Chapter 4: Lightning Strike Technique

Studying, huh...

Actually, I don’t exactly hate studying.

It’s just that the thought of having to learn obscure and difficult knowledge from scratch in a strange, different world gives me a headache.

"I understand."

But out of a desire for magic, Lu Cang still took the magic book into his hands.

He flipped to the first page.

The obscure and difficult text—as expected, it couldn't possibly be Chinese characters.

However, just as he could naturally understand Kumironi and the others when they spoke, Lu Cang found that he could also read these strange-looking characters.

It’s a good thing I can read them; it would be a real pain if I had to start by learning how to read.

Table of Contents

History and Origins of Lightning Strike... 1

Lightning Runes... 20

Spell Composition of Lightning Strike... 25

Incantation for Lightning Strike... 29

Essence of Lightning Strike... 29

Prospects and Variations of Lightning Strike... 32

Heh...

This magic book isn't very thick; it only has 35 pages in total.

But 19 of those pages are mainly about history and origins.

"Ah, you don't need to look at the beginning."

"Just look at page 29 first," Iz said.

Very good, Iz. You really are a decent teacher. I'm glad you aren't going to lecture me on a long, tedious history of Lightning Strike.

For an apprentice who just wants to cast magic, those things are completely unimportant.

Lu Cang flipped to page 29.

【Incantation for Lightning Strike】

【Violent power of thunder, I summon the descent of thunder, bring down the punishment!】

"As a Tier 1 spell, Lightning Strike does not require the construction of a magic circle."

Iz came to Lu Cang's side.

He handed Lu Cang a thin, lightweight staff that looked like a conductor's baton.

Embedded at the tip of the staff was a translucent red gem.

"Come on, aim at that open space and chant the incantation."

"Try to see if you can cast it."

Lu Cang took the staff: "Thank you."

Hearing his instructions, Lu Cang breathed a sigh of relief.

Is it really just a matter of chanting the incantation?

If it’s just that, there was no need to pull out a magic book to scare me.

Lu Cang took a deep breath.

He chanted the incantation he had just seen in the magic book. The characters for the incantation were clearly different from the others, but he could still read them, and he could pronounce them.

"Violent power of thunder."

The magic power within his body began to surge. The surrounding lightning elements combined with his magic, gradually becoming a part of himself.

This process was incredibly wondrous—a feeling he could never experience on Earth.

"I summon the descent of thunder."

*Zzzzt!*

At the tip of the staff, crackling electric light exploded. Arcs of electricity danced, making Lu Cang’s heart jump.

Arcs of electricity, electric sparks—on Earth, these were symbols of danger.

But now, these things were magic that he was wielding.

"Bring down the punishment!"

The incantation was complete!

In that instant, Lu Cang felt as if he had grasped the power of thunder.

Almost as if it were a natural progression, the feeling of being able to pull a bolt of lightning down from the sky rose in his heart!

Without hesitation, he swung the staff!

Following the swing of the staff!

A thin streak of lightning struck down toward the earth!

*BOOM!*

Lightning Strike!

The lightning pierced the ground, leaving a patch of scorched earth on the grassy field.

「Learned Magic — Lightning Strike (LV: 1)」

「Lightning Strike Proficiency EXP +10000」

「Lightning Strike (LV: 5)」

As the Lightning Strike landed, a vague realization flooded Lu Cang’s mind.

His understanding of Lightning Strike had deepened.

"Haha, not bad," Iz said, hands on his hips, laughing.

"You really have a talent for magic!"

Kumironi was also slightly surprised, praising him: "To think you actually cast Lightning Strike after reading the incantation just once."

Lu Cang asked curiously: "Isn't that how it normally goes?"

Kumironi smiled slightly and shook her head: "Not at all. Normally, after a mage gets a magic book, they need to carefully read the records, follow the described methods, and feel the flow of magic power."

"After simulating the flow of magic, they then communicate with the corresponding elements, and the final step is chanting the incantation."

"If they still can't cast the spell, they have to re-read the book and try to understand it a few more times."

Oh... so that's how it is.

No wonder he had to pull out a magic book for me to read. I was wondering why he didn't just tell me orally if all I needed was the incantation.

But looking at it this way, perhaps I really do have decent magical talent.

However, it could also be the effect of my talent.

「God-tier Proficiency Evolution」

「Easier to master new skills; any increase in skill proficiency is ten thousand times that of normal circumstances」

「Upon meeting proficiency conditions, mastered skills can evolve」

「Able to see the proficiency progress of skills」

Perhaps it was because of this talent that he learned Lightning Strike on his first chant.

Of course...

It could also just be that my raw magical talent is high.

As Lu Cang sighed to himself, he aimed at the open space in the distance.

He was just about to chant the incantation again.

But suddenly, a different feeling arose in his heart; he felt that this incantation could be shorter.

「Lightning Strike (LV: 5) — Incantation shortened, power slightly increased」

"Thunder descend, bring down the punishment!"

A shorter, faster incantation.

*BOOM!*

Immediately after, lightning struck down again!

The first strike was just a thin streak of lightning, as small as a piece of twine, but this second time, the lightning was as thick as an arm!

The power was also much greater!

"Incantation... shortened?"

Kumironi’s face was filled with astonishment.

This child, only on his second cast, has already shortened the incantation?

His magical talent really does have a shadow of Iz’s own.

"Again!" Iz was also excited to see Lu Cang’s magic.

It had been a long time since he had seen a true genius.

Lu Cang nodded!

「Lightning Strike (LV: 8) — Shorter incantation, moderate power increase」

"Thunder!"

*BOOM!*

The third cast only used two syllables!

And the speaking speed was even faster!

The moment the word "Thunder" fell!

The lightning had already crashed down!

This time, the lightning was even larger and thicker. After hitting the ground, faint arcs of electricity remained, not yet dissipated!

「Lightning Strike (LV: 10) — No incantation, significantly increased power」

*Whoosh!*

Lu Cang’s heart was surging!

He felt the magic power in his body restless, connected to the thunder!

The vast sky and earth felt intimate with his soul!

He swung the staff again!

*BOOM!*

A purple pillar of electricity struck down like a giant python! Then, immediately following it, a second strike! A third!

「Proficiency Level Increased — Lightning Strike (LV: 12)」

「Proficiency Level Increased — Lightning Strike (LV: 14)」

「Proficiency Level Increased — Lightning Strike (LV: 16) — No incantation, double Lightning Strike, greater power」

*BOOM!*

From the fourth strike on, it was completely incantation-free casting.

This child’s talent for magic is truly terrifyingly high.

*BOOM!*

*BOOM-BOOM!*

Lightning swept across the earth, scorching patch after patch of the grassy ground, and the charred earth that no one cared about was always gently soaked by a flow of water.

It’s a good thing to enjoy casting spells.

Iz didn't want to ruin the mood of a child who loved casting magic.

The feeling of controlling supernatural power is so good; the feeling of being able to cast magic is wonderful!

I am a mage now!

Calling the wind and summoning the rain—this feeling is really great.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over him.

Why does it feel like everything is going black?

(End of chapter)