Chapter 70: Skill Training

The so-called training is actually not as complicated as imagined. For elemental skills, all you need to do is keep casting them. Of course, it's not as simple as just continuously casting to master them; there's no so-called mainframe to help you calculate proficiency.

"To master magic, the key is during the element accumulation phase, which is the skill's charging stage. You must carefully feel how the elements accumulate during this short few seconds, and then how they form the power you can command. As you gradually become familiar with this feeling, you will find that the speed of element accumulation will increase with your deeper understanding of the skill, and the time required to cast the skill will gradually shorten. In the end, some simple skills can even be cast instantly. Achieving this is considered the initial mastery of the skill."

Yes, the above words were said by Cain.

It's easy to say, but doing it is another matter. I can indeed feel the accumulation and transformation of elements, but feeling them doesn't mean understanding them. It's like a math problem; if you don't understand the formula, even if someone solves it step by step next to you, you still won't understand.

Moreover, the Molten Rock is fine, with about 10 seconds of element accumulation time. However, the Firestorm is more frustrating, with only a short 3 seconds. Often, before I can focus my attention, it has already formed in my hands, and 4 points of magic are wasted.

For the entire afternoon, I kept casting spells. When my mana was exhausted, I drank a few potions and rested, waiting for my mana to recover. I also took the opportunity to communicate with the summoned ghost wolves. Although the Aerial Ambush is the skill I most want to learn now, I can't rush it. First, I must be able to skillfully control the movements of these ghost wolves. I also don't know if the ghost wolves' teleportation can be controlled, so the Aerial Ambush is still just a concept.

By evening, I returned to the inn with a tired pace, not even eating dinner before collapsing on the bed. My head was dizzy and felt like it was about to split, as both casting spells and feeling the elements are extremely draining. About 10 hours of training felt more painful than a whole day of battle. The emptiness in my head made me feel nauseous, and the next day, I slept until the evening.

Time flew by, and it had already been half a month. In the mornings, I would go to the training ground in the north district. If there were high-level transmuters competing on the arena, I could observe them. If there was nothing interesting, I would go to the archery range to practice my poor archery skills. Since there were fewer people in the morning, I could find a secluded spot to avoid being mocked by others.

Speaking of which, I also thought of the female Amazon. Logically, she couldn't have not come to the archery range for half a month. Even the best sword, if not sharpened, will rust. The only explanation is that she went out to train, which greatly relieved me. Honestly, I didn't really want to see her; it was too stressful.

In the afternoons and evenings, I spent my time on the empty ground behind the church. Learning from my first experience, I reduced the intensity of my magic training and used the remaining time to communicate with the ghost wolves. After grasping the amount of mental energy I could handle, the headaches I experienced at the beginning never returned.

After half a month of training, I did see some results. In terms of elemental comprehension, I finally realized I wasn't cut out for it. What others could master in less than a week often took me ten to eight days to initially grasp. But it's okay; I have the Burner skill. While others can cast spells a dozen times a day at most, I can practice over a hundred times. Isn't there a saying that diligence can make up for lack of talent? So even though my aptitude is low, my speed of elemental comprehension is no slower than theirs, and even faster. Moreover, due to the high-intensity consumption of mental energy over half a month, my stamina automatically increased by 1 point. Although it wasn't very useful, it was like opening a chest after killing a boss; even a small extra gain always brings joy.

The biggest gain was undoubtedly the cooperation with the ghost wolves. Communicating with summoned creatures can be likened to the relationship between a radio station and a radio. When you want to receive information from the ghost wolf, you act as the radio, constantly adjusting your frequency to receive the ghost wolf's information. When you give commands to the ghost wolf, you act as the radio station, but you still need to adjust your frequency so the ghost wolf can receive it. The communication process feels similar, but it's much more difficult, like needing to adjust the frequency to a precision of a hundred times to receive it.

Now, I can control the ghost wolves as if they were my own limbs, especially the more steady one. After my special training, it can now fully understand my intentions. What makes me even happier is that the concept of the Aerial Ambush has been proven feasible. A few days ago, I could control one ghost wolf to teleport, but the accuracy is still low, often landing a few meters away from the designated point. It seems more practice is needed.

Controlling the Aerial Ambush, in simple terms, is like using my mental energy as a mouse to command the ghost wolf's teleportation. However, to control five ghost wolves to teleport simultaneously, the mental energy required is far more than just multiplying by five.

Of course, I didn't neglect the Venom Flower Vine and the lazy crow. I still often summoned them to chat during my free time.

I also visited Lar's house a few times, but unfortunately, they had gone off to train somewhere and hadn't returned. Aunt Sally's face grew increasingly worried, and little Sara, to my greater distress, seemed hesitant to approach me. She often wanted to say something but held back. Aunt Sally just gave me a strange smile and refused to tell me the reason. Seeing little Sara become more distant each day, I felt frustrated. Since meeting didn't make either of us happy, I decided to stay away for a few days to avoid feeling disheartened.

With a "whoosh," the arrow in my hand flew off, not even touching the target.

I threw the bow on the ground in frustration. The past few days had been terrible. Not only had there been no progress in skill training, but my archery, which I had already mastered to some extent, was also off target. Ultimately, it was due to my bad mood.

Looking at the sun, which had risen to midday, I decided not to continue practicing. I thought about taking a good rest today and skipping the afternoon skill training, feeling somewhat self-destructive.

I bought some wheat cakes and milk wine from a nearby stall, barely filling my stomach. I then pondered how to change my current state. I couldn't keep being so irritable. I needed to either find out why Sara was avoiding me or do something to adjust my mindset.

Considering the feasibility of the two options, I wandered aimlessly on the street: Why is little Sara avoiding me? This question seemed strange. Unless I asked Akara to use the Eye of Wisdom to spy on her thoughts, I had no way to start. Aunt Sally wouldn't tell me the reason, so I decided to let it go. Women are the most complicated.

As for entertainment to adjust my mood, I thought about it and ultimately sighed. In this world, there are no computers, no TVs, and even a lack of basic entertainment. The only options I could think of were bars, casinos, and the place the unscrupulous barbarian brother mentioned.

Bar? Drinking to forget my worries only makes them worse; casino, I'm not interested in that; and as for "that place," although as a man, I am eager to try, as a Chinese person with traditional values, I don't want to give my first time there...

I was troubled, my eyes wandering aimlessly on the street, looking at the bustling stalls. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in my head.

Right, how could I forget! In the original game, even beginners could learn the ultimate skill of setting up a stall. I had completely forgotten about it. Players who haven't set up a stall can't be considered excellent players (except for RMB players). As a former game enthusiast, how could I resist its allure...

Thinking of this, my passion for gaming ignited, and I temporarily put aside my troubles. I looked around and chose a relatively secluded stall, threw a few gold coins, and the stall owner left with a smile.

As for why I chose a secluded stall, well, think about it. The only things I have to sell are some slightly red items. If I set up in a busy area, they would be snatched up by transmuters in no time, and where would be the fun in that? I'm not short of money, so the ultimate enjoyment of setting up a stall for me isn't how quickly I can sell everything, but rather making a desolate corner bustling with activity. That sense of achievement is the real deal.

I, in Diablo, have officially learned my first self-created skill—setting up a stall. Hoho...

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