Infinite Mage

Chapter 116: An Unexpected Guest (1)

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The first half of the magic school year had come to an end.

Despite the many challenges and hurdles, the atmosphere at the end of the semester was warm and pleasant.

The teachers, too, were engaging in jokes with their students, waiting for the time to head home.

In swordsmanship schools, where physical training is emphasized, rest is considered as important a trait as the training itself. However, this doesn't mean that magic schools, focusing on mental fortitude, overlook this fact.

The mind, though invisible, is an inherent function of humans. Even the most tenacious student needs a break to cool down an overheated brain.

However, it's important not to completely let go of the tension, so Alpheas Magic Academy required students who didn't participate in the presentation to write a paper on a free topic.

Of course, this didn't apply to Shirone. Having received the highest score for his presentation on 'Supernatural Existences' at the Supernatural Psychic Science Research Group event, he could enjoy a carefree vacation.

On the last day, as students began to leave for the holidays, Shirone visited the empty third training ground.

Usually noisy with the sounds of chanting and magical explosions, the place was now filled with a serene silence.

The third training ground was among the largest. A 1,600-meter track ran around the outside, and the divided areas were equipped with various devices for testing magical effects.

Shirone entered the teleportation training area. A mage can use countless movement magics: Teleportation, Fly, Dark Port, Air Walk, etc. The best environment to train all these magics was a desolate open field.

Shirone reflected on his progress over the past six months.

'First, movement magic.'

His primary movement magic was Teleportation, which had evolved to allow curved movement in Rainbow Drop and high-speed lateral movement in Patrol Technique.

He couldn't ignore the achievements in Photon Output either.

Initially just a magic for transmitting information, it transformed into a powerful offensive magic, Photon Cannon, upon comprehending the Particle of God.

This enabled him to easily master flash magic, maintaining light for an extended period.

Shirone didn't stop there; he continued to evolve. He developed Laser by mathematically regressing Photon Cannon.

While Photon Cannon had a higher single impact, the cumulative damage of Laser was nearly infinite. It was a terrifying magic capable of destroying any hard object unless it was immune to Laser's waves.

'I've actually worked quite hard.'

Shirone smiled contentedly, especially pleased that his proficiency in his major magic had jumped a level.

Currently, Shirone's photonization theory had surpassed sub-light speed and reached near-light speed realms. His reason for visiting the training ground was to attempt Space Warp, impossible for a mage not at the near-light speed level.

'How will it feel?'

Space Warp differed fundamentally from Teleportation. It lets one distinctly experience the special nature of light as space-time folds.

As he activated his Spirit Zone, his synesthesia made the surroundings vividly clear. Focusing on a point, Shirone unfolded his photonization magic at near-light speed.

His body vaporized into light, shooting high into the sky, then crashing down to the ground.

Arriving at his destination, Shirone, pale-faced, gasped for breath.

"Huff! I did it!"

It was a sensation he had never experienced before. The scenery he saw during Space Warp was different from Teleportation.

Teleportation felt like the world was compressing and rushing in, while Space Warp felt like the sky and ground were rotating as if the world had folded.

'This is Space Warp. My mind's all over the place. It's unusable in battle like this.'

Even Ethella Romie, a Grade 6 mage, relied on Teleportation in her battle with Arcane. It proved that Space Warp wasn't effective in combat.

Space Warp's real advantage was in movement, not battle.

For long-distance travel, Teleportation risked collision with obstacles. Thus, most mages use it within a 10-meter range. However, Space Warp could transcend space regardless of obstacles.

But to see practical effects, the Spirit Zone's radius needed to be unimaginably larger than its current size.

Shirone's current Spirit Zone had a diameter of about 50 meters, quite large among students, but insufficient for advanced magic like Space Warp.

Ultimately, his magic level had outpaced his Spirit Zone. Normally, magic follows the level of the Spirit Zone, but as an Unlocker, Shirone's exceptional insight allowed him to surpass theoretical barriers.

'It's an asymmetrical balance. Should I be happy about this?'

His Spirit Zone had grown significantly, not in size but in durability.

If asked to unfold a Zone like six months ago, he could easily reach 100 meters in diameter.

But using high-level magic with such an extended Zone would shatter it. Thus, it was more realistic to consider his Zone still at 50 meters.

'With a Zone this size for Space Warp, people would laugh. For practical use in real situations, the diameter needs to be at least 200 meters.'

He estimated that for a mage to travel 10 kilometers, Teleportation would require about 1,000 casts. But with a 200-meter Zone, only 50 Space Warps would suffice.

In a battlefield where every second counts, saving 950 casting times is incredibly efficient.

"Having powerful magic alone isn't everything. Without a supportive Spirit Zone, one cannot be a great mage."

