NOVEL NEXT Chapter 105: Today, I’ll Be the Boss
Erica du Cloye, having experienced the challenge numerous times, now appeared completely at ease.
After effortlessly resolving the first encounter, she quickly moved on to the second.
The positions where the monsters would appear were etched in her memory. Before they could fully materialize in her field of vision, Erica had already cast her spells, launching attacks towards both the sky and the ground.
The poor duckbill rats, unable to offer even a hint of resistance, were instantly reduced to well-cooked meat amidst the raging flames.
Arriving at the location of the third encounter, Erica had her spells prepared in advance.
After experiencing many failures, she had become intimately familiar with the monsters' attacks.
The creatures in the first few levels were no match for her.
Erica didn't even need to waste her 'natural energy'; she could whittle down the monsters' health bit by bit using only the magic at her disposal.
The flying mosquitoes, hidden in the verdant wilderness, launched another sneak attack. This time, however, she merely took a few steps to her right rear, perfectly evading their assault.
A fireball, readied long ago, was hurled towards the flying mosquitoes.
One, two, three...
Swiftly, under Erica's skillful attacks, the monsters fell in quick succession.
A teleportation array, glowing with green light, appeared once again behind Erica, but she didn't look back.
Instead, she walked straight towards the small path that had grown lush amidst the swaying grass.
She knew that this would be the true challenge.
Passing through the dark forest path, another vast plain appeared before her eyes.
This time, there were no foxtails swaying in the wind, only dust flying and scorching earth.
Erica walked to the center of the plain, suddenly hearing a rustling sound.
On the ground, five mounds of earth began to stir.
Without the concealment of grass, they were quite conspicuous.
In the sky, five black objects were diving towards her.
This was the final test.
Simultaneously facing attacks from ten monsters.
The first time she entered, Erica had appeared quite flustered.
After all, she had never faced a situation where she had to deal with ten monsters at once.
The difficulty of facing ten monsters versus five was certainly not as simple as multiplying by two.
But after many failures, Erica had become thoroughly familiar with the monsters' attack patterns.
Now, standing here for the tenth time, her gaze held only the confidence of one who must succeed.
Without a moment's hesitation, she relied on muscle memory to retreat from the monsters' encirclement.
She constantly lowered her body, dodging the lunging attacks of the duckbill rats and the corrosive liquid spewed by the bats.
As soon as she evaded one attack, the next monster would launch its assault.
Multiple monsters continually surrounded Erica, making her feel at times that there was no safe spot to attack from, her survival space constantly being compressed.
But this time, Erica was thoroughly prepared.
She hid her body behind several duckbill rats. At this moment, the bats were adjusting their posture, filling their bellies with black liquid, leaving them no opportunity to attack Erica.
Taking advantage of the moment when the monsters turned, she ignited fierce flames in both hands.
[Second-tier Magic: Encircling Flame]
The flames from her hands were suddenly flung out, enveloping the two monsters in front of her, completely wrapping them up.
The intense burning in the sealed space created an explosive effect. The two monsters were blasted into bloody fragments, gradually dissipating in the air.
Seemingly enraged by the demise of their companions, the remaining monsters charged towards Erica, emitting strange "gaga" cries.
Once the number of monsters decreased, the difficulty naturally weakened as well.
Erica didn't panic. Watching the bats diving towards her, she constructed a green formation on the ground.
After simply embedding a curious rune into the magic array, she stood still, waiting for the monsters' attack.
Three bats spat their viscous liquid and then attempted to wound Erica with their mouthparts.
But the moment they approached, green vines suddenly burst from the sandy ground, trapping the bats' mouthparts in the gaps between the vines.
Erica snapped her fingers, and several spikes protruded from the vine barrier, completely impaling the monsters' bodies.
She clapped her hands, and the vine barrier gradually withered and disappeared, along with the dissipating corpses of the bats.
The remaining few duckbill rats and bats were no longer a match for Erica.
