Chapter 25: Power Up?

Words : 1144 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Power Up?In an opulent room, several prominent figures gathered around a round table, their presence heavy with authority and tension. "This makes no sense! Are you telling me a Gate opened right at the doors of our academy?" One of the figures shot to his feet, his voice sharp with disbelief. He was the head of the academy’s defenses, a Silver 4 Mage. The glowing runes on the walls were his work, designed to stabilize space and prevent attacks from monsters or malicious individuals, a safeguard now seemingly betrayed. The alarms that had echoed through the city had finally ceased. Elora and Kael stood with bowed heads, under the scrutinizing gazes of the powerful figures. They had recounted what they witnessed, but it was clear both were shaken. Others were present, including Patrick and Sera. Sera felt a pang of regret, thinking, "And now who will I call froggy?" Her teasing nickname now a hollow echo. Beside her, Patrick’s expression was grim as he contemplated the boy’s likely death. Guilt gnawed at him—if he hadn’t brought Lian to the academy, perhaps he’d still be alive... A weight of responsibility he couldn’t shake. But there was no cure for regret. "And you’re saying a boy, an aspiring Mage with a unique talent, was sucked into it? This is absurd..." the Silver 4 Mage added, a deepening scowl etching his face. Everyone knew the phases Gates went through, and the first was instability. Such an event was impossible—yet it had happened, a defiance of all known laws. "What are the boy’s chances of survival?" asked a woman with a calmer tone. She wore military armor adorned with dormant runes, her composed demeanor a stark contrast to the room’s tension. "Chances of survival?" replied a man with white hair and a long white beard, his age evident in his weathered features. "I’d say none. However... no one has ever experienced anything like this, so there’s no data to consider." He stroked his beard thoughtfully. Murmurs and discussions erupted until another commanding voice cut through. "Very well, it’s a shame, but there’s nothing we can do. Our focus now is to evacuate the area and wait for the Gate’s second phase. One of our strongest teams will handle the Raid." The speaker was none other than the academy’s headmaster, the unparalleled George Pegasus, a Gold-rank Mage, his words a decree that silenced all debate. His time was precious, and such a matter was trivial in comparison. A Gate had appeared? It could happen—after all, the defenses weren’t infallible. Only one figure wore a complete scowl—the head of defenses, the Silver 4 Mage. A master of runic magic, he could inscribe spells into objects to create artifacts. "From what I saw, it’s as if the runes on the academy walls short-circuited... something disabled them for a moment. Then the Gate appeared the exact instant the boy crossed the threshold... Something’s off here..." His suspicion hung like a storm cloud. --- Time passed, but the sun showed no sign of relenting its blaze. Sweat glistened on Lian’s forehead, his skin slightly redder from the scorching heat. He had been meditating under the blazing sun for hours, and sunscreen wasn’t among the items in his spatial ring. "Ahh..." A fireball launched from his hands as he exhaled with frustration. [Accuracy: 62%] "I’m so close... I just need to hit 70%," he muttered wearily. "But why is it so hard to improve by even a single point?!" After drawing three lines in a row, reaching a total of six, Lian had hit his limit. The seventh line was too difficult—he needed to train with his other technique. His power had grown tremendously, and he felt brimming with mana. He needed to release it. And what better way than to hurl fireballs repeatedly? "Geometric Spell, Circle!" "This time, I need to hit at least 65%," he said, sweat dripping from his brow. "It’s insanely hot, damn it..." he added under his breath. Drawing a circle in his mind had become second nature, so much so that he no longer struggled. But that was the problem—he needed to do the opposite: focus and draw a perfect circle, a challenge that tested his resolve. Seconds dragged on, his body sweating as if under a fountain. Despite the pounding in his head, the burning in his body, and the hostile environment, Lian resolved to ignore it all and focus solely on the circle in his mind, a singular point of clarity in the chaos. When the starting and ending lines met, a fireball—far more powerful than the others—formed in his hands, crashing into the sand several meters ahead. [Accuracy: 71%] [Mission: Reach 70% accuracy with the Circle to unlock a new shape, COMPLETED!] [CONGRATULATIONS, Lian Veyr.] "Huh?" His head felt heavy as he opened his eyes. An unprecedented exhaustion enveloped him, and his body, seated in the lotus position, collapsed onto the sand. "Mission completed?" he repeated, dazed, his foggy mind struggling to process. But seeing the [Accuracy: 71%] notification, the mental fatigue vanished like smoke, replaced by a surge of triumph. "I did it!!" Excitement propelled him to his feet, only to cause a dizzy spell that sent him crashing back into the sand. "Finally, I unlocked a new shape? What could it be??" His voice trembled with anticipation. As he thought this— [Please select one of these three cards.] "Huh?" Three face-down cards appeared in his mind, identical in size, shape, and appearance. Lian had no clue what they meant, but he had to choose one, a gamble that felt like fate’s challenge. "Hm..." he mused, scratching his chin. "So it’s a random choice? Like a magical draw where what I pick is my next spell?" Seconds passed... "Awesome, I love relying on luck!" His adventurous spirit flared. His mind wandered as he chose the third card, the one on the right. "What could it be?" he murmured excitedly, hoping to unlock a water spell to clean himself or heal his wounds, a desperate wish in this unforgiving desert. The selected card was about to reveal itself when a faint tremor broke his concentration, forcing his eyes open. "Damn it, right at the best part—what the hell is happening now?!" Attracted by Lian’s fireballs, a worm had appeared. With a low growl, its gaping mouth and sharp teeth lunged at the small human without hesitation, a predator seizing its moment. "Damn, I thought it was weird that none of you came after me for so long!" he said, scrambling to his feet. His remaining energy was low, but it would suffice to face the monster. He just hoped there weren’t more, a fragile hope in a land of relentless threats. --- Author’s Note! Yup, you already know it. Of course, there will be more monsters... Will Lian survive?

Chapter 25: Power Up?

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