The Last Place Hero's Return-Chapter 57: Midterm Evaluation (2)

Chapter 57: Midterm Evaluation (2)
Back in my dorm room, I sat cross-legged on the bed. Normally, this would be the time I headed to the training grounds to work up a sweat swinging my sword, but I didn’t need to be there when it came to practicing the new technique I was currently focused on.
I slowly inhaled and closed my eyes. “Alright then.”
Darkness descended on my vision. In a world filled with nothing but blackness, a massive flame roared to life. It was a flame that was said to have burned the Tree of Creation in the distant past—the Primordial Flame. The flame blazed as though it could consume the entire world. However, it was not real, but forged from the shape of the mind, an image brought to life in the mindscape.
I wandered this inner world, gazing into the fierce, burning fire.
Then I reached out toward the raging flame, commanding it:
Ignite.
As always, the Primordial Flame didn’t so much as flicker.
I had expected this. The real challenge began now.
Ever since the battle with Astaroth, I had been sacrificing sleep each night to study how to control this flame. Through relentless trial and error, I had discovered two key characteristics.
The first was that the Primordial Flame responded to my death only at roughly five- to six-hour intervals
.
I had suspected this much during mana training. The second, and the far more important one, was that for about five minutes after it reacted, if I issued a command with enough willpower, I could control it
.
It was like fishing, with death as the bait and willpower as the rod to hook the flame. Of course, that was way easier said than done.
I clicked my tongue and refocused.
Exhaling deeply, I formed a Mana Bullet inside my body.
Smaller than a grain of rice, it coursed through my energy pathways and condensed inside my heart. Then, with a bang, it detonated, and my heart burst. For an ordinary person, this would’ve been instantly fatal. However, the Blessing of Resurrection activated for me, rapidly repairing the shredded heart tissue.
Just a moment before it was fully healed, however, the Primordial Flame stirred in response to my “death.”
Now!
I shouted at myself.
Stretching my hand toward the raging fire, I commanded it with fierce determination, “Ignite.”
The flame that had always ignored me moved, and a tiny flicker danced above my palm. I brought the trembling ember to my chest. That tiny spark, no bigger than a candle flame, flared as it touched my heart, burning more fiercely.
It was working. The fire spread, wrapping around my entire body. I opened my eyes and sat up in bed. The sound of flesh burning filled the air as ash-gray smoke leaked out with my exhale and oozed from every pore across my body.
The sensation I felt right now was unlike the overwhelming energy surge I had experienced during the Incarnation state in the battle against Astaroth. This time, my mana was recovering. I could feel it, the mana slowly refilling the soul stigmata within me. I clenched my fist and let out a triumphant shout, “Yes! That’s the way!”
Ash trickled down between my fingers like grains of sand. The sensation of the once-untouchable Primordial Flame now moving at my command sent shivers down my spine, and it was an indescribable thrill.
You’re finally listening to me, you stubborn bastard!
But then, I glanced down at my body, where pale ash continued to drift upward. “Well, it’s still a far cry from the Incarnation state.”
During my battle with Astaroth, flames had engulfed my entire body, unleashing a whirlwind of ash around me. In comparison, this was barely a wisp of smoke rising from dying embers. Still, the fact that it moved at all was enough to show that it had progressed. Compared to the days when the flame ignored me entirely, this was a major leap forward.
Since I had confirmed the flame automatically regenerated my mana, it was time to test the next effect. I drew my sword and slowly channeled mana into it. Like oil catching fire, flames licked up along the blade. It wasn’t the overwhelming inferno of the Incarnation state, but even this restrained fire exuded raw, intimidating power.
The Primordial Flame’s power had fused with my mana. There was no need to consciously control the flame; simply channeling mana like I normally did was enough to manifest its power.
I thought,
I can’t gauge its full strength while indoors, but...
As that fight with Astaroth came back to my mind, I knew this mana, infused with the Primordial Flame, was no different from wielding a powerful artifact.
I summarized my gains. “Alright, the key effects are automatic mana regeneration and mana enhancement through the Primordial Flame’s power. Just those two.”
Unlike the Incarnation state, which boosted my total mana pool, this technique didn’t expand my mana reserves. But just these two gains, recovery and enhancement, were more than enough reason to master it.
“For now, I’ll treat it as a downgraded version of the Incarnation.”
Even downgraded, its effects surpassed most mythical artifacts.
“Now, for a name... Let’s go with ‘Ignition.’”
Ignition, the spark that sets it all ablaze—it was a perfect name and a suitable fit, considering how the sound of flesh sizzling and gray smoke rising from my entire body accompanied the activation of the skill. Giving a technique a name that suited it was important, especially when the technique was tied to the mindscape like this one.
