Primordial Heir: Nine Stars

Nero’s team ventured deeper into the forest, armed with a rough map of the pocket world. The further they journeyed into the woods, the stronger the monsters became. It was no surprise that every team was aiming for the core region, where eliminating the monsters would yield a significant number of points—exactly what they needed.

In the core region, they would encounter Orcs, classified as D-rank monsters. Each kill would net them 5 points, making them the prime target for their hunt.

As Nero and Khione made their way into the core region, they soon encountered a team of five Red goblins.

”I shall take care of them. There are a few things I want to test,” Nero suggested, preparing himself for the slaughter. Khione considered for a moment before nodding; she felt a sense of intrigue about what he was about to do.

”Go ahead!” she confirmed verbally after nodding.

Nero smiled in response. By now, the five Red goblins had noticed the duo and were gearing up to attack when the human male charged at them.

Nero’s objective was to refine his Law of Fire and create a set of techniques related to this Law, which he decided to name ”Flame Art.” The first skill within this technique focused on movement, utilizing heat as a means of acceleration. Through his research, he had reached this conclusion.

Heat as Acceleration:

Fire’s heat represents the kinetic energy of particles, and manipulating that heat could be used to accelerate objects or even enhance one’s own movement. With this understanding, he aimed to use his control over the Law of Fire to propel himself forward. Flames ignited beneath his feet, launching him like a rocket. Initially, he struggled to control his speed, but thanks to his perfect synchronization with the Law, he quickly adjusted his trajectory and arrived before the startled first goblin.

He unleashed a punch, his fist engulfed in flames, forming a burning glove. When his flame-wrapped fist connected with the goblin, it pierced through the creature as easily as a knife through butter, creating a gaping hole. The goblin crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Without wasting a moment, Nero spun around and delivered a flaming kick, his leg enveloped in fire. The kick struck another goblin, slicing it cleanly in two as if it were made of paper.

Next, he planted his foot firmly on the ground. From the sole of his foot, heat spread forward and transformed into a flaming lotus that engulfed two more goblins.

”Gyaaah!” Their cries echoed through the forest as the red flames consumed them, leaving nothing but charred remains.

The last goblin, witnessing the massacre of its kin, attempted to flee. It would be foolish to stay after seeing the fate that had befallen its comrades. But just as it turned to escape, a tiny fire arrow shot through the air, piercing its torso and incinerating its heart. The goblin collapsed, dead in an instant.

As he surveyed his handiwork, Nero’s expression remained impassive. He had gained a wealth of ideas to add to this newly created technique and couldn’t wait to test them further. Each movement had been executed with precision, showcasing his mastery over the Law of Fire and his ability to blend speed and power into a seamless display of destruction.

”Let’s go!” Nero called out to Khione, who seemed lost in thought.

’It seems that my fight has sparked some ideas in her,’ he mused.

”Okay!” she replied, quickly following after him, eager to use the recent battle as inspiration to refine her spells.

With their recent victory, they had gained 10 points, putting them 11 points ahead of the second team.

A few minutes later, they stumbled upon a group of ten Red goblins.

”I will take care of this group,” Khione suggested, her excitement evident.

Nero, having anticipated this, nodded and stepped aside.

Now that she had reached the Adept stage, dealing with these small fry didn’t require the use of a wand. Instead, she confidently strolled toward the ten goblins, who were preparing to attack. However, they suddenly found themselves unable to move properly; their movements became sluggish, and even their muscles felt stiff.

Khione had skillfully manipulated the ambient moisture in the air, creating tiny icicle particles that infiltrated the goblins’ cells through their pores. This technique slowed down their blood circulation, effectively diminishing their agility and strength.

The process involved her drawing moisture from the environment, condensing it into microscopic ice particles, and then using her control over water to direct these particles towards the goblins. Once the icicles entered their bodies, they would disrupt the normal flow of blood, causing a significant decrease in their mobility. The cold also affected their nerve endings, making it harder for them to react quickly.

As the goblins struggled to move, Khione seized the opportunity. With her mastery over ice magic, she could now control the battlefield with finesse, turning a group of foes into easy targets. The anticipation of her next move surged through her, and she felt ready to take them down with ease.

Having her small icicle particles infiltrate their blood vessels made it easier for Khione to execute her next spell.

