Geometric Mage: First Spell, Circle

Driven by frenzy, Lian pulled a healing potion out of the spatial ring, drinking it as if his very life depended on it.

Do or die!

"Geometric Cultivation!"

Lian's thought was simple: he needed something to break through the bottleneck, and the Vital Pill Steel 1 was exactly that. The previous sensation of blockage vanished, replaced by the familiar pressure he always felt whenever he practiced geometric cultivation.

Yes! I can do this!

Lian rose from the ground. The healing potion was helping to reinvigorate his body, but he did not stop there. One after another, more potions were brutally ingested by him.

More healing potions, more endurance potions, more vigor, more of every possible kind of support. Every single potion that could help in this situation was consumed successfully.

Lian's body had never felt so swollen with power—literally bulging with energy. He walked slowly, beginning to move along the circular path that had appeared on the ground, visible only to him.

His eyes were closed, focusing on enduring the pressure. But it was simple. This level of pressure was not difficult to handle.

Once he completed the full circle, the pressure rose slightly as Lian continued to walk.

Nine times, huh? He had to walk the path nine full times before he could break through.

Time passed slowly—or rather, Lian perceived the flow of time differently. Every second felt like a minute, every minute like an entire hour.

He kept walking, bearing the ever-growing pressure. Each completed circle increased the weight pressing on him. But Lian did not care. This kind of pressure was still bearable.

Soon, he completed the sixth circle, then the seventh. He kept drinking potions whenever he felt the need, his body exhausted, drenched in blood and sweat.

Yet he did not falter. Soon he completed the eighth circle. The pressure mounted, reaching its peak.

Lian was at his limit, but he could not give up now. With renewed willpower born from the achievement just accomplished, Lian kept walking. Each step was calculated, slow, precise. Inexorably, he neared the finish line.

The last steps!

But before he could reach the end, with only one step left, his body collapsed. Lian fell to the ground, on his knees. He was too drained, too exhausted.

So I did not make it? A tear slid down his face, falling onto the grass of the garden. But the sound of the drop striking the ground was all it took to remind him of something.

Why had he absorbed the Mana Pill Bronze 5? What had been his goal? Breaking through to Bronze 5, of course!

I can try again!

"Geometric Meditation!"

The utopian line appeared in his mind. With precision and speed, Lian drew it flawlessly. Immediately after—an explosion of energy enveloped his body!

Mana surged into him, threatening to destroy him even further. His veins burst, the system bombarded him with notifications, but Lian could not have cared less.

With one last push, fueled by this surge of power, he rose from the ground and took the final step. A completely new sensation filled his body.

I did it! he thought, before closing his eyes and collapsing onto the ground.

---

A shrill alarm tore through the silence of the academy, echoing everywhere. A thunderous voice, amplified by a spell, boomed:

<Attention! The Monster Hunt Event will begin shortly. All participating students are requested to head to the Central Plaza within four hours!>

The Bronze-ranked students dropped everything they were doing to rush toward the designated area.

"Damn it, it is early!"

"I was still gathering money for potions!"

"Heheh, I managed to buy an artifact, I will definitely score well."

A huge number of students were already gathering in the Central Plaza, while many more were heading there. Others, meanwhile, were frantically making last-minute purchases, clogging the shops with chaos.

Rick stood among the crowd, Clara right beside him."Hey Rick, are we not joining the other members of the Yellow Tiger? Why are you not wearing the badge now that the event has started?"

Clara's delicate and melodious voice echoed in his ears, but to Rick it sounded like the voice of a demon.

Damn woman, now I understand why people avoid you… you are as beautiful as you are venomous! A money drain!

"And what about the artifact you promised me? The event is starting, we cannot be late." She pulled at his arm, continuing to pester the poor Rick.

"Come on!"

Rick almost regretted his choice, but it was too late. The event was about to begin, and the only one who could save him from this situation was Rick himself.

It was his own fault anyway. To gain her favor, he had promised her a pile of things, and now he was stuck in this mess. I was not like this before… I swear. But where the hell is Lian?

"I told you the artifact will come when our third member joins us. But he is not here yet, let me try calling him."

"Yes, hurry up!!"

With a sigh, Rick stepped a few paces away from the girl.

"Lian, where the hell are you, answer…" he muttered, hearing the low buzz of his communication crystal ringing in vain.

"Damn it, what about that saying, 'Friends are seen in times of need'? Why is Lian not here when I need him—" he hissed, cursing his cruel fate.

<Attention! The Monster Hunt Event will begin shortly. All participating students are requested to head to the Central Plaza. You have two hours left. If you are not present, you will be disqualified.>

Now, Rick was truly worried.

"Lian, what the hell is going on? Where did you end up?" he whispered, ignoring Clara's demands entirely. Without Lian, it was all pointless. Forget Clara—without him, scoring well would be impossible. And that could only mean one thing…

"Well, well, look who we have here."

A tall and robust figure appeared, flanked by two equally shady ones."Marcus, finally I see you! I thought you had run away!"

Rick wore a confident smile, but inside he wanted to cry.