Arcane Missile

Antonidas soon discovered that Lister was far more independent than Medivh. He refused to live in the Violet Citadel with him day and night, instead returning to his student dormitory as if nothing had happened. All Antonidas could do was wait for his questions.

Every day, Lister came to him with a great many questions. Recently, he had accelerated his research, seemingly unable to wait to cast his own spell. Antonidas accepted the draft papers he handed over and put on his monocle. "The issue of mana consumption during spellcasting... I'm glad you noticed this in advance, child. This is quite a profound question. At the very least, one must become an archmage before noticing it."

It was the same principle as energy loss caused by friction during motion. Lister had never given it much thought; he simply could not calculate it, which was why he had come to Antonidas. He bowed slightly. "I'm sorry, Teacher."

"It's nothing." Antonidas condensed three spheres of different colors in his hand: a purple sphere representing arcane energy, a crimson sphere representing fire, and an azure sphere representing frost. "You may guess which kind of energy dissipates most easily in the air."

Lister stopped writing and considered it calmly for a moment. "Fire."

"Correct. Fire is the energy that dissipates most easily, followed by arcane, while frost dissipates the least easily. We can conduct a comparative experiment." Antonidas lightly waved his hand, and several sets of simple experimental equipment flew out. Lister could not help asking, "Just with this?"

"This is merely a comparison. We must begin with the simplest experiments. More complicated experiments will follow, and only then will we calculate the sustained mana output needed to maintain this spell. Only at the end will you obtain all of this casting data." Antonidas's tone was calm and detached, even cold. "The calculations are extensive. You had best prepare yourself mentally."

Thus, over the next two months, Antonidas crammed Lister full of advanced mathematics, followed by fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and vast amounts of data that had to be memorized by rote. According to Nobo, Lister nearly collapsed on the road several times, yet somehow persevered every time.

Following his own understanding, Lister thoroughly broke down the process of casting magic. To create magic, one first needed mana within one's body. Wasn't that ridiculous? Yet it truly was indispensable.

Releasing mana, shaping mana, stabilizing the mana structure, and maintaining the formed spell—those were the four stages of magic. His draft papers were filled with calculations. Many steps had been worked out repeatedly, yet he continued deriving them. His appearance grew increasingly haggard, but his progress was predictably swift.

And now, Lister stood in the enormous training hall of the Violet Citadel. He was going to fully put this knowledge into practice within a spell.

Krasus watched him closely. Without question, this was an enormous challenge for a child. He was only eight years old, and casting a spell required not only abundant, thorough experimentation, but also the accumulation of time. Uther had already prepared to treat him.

The arcane energy flowing through his blood slowly gathered. Following the most traditional casting method of mages, Lister murmured High Elven incantations he had long since memorized. These incantations reminded him how to control the flow of arcane energy within his body. At the apprentice stage, they could not wield mana as they pleased. Even the most accomplished archmages needed incantations when casting certain powerful spells, sometimes even external assistance. For example, when Kel'Thuzad summoned Archimonde, he needed the Book of Medivh, an enormous summoning circle, and the aid of necromancers from the Cult of the Damned. He could not even move.

Incantations were reminders, while gestures were aids. The fingers were connected to the entire body. Whenever mana had difficulty flowing through certain areas, a specific gesture could help it flow. However, there would also be a slight discomfort. If an inexperienced mage forcibly guided mana, there was a high chance of provoking mana backlash, resulting in severe injury or even death.

Lister's movements were smooth and practiced. It was obvious that he had made full preparations. His murmured incantations sounded like heavenly music, echoing softly through the silent space.

Krasus raised an eyebrow. "Arcane Missile, the simplest arcane spell."

Another mage wore a grim expression. He was Kel'Thuzad, another renowned mage of the Violet Citadel. At this time, he had not yet advanced to archmage, had not joined the Council of Six, and had not become Antonidas's disciple. Yet his talent had already drawn the master's attention, making him something of Lister's senior brother.

"It isn't a simple Arcane Missile," Kel'Thuzad said in a low voice. His eyes shone like stars in the night sky. "It definitely isn't a simple Arcane Missile. Otherwise, he would not have gone to such lengths. Have you ever seen anyone spend two months on this spell? It took me only two weeks to master it. Master Antonidas took only ten days, yet he has researched it for a full three months. Moreover, the incantations have changed in many places, and the gestures have been greatly altered. This definitely isn't an ordinary Arcane Missile."

"Look!" Uther was the first to sense something unusual. He shouted softly, "What is that?"

Countless strands of mana slowly gathered along Lister's fingers. They rotated as gorgeous purple arcane energy painted the air with enchanting colors. Under the control of some invisible force, it began to slowly gather and compress together.

Kel'Thuzad's eyes narrowed. This was not simple compression—it was spiral compression. That arcane energy was being compressed while rotating. How... how was that possible...

"I've done my best." Lister felt that more than half the mana in his body had been consumed. He no longer needed his left hand for the remaining steps. His empty left hand opened slightly, and Ebony Chill immediately flew into it. Cold yet warm mana flowed into his body, replenishing what he had spent. At last, Lister slowed the injection of arcane mana, supplying only the amount corresponding to its rate of dissipation, maintaining the deadly sphere while shaping it into form.

Even Antonidas and Kael'thas, who had just arrived, involuntarily held their breath upon seeing this gorgeous spell. They dared not disturb what was practically a miracle—a spell both splendid and dangerous, the dream of every mage.

When the mass of mana had completely merged into it, a solid sphere the size of a fist floated in Lister's hand. Blue-violet arcane energy had condensed into countless threads that constantly spun and darted within it, its dazzling light as brilliant as sunlight.

Lister exerted a little force, and it slowly flew away from his palm. Everyone immediately prepared their defenses. To their surprise, the sphere was tethered by several invisible threads of mana, which both controlled its movement and continuously fed it mana to sustain its existence. Unlike ordinary Arcane Missiles, which lost control the moment they were fired, this was now clearly disgusting trash by comparison. Kel'Thuzad's eyes burned like flames. He spread his arms and bent his knees slightly, utterly intoxicated.

Antonidas could not help applauding. Everyone applauded. What marvelous arcane magic! This was practically the essence of the arcane! Lister guided the beautiful sphere of arcane energy around himself. It danced gracefully like a butterfly, like a shooting star, even flying before Antonidas. The archmage extended his index finger and nearly touched it, if not for Krasus's warning. In truth, he merely wanted to observe the miracle more closely.

Then, the sphere—beautiful and deadly as a venomous snake—silently landed on the ground. Everyone's faces went pale.

A massive hemispherical crater, more than a meter wide, appeared in the floor. The astonishing shockwave was absorbed by the defensive array of the Violet Citadel. Its lethality was simply unimaginable. If this deadly spell had not landed on the ground, but on one of them...

"It..." Kel'Thuzad's strained voice echoed through the dust. "What is it called?"

"Spiral Arcane Missiles." Lister let out a long breath. His pale, gaunt face shone with an unusual radiance beneath Ebony Chill's blue light. "Lister's Spiral Arcane Missiles."

Leaning on Ebony Chill, he slowly walked out through the doors. Everyone merely stared at the enormous crater without speaking.