"Vale, you go first… Stand at the center of the Formation Circle and drink this potion." Professor Zara said as she handed the black potion to Vale. She inspected it first to confirm that it was the right potion.
Vale nodded, exchanging a glance with Lisa and Leonore. He could sense their nervousness, but he also saw the glimmers of excitement in their eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Vale positioned himself at the center of the formation circle. With steady hands, he raised the vial to his lips and drank the potion.
Gulp~
Almost immediately, he could feel the surge of power coursing through his veins.
It certainly tasted a lot better than the first Darkness Possession he consumed but he couldn't appreciate it.
He braced himself for the pain he had been warned about. As the power of the potion took hold, he felt a searing sensation, as if his body was being reshaped from within.
"Ugh…"
The pain was intense, but Vale fought through it, knowing that this was a necessary step to advance his Phantasm State.
Despite the discomfort, Vale's focus remained unwavering. He could sense his Magic Zone expanding and his Phantasm State growing stronger with each passing moment. The feeling of transformation was both exhilarating and humbling as he realized that the Phantasm State he had previously been proud of was, in fact, incomplete.
"This is the real Phantasm State," Vale silently acknowledged as he could feel the difference in the quality of his Magic Zone.
Suddenly, the pain started growing stronger, as if something inside him was being changed. He felt his Spell Models shaking as if they were about to be destroyed.
'This…' Vale felt alarmed as Professor Zara didn't mention anything about this at all!
Nevertheless, during the pain, there was a glimmer of solace.
Vale suddenly sensed that the number of Spell Light in his body started increasing… In a few seconds, he felt that he had 4 Spell Lights in his body! This continued until he had a total of 8 Spell Lights!
This side effect of the potion wasn't mentioned by Professor Zara and Alchemist Zach!
Of course, he was thankful for this and he wouldn't complain at all.
As the pain gradually subsided, Vale found himself feeling a lot better and his aura radiating with newfound strength. He had endured the effects of the potion, and though it had been a challenging experience, he knew it was all worth it.
He then quickly checked his body to see if there was a problem with his Spell Models…
"Whew~" After confirming that all of his Spell Models are fine, he couldn't help but feel relieved.
However, as he checked his Spell Lights, something unexpected happened. He received a new notification from his system!
This had never happened before!
[ Eight Normal Spell Lights have been detected. Do you want to fuse the Eight Normal Spell Lights to get an Evolved Spell Light for 300 Divinity Points? ]
"What?"
Vale's mind raced with excitement and curiosity. The opportunity to fuse his Spell Lights reminded him of the special Spell Light that was needed to record the Planar Spells!
That's right. The Evolved Spell Light might be the Golden Spell Light he was looking for! However, the presence of Professor Zara, Alchemist Zach, and his classmates made him hesitate. He didn't want to draw attention to himself, especially during such a significant moment.
"Is there something wrong?" Lisa worriedly asked after seeing Vale's reaction. Vale seemed shocked for some reason.
"N-nothing… I'm just overwhelmed by the changes made by the potion." Vale said as he immediately thought of a reply.
Suppressing his eagerness, he decided to postpone his decision to fuse until a more suitable time. He knew that the offer from the system would still be there, patiently awaiting his response.
Furthermore, there might be some noticeable changes in his body, and he couldn't allow the others to notice that.
"That's good… Your body was turning black a while ago. Did you notice?" Leonore asked.
This surprised Vale since, aside from feeling the pain brought by the potion, he didn't notice any other changes in his body.
"I did not… Was it normal?" Vale asked as he turned to the Professors.
"I think so." Alchemist Zach replied as he walked closer to Vale.
Professor Zara also approached Vale, their expressions filled with confusion. However, after some time, it had changed to satisfaction. They examined him closely, confirming that his condition was stable and his Phantasm State had indeed strengthened.
"Vale, you've handled the transformation remarkably well… With that, you'll be able to learn the Third Phase of your Phantasm State. Master it before the competition." Professor Zara commended, a hint of pride in her voice.
"Your Magic Zone must have expanded significantly. I can see great potential in your future path. You have to consider choosing the Alchemist Path."
Alchemist Zach muttered as his gaze remained on Vale's physique.
"I didn't expect that the potion would be so effective. You're lucky." He added.
Grateful for their encouragement, Vale nodded appreciatively.
With the confirmation of Vale's condition, Professor Zara turned her attention to Lisa, who was next in line to consume the potion. The atmosphere in the room shifted as all eyes turned to Lisa, anticipation mingling with a hint of nervousness.
"Lisa, it's your turn." Professor Zara said, her voice filled with encouragement. She then gave the same instruction as Lisa stood at the center of the Formation Circle.
Lisa took a deep breath, her hands slightly trembling. She recalled how Vale felt the pain after consuming the potion. Thinking she was about to experience the same, she couldn't help but worry.
She exchanged a nervous glance with Vale, seeking reassurance.
Realizing what she was thinking, Vale smiled warmly, silently conveying his belief in her abilities.
Gulp~
As Lisa consumed the potion, she braced herself for the painful experience.
The power surged through her veins, but instead of pain, she felt a surge of warmth spreading throughout her body. The transformation seemed to come more naturally to her as if the potion was unlocking the dormant power she had always possessed.
