My Level Zero System

This is Kain's most optimized form of magic skill usage.

Indeed, the way Kain built this isn't obvious at all.

It's the way a wise person systematizes a complex process or system. For instance, if there's a long theoretical passage to memorize, a normal student might try to cram it, often unsuccessfully.

In contrast, a wise student will synthesize and break it down, not just simply dividing the theory, but organizing it into something like a branching diagram or tree diagram, making the memorization of a dense theoretical system much more efficient.

Here, unlike ordinary Magus where more enemies lead to exponentially more complex tasks, and they accept it as part of their strategy, Kain doesn't. He optimizes his strategy to the extreme, breaking down targets for individual handling, but achieving far greater overall efficiency than normal.

Of course, the lightning network still demands an extremely high capacity for structural visualization and multitasking to build and maintain stability, but Kain doesn't lack these two elements.

And there's another supplementary factor: the ability to distribute the lightning source.

As mentioned in the efficiency optimization part, Kain uses [Thunder Summon] to pre-store the lightning source. But in a multi-directional, multi-faceted battle, how does he know how to distribute it appropriately?

That's when another strength of the lightning network reveals itself.

This is an evenly distributed network, so any depleted node will be replenished from other nodes because they are all interconnected. And because there are established pathways, energy loss during lightning travel is almost zero. This is unlike other Magus who create random points in the air, where transmitting energy would require pulling lightning out, then transmitting it to the depleted point, and because there's no transmission path, there's loss similar to activating an offensive magic skill.

At the intersection points, [Thunder Bullet] after [Thunder Bullet] is continuously unleashed and fired at the nearest Skeletons. Due to their entirely skeletal structure, the movement capability of these ordinary Skeletons doesn't even compare to Zombies. Moreover, the destructive power of the [Thunder Bullet] he creates is no longer what it once was. Each shot destroys a Skeleton's protective bones and instantly obliterates their core.

Kain's skill points continuously increased, and he allocated all of them to the magic skill [Regeneration].

After just a moment, the area around Kain was temporarily cleared of Skeletons.

[Regeneration level 0] 147/300 (+84)

"Oh, this is pretty good."

Kain couldn't help but feel excited.

Although he didn't immediately gain a few hundred skill points, he had only been on the second floor of the Dungeon for just over ten minutes and already had such a harvest.

This further solidified Kain's determination to clear out all the monsters on the second floor, or at least in this Skeleton swamp.

He didn't stay in one place but began to move along the stone paths in the swamp. At each location, Kain would use [Seek] to determine if it was a "gold mine." If it was, he would release a magic skill to "provoke" the Skeletons sleeping beneath the swamp's surface. And once he saw enough of them gathered, a lightning network would be erected, beginning the process of bombarding the Skeletons.

Skill points continuously flooded into the system, pushing [Regeneration]'s progress incredibly fast, almost reaching level 1.

[Regeneration level 0] 284/300 (+137)

However, while hunting Skeletons, Kain encountered a new challenge.

As mentioned before, Skeletons weren't just simple bone frames, but rather a combination of bones revolving around a core. And some Skeleton subspecies would be different because they no longer assembled from bone fragments; instead, they used the skeleton of another species as a base, then continued to add more bones, making the monster appear even larger and sturdier. From head to tail, this Skeleton must have been at least five meters long, with a body thickness of one and a half to two meters. It lunged rapidly towards Kain, splattering swamp water and mud everywhere, its long mouth full of teeth and moss gaping open.

Although this Skeleton's four legs were quite short compared to its overall massive body, just like its original crocodile form, this monster still moved incredibly fast.

This was not something a single [Thunder Bullet] could deal with.

Unlike the ordinary Skeletons, the protective bones of this Crocodile Skeleton were layered to an extremely high degree, making the monster almost invincible to physical weapons. Coupled with its movement speed and wide attack range from its crocodile jaws, this was truly a dangerous foe for Adventurers.

But for Kain, it was just that.

Even before he was as strong as he is now, Kain had faced monsters that were even tougher, with wider attack ranges, and he still won.

This wasn't arrogance, but experience.

