Before going down to confront the closest magma ape, Lewis first paid closer attention to the magically enhanced volcanic landscape, namely the interaction between his arcane null field and the pervasive heat.
He didn't need to use his nullfield at all to protect himself from it; the constant anti-mana leakage from his body did more than enough to dismantle the unnatural heat's effects before it could reach him. That was the difference between the standard effect of his pure anti-magic mana and his passive nullfield.
His standard mana held the innate properties of mana erosion, but that only functioned in the most basic way. Anything more than basic ambient mana requires a level of potency beyond what his minor mana leakage can dissolve.
Any mana with a shape or purpose requires more power than the anti-mana alone can handle, which is where his arcane nullfield came in. But the volcanic terrain wasn't the result of some sort of spell but rather a shift in the ambient mana from unattuned to a mix of heat and fire. Something his body's innate magical resistance didn't have an issue tearing from his immediate surroundings, refusing to allow the magical heat to affect him.
He expanded his nullfield around him to observe the difference it made and found that the heat in the area suddenly vanished, the rock cooling beneath his feet as it started cracking, becoming brittle and fragile as it cooled.
All around him in a bubble, the magical heat was nullified; even the shimmer in the air and the steam vanished. A grin spread across his face as he got up and started moving towards the closest magma ape, his nullfield close to his body for added protection just in case someone tried to blast him with a molten fireball.
The jagged terrain allowed him to get close enough to the first magna ape without getting seen. Their patrol routes were spaced out far enough that he was fairly certain they wouldn't notice him jump one of their number.
He spread out his nullfield far enough to encompass the level 12 magma ape, seeing its posture shift as its body shifted drastically as the fiery mana ceased around it, the creature's body cooling down like the rest of the volcanic rock as it turned brittle and cracked, forcing the confused ape to channel its own mana through the lava veins in its body to maintain its stone body.
Lewis couldn't suppress a smug grin as he leaped out from cover and sprinted at the distracted ape, his fist slamming into its stone chest, not even using his unraveling strike, as he was using this first ape as a test. Instead, watching as the brittle stone exploded outwards, the creature's body breaking like glass as shards of rock and magma flew from its body, peeling back its layers and revealing an obsidian black skeleton beneath, along with deeper veins of lava that followed the path of a circulatory system.
Somehow, these apes had not only adapted to this unnaturally hot volcanic environment, but they had also literally altered the very foundation of their beings, replacing flesh with stone and blood with heat and lava. It was honestly incredible and sparked that deep fascination Lewis had recently uncovered for the study of magic. It made him wonder what else was possible with the physics-defying power of mana.
Unfortunately for the low-level magma ape, Lewis's raw strength was now on par with the nature apes, every level up making his body sturdier and muscles more powerful. On top of the fact that his spiritual physique greatly enhanced it all, turning his base 22 points in strength into a whopping 60. Far beyond what anyone at his level should possess, even with a strength-focused class.
Along with his nullfield doing the same thing to the ape as it does to the rest of the volcanic environment, it made the ape's resistance futile as its suddenly mana-starved body rapidly cooled and grew weak, that first punch smashing right through into its chest and killing it on the spot.
Alright then, as long as I envelop them in my null field and attack them before they get the chance, I think this will be a piece of cake. But I should really know what it is they are capable of in case I don't manage to finish them all cleanly and they manage to retaliate, especially the general and high-tier apes.
Over the course of the trial, the apes had been getting progressively higher level. At first, the nature ape general was only level 30, but then the tidal ape general was level 32, with the wind ape general being level 36 and lieutenants at the same level as the previous generals. Following that trend, it would be safe to assume this last general has an even higher level.
Already, he had seen that the magma apes can replace the ambient heat absorption with their own mana to stabilize their bodies once inside his nullfield. And since all the other generals had ways to resist his arcane nullfield, if only for brief moments, then he needed to know what they could send his way, preferably from a lower-level mob rather than getting surprised with a common attack by the big boss.
So the second magma ape fight was aimed at testing that exact thing.
This time, he didn't sneak up on the creature; instead, calmly walking out of cover towards it, the heat haze and pervasive steam faded around him as he moved, the second magma ape spotting him immediately as it turned to face him.
It let out a grinding rumble akin to a growl, but it sounded like rocks grinding against each other as the lava veins in its body glowed hotter. It's body buffing up as its black stone frame shifted to form larger fists similar to boxing gloves. While its chest radiated a deep glow as its energy suffused his body, the veins all lighting up as the magma apes charged.
Its fist swung for his head, Lewis retracting his nullfield to avoid affecting the magma ape just yet, instead simply dodging out of the way and keeping an arm length between them. He kept backing up to avoid its follow up blows, the magma ape only using its body to attack instead of launching projectiles, but it wasn't fast enough to keep up with him.
