Chapter 3: Joining the Patrol Team, Beginning the Monster-Hunting Journey
The Awakening Ceremony continued in an orderly fashion. Taking advantage of this brief free time, Xu Fan reopened his game-like system interface to analyze the changes.
The moment his Metal Element and Water Element awakened, his system panel underwent a noticeable transformation.
His magic damage had multiplied several times, and even his mana value had increased significantly.
Xu Fan recalled the game mechanics he was familiar with. Since this world's magic system seemed to follow game logic, attribute allocation would naturally exist.
Every time Xu Fan leveled up, he could feel his body strengthening, so he deduced that each level granted +1 to all attributes.
In addition, the game system must have been giving him a few free attribute points per level—points he could assign to the five elemental stats: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, each enhancing a different aspect of his combat power.
Metal: magic damage + mana
Wood: stamina + constitution
Water: defense
Fire: speed (affecting casting speed and cooldowns)
Earth: physical attack (synergizing with Wood and Water to enhance physical strength)
If his physical stats grew stronger, perhaps close-combat monster fighting wouldn't be just a fantasy.
However, Xu Fan had never sensed free attribute points in all these years. Instead, the moment his elements awakened today, his stats immediately shifted.
So he conjectured that:
Each additional awakened magic element grants four free attribute points per level, automatically assigned to that element's corresponding stat.
This perfectly explained why his magic damage had spiked and why defensive stats suddenly appeared on his panel.
"Level twenty already, yet both of my elements only have one spell each.
At level twenty-five, I should get my second offensive spell," Xu Fan murmured.
"And once I reach level thirty, I should unlock support spells. Metal boosts attack, Water boosts defense… at level thirty, I might even be able to fight a slightly weaker High-level Mage!"
His gaze shifted to the two lone skill icons on his panel. Instinctively, he felt that he didn't need practice—just a thought, a mental click—would be enough to cast a spell.
But real proficiency required repeated attempts. If he was going to fight monsters, he needed to understand the full extent of his own power.
"Whoa! Someone in the class next door awakened the Lightning Element!"
A chorus of gasps echoed through the classroom. Even their homeroom teacher couldn't resist and rushed outside.
Xu Fan opened his eyes. On the stage, the last student in line—Mo Fan—was currently awakening, and a dazzling violet glow enveloped him.
"Lightning Element, huh? I'll probably need to awaken Earth before getting something similar."
Xu Fan wasn't surprised. When his Earth Element awakened in the future, perhaps both Earth and Lightning Star Clouds would resonate.
The violet glow faded, replaced by a fiery red light — the Fire Element.
By then, the class next door had also ended their awakening, and everyone only saw Mo Fan's Fire Element.
"Xu Fan, someone next door awakened Lightning Element! Even Xiao Hou ran off to see it. Why didn't you go?"
Mo Fan hurried over nervously. The moment he opened his eyes, he caught Xu Fan's knowing smile and instantly realized Xu Fan must've noticed his Lightning Element.
"For Xiao Hou, it's the one and only Lightning Element in the whole school. Of course he'd go look."
Xu Fan lightly patted Mo Fan's shoulder. He wasn't worried—Mo Fan's secret was safe. Besides, Xu Fan himself had a far bigger secret to hide.
"Sigh… why did I awaken Wind Element? Lightning Element would've been so cool."
Zhang Xiaohou's envy was obvious.
"Hehe, you awakened Wind, be satisfied. It's better than your Brother Fan awakening Light Element!"
Zhao Kunsan jeered. Since Mo Fan had awakened Fire, he no longer dared to tease him—so he chose Xu Fan as the easier target.
Zhang Xiaohou and Mo Fan paused, glancing at Xu Fan first. Only when they saw no frustration on his face did they relax.
"Don't worry about me. Awakening any magic is the same for me."
Xu Fan opened his eyes, ending his meditation. While practicing control over his Star Particles, his system had even issued experience notifications.
"Tch, stubborn as a duck!"
Zhao Kunsan snorted, but seeing Mo Fan and Zhang Xiaohou's glare, he quickly retreated behind Mu Bai for protection.
Now undisturbed, Xu Fan finally focused on manipulating Star Particles. And perhaps because his true cultivation was already at the Intermediate Level, he managed to control five Star Particles in just half a day.
"Xu Fan? Are you still going to Darunfa to gut fish?"
After school, Mo Fan asked curiously as Xu Fan walked out.
"No. I've found a new way to make money."
Xu Fan didn't look back. He simply waved and left. Mo Fan scratched his head, unable to tell if Xu Fan was upset because he awakened Lightning.
He didn't dwell on it and hurried home to practice Star Particles. As a natural dual-element mage, he wanted to secretly grow stronger and amaze everyone later.
After leaving home, Xu Fan boarded a bus. He bought a coat in the east market, a mask in the west, sunglasses in the south, and gloves in the north.
By the time he finished circling Bo City, he had a full disguise ready.
"City Hunter Team, here I come. I hope those monsters give me lots of experience."
Night fell as Xu Fan headed toward the Hunter Union.
The hall bustled with activity. Xu Fan didn't immediately join a random squad. He carefully observed groups one by one.
He intended to join as a "mutated mage," so ensuring safety was his top concern. Getting kidnapped for experimentation was not on his agenda.
After evaluating several teams, he set his sights on one where all members were in their twenties and thirties. The captain looked honest and reliable, and the vice-captain seemed sharp and competent.
They happened to lack a main attacker. Though they preferred a Lightning or Fire Mage, no suitable candidate had applied.
Decision made, Xu Fan approached the recruitment desk.
"Good news—there's a Lightning Element mage who wants to join our team!"