The new semester commenced at Hydria University.
According to Redwyn, miracle majors would begin integrating Dream Nexus topics after the third year, with numerous courses and even examinations being completed within the Dream Nexus itself.
However, none of this concerned Mithra.
She briefly reviewed her chosen timetable, which comprised mandatory general education courses alongside various miracle subjects. After confirming she faced no academic restrictions, she selected modules that piqued her interest.
Mithra was, after all, not a conventional student. She neither required credits nor points. Beyond passing general education assessments, the various miracle courses she registered for were primarily for reporting obligations.
Once selected, whether she actually attended lectures or absorbed the material was entirely irrelevant to the institution.
"After years of graduating, I'm back in school again," Mithra stretched, looking at the computer screen.
Suddenly, she felt the debilitating weakness and nausea that had plagued her for many days abruptly subside, vanishing quickly without a trace.
Mithra paused, then glanced around.
She was utilizing a computer in the reading room of the placement center.
Since no one else was present, she directly plunged her hand into her own body mass.
Although she had previously mentioned her ability to freely retrieve weaponry, the placement center had also conducted preliminary internal scans on her, yet found nothing conclusive, yielding no immediate solutions.
Later, due to the sheer impact of her weapon retrieval process, the center suggested she refrain from casually storing or drawing weapons in public, as it might negatively affect her test scores two months hence.
So, Mithra confirmed the area was indeed deserted, then pulled out her hammer.
The newborn Hammer Bro!
Overall, no particularly significant physical changes had occurred. Mithra even retained that single broken corner, making it as unassuming and endearing as when they first encountered each other.
On its simple, dark gray surface, the Hammer Bro now featured dark gold fissures, giving it the appearance that it could shatter at any moment. Yet, in reality, the Hammer Bro had undergone a complete structural enhancement.
It was now significantly harder.
Hmm, besides that, nothing else outwardly changed.
[Exquisite Stone Hammer: An exquisitely crafted, composite material stone hammer, notably harder and heavier, viable for use as a specialized miracle medium.]
[— You tormented yourself for so long just for this object?]
"You wouldn't comprehend," Mithra stated, shaking her head at the information displayed for the stone hammer in her hand.
A master weaponsmith, she believed, must possess a unique aesthetic appreciation for armaments.
Much like the greatsword heroes featured in a certain monster-hunting franchise.
"Wow, that's incredible, you can actually pull weapons out of your own body?" Matsuri's voice suddenly chimed in from behind her.
Mithra turned her head and glanced over, not overly invested in the interruption.
The two frequently met in the reading room, and even with her greatly enhanced senses, detecting Matsuri's approach was difficult; it was a familiar occurrence.
"Are you selecting courses?" Matsuri, already accustomed to Mithra's indifferent demeanor, thus fell into her own conversational rhythm.
"Hmm."
"So many miracle courses, it feels a bit too diverse," Matsuri remarked, observing Mithra's prepared course selection timetable.
"It makes little difference. I mainly wish to gain a foundational understanding and broaden my knowledge base. For the immediate future, the primary objective remains achieving Sensory Synchronization," Mithra explained, taking a sip from a bottle of Earth-specific soda.
"I was born with Sensory Synchronization, which is a bit different from ordinary people, so I can't really offer advice. I can only wish you good fortune," Matsuri responded.
Was that veiled bragging? Mithra felt that in a certain context, she, too, was born with Sensory Synchronization, albeit for a "different" iteration of self.
Without dwelling on it, Mithra returned the hammer to her internal storage. Matsuri noticed this, looking curious but not particularly surprised.
After clicking save and printing a copy of her usual schedule, Mithra stood up and excused herself.
"Your clothing should be ready in a few days. Look forward to them," Matsuri called out gently as she departed.
Mithra nodded in acknowledgment and continued on her way.
On her path, she contemplated the process of achieving Sensory Synchronization.
The expansion of miracle transmission points was an inherently vague concept. Various Earth-based research efforts could not fully penetrate its fundamental essence. Consequently, for the majority of practitioners, Sensory Synchronization often became a matter of sheer habit, enforced through rigorous repetition.