And even focusing on expanding the Spirit Zone wasn't the answer. It had to be durable enough for major magic and dense enough for precision.

"Oh my..."

Shirone stood there, mouth agape, feeling as if the path before him stretched to the horizon.

The range of skills a mage needed to master seemed endless: the radius and durability of the Spirit Zone, omnipotence and omniscience, adaptability and proficiency, combat experience, and judgment, to name a few.

What thrilled Shirone the most was the realization that all these skills needed to simultaneously balance and elevate together.

With this revelation, he began to see the form of the path he was pursuing and what magic truly meant.

Shirone felt exhilarated. Sensing the outline of the vast world of magic, albeit faintly, was a sign of growth.

This was true for Siena, Ethella, and Arcane too. They had all undergone immense training to reach their current positions. Although it seemed a daunting journey, it didn't feel like a bridge to nowhere.

'I can do it. I can climb even higher.'

Having successfully advanced to Class 4, he could apply for the advanced class next semester. And eventually, upon graduating, he would achieve his dream of becoming a mage.

"Me, a mage..."

Just the thought made his heart flutter. There was a time when he thought he'd spend his life in the mountains. But now, his long-cherished dream was becoming a reality.

"So much has happened."

He remembered being ridiculed by his peers for not being able to perform a single spell when he first entered the school. And wasn't there the extraordinary incident of the teleportation test?

"Haha! Looking back, it was pretty silly."

Leaving the movement magic training area, Shirone entered the cutting magic training area in Section 4.

This was a place for testing magical cutting force, with a viscous cylindrical target floating above a magic circle.

Shirone approached the target and extended his hand.

"Wind Cutter."

As he chanted, a fierce wind whipped up. The sharp wind slashed the target, splitting the cylinder in two with a loud slap.

Wind specialists usually adjust the viscosity to the maximum for training, but for Shirone, who was trying it for the first time, the success of the magic itself was satisfying.

"Hehe, this is easy."

His omniscience had grown immensely since his initial enrollment.

Passing all subjects with over 80 points, basic spells like Wind Cutter were no challenge.

Of course, knowing omniscience doesn't mean everyone can achieve omnipotence. The reason he could instantly manifest a new spell was due to his inclination toward insight over analysis.

Mages can be broadly divided into theory and sensory types. Each has its pros and cons, but sensory types tend to learn faster when trying something new.

Especially Shirone, whose disposition was distinctly more on the sensory side. This was why Arcane had once said he learns in actual combat situations.

Reviewing six months of progress, Shirone smiled contentedly. He felt like he had become quite mage-like.

"Hey, Shirone!"

"Uh?"

Looking around the track, he saw Nade and Yiruki waving.

Shirone was about to run over when a fun idea struck him. He stopped and switched his Spirit Zone to target form, calculating the distance to his friends before executing Space Warp.

With a metallic scraping sound, Shirone instantly appeared in front of the two.

"Whoa! What was that?"

Nade jumped back in surprise, and Yiruki's eyes widened, clearly not expecting it.

"Did you just do Space Warp? You've been practicing it till the end of the semester?"

Shirone replied with a sheepish smile.

"No, I just came to review since I won't be able to practice in the training ground for a while."

"But you just succeeded in Space Warp today, right? It's fascinating. Do it again."

Nade was excited, but Yiruki snorted dismissively.

"What's so fascinating? You've seen it before."

"Well, it feels different seeing our peer do it. When teachers do it, it's one thing, but seeing Shirone do it is another."

"True, Space Warp is considered advanced even for senior students in the advanced class."

Being called a specialist wasn't for nothing. Teleportation is basic for mages, but Space Warp is closer to being a major.

Although both are classified as movement techniques, a 6th-grade certified mage must master Space Warp.

However, even for specialists, using near-light speed as a student was more challenging than expected.

"But there's still no real use for it. The travel distance is too short."

"What do you mean, no use? At least you surprised Nade."

"What? When did I get surprised? I can do Plasma, too. Want to see it here?"

Nade was defensive, but the situation was already obvious. Yiruki, seeming annoyed, waved his hand and spoke to Shirone.

"Enough. So, in summary, you were here, indulging in self-admiration by casting great magic alone in an empty place?"

Shirone blushed. Although he was just reviewing his progress, in some way, Yiruki wasn't wrong.

"No, it's not like that..."

"Well, you can afford to do so. You've shown the most growth this semester. Anyway, if you're satisfied, let's go say goodbye."

"Right, it's getting late."

Most students had returned home, but a few, like Shirone and his friends, stayed to thank their teachers for their hard work during the semester.

They left the training grounds and headed to the building where the teachers stayed. The dormitory doors were open, and cleaners were busy in each room.

Shirone looked for the conference room. As expected, many teachers were there, chatting over tea before heading home for the holidays.

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