27 Chapter 27: Triumph and Breakthrough

"Roooarrrr!!!"

"William, hold your ground! Anna, prepare the spell! Thomas, keep attacking!" Sarah commanded, her voice steady and composed, even in the face of a rank 5 Silver Snow Tiger. With her array of magic items, she supported us from the rear, directing us like a seasoned general.

"I'm trying, but you better hurry, Anna! This beast is relentless!" I couldn't help but shout at Anna, urging her to hasten her preparations. The tiger's claws kept coming at me, and it was frustrating to see that, despite Thomas repeatedly attacking it with lightning spells, the tiger seemed unfazed and continued its relentless assault. If this continued, I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold on.

"Relax, I'm ready," Anna replied calmly. Above us, a level 5 flame spell materialized. It was Anna's Level 5 spell, Flame Tower. Her ability to conjure such a spell, despite still being a 3-star mage, was a testament to her exceptional talent. However, due to her insufficient level, it took her longer to construct the spell. That's where Thomas and I came in—we needed to distract the monster and buy Anna enough time to complete her incantation.

Thomas quickly reacted by chanting a swift spell, Lightning Chain. Although it was only a level 2 spell, he cast it at the perfect moment, momentarily restraining the tiger's movements. The restriction may have been brief, but it was enough.

A towering inferno erupted, engulfing the tiger monster. It screamed and struggled to escape, but it was trapped. The Flame Tower not only unleashed a fiery assault but also formed a cage-like structure. For most mages, being trapped inside that spell was its own form of hell.

I watched attentively from the sidelines as the spell took effect. Witnessing that dominant tower of flame stole my breath away. With the monster defeated, we could finally begin our journey back home.

I sat in the car while Anna drove us away from the forest, heading back to our home. We had spent nearly a week in the Ghost Forest.

After our encounter with the Armored Back Great Bear, Sarah suggested that I should return, but I declined. Despite the state of my battered body at the time, I felt no fear. In fact, I was exhilarated. During the fight, I discovered that using the 36 Warrior Fighting Technique enhanced my combat abilities. This realization led me to wonder if I could cultivate and fight simultaneously by combining it with the scripture.

The mere thought of these possibilities filled my heart with excitement, and that's why I turned down Sarah's offer for me to leave.

After much persuasion, Sarah reluctantly allowed me to rejoin the team. She instructed me to stay back and let them handle things until I recovered, but I brushed it off.

The moment we encountered another monster, I eagerly stepped forward to fight. This time, I utilized the 36 fighting technique in combination with the scripture.

Initially, Sarah and Anna were shocked by my actions, fearing that I might endanger my life once again. However, they were proven wrong.

As I grew more accustomed to the fighting style, I reaped numerous benefits. But among them, the most gratifying was the rapid increase in my cultivation. It far surpassed the progress I had made through quiet practice at home.

They were astonished to see me transform, as my fighting style appeared different from before. Not only were my movements smoother, but my punches carried greater power. Anna even joked that I must be lying about not being a mage, but unfortunately, I wasn't.

Days turned into weeks as we continued our training. During this time, I truly felt like a valued member of the team. To maximize my role, Sarah entrusted me with the Black Shield and told me to keep it. With that, I solidified my position as the team's tank.

On our final day, we encountered a level 5 monster called the Silver Snow Tiger. With its silver fur, white stripes, and a majestic aura emanating from its being, coupled with its piercing purple eyes, it was an awe-inspiring presence.

Since it was our last day, we decided to face this formidable creature head-on, concluding our training with a bang. In the present moment, we all worked tirelessly to defeat the tiger, and the moment of triumph arrived when we emerged victorious.

For me, however, there was more than just the satisfaction of victory. Unbeknownst to me, a breakthrough occurred during the battle, propelling my cultivation to a new level. I finally ascended to become a 2-star warrior.