Some individuals grasped the concept instantly, requiring minimal effort to master miracle casting for a specific anatomical position. Others could only persistently repeat miracles, casting them through non-Sensory Synchronization body parts, training through repeated failure.
Mithra considered herself relatively fortunate; at least another version of herself had already completed Sensory Synchronization.
Possessing such a perfect, first-hand blueprint allowed her to bypass many circuitous routes.
The ability to channel and transmit miracle power throughout the entirety of one's body was truly incomparable to someone possessing only two or three primary transmission nodes.
Miracle strength, proficiency, Transformation Technique, Sensory Synchronization.
These three factors constituted the major pillars for strength augmentation in the initial stages for any Believer.
In addition to exploring Sensory Synchronization, Mithra also enrolled in Transformation Technique courses, which were typically reserved for senior students in miracle majors.
Hydria University's Transformation Technique curriculum was renowned, although the Water Miracle Transformation Technique remained the most famous specialization.
Mithra had no knowledge of any Water Miracles, so she held no specific interest in that particular Transformation Technique. It was simply a matter of logical inference: if one unique Transformation Technique existed, then other interesting derivative techniques would naturally arise around it, which she could reference and study.
Regarding miracle learning itself, Mithra was certainly not lacking in available techniques.
The miracles she had already mastered were more than adequate. If anything required focused attention, it was the full mastery of her Hunter miracles.
This aspect wasn't challenging. Mithra's proficiency in Hunter miracles while in her beast-transformed state was already maxed out. She couldn't claim it surpassed the original form of the Night Hunter, but officially documenting it would certainly pose no issue.
Furthermore, the residual experiences from her beast-transformed state offered avenues for deeper personal research.
Contemplating this, she wondered why it felt like she was constantly receiving "free meals" from her alternate self.
Aside from the Hunter miracles, Safin's research materials had not been confiscated by the Holy Sanctuary personnel. Instead, they were all bequeathed to Mithra, including quite a few miracle learning texts.
Advanced miracles were not in short supply; they also necessitated that Mithra allocate significant study time.
After cataloging her upcoming obligations, Mithra spotted Redwyn lurking suspiciously near the entrance of her residence.
Had this young man neglected to attend classes yet?
Redwyn heard footsteps approaching and turned around: "Mithra, you're finally back. I've been waiting for you forever. How can you be so hard to track down in such a huge place?"
"Speak," Mithra stated bluntly.
Redwyn was already accustomed to Mithra's direct attitude: "You mentioned wanting to submit your additional Miracle course selections. Did you choose any Ki Academy courses?"
Meeting Redwyn's expectant gaze, Mithra paused for a moment, then replied: "No."
Redwyn's face immediately fell.
"Why not? Don't you also really appreciate the Miracle of Ki? Haven't you felt the inherent appeal of Ki?"
"Reporting it is too much hassle. We can discuss it later."
Because the Ki miracle major was relatively self-contained, registering for those courses required a specific trip to the academy. Mithra found the administrative requirement troublesome and thus chose to skip it.
"Sigh~."
"Is there anything else? Then step aside," Mithra commanded.
"Oh, right, and earlier you asked me to find buyers for those two scattered Inspirations, didn't you? I have news. When they were submitted for appraisal, they were identified as scattered Inspirations linked to a Wandering God. The news spread immediately, and they became highly valued. I consulted my teacher on the best course of action, and I have selected a more promising buyer to inform you about."
Mithra turned her head slightly: "Earth should already know that Wandering Gods are extremely dangerous, correct? Those two scattered Inspirations also carry curses; it's not something one can simply escape from by chance."
"Didn't you want to sell them?" Redwyn was momentarily speechless.
"I was merely surprised that so many people would desire them."
"Even with the inherent cost, it's still a Wandering God miracle! Although there's extensive data about Wandering Gods in the Dream Nexus, very few tangible results can actually be brought back. My teacher advised that it's best to keep them for crafting your own weapons or artifacts; selling them is inadvisable…" Redwyn explained.