”Ice Sculpture!” she murmured, invoking the name of her next spell. Though spells had evolved to become almost chantless, uttering the name still provided a surge of power. It served as a keyword, unlocking the full potential of the spell; even a simple word could amplify a spellcaster’s magic significantly.

As soon as she uttered the spell’s name, the ten Red goblins began to freeze from the inside out. The process was excruciating for them; they felt as if thousands of ants were crawling through their veins, gnawing at them from within. The freezing sensation spread rapidly, mimicking the painful bite of frostbite as it coursed through their bodies.

The icicle particles she had introduced into their blood vessels acted as catalysts, triggering a rapid drop in temperature in their cells. As the temperature plummeted, the water in their cells began to crystallize, forming ice. The goblins were rendered unable to comprehend the horror that was unfolding as their bodies succumbed to the cold. Their movements slowed to a complete halt, and before they could fully grasp what was happening, they transformed into exquisite ice sculptures.

The sight was both beautiful and macabre; the ten goblins stood frozen in mid-motion, their expressions forever captured in a state of shock. They could not have been more dead, the icy sheen of their bodies reflecting light like art pieces crafted from the finest crystal. Khione felt a rush of satisfaction as she completed the spell, having turned a threat into a mesmerizing display of her power.

”Wow!” Nero marveled at the display of Khione’s spell. Even without needing an explanation, he understood how it worked. Thanks to his special eyes, he could observe the flow of prana and how it moved to make the spell possible. All he could think was one word: Splendid!

Just as Khione had used his earlier fight to further enhance her spells, Nero realized he could apply what he observed to refine his own Flame Art. Ideas were brimming in his mind, but he needed to find monsters to test them on.

With Khione’s overwhelming kill, they had secured another twenty points, bringing their total to 230 points—enough to temporarily hold the first spot, although the other teams were hot on their heels, separated by only a few points.

Nero didn’t hold back. He spread his Divine Sense much farther, reaching nearly a 250-meter radius. Almost immediately, he detected a group of monsters not too far from their location. He gave chase, with Khione following closely behind. Soon, they spotted a group of seven hobgoblins.

Having just massacred fifteen goblins less than two hours ago, the scent of blood and slaughter clung to their bodies. The sensitive hobgoblins picked up on this and hesitated to attack, not wanting to suffer the same fate as their fallen kin. In a fight, any moment of hesitation, however brief, could be fatal.

Relying on his flame movement, Nero shot forward, unsheathing his sword. Red flames burst forth, wrapping around the blade. Made of special material, it could withstand the power of a Law.

With a swift motion, he slashed his flame-covered sword, removing the head of the first hobgoblin on his right. The head danced in the air, eyes wide in shock. Blood didn’t spurt; the heat emanating from the sword cauterized the neck instantly, preventing any blood from escaping.

Before the headless hobgoblin’s body hit the ground, Nero followed up with a horizontal slash. Flames erupted in a beautiful arc as it sliced through the body of the startled hobgoblin, bisecting it from shoulder to side. Another instant death followed, the two pieces crumpling to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. In less than ten seconds, he had killed two hobgoblins. While they were weak monsters, the feat was still impressive.

At this point, the remaining five hobgoblins realized staying any longer meant certain death. They scrambled in different directions: two went right, while the remaining three fled in the opposite direction. Khione, having anticipated this opportunity, immediately condensed powerful Ice Arrows and fired them to eliminate the three.

Meanwhile, Nero calmly observed the two hobgoblins desperately trying to put distance between themselves and the duo, chuckling softly. He had no intention of chasing them; it was time to test another skill from his Flame Art.

Holding his sword with one hand, he made a thrusting motion as if attacking with a spear. From the tip of the sword, flames condensed into a vortex before forming a dragon—an eastern dragon made entirely of fire.

”Dragon’s Fury!” he shouted, unleashing the fiery dragon.

ROARRR!

The dragon’s roar suppressed the fleeing hobgoblins, causing them to freeze momentarily in fear. That was all the flame dragon needed to unleash its fury; it opened its mouth and swallowed them whole.

”!!!”

Inaudible sounds escaped the hobgoblins as they were burned to ashes. Khione watched in awe as Nero felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. This move had consumed a significant amount of prana, but its power was undeniable.