Tongues of fire soared into the sky, and heat waves hit the face. Even through the small hole, Zheng Zhuo could feel the flames burning like a prairie fire.

The kobolds fled in panic, and the horns rang out through the cave.

The first step was successful!

However, Zheng Zhuo's expectations have not yet been met.

Because the gate has not yet been opened.

"[Greasy Surgery], prepare—"

"Release!"

Zheng Zhuo keeps increasing the fire! But the flames ignited the wooden planks that were used to hold the inside of the gate in place. The huge planks that were several people tall kept falling, and the small holes were blocked by tongues of fire, and Zheng Zhuo heard more and more kobolds moving towards the gate in the distance.

The fire was enough, and the gate was deformed and twisted, making a terrible creaking sound.

It works well, but it's a little bit close.

The gate didn't collapse on its own after being attacked by flames, as expected.

Now, there's still an inside-out, explosive impact.

Can't stand back here!

Zheng Zhuo decided to take a gamble.

Now, the skills that can be used are......

"[Energy Chain], Ready."

He swung out an arc of blue-purple light.

The starting point of the spell is the small hole that has just been opened.

The small hole itself is thick. Zheng Zhuo's target was the side of the small hole.

The direction of the spell is ......

…… Pierce longitudinally into the inside of a thick door.

"Release."

Airplanes!

The energy chain collided on the side of the gate made of iron and copper, and exploded into a cluster of brilliant sparks.

The sparks splashed on Zheng Zhuo's face, and he squinted his eyes in pain and saw a crack in the thick inner side of the small hole.

Good!

"[Greasy Surgery] Preparation...... Release! ”

The oil hit the hole with precision and poured into the crack. The heat starts to ignite the grease –

"[Fireball] prepare, release!"

The flames lit up again, this time, sweeping through the outside of the gate.

The flame ignited the grease that leaked from the small hole, squeezed all the way into the inside of the small hole, and squeezed into the crack made by the [Energy Chain]-

Boom!!!

The loudest bang yet. The gate was heated from the middle, swelled, and shattered as it could not withstand the flames that exploded inside.

Iron sheets and steel spikes flew out! Sharp pieces of iron and copper slammed into the passage like cannonballs. Iron and copper collided in all directions, and the sound was like a summer rainstorm, resounding in the tunnel, deafening.

Zheng Zhuo curled up in the corner, desperately trying to protect his head and face.

……

The sound of the rain is getting quieter.

Zheng Zhuo took his hand off his head.

The loud noise still echoed on the inside of his skull, and his ears couldn't hear the sound for a while, only a repetitive buzzing.

Every time the body moved, there was a sharp pain. There must have been quite a few pieces of iron that hit him. Some of it was stuck in his arms and legs.

"[Treatment] preparation."

He whispered.

"Release."

The green light flashed, the wound healed on its own, and the iron slag and copper spikes were pushed out of the skin and fell to the ground.

It still hurts, but it's leaving.

"I'll never want to do this a second time in my life...... [Summoning Bat], prepare."

He wasn't the only one who was hit.

Half of the piece of iron flew outward, and the other half flew inward into the kobold camp. The kobolds and their mounts who had been the first to fend off were gathered by the flying pieces of iron, copper, and wood, wailing and rolling on the ground.

This leaves a gap for the intruders to break through.

"Release."

The kobold soldiers on the high platform were shocked by the sudden explosion of the gate. They hurriedly raised their bows, staring intently at the entrance—

Then, a dark shadow was seen flying in from outside the gate, and the shadow flew past the burning entrance and leaped towards the left side of the gate.

Enemy attack! Enemy attack!

The horn sounded woo-woo-wah. All the kobold soldiers on the high platform bent their bows and arrows in unison, and the rain of arrows poured down in the direction of the black shadow.

Right at this moment.

Another much larger black shadow slipped in close to the right side of the door.

A few seconds later, in the same position, another dark shadow jumped in.

……

Good...... Good! Go as deep as you can!

Zheng Zhuo tightened his grip on his staff and ran forward under the kobolds' walled city. There were also footsteps behind him, and he knew that it was Zhuang Yusheng who caught up.

They quickly ran past the burning entrance and into the deeper part of the kobold camp.

(Oops!) ）”

Zheng Zhuo stopped.

In the distance, three more kobolds riding rhinoceros appeared. Next to them, in the walled city, the green scales of lizards can be seen shuttling.

