Alan was lucky.
The instructor had applied for a spot for him.
It was approved three days later.
This journey was destined to be extremely dangerous!
If you're not strong enough and encounter a high-level beastman, you're doomed!
The previous investigation team that lost contact was a lesson for us!
The investigation team will depart next Monday.
With two days left, Alan had to prepare carefully.
He didn't want to be cannon fodder.
Besides the Phantom Step, he needed at least one life-saving trump card!
In Pansen's martial arts gym, the training room for his disciples.
Alan stood in front of the stone tablet.
He mobilized his magic power, infusing his palms.
Bang! !
With one palm strike, the stone tablet collapsed!
Half of the stone tablet was shattered into dust.
Explosive Palm, minor success!
The two male and female woad hearts gave him two points of potential.
Now, Allen used these two points to fuse his skills!
System deduction, calculations...
Drip—
The formula for martial arts fusion was derived:
Bone-penetrating Strength + Explosive Palm + 2 points of potential = Level 2 martial arts (unnamed)
After a moment's hesitation, Allen named it "Bone-penetrating Explosion."
…
Bone-penetrating Explosion (Level 2): Consumes 6 mana points; applies force close to the target, exploding internally, with twice the destructive power of "Explosive Palm." Adds "Armor-piercing" and "Crushing" special effects.
…
Alan channeled his magic power, ready to test his newly synthesized skills.
Slowly raising his palms.
His palms swelled slightly.
Blood, brimming with magical energy, stirred beneath his skin.
Alan could feel it.
His own swollen, hot palms...
They held a destructive force like dynamite!
He had to release it quickly to feel better!
So he stood up.
He walked towards the stone tablet.
A marble tablet?
Alan shook his head slightly.
Marble, too fragile.
"Exploding Palm" could destroy it.
He couldn't test the limits of "Bone-Piercing Explosion."
Alan continued forward.
He reached a granite tombstone.
The granite's hardness was perfect for testing his skills.
Alan extended his palms, striking left and right!
He suddenly swung his arms, his muscles flexing like whips, like a python!
Whoosh—bang!
He slapped the tombstone with both palms simultaneously, unleashing "Bone-Piercing Explosion"!
With a roar, the tombstone exploded!
The hard granite shattered to the ground.
The particles were as fine as flour.
Alan nodded gently.
In his first practice of "Bone-Piercing Explosion," the destructive power was equivalent to the "Explosive Palm" at its peak!
And this was just "Explosion."
"Bone-Piercing" had yet to be tested.
Alan found a bundle of tanned leather.
He wrapped another granite stele with three layers of cowhide, tying it securely.
It looked like a stone figure clad in thick leather armor.
He channeled his magic power, pouring it into his palm.
He suddenly clenched his fist, and the air in his palm exploded!
This time, Allen delivered a "Bone-Piercing Explosion" with a jab!
Swish!
The punch flew out, lightning-fast.
Puff!
With a dull thud, the concave fist mark nearly pierced through three layers of cowhide!
The stone tablet supporting the cowhide collapsed.
Alan retracted his fist and slowly exhaled.
Granite dust drifted in the wind.
Dispersed in the air, transforming into a hazy cloud of dust.
Alan untied the three layers of cowhide and took a closer look.
Half of the granite tablet had been reduced to dust.
This was the true power of "Bone-Piercing Explosion"!
A perfect fusion of the penetrating power of "Bone-Piercing Force" and the destructive power of "Exploding Palm."
With one punch, the dual effects of "armor-piercing" and "shattering" erupted simultaneously.
It was like a bomb exploding inside the enemy's body!
Alan took the opportunity to practice his newly awakened spell.
"Rávé!"
He chanted the incantation symbolizing "noise," raised his hand, and unleashed a roaring shockwave.
The deafening noise, like the sound of thunder, echoed for a long time over the stadium.
Even Alan himself felt a buzzing in his ears, and a moment of daze.
The half of the granite monument opposite was sent flying by this "thunder wave," tumbling on the ground and finally crashing into the corner of the wall.
Alan stepped forward to investigate.
The surface of the monument was covered in cracks, like a crisp biscuit.
A light kick and it collapsed silently.
Transformed into rubble.
1st-level spell, "Thunder Wave."
In terms of pure destructive power, even with the bonus damage to brittle rock, it's still inferior to "Bone Burst."
However, this spell's damage range is much wider than "Bone Burst."
A 5-meter-radius spherical explosion centered on the player, indiscriminately bombarding the enemy!
Perfect for blasting a path of escape when surrounded by enemies.
Ding Ding—
The system prompt came suddenly.
"Spend 3 potential points to fuse 'Thunder Wave' and 'Bone Burst' to develop a new martial art?"
Alan was secretly surprised!
Magic and martial arts can be merged?!
After checking, the system provided an explanation.
Magical martial arts that consume mana can indeed be merged with magic.
The new martial art created by the fusion of the two inherits the characteristics of both, and eliminates the need for spells and hand gestures, making it much easier and faster to activate!
'Bone-piercing Explosion' is already powerful.
'Add to that 'Thunder Wave'...
Alan was certain that the fusion of the two would be a Tier 3 martial art, likely capable of wide-area damage!
The problem is...
The fusion requires three potential points.
Where would he get so much potential?!
Alan chuckled bitterly.
For the past six months, he'd been searching for exotic ingredients.
