Chapter 140: The Labyrinth of Time (3)
Vq7quTess also experienced the absorption of force, but she resheathed her sword without any sign of disarray, having executed her movements flawlessly, including distance control and reaching the peak of acceleration. All eyes were focused on the sphere as the number appeared. 442. It was the first time someone had broken into the 400s.15kdQt
p2zrThe result, however, remained to be seen. Tess looked on without showing any emotion. After a moment, the number vanished, and the sphere turned red.EYytn
cylREc“Sigh, it didn’t work. What a pity.”VRPR
RsTddOTess turned around without hesitation, understanding the frustration of the others who had insisted on trying again, but deeming it beneath her dignity to do the same.Tqy
OmvA2“Damn it! Is this thing really broken? How could a sabre thrust score higher than a bludgeon?”juLn1
AHmZOThe warrior raged. It might wound their pride to be bested by a woman, given their reliance on brute strength, but from Tess’s perspective, it was nothing short of pathetic.0jUoN
NGmn“Why bother arguing over the same failures? And managing strength is completely different from merely increasing it! Instead of just lifting rocks, maybe practice some technique?”EPh
VTv4B6I“What? Are you mocking my strength? Can’t you see these muscles? Do you have anything like this?”SvE
D9ZqTess turned away as if disgusted by the sight.tIl
9Ryp“Is it the end of the line for the swordsmen? Then it’s my turn.”s0GL
f72The archer stepped forward, drawing his longbow.d4uvGE8
nDsq1GeGiven the results so far, it seemed unlikely that physical force alone would yield high scores.zPE
y52Although arrows were also a form of physical attack, the archer was confident. Despite the cost, not demonstrating his skill would invite ridicule.XXxP
nBrSbF0“You’re planning to use that, I see.”jFfLYt3
AC21JAs the mage noted, the archer removed the arrowhead from one of his arrows and took out a distinctively shaped arrowhead from a sturdy leather pouch at his waist.VFXH
ZZUHpThe tip wasn’t sharp but rounded like an almond, and it wasn’t the usual steel color but a violet hue.sfLwo
Nxj“Hmm, good. Shall I give this a try?”GCIBv
Q1TAmy’s eyes lit up at the sight of the unique arrowhead. It was clear that this arrow could deliver a much stronger impact than ordinary ones.Q2s
d9Bs“Look, Shirone, it’s a Magic Energy Bullet.”TLYdlN1
hRwq6u“A what?”VOXlT
VAc6xShirone was familiar with Magic Energy Bullets from his lessons. They were made by infusing magic into Magistone, a rare mineral extracted in tiny amounts from nature.2DI
KbQThe principles behind Magistone’s formation remained a mystery, but its chemical reaction to specific natural phenomena was well established. For example, Magistone related to lightning could be collected from dry highlands or rainforests where thunderstorms were common.84RbMc
3r8XVIFOnce harvested, the mineral exhibited an affinity for certain phenomena, and magi-engineers had succeeded in storing magic within it.FjQ0Sz
4CDHowever, such achievements were merely lab science, far from practical application.wMhpTlT
h54CKTo utilize Magistone in everyday life required material science to convert it into energy and mechanical engineering to consume it in various forms.pFt4
GHyThe entire process from mining to consumer use represented a significant industry, employing numerous people and vast capital.8cJLQV
h4dMgAnd among the top fields in this industry was the creation of lethal weapons, such as Magic Energy Bullets.lCzd0xC
RxMCu“How does it compare to the magic we use?”Vi6GrhQ
4FXUZ“It’s not particularly powerful. The real advantage is that it allows non-mages to use magic. Each of these probably costs about 1 gold, even though the Magistone in an arrowhead weighs only about 10 grams.”T64kb4w
nNRy1jOShirone was astounded. Just one shot cost 1 gold. How much money was spent on the 3,000 archers’ barrage of Magic Energy Bullets mentioned in history books?RVk
