This was the largest training ground in Raine Town, its space expanded with an Expansion Stone.

The rent was 2 gold coins per hour. If one was willing, they could even hire cheerleaders to cheer them on from the sidelines. There were even services available for relaxation when one grew tired from training.

Seeing as Lu Cang was just a child, Iz didn’t arrange for any of those services.

’No... Don’t treat me like a child at a time like this.’

After a few pointers from Iz, Lu Cang created two new spells of his own.

「Flame Shield」 and 「Shadow Binding」

Flame Shield surrounded the user with a protective barrier of fire that could not only defend but also inflict damage.

Shadow Binding was a very standard Dark Element control spell.

The Dark Element primarily consisted of spells for "Control," "Curse," and "Weaken." In terms of pure destructive power, it was quite weak.

Next, Iz taught Lu Cang eight new spells.

「Rainfall Technique,」 「Magic Missile,」 「Flame Stream Bullet,」 「Tornado Spear,」 「Horizontal Stone Fist,」 「Thorny Wood Bushes,」 「Thundering Ball,」 and 「Flaming Ray.」

The learning difficulty for 「Magic Missile,」 「Thorny Wood Bushes,」 and 「Horizontal Stone Fist」 was S Level.

The rest, aside from Rainfall Technique, had a learning difficulty of A Level.

Rainfall Technique alone was C Level in difficulty.

This was all according to Izparut.

’So, there are different learning difficulties for spells of the same tier. I thought all Tier Two spells were the same—that for me, all it took to master them was to chant the spell.’

Now that he had learned quite a few more Tier Two spells, Lu Cang was gradually starting to understand their role.

’They have limited utility and fairly basic destructive power. Even the area-of-effect spells only cover a radius of about five meters at most. Beyond that distance, they can’t really inflict any effective damage.’

’If I don’t raise their skill levels, they’re probably only good enough to one-shot weak Tier One Demons and deal effective damage to Tier Two Demons. I can’t expect any spectacular results.’

After she finished teaching him the spells and answering his questions about magic, Iz stretched her arms and moved to a spot one hundred meters away from Lu Cang.

Lu Cang casually summoned his magic staff.

Iz said, "Alright, let’s see how much you’ve improved."

"I’ll stick to using only Tier One and Tier Two spells."

Just then, as if on cue, Kumironi pushed the door open and walked in.

"Oh my~ starting already?"

"In that case, Little Lu Cang, you should fight with the mindset that it’s okay even if you kill Iz," Kumironi said with a smile.

Iz replied in a lighthearted tone, "Haha, Kumironi, Lu Cang is the one you should be worried about."

「Sacrifice—1 soul」

「Increase—Flame Shield Skill Proficiency」

「Sacrifice—1 soul」

「Increase—Shadow Binding Skill Proficiency」

「Sacrifice—1 soul」

「Increase—Magic Missile Skill Proficiency」

...

"Sister Kumironi, I hope you’ll protect Master Iz."

The corner of Iz’s mouth lifted slightly, her tone growing amused. "Lu Cang, you’ve really got some nerve."

"It seems that as your mentor, I really do need to teach you that there’s always someone stronger out there."

Kumironi smiled, but Lu Cang couldn’t tell what she was truly thinking.

’Will she hate me for sacrificing souls right in front of her?’

’The principles of a Death Priest and a Healing Mage... they’re in conflict, after all.’

’But I’m only sacrificing the souls of Demon Beasts. That should be fine, right?’

"Iz, are you ready..."

Lu Cang didn’t even finish his sentence before Thunderstorm Flash began to crackle around Iz!

It was his fastest opening move!

At almost the same instant, twelve overlapping layers of 「Mountain Heavy Wall」 erupted, boxing her in. A perpetually frozen 「Ice Lake」 formed at Iz’s feet, and poisonous 「Vines」 shot out from the walls in all directions!

Fifteen 「Light-Piercing Nail Spears」 formed of light rained down from the sky, accompanied by a 「Celestial Peak Falling Stone」!

The eight spells he had just learned, along with the two he had created himself, instantly reached Level 201 through the sacrifice of souls.

They had evolved! 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

「Continuous Multiple Missiles,」 「Scattered Flame Chaotic Shells,」 「Gale Penetration,」 「Majestic Stone Arm,」 「Chaotic Thorn Thicket,」 「Shockwave Ball,」 「Burning Burst,」 「Resentful Shadow Handcuffs」...

...

A kaleidoscope of spells erupted in an instant!

With 「Divine Level·Multiple Spellcasting,」 he could simultaneously cast as many spells as he had learned.

Other Mages, even after learning new spells, had to chant them one by one. Even if they knew hundreds of spells, they would only pick and cast the few most useful ones in battle.

Who else could be like Lu Cang...

...unleashing an all-out barrage!

"Not bad!"

"Lu Cang, you manage to surprise me every time!" Iz’s voice echoed in Lu Cang’s mind.

’Lu Cang’s Beyond Magic... it’s evolved again!’

’And his casting speed has improved so much!’

Three layers of barriers materialized in front of Lu Cang!

At the same time, a 「Thick Molten Shield」 enveloped him!

But suddenly!

BOOM!

A hurricane-force wind pierced through!

Five layers of Heavy Walls were pierced in an instant by a single gust of wind!

「Gathering Killing Wind Bundle (Tier Two)」

BANG! BANG! BANG!

After piercing through two more barriers, the gust of wind finally dissipated!

Lu Cang breathed an inward sigh of relief.

’Finally! This time, my defenses weren’t completely shattered!’

’Wait, is this really something to be relieved about?’

’My own defense is so strong, yet I have to worry about it being pierced by a single Tier Two spell?’

RUMBLE!

But there was no time to dwell on it.

An elemental explosion erupted in the distance, effortlessly demolishing the Heavy Walls he had erected.

The offensive barrage he had constructed...

...was blown to smithereens.

A kaleidoscope of colors swirled around Iz, having already annihilated every spell he had cast.

’Iz... you’re as ridiculously overpowered as ever.’

’But I’m not weak either!’

PING!

An instant before being struck by Iz’s Flame Ball, the Ice Shuttle split in two, dodging the attack.