"The world has changed---some great knowledge has been acknowledged."
As soon as Adam finished promoting, every mage on the Mage Network in the different dimensions all paused at once. Many eyes zoomed in, breaking through anything in their way, to look at the Heart of the World. The Mage Network had never been so sharp. This web that tied all their spirits together found its real purpose. It was like the Mage Network was turning into something you could touch, and tasks using it got quicker.
When Adam's spirit moved from its starting place back to the real world, his body changed too, all at the same time. Each part of him grew stronger with the help of ether. This made him a better container for the magic stuff inside him.
The glow from his Etheric Gift started to fade. Adam landed from floating and opened his eyes. The moment he took his first breath, a lot of magic power raced to get inside him, filling him up super-fast.
Adam had never felt so much power on standby. It felt like every time he breathed, moved, or even thought, strong magic would happen.
He shook off any confusion from his step up. He was more curious about the Mage Network.
Only now did he really get the special trick behind being a full-on mage.
The Mage Network was like a club where all the pro mages stored their spirits. Everyone's knowledge added up, together changing the world's rules in the magic space. It was like a tool, helping them move big things using only a bit of their magic.
Being linked to the Heart of the World created a helpful cycle between all mages' power and where they began. Every time they meditated, they could send some of their power back to the starting place using the Mage Network, and in return, they got loads of energy back, ready for any mage to use.
With the Mage Network, mages became part of a bigger group rather than just themselves. Adam was super impressed by this------Whoever thought this up was super smart!
But there was more to the Mage Network. It was like a part that every mage grew, not inside their body but in their spirit. This meant even if they left the Magic World for fights in other dimensions, the Mage Network still worked.
The Mage Network kept everything secret. No world or force could mess with the whole group of mages. Where the Magic World was, was a secret to outsiders.
What blew Adam's mind the most was the Mage Network's ability to bring mages back to life. If a mage's spirit wasn't totally gone, and their friends collected pieces of it, they could get the full version from the Mage Network. This way, they could come back to life.
After the wild storm of magical and elemental forces that Adam had stirred up began to calm down, it was now the devil's turn to promote.
Priscilla gave a subtle smile. She crafted a portal, sending the devil off to a different world. Turning to Adam, she said, "Well done, Adam! You've just powered up and you're already at the top level for level-one mages. That's impressive."
Adam set his feet on the ground, and just as he was about to thank her, a burst of electric-like energy erupted near him. He hurriedly pulled back his own magic and said, "Sorry about that, Priscilla."
Priscilla shrugged it off. She could tell just how much Adam had learned. For ages and ages, many mages had been trying to make the Mage Network better without much luck. But now, because of Adam, the Network is better than ever. Adam's recent accomplishment meant that, perhaps, while he might not match the True Spirits yet, attaining a transdimensional level was inevitable. Soon, he would stand as her equal.
She asked him, "Ever thought about what mages really want in the end?"
Adam responded instantly, "To go beyond limits, right? Transcendence?"
She nodded, "Exactly, to transcend. Ages ago, the really powerful mages found out that there's a limit to how strong beings can get in our dimension. So, they made the Mage Network, giving it power and setting guardians to look after it. The dream of every mage? Make the Network super powerful and go beyond our limits."
To explain better, Priscilla created a big holographic screen above them, showing stars and galaxies. "Welcome to our mage world."
Adam gazed up, taking in the sight of the land he was in --- a massive piece of land just floating in emptiness, surrounded by a magic shield. It looked nothing like a planet.
"The stars you see up there? Each of them represents different worlds. But they're hidden, and what you're seeing is like a sneak peek into those worlds."
She clicked her fingers and the screen shifted, showing images of planes, some looking conquered and others destroyed by mages.
Priscilla continued, "We battlemages? Think of us as the front-line soldiers of our mage society. We find these hidden planes, take over, and use their knowledge and power to make our main source of magic -- the Heart of the World -- even stronger."
Adam, curious, asked, "So, how do we find these planes?"
Priscilla smirked, "Many beings out there are, well, kind of clueless. They want to know more and become stronger, not understanding that this can be their downfall. They basically shout out their existence, thinking they're unbeatable. But then, mages from places like ours come knocking."
Adam recalled some old stories. "Got it," he said, "they draw attention to themselves, and then we show up."
"When battlemages take over a world, they use powerful magic arrays to link it to the Heart of the World. They take everything that world has. We call it 'the Sacrifice'."
Priscilla added, "We have different types of battlemages -- Scouts, Directors, Warriors, and Explorers. You did awesome in your test. Our higher-ups think you can pick any role in our world adventures. Which one interests you?"
Adam took a moment to think. He wasn't keen on leading groups or being in the main fights. Working solo or in smaller groups was more his style.
He knew sneaking around to gather info or take out targets had its own risks, but the rewards were tempting.
But then he asked, "Can you tell me more about the explorer role?"