td5Pdk“Amazing. I wouldn’t dare to use something that expensive.”iEm
a3XMnd“We’re mages, so it’s natural to think about cost. But in a real battle, having Magic Energy Bullets can be a matter of life and death. A single shot could save you from a hopeless situation.”SiuqzsL
W8g“I see. But you seem to know a lot about it. They don’t teach us this in class.”8MM
ThF3sCV“I only found out recently. My eldest brother visited home because of a deal involving archery units and Magic Energy Bullets. He’s been suspecting corruption in the deal for over a year but couldn’t pinpoint where the money was leaking. Out of curiosity, I asked Nade, and he knew everything from the process to the technology.”Fvp
fW7“Nade? When did you ask him about that?”7TS1LgT
EgU“You were unconscious, and school was suspended. I heard rumors he created an Invisibility Cloak. If he could do that, it’s quite a feat. Nade could probably make Magic Energy Bullets too.”Zoyk
S6b4Xy“What? He can make those expensive things himself?”HbKWJ
KKb“Didn’t you know? Are you really best friends?”6YNsVdQ
uBKKl9M“Ha, well, Nade always shows me weird stuff. Like a never-stopping carriage or a doll that dances twelve funny dances.”PSfh
ZxZa“Having the technology doesn’t mean you can use it. It’s a state monopoly, so without a license, it’s illegal arms manufacturing. Still, ask him to make one for you when you’re bored. If you ask, he’ll probably do it. Magistone can be bought cheaply from the Alchemy Foundation.”tVywF
4E4QLAs Shirone and Amy conversed, the archer disengaged the safety on the Magic Energy Bullet.vW3yNDQ
IUkRmkTImpact-reactive Magic Energy Bullets must always be secured with a safety device when not in a danger zone. An accidental activation from, say, being hit by a carriage could blow off a leg.zUYGO
3UTx“Hey, I’m going to use a Magic Energy Bullet now. It’s called a Lightning Arrow. Stay back, or you might get hit.”siHzE
QI1SFShirone and his group retreated as far as possible within the viewing range. They anticipated the Mysterious Sphere to absorb the magical power, but caution was warranted.OzrLlC
ZDwGJAs the archer drew the bowstring taut, the tension in the air seemed to rise. Then, with a twang, he released, and the arrow whistled as it struck the Mysterious Sphere.XsGPDvD
CT76m3vThe Magic Energy Bullet reacted, unleashing a powerful lightning bolt.TA4U1td
9aNHowever, the blue electricity occurred only within the sphere. As expected, it absorbed even the magical power.P13YGW
E26After about 3 seconds of flashing, the sphere calmed down. Everyone awaited the score, thinking it was worth the cost.oEcXuR
FOt1,020.KgdmW9
uPJA four-digit score appeared, and the archer’s lips curled up.MTOcqx5
rNYbqygYet, the outcome was still a failure. Despite scoring over a thousand, the archer descended from the altar, lamenting the wasted money.t7jYj
9lb“Damn! What a waste of money, huh?”gIc
mYay9v“It’s not entirely a loss. You seem unharmed, at least. Are you okay?”BOi
nttPrompted by Amy’s question, the archer checked his condition. Unlike the swordsmen who felt weakened in their legs, he felt fine.KLg
6cW55S“Huh? Right. It seems the Mysterious Sphere doesn’t drain an archer’s strength. It must only measure impact damage.”jBhVPyj
IABqYCn“That’s another piece of information. Will you try again?”KeYbV76
uvSevThe archer eyed the sphere intently. He was pleased with the high score but was not keen on wasting more money.G0DjZpo
t0K3H“No, thanks. Using different attributes doesn’t seem to make much difference, and it’s unlikely I’ll pass with this. Just a waste of Magic Energy Bullets.”sR5Y
5GfeYAmy easily agreed.xlGsiA
UcfO1Vo“Then it’s the mages’ turn, right? Shirone, who should go first? You or me?”4pGoACK
ApEDThe mercenary mage smirked and pointed at Amy.XNp
DcxLlo“Why don’t you give it a try? I’m next, so we can clearly see who’s stronger.”KWVaz
