583 Frostburst Blade (1/2)

In total, there were nine forms of Aquamancy.

The most common, obviously, being 'Form': To draw moisture from the air and condense it into liquid water.

This was the most basic of Aquamancy techniques, and the one every Aquamancer was most familiar with.

As the most rudimentary of techniques, the water that was produced—if not subjected to higher-level techniques or transformations—could only be used for the simplest attacks, dealing little damage to speak of. The Aqua Bullet, for example, only did a pitiful three points of Magical Damage.

The next technique was 'Freeze.'

Once the water was hardened into solid ice, it produced dramatic increases to damage and defensive potential. Frost Arrows, Frost Lances, and Chilling effects… Once an Aquamancer became proficient in this technique, they would be toothless no longer. To put it another way, this technique was what truly made an Aquamancer.

Then there was 'Burst!'

A low-level elemental technique available to Tier 3 Aquamancers, it was the first time they would gain any sort of area-attack capability—their first damaging area-effect spell.

Although it wasn't that powerful, if used with skill and precision, it could nevertheless serve as the Aquamancer's primary weapon. Consider the case of Qin Ruo, who'd used simultaneous Frostbursts and the Twelve Frostramparts Formation to win himself the title of 'Winter Demon.'

***

In that sense, there were hardly any Aquamancers who were superior to Qin Ruo in the understanding and use of these low-level Aquamancy techniques.

When it came to mid-level Aquamancy, however, Qin Ruo was a long way from satisfactory!

After he'd reached Tier 4, Qin Ruo had skyrocketed through his levels, never spending any substantial amount of time on mastering the mid-level Aquamancy techniques available at Tier 4.

Although he'd nonetheless spent far more time on this than the grand majority of regular players, it was nowhere close to the amount he'd done in Tier 3. His proficiency with these three further techniques was a pale shadow compared to his mastery over the low-level stuff.

”Pierce!” As Qin Ruo intoned this softly, the mass of water before him drew itself into a tapering point, obeying his will. Even liquid water could be shaped into a deadly weapon with this technique!

With a thought, the Aqua Arrow he'd created with 'Form' and 'Pierce' was sent hurtling away. At a speed worthy of a Frost Arrow, it slammed right into a hapless Blacksteel Zombie nearby.

The Level 58 Blacksteel Zombie was one of Dinosaurcerer's latest targets for his Sealing efforts. With an unlimited supply of Spectral Mana Cores from the Underworld, these days Dinosaurcerer's favorite side pursuit when not training levels was sealing away all manner of Undead, and then giving them away as gifts.

(Of course, these gifts came with a catch: Typically, Qin Ruo had to exchange several Mana Cores for one such Soul Stone.)

With no weapon in hand, Qin Ruo's Magical Damage was limited to 320 or less. Even so, an Aqua Arrow formed out of plain water was able to deal over eight hundred damage to the Arcane Zombie.

Essentially, 'Pierce' was a sharpening Elementalism technique, which increased damage slightly.

Up until now, Qin Ruo had favored speed instead, and so avoided using this technique. However, after much experimentation in the Underworld, a thought had suddenly occurred to him: Although this meager increase in damage was unlikely to prove decisive in combat, and lengthened casting time as well, it might not be completely without its uses.Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please clickfor visiting.

On the opening strike, at least, players typically had plenty of time to ready their first spell. With that in mind, Qin Ruo had been inspired to combine this technique with a homing spell, enhancing damage so that he could establish a definite advantage right from the first move.

The first experimental subject—

But it was a terrible pity: The default spells were generally considered to be finished products, and could not be modified any further.

Qin Ruo found this somewhat disappointing—he'd been hoping to raise the damage on his Lycan Barrage. If he could enhance the damage on a multi-hit attack spell like that, the total damage produced would be even more fearsome! However—

'Hold on…'

A new idea had surfaced: Although the standard spells couldn't be altered, what about his own custom spells? Could those still be refined further?

Now his thoughts turned to how he'd used his Mimic skill to make his Compressed Frost Bullet Barrage appear as three flying skulls, disguising their true nature.

Eureka!

Qin Ruo suddenly burst into action.

'Form!'

***

”Qin, what are you up to? You've been hanging around there for a while now.”

Not far away, Xin Yu had just wiped out a bunch of Skeletons, and now she shot a curious look in Qin Ruo's direction, bewildered.

Although Pretty Woman had already explained this to her several times, what Xin Yu saw was Qin Ruo casting and unleashing his Aqua Magic repeatedly, but he seemed to be damaging a Blacksteel Zombie only to heal it back up again. It left her rather stupefied.

”Careful!” a man abruptly yelled from nearby.

Alarmed, Xin Yu noticed a Phantom Skeleton spawning in their vicinity, and scrambled to engage it.

The Level 50 Phantom Skeleton was a Bandit-type close-combat monster. Although not as powerful as a Tier 6 Skeleton, it was very fast, and together with its Stealth and Ambush abilities, it was a dangerous solo opponent for any Bandit to take on.

A few hours ago, Xin Yu had depended upon both her equipment as well as potions to be able to barely hold her own against a Phantom Skeleton. However, under the tutelage of Fateless, Xin Yu was really getting to grips with the basics of close-quarters combat. She didn't need to use potions anymore, and it was no longer a challenge for her to take down a Phantom Skeleton on her own—although she was still some way from the flawless technique Fateless demanded of her.

”Remember: You are a Bandit. On the battlefield, losing your focus for even a single moment could be your end.” As he observed Xin Yu's performance, Fateless lectured her coldly from the sidelines.

Sticking out her tongue, she nodded meekly. ”It won't happen again.”

”Hm.” Fateless had found it somewhat annoying for Qin Ruo to summon him to the Underworld on short notice to serve as Xin Yu's coach and babysitter. Seeing her behavior, however, little by little he was getting over it, and he'd begun to pass his expertise down to her, one lesson at a time.