The desolate seabed without water, with the mist constantly rising.
Amidst the mist, one can vaguely see fiery flames and swirling dust.
"Intruder, die!" A cold, mechanical voice came from within the mist.
Accompanying the voice were columns of water as thick as an adult’s fist.
These water columns pierced through the mist, slicing through the air with a sizzling roar. Their power was also formidable, with each water column reaching the pinnacle of a magic trick, with astonishing destructive power.
One of the water columns struck a piece of sedimentary rock on the seabed, which instantly shattered into fragments. It’s worth noting that these were made from oceanic sediment from millions of years ago, which had resisted erosion and sea beast collisions. Yet, this water column easily shattered it from within, a testament to its immense power.
"Whose alchemist creation is this hunk of metal? It’s so... extravagant!" Ferro looked at the oncoming water column, compelled to quickly change his position.
He had already faced off several times against the "hunk of metal" hidden within the mist and knew how terrifying the destructive power of these water columns could be. One or two were manageable, but the opponent was an untiring artificial creation, unleashing hundreds at once with considerable endurance.
Facing these water columns head-on was the stupidest thing to do.
Furthermore, since Ferro was a fire wizard, the water columns had an additional effect on him. So, instead of engaging the water columns in direct combat, Ferro rapidly moved, dodging while approaching the opponent.
However, since Ferro was not a bloodline wizard, relying solely on maneuverability to dodge was somewhat unrealistic. Around him burned eighteen clusters of refined flames, ready to become weapons in Ferro’s hands at any moment.
When it was too late to avoid a water column, Ferro could pluck a cluster of flame, quickly condensing it into a fire shield, with a speed comparable to instant casting in a witchcraft slot.
When water columns blocked his path towards the opponent, those refined flame clusters could transform into fire arrows, fire spears, or a barrage of fire, quickly activating to preemptively break and evaporate the water columns.
One could say that the fire clusters around Ferro combined offense and defense, and their replenishment speed was swift. In such small-scale battles, they were able to achieve an infinite energy cycle.
This is Ferro’s proudest self-created spell technique—Flame Charging, which he hoped would lead him to true knowledge.
With Flame Charging’s offensive and defensive capabilities, combined with Ferro’s exceptional evasion skills, he was closing in on the hunk of metal within the mist.
He could already hear the hissing of rapidly moving parts and the roaring of steam.
"Expel! Expel! Expel!" The mechanical voice from the mist grew more urgent, and giant water columns of significant volume locked onto Ferro’s position, rushing like a torrential stream.
These enormous water columns had reached the level of formal spell techniques, something Ferro did not dare withstand. He plucked a flame, this time directly merging it with his body, transforming the lower half of his body into roaring fire elements.
The fiery legs merged like the tail of a genie from a fairy tale, twisting at an incredible angle, almost skimming the water columns, spiraling towards the mist-cloaked target.
Breaking through the mist and sweeping away the white steam from fire evaporation, Ferro had already spotted his opponent.
It was a four-meter-tall silver head, with no body or legs, just a metallic robot head.
Its face was long, with facial features corresponding to those of humans but in bizarre shapes.
At this moment, the mechanical head was opening its abyss-like mouth, which was spewing the terrifying water columns.
Ferro had seen this mechanical head before, having battled it twice, and was quite familiar with its combat mechanism.
He didn’t blindly attack the mechanical head; instead, he focused his gaze on the base of the mechanical head.
It appeared to stand on the ground, but in reality, its neck was connected to a shimmering water ripple, floating on some kind of water ability.
The reason Ferro hadn’t gained any significant advantage in the previous encounters with the mechanical head was that it would retreat into the water ripple below when sensing trouble. When it reemerged, its energy for water columns was fully restored, leading to a tug-of-war battle.
Thanks to Ferro’s "Flame Charging," otherwise, he couldn’t have lasted.
But this time, Ferro wouldn’t be careless again. Since he knew the opponent hid behind the water ripple, he would destroy it!
Ferro’s eyes suddenly turned flame-colored, locking onto the light blue ripple below the mechanical head.
"Let’s see how you run this time!"
Ferro shouted in frustration, directly crushing eight fire clusters around him, leaving only two for backup and charging guidance.
The eight crushed fire clusters transformed into refined fire elements, flowing like liquid red light in Ferro’s palm.
Ferro didn’t try to shape these fire elements but pressed them directly onto the soft, coral-dried ground.
Flames conducted through the ground.
Before the mechanical head could react, a pillar of condensed flame rose directly from beneath it.
The high-temperature flame incinerated the light blue ripple entirely.
Seeing this, Ferro’s eyes gleamed with joy. Destroying that water ripple meant the hunk of metal couldn’t escape!
The flames continued to burn, scorching the metal of the mechanical head’s neck and chin black.
Sparks flickered above the mechanical head, indicating internal issues.
A bit more effort, and this thing would be left as scrap metal.
Ferro happily plucked another flame cluster, transforming it into a flame hand, pressing it down from above.
To Ferro, victory seemed within reach.
However, at that moment, behind the half-defeated mechanical head, a familiar water ripple suddenly appeared.
Ferro’s pupils shrank sharply: "No, it can’t be? There’s another ripple on its back?"
Before Ferro’s words faded, the mechanical head seemed to be pulled away, merging into the water ripple behind it, and then disappeared.
The air was left with only the sizzling of re-evaporated steam from the flames and Ferro’s helpless roar.
According to previous battles, Ferro knew that the hunk of metal would reappear soon.
Even if he found the laboratory door now, he couldn’t break it in the short term. So, the best course was to quickly fill up with fire again to deal with the upcoming battle – that was his experience.