Victor had a long dream.
In his dream, he was back on Earth and was about to enjoy a meal with his family. It was a scene from his early college days, a time when life seemed unblemished by complexity. His mother bustled around the kitchen, preparing dishes, while his sister assisted, chopping meat and vegetables. Their laughter filled the air, radiating warmth and happiness, as if no sorrow had ever touched their lives.
Witnessing this familial scene after so long, Victor’s heart clenched with melancholy. He longed to tell them all he had gone through—the adventures he had in the other world, trodding the path of a Magus, and the betrayal he faced at the hands of former comrades. He wished to pour out every detail. Everything.
But as he opened his mouth to speak, the comforting scene before him abruptly dissolved, vanishing as if it had never existed. In its place was an expansive space of nothingness. Darkness enveloped him from all corners, with nothing in sight.
In this empty space, Victor found himself floating… spinning slowly yet out of control. Time seemed to stretch into infinity until, at last, a faint, hazy white light bathed his face. Within that light, a white silhouette of a woman emerged. She had no discernible features—no eyes, no ears, no nose—only a smile was plastered on her face.
As Victor tried to reach out to her, the world plunged back into darkness. Then, a sensation of weightlessness overcame him as he began to fall into an endless abyss, screaming all the while even though nothing came out.
“Aaahh!” Victor jolted upright, his eyes darting around the dim room. The basement was cloaked in shadows, save for a few mana torches and lamps, making him momentarily question if he was still trapped in that dream. “What was that?” The surreal experience echoed within his mind.
It took a moment for him to gather his thoughts and steady his breath, eventually releasing a long sigh of relief. Victor felt an intensifying strength pulsing beneath his skin, accompanied by a substantial increase in his infused mana. “Could this be the opening of my sea of consciousness?” he murmured.
The opening of the sea of consciousness was a clear indication of his successful advancement to an official Magus. It also indicated the expansion of his mind that came along with his ascension. Legends had it that, once it developed to a certain degree, it could be used to store the power or even a chunk of the Primordial Nexus and grant Magi immense power. A power that could be used to obliterate worlds and touch the very brink of immortality.
Still feeling somewhat unsettled, Victor delved into the sea of his consciousness. It was the same boundless, pitch-black expansive space. If Victor didn’t know better, he would have believed that he was transported to the very end of the universe, where even black holes no longer existed. The place was very disheartening.
With a mere thought, Victor began populating the void. Celestial bodies materialized out of the darkness: A radiant sun, orbiting planets, asteroid belts, and trailing comets all appeared, bringing a cosmic spectacle to this once-empty space. Despite their vivid, realistic appearances, these celestial bodies were mere illusions.
Although the Cosmo element was primarily linked to spatial power, it shared a connection with cosmic power. In the days of the Ancient Era, Astrologists—a subset of Magi—harnessed cosmic power to navigate and conquer planes and worlds. Not only that, but this power could also be used to read people’s fate or even the fate of the universe. Unfortunately, it had faded away with time.
Still, the power that he felt from inside and out continuously emanated throughout his whole being. Once he fully grasped the extent of the transformation, Victor grinned as he knew he had successfully advanced into an official Magus!
“Feeling is one thing, but the status screen will confirm the truth.” Having said that, Victor proceeded to open his status screen to see the tangible proof of his newfound power.
Victor Asteriscus
HP: 100%
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MP: 408/408
Power Rank: Elemental Adept Magus
Elemental Affinity: Cosmo (95%) | Anemo (82%) | Pyro (57%)
Mana Aptitude: Inferior bright grade
Meditation Technique: Myriad Elements Method (prototype schematic, -)
Status: Healthy
Strength: (25 → 30)
Agility: (25 → 29)
Vitality: (25 → 31)
Magical Power: (35 → 40)
Infused Mana (total): (255 → 408)
Spell Repertoire: {Blink Step}, {Spatial Mirage}, {Slicing Wind}, {Zephyr Dash}, {Tempest Burst}, {Wind Guard}, {Flame Whip}, {Flame Dart}, {Ember Shield}, {Heat Wave}, {Demonic Eye}
“That’s a huge increase in stats! No wonder everything feels different… The increase even affects my physical figure.” To test his new strength, Victor clenched his fist and threw a punch into the air, resulting in a sharp, explosive sound. “With this kind of power, even if I fight the queen spider barehanded, I’d probably come out on top!”
