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Infinite Mage Chapter 65: The Unseen (4)

Chapter 65: The Unseen (4)

Siena​‌‍ just gave up‍ trying to come‍‌ up with something⁠ and apologized to⁠ Alpheas.

Im​​ sorry, Headmaster.

Hoho,‌⁠‌ it was a difficult task. Isnt​⁠ supernatural psychic science‌⁠​ supposed to be⁠ something like this?​‍ Dont stress over‍‍​ it.

Ill‌‍ make sure to​​ give them a warning.

Alpheas‌‍‌ raised his hand‌‌‍ as if to⁠ say it was⁠‍​ okay and walked‍‌ toward the door.​ And just before⁠​‍ leaving through the‌⁠ door, he turned‍​ and looked at⁠​‍ the empty stage.⁠

Hidden‍‌ behind his beard,‌‌​ the corner of‍‌ his lips rose.​⁠

If⁠​‍ things ended with‌ just this, Im‌‌ sure you wouldnt‍⁠ have even started​⁠​ the whole thing.‍ Am I right,⁠‌ Shirone?

* * *

Regardless‍​‍ of the audiences‍⁠‌ reaction, Shirones group​‌​ rushed to the‌ research group room.​‌‌

Good.‍ We passed step‌ 1 with no‍ incident! The real‌ show starts now.‌​​

They⁠ bought into it,⁠⁠⁠ right?

Yeah.‍ I could tell​ just from their​ eyes.

Contrary‌​‌ to students expectations,​​ the presentation ended‍⁠ blandly, but that‍ didnt matter to⁠‌ Shirones group.

The​‌‌ presentation was only​‍ a way for⁠‌ them to convey‍‍⁠ keywords. What they​ truly aimed for‌⁠​ with the presentation‌​ was to plant⁠ a seed of‍‌ small doubt in​ the audiences mind.‍

Nade‍‍​ arrived at the⁠ lab and started‍​⁠ undressing.

Shirone,​ its up to​ you from now​⁠ on. Youre literally‍⁠​ the engine of‍ this operation.

Okay.​ Let me meditate⁠ for a little‍‌ bit.

Nade​ and Yirukis results‌​ were visible, but‍​⁠ in Shirones case,​‌⁠ there were many‌​‍ variables that came​⁠ into play. He​​‌ had no choice​‌‌ but to simply‍ believe in himself,‍⁠‌ recalling the past‌⁠‍ month of training.⁠⁠

They⁠‍ had six hours‍‍⁠ left.

In‌‍ order to reach‌‌​ the best condition,​⁠‍ Shirone started the‌ Sequence method.

One,‍ two, three

His⁠‌ friends left him​​ alone so that‌ they wouldn’t bother‍‍‍ him.

As‌ aspiring mages, they​ knew what it​⁠ meant to maintain⁠‍ Photon Output for‌‌ more than 10​‌ minutes.

They​ still had things⁠ left to do.​‌

Yiruki‌ had to set⁠⁠‍ up the hologram‌‍ control device while‌⁠ Nade had to‌ overhaul the central‍⁠​ device that transmitted⁠⁠ photon signals.

And‌⁠ with that, midnight‌ approached.

Sitting​​‌ in the dark‍⁠ laboratory where no​⁠‍ one was present‍‌ was Shirone. He‌‌ slowly opened his⁠‍‍ eyes.

After‌‌ five hours of‍ the Sequence method,‍​ his mind was⁠‍​ comparable to a well-honed sword.

The⁠​​ door opened.

Its‍‌ time.

Nade⁠⁠⁠ said.

Shirone​ remained motionless for⁠‍⁠ a long time.‍

Then⁠⁠ he suddenly stood​‍ up and left​‌⁠ the lab after⁠‍ Nade like a gladiator heading into⁠‍ the Colosseum.

The‌​ central device was‌‌ installed in the⁠‍ path of the‍‍‌ sewage system that‌​⁠ ran under the⁠‌‍ park.

Thick​ optical fibers came⁠ up to the​ ground, where they‌​‍ were again dispersed⁠ into hundreds of​⁠ strands through multi-adapters​ and spread throughout‍​‌ the academy.

There‌ were about 300‍ holographic devices spread⁠​ throughout the academy.​‌⁠

Shirone‍⁠​ admired Nades tenacity,​⁠⁠ but he also‍​⁠ felt bad for​​ him as he​‍ could feel the​ amount of pressure‍‌ that must have‍‌ been on his‍‌⁠ shoulders.

He‌‌‍ had achieved his​⁠ goal, but it‌​ was his first‍‍‌ time trying it​ out for real.⁠ No one knew‍‍ if unexpected variables‍‍‍ would come into⁠ play.

