Black Iron Mage, Exchanging Skills Two

The wealth of mages far exceeds what the average person imagines, yet their expenditures would make even the richest merchant wince. Whether it be magical equipment or the various materials required for research, the total cost is an astronomical figure. Consequently, most mages choose one or two specific directions for their studies; choosing too many would leave them lacking in both personal energy and financial resources.

In just a few minutes, the thirty-nine carcasses of magical beasts above the third rank were completely divided up by the mages present. Those who obtained their ideal materials even gloated, remarking that it was a great loss for the mages who hadn't arrived in time.

One must know that the carcasses merchants usually procure are only those of the lowest-ranked magical beasts; many beasts above the third rank are not entities that ordinary hunters or adventurers can handle. Even if a few third-rank beasts are occasionally found, they are usually transported to other cities in the Kingdom where they can fetch higher prices after being acquired by merchants. Only a small portion remains in North Shire to be purchased by local mages and nobles.

Furthermore, most mages prefer to spend their time in laboratories conducting research, or meditating and practicing spells to improve their cultivation. They do not enjoy hunting magical beasts themselves. Only those warriors who pursue martial strength use hunting as their primary means of training. However, the number of high-level warriors is not much greater than that of mages!

This has led to the price of magical beast materials rising ever higher, while the quantity available for sale continues to dwindle.

The three carts of magical beasts brought by Donald were a timely rain. With these, the mages present would not need to order materials for at least half a year.

Sensing the business opportunity, Donald proposed using magic cores instead of Gold Sol to sell these materials. For some pure elemental mages, magic cores are of little use and far less important than Elemental Crystal, so they readily chose to pay with the cores they had accumulated.

In this way, after obtaining several hundred Gold Sol, Donald also acquired magic cores worth over a thousand Gold Sol. Among them, third-rank cores were the most numerous, with only two fourth-rank ones.

With the transaction complete, both parties were well satisfied.

Donald bid farewell to the mages and then followed his teacher to receive instruction.

The old mage Messer had many years of experience teaching apprentices, and it showed. He did not teach Donald any powerful spells, but instead explained some simple yet practical spellcasting techniques before giving him a basic lesson in alchemy.

After several hours of lessons, Donald had filled in many gaps in his foundational knowledge, which would provide immeasurable benefits for his future development.

As the lesson concluded, Messer let him go to rest, but Donald, feeling not a hint of mental fatigue, went straight into the club's library.

Most mages affirmed his thirst for knowledge; only through diligent study could one eventually achieve success. Otherwise, even a talented apprentice would waste the most important years of their life and fail to walk far on the path of a mage, ultimately achieving nothing.

Entering the library this time, Donald's main goal was to read the notes of his predecessors and absorb the process and experience of advancing from an apprentice to a mage. According to the guidance of his teacher Messer, his physical condition had already met the requirements for advancement; both his mental strength and his control over it were no lower than that of a standard first-rank mage.

What hindered him was his understanding of spell formation and his proficiency in casting. After all, he had not received professional training from a young age. Setting aside combat power, this mage apprentice was still quite lacking in other aspects.

Therefore, Donald focused on how to lay a solid foundation and then advance rapidly.

Donald stayed at the club for another three days, during which, aside from reading in the library, he repeatedly practiced spellcasting in the training grounds.

Unfortunately, after three days, Donald, who was eager for quick success, still hadn't found the "feeling" for advancement, and his mood grew increasingly restless.

This won't do. Being anxious won't solve the problem!

Consequently, Donald simply set aside his thoughts of rapid advancement. For the next two days, he spent his time reading in the library or asking senior mages for advice—with Teacher Messer providing the most help—and then practiced a few more spells in the training grounds during his evening rest. In any case, with the dual recovery effects of meditation and the Minor Purification Potion, he could squeeze out eighty percent of his day for study without his body feeling much fatigue.

As a result, just as he slowly relaxed his practice, a first-rank spell was cast with ease. It naturally triggered the eruption of mental power within his body, smoothly completing the process of ascending from a zero-rank apprentice to a formal mage.

This process was quite wondrous, as if his soul had detached from his body. In that instant, Donald's ability to utilize mental power and observe elements increased several times over. This feeling was even more potent than when he was amplified by the White Crystal Ring. To better assess his true strength, he had taken off the White Crystal Ring gifted by Messer at the start of his training, practicing spellcasting in a normal, unamplified state.

After successfully advancing, Donald felt his spirit was extremely satisfied, and his mental capacity seemed to have doubled. Then, the Book of Truth within his body transmitted a message that filled him with surprise.

Having become a Black Iron early-stage mage, his authority to use the Book of Truth had increased by one level due to the enhancement of his mental origin—that is, his soul strength.

Moreover, as mentioned before, every time the Book of Truth levels up, it grants the contractor a skill acquisition reward opportunity. Now, the first skill could be obtained!

Donald had long coveted the skills of the various units in the Warcraft universe, especially the heroes of each race.

The Archmage's Blizzard and Teleport, the Blood Elf Prince's Siphon Mana and Flamestrike, the Paladin's invincible Divine Shield and Resurrection, the Blademaster's Wind Walk, Mirror Image, and Bladestorm, and so on. Every skill was powerful and uniquely useful; Donald wanted to obtain them all.

Of course, that was unlikely. The Book of Truth divided the soul levels of the contract host and summoned creatures into ten levels based on Warcraft rules and the professional ranks of this world. Black Iron early-stage corresponded exactly to Lv1, and Black Iron mid-stage corresponded to Lv2—the level of a second-tier unit. Aside from the final Gold rank corresponding to Lv10, the others followed suit.

