Regression of the Vector Magician

The Letter of Leywin Phoenix

Reyon's hands trembled as he unfolded the fragile letter, the ancient paper crackling softly under his fingers. He took a deep breath and began to read.

To the one who finds the Ring of Ferica,

If you are reading this, then fate has led you to this cursed artifact. Know this—it is not a gift, nor a blessing. It is a burden.

The Ring of Ferica is incomplete.

You will see three gaps within the ring—three indentations where something must be placed.

These are not ordinary gemstones or decorative embellishments. They are the keys to unlocking its full potential.

They are also the price you must pay to wield it.

To complete the Ring of Ferica, you will need three things:

The Mana Core of Cerberus – The beast of calamity that we sealed in the center of this land. Its core contains unfathomable power, but to take it… you must kill the very monster that no human should be able to face alone.

The Jewel of the Imperial Vault – Locked away within the deepest chamber of the Elise Empire's treasury. A place more fortified than even the Phoenix Family's great library. To retrieve it, you must infiltrate an empire that would see you dead the moment you step foot within its capital.

The Mana Core of a Wyvern – The legendary flying beast that soars above the treacherous north. A predator whose mana core radiates pure elemental destruction. To obtain it, you must slay a monster that dominates the skies, an enemy that no ordinary magician could ever hope to bring down.

With each core embedded into the Ring, its function will increase by approximately 30%. The first will grant you an unfathomable ability to analyze and process mana, allowing you to wield magic with an efficiency beyond mortal limits. The second will enhance your Vector Magic, granting you the ability to bend and alter not just mana, but physical laws themselves. The third…

The third will transform you into something beyond human.

But beware.

The Ring of Ferica is not merely an amplifier.

It is a device of corruption.

The moment you wear it, you will feel its effects. It will sharpen your thoughts, allowing you to stack symbols, to manipulate the very fabric of magic with precision and speed never before seen.

It will feel like a blessing.

But prolonged use will corrode your mind.

The ring operates by channeling Dark Mana—the very same force that created Cerberus and nearly destroyed the world.

You will think you are in control.

You will be wrong.

If you choose to wield it, then know this—there is no turning back.

This is the price of power.

Make your choice wisely.

- Leywin Phoenix

The Weight of the Letter

Silence filled the chamber.

Reyon stared at the paper, his hands clenching around it so tightly it nearly tore. The words felt like chains wrapping around his soul.

Cerberus… The Wyvern… The Imperial Vault…

Each task alone seemed impossible. Even in his past life, he had never fought a creature on the level of Cerberus. And now, to claim its mana core? To break into the Elise Empire's vault? To slay a wyvern?

His breathing grew uneven.

Sylph stepped forward, eyes filled with concern. "Captain?"

He exhaled slowly. "…I'm fine."

But he wasn't.

The letter made it clear—the Ring of Ferica was no ordinary artifact.

Yes, it would give him power. Yes, it would allow him to push his limits beyond imagination.

But at what cost?

He glanced at the simple silver ring resting inside the box.

Should I take it?

Even without the embedded cores, the ring would grant him unparalleled cognitive enhancements. It would make it easier to use £, allowing him to process and stack multiple magic symbols simultaneously.

That alone would give him an unimaginable edge.

But the longer he wore it…

Will I even be myself anymore?

His grip tightened.

I don't have a choice.

If he was to stand against the future calamity, if he was to face Alice, protect Ryan, and survive the challenges ahead… he needed power.

Slowly, he reached forward—

And took the ring.

The moment his fingers brushed against it, a faint hum of energy resonated through the chamber. An ancient, unseen force acknowledging his choice.

His squad watched in silence.

Reyon slipped the ring into his pocket. He wouldn't wear it just yet.

Not until he was sure he could control it.

Marcus' Fate – A Race Against Time

A sudden realization struck him like lightning.

Marcus.

If he was prolonging Cerberus' seal, then he was burning his own life force to sustain it.

Reyon spun around, activating Vector Detection.

Instantly, his mana expanded outward, scanning the ruins—

And there he was.

Near the border of the Middle Zone.

Reyon's eyes widened. "Marcus…"

Without hesitation, he burst into motion, his vectors propelling him forward like a flash of light. His squad shouted behind him, but he didn't stop.

He reached the edge of the battlefield moments later—

And froze.

Marcus stood before the weakening barrier, his body barely recognizable. His face was gaunt, his skin stretched thin like parchment, his hair nearly white. His eyes, once sharp and intense, were now hollow.

Reyon's breath caught in his throat.

"Get away from there!" he shouted. "You'll die at this rate!"

Marcus turned slowly. His lips curled into a faint, tired smile. "That's the idea."

Reyon took a step forward. "You don't have to do this! There has to be another way to strengthen the seal—"

Marcus shook his head. "This is my atonement." His voice was barely a whisper. "We created Cerberus. We brought ruin upon the world. If I can give my life to keep it sealed for even a little longer… then that is the least I can do."

The cracks in the barrier flickered, the seal visibly struggling to contain the immense force pressing against it.

Marcus staggered, his body literally disintegrating, turning into wisps of mana.

Reyon clenched his fists. "There has to be another way!"

Marcus smiled softly. "You remind me of him."

Reyon's eyes widened. "Who?"

Marcus' gaze turned distant. "Leywin Phoenix."

Then—

His body vanished into light.

The cracks in the barrier mended slightly, the oppressive force within growing still—but only temporarily.

Reyon stood frozen.

Marcus was gone.

The seal would hold for another year.

But after that…

Cerberus would break free.

A New Goal – Strength to Face the Future

Reyon clenched his fists. He wasn't strong enough.

To face Cerberus, to retrieve the Ring's components, to protect the people he cared about…

He had to grow stronger.

At the very least—

He needed to reach the 5th Circle.

And that was just the beginning.