With‌ ten minutes left​‌​ until midnight, Shirone​⁠ walked in front‌ of the huge⁠⁠ central device.

It​‌ was ten times⁠‍ bigger than the⁠ prototype and looked⁠​‍ like a monster⁠ with several legs.​

Shirone⁠ grabbed the output‍​ terminal that looked⁠‍ like a crystal⁠ ball and waited​ while Yiruki checked‌ the time.

He‌ could not be‌⁠‍ too fast, nor‍⁠ too slow. It‍ was important to‌⁠‍ start right at​ midnight.

5 minutes left. Lets⁠‌ begin.

Shirone⁠ took a deep‌ breath.

His‌ eyes calmed, and‌⁠ even his face⁠​ was devoid of⁠​​ any expression.

Now.‍‍​

With⁠​ Yirukis signal, Shirones​ Sequence method sped‌ up at a tremendous rate.

Photon‌ Output!

Yiruki​⁠‌ and Nades eyes⁠ widened as light⁠‍ exploded from both⁠ hands.

They‍ knew Shirone had‍‍‌ achieved his goal,‍​ but it was⁠ their first time‍​ seeing him in⁠⁠ action.

More!⁠⁠ Stronger!

When​‌ Shirone reached his‌⁠‌ highest output, Nade‍‌ ran to the⁠‌ device and checked‌⁠‍ the transfer efficiency.‍

His​⁠ eyes were as‌​​ wide as saucers.‌‍

T-This‍​

Yiruki​‌‍ asked frustratedly.

Why?‌ Whats the percentage?⁠‍⁠

17.⁠⁠‍

What?​‌

That‍‌⁠ was low. Much⁠‌ lower than what⁠​​ they had expected.​​

Nade‍⁠​ didnt know where​ it went wrong,‍​ but he didnt‍‌ have time to‌ look into it.⁠‌​ If they couldnt​ do it now,​⁠​ it was over.⁠

Shirone⁠‍​ had a hunch‌​ from the start.‌

Too‍‍ big. The radius‌ is too wide.‌⁠

* * *

* * *

The⁠​​ moment he cast​​ Photon Output, it​‌‍ felt like he‌‌‌ was pouring water‌‍ into a bottomless‍‌​ pot.

There‌ is no way​ the calculations were‍​ wrong. The only‌ possibility is that‌‍​ theres something wrong‌‌ with the products⁠‌​ stability.

Checking‌ a products stability‍ required cutting-edge technology,‍‍ and that was​ something the current‌​ Nade could not‌‍‍ create.

Of​ course, there was‍⁠ no way the‍​‌ Kings Committee was‍​‌ fooled. It was⁠ just that optical‌⁠⁠ fiber was still​⁠ a material that‌​ was being researched​ and developed. It‍‌ was not even‌ commercially available yet.⁠‍

Eeuuuk!‌‍​

Shirone​⁠⁠ gave it his‌‌ all, but the‌‌ output efficiency stayed⁠ stagnant at 17%.‌

Yiruki⁠‌ shook his head.‍‍​

Its‍ a failure.

Even‌​​ if he operated‌‍⁠ the device in​​ this state, the‍​ hologram would break⁠ and shatter like‍⁠⁠ glass.

Three​ minutes later, Nade‌‍ gave a sad‌‍ smile.

Although​‌⁠ they failed, he‍‍ was proud of⁠ Shirone for reaching‌ an impossible goal⁠‌ with great effort.‌‍⁠

Nade⁠‌‌ blamed the whole​‌‌ situation on his​‌​ ignorance and incompetence,​⁠ for he was⁠ unable to discern​ the defects in​‍ the optical fiber.⁠‍​

Shirone,⁠ thats enough. We​‍ did well. So⁠‌ lets stop here.⁠‌

Shirone​⁠‌ did not reply.‍

To‌‌‌ be honest, he‌‍​ was overwhelmed with‌​ anger and frustration.⁠⁠⁠

This​‌ was a project‌‍ the three of‍⁠‍ them had worked‍‌⁠ on together. They‌‌​ gave it their‍ all for weeks,​⁠​ so how could‌⁠ all their work​‌‌ up to this‌‍ point be for‍ nothing? How could​ it end just​ like this? Shirone​‍⁠ couldnt let that‌‍ happen. He was​⁠​ not going to‌‌ admit defeat.

I want to win.‌​ I want to‌‌⁠ succeed.

Shirone​​ clenched his eyes‌‍⁠ shut.

Because​ he had yet​ to pour everything⁠ into it.

The‍ light that illuminated‌ from his hand‌‍‍ began to gradually⁠⁠ swell and cover‍ his whole body.⁠‍

N-No⁠‍ way.

