Chapter 74: Dream On (3)
79CYou should have kept pushing! Dont you know that the more trials you run, the less the error becomes?GyuoMD
xGy0But we needed bullets for that! Following your strategy, we could have ended up staking even the house deed!1U3vb
yD3See, thats the point! Nothing in this world can be infinitely consumed! Energy is no exception!zQl
L6yGWhy are you bringing that up now?DGdH
74TdDfEHahaha!nkg
KUrShirone burst into laughter. Everyone striving towards their dreams is united in purpose. Thus, success and failure are merely secondary.1SixV
9sUdj6aEven if the world points fingers, calling it a pointless endeavor, or mocks them as idealists unable to support a family, humanity has progressed to this point precisely because someone chose to take on those challenges.KDTgrTV
fwL4hw1It’s okay if its not me. Even if I become just a stepping stone for someone else, I don’t mind.5l3Vz9
xJfShirone stopped worrying. He felt thankful for all the luck that had shaped him, deciding to keep moving towards his dreams.Q0m0zop
2BAZFIbYiruki, puzzled, asked, Shirone, why have you been grinning like that since a while ago? Did you eat something weird?L72jbfR
F9zShirone shook his head without answering, reaffirming his determination as he walked.PEU19i
qi3tKIm back, guys.YcSJcs
jkQJ5RtTwo days were left until the suspension was lifted.ljK
p1lfNade and Yiruki arrived at the 4th training field early at dawn, waiting for Shirone.Sw5CP
ahsc0rMIt was early, but bright due to summer, and both yawned continuously, eyes fixed on the entrance.AK2x
9eFtRubbing his sleepy face, Nade complained, Ah, whats this? Calling us out so early.YliYwhp
CyzINjDidnt he say he had something to show us?E0Nc7
TdZFgcjWhats there to show all of a sudden? Weve already seen enough to be overwhelmed.eZEQgt
wREMaybe he tattooed his wee…ZBmex
haIdPuhahaha!2kWxI
hzgeHImagining what Yiruki said, Nade burst into laughter. Meanwhile, Shirone entered the training field.oCOp
kFXjVWKAh, you were already here. But why is Nade like that?Jnj
8fvskjFDunno. Maybe because hes a pervert.PLSiCX
yVwjkPuhahaha! Tattoo! A tattoo there! Puhahaha!INq
lmRfAnxious, Shirone didnt ask. It must be some silly joke they were sharing.PDjT
8I5Anyway, let’s start. Im eager to show you.uZvQ4sJ
78PCWhat are you showing? A tattoo? Puhahaha!rhDx9Lg
gXW96Yiruki spoke with a look of disdain, Stop it. Its not funny anymore. But why did you call us here? What do you want to show?n6G8v1
5zKzJust wait. Ill show you right now.dKzufxg
3tVLth8Shirone walked to the center of the training field and extended his hand towards the rock mountain.OzsQ
4heFuWhats this? Photon Output? Did you increase its output?FaivZ3
dN8XwShirone executed the Photon Canon. A white flash swiftly passed before Nade and Yirukis eyes.0xMpMBt
4O62lzZBoom!tdNyq
3NhCcpyWith a dull roar, the rock exploded.lqirT5
hmMQja8Nade and Yiruki, who had been nonchalant moments ago, were now wide-eyed, jaws dropped.GFlFK
iQ8Om2The impact area on the rock was flattened. They ran over to inspect the aftermath.Z2IxsI
Q5vWha-whats this? Magic? Or real magic?E1UhT
4AUjThats odd. To embody impact in light. I know photon types cant be fused, but what happened here, Shirone?lFNfB
rMjProud, Shirone explained, This is my new weapon, not Photon Output but Photon Canon.vbyE1
X2s9609Photon Canon, huh? Sounds plausible. But how does it work?fSE
J1PnWell it’s a bit long to explain.W0fXNQ
0gKPXWhen Shirone hesitated, Nade rushed over, shaking his shoulder with an incredulous expression.vdedVa
7t1waltHurry up and tell me! How did you do it? Imbuing physical force into light, thats absolutely impossible!Duj
6vPiNade, with his affinity to electricity and light, understood the gravity of Shirones achievement.OLRZhCv
O7ufIll tell you. But… would you mind coming somewhere with me?4IYJ
