Testing Zone – Black Tower Magus Academy
The testing zone sprawled across the academy's outer perimeter, a vast expanse of scarred earth and shimmering wards that dwarfed every other facility. Most of it was cordoned off, reserved for fee-based grounds equipped with top-tier defensive arrays and precision testing equipment, playgrounds for the elite who could afford the Mana Stones. The open area, though, was a free-for-all, where apprentices could fling spells without dropping a fortune, provided they paid for any targets they used. The air crackled with residual mana, the ground pockmarked from countless explosions, and the faint hum of protective runes pulsed beneath it all, a reminder of the zone's barely contained chaos.
Edwyn swaggered into the venue rental hall, cocky, carefree, and ready to make something go boom. The hall itself was a marvel, built in a grand Roman-esque style that felt like stepping into a coliseum of magic. Towering stone walls rose to a vaulted ceiling, carved with intricate runes that glowed faintly in the dim light. Flying buttresses arched outside, visible through massive stained-glass windows that cast kaleidoscopic patterns across the floor. Counters lined the hall, each staffed by apprentices in crisp academy uniforms, their expressions ranging from bored to mildly annoyed as they processed rentals.
Edwyn approached a counter, his grin all teeth and mischief. "Yo, what's good? I need a room to test some serious firepower. Something with dual-power targets, elemental and physical. Let's make it quick." His tone was playful but commanding, like he was ordering a drink at a bar rather than renting a high-security testing chamber.
The apprentice behind the counter, a lanky kid with tired eyes, barely looked up. "One Mana Stone per hour for a dual-target room. Zone 3, Room Type Four. Pay up." He slid a crystal card across the counter, its surface etched with glowing sigils.
Edwyn tossed a Mana Stone with a flick of his wrist, catching the card midair. "Sweet deal. Keep the change, if there is any." He winked, turning toward the path leading deeper into the testing zone. The apprentice muttered something under his breath, but Edwyn was already gone, his boots crunching on the gravel path.
The testing room was tucked behind a heavy iron door, its surface engraved with wards that hummed with latent power. Edwyn slotted the crystal card into a panel, and the door slid open with a soft whoosh. "Pretty modern for a bunch of spell-slingers," he muttered, stepping inside. The room was cavernous, roughly the size of a basketball court, its walls reinforced with obsidian panels that absorbed stray magic. At the far end stood two humanoid dummies, sleek, mage-crafted constructs designed to take a beating. The black one on the left was rated for up to 50 energy levels of elemental damage, its surface shimmering with a faint, heat-resistant sheen. The white one on the right could withstand 50 levels of physical damage, its surface scarred but unyielding.
A white stone pedestal stood near the entrance, holding two crystal spheres that glowed softly, each linked to one of the targets. Hit a dummy with a spell, and the spheres would display precise damage data, no guesswork, no bullshit. "Now that's convenient," Edwyn said, his grin widening as he cracked his knuckles. "Mages might be stuck-up, but they sure know how to streamline the fun stuff."
He approached the pedestal, his mind sharpening as he tapped into his mana. It flowed like a river, gathering in his hand until a red fireball the size of a grapefruit sparked to life, its heat licking at his fingers. With a casual flick, he sent it hurtling across the room like a meteor. Boom! The fireball slammed into the black dummy, flames erupting in a brilliant flare.
The crystal sphere lit up: [Elemental Damage: Fire] [Damage Level: 20]
Edwyn nodded, his grin smug but satisfied. "Not bad for a first shot." The spell had burned through a quarter of his mana, about 50 points, for a solid 20 damage. Weaker than the modified version in his spell staff, but leagues ahead of a basic Magic Missile for the same mana cost. "No wonder cantrips get no love," he muttered, shaking his head. "Real spells hit like a truck."
Next, he pulled out his spell staff, a sleek, rune-carved rod that thrummed with latent power. Channeling mana through it, he unleashed another Lesser Fireball. Boom! The explosion was louder, fiercer, the flames licking higher as they engulfed the dummy.
[Elemental Damage: Fire] [Damage Level: 49]
Edwyn let out a low whistle, his eyes gleaming with respect. "Hot damn. Knowledge really is power." The modified staff version nearly tripled the damage output, proof that a skilled Mage's tweaks could turn a good spell into a game-changer. He twirled the staff like a gunslinger. "Alright, let's switch it up. Ice Spike, you're next."
He pointed a finger at the black dummy, mana surging as a razor-sharp spike of ice materialized and shot forward, piercing the target with a sharp crack. The crystal sphere flickered: [Elemental Damage: Ice] [Damage Level: 0.1] [Warning: Do not test physical attacks on elemental targets]
Edwyn's grin widened, his theory confirmed. "Knew it. Ice Spike's just a fancy bullet." The spell's damage wasn't elemental, it was all about kinetic force. He shifted his aim to the white dummy and fired again. The spike slammed into the target, embedding deep.