Mithra fell silent, then nodded with understanding: "Typical Earthlings."
Redwyn: ?
"I already told you Erik's inspiration could be given to you," Mithra changed the subject.
"I wasn't capable of much at the time; I wouldn't dare accept it," Redwyn resolutely shook his head.
"Then sell them for currency. I will give you a share from Erik's proceeds, and you hold the rest for me temporarily. We can formalize things once I obtain my official identity and can establish a bank account," Mithra stated.
She had no need for this mixed inspiration to forge any artifacts or weapons.
She was intimately familiar with all the Hunter miracles. Could any crafted artifact or weapon possibly compare to the Night Hunter's Greatsword?
"Alright, I'll head back and handle the transactions then. After that, I'll take you to acquire a phone and a computer. Without these two items, even in a modern metropolis, you are no different from a primitive."
Mithra ignored him, opened the door, and walked inside.
Redwyn was about to follow.
Bang!
The door slammed shut, jarring his nose slightly.
...
The new semester at Hydria University had been underway for some time.
Recently, a Dream Nexus returnee who frequently audited courses across various departments had attracted some attention within the school. Most people's general impression of returnees was that they had simply been missing for a period due to an accident, then returned, completed mandatory evaluations, and could resume normal life.
However, this Dream Nexus returnee was not the ordinary person they imagined; she was a returnee completely unfamiliar with contemporary Earth society.
Some people were curious about the attitude of "primitives" from a supposedly backward society like the Dream Nexus when encountering modern Earth society.
As the subject of this minor public discussion, Mithra was currently attending a Self miracle class.
Seated in the back row of the tiered classroom, she listened to a middle-aged lecturer on the stage.
"Most people, most of the time, will only interact with, or at most, primarily engage with miracles like 'Vitality' and 'Calmness'. Although these two miracles are foundational, they respectively symbolize the body and spirit, and can be said to be the two most basic types of miracles."
"While Self miracles are few in type, they still have advanced classifications. Do any students know what those are?"
Immediately, a student eagerly responded, demonstrating good participation: "'Form and Intent' and 'Concentration'."
The lecturer nodded, requested the student's name, and made a note.
The rationale behind the high level of participation quickly became apparent.
Mithra felt a strange sense of nostalgia, but she also spoke up: "There's also 'Flesh Transmutation'."
The lecturer and a few students looked at her with mild surprise, but the lecturer nodded and stated: "Indeed, there is also 'Flesh Transmutation,' but that is not the core topic of this specific lecture."
Mithra nodded acknowledgment.
The lecturer was about to ask Mithra's name, but Mithra had already waved her hand, an action that seemed to remind the lecturer of Mithra's known identity, so he did not press for further details.
Then the lecturer began the main topic of the class: Form and Intent, and Concentration, demonstrating each in turn.
[Form and Intent: A Self miracle. Imitates external objects, capable of shaping different miraculous tendencies, possessing rich variability. It can manifest as strong as an ox or as agile as a cunning rabbit, providing richer variations based on Vitality, requiring Vitality as a prerequisite for casting.]
[— Taking humanity as its root, embracing all rivers.]
Mithra felt that this miracle itself seemed very close to the essence of miracles—which was also borrowing external power.
It was just that the classification of miracles was broader here, and Form and Intent, compared to the simple and crude "stealing" of miracles, was more akin to learning, and the mediating process between borrowing and using must be far more stable.
The Miracle of Beast could more directly receive the power of wild beasts, but Mithra had already more or less personally experienced the side effects.
Mithra wasn't overly concerned with Form and Intent, but the other miracle was quite interesting.
[Concentration: A Self miracle. It refines and tempers the spirit, making the spirit a tangible miracle. The spirit is the root; perception is the emanation. Perception can be used as a wager, and the spirit can similarly be used.]
[— Concentrate, and concentrate again, and finally you can perceive...]
Some miracles or existences were highly selective; mere Senseforce wasn't necessarily accepted. They also required a spirit tempered by Senseforce as a wager to be utilized.