nnHrShirones group entered a restaurant in the noble district. As they filled up on seafood pasta, Shirone narrated how he discovered Photon Canon.3DRgF
aepThe story spanned from the swirling dust above his bed, the incident of throwing Ulk off the cliff, to the moment he realized the principle of Photon Canon.Fh7
DZRgEven without mentioning Armin, Photon Canon was entirely Shirones original concept, making it easy to explain.mW9
UXBNade and Yiruki listened intently, forgetting to eat their pasta.JDRsU
eYmPAfter an hour-long explanation, absorbed in thought, Yiruki put down his fork and said, Gauge symmetry, Ive heard about it from my father. It boils down to this: there exists a separate particle that transmits mass, right? And youve managed to control it.SXeKg
0mYEqZShirone realized anew how extraordinary Yirukis father must be. To teach his son about gauge symmetry, a cutting-edge theory in magic society, was impressive for the leader of the Thunder Dragons.wWua77E
jpDA3sJNade added, In short, the product of Immortal Function is mass. And with Photon Canon, youve also rid yourself of the Mourning Sensation.Dunav
IJ8mYeah. I dont have nightmares anymore either.rH2Ap
5Z2QhmkYiruki and Nade sank into contemplation. Particles that transmit mass to matter – Shirones realization was monumental.Dsre4UB
m1X09Especially, Photon Canon was a magic unique to Shirone. No one else could perform Omnipotence with two particles, and without experiencing the Infinite Realm directly, even mastering Omniscience wouldnt suffice.Xk9vr
YMi2VSOIts incredible, Shirone. This might be more significant than we can imagine. If you patent this, you could sit on a gold mine right away!ZbqW
eDaOQIZNades mind was already brimming with inventions that could be realized using Shirones theory.sjahV4w
Lq9vThats why I want to ask you for a favor. Would you accompany me to the library?rn11
MdqThe library?qcKAP
qryvI cant enter the school library during suspension. Thats why I want to visit the nobles library. I want to further research Photon Canon. But I cant get in, so I need you guys to take me.DUim
UiFHThats fine. It will be beneficial for us too. But why cant you go in alone?wEmbA
hGtCommoners are not allowed to enter the noble library. He could use the school library once his suspension was lifted, but after his experience in the Firefield Village, he realized denying his identity changed nothing. He wanted to be honest with his friends at least.ev4WOr
uSIdwEKThe truth is, Im not a noble.zNcQVQ
A7bYNade, who was munching on pasta, stopped and stared blankly. Yiruki also looked at Shirone in shock.Ur5
HWhOFfIm a commoner. I was abandoned in a stable when I was young and was raised by my current parents. My father is a simple lumberjack.cRO
NL2rmEntering the magical world late, who would have thought he was a commoner, especially abandoned by his birth parents? This revelation did not match the untroubled demeanor Shirone always carried.bgX6w
eiZIm sorry I didnt tell you until now. Ill accept any criticism. But I didnt want to hide it anymore.wnyD
WBRs0LNade and Yiruki looked at each other, their eyes conveying mutual understanding.0dS4xWu
fGHYiruki was the first to speak, It’s a shocking revelation. But honestly, it doesnt change much. Youre still Shirone.DjBGZm
dGvyI feel the same. If we had known from the start, maybe, but hearing it now changes nothing. The times weve shared together arent just going to disappear.OtzDtFe
sX9RDfShirone had hoped his friends would understand, but it was only a personal expectation. Receiving their acceptance, he felt deeply moved.9iu
dork7QYiruki chuckled, bowing his head, So, thats why it was a special admission. You learned magic late because you werent a noble. Talent doesnt come with ones birth status. Youre truly remarkable.58W
xw5O5yThanks. I appreciate you saying that.UgUlp9T
nSgSeeing Shirones emotional reaction, Nade waved his hands dismissively.nBTNF