Nade​⁠⁠ read Shirones thoughts.​​⁠

Immortal​⁠⁠ Function.

Shirone⁠​‌ had ended up​ crossing into the‌ forbidden realm once⁠‌ again, despite knowing​ doing so could​ end with him‌‌ losing everything.

Shirone!‌​​ Stop! Dont do⁠‌⁠ it!

Nade‍⁠ and Yiruki both​‌ rushed in to​‍​ stop him, but​‍​ Shirones mind, which‌‌ was heading towards‍​ Nirvana, was not​ damaged by moderate‍ physical impact.

The⁠‌‌ light that was‌‍ growing in size‌‍ swallowed his body‌​ and lit up⁠⁠ the sewer.

The⁠⁠ more the light‌⁠‌ brightened and grew,⁠​ the more Shirone‍‌⁠ faded.

Worried​⁠ that Shirone was‍ going to disappear,‌ Nade exclaimed.

Shirone!​ Please, stop! We‍⁠ cant lose you!‍ We can always‍⁠ give up the⁠ research group, so⁠ please stop!

N-Nade‌​

Lets⁠ stop! End it‌⁠‍ right now!

The‌⁠​ corners of Shirones‍‍ lips crept up​ softly.

Im​‍‍ not running away.‌‌

Then,​ as Shirone closed​⁠ his eyes gently,⁠​​ a huge light‍​‌ exploded and filled⁠‍⁠ the inside of‌ the tunnel.

His⁠ mind spread to​⁠‌ infinity, and with‍⁠ that, everything that⁠⁠⁠ constituted him began⁠‌⁠ to fade.

Ill⁠​‌ continue straight like‍‌ this.

This‌‍ was also what​ Armin taught him.⁠‍‍

The⁠ countless fragments of⁠​​ knowledge that he‌​ had acquired from​⁠⁠ the realm of‌‍⁠ infinity had been‍‍ transformed into an‌⁠ esoteric monster.

A monster called mystery.‍

It⁠⁠‌ may have only‌⁠ been a personal‍⁠ image, something his​ mind constructed, but​ it still inflicted​ fear beyond imagination‌‍‍ in him.

The‍ monster chewed and​⁠ swallowed Shirone. In​‍ the midst of‍​⁠ feeling like he​ was dissolving into​‌‌ pieces, his memories‌​⁠ scattered. Life so⁠ far was just​​ as meaningless as‌ it was 100⁠‍‌ million years ago.‍‌

No.⁠ I have to‍‍ remember.

Who‍ he was, and​⁠ where he lived.‌

The‍⁠ moment he lost​⁠ his ego, he‌⁠ would never be‍⁠ able to return‍ from the infinite​‍‌ realm.

HEEUUK!‌‍‍

Shirone​ held out for​‌ dear life.

If​‌​ Shirone had done⁠​‍ this back during⁠‍ the Speed Gun‍⁠ exam, he would⁠ have already given‌ up.

Just‍‌‍ a little more​‌‌

But​‍​ the Shirone of⁠ today was better.​ His mind was‍ stronger.

The‍ Immortal Function strengthened‍ a person, but​⁠​ it was also​‌ a poison that​⁠⁠ destroyed a person.‍​‍ Shirone was walking‌ on a tightrope.‍⁠​ If he made‌‌⁠ a single mistake,‌‍ everything that he⁠‌⁠ was would go‍ down the drain.⁠‍

Shirone‌ opened his eyes‌‌ when most of⁠ his memories evaporated⁠​ and the will‌‍ to live disappeared.​⁠

This‍⁠​ is exactly the​ place!

The⁠‍‍ Spirit Zone that‍ swelled endlessly returned‍⁠‌ to its original‌⁠ size at a frightening pace. In⁠⁠‍ contrast, the Photon⁠ Output was increasing⁠ in power dramatically.⁠‌

Then⁠​​ Shirone cried out.‌‌

Output!⁠⁠

Shirone,⁠​‍ are you okay?​ Are you unscathed?‍​

Check​⁠​ the output first!​

Nade‌⁠ jumped and looked‌ back at the​⁠​ instrument panel.

Output‌⁠​ efficiency at 22%.⁠‌‍

The⁠‍‍ efficiency that wasnt‍‌ moving an inch⁠⁠‌ earlier was rising.‌‌

Its‌‍ working! Its going​‌ up, Shirone!

Arrgghh!​‍

Shirone,‌ who overcame the​‍ mental pain with‍‍ pure will, injected​‌‌ more powerful light‍ into the crystal⁠‍‌ ball.

Output⁠‍ efficiency at 36%!⁠

Shirones‍‍‌ Spirit Zone trembled⁠​ terribly.

