Magic.
Using magic power as a cost to manifest providence. In short, it’s about expressing various phenomena with magic power as the currency.
The technique of magic was born with the Great Cataclysm.
At that time, there were mostly simple and intuitive magics known as mana manipulation, but by modern times, various types have branched off into dozens or even hundreds.
The lowest grade spell, Mana Slash.
The term “lowest grade” refers to the difficulty level of spells set by the Magic Association, the most influential wizard organization in the world.
It’s marked with six grades, just like the grades set for heroes and hunters: highest, high, mid-high, mid-low, low, and lowest.
Lowest grade… in other words, the easiest level of magic.
As mentioned earlier, magic during the Great Cataclysm was so simple and intuitive that it could be described as mana manipulation.
Mana Slash was no exception. Wizards during the Great Cataclysm hunted monsters using spells similar to Mana Slash.
Time has passed since then. Nearly two centuries. That’s enough time for several countries to collapse.
In those 200 years, as all sorts of monstrous beings rampaged, it was ample time to change the maps.
As time went on, magic evolved. Especially since it was such a chaotic era, the development of magic that could suppress that chaos surged rapidly.
– Swoosh
Inside the library. Reading books on magic piled beside me, I couldn’t help but sigh.
Shio-ram is immensely vast. Most of it is an area filled with dungeons, but there are also broad areas outside of that.
A commercial district for buying and selling necessities for living, and a residential area where workers in that district stay.
A dormitory area for students lined up with nearby convenience facilities and learning zones categorized by grade and so on.
That’s why I haven’t seen many other grades in my time living in Shio-ram. After my three-month free study period ended, I did have some interactions with other classes and grades, but not particularly now.
Anyway, since the grounds are so vast, there are several libraries. This one is the closest library to the first-year area.
There were few people in the library. It was still the time when many first-year students were returning from dungeons.
The library itself is so huge and with few people, so there was a lack of presence. Therefore, despite the cozy-looking interior, I felt a sense of emptiness.
“Ugh…”
My thoughts wandered. The content of the book was so complex that the desire to escape suddenly surfaced. I barely managed to push that pathetic thought away.
I set the book I was reading aside and opened another book I had brought. Again, it’s about magic.
Even though hologram technology is relatively commercialized, I wonder why I insist on using paper books.
In fact, opening a book is an unnecessary action. I can understand the contents without it, as I view the world through spatial perception.
I can read the contents of the book even without opening it. Although it used to be a bit tough, after entering the dungeon and growing, it became relatively easier to do.
But still, I opened it. Not just this, but other actions too. I’d face people when talking even if I don’t really see them.
I’d chew on energy bars for health even if I can’t taste them, and I’d occasionally eat proper meals even if it left me feeling worse.
Even without having a sense of smell, I’d go out of my way to visit a grassy field and pretend to take in the fragrance.
After that, I’d feel bad. I couldn’t enjoy what I once did. The contrast between the past and present ruined my mood.
At the same time, I felt stubbornness and thirst. Even though I’m like this, one day I’ll break this curse. When I do, how sweet would the world I see, taste, and smell be?
It was a kind of motivation. I wanted to invoke my will little by little, even if it was through such thoughts.
…Ah, my thoughts have drifted again. What a pathetic guy.
I frowned and set down my pen. Stretching my arms overhead for a change of mood.
“Crack…”
A thrilling sensation rushed from my fingertips down my spine. My mind was suddenly clear, and the fatigue that was tempting me in the back of my mind dissipated.
I opened the next book.
.
.
.
Let’s ponder.
The Mana Slash I practiced before entering the dungeon.
Its size was smaller than my torso, and its effective range was under 10m. The power was so awkward that it didn’t even properly tear the ground.
After entering the dungeon, I used Mana Slash in the Gop-hwa village.
Its size was double my height. The effective range spanned easily over 30m, cutting through the ground like tofu and neatly slicing off the arms of several 8th rank and 7th rank monsters.
Lowest grade magic
“Mana Slash”
– Whoosh!
The slash poured forth from my fingertips. The rough air pressure caused by the slash crossed the target. The shattered target rolled to the ground in two halves.
After leaving the library, I arrived at the training facility. It was the magic practice room for testing the performance of magic.
As light streamed to fill the void created by the bisected target and the slash’s trace on the ground, it was mended neatly using recovery magic inscribed in the facility.
“Hmm…”
The slash I just performed was weaker than when I used it in the Gop-hwa village. It output similar to when I’d practiced after returning to base.
However, it was clearly different from before I entered the dungeon.
It was an undeniable rise in output that I couldn’t ignore.
Lowest grade magic isn’t widely used. Being similar to mana manipulation, the spell is primitive and intuitive.
But unlike the lower grade spells, it doesn’t possess any significant property changes or diverse compositions.
In the basics of basics, before moving on to lower grade spells, one learns how to construct spells.
The consistency of magic output changes for two main reasons.
One, if the spell itself is modified.
Wielders can modify spells to make them their own.
