Late at night.
Lennok's new apartment complex in the 30th District.
Bathed in the soft glow of a desk lamp, someone was immersed in reading a book, oblivious to the fact that their head was gradually rising.
The practice room, recently renovated during the move, was filled with the reverberating sound of mana in motion.
Lennok, having organized his surroundings, delved earnestly into the unique magical techniques of the Thorben school.
He needed to solidify and internalize the surge of inspiration that had emerged during his battle with Eden, transforming it into concrete theories.
The stolen spells, like [Droplet] and [Soul Fusion], obtained from the dark wizard could only be utilized through a rapid and significant depletion of mana. However, Eden's other unique magics he had witnessed were different.
Once a door was opened, it remained ajar, and the knowledge and inspiration that flowed through his mind stayed intact.
Lennok's talent allowed him to absorb and retain all the abilities Eden possessed, leaving nothing behind.
All he required was an adequate amount of time.
"I won't sleep tonight."
Staying awake throughout the night was a simple task for Lennok, who wrestled with insomnia.
By merely refraining from searching for sleeping pills, he could witness the first rays of morning sunlight.
At this moment, reading through Eden's research journal and capturing every emerging thought was of utmost importance.
Perhaps because Eden had started writing the journal around the time he began learning magic, the foundational content was mostly omitted. However, for Lennok, it proved to be more convenient that way.
"Indeed… I'm beginning to grasp certain aspects."
All the lingering concerns that had accumulated while studying magic and mana in solitude.
Eden's research journal held answers to some of those questions.
[I received another B rank in the midterm evaluation at the Magic Tower… It was because I couldn't fully control the final reverse flow among the five methods of current manipulation. Even though I know that the remnants of mana that remain after casting a spell rebound in the opposite direction, it's challenging to maintain that flow until the end. If I don't achieve an A rank in the next evaluation, they might revoke my dormitory support fund.]
Of course, Lennok didn't particularly enjoy delving into the intricate circumstances of someone who was already deceased, but through the journal, he gleaned a wealth of information.
No, it wasn't about acquiring new concepts.
Through this research journal, Lennok obtained concrete answers to the practical concepts he had previously only speculated about and had been uncertain of during his magical studies.
It was a distinct form of growth compared to supplementing theoretical knowledge through discussions with Aris.
The roots of his inner self extended deeper, and the branches branched out in all directions.
Understanding the principles of the unique magic [Thunder Seal] through his encounter with Eden greatly aided Lennok in comprehending the journal.
"The lightning pursued by the Thorben school aligns closely with a weighty and intense image."
Gathering as much mana and imagery as possible within a single spell and releasing it all at once.
Every intricacy in that process aimed at increasing power and speed.
Rather than subtlety or functionality, the focus lay on the essence of destructive magic—raw power.
And it harmonized perfectly with Lennok, who had been contemplating the limitations of the destructive power inherent in common magic.
With his formidable combat instincts, Lennok had triumphed over countless challenges thus far. However, his most potent magic, [Thunder Calling], served as a limiting factor. In other words, if he failed to land a successful [Thunder Calling], he couldn't fully unleash his true abilities.
Due to the disadvantage of having a discernible impact point and the presence of premonitions during casting, Lennok hadn't employed [Gravity Bind] as effortlessly as one eats rice.
But if Lennok could merge the unique magic of the Thorben school with his common magic, the situation would change. Even with just [Thunder Seal], the magic he had used against Eden, its casting time was overwhelmingly short, and its power overshadowed that of [Thunder Calling].
If he could bear that in mind and incorporate it into his magic development…
"It shouldn't be difficult to create an entirely new form of magic."
He swiftly skimmed through the journal, disregarding the parts that he currently couldn't comprehend. In the realm of learning, repetition held more significance than perfect understanding. The research materials weren't going anywhere, so he planned to calmly take his time.
"This is the final chapter."
According to the journal, Eden had been a rather exceptional student even within the Tower. However, due to his lack of background and the limitations of his potential, he eventually received a release notice.
By merely observing the previously steady handwriting that descended into chaos after leaving the Tower, one could speculate about Eden's state of mind.
After his departure from the Tower, Eden continued his magical research, but it didn't take long for him to encounter a barrier.
On the last page of the journal, his despair and confusion were vividly expressed.
[The White Lightning (白雷), considered the symbol of a Level 6 Wizard in the Tower… Although I managed to reach the threshold of Level 5 through consistent research, I couldn't find a way to surpass it.]
[I've heard about the nature of lightning changing even within the Tower, but I can't comprehend it. How is it possible to alter a concept that has already been imbued with mana? I resent my master…]
[All I managed to discover was forcibly increasing the firepower of lightning by pushing mana to its limits. If I continue like this, the temperature will surpass the natural characteristics of lightning, allowing for partial changes in its nature.]
[For now, I need to augment the mana capacity. It seems I require more funds.]
[Considerably more than what I have now.]
Only after reading the journal to its conclusion did the motive behind Eden's involvement in the weapons business become clear. The reason for installing numerous amplifiers at the power plant and confronting Lennok and his group so fiercely.
And that was why Lennok had engaged in a fierce confrontation, ultimately utilizing [Thunder Seal].
It wasn't a pleasant realization.
After delving into the life of a deceased adversary, all that remained was an unknown melancholy.
Suppressing any superfluous thoughts that arose, Lennok slowly gathered his mana.
Crack…!!
A fresh surge of blue currents materialized between the index fingers of both hands.