Even​‌‌ with his excellent‍⁠ durability, the enormous⁠‍ mental power flooding‌⁠ from the infinite⁠ realm was almost⁠ too much for‌​⁠ him to handle.‍

AAAHHHHHHHH!‍⁠

Output‍ efficiency at 59%.⁠‍⁠

The​ cold-hearted Yiruki couldnt‌‍⁠ hide his excitement.⁠‌‌

Shiro!​‍ A little more!‌

The⁠ shaking of the⁠‌​ needle in the⁠ instrument seemed to​​ reflect Shirones current​ mentality.

Its​ difficult to stay​ focused!

Shirone​‌​ bit his lips‍⁠‌ and transformed his‍ Spirit Zone into‌⁠ the Defensive Form.‌⁠​ As his frame⁠ became entangled, a cracking sound could‍ be heard.

CRACK!‌ CRACK! CRACK!

The​ longer Shirone held⁠⁠​ out, the stronger‌⁠ the light exponentially​‍ became.

Output​‍‌ efficiency at 87%.‍​

EEEUUUUGGHHH!​​

His​ mind trembled, and​‍​ his brain shook.‍‌

Only‍⁠ now did Shirone‌ truly realize just‍ how amazing of​⁠ a mage Armin‍⁠ was. Incorporating the‍⁠ concept of infinity‌⁠ into one’s mind‍ was more overwhelming‌‌​ than entering Nirvana.​‍⁠ One could lose​​‍ their life under⁠‌ the weight of​ the powerful force.⁠‌

ARRGHH!⁠

As⁠ soon as Shirone​ squeezed out the‍​ last bit of‍​​ will he had​ in him, the​⁠‍ lamp of the‍ core lit up‍‍​ red.

Output‌‌​ efficiency at 100%.‍‌

Nade⁠​⁠ shuddered.

How​ absurd

All‌ right! Yiruki, start‌​⁠ it!

Yiruki,‍⁠ who was watching‌‍ in fascination, hurriedly​‍⁠ pressed the button⁠ of the remote​⁠ control device.

The‍⁠ light that climbed‌​ up the optical‍ fiber spread to‍ hundreds of strands​ on the ground,​⁠ wrapping around the​⁠ academy like a huge spider.

Ding.‍‌ Ding. Ding.

The‍​ sound of the​ bell that indicated​ midnight was heard.‍‌

* * *

Maria‌ was studying at‍ the lodging when​​​ she stretched after‍⁠ hearing the bell.⁠⁠‍

Its‌⁠‌ already 12 oclock.‌‌ Time really flies.‍

Then,‍‌‍ she remembered the‍ presentation and froze⁠ in her stretching⁠ position.

Frequency‌‍ of souls Midnight.⁠⁠

She​ shook her head.‍

Gosh,​​‌ what am I thinking? Even if‍⁠ its Senior Shirone⁠ How could a ghost

The​ more she tried‍ to erase her⁠⁠ mind from such⁠‌‌ thoughts, the more⁠​‌ she couldnt help​⁠⁠ but be bothered.​‌‍ She even imagined⁠ the ghost from‌‌ the presentation.

Haaa⁠ What, useless thoughts.⁠‌​

Shirone‌‌‌ knew that if⁠‌ they planted the⁠⁠​ key points into‍ the minds of​‍‌ the spectators, the‌ rest wouldnt be​⁠ too hard.

If‍​​ the frequency of‍ our soul is‌‍‌ set right, we​​ can see ghosts​‍ from then on?‌​ Then that means‌ from today, Ill‍​⁠ be able to‍‍

She​⁠ couldnt stop thinking‍⁠‌ about it, so‌‍ she headed towards‌ the window to‍⁠‌ try and forget​​ about it.

And​⁠‍ from where she‌‍ stood, Maria saw‌​ someone walking in‌​ the air.

Her‌‌ heart stopped working‍ for a minute.‌

Th-That⁠ Thats

Then⁠‌‌ her heart started⁠​ to accelerate.

What⁠​ was outside of‌​​ Marias window was‍⁠‍ an old corpse⁠⁠⁠ with half of‍ its face rotten.​

Her‍​ chin wobbled when⁠​⁠ the body missing⁠‌⁠ an eye turned​‌⁠ its head and⁠‍ opened its mouth​ wide as if‍​‌ it was about‍ to scream something‌‍ out.

KYYYAAAAAAAAAAAA!‍⁠‌

She​ let out a deafening scream, but‍ nobody heard it.‌‌‌

Because‌‍ the same kind‍‌ of scream was​‌‍ emanating from room⁠ to room down⁠​⁠ the hallway.

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