The improvements to his strength, agility, and vitality stats might have averaged only about five points each, but the impact was far from small. Each point represented a 10 percent increase over his previous total, effectively boosting his overall strength by more than 60 percent. And this was only the beginning!
Granted, he was currently the weakest of the weakest when it came to the rank of Elemental Adept, and he was only slightly stronger than pseudo-Elemental Adept magical beasts like the Queen Lesser Hiveborne Arachnid. However, this rank had six small stages, and each stage would increase the overall stats by leaps and bounds. Alas, with no fully functioning high-rank meditation technique, it would be next to impossible for him to improve.
“Still, it’s said that an Elemental Adept Magus can live for at least two hundred years.” Victor smiled in satisfaction. The added lifespan was one of the compelling reasons why many sought to reach this rank… Magi loved to pursue the truth, and that required a lot of study and experiments to uncover the mysteries of the universe. For those dedicated to relentless experimentation in their quest for truth, even two centuries felt insufficient.
Hehe, I wonder what Graviel Merlin’s and the others’ faces would look like if they learned that I’d become an official Magus. Victor was now anticipating the day that they would meet again.
As he was consumed in these gleeful thoughts, the Master Shadowlink Mark on his left wrist shone, projecting a holographic screen before him. It then came to his attention that there were several notifications from the Academy Inhabitant List, which meant someone with access was contacting him.
In a moment, the screen revealed Lizbeth’s worried face as she spoke. “Master! You’re alive! Was the breakthrough successful? Why did you seal the entrance to the basement floor?! When I saw you fall on your back, I thought you were dead!”
Victor had indeed sealed the entrance to the basement as a precaution to contain his mana fluctuation. This also limited her access to her hologram or through the Shadowlink Mark.
“Easy with the questions there, my little assistant. Yes, it’s a success. I’ve advanced to Elemental Adept rank. Behold of my newfound might!” The smug grin on Victor’s face widened.
“What might? You must be a sicko for willingly taking all that pain.” Lizbeth retorted as she slightly pouted her cheeks, but then her tone softened as she added, “Regardless, seeing you’re alright, I can rest assured. However, I have important news for you while you are away.”
“Oh? Tell me.” He perked up his ear.
“The players’ attempt to conquer the dungeon has failed. It’s all over the official website forum, along with the footage of the scene, with people giving mixed reactions to it. Nevertheless, they are planning another attempt soon.”
That was quite a surprise. Victor had assumed that the players would conquer the dungeon in a single go, but it appeared the Lesser Hiveborne Arachnids were not to be underestimated. On the flip side, there was that special egg in the heart of the nest. The time of its hatching shouldn’t be far away; it was worth checking it at that time. To make sure that the players didn’t destroy it, he had issued a special mission just for that.
“Just leave them be. If anything, I’m pretty sure they’ll succeed soon enough. But now,” Victor’s voice trailed off as he conjured a spatial distortion in his hand, feeling a surge of boundless power. “I’m keen on testing this new strength of mine.”
“What do you plan to do?” The fairy tilted her head.
“Nothing much,” Victor replied nonchalantly, rising to his feet and moving toward the exit. “I’m off to explore the cavern system in the ravine.”
“You don’t mean to…”
“You guessed it. It’s time for ex-term-in-a-tion.” He enunciated each syllable as a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Yet, as Victor reached out to the self-made magic barrier, a vivid memory of his dream resurfaced, prompting him to pause and turn at the holographic screen. “Liz, there’s something important I need your help with.” He told her about his lingering concerns for his only remaining relative on Earth—his sister—and his desire to extend support to her.
Even though there might no longer be any connection between him and his family back on Earth, and the possibility that Simon’s memory might not be truly his, Victor felt a moral obligation to act. Now that he had some money to spare, giving his sister some financial support might not be a bad idea.
“Sure thing. I will see what I can do.” Lizbeth nodded.
“Thank you.”
With that, Victor turned off his Shadowlink Mark and left the basement.
Sorry that it's so sudden, but I have to take 4 days break because my house is in the midst of renovation (like changing wallpaper and stuff), and I have to look over it while doing my day job.
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