It’s hard to find someone using the lowest grade spell, Mana Slash, but many wizards refer to its spell structure to integrate it into other spells or use it separately.
I did not modify the spell. I used it just as I saw it in the book. Therefore, the first assumption is set aside.
Two, the uniqueness of the magic power used in the spell.
This refers to the case where the properties of the mana affecting the result.
For example, take Hong Yeon-hwa.
She doesn’t deal with magic, but if we assume she did, could Hong Yeon-hwa use ice magic?
With the mana that possesses the property of fire due to Gop-hwa?
The answer is virtually no. The spell would fail due to distortion in the middle of casting. If the mana contains certain properties, magic that embodies the opposing phenomenon often fails.
Thus, most wizards delve deeply into one type of magic compatible with their mana’s property, or they intentionally alter it for use.
I have some properties in my mana too.
– Your mana is exceptionally clean.
When Riana helped me with the basics of magic, she said that while checking the mana inside my core.
Cleaner mana is better. With no impurities, it flows smoothly and straight, enhancing the output.
My mana is pure. It’s a compliment that feels good, but describing it as a property makes me feel curious.
– Hmm… How should I explain it? Lee Ha-yul’s mana is exceptionally clean, unlike other超人 (superhumans).
Superhumans continuously train their mana after awakening.
They increase the size of their core, broaden, and solidify their circuits. They inflate the total amount of mana and steadily improve their manipulation capabilities.
In that process, impurities seep in.
During the process of drawing in mana from outside themselves, these impurities mix, and the purity decreases.
That’s why maintaining mana purity is quite a tough job.
This purity of mana might affect output. It’s not impossible. However, it’s challenging to explain the differences when using it outside the dungeon and inside it.
“Ugh…”
Spell modification and the properties of mana. There were two reasons that made it hard to find answers.
‘Ideally, I’d like to understand the reasons…’
The rise in magic output. At that time, it seemed so sudden, but thinking about it now, it’s absolutely not a bad thing.
In fact, it’s something to welcome with open arms. The problem is just the unease of not knowing the reason.
‘…Spatial perception?’
The final possibility. The only thing that changed upon entering the dungeon was spatial perception.
The range expanded and its precision has doubled.
Although I didn’t fully comprehend it now, it seemed like something was off with my spatial perception in the dungeon.
But putting that aside, could spatial perception influence magic?
It’s neither mana affinity nor Jack of All Trades, but spatial perception?
‘What a dilemma…’
Sighing, I drew up my mana. My still somewhat feeble mana transformed into a spell behind me.
Lower-grade magic
“Fireball”
– Whoosh!
The fireball that rose behind me was smaller than my head.
The crimson sphere flew in a line and smashed into the target.
– Boom!
With a small explosion, the target struck by the fireball was obliterated to the point it was hard to distinguish the remains. Shattered pieces flying everywhere were the remnants.
Today, I messed around with lower-grade magic too.
It seems that my mana manipulation skills have improved, and perhaps it’s due to my experiences in the dungeon, but I could manage to touch the foundational lower-grade spells.
Of course, there’s a vast variety of magic, and this was merely a slight brush with the combat-related aspects.
I felt a bit of pride. I was progressing smoother than I’d worried.
I checked, and my martial arts level had already risen to the toes of the students, and my unique abilities were gradually revealing their potential.
My mana has also reached a beginner level, and once its amount gets decent, I could use both physical and magical powers for long durations.
Besides, I’m now delving into magic. While using it exhausts my mana quickly, with enough mana, I could become a significant asset.
If everything is on a suitable trajectory, the chances of sudden death in some unforeseen place would lessen.
Tower of Growth. If I just meet the target there, I won’t run into trouble while collecting the confession necklace.
“Haah…”
Thinking about my mana quantity made me exhale a sigh.
If only I had enough mana, I could easily utilize physical power, ki, and magic altogether.
The biggest problem is raising that mana amount…
Was it the fifth cycle? That time the focus on magic led to a severe lack of mana.
So in the early stages, I tried all sorts of tricks to stock up elixirs and pillaged hidden pieces…
Now, with no hope of getting hidden pieces or anything, this is the result.
“If only I could get one elixir…”
With my mana affinity, I should be able to absorb it much more efficiently.
Shaking my head in disappointment, I headed out of the magic practice room. I expanded the minimized spatial perception for better focus.
The range of spatial perception wide open…
Inside the building standing along the straight corridor.
A woman was walking toward me from a few steps away.
Her water-colored hair swayed, brushed to the length of her waist.
Eyes reminiscent of clear seas blinked, then gently curved into a beautiful smile.
A naturally soft smile that would effortlessly relieve anyone’s tension.
“Hello! It’s been a while.”
Baek Ahrin said with a smile. It was a familiar smile and voice I had often seen in the first cycle.
In the eighth cycle, I had only seen different expressions and heard different words.
– I’m sorry. Please die in my stead.
A stiff, cold expression. A monotonous voice…
…And my heart felt a chill.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