Zheng Zhuo heard the heavy footsteps of the rhinoceros and the slightest sound of the lizard spitting out the letter.

The smell of burnt woodwork reverberates in the air. The firelight behind him lit up the front, and Zheng Zhuo looked over his head and saw that in the depths of the towers and the walled city, the shadows were constantly moving and elongating.

They must all be kobold archers.

(The enemy in front was not affected...... It is better to say that the commotion was too great and the reinforcements increased. ）”

How do you break through......

First of all, you can't let the approaching lizards find themselves.

"[Mage's Hand]."

The dark blue hand dragged Zheng Zhuo's feet. Zheng Zhuo borrowed his strength, grabbed those protruding wooden thorns, and climbed towards the kobold's tall sentry tower.

Slowly, slowly, he approached the top of the watchtower......

In the watchtower, there is a kobold with a horn.

And the other party was also staring in the direction of the entrance, and at the moment, he didn't notice himself.

(Okay.) ）”

Zheng Zhuo's heart moved slightly, and he stepped on the side of the wooden thorn. The [Mage's Hand] rose and pulled out the [Fear Blade] pinned to Zheng Zhuo's waist.

Now is the time.

Zheng Zhuo violently pushed and rolled into the top of the watchtower! The movement alarmed the kobold sentinels—

And the Mage's Hand is faster than he blows the trumpet.

The Blade of Dread slices into the kobold's wrist, and the horn falls to the ground with a click.

Zheng Zhuo rolled on the spot, pounced forward again, and hugged the kobold. After hitting the ground a few times, the two of them hit the side of the watchtower together.

The kobold opened his mouth to scream. Zheng Zhuo's hand slammed into his mouth and shoved the staff into his mouth.

The Mage's Hand is gone. A blue-purple aura lit up at the tip of the staff.

"[Energy Chain], release."

Zheng Zhuo said these two words accurately.

……

After pushing the uncomfortable mass that had once been a kobold into the corner of the watchtower, Zheng Zhuo hid in the watchtower.

He looked down and saw Zhuang Yusheng hiding in the gap in the stone wall in the distance, shaking it, and then disappearing. Come to think of it, it's [Stealth].

Not bad. So, next......

Zheng Zhuo looked at the front again. Three kobolds on rhinoceros hovered below, and in the shadows, there were still a few kobolds riding lizards. In the distance, there are also shadows of kobold soldiers, who may hold horns or bows and arrows.

Do you also need to use [Fireball + Greasy Technique] to open up the situation here? However, the location of the lizard rider cannot be confirmed. There was a sea of fire after casting, and I was a little worried about being attacked by them while moving......

Zheng Zhuo opened [Identification] and wanted to find a good method.

……

【Zheng Zhuo】

[Class: Mage Lv.4]

[Class Trait: Fatigue Resistance: S]

[Ability: Identification, Rapid Spell Cast]

[Class Skills: Fireball Lv.1, Mage's Hand Lv.1, Heal Lv.2, Greasy Spell Lv.3 (Lv.2), Energy Chain Lv.2, Summoning Bat Lv.2]

[Equipment: Staff (1 Lv.2 Spell Slot), Dread Blade (Slash Lv.1, Dread Lv.1), Flying Sentry]

……

"Huh?"

Zheng Zhuo looked at it carefully again.

His mage level has been upgraded to Lv.4!

I think it's because I killed this kobold.

Next to the class trait, a scrolling light bar appeared. It seems that the class trait can be selected again.

Zheng Zhuo used [identification] again.

From the dazzling characteristics, Zheng Zhuo saw clearly the four favorite characteristics.

They are [Downfall Resistance], [Fire Resistance: Minions], [Flight Speed Increase], and [Presence Extension].

They work with existing skills. Perhaps, you can use them to improve the completion of your next plan.

You can only choose one, though.

Which one should I choose?

……

【Question】

[Next, what features should I choose?] 】

[Option 1]

【Fall Resistance】

Description: Not easily tripped, knocked over, or slipped

[Option 2]

Fire Resistance Summons

NOTE: Fire damage taken by summons has been reduced

[Option 3]

【Flight Speed Increase】

NOTE: Magic (including fireballs, energy chains, mage hands, bats, etc.) travel twice as fast

[Option 4]

【Existence Extension】

NOTE: Spells cast (fireballs, energy chains, etc.) will no longer despawn after hitting an enemy, and will persist like summons (Mage's Hand, bats, etc.) until the next spell is prepared