Suddenly, a thought came to mind:
If I add the Soul Stigmata Amplifier Potion into the mix...
The Soul Stigmata Amplifier Potion could increase the quantity of my mana, while Ignition enhanced the quality of that mana. If I combined the two, I could go toe-to-toe with an Archbishop. Both these did have a time limit of five minutes, but during that brief window, I could wield overwhelming power, enough to not be outclassed even by an Archbishop.
“Well, I doubt I’ll need either of them for this midterm.”
It wasn’t like I needed to exhaust all my resources just to hunt down a few six-eyed demonic monsters. Moreover, I had already promised Professor Bastion not to use the Soul Stigmata Amplifier Potion during exams. As for Ignition, I could technically use it, but I wasn’t desperate enough to chase after first place with that kind of brute force.
Besides, I still hadn’t mastered the Primordial Flame. Its nature was largely a mystery to me even now. So, I had to be cautious whenever I tapped into its power.
Time passed, and with a soft hissing sound, the gray smoke wafting from my body finally stopped. As I looked around the room, now covered in a fine layer of ash, I quietly picked up the cleaning supplies.
“Alright, then. Let’s start by cleaning up this mess.”
***
The next day, the fully geared Warrior Division cadets moved toward the exam field.
Professor Kane shouted over the crowd, “You’ve got eight hours! Your midterm grades will be based on how many points you rack up in that time!”
The cadets lined up according to the zones they had chosen. I opted for the mountain terrain as my starting point. Predictably, the line there was nearly twice as long as that in the others, it being the safest and most standard terrain.
“Alright, ten at a time, step forward to the warp portal!” Professor Kane said.
As ten cadets stepped up onto the warp platform, Professor Kane powered up the machine and continued, “Once the portal activates, you’ll be teleported to a random location within your chosen zone. You might be unlucky enough to drop right in front of a demonic monster, so stay sharp out there!”
“Yes, sir!” replied the cadets.
Professor Kane said again, “And don’t forget to use your Hero Watches to send an SOS if you get in real danger. Don’t be an idiot and get yourself killed showing off. Got it?”
“Understood!” Their bold responses rang out across the field.
“Then, good luck to you all.”
The warp portal hummed to life, and the cadets vanished in a flash of blue light.
Just before stepping onto the warp pad, Yuren, who had also chosen the mountain terrain, turned to me. “Dale, I won’t lose.”
“You’re welcome to try.” Smirking, I followed right behind him onto the platform.
Then, a floating sensation enveloped my body, as though I were standing atop the clouds, and blue light surrounded me.
***
Rubbing my slightly dizzy head, I looked around. “
Ugh!
It’s been a while since I warped. I still can’t get used to it.”
Before me was a thick underbrush, with trees reaching over fifteen meters high. The earthy scent of nature tickled my nose.
As I scanned my surroundings, I let out a dry chuckle. “
Hah!
No way! What are the odds I’d land in the same place as last time?”
It had seemed oddly familiar at first, but upon closer inspection, I realized this was the very same place I had landed during the midterm in my previous life. Whether it was coincidence or fate, I didn’t know. But as I stood here again, the memories came rushing back.
Come to think of it, it was today.
A faint smile crept onto my face as I recalled the past. The reason this place felt so familiar was that this was where I first died. I had been creeping forward, trembling in fear, when a demonic monster burst from the bushes and sank its fangs into the back of my neck. Back then, I had thought this was it for me. But the Blessing of Resurrection activated then, and I came back from death. Eventually, I even turned back time to relive my past. What a chaotic life that had been.
“Well then, no use standing around,” I muttered.
The one-horned demonic monster had first been spotted somewhere in the mountain terrain. The exact location, however, I didn’t know. Back then, I had been too consumed by the thought of how I was still alive, despite losing my head, to bother paying attention to my surroundings.
I pushed through the brush, carefully making my way forward, when a ferocious roar tore through the woods as a dark blur leapt out of the thicket.
“Whoa now!” I twisted my body, narrowly avoiding the monster’s strike, then backed up to get a better look.
It looked like a wolf, an enormous one. Drool dripped from its vicious fangs, and its claws gleamed like sharpened blades. Three blood-red eyes gleamed menacingly.
I couldn’t help but chuckle dryly again, and it was for good reason. “Well, well! Hey there. Long time no see?”
The monster standing before me was the very same one that had introduced me to death in my past life.
Laughing to myself, I raised my hand and gave a playful wave to the wolf monster. “Have you been well?”