He'd tried many novel foods, but unfortunately, the results were minimal.
Things like this can't be rushed.
He could only rely on luck.
...
Night fell.
A rustling sounded outside the window.
It was raining.
Dense lines of rain were blown sideways by the wind.
They drifted through the open window of the dojo dormitory, soaking the floor.
Alan stood up to close the window and stumbled upon a familiar figure.
In the dojo courtyard.
A lone figure walked in through the rain.
Alan opened the door and welcomed Senior Sister Tanya into the house.
He handed her a cup of hot tea.
And a dry towel.
Tanya sipped the tea to warm her soaked body.
Just as she reached for the towel…
Alan suddenly remembered something and pulled it back.
Tanya looked at him in confusion.
"Carir!"
Alan snapped his fingers and cast a spell on Senior Sister Tanya.
"Water Control," evaporation mode!
Instantly drying Senior Sister Tanya's wet clothes. Tanya forced a smile. Her face remained gloomy, like the dark clouds outside the window. "Sister, are you worried?"
"I'm fine. It's you who's worried..."
"I haven't been in any trouble lately, have I?"
"It's not your fault that trouble has come." Alan felt something was amiss as he listened.
He couldn't help but ask Tanya, "Sister, just tell me straight. What happened?" Tanya sighed and said quietly, "There are actually some...unspeakable secrets regarding the investigation mission on Magic Stone Island."
"Originally, this position belonged to a young master of the Ganesha family."
"His name is Marvin. He's the eldest son of Vice Dean Ganesha and is highly regarded by the family."
"Marvin," he said, "is the eldest son of Vice Dean Ganesha and is highly regarded by the family
" I have a half-sister named Nora."
"Unfortunately, Nora got pregnant unexpectedly not long ago."
"Nora is... too young, and needs the care of her family."
"Marvin loves his sister very much... and the baby she's carrying."
"So, he has to stay by his side and take good care of her."
"As a result, Marvin can't spare time to join the investigation team to Magic Stone Island, so he has to give his spot to someone else."
"Junior brother, in fact, you got your spot by accident."
"But the problem is..."
Tanya raised her head and gazed into Alan's eyes.
"Junior brother, do you believe in free lunch?"
Alan understood immediately.
"Senior sister, you mean... that the pie someone gives me now might be taken back in the future."
Tanya nodded gently.
"We must first find someone to take over Marvin's mission."
"If the mission of suppressing the cult is successfully completed and Nora gives birth successfully, we can discuss future matters... later."
"For the sake of negotiation, it's best if the person working for Marvin and his sister is a family member. They're obedient and secretive, making them easier to manage."
"Direct descendants of the Ganesha family don't like to do dirty work."
"Then the family's collateral branches and vassals will have to step up and provide the necessary services."
Tanya sighed again, appearing exhausted.
"My dad doesn't know these inside stories, and he's certainly not trying to trick you."
"But I do."
"After all, I'm a potential stock."
"The Marvins dared to lie to my dad, but they wouldn't dare lie to me."
"Since I know these inside stories, I have to tell you straight."
"If you don't want to be used as a tool, tell me straight too."
Alan nodded, lost in thought.
Tanya watched him silently from the side, her eyes gentle.
As if she had infinite patience, waiting for him to make his own decision.
Alan finally broke the silence.
"Sister, if I don't go, who will?"
"Tuffman and I, one of us has to go."
"I understand." Alan sighed. "Sister, I'll go."
"Actually..." Tanya's face showed reluctance.
"Stop talking!" Allen interrupted her. "Senior Sister, I volunteered."
Tanya forced a smile, lowering her head to avoid Allen's gaze.
"Marvin is... actually quite good. He won't treat you unfairly after this is accomplished."
Alan wanted to laugh, but couldn't.
A silent sadness lingered in his heart.
There were some things Senior Sister wouldn't say.
That didn't mean he couldn't see it.
It was common knowledge that the Pansen family was a vassal of the Ganesha family.
Senior Sister's talent had long been valued by the Ganesha family.
Her future fate was already determined.
To put it bluntly, Tanya was a female version of Angel.
Angel's current awkward position within the Randolph family foreshadowed Tanya's future.
Under normal circumstances, she would have married into the Ganesha family in a few years.
Her husband would most likely be Marvin.
Tanya would have become a glamorous, wealthy wife.
She would have contributed her excellent genes to enrich and perpetuate the Ganesha family's warlock bloodline.
That was all.
However, things had changed.
Marvin and Nora's relationship was not uncommon among warlock families; it was a semi-public secret.
Another woman might have chosen to turn a blind eye and pretend not to know.
However, Tanya wasn't the type to let go.
Furthermore, the age gap between the siblings was considerable.
When Alan heard her senior sister reveal Nora's age, he could hardly believe it.
Even Allen, who considered himself to have low moral standards and occasionally sold himself to wealthy women, felt...
This was simply beyond human moral control!
How could anyone with even a shred of conscience do such a thing!
With Senior Sister's strong character, could she swallow her anger, compromise herself, and accept an engagement destined for no happiness?
Alan didn't know.
He simply clenched his fists silently.
He gritted his teeth.
He desperately wanted to become stronger.
Become stronger as quickly as possible!
Until he was able to protect those around him.
Including Senior Sister Tanya.
Never let her suffer even a little injustice!