The moment Kweireit called out his name, Leilin silently recited in his mind:
"Chip! Scan the data on the target in front of me!"
"Ding! Task established. Scanning... A protective field envelops the target's surface. Data cannot be collected!"
As expected, the Chip gave the same response.
"So that means as long as I break through the protective field around the target, I can scan it?"
Leilin pushed off with his foot, unleashing his full, tremendous power as he charged toward Kweireit like a cannonball.
Boom!
Leilin's right arm bulged with muscle, his strength of 7.1 concentrated into a fist that slammed directly into Kweireit's chest.
A sound like a sledgehammer striking leather rang out. Flames flickered across Kweireit's body, and he was sent flying backward.
Leilin stood where Kweireit had been and looked at the back of his hand.
A large patch of black scales had appeared on the surface of his skin, and atop the scales, several thin wisps of flame were slowly fading away.
"Target field data acquired. Cross-referencing with database!"
"Judgment: the target possesses an innate talent spell — a high-temperature field — that inflicts 24 degrees of flame-burning damage on objects within a certain range!"
"Target field integrity at 95.4%. Approximately 20 more attacks should completely break through the target's defensive field!"
The Chip projected the data directly before Leilin's eyes.
"Cough... cough..."
At this point, Kweireit, who had been knocked aside, pushed himself back to his feet. His face was smeared with dust, giving him a somewhat grimy appearance.
"What incredible speed! What tremendous power! What a pity — you only recently advanced. How many First-level Spells have you learned? Two? One? Or do you only have your innate talent field?"
Kweireit thumped his chest and roared.
For newly advanced Wizards, the period right after their promotion was often their weakest. They hadn't yet memorized many First-level Spell templates, and they hadn't accumulated any single-use scrolls or Magical Items.
After finishing his roar, Kweireit immediately began chanting an incantation.
The energy particles in the air became visible, radiating a brilliant, bright-yellow glow.
"This kind of power... at least 20 degrees..."
Leilin's expression grew serious. His Comoin Scales currently had a spell resistance of only 27 degrees — quite good among newly advanced Wizards, but still unable to withstand every First-level Spell.
Only as he continued to excavate the power of his bloodline would the Comoin Scales' defenses grow stronger.
And right now, if the opponent's attack exceeded 27 degrees, it would break straight through his defensive field.
"I can't let him cast freely!" Leilin's gaze sharpened.
Shaaa! A wave of black luminescence rippled across his body as countless fine scales surfaced all over his skin — even his face wasn't spared.
In the blink of an eye, Leilin's entire body was covered in a layer of serpentine scales. He now looked like some kind of half-serpent creature.
The jet-black scales, bearing an ancient aura, reflected a deep, cold gleam — and that only made Kweireit's heart tighten.
"This kind of defensive field? It's formidable!"
"Die!" Leilin bellowed, his form moving even faster than before as he lunged straight at Kweireit.
Kweireit cried out in alarm. A green luminous ring suddenly erupted from his body, transforming into a field of thorny spikes that blocked Leilin's path.
Bang! Bang!
Leilin's expression didn't change. He threw two punches, and every last spike shattered to fragments.
With the Comoin Scales covering his body and his immense strength backing him up, Leilin was like an ancient great beast — carrying an unstoppable, overwhelming momentum.
Watching Leilin flatten the thorn-field like trampling weeds, Kweireit's face turned grim.
"Damn insect! What other tricks do you have? Use them all!"
Leilin roared, feeling every drop of blood in his veins seem to ignite, and with it, the battle desire within his heart surged ever stronger.
"Curse you!" Kweireit chanted his incantation while constantly shifting position, simultaneously activating several low-level Magical Items to slow Leilin's advance.
Though these low-level Magical Items lacked great power, many were binding types that required some effort to break free of.
After Leilin shattered yet another layer of ice, Kweireit finally completed his First-level Spell's incantation. A massive blue fireball slammed directly into Leilin.
Boom!
A wave of flame spread outward, melting the nearby earth and carving out a crater.
"Ha ha... No one survives after taking my Corrosive Fireball!"
Kweireit laughed with unrestrained delight, the thrill of snuffing out a genius's potential surging in his chest.
But the next moment, Kweireit's expression shifted as if he'd witnessed something impossible. He stumbled back several steps.
"H-How is this possible? You're still alive?"