CH 9 Would You Like To Subscribe To Our Rare-rank Plan? Subscribe Now For Only 99 Stat Points

Ren immediately meditated, converting all EXP he got from killing Hushclaws into Stat points.

[EXP: 5,240 → 40]

[Stat: 0 → 52]

Ren used Stat points on Wind Element.

[Wind Element Level 1 → Wind Element Level 2]

[Wind Element Level 2 → Wind Element Level 3]

[Wind Element Level 3 → Wind Element Level 4]

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[Wind Element Level 9 → Wind Element Level 10] (MAX)

[Wind Element has reached MAX level. Please upgrade the Element Rank from Normal to Rare to continue leveling up.]

[Do you wish to upgrade Wind Element to the next Rank? Cost: 99 stat points.]

He ignored the rank up prompt.

Wind, give me a spell that allows us to breathe, he spoke internally, forcing clarity through the suffocating pressure.

Breath? Why bother with that? He should ask for a Spell that will let him cut through steel! For spell that will allow him to fly freely—

Wind! Just give me what I asked for, he interrupted.

Although Ren could’ve increased his Constitution, and it might’ve allowed him to survive the salt mound’s weight, he didn’t do that. Holding the salt mound was useless. He would still die from lack of air.

A Spell that will let him breathe? He didn’t have enough stats for it, the answer came back.

…what? I just maxed out the Normal-rank Wind Element. Are you telling me something as basic as breathing needs Rare-rank? Ren asked.

Nope. Even Rare-rank wouldn’t be enough. A Spell that creates permanent aftereffects is beyond what he could reach anytime soon! the Wind Element relayed cheerfully.

Ren gritted his teeth. He had expected this. That was why he had maxed Wind Element first. At Level 10, it could relay far more internal knowledge than at Level 1. It could tell him what was feasible and what was fantasy.

But…

This is not enough.

Freya’s breath was thinning out.

Ren checked his remaining stats.

[Stats: 7]

Seven points.

Not much.

He shut his eyes and forced himself to calm down. Panic would only waste what little time they had.

Think. What can I actually do?

He could still feel the source of the “gaze” outside the salt mound. Escaping right now was impossible. But staying buried without solving the air problem meant Freya would eventually suffocate, followed by him.

Ren’s thoughts raced at lightning speed, and—

I can feel where the gaze is.

It had direction where it was coming from. Which meant there were directions it was “not” coming from. Additionally, invisible things could not be turned into salt. The Hushclaws had proven that. Ren had shut down Mana Zone earlier out of fear that the decapitated woman might sense it. But she had never reacted to invisible Hushclaws. As long as she did not directly enter the area of his Mana Zone, she likely would not detect it.

He made a decision.

Wind, I need a Spell that releases a focused stream of wind in any direction I want. Something that can push, or drill through things. Or amplify flames and allow them to fly farther and faster, he called internally.

That’s a lot for one spell. It will consume three unused levels of Wind element. Does he still want it?

Yes, he answered.

There was no room for hesitation.

[Wind Surge Spell learned.]
[Wind Surge]
[Rank: Normal]
[Level 1]
[Description: Releases a focused stream of compressed wind in a chosen direction. Base range: 12 meters. The current can push light targets, deflect minor projectiles, and amplify flames by feeding them oxygen and momentum. When combined with Fire-type spells, flame spread and burn intensity increase significantly, allowing fire to travel farther and expand in size.]

Good, Ren thought. He still had six unused levels in Wind Element for later.

He concentrated on the direction of the gaze. It was coming from slightly to their right.

He reshaped Mana Zone from a dome into an elongated tube extending upward and left, away from the source of the gaze. Its maximum length was still ten meters, whether dome or line. At the end of that tube, he formed a Fire Bullet.

“FIIIIREWWOOOOOOOKK!”

The voice sharpened immediately. The gaze shifted. Ren felt the pressure slide away from their hiding place and lock onto the Fire Bullet. Before it could turn to salt, he activated Wind Surge beside it. The flame expanded violently, fed by compressed wind. It shot forward, brighter and faster than before.

“FIIIIREEEEWOOOOOORKSSS. PREEEEEEEETTYYYY.”

The voice followed the blazing arc into the distance.

Ren did not dare fire another Fire Bullet, knowing it would end up calling the “thing” back. At this point, calling it a “woman” felt wrong. Calling it a monster felt insufficient. That’s why it was a “thing.”

As soon as the “thing” moved far enough away, Ren used Wind Surge again. He used the focused stream of compressed wind to drill a tiny hole through the salt mound. He did it slowly to not make any sound. The hole began to form but it collapsed as soon as it was completed. He had to use the spell multiple times to make a hole that did not collapse.

Instantly, fresh air entered through the hole. Freya inhaled sharply. The air was still not enough. The hole was small. But it was enough for Freya to continue breathing.

“Th… thank you…” Freya said, barely maintaining consciousness.

Ren nodded, though he doubted she could see him in the darkness.

The two of them stayed like that for the whole night, not daring to move or leave the salt mound, fearing the “thing” might come back. Or maybe it came back long ago. They could not sense it outside, but that was not enough to guarantee safety, not after it showed it could move around the Salt Sea region when everything had been hinting otherwise.

Freya meditated, converting the EXP she had gained into stats for Constitution. It wasn’t enough, but it had to do.

Ren still did not understand how the “thing” moved from the center of the Salt Sea region to their location without causing tremors or roaring winds. His thoughts raced, trying to make sense of the situation.

In the morning, the two of them made the decision to come out of the salt mound by digging through it.

Is it still outside? It really left at night, right? Ren and Freya had the same grim thoughts.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Even though it was dangerous, they had to come out. Freya was completely exhausted, and it was impossible for her to hold the salt mound any longer. They collapsed onto the surface as soon as they saw the “thing” was not waiting for them.

Freya lay on her back and started laughing softly.

Ren smiled.

“We’re alive,” he said quietly.

“Yeah,” she replied, still staring at the pale sky. “Somehow.”

They rested for only a few minutes before pushing themselves up. They could rest later. For now, they needed to leave the Salt Sea region quickly, before something happened again.

They moved toward what Freya said was the border.

Ren used his accumulated stat points.

[You have leveled up. Strength +1, Agility +1, Constitution +1, Mana +4]

His updated Status appeared.

[Name: Ren Buttowski (Level 6)]
[Class: Mage]
[Elements: Wind, Water, Earth, Fire]
[Spells: Wind Surge, Mana Zone, Wind Bullet, Water Bullet, Earth Bullet, Fire Bullet]
[Talent: Heir of Demonic Magic]
[Strength: 9 / Agility: 11 / Constitution: 11 / Mana: 0 (sealed)]
[Free Stats: 2]
[EXP: 40]

He still had unused six levels in Wind Element. He wondered what kind of spell he should get. Something defensive? A barrier made of compressed wind could deflect attacks. That would be useful, especially against ranged threats. Something that concealed presence? Wind could distort sound or scatter scent, which would make it easier to avoid monsters like the Hushclaws. Or something that allowed him to move faster? A spell like that would solve a lot of problems.

The two of them continued walking through the salt plains. They encountered no Hushclaws along the way. It seemed the entire region had fallen into fearful silence and hid away after the [thing’s] movement last night.

Even the wind felt quieter.

Ren did not relax because of that. If anything, the absence of danger made him more cautious.

By afternoon, the endless salt formations began thinning. The white landscape slowly changed as they walked. The towering mounds became smaller and more scattered, and the ground beneath their feet gradually shifted from hard white salt to patches of darker soil.

Far ahead, Ren could see a darker line stretching across the horizon.