Concentration itself wasn't a miracle with substantial immediate effects, but just as Calmness was often used by ordinary people to accelerate Senseforce recovery, it was a miracle utilized for broader applications.
If necessary, it still needed to be learned.
The lecturer on stage also announced his class's assignment for the semester: they must master one of these two advanced miracles.
At the end of class, Mithra stood up, ignoring some people who wanted to greet her, and directly approached the lecturer.
"Excuse me, teacher." No matter how emotionless Mithra's expression was, her tone was never disrespectful.
The lecturer stopped walking: "You're that returnee, the temporary student, right? I heard them discussing you. You seem to have done a lot of homework on miracles."
"Yes, I find them very interesting, all kinds of miracles."
"Does that include 'Flesh Transmutation'?" The lecturer smiled.
"Only in terms of knowledge; I'm interested in the theoretical aspect," Mithra replied, holding back.
The lecturer didn't pay too much attention: "Very good, being inquisitive is a commendable trait. This is no secret, and students who learn about it through certain channels often come to ask me. I've never been stingy with my explanations."
The two left the classroom together.
After they departed, the students who hadn't yet left the classroom began discussing.
"Before class, I wanted to ask, isn't there anyone like that in our class? Other teachers auditing?"
"No, it's about the 'primitive' mentioned on the school forum recently."
"Primitive? Is it that exaggerated? Isn't she just a returnee?"
"Isn't a returnee who knows nothing about Earth a 'primitive'? Maybe she'd rather call us 'Enchanted Realm' here, hahaha!"
Immediately, a small group of people with the speaker burst into laughter.
"She was also mentioned in the news in Pentlake City earlier, saying our placement center is accommodating a special returnee," someone who was relatively well-informed about various news reported.
"Placement center? What's that?"
...
Mithra never paid attention to discussions about herself. She was walking and conversing with the lecturer.
"The difficulty of Form and Intent is actually a bit higher than Concentration, because it's a miracle of both body and spirit. Concentration is an advancement in the spiritual aspect, but based on the fundamental principle of Self, there should also be a purely physical advancement. I was contemplating researching along that line," Mithra explained.
"That's a very sound line of thought. In fact, it's precisely so. 'Flesh Transmutation' is a purely physical advancement, but this advancement is deeply flawed. Even in the more open miracle-oriented society of the Dream Nexus, it isn't favored. And on Earth, it's almost completely forbidden."
"Why is that? Forbidden implies risk, or negative consequence?" Mithra inquired.
"As you surmised," the lecturer paused, then continued: "Flesh Transmutation, as the name suggests, alters the flesh. And it directly alters the flesh, treating the body like malleable clay to be remolded."
"It sounds like a very interesting miracle, but it is not. As I mentioned in class, Self is an inspiration type rooted in humanity. Whether body or spirit, both must be built upon the Self. And the alterations wrought by Flesh Transmutation will affect this Self, this ego."
"It will become chaotic?"
"To put it more practically, many people cling to emotions and feelings, etc. While their identity isn't negated, they are actually largely influenced by a series of factors like bodily secretions," the lecturer replied.
Mithra nodded.
"Spirit and flesh are inextricably linked. It's not that if you change one, the other will be perfectly fine. Disturb one system, and the whole structure shakes. If you change the flesh but the spirit cannot adapt, at first there might just be minor discomfort, but then subtle shifts in thought will occur. Someone who originally disliked celery might suddenly crave it; someone who couldn't stand the flesh of certain creatures might suddenly find it appealing."
At this point, the lecturer paused, then stated to Mithra with a hint of seriousness: "Just as you hypothesized, it leads to chaos."
"Why doesn't Concentration lead to physical problems?"
"Because Concentration is not about alteration, but perception. It allows you to realize that your own spirit can be tangibly perceived, but it alters nothing. To use the words of some younger students, it's like unlocking a tradable item."
"I see. Thank you for the detailed explanation," Mithra said gratefully.
The lecturer nodded slightly: "My job is to lecture. It's much the same no matter where I teach; I'm accustomed to it. My name is Gao Jing. I hope to see you in my class again in the future. If you're interested, you can consider keeping up with those students' progress."
