Chapter 10: Skill Synthesis

As soon as Ethan stepped onto the first floor, a Fire Toad lunged at him ferociously as usual.

"Slice!" Ethan casually waved his sword, slicing the Toad in half.

With indifference, he continued deeper into the dungeon. These low-level Toads were no match for him now. He couldn't even extract skills from them; it would be a waste of limited Mana to cast [Skill Absorption] on such weak creatures with low chances.

After another round of grinding, Ethan reached the seventh floor—the floor that had been his bottleneck yesterday. But today was different. He had his Titanium Runic Sword with him. With its nearly 45 attack power, combined with his 17 points of strength, he wielded nearly 62 points of raw power.

Ethan's confidence soared. The Titanium Runic Sword was a game-changer. Its blade was inscribed with intricate runes that glowed faintly, promising enhanced damage and precision. The weight of the sword felt perfectly balanced in his hands, a seamless extension of his own strength.

The seventh floor, a labyrinth of molten rock and flickering shadows, stretched out before him. The oppressive heat and the distant roars of unseen creatures would have intimidated any lesser warrior. But Ethan was prepared.

With each step, he felt the power of his weapon thrumming through him. He was ready to face whatever came his way, determined to break through the barriers that had held him back yesterday. Today, he would conquer the seventh floor.

His passive skills were in effect, shielding him from the intense heat. While other hunters relied on fire affinity potions to endure these conditions, Ethan relied on his skills alone. Although some hunters used a similar method, they needed to be wealthy to do that.

The oppressive heat that radiated from the molten rock and the flickering shadows of the seventh floor had little impact on Ethan. Thanks to his passive skills, he remained cool and composed, his body adapting effortlessly to the harsh environment. The runes on his Titanium Runic Sword glowed brighter, resonating with the ambient energy of the dungeon.

"Croak!"

"Hiss!"

Ethan found himself confronted by two large creatures, a fire toad and a flame serpent. They moved in perfect sync, launching their breath attacks simultaneously.

He used [Fire Toad's Leap] to evade their onslaught, though the edges of the fiery blasts still singed him. Their power was unmistakable, far greater than the lesser creatures he had faced before. His passive skills shielded him from the worst of the heat, but he could still feel the sting of their combined assault.

Gritting his teeth, Ethan sprang into action. He exhaled [Fire Serpent's Breath], creating a fiery barrier that momentarily separated the two creatures. Seizing the opportunity, he landed beside the Fire Toad, his Titanium Runic Sword ready.

"Slice!"

With a swift, decisive motion, he severed the Fire Toad's head. Dark green blood gushed from the wound, pooling around the lifeless body in a sickening mess.

"Hiss!" The flame serpent, enraged by the death of its companion, charged at Ethan with bared fangs.

Ethan sidestepped its lunge, narrowly avoiding its snapping jaws. Using the momentum of his dodge, he brought his sword down in a powerful arc.

The serpent reared back, its scales shimmering in the fiery light. Ethan pressed his advantage, delivering a series of precise strikes that chipped away at its defenses. The serpent hissed in fury, its movements becoming more erratic as it tried to retaliate.

Finally, with one last powerful swing, Ethan cleaved through its neck, ending the battle. The serpent's body thrashed violently before collapsing in a heap.

Panting, Ethan surveyed the scene, cautious of any other creatures that might be lurking in the shadows. The seventh floor was not a place to let his guard down. He approached the two dead bodies, eager to use [Skill Absorption] on them. Silently, he prayed, "Please give me good skills this time."

[ Ding ]

[ Congratulations! Your Skill Absorption was successful ]

[ You have acquired another existing skill: Fire Toad's Leap (F) ]

[ Ding ]

[ Congratulations! Your Skill Absorption was successful ]

[ You have acquired another existing skill: Flame Serpent's Breath (F) ]

"Hm, I got another existing skill. Looks like it's finally time to try Skill Synthesis. The skills I gathered should be enough!" Ethan muttered, excited to start the process.

He quickly checked the description of the [ Universal Synthesis ] skill to make sure.

[ Universal Synthesis: This unique ultimate skill allows the user to merge two or more types of matter, energies, or any form of data, including their quintessential forms, to create an evolved version with unique characteristics and effects. The result is often a new entity or force that exhibits enhanced capabilities, unparalleled power, and diverse applications, making the wielder of this skill a master of transformation and creation ]