Precedence System: I Take My Rewards In Advance

The archers drew their bows while several soldiers began gathering Mana around their weapons. The frontmost Ridgefang Hounds were already charging toward the barricade, and Zishan could see even more creatures emerging behind them.

He estimated that the first densely packed group contained approximately sixty beasts.

’Perfect!’

Zishan immediately stepped away from the central opening and raised his right hand.

The Perfected Glimpse had already supplied him with an extraordinarily detailed understanding of Wildfire Requiem. He could perceive the necessary Mana pathways, the method of establishing Pyre Marks, and the precise sequence required to sustain the resulting chain reaction.

However, unlike his earlier attempts at using unfamiliar Skills, he was now painfully aware that possessing perfected understanding did not automatically grant him unlimited magical power.

He therefore selected an initial expenditure of two hundred Mana.

’This should be enough!’

The Sergeant, who had been preparing to order the first volley, suddenly noticed an extraordinary amount of Fire Mana gathering around the new soldier’s extended hand.

His expression changed immediately. ”Soldier Walker! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”

Zishan grinned and screamed, ”WILDFIRE REQUIEM!”

The ground beneath the leading Ridgefang Hounds suddenly erupted in brilliant flames.

Eight of the enormous creatures were immediately engulfed in fire, their bodies twisting violently as unfamiliar magical markings appeared across their fur.

However, the true horror of the Skill had only just begun.

The flames suddenly leaped toward the nearest unmarked beasts, spreading through the densely packed horde with terrifying speed. Several Ridgefang Hounds attempted to escape, but their movements only brought them closer to other burning creatures, allowing the flames to propagate even farther.

Then, the first marked beast died.

BOOM!

Its body erupted in an enormous burst of fire that swallowed several nearby creatures. Two more beasts collapsed almost immediately, their own Pyre Marks exploding and spreading the magical flames toward another group that had been fortunate enough to avoid the initial attack.

The entire western approach suddenly transformed into a sea of fire!

Zishan stood behind the barricade with his mouth slightly open. Even though he had already inspected the Skill’s description, witnessing its actual destructive capabilities was completely different from imagining how it worked.

’WHAT THE FUCK?! THIS IS AMAZING!!!’

The soldiers around him were equally astonished, although their reactions were considerably less enthusiastic.

Several archers had completely forgotten about their prepared attacks. The Sergeant himself remained motionless for several seconds, unable to comprehend how a supposedly Level 20 soldier had suddenly unleashed a spell capable of devastating an entire group of Level 40 Magic Beasts.

The flames continued spreading.

Each burning beast carried a Pyre Mark, and whenever one of the unfortunate creatures succumbed to the fire, its death produced another explosion.

Within moments, thirty-three Level 40 Ridgefang Hounds had been killed.

The remaining marked beasts were still burning, while the creatures approaching from farther behind were beginning to scatter as their leading pack collapsed.

Meanwhile, Zishan’s System had practically gone insane.

[DING!]

[Level 40 Ridgefang Hound Defeated!]

[EXP Gained: 800]

[Level 40 Ridgefang Hound Defeated!]

[EXP Gained: 800]

[Level 40 Ridgefang Hound Defeated!]

[EXP Gained: 800]

More notifications continued appearing as the magical flames consumed the leading pack. Zishan had inflicted the decisive damage before the other soldiers could engage those creatures, so the System recognized him as their sole meaningful contributor.

The EXP poured into him at an absolutely ridiculous rate!

[LEVEL UP!]

[LEVEL UP!]

[LEVEL UP!]

The notifications began appearing so quickly that Zishan couldn’t even read them individually anymore.

”HAHAHAHAHA! FUCK! I’M LEVELING UP LIKE CRAZY!”

He could feel the successive Level increases washing through his body as the System continued processing his accumulated EXP. Every new Level granted another three distributable Stat Points, but he was far too excited to begin allocating them.

Eventually, the notifications finally slowed down.

[COMBAT EXP SUMMARY]

[Level 40 Ridgefang Hounds Defeated: 33]

[Total EXP Gained: 26,400]

[Level Increased: 20 → 30]

[Current EXP: 1,900 / 3,000]

[Distributable Stat Points: 87]

Zishan stared at the panel.

’Level 30?!’

He had gained ten Levels before the other soldiers had even properly engaged the horde!

Meanwhile, the Sergeant stared at him dumbfounded, as though everything he thought he knew about leveling had just been shattered.

He had already used Appraisal on Zishan when they first arrived at the medical station. The boy had unquestionably been Level 20, and there had been nothing particularly remarkable about his displayed Level.

However, the enormous surge of Mana accompanying the recent Level increases had prompted him to inspect the boy again.

[Name: Zishan Walker]

[Level: 30]

The Sergeant’s eyes widened as he stared at the information before him. ”What the hell?! Wasn’t this brat Level 20 just a few moments ago?!”

Zishan turned toward him, still wearing an extraordinarily delighted expression. ”Sergeant! I think I’m going to enjoy working here!”

Unfortunately, the Sergeant was far too preoccupied with questioning everything he knew about ordinary magical progression to respond.

He had just watched a soldier who had been Level 20 only moments earlier unleash what seemed to be a high-level Skill, incinerate dozens of Level 40 Magic Beasts, and somehow gain ten Levels in the process.

And the boy was smiling as though he had just won a fucking lottery!

Zishan was about to celebrate his remarkable achievement when another roar suddenly came from beyond the horde.

The larger beasts that had been following the horde were finally approaching. One of them strode directly through the flames consuming the fallen Ridgefang Hounds, its thick hide barely scorched. Zishan’s grin gradually faded as he realized that his newly acquired Skill might not be nearly as effective against these creatures.

He quickly glanced at his remaining Mana.

[Current Mana: 340 / 540]

Then, his eyes moved toward his eighty-seven unspent Stat Points.

For a brief moment, his expression became extremely complicated.

’...Ah. Fuck.’

The Sergeant immediately ordered everyone to prepare for the next wave. Although he was still shocked by what he had witnessed, he quickly composed himself and continued issuing orders before their defensive line descended into chaos.

Zishan, however, was already reconsidering his earlier decision to preserve his distributable Stat Points. Perhaps this was exactly the kind of emergency he had been saving them for.

And somewhere in the back of his mind, he suddenly felt rather grateful toward Corporal Tagum.

He might even forgive the bastard for assigning him to this station.

Perhaps!

But he still hoped Corporal Tagum’s socks would stay wet for the rest of the day.