After exchanging introductions, the two parted ways at a street corner.
Mithra walked back to the placement center, deep in thought.
Spirit covering the body.
Bestial nature awakening, transforming into a beast.
Emotions fully activated, overshadowing the Stranger.
She possessed the method to instantly cover her body with her spirit. This was a miraculous prerequisite. Even though the origin was spiritual, the initial spiritual transformation was relatively complete.
However, later, altering the flesh would, in turn, affect the spirit, causing her spirit to deviate.
Becoming a beast.
Becoming a madman who vents her dislikes.
On that night in Gross Town, after repeatedly experiencing the blurring of Self-awareness and becoming a wild, prostrate beast, Mithra knew clearly that these two states should not be activated casually.
There was no scenario where one could simply think, "Wouldn't it have been better to just use Stranger from the start?"
Of course, the influence of beast transformation was indeed slightly milder.
In the future, would there be an opportunity to fully embrace those two aspects, or perhaps a method to clearly define the boundaries?
This was the primary reason Mithra attended the Self courses.
...
Mithra's living expenses at Hydria University were almost entirely covered by the specialized department here.
This arrangement continued until she passed her future social aptitude test, then lessened, and completely ended six months later.
Of course, if Mithra were lazy enough, she could simply refuse the test and continue to live off the government, with the only caveat being that her range of activity on Earth would be confined solely to Pentlake City.
Like Matsuri, for instance.
At first, Matsuri seemed like a seasoned returnee, but when Mithra inquired about the test content, she stated she had never taken it.
But according to Matsuri, not all returnees received such unconditional support.
Matsuri possessed her own unique qualities; as long as she cooperated with certain research conducted here, the so-called "rules" for returnees could be bent specifically for her case.
Mithra was similar; she also possessed unique traits, such as her Fleshforge and physical Weapon Forge, alongside her peculiar regeneration ability.
As long as she was willing, she could also persuade the placement center to continue supporting her indefinitely.
However, Mithra felt that passing the test first, thereby unlocking the entire map of Earth, and then relying on government support wouldn't be too late.
Nonetheless, the placement center only covered basic living expenses, not supplementary costs like phones and computers. This remaining portion, she still needed to figure out how to earn herself.
So, half a month after the intense and stimulating start of the semester, on a weekend, Mithra was forcibly dragged out by Redwyn to purchase necessary electronic gear.
"Can't you just purchase them for me and have them delivered? Having to make a physical trip is a waste of time," Mithra remarked, walking behind Redwyn.
Redwyn had now changed out of the sporty clothes he wore when they first met, opting for more unassuming casual attire, and his earrings and other metal ornaments were gone.
Without these adornments, Redwyn, who originally held a slight punk vibe, immediately looked much plainer, even gaining a few scholarly airs.
"Aren't you suffocating staying in school all the time? I heard you've completely filled your schedule! You even take classes on weekends; you're practically a workhorse!" Redwyn said, turning around.
"That's precisely why I'm short on time."
"Alright, alright. I'm taking you out for some fresh air. This weekend, our grade level has a major activity planned. We're heading to a location called Sun City in the Dream Nexus for a duration, so we probably won't see each other for a while."
"Ah."
"I think you could display a little more reluctance," Redwyn commented, looking at Mithra's completely expressionless face, feeling rather helpless.
"I can access the Dream Nexus whenever I choose. If anything happens, can't I just find you over there? Although I probably won't visit, you should still train diligently," Mithra stated in a rapid, emotionless tone.
Redwyn remained utterly resigned when dealing with Mithra.
Swoosh.
Mithra's legs suddenly condensed a small amount of Vitality, which Redwyn promptly noticed.
Immediately, Redwyn's eyes widened: "You achieved Sensory Synchronization in your legs?!"
"Finished yesterday, still stabilizing," Mithra replied casually.
"Damn it, when you just came back from Gross Town, you had only just mastered your right hand!" Redwyn quickly exclaimed.
Mithra felt he was making an unnecessary fuss: "Yes."
