The city of Astraea was calm as dawn broke, but Ethan's mind buzzed with anticipation. The Simulator's countdown had finally reached zero: the next simulation was ready. His body ached slightly from yesterday's intense training, but his mind was sharper than ever. He had refined Ember Surge, unlocked Ignition Technique, and studied tactical responses for countless scenarios. Today would test everything he had learned.
[Notification: Simulation Available — Initiate?][Yes] [No]
Without hesitation, Ethan pressed Yes.
1. Entering the Simulation
The world dissolved around him in a swirl of white light and mana. Within moments, he was standing in a new environment: a ruined cityscape, half-collapsed towers leaning over jagged streets. Smoke and ash rose from scattered fires, and the air was thick with a faint, corrupted mana haze.
[Simulation Environment: Urban Anomaly — High-Risk]Estimated Opponent Tier: B+ to ARecommended Action: Engage and adapt
Ethan surveyed the streets. Broken vehicles, debris, and mana residue littered the ground. He could feel the lingering danger before he even encountered it. The Simulator's presence pulsed in his mind, encouraging focus.
[Warning: High-tier anomaly detected in sector 3]
He tightened his cloak. This was no ordinary challenge.
2. First Contact
Ethan moved cautiously through the crumbled streets. Faint growls echoed from a distant alley. He approached, mana circling in his palms, ready for action.
A massive figure emerged: a Corrupted Mana Chimera, far larger and more grotesque than the sewer croc. Its body combined reptilian, feline, and humanoid traits, eyes glowing with unstable energy. Its claws scraped the stone, leaving molten trails where the mana burned uncontrollably.
[Opponent Tier: B+]Threat Level: High
The creature roared, and the ground trembled beneath its feet. Ethan's pulse quickened, but he forced himself to stay calm. He had trained for this.
3. Testing the New Skill
The Chimera lunged. Ethan dodged, feeling the difference in his reflexes after days of preparation. He extended his hands:
"Ignition Technique!"
Flames erupted in controlled bursts from multiple points, striking the Chimera's limbs and torso. Unlike before, the flames weren't chaotic—they moved like guided serpents, splitting and hitting simultaneously. The Chimera screeched, staggered, and swung its claw at him.
He rolled, letting the ground spark from the residual heat, then countered with Ember Surge, a concentrated whip of fire that lashed across the creature's side.
[Skill Feedback: Ignition Technique — +2% Damage Output, Ember Surge — +3% Efficiency]
The Simulator noted his improvements in real-time, reinforcing his adaptive combat growth.
4. Adaptive Combat
The Chimera wasn't just a brute—it reacted intelligently. It dodged flame bursts, countered Ember Surge, and even hurled chunks of debris as makeshift weapons. Ethan realized raw power alone wouldn't suffice; he needed strategy.
He began observing patterns, noting which attacks triggered overreactions and which left openings. With each dodge and strike, he refined timing, stance, and mana expenditure.
[Adaptive Analysis: Opponent Weakness — Core Exposure during lunging attack]
A chance appeared: the Chimera lunged forward, opening its maw wide. Ethan channeled all his focus and mana into a single, blazing orb.
"Flare Burst — Overload!"
The orb struck the Chimera's core, causing an explosion that shook the ruined cityscape. Smoke and mana sparks filled the air, but when it cleared, the Chimera was wounded, limping—but not defeated.
5. Escalation
The Chimera roared, shaking off some of the damage. Its corrupted mana flared brighter, and a secondary mutation occurred: spikes erupted from its back, and its tail elongated, crackling with raw energy.
[Opponent Evolution: B+ → A-]
Ethan's eyes widened. The first simulation had been challenging, but this… this was something else entirely. He adjusted quickly, switching between Ember Surge, Ignition Technique, and controlled Flare Bursts, weaving through attacks and keeping his stamina in check.
[System Advisory: Utilize environment for tactical advantage]
He sprinted toward a half-collapsed building. Using a mana-infused kick, he launched a column of rubble at the Chimera, temporarily stunning it. This gave him a precious few seconds to prepare the finishing move.
6. The Final Strike
Ethan centered his mana. Heat surged through him, core burning like a furnace. He extended his palms, shaping the flames with precision.
"Ignition Surge — Full Release!"
Flames erupted in all directions, controlled but overwhelming. The Chimera's body was engulfed, screeching as the controlled fire consumed corrupted mana and destabilized its core.
With a final, deafening roar, the Chimera collapsed. The air shimmered, and the environment around Ethan dissolved.
7. Simulation Conclusion
Ethan found himself back in the guild training room, slightly scorched but exhilarated. The Simulator's interface appeared:
[Simulation Complete]Duration: 21 minutesOpponent Tier: A-Techniques Gained: Ember Surge — +7% efficiency, Ignition Technique — +4% damage outputSkill Growth: Tactical Analysis — +1 level
Ethan exhaled, letting the tension leave his body. His hands trembled slightly, not from fatigue, but from the rush of mastery and survival.
[System Message: Optional Reward Available — Choose][Skill Enhancement] [Attribute Boost]
Ethan smiled. This was exactly what he had trained for.
8. Reflection
He sat on the training floor, eyes closed, flames dancing lightly in his palms. The simulation had tested him beyond anything he had faced before, and he had adapted, learned, and grown.
Somewhere, in the shadows, the Higher Mage likely observed his progress. Ethan didn't need their approval, but he knew that continued growth would keep him alive—and perhaps even prepare him for the challenges lurking outside simulations.
He exhaled, a small flame extinguishing in his palm. Tomorrow, he would prepare again. Next week, the simulation would return. And the city of Astraea would feel the presence of a rapidly rising wizard: Ethan Ashfield.
[Chapter Complete: First Simulation Redux — Mastery Gained]