ps2GZlHey, hey. No need to be so serious. I’m actually glad. We became friends without any preconceptions. If we had known earlier, we wouldnt have experienced events like the recent research presentation.xZxvc
Yr7NATYiruki, deciding to change the topic, stood up from the table, Alright, lets head to the library. I was bored to death anyway. Lets ignite our academic fervor!9Fu
SFUrVeShirone and Nade stood up, joining in with enthusiasm.e2B
EA7DF8Great!AycfUj
Bi9JpSIn the capital Bashuka of the Kingdom of Thormia.iAHt
RfXSQgIn the Jijeon mountain range encircling the royal castle, a dungeon 70 meters underground, completed a century ago, lay hidden. Known as the Labyrinth of Darkness, it was once the hideout of the archmage Viltor Arcane who once dominated the world.4GW16
FEf7xk2Arcane, someone who excelled in dark magic, frequently clashed with various nations until he mysteriously vanished 40 years ago after a certain incident.wg2sET
GJN6zAt that time, Arcanes mage rank was an unofficial third grade.bTX
uEhkUpon reaching or exceeding third grade, one is bestowed with the title of an archmage, regardless of official or unofficial status.gjeS
fTVkqA mages grade is determined by their achievements and renown, managed through a special scoring system by the Magic Association.tAhMq
9Z7NkFor example, achieving 1,000 points from achievements and fame is required to ascend from 10th to 9th grade. To rise from 4th to 3rd grade, a staggering 280 million points are necessary.ad6w58t
OhwvYThis means a third-grade mage has accumulated achievements and renown beyond ordinary comprehension.brAokc
YLeA Grade-A dangerous dungeon eradication earns 500 achievement points, and a royal summon to meet the king earns 100 fame points. Considering these, one can guess how much Arcane stirred the world.b2T
93U940 years ago, at the age of 89, Arcane reached the rank of an unofficial third-grade mage. His score at the time was 100 million points for achievements and 180 million for fame.9WR
OncDNCHis fame surpassed his achievements because he was a troublemaker who turned the continent upside down.39wJQN
9S1eaABanned experiments were just the start; he formed dark organizations, spawning anarchists, causing national upheavals.rc7reL
skUlNSMPeople over seventy tremble at the mention of Arcane, a testament to his infamy, which is clear even without mentioning the 280 million points.Y0bp
7VYPhew.zwqW
u1KngWithin a crystal tube filled with green liquid, Arcane opened his eyes. Bare and wrinkled, his 149-year-old body was a testament to his age.ZUF
fXECeFinally finally, its complete, the essence of darkness.wRvZfe
sqDBIt was the dark power he had gathered for 40 years. Arcane planned to absorb it to reclaim his past glory.bsso
0V4QXRHumans age and die because their cells reach a replication limit. But Arcane suppressed cell division using a life support system.Otaoc7
JzCieGlancing at the crystal on his desk, initially diamond-like but now turned pitch black, he had accumulated the dark power with daily Injection Magic.IshFk
dfcKAlpheas, wait for me! I will repay this humiliation.J3zEQd
eqRk1After suffering a critical injury from a young Alpheas, Arcanes magic power rapidly declined.akbV
LyUo5But surviving on revenge, Arcane was about to regain his past power and rise once again as an archmage.Jgu
zRsJhxpAs the green liquid in the life support device drained, Arcanes frail body bent. He looked old enough to be encased in the tube.grs
I34SuwQThe front of the crystal tube opened, and Arcane crawled out, gasping for air.DU3Rm2
tsCxRCanis! Arin! Are you there?w9Vj5m
27cwhwCTwo young-looking children entered, their demeanor somber, likely due to their dark magic training.JPbF
Pb4Did you call for us, Master?UM7fHh
2JmxClothes. Bring me my clothes.FJlk
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