She formed two water balls in her hands and threw them towards the bats in the air.
The powerful impact immediately destabilized the bats, their swaying bodies reducing their diving speed and power considerably.
Erica wrapped vines around her hands and suddenly gripped the neck of the foremost bat.
Like two long spears, she grabbed the bats and violently thrust their mouthparts towards the charging duckbill rats.
The two collided, with the duckbill rat being impaled to death by the bat's mouthparts.
The vines also completely engulfed the bat, leading to its demise.
Erica dusted off her hands, looking at the last approaching monster.
"For the ones left, why don't you just finish yourselves off?"
Unfortunately, the monster couldn't understand Erica's words. It stubbornly spat out a few drops of black, viscous liquid.
However, under her overwhelming power, the bat's viscous liquid acted like a conductor. A bolt of lightning passed through each droplet, striking the bat's body.
The monster convulsed a few times in the air before dissipating under the blazing sun.
The attack hadn't even managed to scratch Erica.
Erica blew a breath across her fingertips.
Like the sole surviving gunslinger in the Wild West.
Looking around at the empty space, Erica didn't feel hollow, but rather filled with honor and pride.
She had succeeded!
Suddenly, the surrounding illusion began to change dramatically.
The wilderness shattered like a mirror.
In an instant, it seemed as if reality and illusion had been separated.
"..."
Erica blinked, looking at the scene before her that resembled a painting.
A gentle breeze blew, and the starry sky rotated.
The fields before her eyes seemed to stretch for thousands of miles,
Green trees and colorful flowers, blue mountains and clear waters, endless and boundless.
In the sky, countless points of light twinkled, as if stars were falling, illuminating the entire world.
Windmills swayed, wind chimes rang.
Such a wonderful landscape left Erica stunned.
She couldn't help but take a deep breath of fresh air, mixed with the fragrance of soil.
Feeling the air fill her tired lungs, she realized for the first time how wonderful air could be.
"Congratulations, Erica."
"You are the first student to achieve a perfect score."
A voice suddenly rang out, seemingly coming from behind the mysterious starry sky.
Viktor's figure slowly appeared, his coat fluttering behind him.
The red and green patterns, under the night sky, appeared so mysterious.
"Professor Viktor?"
Viktor looked at Erica, his gaze seeming somewhat satisfied.
"As the first student to pass, I can grant you one reasonable request."
"Tell me, what do you want? The power of a mage will be bestowed upon you."
...
It had been a long time since Erica had spoken face-to-face with Viktor like this.
There were no other living beings in this space except for the two of them. Now, whatever she said would not be interrupted.
All her impulses, all her curiosity.
Perhaps the person in front of her would answer everything for her.
Finally, she thought of a gift that would completely satisfy her.
"Professor, I want..."
...
"I want to challenge you. I want to know the difference between you and me."
Yes.
Erica said to herself:
I want to know how hard I need to work to catch up to your shadow.
Viktor didn't answer, but the corners of his mouth curved up slightly.
As if he had known all along that Erica would say this.
"Your choice today will become a badge of courage for your entire life."
"Well then."
As soon as the words were spoken, the surroundings began to spin instantly. Vast forests suddenly burst forth from the plains, stretching their towering forms towards the sky.
Wild flowers and grasses gradually climbed up Erica's legs, and the night sky was swallowed by a huge sun, the myriad stars seemingly completely melting into the blue sky.
Sunlight fell through the dense gaps, landing on Erica's golden hair.
Endless vitality, perfect temperature, nourishing the earth, all things growing wildly.
It seemed to carry endless pressure, sweeping towards Erica.
On Viktor's coat, a pair of eyes opened.
Between the eyes, red and green heterochromatic light burst forth.
It was as if two monstrous beasts were suspended in the sky, hovering behind Viktor.
In this moment, Viktor, displaying his full power,
Was like a descending calamity.
"I accept your challenge."