From the lightning network, a [Thunder Spear] gradually formed. This was [Thunder Magic]'s most powerful offensive magic skill, just enough to destroy this monster. It should be known that even Nightcrawlers, with their extremely strong magic and physical resistance, struggled when facing [Thunder Spear].

However, this magic skill also consumed a significant amount of energy, and Kain aimed for optimization, so he didn't directly create the most comprehensive version of [Thunder Spear]. He only created a smaller, weaker, but sufficient version.

Because Kain originally didn't intend to break through this Crocodile Skeleton from the outside.

The Crocodile Skeleton continued to charge, and Kain waited for the moment it opened its mouth before releasing the prepared [Thunder Spear].

Ironically, when facing ordinary humanoid Skeletons, Kain had to destroy both their outer and inner protective bones to destroy their core.

Meanwhile, Skeletons based on animals often had an inherent weakness: they usually used their mouths to attack—which connected directly to their internal bodies, where their core was located.

Although there were still protective bones surrounding the core inside, they couldn't compare to the outer protective layer.

Therefore, Kain only needed to time it perfectly to unleash [Thunder Spear] into its body, and let the lightning do the rest.

The [Thunder Spear] plunged into the Crocodile Skeleton's mouth, collided with the inner protective bones, and exploded. It destroyed everything from within, including the Skeleton's core.

The Crocodile Skeleton was dead.

Kain immediately received three skill points, not bad, equivalent to the Skeleton Centipede.

But the fight wasn't over yet, as there wasn't just one crocodile here.

Very quickly, other Crocodile Skeletons began to emerge and attack Kain. These Crocodile Skeletons even trampled on, or even flung away, other Skeletons to attack Kain, showing their disorganization.

This was the predicament Kain had mentioned earlier when talking about optimization; these monsters weren't a regular army after all. The chaotic nature of their attacks was very dangerous.

However, Kain remained unfazed.

He only needed to model the Crocodile Skeletons' attack directions using [Imitative], then set up the necessary [Thunder Spear], time it precisely, and the lightning would do the rest.

Performing such a branched series of operations seemed very difficult for ordinary people, but Magus, especially mid-class Magus and above, were beings who had undergone sublimation and expanded their minds. Let alone someone like Kain.

Unless he faced a truly formidable enemy that forced him to complicate his operational chain, no matter how many Crocodile Skeletons there were, they couldn't trouble him.

Finally, the battle ended.

Kain still stood firm in the center, even casually taking out dried food to chew and replenish his stamina. Around him were bone fragments and Skeleton carcasses floating in the swamp, creating a completely contrasting scene.

[Regeneration level 1] 0/400 (+16)

[Mind Protection level 0] 95/400 (+95)

After successfully unlocking the [Regeneration] magic skill, Kain didn't rush to continue hunting. He sat down to rest and replenish his energy by eating and drinking water. Even then, Kain didn't immediately resume hunting. Instead, he found a quieter spot, laid down a cloth on the hard stone ground, and took a short nap.

Although he hadn't been pushed to his limit, allowing his mind to cool down at the right time was also a way to optimize resources, not just in terms of magic or energy, but also cognitive endurance.

Half an hour later, Kain awoke.

Fortunately, no Skeletons disturbed his sleep, though Kain wasn't worried. The commotion they made thrashing in the swamp water would have been clear enough to wake him anyway.

"Tch... what a long day," Kain murmured, stretching a bit before beginning a new hunt.

[Level]: 0

[Ability]:

- [Thunder Magic ★★]:

- [Thunder Spear level 2] 0/200

- [Thunder Arrow level 2] 0/200

- [Thunder Descend level 1] 0/150

- [Thunder Flash level 2] 0/250

- [Thunder Control level 3] 0/350

- [Enhancement Magic ★★]:

- [Enhancement Magic level 2] 121/700

- [Fire Magic ★★]:

- [Fire Cannon level 1] 0/150

- [Fire Blade level 1] 0/150

- [Fire Storm level 1] 0/200

- [Fire Burst level 1] 0/200

- [Spirit Magic ★★]:

- [Mind Protection level 0] 95/400

- [Life Magic ★★]:

- [Regeneration level 1] 0/400