**Chapter 43: Shock**
The combat apprentices formed a temporary defensive formation, relentlessly casting spells to counter the fire-element beast.
But with insufficient numbers, their firepower was noticeably weak.
The beast’s flame breath and wide-ranging molten impacts tore gaps in their defenses repeatedly.
“Their defensive system is too fragile. Too few people to form a proper group shield,” Jie Ming observed.
He saw one apprentice’s energy shield shatter under a molten impact, the apprentice sent crashing into a rock wall, leaving a charred, human-shaped dent.
“Too scattered, lacking resilience… and their shields are too uniform, unable to adapt to different attack types. That shield’s defense is pitiful—barely second-level apprentice work?”
The beast’s sudden earth-infused lava attack killed one apprentice, sparking chaos.
Their artifacts and potions were depleting fast, their chants and gestures growing frantic, and their efficiency plummeted.
Finally, after a earth-shaking roar, the beast unleashed a massive flame ripple.The apprentices’ line collapsed. Several were engulfed in flames, screaming in agony.
The survivors dragged their wounded comrades, retreating desperately away from the beast.
“They broke so quickly…” Jie Ming shook his head.
He’d thought they could hold out longer, perhaps even defeat the beast with a competent leader.
But his expectations for ordinary combat apprentices were too high.
He realized the combat apprentices he met in the logistics department, those who could afford to study alchemy, were typically more talented or capable.
Ordinary apprentices, like these, barely reached third-level status and lacked proper third-level spells or gear.
Jie Ming didn’t reveal himself. He waited until the fleeing apprentices vanished from sight before stepping out from behind the crystal ore.
He approached the molten lake, a glint of excitement in his eyes.
This fire-element beast was the first purely elemental creature he’d encountered, not a biological lifeform.
“Pure energy construction… this world’s fundamental particles are similar to my previous life, yet it birthed such a creature. Could it be the legendary silicon-based life?” Jie Ming’s eyes burned with curiosity.
In short, he was fascinated!
Sensing his presence, the fire-element beast halted its pursuit, its massive form turning to charge at him with a roar.
Jie Ming didn’t hold back. He activated his attack talisman artifact, the circular pendant spinning before him with a low hum.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Four fireballs launched simultaneously, like miniature cannon shells, striking the beast’s chest with terrifying force!
Before the echoes faded, another four fireballs followed.
The wild fire element, compressed and detonated to the extreme by the talisman, produced fireballs several times stronger than those of ordinary wizards!
Despite being a fire-element beast, its massive body trembled under Jie Ming’s relentless bombardment.
“Roar!!!”
The beast roared, attempting a flame breath counterattack.
But Jie Ming gave it no chance. He moved at high speed, circling the beast for a saturated assault.
Fireballs, fireballs, and more fireballs!
The relentless explosions raised the already sweltering area’s temperature even further.
The near-first-level fire-element beast couldn’t mount an effective counter under Jie Ming’s sustained, high-frequency attacks.
Its body began to collapse, molten lava splattering.
In less than two minutes, the once-mighty beast wailed, disintegrating into scattered elemental particles that dissipated into the air.
Jie Ming exhaled, stowing the slightly hot talisman artifact.
Activating his shield, he walked to the center of the molten lake, picking up a high-value point token and collecting some essence fragments left by the beast’s dissipation. Satisfied, he left the ravaged area.
Meanwhile, several kilometers away, atop a twisted dead tree.
An apprentice lay prone, pupils constricted, forehead drenched in cold sweat.
He clutched a concealed scouting artifact, its faint second-level energy barely projecting the distant scene.
Only when Jie Ming’s figure vanished from the artifact’s range did the apprentice’s tension ease, his breathing rapid, body trembling uncontrollably.
He realized he’d been holding his breath.
Having arrived earlier, he’d witnessed Jie Ming reach the battlefield and the apprentices’ rout.
He’d assumed Jie Ming would hide or leave, like himself.
But what did he see?
That guy faced the fire beast—a monster that crushed an entire team—alone?!
Even more shocking was the battle.
No, it wasn’t a battle—it was a massacre.
That apprentice… no casting prelude, no complex chants. He simply unleashed a relentless barrage of fireballs at the beast!
The fireballs came in an endless stream, impossibly fast, their power heart-stoppingly terrifying.
“How… how is this possible?” The apprentice’s hands shook, barely holding the scouting artifact.
That lone figure faced a beast capable of crushing their entire team.
In just two minutes!
That massive, terrifying fire-element beast was annihilated!
“Who…-who is he?” The apprentice clung to the tree, keeping low, terrified of making a sound that might attract that “monster.”
He’d gathered intel on many “geniuses,” but had no information on this apprentice.
After lingering on the branch, ensuring the other had no interest in him, the apprentice slid down the tree.
He cast multiple enhancement spells on himself and fled in the opposite direction of Jie Ming’s departure, not daring to look back.
No way!
He’d rather die than cross paths with that monster—he wouldn’t even know how he died!