Evolution Begins with Elemental Domination

The Wind Element also produced many useful offensive Runes.

Wind + Water + Light = Vacuum Blast

It could instantly drain the air from an area, causing a high-pressure collapse followed by a violent implosive explosion as air rushed back in.

Wind + Wind + Water = Vortex Skill

This creates a high-speed cyclone with a powerful pulling effect, sucking everything nearby into its center.

It could be considered a powerful control skill, and at Lv. 7, it also gained offensive cutting capabilities.

Wind + Metal + Metal = Cutting Threads

As the name suggested, it compressed the Wind Element into extremely fine threads, almost invisible to the naked eye, that could perform sharp cuts.

It could be used to set up terrain traps or as an unconventional weapon in a fight.

Additionally, the Wind Element also had highly efficient support Runes like Atmospheric Perception and Wind Field.

The newly announced Thunder Element also included a versatile Rune, the Electromagnetic Skill. By manipulating the attraction of positive and negative charges, it allowed the user to attract or repel various objects. One could run vertically up a cliff face or use magnetism to grab distant metal weapons.

It was somewhat similar to the Telekinesis Rune, but its functions weren’t as comprehensive.

Moreover, the class trait of a Four-Star Magnetic Element Warlock was a Super Tier, superior version of this Rune.

”This should be it.”

Su Chen rummaged through his bag and found a corresponding Lv. 6 Rune.

To be fair, about twenty percent of the Runes in this bag had unknown effects. Besides those, there was also a small pouch of Ice Element Runes.

He’d heard that the twelfth floor of Oran City’s Trial Tower was an extreme cold environment trial. Clearing it was a way to get a lot of Ice Element Runes, and maybe even an Ice Element class Authority.

He couldn’t be bothered to verify their effects, nor was he short one or two Runes.

From another perspective, the fact that the enemy, despite holding every conceivable advantage, had repeatedly failed in their attacks during the Battle of the Twin Cities was enough to reveal their massive internal problems.

The individual skill level of their people was not on the same level as Dongfu City’s. At least half of the enemies had Rune Constructions that were utterly pathetic.

”Take the brilliant combo of the Growth Skill and the Entanglement Skill, for example. We’ve already fully popularized it. Any Wood Element user who wants to master powerful control abilities works on that combo, but most of their people don’t even know about it.”

Su Chen simply explained the enemy’s skill level to Gong Jun.

This kind of powerful Wood Element control method could even be enhanced with variants, supplemented by a Wither skill and Withering Damage.

”In that case, it seems the skill level of their average person really is subpar.”

Gong Jun had a moment of realization, understanding the disastrous consequences of the other side’s policy of strictly controlling and selling Rune knowledge.

The Olan People who weren’t affiliated with any faction, big or small, could only rely on their own trial and error.

”I heard on the radio, quoting a Sect member, that in order to continuously fleece and intimidate people into buying their Rune knowledge, Oran City even has people spreading a lot of false information,” Ms. Cheng complained from the side.

Gong Jun shook his head and laughed. ”The ecosystem in Oran City really is fucked up.”

As they chatted, a commotion sounded from outside the camp. After being notified via radio, Su Chen walked to the hub crystal in the center of the first floor. He connected with it via his consciousness and completely retracted the Barrier that had solidified around the surrounding buildings.

Yan Ziqian, Pang Peng, Yu Ziyuan, and Liao Dahai returned safely.

Each person was carrying large and small bags, clearly having made a huge haul.

This was especially true for Yu Ziyuan; beside her, a Wind and Mist Envoy that had evolved into a brand-new form entered the camp, carrying several packages with it.

Its high-density, elemental cyclone-like body prevented it from haphazardly shedding Wind Fluff and making a mess of the supplies inside. However, since it was about the size of a small child, the sight of it carrying so much stuff was quite visually striking.

”I picked up a ton of Runes and Rune Equipment.”

Yu Ziyuan’s Summoned Pets were all experts at environmental scouting, so naturally, they had a unique advantage when it came to scavenging.

This was also one of the main reasons they had dared to pursue the deserters so deeply.

”Ruoruo, I also found a gun with a Lv. 7 Acceleration Skill on it for free!” Yu Ziyuan showed off to Yan Ruoruo, who had just stepped out of the RV.

Pang Peng, for his part, had always been insanely lucky. Blessed by the god of luck, he had stumbled upon major finds the whole way, discovering the bodies of two experts who had died in the forest from severe, untreated injuries. Later, during the pursuit, he even forced an enemy off a cliff to their death.

It had taken them quite a while to collect all the loot.

”All in all, I picked up at least two free Lv. 7 Wood Element Runes.”

Pang Peng was ecstatic. He patted the thick, ancient bronze shield in his hand and said, ”This thing even withstood a Lv. 7 Flame Burst Fireball. Today’s battle was much safer than dealing with Revivers in an Underground City.”

”Did you guys make it onto the contribution leaderboard?” Gong Jun asked curiously.

”The three of them made the list, but I was left out,” Liao Dahai said, scratching his head in embarrassment.

Yan Ziqian himself was ranked 863rd, Yu Ziyuan was 2550th, and Pang Peng was right at the 5000th mark.

This was because Pang Peng’s role was to tank damage with his shield, so it was inevitable that his score would lag far behind.

”Ties in score can happen, so there are definitely a thousand people ahead of me. In theory, if Pang Peng gets just 9 more contribution points, he could probably jump several hundred places,” Yan Ziqian analyzed.

Their strength was plain for all to see; there was a reason they had been specially recruited by the assault corps.

Yan Ziqian himself, relying on his exquisite archery skills, was always in the top tier, so he had managed to rack up a lot of contribution points in today’s all-out, white-hot Battle of the Twin Cities.

”Brother Chen, what about you?” Pang Peng asked tentatively.

This was what everyone was curious about, and many eyes turned to look at him.

Su Chen had just taken a bottle of sugar-free cola from the fridge. After taking a long drink, he simply held up one finger toward them.