Chapter 34: Evolving Beyond Limits [1] Fire erupted from his palm, a massive fireball compressed with all the power his evolved skill and higher elemental affinity could muster. Crackle! The energy was difficult to contain, but the strengthened skill allowed Moon to do so. With a casual throw, the fireball streaked toward the lead wolf. The wolf at the front was clearly arrogant, not taking Moon seriously. It saw him as a toy, something to play with before killing. Ice shards materialised around its maw, launching forward to intercept the incoming fire. ’These wolves aren’t weak...just what is Moon thinking? Could this be his way of sacrificing himself for me?’ Selene blushed at the thought before shaking her head. ’What am I thinking?! When did I start thinking about these things...we are at death’s door. Focus Selene! Focus!’ The other wolves didn’t intervene, content to watch their packmate handle this insignificant threat, that was, until the attack connected. BOOM! The explosion was catastrophic in all kinds of ways. The area where the wolf stood immediately erupted in intense flames; the heat was overwhelming, forcing the other wolves to scatter, their frost-covered fur singeing from their close proximity alone. The lead wolf’s arrogant expression transformed into pure agony as fire engulfed its body. Its howl was cut short as flames consumed its throat. The other wolves immediately tried to intervene, conjuring ice mist to smother the flames, but the fire burned too hot, too fierce. Unfortunately for them, it was too late. Selene stared in absolute shock and amazement. The attack was even stronger than the one that had finished Gareth—much stronger, at least twice as powerful. It surprised her because she’d thought that the previous fireball was Moon’s maximum output. What she didn’t know was that Moon had levelled his Four Element Affinity during the brief respite, making his elemental damage significantly higher. The fire didn’t just burn—it consumed, fueled by enhanced magical control that made it nearly impossible to extinguish. Before the wolves could regroup, Moon sent another massive fireball hurtling toward the same burning wolf, determined to finish what he’d started. BOOM! The second explosion ended it entirely, extinguishing any hope the other wolves had of saving their packmate. The charred corpse collapsed, steam rising from its remains. [You have killed a level 15 Arctic Wolf] [You have reached level 12!] [You have gained 700 Lives] Moon’s entire body surged with power as the level increase took effect. His attributes jumped across the board: strength, agility, constitution, and mana, all increasing by one point. Reading through the notification, Moon was shocked by the number of lives he’d received. He hadn’t expected so much, but it made sense—the rewards were doubled, and he’d gotten the kill entirely on his own, triggering his Grim Reaper talent’s five-times multiplier on top of the trial’s doubled rewards. Essentially, the lives that he was gaining were ten times the ones he would have gotten before. Fueled by the new attributes and the massive influx of lives, Moon’s confidence soared. He immediately sent another fireball toward one of the wolves charging at him in vengeance, their earlier arrogance replaced with fury and caution. While the spell was mid-flight, Moon pulled up his status and channelled lives into his skill without hesitation. [Four Element Affinity has reached Level 7!] [-256 Lives] [Lives Remaining: 712] He didn’t stop. There were still more lives to spend, and every level made him exponentially more dangerous. [Four Element Affinity has reached Level 8!] [-512 Lives] [Lives Remaining: 200] The power flooded through him immediately. His control over the elements became even more refined, more instinctive. The mana responded to his will like an extension of his own body. [Four Element Affinity] [Rank: Rare] [Level: 8] [Evolve] [Details: You have low affinity to the four elements. Water, Earth, Wind, Fire. +100% Extra Control. +80% Elemental Damage.] The fireball he’d launched moments ago struck its target with devastating force, the enhanced damage from his upgraded skill making the explosion even more catastrophic than before. The wolf tried to dodge but wasn’t fast enough—flames washed over its side, burning through its thick fur and into its flesh. It howled in pain but didn’t die, its level fifteen durability keeping it alive despite the terrible wounds. The remaining four wolves spread out, learning from their fallen packmate’s mistake. They wouldn’t underestimate him again. Ice began forming around them, creating defensive barriers, preparing coordinated attacks. Moon stood his ground, fire dancing around his hands, ready for whatever came next. [Survivors: 2/1] [Time: 2:58] The countdown continued, but Moon was no longer worried about the timer. He was worried about finishing these wolves before they adapted to his tactics. [You have killed a level 15 Arctic Wolf] [You have gained 650 Lives] Out of the four wolves that remained, three