Chapter 753: Well Deserved
Asher’s eyes remained fixed ahead, though his expression did not soften at the praise.
Kaelen continued as the screen shifted to Asher battling an Advanced Horror with thick armored limbs and a maw lined with hooked teeth. The demon charged, but Asher did not retreat. Blue flames exploded beneath his feet, and he darted sideways before driving a flame-coated fist into the creature’s exposed flank.
When the demon adapted and tried to crush him against a stone wall, Asher used a sudden vertical burst to launch himself upward, then came down with a concentrated spear of flame that pierced through the demon’s spine and core.
"Your flames have improved since the previous evaluation," Kaelen said. "Your output is higher, but more importantly, your control has become sharper. Months ago, much of your strength was carried by raw intensity. Now there is more structure behind it. You are learning to compress your flames, alter their direction faster, and use them not only as destructive force but as movement support."
The screen showed Asher crossing unstable ground by propelling himself with short bursts of blue flame, similar in function to Liam’s flame movement but different in rhythm and intensity. Asher’s style was more aggressive, less subtle, and far more forceful, but effective nonetheless. He used the bursts to close distance quickly, break out of encirclements, and strike before enemies could fully reposition.
"Your survival decisions also improved compared to earlier patterns," Kaelen continued. "You did not simply chase every enemy that appeared before you. There were several times when you withdrew, secured water, preserved shelter, and chose not to engage when the risk offered no meaningful benefit. That growth should not be overlooked."
Asher’s jaw tightened faintly at that, because he knew exactly which moment Kaelen would eventually mention.
"Your greatest quality remains your offensive instinct," Kaelen said. "You are able to seize control of a battle’s pace and force the enemy to respond to you. Against demons that rely on instinct or direct aggression, that is extremely effective. You overwhelm, pressure, and punish hesitation. When you are focused, you can turn a fight into something that happens entirely on your terms."
The screen showed Asher surrounded by three Horror-class demons within a burnt clearing. Instead of letting them coordinate, he attacked one with enough force to make the other two react defensively, then used the shift in their movement to split them apart.
He killed the first with a concentrated burst to the core, baited the second into lunging through lingering flames, and finished the third by driving it into a burning tree before tearing through its skull with blue fire.
It was brutal, fast, and exactly the kind of fight Asher excelled at.
Then the screen changed.