MTLNOVEL Chapter 18: Chapter 18
Leylin sat in stillness, feeling the potent surge of energy coursing through his veins. The breakthrough had changed something fundamental within him.
His body pulsed with newfound vigor, but more importantly, he sensed the Life Seed—a dormant core of energy nestled deep within him. Once activated, it would envelop his entire being, granting him unparalleled vitality and raw physical strength.
He exhaled slowly, steadying himself. Power was intoxicating, but it was also a reminder—there were still those far beyond his reach. This knowledge did not weaken him; rather, it fanned the flames of his ambition.
Standing up, he patted the dust from his robe and walked toward the small corner of his dormitory where he had arranged a modest study area. A wooden table stood there, cluttered with scrolls, ink bottles, and candle stubs. He sat down, retrieving a spellbook he had purchased from the tradepost.
Leylin had already mastered its contents, but mastery was not enough. He aimed to refine, modify, and evolve the spell—to push it beyond its limits.
The flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows across the pages as he delved into his studies with relentless fervor. His quill danced across parchment, noting intricate variations, optimizing energy flow within the spell model, and hypothesizing ways to enhance its effectiveness.
Unlike ordinary acolytes who celebrated each breakthrough with joy, Leylin only felt an insatiable hunger for more. Success was nothing but a step on an endless staircase, and the knowledge that stronger beings existed tormented him. He would not be content until he stood head and shoulders above all others.
The Abyssal Bone Forest Academy fostered such ambitions, though in its own peculiar way. The education system was loose—far from the structured learning environments of mortal scholars. Here, students sought out individual mentors, hoping to learn directly from powerful Magi.
However, the academy merely provided the land and the most basic services. The truly valuable knowledge lay hidden behind personal tutelage, and gaining the favor of a professor was rare. For most, magical advancement was a solitary journey, and the only guaranteed source of power was through trade, missions, and bloodshed.
Unlike some acolytes from Magus family who had access to steady resources, Leylin received no free magic crystals, although he does get favoutism from Dorotte but nothing for free.
There were no monthly stipends, no handouts—everything had to be earned.
To obtain magic crystals, most acolytes had to risk their life in missions beyond the academy's walls. The world of Magi adhered strictly to the principles of fair trade—strength was the only currency that mattered.
Over the next dozen days, Leylin threw himself into his studies with unmatched focus. He analyzed spell models with precision, searching for efficiencies others had overlooked. He also began purchasing alchemical materials, using them to craft and sell intricate runes—a reliable means of accumulating magic crystals.
Yet, Leylin had already made a firm decision—he would not leave the academy for a mission until he reached Acolyte Level 3.
He leaned back in his chair, his fingers absentmindedly tapping the wooden surface as he calculated his timeline.
"It has been nine months since I began my acolyte journey under Dorotte… and six months since I broke through to Level 2. At my current rate, it should take me around nine to ten months to accumulate enough runes and magic crystals to promote to Level 3."
If he were like other acolytes, he would have to rely on extremely expensive spiritual energy-stimulating potions to hasten his progress. But Leylin had no intention of following the common path.
"In place of experience potions, I can use the blood of magical creatures—especially those with high spiritual energy. Should I prepare another ritual?"
He frowned slightly. The Blood-rabid Mole ritual had worked, but he had only been able to suppress its side effects because of the creature's low-tier nature. Stronger magical beasts would pose a greater risk.
"No… there's no need. Rituals are dangerous. Instead, I can simply use the Cursed Bloodline Codex to extract and absorb blood essence directly."
A deep red glow flickered in Leylin's eyes—a predatory gleam akin to the Blood-rabid Mole itself. He inhaled sharply, suppressing the influence immediately.
There was no need to overuse the altar's power. The Codex's absorption ability alone was already a tremendous advantage.
Unlike other Magi, who required meticulous alchemical refinement to balance spiritual energy, extract essence, and master potion-making through countless failures, Leylin could bypass the entire process.
"While others spend years perfecting their craft, I simply consume, absorb, and evolve. The world of Magi demands efficiency—and I will master it in my own way."
He smirked slightly, closing his spellbook. His path was set, and his goals were clear.
Nothing would stand in his way.
...
One afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Leylin made his way toward the spell experimentation area, a facility built at the leftmost wing of the academy.
Unlike the more frequently visited sections of the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, this place was remote, its white marble walls standing tall in eerie silence. These walls were heavily reinforced, inscribed with ancient runes that Leylin immediately recognized—one designed for radiation isolation, ensuring that stray magic did not contaminate the surroundings, and another meant to fortify the structure, preventing the academy from being reduced to rubble by careless spellcasting.
The entrance was guarded by a counter, where a large, bald man greeted Leylin with a jovial smile. It was evident that the man handled registrations for spell testing, his sharp eyes instantly assessing Leylin's intent.
"Are you here to test your spells?" the man inquired, his tone professional but laced with underlying enthusiasm.
Leylin nodded. "Yes."
"There are two types," the man explained. "Acolytes are only permitted to use the acolyte section, which is divided into shared and single rooms. Shared rooms mean working alongside others—you might experience interruptions, but it's affordable. Single rooms, on the other hand, are far more private, equipped with specialized measuring devices that can analyze spell performance in real time. However, they cost significantly more."
Leylin barely hesitated. "I want a single room."
The baldy's eyes gleamed, sensing a promising client. "Okay, it would cost one magic crystal for three hours."
Leylin pulled a magic crystal from his pouch and placed it on the counter. "Here."
"Quite straight forward." The bald man registered his information swiftly, then handed him a black crystal pass. "Here. Room number twenty-seven."
Leylin accepted the pass and strode into the spell experimentation corridor. The white marble walls, lined with glowing runes, pulsed faintly with magical energy. The silence was almost unnatural. Though he passed several occupied rooms, not a single sound escaped from within. Only the rhythmic sound of his own footsteps echoed against the stone floor.
As expected, the noise isolation enchantments were highly effective.
Upon locating Room 27, Leylin raised the black crystal pass to the designated slot on the door panel.
Ka-cha!
A mechanical female voice rang out in greeting. "Welcome. You have three hours. Please take note of the allocated time."
Stepping inside, Leylin immediately observed the vastness of the testing chamber. The sheer scale was surprising—nearly the size of a Quidditch field. Positioned at the center were several human-shaped targets, each clad in different types of armor—leather, metal, and fur. On the far-right wall, a large screen stood alongside a panel that displayed operational instructions.
A quick scan of the instructions revealed the facility's core function: a Magus could unleash spells upon a target, and the system would automatically record and analyze the attack's power output.
Leylin marvelled. "An advanced system, to measure magical powers. The studies of magic and it's associated research is very deep in this world."
Before casting spells, he decided to test his raw physical strength after breakthrough to Knight Realm. He stepped forward, muscles tightening beneath his robe, and positioned himself before one of the white-colored targets clad in leather armor. Taking a deep breath, he drew power into his arm and struck.
Bang!
A solid impact shook the target as his fist sank into the leather, leaving behind a faint but visible impression.
Immediately, the screen flickered, displaying real-time data.
Classification: Physical Attack.
Degree of Power: 3.
Damage to Target: Low to Moderate.
Leylin raised an eyebrow. "3?"
The "Degree of Power" measurement was a universal standard among Magi, used to quantify magical and physical force. A single unit, as recorded, equated to the full energy output of one gram of a magic crystal.
Leylin cracked his knuckles, his expression unreadable.
"Now… let's see how my magic fares."