Seeing Mithra's calm expression, Redwyn also felt he might have overreacted, feeling slightly disheartened: "I worked very hard after returning, but I've only just managed Sensory Synchronization in one leg."
The most common progression for Sensory Synchronization involved the limbs, then the torso, and finally the head. And within the small region of the head, there were the four crucial components: eyes, mouth, nose, and ears.
Mithra had studied the basic courses in this area, combined with the reference materials Safin left behind, and understood that head Sensory Synchronization was the true difficult hurdle. Other limbs and body parts, with diligent effort, were rapidly attained.
So, she felt no sense of achievement.
However, for Redwyn, Mithra had completely surpassed him in Sensory Synchronization progress in a remarkably short timeframe, which was undoubtedly a blow to his pride.
"I have expert assistance. You should just focus on your own development," Mithra advised.
"My… my instructor isn't bad either, okay…" It was clear Redwyn originally intended to secretly complain about his teacher but lacked the courage.
Your teacher, no matter how amazing, cannot physically inhabit your body to fight for you, nor can they "personally" guide your Sensory Synchronization, Mithra mused to herself.
Just as the two were chatting and about to leave school, a tall, slender man suddenly approached. He held his suit jacket casually in his hand, and the sleeves of his white shirt were neatly rolled up.
The man had short, black, center-parted hair. A faint killing intent was subtly contained within his pair of black eyes, which were unusually striking and beautiful, like phoenix eyes.
Perhaps it was a lingering habit from her time as a Night Hunter, but Mithra now paid unexpected attention to people's eyes when observing them.
In fact, she noticed that the man's eyes possessed a distinct "black dot."
[Pure Water Eyes: Innate Sensory Synchronization eyes. The possessor's mind is like still water, capable of meticulously observing the movement of objects. When combined with water miracles, it can unleash miraculous effects.]
[— The current possessor seems quite specialized.]
"Hmm~." The other party appraised Mithra with interest, letting out an ambiguous sound.
"Leon? Is something wrong?" Redwyn looked at the other party with some surprise, inquiring.
"Indeed, an extraordinary master. Hey, monkey, she must be the source of your two scattered Inspirations, right?" The other party had one hand in his pocket, his chin lifted confidently from the very beginning, exuding an imposing aura.
His tone, moreover, easily revealed a hint of arrogance.
Mithra had already narrowed her eyes.
No way, stepping out now triggers this kind of classic plot development?
"Damn it, don't call me monkey, you dead crab," Redwyn retorted, clearly annoyed.
The other party's beautiful eyes twitched slightly, then he ignored Redwyn and addressed Mithra: "My name is Leon, the buyer of the scattered Inspirations this monkey sold earlier."
"Ah."
"Hmm~, I heard they were Inspirations linked to a Wandering God, so I immediately secured them. One was of average quality, the other was considered top-tier. And my family's appraiser stated that these two, by all rights, must have originated from powerful entities. Although this monkey beside you is quite famous in school, he's still an unpolished gem. Even with great luck, they wouldn't have fallen to him."
Redwyn's face had already turned sour.
Mithra said bluntly: "I claimed both of them, using a few tactical advantages. The one of lesser quality, the monkey you mentioned, also played a part. Any other questions? Crab?"
Leon was similar in height to Mithra, and his raised chin exuded a sense of looking down from above.
"Hmm~, I wish to test your skills. Both my private tutor and my school teachers insist that I need to go out and observe more different masters to improve myself. New sights at this university are scarce for me, and even witnessing them becomes tedious."
Mithra was about to speak, when Leon spoke again: "If you feel this is a waste of your time, I can compensate you. I was thinking, how about one hundred dollars per minute?"
His tone was saturated with confidence.
However, Mithra perceived that his words contained a multitude of veiled insults.
So, she turned to look at Redwyn.
Redwyn looked a bit troubled, then discreetly pulled Mithra aside.
Leon ignored them, continuing to strike a pose by himself. A skilled photographer could have captured a portrait that would immediately go viral.
"What is this psychopath's background?" Before Redwyn could speak, Mithra inquired first.