That crackling lightning ball tore through the air, passing straight through the mid-rank goblins, violently throwing their bodies to the side, and slammed into the chest of that massive behemoth standing in the distance.

In the next instant...

The second the orb struck its drenched frame, a violent surge of lightning erupted. Electricity tore through the giant like a rabid animal. Its massive form convulsed at the spot, hot red blood suddenly started flowing from its ears, nose, and eyes.

The water amplification made the strike exponentially more brutal. Even its thick, leathery armor began to cook from the inside out as its muscles contracted uncontrollably. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

But the lightning didn’t stop at the giant.

Using the puddles on the dirt and the drenched bodies of the horde as conduits, the electricity arced outward in a devastating chain reaction.

CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!

One after another, the surrounding goblins were electrocuted. Their flesh blackened and burst, dropping lifelessly at the ground in mere moments.

Those smaller ones didn’t even have time to process what hit them. Their muscles locked up instantly from the shock, hitting the dirt a heartbeat later with thin trails of smoke rising from their scorched skin.

Lastly Goblin King and his Generals didn’t fare much better either. Almost immediately, blood poured from their eyes and mouths. They crashed heavily to their knees before face-planting into the soil, dead.

A few surviving goblins in the back, still drenched from the water wave, turned and tried to flee in absolute terror.

Mercilessly, Lucian didn’t stop.

His hand raised again and again. With every motion, another bolt of lightning ripped through the air, striking the runners down. A cold, almost feral intensity burned in his eyes. Even the stragglers on Elira’s side were caught in the massive electrical web, dropping one by one.

[Warning: Heavy Mana Drain Detected]

[3125 -> 3080 -> 3020...]

Sera stood in dead silence, her eyes never leaving Lucian’s face. His expression... he looked almost deranged. He was getting more and more aggressive and unhinged with every single strike.

"Die... die... die, you ugly mugs!"

Within minutes, the chaotic battlefield fell dead silent. Nothing remained except rising smoke and a carpet of scorched, blackened corpses.

[You have slain: 478 Goblins]

[Rewards have been sent to your Inventory]

Right in the center of the slaughter, the giant was still standing.

Goblin Lord was barely able to move, its massive body frozen up and twitching, its nervous system completely paralyzed by the high voltage. Despite taking the brunt of the lethal attack, it was still on its feet.

Lucian was panting heavily, entirely exhausted and running on fumes. But he still didn’t back down.

I figured, It’s actually a good thing you didn’t die yet... I still need to suck every last drop of FP out of you, you fat bastard.

"Fuck this..."

Just one last push.

Lucian raised his hand. That same blue liquid shot from his palm, drenching the paralyzed giant’s body once more.

Then, just a single Fire Bullet.

Ptttkk...

The Gasolin reacted instantly, and the Goblin Lord burned alive where it stood. With a final, agonizing groan, the massive behemoth crashed face-first into the dirt.

[Ding!]

[You have slain: Goblin Lord]

[Reward: +10,000 FP]

[A special item has dropped. Sent to Inventory.]

Huff... huff...

Sera, standing nearby, stared at him in disbelief.

"Lucian... you used Wind earlier, then Fire, then Water, and now Lightning too. What the hell was that? Do you actually have four strong affinities?"

Lucian, who was leaning heavily on his knees to catch his breath, slowly straightened up. He let out a light, exhausted chuckle.

"Well, they used to call me a prodigy. You know that..."

Sera just stood there in absolute awe, completely speechless.

"Yes, my darling is the best. That is exactly why I love him so much."

Elira suddenly wrapped her arms around Lucian from behind, hugging him tightly.

Sera jumped, completely startled, her hands waving awkwardly in the air.

"W-what is this?! Why are you clinging to him like that?! And why aren’t you pushing her away, Lucian?!

Push, push her off!

Move, move, move!"

She grabbed Elira by the back of her waist, aggressively trying to physically peel her off him though Elira barely even reacted to the pulling, even her deadpan face did not even flinch.

"Sera, why don’t you just confess that you like Lucian too?" She said it so bluntly that Sera couldn’t even hold her composure.

"Wh-what?! U-um... n-no, it’s not like that! When did I ever say I liked him?!"

Elira sighed tiredly.

"It’s obvious from your face and the way you always act. At least say it clearly whether you like him or not, so I can just hook up at night with him in peace."

Sera completely froze on the spot. Her face turned beet red all the way to her ears as she stumbled over her words more.

"W-hat no no you can’t! And H-how can you just say things like that... l-like it’s completely normal?! Move now, get off of him!"

She had no idea how to deal with someone this blunt. She couldn’t bring herself to drop her pride, and she couldn’t spit out her true feelings, either.

While Sera was busy struggling to peel her off, Lucian took the distraction as the perfect opportunity to quietly pry himself out of Elira’s grip and muttered.

"It is fine, Sera.

"Even if you can’t say it out loud... I know exactly how you feel about me."

He looked directly into her eyes. There was no arrogance, no smirk — just absolute sincerity.

"I’ve known for a while, actually.

After all, I have a special skill that lets me read minds."

It was a flawlessly delivered lie. Well, technically not a total lie — he could read partner thoughts via the System — but not quite as effortlessly as he made it sound.

Regardless, the effect was instantaneous. It only took five seconds for the words to fully process in Sera’s brain. Her hands shot up to cover her face, and she immediately dropped into a deep crouch, hiding herself as much as physically possible.

Wait. What? What does he mean he can read minds?! Wait... wait, wait! If he can read minds, then that day... Does he know?! He knows everything?!

I... I...

She couldn’t even form a coherent sentence.

No, no, stop thinking! He could be reading my mind right now... stop, stop!

Ignoring the grotesque scenery of charred bodies and crimson blood scattered all over the clearing, Lucian finally let his exhaustion take over. He dropped onto the dirt, leaning back on both hands with a heavy sigh.

Elira quietly sat down right next to him.

A few minutes passed. No one said a word.

Sera was still crouched on the ground, burying her intensely flushed face in her arms. Finally, she lifted her head just enough to peek at Lucian over her sleeves.

He was already looking right at her, that same knowing, teasing smile resting on his face.

"You knew everything..." she mumbled.

Lucian simply nodded, the smirk never leaving his lips.

"Don’t look at me..." Sera whined, burying her face again.

"This is so embarrassing..."

"Sera, it’s fine," Lucian chuckled softly.

"We’re adults now, aren’t we? This is all perfectly normal."

"Wh-what?! Yes, I know that, but still...!" She peeked out again, her eyes glaring at him with a mix of embarrassment and betrayal.

"If you knew I liked you, why didn’t you ever say anything?!"

"Ah... well, what exactly was I supposed to say?" he tilted his head.

"’Hey Sera, I can read your mind, and I know exactly what dirty things you’re thinking right now... and I also know about—’"

"Okay, stop, stop! I get it!" she yelled, waving her hands frantically.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Then, her voice softened.

"Lucian..."

Lucian remained seated in the dirt, looking up at her. Elira, meanwhile, just sat there, watching the entire soap opera unfold with a completely flat, deadpan expression.

Slowly, Sera stood up properly. She dropped her hands from her face, her cheeks still dusted with a deep red blush, yet her eyes were firm.

"Y-Yes. I do love you. And I have feelings for you."