of them were converging on Moon from different angles in a planned assault. Moon leapt backwards, his legs carrying him clear of snapping jaws. He raised his hand, conjuring an earth shield that absorbed a claw strike from the left. Water streamed from his other hand, creating a slick surface that made the third wolf’s attack slip wide, its claws missing entirely. Selene watched with an expression that mixed excitement with confusion, perhaps even concern. She was ecstatic that Moon was winning against the wolves, dominating creatures that should have been far beyond his level. How is he this strong? She’d believed they were of similar strength, or that he was perhaps slightly stronger. That had been her understanding for their entire time together. But now? Moon was overwhelming her expectations entirely. Even with her hidden talent, even fighting at her absolute hardest, she believed she could handle maybe two of these wolves at best. He was taking on four at once and winning. "Go Moon! Go!" she cheered from the sidelines, pushing down her doubts to focus on supporting him with her voice if not her magic. As for the figure on the throne, it looked at the scene before it with no expression on its face. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢 Moon sent earth spikes erupting from the ground toward the wolf on his right. The stone projectiles punched through multiple places in the creature’s body. The shoulder, abdomen, and rear leg were all hit, severely injuring the wolf. Blood streamed down its body as it staggered for a moment. But before Moon could finish it with a fireball, a howl split the air, grabbing his attention immediately. Another wolf lunged from his blind spot, its claws extending in a slash aimed at his throat. Whoosh! Moon felt the displaced air graze his face as he leaned back desperately, the claws passing mere centimetres from his skin. That was close. He sent a quick fireball toward the attacking wolf, forcing it to break off and dodge. The momentary reprieve gave Moon the space he needed to reposition, creating distance between himself and the pack. He couldn’t let the wolves get close. That was the critical weakness in his approach. He was more mage than anything else—ranged combat was his strength. Close-quarters fighting was his vulnerability. If they managed to pin him down, surround him completely, he was bound to lose. The four remaining wolves seemed to realise this. They adjusted their tactics, moving to encircle him rather than charging recklessly. Moon backpedalled, trying to maintain space, but the wolves were fast. Their speed was nothing to dismiss. One attack got through. Claws raked across his shoulder as he twisted to avoid three other strikes. The pain was immediate and sharp—a deep gash that tore through his armour and into his flesh. Blood ran hot down Moon’s arm. Gritting his teeth, he used his elements to create space once more. Earth walls erupted around him, giving him a momentary barrier. Fire blasted outward in a wave, forcing the wolves back. Then he activated his copied healing ability. A soft, warm light enveloped his shoulder. The flesh began knitting back together, the deep claw marks closing, the pain receding to a dull ache. It wasn’t instant, but it was enough. Selene hissed at the scene, her body tensing as if to intervene. She took a half-step forward, fire already gathering in her hands. Moon’s eyes found hers across the chamber, still tracking the wolves in his peripheral vision. The look he gave her was clear: Stay back. Selene froze, torn between following his instructions and protecting him. But she trusted him. She’d said as much. She stayed where she was. But her eyes widened in shock as she watched the wound close. He can also heal?! How... Does he have two classes? The thought was impossible. Everyone knew awakeners got one class. That was the fundamental rule of the system. One class per person, determined at awakening, it was unchangeable. But Moon had just used fire, water, earth, three different elements, and now healing magic on top of that. The wolves didn’t give her time to process. They lunged again, having realised the barrier was temporary. Moon was ready; his shoulder healed enough to move properly. He sent another massive fireball toward the injured wolf with the earth spikes still embedded in its flesh. The creature tried to dodge, but its wounds slowed it. BOOM! The explosion consumed it entirely. When the flames cleared, only a charred corpse remained. [You have killed a level 15 Arctic Wolf] [You have gained 680 Lives] Moon’s mana reserves were depleting fast despite the efficiency boost from his skill. Each massive fireball costs significant energy. The three remaining wolves circled him with wariness, their pack reduced by half. They were learning that this small human was far more dangerous than he appeared. Moon raised both hands, fire gathering in one, water in the other. The figure at the throne leaned forward, finally showing something resembling interest. "Fascinating," it murmured.