inZAmy accepted the challenge without hesitation, remembering she still had scores to settle with that woman.AUlQ
Ajn“Alright. Shirone, I’ll go first then?”J0NSx
MxbPrX“Yes, show your skills. Good luck!tsj
uOq05EShirone believed Amy had a chance. Her specialty was attack magic, particularly the fire element, and her Target Type emphasized single-shot power.82Fk1
5LACFire element magic has always been a powerhouse in the magic world due to its destructive capability, despite the myriad of magic types and trends.aLSA4f
ucvAHowever, Amy proceeded with caution, calculating which spell to cast while standing at the altar.o3r
CNX“It’s trickier than I thought. Sniper Mode is too close for comfort. Should I just go with a Target Type attack? But that might reduce the power.”y93XT
CElQUnlike the Absolute Zero limit of the Ice element, the Fire element had no upper limit on temperature increase.uRCP
mhCUMany mages chose fire for its limitless potential, but even high-level ones struggled to breach the 1,000C barrier.3p94O
ity8IYet, fire remained powerful because most things on the planet were under its dominion.iFhj22
kannOQLife, trees, and most metals except iron succumbed to heat energy.wXZkMz
VJX7OGHowever, no element is perfect, and fire magic had its downside: lightness.fybop
1H8Despite its enormous energy, its impact was lacking. This is often compensated by incorporating Air elements to enhance impact, with Flame Strike being a prime example.QqXTm
HYwlN“But Flame Strike becomes more powerful with distance. Maybe focusing on fire would be better in this case?”t93MQLn
4X2KMConsidering the Mysterious Sphere measured both impact and magical power, opting for a Pure Type that could purely increase temperature might be a strategic move.Brcut2
vT7Zmi2Deciding on her approach, Amy settled on “Fireball.”4qb
CqsTwo flames ignited in her palms. Originally spherical, they took on a droplet shape due to the nature of fire, soaring upwards.Muy
2zK3jThe density of magically created fire differed from real fire, allowing fire mages to control its density and thus its temperature. Higher temperatures also meant a wider range of the flame.AeRJ
GGq8u1Amy twirled her wrists, holding the flames, and launched a lava-red fireball, trailing like a comet.MaT
0NM1As the fire engulfed the Mysterious Sphere, it seemed to inhale the blaze, creating a whirlwind of flames within.vZXtX
mrqlErThe score finally appeared, drawing gasps from the crowd.L5F
IgP3,270.AZYz8EO
XweQWZIt was a record-breaking score, and it seemed unlikely to be surpassed given the results so far.Gp2mtB
Q0LjQnThe archer realized Shirone’s group was not just ordinary students. His Lightning Arrow, enhanced by a Magic Energy Bullet, scored 1,020. But a basic spell like Fireball tripled that power, indicating a significant difference in magical levels.dmRleD
vAjie2tBut Amy frowned deeply. Despite the high score, the Mysterious Sphere fiercely emitted a red light, indicating failure.RxhS
Yjy“What the hell? What more does it want?”vR63T1
UkgsFUTFrustration boiled over at the unexpected failure.GtGX
pcM“Ho ho ho! Is it my turn now, after the kid?”jiTJHd
SqYnxaf“Hold on! I’ll try Sniper Mode. I’ll settle this once and for all today.”ssyqle
kkAIShirone approached with a sympathetic smile, knowing Amy’s competitive spirit would not allow her to step down without a direct intervention.D1HXmC
MqeGC7s“Calm down first. Anger will only scatter your focus and lower your score.”eBK2A
veQ5lW“Argh, seriously! Shirone, I’m definitely trying again, okay?”Y51M3
MoaAs Amy returned to the altar, the mercenary mage looked back at her.9DHmCj
046“How coincidental, another fire mage? I specialize in fire magic too. To match your level, I’ll also use Fireball.”4PpFb
e1PtwmHah, as if you had a choice.”VKC21
93zAmy snorted dismissively. After all, losers shouldn’t talk back. She was annoyed even at the thought of responding.cOnfu
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