The tension in the air continued to rise as the huge monstrous snakes started each other down. Without warning, the smallest of the group struck out first towards Blake. As quick as a whip, it lashed out to swallow them whole. Obviously this Magma Serpent took the mentality of whoever struck first would win. Responding with multiple elements, the wind helped take off a brunt of the power by redirecting the momentum. At the same time, lava shot up to form barrier after barrier around Blake's tiny form. Concentrated orbs of darkness and light went towards each of the serpent's eyes. Thus they would be blinded by light in one eye and darkness in another. The sudden confusion and assault on the senses made the Magma Serpents act more brutal than expected. Attacking one another, the first attacking beast was successfully redirected and crashed into the body of another. Temporary blindness assaulting both, the second one reacted instinctively. Biting down hard at the spot where they were harshly rammed, golden liquid blood poured out of the unfortunate victim. Instead of quickly snatching away the stone, instead the first serpent received a near fatal injury and had to withdraw within the first minute of the brawl.
As the two were dueling, the remaining three focused equal amounts of attention to both their fellow competitors and attempting to swallow Blake. To the frightened rock, the area had become absolute mayhem. Yet, multiple fire skills were being thrown around. Some towards other competitors to delay them, others towards Blake to slap the defended stone away from the open jaws of a Magma Serpent.
Within the Magic Vision, Blake could see the manipulation of the crimson particles both inside and around the beasts. For skills like Fireball, a portion of the fire elements were pulled from the surroundings. Yet most of the attack came provided by the creature itself. Pushing the elements together until they were compressed in an unfathomable degree, the outside particles simply were used to add bulk to the explosive core. When launched, Fireball acted like a multistage rocket. The outside layer of foreign elemental particles was used to propel and carry the more volatile core forward. It also helped keep that very core at a key compression point. The explosion happened in two main ways. When the fireball traveled too far, and the shell became too weak to hold the core together anymore was the first. The resulting explosion was weak, but still powerful. The second, and far more deadly manner was when the Fireball crashed into something. Like a popping balloon the outer layer was deformed, creating a weak spot for the inner ball to exploit. This explosion was more powerful due to the inner core using the outer layer to fuel its own power, cannibalizing the elements to inflict more harm onto their target.
Lava Plume had an entirely opposite principle. Instead of forming a core provided by the user, outside particles made up most of the skill supported by the monster's fire elements. Seemingly based on capillary action, the Magma Serpent only provided the lattice for the exterior flame specks to clamp on and increase in size. As they did so, the lava from below would be violently sucked up then spewed over the area. While not very damaging to the other fire elemental beasts, it did provide excellent cover and forced the competition to move around the wall of slag. All of these insights were very helpful to Blake as they simply focused what attention that remained after analyzing these skills towards dodging.
"Incredible! It seems that magical elements almost act like programmable matter that interact with others in various ways. To provide the program for an action, one must use their own mana to set up the series of events that lead to the skill's affect. And since I already know how limited spells can be, then higher mastery of the elements must mean more versatility. So, happens if I do this?"
Excited to try something new after so long, Blake tried to do a Lava Plume. However, there was intentionally a much wider base and a couple of holes in the sides of the walls where the plume would flow. Centered on themselves, the modified skill erupted around them. Yet one of the holes was directed back towards the center of volcanic lake. So, while the serpents who were going after Blake suddenly had to stop themselves from crashing into the summoned pillar of magma, the hole shot Blake out at a high speed away from the fight.
Inwardly grinning, Blake put some distance before forming their next move,
-----
The battle between the four remaining contestants seemed to reach a stalemate. Each of the proud serpents were equal in strength, which prevented them from forming alliances to take out any competition. More frustratingly, the delicious looking stone was actively preventing itself from being eaten! In the beginning, blindness brought by light and darkness enraged them. As the minutes ticked by, the competition dragged on longer than expected. Every time that one of the competitors thought that they would win, wind and earth would deflect the rock out of the way. Slowly, the collective strength of the group waned. Not a single Magma Serpent had reserved their strength in the battle royale. Only death would await those that did. Now, the unexpected resistance of the stone seemed to ensure that no competitor would emerge victorious.
Suddenly the stone used on of their own skills, Lava Plume! This was a skill that would add a defensive tool to more mature Magma Serpents. For younger members of their species, rushing headfirst into battle was the only tactic. For those that could use the more elaborate skill it brought an easy victory to rash immature snakelets that dared to challenge them. The skill separated the hierarchy into tiers and was a symbol of the Magma Serpent's struggle to come out on top against all odds. Seeing a puny pebble imitate it was a great insult!
Sensing the weak pulses flying away from the battlefield, the creatures gave chase. Now that the situation had changed, only the fastest and most cunning would claim the prize and a chance to rule the area. Lava Plumes exploded out of the surface, trying to hinder both the rock and the other serpents. Slowly, the distance between the two groups shrunk. But not at a speed that would allow them to catch up to the little pebble before it reached the shoes of the black rock. Lamenting at their bad luck, they almost gave up when a figure jumped out of the lava and had a clear shot towards eating the stone. The injured serpent had laid in wait for this exact moment!
-----
The chase away from the first battle ground gave Blake the opportunity to continue learning. However, it seemed that these elementals, while smarter than their younger counterparts, only had a few tricks up their sleeve. Only so much could be learned from beasts. But still, the tricks that were learned could be used to build upon and do more in the future. This idea was confirmed when a notification rang out after the first use of imitating Lava Plume.
"Participant's creative use of a skill brings a mastery upon first learning. Skill "Lava Plume (Lv. 80)" obtained."
"Amazing! My deductions were right. Plus, the bonus from the System shows that I'm heading in the right direction. I would have been worried if I got nothing for my efforts. Now, what to do about that sneaky snake who thinks they can surprise me?"
While flying away in elation to their discovery, the previously injured Magma Serpent rushing towards Blake was not missed. Instantly, a tightly pressed core of personal fire elements and mana formed beside them. As the outer shell grew, a thin but dense layer of hot earth was added before continuing to include more outside fire particles. By the time the not-so sneaky monster had jumped with a wide-open jaw that could easily swallow a person whole, the imitated skill was made. Seizing the opportunity, Blake hurled the mixed Fireball skill down the gullet of the injured snake. Before it could travel further down, an explosion ripped its head into a million pieces while the body was flung several dozens of meters away. To mark the victory, the System rang out another notification.
"Participant's creative use of a skill brings a mastery upon first learning. Skill "Fireball (Lv. 80)" obtained."
Gawking at their fallen companion, the remaining Magma Serpents lost their edge in catching up to the flying stone. Zooming away on a conjured gale, Blake simply returned to the place that had been their home for the last few decades. Today's lesson on the use of fire skills had been very informative. It was time to experiment for a bit. Having a least a few dozen skills would be good to have before sleeping for an eon or two. Plus, prepping for the nap needed doing. Otherwise, something important might be missed.