The strength levels of this world are generally divided into five ranks: Apprentice, Black Iron, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Except for Apprentice, each rank is divided into three stages.

Apprentices need not be mentioned; once one reaches the Black Iron rank, one can generally join the army or choose to become an adventurer.

Taking mages, whom Donald understood best, as an example: those who can use rank-0 spells are apprentices, while those who have mastered rank 1-3 spells are Black Iron mages of the three stages. From rank 4 spells onwards, the effects gradually develop toward wider areas and greater power, marking one as a Bronze-rank expert capable of standing alone. By the time one reaches Silver mages who master rank 7-8 high-level spells, they are essentially humanoid strategic weapons capable of destroying a town single-handedly.

As for the Gold rank, they are powerful beings who have touched the power of shallow laws and have one foot across the threshold of legend. Their bodies have evolved under the transformation of law power, beginning to exceed the boundaries of mortal things. If they wish, overturning a kingdom is not a difficult task.

Every Gold-level existence is a deterrent force akin to a national treasure, the ultimate trump card that keeps other factions from acting rashly. In the Kingdom of Selt, the two known Gold-rank powerhouses are equals to His Majesty the King.

Donald had a total of ten skills to choose from, and this was currently the first. However, Donald knew nothing about the situation after level nine, and the Book of Truth provided no explanation. Even for a master like Messer, anything above level nine was a legend, and he didn't know if he could reach it in this lifetime.

"Being able to possess ten powerful skills is already a huge benefit; one shouldn't be too greedy!"

After all, this kind of direct endowment of innate skills rooted into the soul's origin was considered heaven-defying to others, worthy of being called divine grace. Generally, only descendants of gods or devout believers at the Saint level would receive such abilities from a True God.

Yet Donald did not believe in any deity and possessed only ordinary human bloodline, yet now he could autonomously choose a skill he needed! This could no longer be described as mere divine favor!

After thinking it over repeatedly, Donald chose the Archmage's ultimate skill, Teleport, as his first innate spell. This skill, which was neither offensive nor defensive, was his choice.

The Human Archmage's Teleport can be said to be a perfect escape skill, though of course, after upgrading to a high level, it can also be the best means for surprise tactics.

Opening the Book of Truth, Donald checked the digitized skill information provided within.

"Teleport, Archmage ultimate skill. Weakened due to level authority suppression. Teleports the individual to any location within one hundred kilometers that friendly units have reached. Cooldown: thirty minutes."

"Upgrade path: Greater Teleport (teleport distance increases to five hundred kilometers, cooldown reduced to fifteen minutes), Mass Teleport (carries all units within ten feet of the caster, teleport distance increases to one thousand five hundred kilometers, cooldown five minutes), Ultimate Teleport (any target, teleport distance covers the entire plane where friendly units have reached, no cooldown)."

As for why there was a cooldown, the Book of Truth explained that, given the host's current physical strength and soul state, they could not withstand continuous spatial teleportation in a short time. However, as Donald grew stronger and progressed, this cooldown would gradually decrease until it vanished.

"With this skill in hand, it is truly an excellent skill for home, travel, hunting, and combat!"

Looking at the series of descriptions in the Book of Truth, Donald couldn't help but exclaim.

Although there were significant restrictions at the initial level, the subsequent upgraded skills were extremely powerful. When his soul level reached Lv3, possessing the strength of a Black Iron high-stage mage, he could learn Greater Teleport and travel freely throughout North Shire. At Lv5, it could be upgraded to Mass Teleport, capable of transporting a certain number of creatures and objects within one thousand five hundred kilometers, covering nearly half the territory of the Kingdom of Selt. By the time he reached Lv7 and entered the Silver stage, he could upgrade to Ultimate Teleport; at that point, where in the world could he not go?

The reason he chose Teleport as his first skill was that its instantaneous nature made it the premier skill for home, travel, and life-saving escape. In the early stages, this was more effective than any offensive or defensive skill; even if he encountered irresistible enemies or dangerous situations, he could instantly escape the peril.

Skills like the Paladin's invincible Divine Shield and Invulnerability Potions seemed powerful, but they all had an initial time limit of at most fifteen seconds. For some fast enemies, this time wasn't even enough to run a few steps before being caught again.

Currently, Donald's own strength is only at the initial stage of Black Iron, so the Teleportation spell, which allows him to instantly escape danger, is undoubtedly his best choice for the time being.

With Teleportation as his trump card, combined with his powerful summoned army, he can escape even if he encounters a formidable Silver-tier enemy he cannot defeat.

While other offensive and defensive skills are powerful, personal safety comes first, and teleporting is far more effortless and convenient than other modes of travel.

Although the item exchange contains equipment like Teleportation Scepters and Escape Daggers, the casting speed of skills attached to equipment naturally cannot compare to one's own innate skills; furthermore, they are easily interrupted and have flaws such as only being able to teleport to a designated main base. How could they compare to the speed and convenience of his own skill, which activates with a mere thought? Moreover, Teleportation allows him to teleport at will to any location he has previously visited within the distance limit.

With Teleportation as a life-saving skill, he can instantly teleport over a hundred kilometers away if he encounters danger, greatly guaranteeing his personal safety. Donald is now full of confidence for his future monster hunting expeditions, no longer needing to be overly cautious and waste so many crystal cores.