A single week in a half-allowed Ervin to make tremendous progress. The Demon Orb absorption massively enhanced his speed in magic absorption and comprehension.
In just a short week and a half, far faster than higher magical talents, Ervin managed to reach the Small Success Stage of the Frantic Fire Storm Art!
He could now unleash a small wave of Fire Mana emulating the pattern of a chaotic storm to torch the world.
The cost of Mana to do so is a large sum, but the damage it could cause will be horrifying.
Ervin made test runs with just regular flames before and on his own, he's able to directly kill a considerably tired Late Stage Class 1 Demonic Beast when it's completely caught off guard!
Since all Demonic Beasts have considerably stronger defenses than most Mages, Ervin estimated he could most likely directly kill Peak Stage Novice Mages if they were heavily injured and caught off guard with Frantic Fire Storm.
Ervin had also taken steps to advance past the Small Success Stage for Telekinesis Control, enhancing his comprehension by another 3% already.
His magical core was also strengthened by a tremendous sum, inching very close to breaching past the borders of the Late Stage.
But the greatest gain Ervin received was the direct enhancement of his magical talents and magical veins.
The red core glowed a slightly stronger shine and his magical veins turned sturdier, allowing him to use his Magical Arts at a slightly lower cost of his Mana reserves.
Ervin was extremely satisfied with his progress. Months of work were achieved in a single week in a half!
And there's also the direct enhancement to his entire physique that would be otherwise impossible to do if Ervin was on his own.
Ervin awoke from his magical trance with confidence flowing through his body. He considered that enough time had passed since his last killing.
It's time to hunt again and thankfully, today is an early morning patrol.
...
The dusk of dawn barely arrived for Lightwall City. Streams of sunlight pierced through the dreary Twilight Wood, the light of the sun creating a dazzling contrast with the ominous shadows of the woods.
Even in the early morning, there were still numerous patrol teams covering the ground.
At one section of the woods, considerably far away from anyone else, a patrol team was sat panting on the ground, blood completely drenching their Mage robes, gash wounds sprayed all across the torn parts of their fabrics.
Some were still vomiting mouthfuls of blood, feeling utter hell wracked all across their bodies.
This patrol team consisted of four Middle Stage Mages and one Adept Stage Mage.
Any majestic grace they could have was not present at this moment. Beaten down, bloodied, and nearly out of Mana reserves made for a chilling sight.
Surrounding the patrol team was a scene of utter carnage. Blood splashed all across the area, bits and pieces of brain matter decorated the ground, trees were slashed off, craters broke open the ground, and the stench of death was horrific within this area.
The hundreds of corpses of Demonic Bird beasts littered every inch of the ground. Even a senior Adept Mage's jaw would drop at this violent scene of carnage.
One of the Middle Stage Mages viciously cursed, spitting out blood as he said, "Fuck! Early morning is typically calmer than the night. But this...this shit was just too brutal!"
The other Mages couldn't help but nod in agreement. They all were kind of bewildered to even be alive after that ferocious flock of Demonic Bird Beasts.
"Hehe...haha!" The Adept Mage suddenly broke out into a fit of laughter. The grin on his face seemed crazed, but his body completely sagged in relief. "At least we live to see another day. I really need to see my daughter right about now to lift my spirits."
Smiles began to grow on the other lips. One of them chuckled, saying, "I honestly can't argue there. I really want to see my wife right about now. Can't wait to get home."
One of the best parts for many about Mage Enforcer is the simple fact they can see their families' smiling faces after a grueling day of work. They all could already see the pleased faces of their lovers.
Merely a few seconds passed since the team killed the Demonic Bird Beasts. They just wanted a moment to catch their breath before healing themselves.
A few seconds of rest shouldn't make a difference in the slightest.
However, right at that moment, an intense surge of heat engulfed the entire area!
"Wha-" The Mage couldn't even utter a voice of shock.
Their visions were suddenly blinded by gleaming swirls of deadly hot flames. Their bodies as well were put under an immense amount of heat, causing all of their terrifying wounds to flare up with unimaginable pain.
Before anything could happen, a storm of beautiful orange flames frantically destroyed everything within the area, unleashing a dominating pressure onto the patrol team!
The swirls of flames flowed together into one swaying motion, manifesting as a storm to sweep through the entire world.
"Ah!" Flames brilliantly burst upon the Middle Stage Mages' skin, drilling past to directly burn their flesh and torch their nervous system!
The Mages shrieked in pure agony. Critically injured, with low Mana reserves, it was impossible for them to conjure up any sort of defense from this frantic storm of fire.
"Shit!" The Adept Mage cursed when experiencing the excruciating pain of his skin and flesh burning off while his nervous system was continually torched.
Many spots all over his body directly burned off to reveal a sickening charred layer of flesh, organs, and bones.
"Ah!" Still, being an Adept Mage expert, the Mage was able to force out the last sum of his Mana.
A beautiful stream of icy lights flashed out of his body. The power of Ice Mana engulfed everything. The heated temperature dropped by a tremendous amount, practically going down to zero degrees.
The flash of Ice Mana condensed, manifesting into a crystal ice barrier that shielded everyone from the frantic storm of fire.
Everyone was still alive, suffering but not dead.
The Adept Mage spat out blood, trembling before crashing to the ground. He barely had any sensation left in his body. Those flames ruined him to the point it was difficult to keep his eyes open.
But right at that moment, the Adept Mage's entire being went colder than the ice surrounding them.
A certain sensation overwhelmed him. The sensation of approaching death was inches away.
Even though he could feel it from his soul, the Adept Mage was out of Mana and sustained far too many grave injuries. He was helpless to move in the slightest.
'Chi!'
A flash of silver glisten. Blood splashed everyone.
A silver magical sword seemingly appeared out of thin air to brutally tear straight through the Adept's Mage lung!
A wave of Mana from the magical sword released into the Adept Mage's body, completely suppressing him to the point of immobilization.
The Ice barrier completely shattered with the fall of the Adept Mage.
At this time, the other Middle Stage Mages couldn't even react to anything. The pain of the flames overwhelmed them. They didn't notice the frantic fire storm vanished along with the Ice barrier.
Within that instant, an invisible force slashed out three times in quick succession.
'Chi!'
Blood wildly splashed out. Three gaping holes were now in three of the Middle Stage Mages' chests. Their lungs were brutally pierced, and a wave of Mana was suppressing their bodies.
They all slumped into the ground in pure bewilderment.
It was finally at this time that the invisible person was forced to reveal themselves.
Ervin appeared before them all, forced to cancel his Complete Invisibility since he wanted to maintain a decent level of Mana reserve.
"Ah?!?" The last remaining Middle Stage Novice Mage shrieked in pure terror.
His body fiercely trembled, fear taking control of him from the pure carnage scenery all around him.
All in one instant, his entire team lay slumped on the ground, drowning in the pool of their own blood!
Nobody sensed when the fire had appeared or who was the one that silently took them down in single instances.
But it was finally now that Novice Mage matched his gazes into Ervin's calm, indifferent eyes.
He just committed manslaughter without a single ounce of hesitation and looked as if he had just taken a stroll through the park.