Host: Alan Cecil
Hunting Level: 21
Strengthening Points: 1300
General Enhancements: [Physique Enhancement E], [Nerve Reflex Enhancement E], [Basic Magic Mastery E-]
Special Enhancements: [Fire Dragon Breath E], [Material Shuttle E], [Aura Cover E]
Exclusive Skills: Eye of Discrimination, Hand of God, Demon's Stomach
[Fire Dragon Breath] was the result of fusing two distinct breath types, each with different specialties. According to Allen's speculation, if he continued consuming the livers of different fire dragons, he could eventually develop a Fire Dragon Breath that incorporated the strengths of numerous breeds, akin to uniting the philosophies of a hundred schools.
Gazing at the skills displayed on the panel, Allen raised his hand and extended his finger. A small fireball ignited and shot out from his fingertip.
In the distance, a fox named Jon soared proudly through the air, completely unaware of the impending danger. The scorching fireball hit its mark—or rather, passed dangerously close to Jon—and slammed into a nearby wall.
"Boom!" A loud explosion echoed across the street as a sizable hole was blasted through the wall. The impact caused a brief panic in the area, as startled pedestrians scattered from the scene.
"Quack!" Black, Allen's familiar, let out a mocking caw.
Allen chuckled and waved his wand, casting a quick repair spell to prevent a bigger commotion. The damaged wall reversed through time, restoring itself seamlessly. It looked as though it had never been touched.
Jon, still fluttering erratically in mid-air and completely unaware of how close he had come to being roasted, caught Allen's eye. With a sigh, Allen used a transformation spell, turning the oversized enchanted fly swatter he had summoned earlier into a two-dimensional form before casually tossing it into a trash bin.
Due to a lack of training—and perhaps the unstable fusion of two fire dragon flames—this new ability was incredibly difficult to control. It would clearly take long-term, intensive practice to reliably aim it. Still, there was no doubt about its raw strength.
Allen hadn't even used his full power just now. If he had, it wouldn't have been a mere fireball—it would have been a massive pillar of flame, incinerating the entire wall rather than just denting it.
Of course, even if he had wanted to unleash his full strength, it would've been unsustainable. The mana cost of this ability was astronomical. He'd be drained in seconds.
Still, Allen had to admit, it was thanks to this very ability—[Fire Dragon Breath]—that his hunting level had skyrocketed to 21. And that was just at E-rank. Upgrading this special enhancement from E to D would require 500 strengthening points.
"A bit of a waste," Allen muttered to himself. "Even if I upgraded it, it'd be too difficult to control with my current level of mastery. Better to shelve it for now. I'll train more before trying again."
With that decision made, Allen turned his attention to the rest of his enhancements.
Both [Physique Enhancement] and [Nerve Reflex Enhancement] required 100 strengthening points each to upgrade from E to D-, a tenfold increase from the initial E-rank cost.
There was no need to deliberate. Allen immediately chose to upgrade both.
This time, the physical pain was significantly more intense. It felt as though thick veins were piercing through his skin. But Allen had braced himself for the sensation and didn't let it overwhelm him.
When the process ended, he felt it instantly—his body was now at least twice as strong as before. But it wasn't just muscle mass or raw stamina. The enhancement had strengthened his foundation—his cellular framework, his skeletal density, his internal organs. It felt as if the hidden "growth value" of his attributes had been permanently boosted.
Just like in RPGs where your attribute ceiling rises with every level-up or realm advancement, Allen's new physique was now something entirely different.
To push these enhancements from D- to D would now require a staggering 1,000 strengthening points each. As expected, the cost would increase by a factor of ten with each tier.
Allen wasn't concerned. He had prepared for this.
With the dual upgrades complete, his hunting level rose from 21 to 25. While that number might not seem like a huge leap, the real bulk of that power came from the volatile [Fire Dragon Breath]. Physical enhancements, though less dramatic on paper, were far more stable—and they laid the groundwork for future abilities.
Allen still had 1,100 strengthening points remaining.
He turned his attention to [Basic Magic Mastery], a general enhancement that was arguably more valuable than the others. As a foundation for magic power manipulation and talent, the skill was vital.
The cost to upgrade [Basic Magic Mastery] was significantly higher. It had taken 5 points just to unlock it initially. Now, advancing it to the next level would require 50 points—five times the cost of the physical enhancements.
But Allen didn't hesitate. He immediately upgraded it to D-level.
A wave of cool energy surged into his forehead. Allen winced as a deep, numbing chill crawled through his skull, as though his brain had been dipped in liquid nitrogen. The icy sensation lingered, torturing him for a full five minutes.
Then, just as he began to think the worst was over, his brain suddenly ignited with heat.
"F—! It's like a damn ice and fire sandwich!" Allen groaned, clutching his head as if he could squeeze the pain out.
It was now obvious to him that the extreme discomfort stemmed from performing two upgrades in rapid succession. Lesson learned—never again.
Luckily, the searing heat passed more quickly than the cold. The experience left him feeling dazed and drained, but strangely invigorated.
By the time Allen sat up from the bed where he had collapsed, his hunting level had risen again—from 25 to 31.
That number was significant. Level 31 was roughly the minimum required for an adult wizard to be considered capable of independent survival post-graduation. In other words, Allen was now strong enough to operate alone in the field.
Still, he had 550 strengthening points left.
His gaze fell on two newly acquired skills: [Aura Cover] and [Material Shuttle], both obtained from the Marten.
He hesitated for only a second before deciding to upgrade them both.
Compared to the physical and magical enhancements, the strengthening of special abilities was far less painful. In fact, it wasn't painful at all—more like slipping into a warm bath. A sense of healing and calm followed each enhancement.
[Aura Cover D-] didn't produce any immediately noticeable effects. Allen assumed its true value would only become clear in real combat situations.
[Material Shuttle D-], however, showed a dramatic improvement.
At E-level, the skill had allowed Allen to phase individual body parts through solid objects—for example, reaching through a locked box to retrieve its contents. But now, at D-, the ability had evolved.
It encompassed his entire body.
He tested it briefly by phasing entirely through a stone pillar in the training yard. The experience was surreal—his atoms momentarily out of sync with reality, allowing him to slip through the dense material without resistance.
This new power was not only useful—it could be lifesaving in combat.
"Looks like this one's going to be a game-changer," Allen murmured, smiling.
With most of his strengthening points used wisely and his level now significantly higher, Allen felt a renewed sense of confidence.
He wasn't at the top yet—but he was getting close.
And the road ahead? Full of monsters, mysteries, and maybe even more dragons.