The two danced like that for a few minutes, the magma ape growing more frustrated at its slippery opponent, the stone on its body glowing a faint red color as steam streamed off of it and its body shifted, growing slimmer around the torso as its limbs extended and lengthened. The burning core in its chest reaching a crescendo as its body transformed.
The thing can shift its form?
The modification was limited but visible, its speed increasing along with its reach as he was forced to duck and cover from the stone limbs, the hot glow from its chest dimming slightly after he transformed himself, but he still didn't use any ranged attacks.
After he was sure the ape wasn't holding anything back, he stopped dancing out of its path and extended his nullfield to envelop the furious ape, the shade of its body instantly dulling as the temperature cooled and its body slowed to a crawl, the veins rapidly losing their luster for a few moments, until the flow of the lava veins seemed to reverse and the volcanic rock of its body stopped cooling, the magma apes own fiery mana being used to sustain it.
So that's how that works? I bet these guys are a real pain to fight for anyone without my skill set. Being in this volcanic landscape basically gives them unlimited power, but remove the magical heat and their bodies become brittle unless then use their stores energy to compensate for the lost heat. I bet they can't leave this place either, and nor do they seem to be using their powers externally, but rather refining their own bodies with it. That's good news. Means they probably can't toss molten rock and lava streams my way. I guess these guys aren't that much of a threat to me after all.
Done with his analysis of his foe, Lewis stepped up and prepared to blast this thing to oblivion, but right before he did, a thought struck him.
I wonder if my nullfield might be able to bypass the ape's natural resistance and remove the mana from its body. The fiery mana is clearly its life source, just like the stone spiders mana core, so cleansing it should definitely kill it.
Seeing as this was one of the weakest magma apes around and he had already been playing with it to see what it could do, he figured he might as well give it a try. It was a theory about his arcane nullfield that he's had for a while now, but hadn't had a good target to test it on, until now.
Shaping his nullfield into a spiked appendage, he allowed the ape to regain access to the surrounding heat as the nullfield shot right at its heart, aiming to pierce right through like a spear.
However, the moment the nullfield reached the ape's chest, striking dead on with the glowing spot of heat and magma within its chest, the resistance was immediately felt. But, much to Lewis's surprise, it wasn't the absolute stop that one would experience when colliding with an immovable object, but the cushioned halt of an invisible membrane holding back any foreign forces. But there was some give, he just needed to push, and so he did.
The ape, feeling his ability to absorbed the ambient volcanic mana return and the attempted intrusion into its body by the foreign power, grew mad with fury, his desperation to strike this slippery target making it sloppy and uncoordinated as it swung at him with all the power of his fury. Yet Lewis barely even noticed it as he casually avoided the flurry of blows, most of his attention on the invisible clash of energies, rather than the physical fight. But even then, his speed and dexterity were far superior to the ape as it boiled with anger and outrage.
Focusing on his mana detection and the subtle feeling of resistance from his nullfield, he realized that what was stopping him wasn't the apes mana fighting him off, but rather something else entirely. He could feel that it wasn't something the magma ape was actively controlling, but rather an innate truth of its existence that seemed to be on a different plane of existence entirely.
It reminded him of the boundary that had initially blocked him from reaching his nascent spirit, but it felt far less absolute and located right on the surface of the creatures existence, rather than buried deep within. If he were to describe it, then perhaps comparing it to a magnet might be an apt comparison. Every living thing has its own little magnetic field, some stronger than others, but all innately try to push back against foreign intrusions they don't want. He had felt this vaguely when stripping parts of plants of their mana, a slight repelling force that attempted to stop his nullfield's advance, but was ultimately too weak to stop him when he gave it a small push.
But a sapient living creature with a mind and thoughts seems to possess a far greater ability to repel external influences. In this case, the membrane that protects them is substantial, stopping someone from simply casting a spell directly inside their bodies and blowing them up from the inside. However, this barrier is far from perfect, and just like the plants, he simply needed to apply sufficient force to break through.
So Lewis mentally forced his nullfield's appendage deeper into the apes chest, wiggling it around to widen the gap, until it reached in far enough to grasp the ball of molten magic at its center, latching onto it and turning it to less than dust as the furious ape slowed in its movements, the orange glow of its lava veins fading to darkness as its power and lifeforce was eradicated, turning it into a motionless statue. The ape still mid motion as it became a lifeless art piece, fit for display at a roman palace.
You have slain Magma ape - lvl 12 (10 TP)
Skill: Arcane nullfield has reached level 24
Skill: Arcane nullfield has reached level 25
As the petrified apes volcanic heart was removed, its body rapidly cooled and cracked, turning brittle and fragile as its posture caused it to topple over, hitting the ground and breaking into a hundred pieces. The condensed shards of its body scattering as it joined the landscape of volcanic rock.
But Lewis didn't even spare a thought to the life he had just reaped, instead grinning at the notifications informing him about his skill leveling up. His mind already on new ideas and things to test on the next magma ape.