than a meter from Kael and the petrified Snow Bear Beast. The creature stiffened, every muscle locked in dread.
Then—
The Rhinobeast's nostrils flared. Its eyelids twitched... then snapped open.
"It's awake!"
A low, rumbling growl escaped its maw as it heaved itself upright in one fluid motion!
"Humans? And a... Snow Bear Beast?" Its golden eyes gleamed as its towering shadow engulfed Kael. The sheer pressure of its presence alone felt suffocating.
"Damn." Kael's instincts screamed retreat, but the beast's aura had already locked onto him. Dread pooled in his gut.
High-tier magical beasts were notoriously territorial. Trespassing into their domain was tantamount to a death wish. And unless he was mistaken...