[Detecting evolution.]
[Requirements met.]
[Evolving Mana bolt to Zero-Point destruction.]
Dante looked at the new skill and nodded. He immediately understood the function. After all, he himself created the skill.
[Zero-Point destruction (Grade-8)]
The skill grade was also eight, similar to his hunter skill.
Dante rubbed his hands and ready to test the skill. Before his hand reached the tree, he stopped himself.
'I am sure, this will consume all my mana. I should test it after training with all my skill.' He nodded to himself.
Patting himself in the back for how smart he was, he concentrated on firing a mana bolt. He made a finger gun and aimed at the sky.
He closed his left eye for no reason and fired a small condensed mana. Then he brought the finger near his lips and blew the invisible smoke.
'It took about 2 seconds to create a mana bolt. That is if I don't use my skill.' Dante thought.
The faster he tried to fire, the weaker the mana bolt got. Dante fired a few bolts and nodded to himself. He was satisfied with this.
Nothing special in the bolt but if he had good enough aim, he should be able to take that apes group without taking damage.
He then grabbed his axe and started swinging it. There was no stance as he was not that proficient with weapons. What he wanted to achieve was to use the axe as an extension of his body.
'I am supposed to be Sage right? Why am I using a close combat weapon?' Dante sighed.
Dante frowned, working his mind in overdrive. He gave up and let out a long sigh.
'I will be like a sage. I will.' He chuckled.
Dante continued to train his axe until the sun disappeared into the horizon. He stopped and wiped the sweat. He walked back to the cave and took a good shower.
The water was cold as he didn't ask Thomas to warm it with fire mana. Well, that was what he wanted but he still cursed at himself.
He just wanted to cool down fast.
After changing his clothes, he wore the same long cloak. It cost him about 500 points for just a single cloak.
He bought it for one reason, a self- cleaning enchantment. Not self-repairment. That one cost about 4500 points. He swore that he would buy that kind of cloak one day.
He looked at the two friends.
Thomas was sitting under the tree, napping with a loud snore. It had become a habit for Thomas as he was the middle one for guarding the cave at night.
Julius on the other hand was for some odd reason, pouring mana into his sword. Dante tilted his head in confusion.
Focusing mana into his eyes, he realized what Julius was doing. He ignored him and went to the nearby tree.
He rubbed his hands and used his new Grade-8 skill.
He felt his body manipulated mana beyond what he was capable of. The process was automatic.
The mana was colourless in normal state. But what he gathered was a purple coloured mana.
It was shaped like a bubble, covering his entire hand. His eyes widened as the mana in his core decreased abnormally.
He quickly turned off the skill.
The decreasing mana reserve stopped.
Dante smirked and chuckled. He was wrong. He thought the skill would drain all his mana but it was the opposite.
The skill used very little mana. But the purple energy the skill created consumed his mana rapidly.
He exhaled a breath and attempted the skill again.
This time, he coated his right hand with a purple aura and struck the tree. He then pulled out his hand from the tree trunk and looked at the damage he made in confusion.
The crack in the tree was real. That was sure. But he could do this kind of damage without using the purple aura.
He opened his eyes and checked the layers of the tree he just struck.
"Huh?" He muttered, completely shocked by what he saw.
Every layer of the tree was damaged. Normally, the attack could only damage the physical layer of the world. Even mana couldn't be destroyed completely.
Dante clenched his fist and swallowed his saliva. He couldn't wait to test it on a monster.
With these two attempts, his mana reserve was now only one third left.
'The mana consumption was unbearable even if the attack damages everything.' Dante thought.
'Well, I will know it is worth it after testing on a monster.'
He grabbed his axe and used the remaining mana into Zero-Point destruction.
A purple aura came out his hand. He quickly guided the aura into the edge of his axe. With this attempt he was now left with zero mana.
'I can coat the aura into a weapon.' Dante noted down and swung the axe in the air.
The purple aura took shape into a crescent shape arc, flying in the air. It reached the nearest rock and split into half.
He nodded to himself and walked away from the tree. He entered the cave and ate tender meat.
After that, he went to sleep.
Tomorrow will be the raid. He was excited.
***
Dante washed his face with the cold water. He shivered as the wind passed through him.
He spat out water and looked up at the sky. The sky was covered in thick clouds, blocking the warm light.
"It is getting colder. As I thought, we are in winter." Dante muttered. "I wonder when the snow will fall."
He shook his head and walked away from the stream. He grabbed the grey cloak hanging on the tree and wore it. He also took the axe, resting on the tree.
He brought the axe to his shoulder and hummed a beat, walking to the cave.
"You are late, man." Thomas said, rolling his eyes.
"Sorry. Sorry. I got lost in thought." Dante gave a brief smile.
Julius wore the leather gloves he purchased at the shop. "Now, let's start the hunt."
Dante nodded and started walking to the village. The two friends followed.
Dante looked at Julius and asked. "So how is your skill? Did you get it?"
Julius fixed his sword and smirked. "Oh. You will see."
Thomas walked into the middle and sighed. "Man, I am so envious of you guys. I can't use my skills."
Dante patted Thomas's back. "But you got a really cool power."
"I won't lie. It is cool but… it is generic. I mean the four elements are basically used in every fantasy fiction." Thomas complained.
"I mean, that is just a bonus for you," said Julius.
"Explain?" Thomas said.
"You can use your power by following those examples. I mean creating original powers is hard, you know." Julius said.
"I see. I guess so. I already took inspiration from them." Thomas admitted.
Julius looked at Thomas and punched him lightly. "Damn you, I only managed to create one skill after all this time."
Dante chuckled. "You can ask me. I am a sage."
Julius glanced at Dante, slowly moving his head from head to toe. He then said in monotone. "I see."
Dante lifted up his hand, signalling his team to stop.
He climbed up the tallest tree and looked down at the village. He turned to Julius and was surprised by the smooth mana he emitted.
Julius's teleportation was now mastered. Usually before Julius used teleportation, he sensed a dense mana somewhere.
Dante smiled at his friend's progression.
"That is the village." He pointed at the distance.
Julius followed and nodded.
"We will raid the village and kill the boss monster."