Lennok delved deep into contemplation.
It had been quite some time since he had become capable of manipulating elemental properties without explicitly invoking lightning-based spells.
Compared to other forms of magic, the lightning element was particularly easy for Lennok to handle, perhaps due to his affinity for it.
It was potent, swift, and intuitive.
It was a magic well worth investing effort into, and Lennok had never been disappointed by it.
Now, it was time to take another step forward.
With unwavering determination, Lennok dramatically heightened his mana.
Zzzzt!!
As the influx of mana intensified, the surging lightning between his hands grew at a rapid pace, resembling a vibrant beam of blue light.
Despite the dazzling radiance emanating from the small stand in the room, not a single spark escaped Lennok's fingertips.
For Lennok, who had mastered perfect control over his self-made magic, this had become an effortless feat.
With an indifferent expression, Lennok cast a brief glance at the concentration of mana before him.
What did it truly mean to infuse imagination into mana?
Until now, Lennok had focused solely on the strong will to wield magic, forging ahead without encountering any hindrances.
But when it came to altering an already activated spell, did he also need to modify the will contained within it?
"I cannot agree with that."
Eden appeared disappointed, as if sharing this sentiment, but Lennok did not consider the imagination he instilled into his magic as something trivial.
From the very beginning, he set himself apart from other wizards.
He was acutely aware of his extraordinary talent and how he pushed the boundaries of his existence.
It was an immortal quality he had attained through countless sacrifices and penalties.
For someone like him, who had gone to such lengths and endured so much, the imagination and will he infused into his magic couldn't be casually discarded in pursuit of greater power.
Lennok couldn't foresee the immediate future, but he knew that, when it came to magic, he could observe himself with a more objective perspective than anyone else.
What he needed was not a loftier imagination or a will of higher caliber.
He merely required a small step towards dispelling ignorance.
Buzzzz!!
In that moment, the crackling waves of lightning flowing between Lennok's hands shed their outer shells, revealing a brilliant white core within.
Like a drop of ink dispersing in water, the rapidly expanding white current devoured the blue aura of mana, enveloping Lennok's hands in a dazzling radiance.
This was the threshold over which Eden had pondered and despaired, dedicating all remaining time to it.
Lennok ascended effortlessly, climbing the stairs that led to higher realms.
Only then did a faint smile grace his lips.
Upward, ever upward.
The path ahead remained distant, yet to be traversed.
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
A month had elapsed since Lennok defeated Eden and dismantled the Cigar Bang gang.
During this time, Lennok immersed himself in magical research, experiencing nothing out of the ordinary.
Apart from occasional greetings exchanged with Jenny, his excursions were limited to grocery shopping and meetings with Aris.
During the day, he would rendezvous with Aris at the library, engaging in conversations that resembled dialogues with a madman. At night, he would tirelessly delve into Eden's research journals until exhaustion claimed him.
After three consecutive nights of staying awake and dozing off, Lennok tapped into his connections with Panua to acquire another Stemmonia for consumption.
Some might view it as unnecessary expenditure, considering that the effects of his previous smoking session had not fully worn off. However, Lennok realized that he couldn't afford to miss this opportunity.
Learning has its own timing and season, irrespective of one's inherent talents.
Lennok couldn't predict when he would have another chance to learn theory from Aris while simultaneously engaging in practical research.
He had to give his all in terms of finances, time, and whenever the circumstances allowed.
The precious hours he obtained by successfully completing several challenging tasks held immense value.
Consequently, Lennok experienced tremendous growth in both knowledge and magical prowess, to the point of obsession.
Not only did he modify spells based on lightning, but he also pushed the boundaries of the entire magic system.
He couldn't contain the surge of inspiration and imagination within him, experimenting with various forms of magic and surpassing them.
His level of mastery far exceeded what could be concealed, to the extent that he couldn't hide his insights from Aris.
"So, I was thinking, what if we shift the way we combine elemental magic in a slightly different direction? Currently, elemental magic feels more like assembling on the spot rather than delving deep into elemental attributes and manifesting them."
"……"
"To be honest, in my opinion, it doesn't seem like an efficient approach. Of course, the optimization process itself must have reached near perfection through countless studies, but it seems we still lack a clear solution to enhance the underlying mechanism, don't you think?"
Unaware that Aris was staring intently at his face, Lennok passionately continued his discourse.
"Essentially, if we abandon the dual assembly process and design it so that mana meshes together one by one, like gears rotating on two axes…"
"Let's pause here for today."
"…Excuse me?"
Had he been speaking too much on his own, making Aris weary of it?
As a rare sign of unease crept onto Lennok's face, his cheeks slightly reddened.
Suddenly, Aris retrieved a business card from her embrace and handed it to him.
"Take this."
"What is this…?"
"I believe I gave you one when we first met as well."
She brushed aside her golden hair and smiled gently.
It was a business card of Aris Richellen, a professor at Rabaton University.
"I've been contemplating for a while, and today, I am certain."
She spoke as her blue eyes gleamed serenely.
"The passion for knowledge, the thirst for exploration, the eye for detail, and the level of understanding. Your deductive and intuitive abilities are flawless even by my standards. Honestly, it was quite surprising."
"……"
"If only you had sufficient mana, you could have been on par with me as a wizard. That's how talented you are in theoretical research."
"Talented…"
"Come to my research laboratory. I want to conduct magical theory research together with you."
(TO BE CONTINUED)
