Dragon's Wrath: The Cursed Returnee

Although Ethan had never tried that before, he had just learned that he could use Neutral Enchantment on several parts of his body. However, that skill wasn't the basis for learning the other elemental enchantments. He tried to do that, but the very moment the skill was activated, the elemental nature of mana couldn't change.

"Interesting… it seems like a good idea to increase my number of attacks by using my legs and fists. Still, the range of those attacks is limited. Besides, a big weapon is the best tool to overpower my opponents."

While Emily was running, Ethan and Ian began to practice that skill. Just like Ethan, Ian was having a hard time changing the nature of his mana without wounding his fists. At least, that was what it looked like. When Ian was doing something, one couldn't quite tell if he was trying seriously or just messing around.

Ethan felt like he would have an easier time trying to learn something like Earth Enchantment or even Ice Enchantment since the mana would take a more physical form. Fire was hard to control, so learning the spell was quite difficult. In any case, after several hours of nonstop practice, Ethan finally obtained some results. However, before he had just mastered the spell and could receive the notification, Ian jumped and began to celebrate with both arms in the air… both of them were covered in that reddish aura. The guy couldn't abandon his character, not even for a second.

Congratulations! You learned the skill Blazing Enchantment!

Effects: Adds fire magic damage to your physical attacks. The total additional damage is equal to the mana spent + 10 of your MAG.

Cost: 15/s

Lv 01 – 0/100

Emily couldn't help but frown when she noticed that both of them had succeeded in learning that spell. They were melee fighters; they had no right to learn such spells so fast. Maybe her thoughts were going a bit too far, but still, Emily felt also a bit proud because she was the one who taught them that.

"We don't have much time left today, so you two should continue practicing that spell until it becomes second nature to activate it," Emily said. "The others won't be easy, so we should leave them to the next day."

"I'm fine with it, but what about you, Ethan?" Ian said. "Although we can go and come to the school as many times as we want, not even you will come at night, right? What are you going to do about that?"

"I will manage," Ethan said. "If the worse comes to the worst, I still have a few tricks up my sleeve."

"I didn't think you two were close enough to have secrets," Emily frowned.

"It is nothing really dramatic," Ian said. "If you want to know, I will tell you later, using the proper means."

Although it wasn't weird that Ian wouldn't share that kind of info in the simulator room, it was weird that he still had the intention of sharing with Emily. They were more or fewer friends, but that wasn't enough to make Ian reveal such a piece of useful information. Unless… he was hoping that Emily would join the expedition. While thinking among those lines, Ethan glared at Ian, but he just shrugged with a smile on his face. Ethan only confirmed his suspicions the next day.

"I'm going with you guys, too," Emily declared.

Ethan facepalmed while Ian was showing his smug smile. That was too suspicious, even though Emily seemed to have a proper reason for joining, and that reason wasn't money or potions.

"I need to keep my skills sharp in case something happens," Emily declared. "I believe that many of us returned with our powers because there is something that we must do here. Until I confirm that isn't the case, I will keep my skills sharp and make them even sharper."

"Can't you use the simulator for that?" Ethan asked.

"It is not as effective as you think it is," Emily replied. "In a different sense, I'm just like you, and I can only improve myself when there is something at stake."

Ethan couldn't help but shut up after hearing that. That made a lot of sense. Ethan, more than anyone else, could tell that she was right because he had just recently experienced that. Even though he had just stayed there for four days, Ethan became much stronger than he could have become in perhaps four weeks while using the simulator. That being said, more than half of the reason for his growth was Lili and Hannah's support from the backlines.

In any case, if Emily joined the expedition or not, it wasn't his problem. Ethan will work alone, anyway. However, for some reason, he was feeling that Ian had other plans. Regardless, in order not to waste any more time, they resumed their practice, and much to Emily's surprise, Ethan and Ian learned the two remaining spells on that day.

Congratulations! You learned the skill Frozen Enchantment!

Effects: Adds ice magic damage to your physical attacks, and the total additional damage is equal to the mana spent. If your MAG + the level of the skill is higher than the enemy's RES, you might freeze their body and decrease their speed.

Cost: 15/s

Lv 01 – 0/100

Congratulations! You learned the skill Electric Enchantment!

Effects: Adds electric magic damage to your physical attacks, and the total additional damage is equal to the mana spent. If your MAG + the level of the skill is higher than the enemy's RES, you might stun their body and decrease their endurance.

Cost: 15 mana/s

Lv 01 – 0/100

Ethan could tell that such skills would come in handy in the future, so instead of relying solely on meditation to recover his mana and train them, he brought several of the best potions he could buy and drank them like there was no tomorrow. Later, Ethan spent quite a while in the toilet letting the potions leave his body, though.