The efficacy of this Max spell lies in its ability to amplify power output.
If a person's strength is one hundred but they can only unleash five at a time, facing an opponent with a mere twenty, who can wield their full power with each attack, would undoubtedly lead to a humiliating and disgraceful defeat.
Yet, this is an unavoidable reality; regardless of one's total strength, the decisive factor in combat effectiveness is the limit of output during each strike. My unnamed martial arts technique has already accumulated a considerable reservoir of internal energy, yet I can only employ a mere ten points with each action.
The power of Platinum Glory operates similarly, as each time I launch a holy light orb, I can only utilize a few points of holy energy. To enhance the potency of the holy light orb, I must fire dozens in a single breath, trading quantity for power.
Initially, I did not perceive anything amiss with this approach, but this Max spell has unveiled a new path before me, revealing a broad highway I had never imagined.
As I attempted to elevate the power input from Platinum Glory to one hundred points, the holy light orb forming in my palm surged with such intensity that it astonished even me. Though its size remained relatively unchanged, the energy it contained multiplied more than twentyfold. Just as I was about to launch this orb, a thought struck me, prompting me to retract much of the power and reduce its potency tenfold before directing it towards the swamp dragon we were besieging.
As anticipated, the orb's force inflicted significant damage on the rugged hide of the swamp dragon, ripping away a large patch of flesh from its rear, eliciting a furious roar from the creature.
Fortunately, this subtle adjustment in power went unnoticed by Jack and the Wolf King.
I felt a surge of joy within, yet maintained an impassive expression. On this treacherous island, I have learned to control my emotions, keeping a blank façade amidst this unreliable crew.
Despite the simplicity of this Max spell I stumbled upon, it has exponentially enhanced my offensive capabilities, igniting a burgeoning interest in magic within me. I mused, "If only I could find a book documenting these spells, I might very well become a mage."
However, the spellbooks at the auction house on Demon Island are astonishingly expensive, far beyond my means, so I quickly quashed that thought.
Divided into two groups with Snook, we had spent over ten arduous hours, managing to vanquish five swamp dragons. Each of us was utterly exhausted, and our ammunition was nearly depleted.
Reluctantly, we withdrew from the swamp dragon's territory and returned to the Demon Island Grand Hotel. Today's battle proved more grueling than we had anticipated; having defeated just five swamp dragons, we had consumed nearly ninety percent of our ammunition reserves. The Wolf King and Jack were nearly out of combat capability, while Baijing Zhenfu fared slightly better, though commanding his long knife, Guyue, was considerably draining, leaving him in a worse state than the Wolf King.
When our aircraft touched down in front of the hotel, the Wolf King wasted no time, exclaiming, "I need to eat a hearty meal and get some rest to regain my strength! See you all in the morning!"
Snook's group was not much better off; only the bullets and I exchanged a nod and a strained smile. After a full day of shooting, the intensity was greater than we had imagined. Once we disbanded, I immediately returned to my room and collapsed into a deep sleep, too fatigued even to practice.
When I awoke, my demonic assistant, Juliere, had thoughtfully ordered food for me. I devoured the meal ravenously, glancing out the window to discover it was only midnight. I abandoned any thoughts of seeking out the Wolf King and instead began to silently circulate my unnamed martial arts technique, aiming to replenish my energy after the day's battles.
With both the unnamed martial arts technique and Platinum Glory entering their second tier, I gained numerous unforeseen benefits. At the very least, my restorative capabilities were greatly enhanced, allowing me to endure combat for longer periods by simply maintaining the right rhythm.
I had expended excessive energy today while testing that spell I had pieced together by chance, but after a few hours of sleep, I had recovered about seventy to eighty percent of my true energy. Now, I aimed to convert that energy into the power of Platinum Glory.
Juliere sat beside me, cupping her cheeks with a cheerful smile, seemingly lost in her thoughts. When I emerged from my meditative state, she suddenly spoke, "I've stayed at the hotel long enough; can I accompany you on your next expedition?"
I paused for a moment, hesitating at Juliere's request. The Wolf King and his crew had mercilessly slain even demonic maidens. Though I was confident in my ability to protect Juliere, I still felt it was unwise to have this charming little demon flit about in front of such ruthless individuals.
"Rest assured, I'll remain in the Demon Book, and I believe you might not have many more opportunities to return to the Demon Island Grand Hotel. If I lose you, it would be quite disastrous!"
Juliere's ability to read minds spared me the need for further explanation, yet I was intrigued by her insights. I wanted to inquire why she believed I wouldn't return to the hotel, but before I could, Juliere seriously stated, "As your demonic commentator and assistant, I have a piece of advice: you've acquired a vast array of knowledge, and if you don't choose a primary focus, your progress in power enhancement will suffer greatly."
"But everything I've learned is interconnected; I can't possibly discard any aspect! Without the unnamed martial arts technique, I wouldn't be able to wield Platinum Glory, and without Platinum Glory, my alchemy would amount to nothing. Lacking those two abilities would drastically diminish my combat strength, and that would only lead to greater trouble."
Juliere shook her head, saying, "That's not what I mean, but you'll understand soon enough."
The little demon winked at me, then waved her hand, and a radiant light fell, vanishing before my eyes.
"Hey, hey, where are you going? There's more to discuss!"
"I'm not leaving; I'm currently within your Demon Book. You can ask me anything whenever you have questions—just think it in your mind; there's no need to speak it aloud."