Chapter 3: The real show is just getting started

Chapter 3: The real show is just getting started



"Successfully used [Element of Lightning]!"

Mike snagged the newbie reward and didn't waste a second before using it.

A tingling sensation spread throughout his body, and Mike felt the lightning elements around him become more active, constantly calling to him.

"Element of Lightning Affinity +100%!"

"Mana regeneration speed +100%!"

"Learned Lightning skills [Lightning Arrow], [Blessing of Lightning], [Charge Up]!"

Descriptions of the three skills appeared in front of Mike one by one:

"[Lightning Arrow (Lv1)]: Deals (50+1* Intelligence) Lightning damage, 100% chance to slow, 33% chance to paralyze.

Mana cost: 60

CD: 3s"

With Mike's current Intelligence at 9, a single Lightning Arrow could deal 59 damage.

Without accounting for defense, three Lightning Arrows would basically make newbie participants throw in the towel!

The minor monsters in the newbie instance, with HP ranging from [50-100], posed no threat to Mike!

Just the Lightning Arrow skill alone was enough for Mike to score highly in the newbie instance.

Mike continued reading.

"[Blessing of Lightning (Lv1)]: Casts Blessing of Lightning on oneself or an ally, adding 20 points of Lightning damage to normal attacks and 25 points to magical attacks.

Mana cost: 100

Duration: 30s

CD: 45s

[Charge Up]: The next Lightning skill used has its effect doubled.

Mana cost: 10

CD: 10s

Note: The specific values of this effect are influenced by the caster's level. "Whoa-"

Mike hadn't expected the three randomly acquired Lightning skills to complement each other so well!

"Using [Charge Up] with [Lightning Arrow] could burst 118 damage instantly, enough to one- shot minor monsters!"

Mike quickly calculated in his mind.

"If the combo sequence is changed to: [Charge Up] → [Blessing of Lightning] → [Charge Up] → [Lightning Arrow]..."

"Double Blessing of Lightning, adding 50 extra magic damage, with a base damage of 59 from Lightning Arrow, totals 236 damage!"

"That's a burst increase of a whole 100%!"

Given Mike's years of experience in online gaming, [Charge Up] was definitely a killer skill!

Even in the later stages of the instance, while [Lightning Arrow] and [Blessing of Lightning] might become obsolete, [Charge Up] would still be his core skill!

Suddenly, a wild idea popped into Mike's head.

"What if I use [Charge Up], and then hit it again with another [Charge Up]? What would happen?"

Trying to exploit a glitch here or what?!

Anyone else might have panicked and attacked by now!

Mike counts the seconds quietly, stepping back to keep a safe distance.

"Just 5, 4..."

The Cave Giant Rat is close enough now, reeking like a sewer rat.

Well, it is a rat, right?

No worries then.

"...3, 2, 1!"

Cooldown's up, Mike immediately casts again.

"Charge Up."

The pale blue light flares up once more, this time a shade deeper.

"Lightning Arrow"

Mike wastes no time, though it's his first fight, he's surprisingly smooth, no wasted

movements.

Boom-

A lightning arrow, thin as a finger, forms in front of Mike and zips through the air, hitting the

Cave Giant Rat with ease!

Zzzt-

A series of electric crackles, with a burnt scent, and a bright red number floats above the Cave

Giant Rat:

[-236!]

The Lightning Arrow zaps for 236 points of Element of Lightning damage!

The Cave Giant Rat's health bar wipes clean, and it crashes to the ground, dissolving into

white light particles, leaving behind 3 copper coins.

Mike pumps his fist, totally pumped.

"This works!" "[Charge Up] stacks! First time it's double, second time it's quadruple, third time it's

octuple!"

This ain't no simple sequence; it's geometric, baby, exponential growth!

[Fun Fact: Charge Up can stack up to 30 times]

After stacking it 30 times, Mike's power surge is gonna be off the charts!

Mike's breathing gets heavier just thinking about the sheer terror of that power.

Maybe just one Lightning Arrow could obliterate a boss!

Scooping up the copper coins, Mike looks down the corridor.

The ruckus from the fight has woken up more Cave Giant Rats, and they're now prowling the

corridor for prey!

Mike bites his lip, trying to keep his cool to not mess up the upcoming fights.

"The real show is just getting started!"