Chapter 166: Learning to Use Spells and Sword
'Quick and agile, but predictable,' Orion mentally assessed as the room blurred again, transporting him upward to the eighteenth floor.
The next two floors introduced varied Echoes—a heavily armored defender wielding a tower shield and mace, and a flexible swordsman combining martial arts with blade techniques.
Both offered interesting combat styles that briefly challenged Orion's versatility. Yet neither lasted long under his careful precision, superior strength, and growing familiarity with diverse fighting styles.
Stepping onto the twentieth floor, Orion exhaled deeply, taking a momentary pause. He now felt confident in his foundational swordsmanship and spear practice. But there was one thing he had yet to try fully—his newly mastered fire spells.
'Time to combine swordsmanship with magic properly,' Orion thought decisively. He extended his palm gently, summoning a familiar warmth that quickly condensed into a blazing sphere of fire.
"Fireball," he whispered calmly, launching the blazing orb toward the Echo forming in front of him. The Echo, a muscular fighter with heavy gauntlets, reacted instantly, sidestepping the initial attack.
Orion smiled slightly, pleased at the reflexes of the Echo. He darted forward swiftly, leaving behind glowing embers with each step—activating his spell as he lightly called out, "Cinder Trail."
The fiery footprints immediately ignited the floor beneath, forcing the Echo into a defensive position, wary of stepping onto the burning trail.
'Good, zone control works perfectly,' Orion thought approvingly.
The Echo, pressured by limited mobility, lunged forward aggressively to close the gap. Orion responded quickly, his left hand igniting fiercely with Searing Touch.
He smoothly blocked the incoming strike with Realm Guardian while simultaneously pressing his blazing palm against the Echo's chest, the searing heat bursting forth upon contact.
Instantly, the Echo vanished, dissipating in shimmering mana fragments.