Wu Yao adjusted herself into a more comfortable position as the instructional voice continued to flow through her mind. Her fingers unconsciously traced the design taking shape in her thoughts.
“...A spell structure is not a completely fixed program. During casting, dynamic adjustments are often required. To achieve your goals and accurately hit your target using a spell structure, you must learn to control various variables, including direction, distance, range, duration, and trigger conditions...”
“Spell manifestation is the final step, and also the most critical step in determining whether a spell structure can be established. If any condition is not met, the envisioned casting effect will warp or even collapse...”
The tutorial was still going, but Wu Yao could no longer sit still, itching to create a spell structure of her own.
“Let's experiment and see just how much freedom this system allows...” She rubbed her hands together, a fanatical light gleaming in her eyes. “I'll start by modifying Fireball!”
Fireball was a spell structure built of runes. Under the gaze of Elemental Weaving, Fireball was broken down into several translucent runes. Each rune spun slowly, with orange-red light flowing through its grooves.
This structure was even simpler than she had expected. First was the condensation rune, then the launch rune, and finally the explosion rune. The connecting pathways between them were also exceptionally clear, making it the perfect material for practice.
Wu Yao reached out, her Mental Strength extending like tentacles into the orange-red cluster of fire elements.
According to the tutorial, she first needed to construct a mana input port, which served as the start button for the spell structure.
Let's stick with 10 mana for the input.
She didn't plan to change too many parameters. The internal structure of the fireball was hard to alter, but the launch rune could be tweaked. It was originally a straight path, so how about adding some dynamic tracking?
But as soon as she went to make the change, she realized that tracking runes required a target-locking mechanism, and she hadn't mastered any runes related to that yet.
In that case, she could change it to an arc to bypass obstacles. That way, she could hit monsters even if they hid behind cover.
Using her Mental Strength, she constructed a framework and readjusted the casting path. But when she gathered the fire elements into the framework, the fireball condensing in her palm suddenly began to vibrate violently—
Boom!
The out-of-control flames exploded in front of her. The shockwave knocked her flat on her back. Dusting herself off as she scrambled back up, her face covered in soot, Wu Yao showed no sign of discouragement. If anything, she welcomed the challenge!
“So you only like going in straight lines, huh...” Wu Yao spread her palm, letting the fire elements gather once more. They danced up and down around her, silently conveying their feelings.
“Then how about this time I don't control your direction, but change it so you scatter upon impact instead?”
She stopped trying to steer the fire elements' path. Instead, she condensed and then compressed them, pushing their speed to the absolute limit. Upon making contact with an enemy, they would detonate on their own, splashing outward in all directions.
Ten mana wasn't enough to sustain this spell structure, so she simply added another ten points.
The fireball continuously spun and shrank in her hand. Once it reached a peak, she guided it to plunge straight into the gathering crowd of corrupted creatures.
Bang!
Upon impact, the fireball burst like fireworks. Countless tiny fire meteors scattered in all directions, each trailing a scorching red wake, searing red spots onto the corrupted creatures that burned hotter and hotter.
【Spell Structure Constructed Successfully】
【Spell Named: Fire Meteors】
【Effect: Deals (Mana × 1.5) damage upon impact, and releases 12–20 small fireballs in all directions, each dealing (Mana × 0.8) damage】
【Mana Cost: 20】
【Casting Time: 1.2 seconds】
【Effective Range: 15 meters】
【Spell Compendium Recorded: Fire Meteors】
“It worked!”
Unlike the cautious process of her first construction, once a spell structure was successfully built, it formed a fixed pathway. From then on, she could use it as easily as her previous Fireball.
But she wasn't satisfied with just this. Her creativity gushed forth like a spring. Fire Meteors counted as area-of-effect damage, but what kind of penetration would she get if she compressed the fire elements to their absolute limit?
The fire elements rapidly contracted in her palm, forming an increasingly smaller, blazing white point of light. The temperature surged so sharply that even the surrounding air began to warp.
Wu Yao simply kept channeling mana. The point of light contained an energy that made even her feel exhilarated.
Once it reached her limit, a dazzling beam of light shot out from her palm, instantly piercing through all the corrupted creatures in its path, leaving behind nothing but scorched black ash, Corrupted Cores, and Rotten Flesh strewn across the ground.
An absolute ultimate move, without a doubt!
【Spell Structure Constructed Successfully】
【Spell: Blazing Ray】
【Effect: Fires a highly compressed ray of fire, piercing all units in its path to deal (Mana × 5) damage】
【Mana Cost: 50】
【Casting Time: 3 seconds】
【Effective Range: 20 meters】
【Spell Compendium Recorded: Blazing Ray】
Although its power was astonishing, its mana consumption and casting time were equally staggering. It could probably only be used as a trump card.
Like a child with a new toy, Wu Yao untiringly continued to experiment with various combinations.
Water elements liked to flow and change. If she forced them to stay still...
Strands of water vapor wrapped around her palm, bringing a cool sensation. Wu Yao tried to construct a binding-type spell structure, but the water elements immediately showed resistance and quickly slipped away.
Well, forcing them into confinement really didn't work. What about changing their form?
She extended her Mental Strength into the waterball, attempting to extract its heat. The waterball began to spin violently, making a sound like a soft whimper. Wu Yao felt the water elements' resistance; they did not like being forced into stillness, and this clumsy suppression made them very uncomfortable.
Just as a few ice crystals began to form on the surface of the waterball in her palm, it popped with a bang, turning into a cloud of mist. The cold mist puffed right into her face, making her sneeze loudly.
Her Mental Strength wasn't high enough to forcefully compel the elements to act against their nature.
Did that mean she couldn't make ice at all right now...?
Wu Yao felt like she couldn't think properly while lying down. She stood up and used Fire Meteors to clear the battlefield, burning the reckless corrupted creatures that dared to draw close to ashes.
The concentrated and active fire elements caused the surrounding temperature to rise, wrapping her in a cozy, comfortable warmth.
Hmm, temperature...
Water elements loved to adapt. Perhaps she shouldn't force them to freeze. If she simply created an environment suitable for freezing—like winter—they would naturally choose to solidify on their own.
This time, she constructed a low-temperature core on the outer layer, continuously absorbing heat from the environment.
At first, the water elements spun around freely, but once they hit a certain threshold, their flow gradually slowed.
White frost bloomed across the surface of the waterball, finally condensing into a crystal-clear ice ball that floated above her palm, radiating a biting chill.
But what could a single ice ball do? Aside from cooling down enemies or hurting a bit more when thrown, it barely did any damage.
Rate on N.U.