[Damage Type: Piercing] [Damage Level: 5]
"Piercing, huh?" Edwyn's mind raced, his grin turning sly. Curious, he grabbed a greatsword from a rack in the room, standard issue for testing physical attacks, and swung it at the white dummy with a flourish. The blade bit into the target, leaving a deep gash. The sphere updated: [Damage Type: Slashing] [Damage Level: 5]
Edwyn laughed, resting the sword on his shoulder. "Mages and their fancy classifications. Piercing, slashing, damn, you guys are thorough. No wonder you're out here conquering planets." The precision of the Magus Civilization's systems never ceased to amaze him, a testament to a Civilization built on power and control.
Not one to waste time, he tested his Wind Crow Slash next, a spell he'd picked up for its versatility. The air shimmered as he unleashed a crescent of cutting wind at the physical dummy.
[Damage Type: Slashing] [Damage Level: 5].
Then, activating his bloodline enhancement, a faint pulse of arcane energy that made his skin tingle, he tried again.
[Damage Type: Slashing] [Damage Level: 6].
"A one-point bump? Not bad," he mused, twirling the greatsword absently. His current bloodline formula, Stage One of Black Knight Alchemy, focused on defense over offense. The boost was nice but not game-changing for combat. Stage Two would change that, but the required arcane beast, a Two-Headed Troll, wasn't exactly lying around the academy. He'd need to shell out big at the Mage market to get one, and right now, his wallet wasn't ready for that hit.
Edwyn wasn't in a rush, though. Combat wasn't his focus, he was safe in the academy, and Joron's legacy was a goldmine of knowledge. Blueprints for magical gear, alchemical formulas, advanced meditation techniques, mastering those could make him richer than a dozen missions. "Patience, my friend," he told himself, grinning. "Play the long game."
Stepping out of the testing room into the bright sunshine, he shielded his eyes, his mind already on the next batch of Focus Oils. The market for them was hot, and with his new brewing skills, he could rake in serious Mana Stones. But before he could head off, a familiar flapping sound interrupted his thoughts. A messenger owl, its feathers a mottled gray, swooped down, clutching a tiny scroll. Edwyn recognized it instantly, Chayle's courier.
"Edwyn, come to the Central Black Tower," the owl squawked, its voice oddly human.
Edwyn raised an eyebrow, catching the scroll. "Chayle, huh? What's the drunk want now?" He unrolled the scroll, confirming it was from his senior. "Alright, I'm on my way," he told the owl, which flapped off toward the tower.
Rubbing his chin, Edwyn frowned. "Weird. Chayle doesn't just summon people for kicks." Curiosity piqued, he headed for the Central Black Tower.
Central Black Tower – 56th Floor
The 56th floor was a maze of dimly lit corridors, the air heavy with the scent of old parchment and arcane residue. Edwyn knocked on Chayle's door.
"Come on in, Edwyn!" Chayle's voice was warm but slurred, a telltale sign he'd been hitting the bottle. The door swung open, revealing Chayle's cluttered office, shelves stuffed with dusty tomes, a desk buried under alchemical gear, and the faint smell of whiskey. Chayle, a wiry man with a perpetually disheveled look, gestured to a chair. "Took you long enough, kid."
Edwyn's eyes flicked to the other man in the room. He looked ordinary, brown hair, plain robes, but the moment Edwyn stepped inside, his instincts screamed danger. The guy's presence was like a coiled beast, his aura radiating a primal vitality that felt more like an arcane creature than a man. Edwyn's grin stayed in place, but he mentally tagged the guy: Trouble.
"Erik, this is Edwyn, Joron's new apprentice," Chayle said, waving a hand lazily.
Erik stood, his warm smile not quite reaching his eyes as he extended a hand. "Sir Edwyn, you're a hard man to track down."
Edwyn shook his hand, his grip firm but cautious. The guy's life force hit him like a tidal wave, raw, overwhelming, like shaking hands with a dragon.
"Yeah, I'm not big on the social scene," Edwyn said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. "Guess I'm more of a 'lone wolf' type. Sorry for the hassle."
Erik clapped him on the shoulder, his grin friendly but with a hint of steel. "That won't do, my friend. We're all Mages here. Out on the planar battlefield, we fight side by side. You gotta know your allies." His tone was warm, but Edwyn caught the underlying challenge.
Planar battlefield? Edwyn's mind raced. Was this guy recruiting for something big? He played it cool, flashing a grin. "Fair point, Erik. But I'm new around here, y'know? Don't exactly have a VIP pass to the cool kids' club."
Erik exchanged a glance with Chayle, then pulled a red-wax-sealed invitation from his sleeve with a smooth flourish. "No problem at all," he said, his smile widening. "I'm hosting a little apprentice gathering tonight. Nothing fancy, just a chance to mingle. How about you swing by? It'd be an honor."
Edwyn took the invitation, his grin turning sly. "A party, huh? Well, I do look good in the spotlight. Count me in."