Geometric Mage: First Spell, Circle

Lian panicked. He had only one week to go from Bronze 3 to Bronze 4 while the weight of the sage's words pressed down on him like a storm cloud.

"Wait, one week?" After a few seconds to process everything, Lian reflected on what had happened.

After absorbing all those Mana Cores, he was already on the right path to Bronze 4. One week was almost too much time for him at this point considering the relentless pace he had set for himself.

"Better to have extra days than too few." Lian thought, sitting in the lotus position. Although time was on his side, Lian had no intention of wasting it as the faint hum of mana in the air spurred him to act.

His current training would be like the previous one. Normal Meditation, Geometric Meditation, Geometric Cultivation, and infinite circle shape creations to master precision as much as possible.

Without wasting a second, Lian sat on the ground in the lotus position, closing his eyes.

"Geometric Meditation"

In his mind, the infamous lines appeared. Currently, he was a Bronze 3, and he was in the third quadrant. During meditation as a Bronze 1, Lian had drawn a total of fifteen lines within the first circular quadrant, reaching Bronze 2.

Then he had drawn a total of twenty lines to reach Bronze 3.

And now, he would have to draw a total of twenty-five lines to advance to Bronze 4 each line glowing faintly in his mind's eye as he traced it.

Lian began drawing the fifth line. He had already started with Geometric Meditation previously, after reaching Bronze 3, absorbing the Mana Cores of the Bronze 3 golems that pulsed with raw, untamed power.

And now, it would not be difficult to continue drawing more lines to complete this quadrant as well.

The circle shape was increasingly taking form.

Day after day, Lian trained tirelessly. He drew lines with Geometric Meditation, absorbed huge blue orbs by drawing various lines within them with the basic meditation technique, each orb humming with vibrant energy.

As for Geometric Cultivation, he had reached a bottleneck. After reaching Iron 5, Lian no longer had to cross an imaginary line while resisting pressure.

Now he would have to walk an entire circle, several meters in diameter, enduring a pressure many times stronger like a crushing tide threatening to overwhelm him.

It was not feasible for now-

Meanwhile, he continued his practice of Geometric Spells, constantly drawing circles in his mind with a precision that felt almost tangible.

The highest precision he had achieved so far was 92% a feat marked by a fleeting sense of triumph.

"Not bad, but not enough," he cursed to himself, as his training continued relentlessly.

---

The nearly setting sun in the sky over the city of Grimreach bathed the entire Astalis Academy in orange hues that danced across the ancient stone walls.

The runes on the academy's walls glowed faintly while many powerful individuals wore grim expressions on their faces as the air buzzed with tension.

"What kind of Gate opens so suddenly in front of the academy and does not even allow Silver 2s to enter? This is ridiculous."

"And to think they called us from the border for this-"

"Better this way, do you not think? This only means the Gate is simpler than expected."

The figures outside the portal discussed the Gate among themselves. From what they had gathered, an unstable Gate had appeared suddenly in various parts of the empire, swallowing four individuals, including Lian whose name barely registered in their minds.

No one knew the boy, and frankly, no one cared. However, the Gate itself was important. What had triggered its appearance was significant—namely, the restlessness of the monsters in the Wildlands and the threat of higher powers within the empire.

"Move, come on! I cannot wait all day!"

In the portal area, alongside important and powerful figures sent by the empire and others from Grimreach itself, there was a young boy who fidgeted and hopped around incessantly with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Bibo, the disciple of Headmaster Pegasus. Everyone knew of his fame and antics, but no one could do anything about it. Even his master had given up resigned to the boy's boundless energy.

A Knight, a stocky man in polished iron armor, huffed. "Bibo, stop acting like a clown. We are waiting for the okay from the other kingdoms. If their access is also blocked for Silver 2s and Steel 2s, then we will move to those like you, Silver 1s. But for now, stay still and quiet."

A moment later, the Mage of the empire presiding over the Gate nodded toward another figure with an air of authority that silenced the murmurs around him.

"Bibo, come on. It is your turn," said the Mage in charge of letting the Raid participants enter one by one.

With an excited expression, Bibo rushed toward the Gate with speed, ignoring the possible repercussions for defiance. "Here I come!" he exclaimed, laughing as he entered without difficulty his silhouette vanishing into the shimmering portal.

The gazes of everyone grew more serious as exclamations of astonishment echoed in the air. "Excellent. The maximum limit is Silver 1. Nothing to worry about. Let the next ones prepare!" the Gold Mage of the empire suddenly declared.

His voice allowed no debate as everyone fell silent, becoming serious their postures stiffening with resolve.

A Steel 1 Knight stepped forward forcefully, but just as he was about to enter the Gate, a repulsive force pushed him back, making him fall on his backside with a clatter of metal against stone.

Embarrassment covered his face as he thought about how Bibo's enthusiasm had infected him.

Other weaker figures tried to enter, from Mages to Knights, but none succeeded in accessing the Gate.

"Very well, we have no choice but to wait. The preparations have been successfully completed, and four units, one from each kingdom, have entered to clear the Gate."

The crowd made no sound as they nodded firmly, allowing the man in regal robes with a powerful aura to continue. "Let us all return to the borders; a monstrous assault was recorded not long ago."

The eyes of everyone grew more serious as they prepared to defend humanity from yet another attack. The monsters invading human territories were growing stronger with each assault.