Spell Model

The notes were recorded in the form of a journal and memoirs. Many of them were old Aita's personal insights regarding spells. Even though Merlin had mastered over a thousand Morta script vocabulary words, he still felt slightly strained when trying to read and comprehend the contents of the notes.

Yet this was also because the notes contained numerous specialized terms concerning spells and spellcasters, which made them difficult for Merlin to understand. As for the rest of the entries in the notes, Merlin read through them quite smoothly.

Soon, Merlin found descriptions concerning spells, and among them was the content he cared about the most: how to become a spellcaster.

"To become a spellcaster, the most basic requirement is mental power! Only those with formidable mental power can use it to simulate a spell model, thereby imprinting it within their minds to become the source of magical power!"

Merlin pondered this sentence repeatedly. Although he did not quite understand what a spell model was, he was able to broadly grasp the meaning of the statement.

Mental power was the foundation of becoming a spellcaster!

Perhaps it was because old Aita had sensed that Merlin possessed extraordinary mental power that he had left the ring containing the spell notes to him in the first place.

As for why Merlin's mental power was extraordinary, this was easily explained; it was likely due for the most part to his having lived two lifetimes.

Now that he knew he possessed the conditions to become a spellcaster, Merlin felt quite joyful inside. Thus, he continued reading, starting to search for the method to become a spellcaster.

Soon, Merlin discovered another statement from old Aita on the third page of the notes: "Mental power is the foundation of becoming a spellcaster, while the construction of the spell model determines whether a spellcaster can become powerful."

The four characters "spell model" appeared with considerable frequency in the notes, yet Merlin flipped through the pages for a long time without finding any actual spell models.

By now Merlin had a general understanding of the steps to become a spellcaster. First, one had to possess extraordinary mental power. Second was the construction of a spell model, imprinting the constructed spell model into one's mind using mental power—equivalent to using mental power to simulate a spell model within the mind.

If everything went smoothly, then one could become a spellcaster.

Old Aita's spell notes consisted of several volumes in total. Merlin opened the first volume, which contained entirely the experiences and insights Aita had gathered while practicing spells, lacking the crucial spell models needed to become a spellcaster.

Consequently, Merlin took out the second volume of notes. The moment he opened it, he saw a very complex diagram inside, beneath which were annotations written by old Aita.

"The spell model for the zero-level spell fireball. This spell model has been modified by me many times; its characteristic is stability. Although in terms of power it might be slightly inferior compared to some other fireballs, its advantage lies in its sufficient stability. As long as this spell model is used, initial spellcasters do not need to worry too much about the problem of the spell model collapsing within their minds after construction."

This complex diagram was the spell model Merlin was searching for—the spell model for the zero-level spell fireball.

Aside from this relatively stable spell model, there were also models for some powerful fireballs, but old Aita had noted beneath them that if one used these particularly formidable spell models, one had to constantly watch out for the issue where the spell model might collapse.

This was because the structures of these powerful spell models were unstable. Once forced into use, if these spell models were to collapse within the mind someday in the future, it would cause severe damage to the spellcaster, or even endanger their life.

Therefore, for a spellcaster, the most important thing was to construct a spell model that suited them very well.

Merlin did not linger long on the fireball spell model. He flipped further down and discovered that besides fireball, the notes also recorded the spell model for whirlwind.

Yet much like fireball, whirlwind was also a zero-level spell.

A total of two zero-level spells; these were all the spells recorded in old Aita's notes. Merlin felt a trace of disappointment in his heart—merely two zero-level spells, and both were the most basic of spells.

However, when Merlin further studied the details that required attention to become a spellcaster, he no longer dared to underestimate these two zero-level spells.

Take fireball for instance. Although it was a mere zero-level spell, the complexity of its spell model was simply beyond Merlin's imagination. This kind of spell model was somewhat similar to some of the complex mathematical models from his past life.

To completely imprint such a complex spell model into one's mind, and to do so using mental power without a single error, was truly exceedingly difficult. For mental power, it was an even heavier burden.

No wonder the most fundamental requirement for becoming a spellcaster was that one's mental power must be formidable. If someone had ordinary mental power, it would be entirely impossible to simulate such a complex spell model within the mind using it.

It was one thing for a single spell model to be complex, but a spellcaster also had to choose which type of spell model to use: whether to pick a relatively stable spell model or one with exceptionally formidable spell power.

Take fireball, for example. Old Aita had constructed no fewer than ten spell models for it himself, every single one extremely complex. After studying them closely for just a short while, Merlin already felt dizzy and mentally exhausted.

As for the other spell, whirlwind, it was the same; the spell model was also extremely intricate. Between the two spells, the various categories of models branching off them alone nearly filled over thirty whole pages. The second volume of the notes was almost entirely dedicated to recording the various spell models for these two spells.

Merlin sat in his chair, placing the spell notes on the writing desk while gently rubbing his temples. He was not relaxing, but rather quietly pondering in his heart which spell model he ought to choose out of the two.

Relatively speaking, fireball's power is somewhat greater than whirlwind's, and it is also the spell Teacher Aita was most familiar with. My first spell should be fireball!

After weighing the pros and cons of fireball and whirlwind, Merlin ultimately selected the zero-level spell fireball.

Naturally, zero-level spells had no restrictions. Ordinary spellcasters possessed at least three zero-level spells, because only with three zero-level spells would a relatively stable state be presented within the mind, making it less prone to collapse, and allowing one to raise the level of the spell models in the future to become a more powerful spellcaster.

Three spell models were the absolute minimum, but there were also some powerful spellcasters who possessed four, five, six, or even more zero-level spells, with the prerequisite that they had sufficient mental power to support it. Otherwise, constructing more spell models in the mind was simply out of the question.

For an entry-level spellcaster like Merlin right now, his mental power at best was only just enough to support a single spell model.

Having selected the spell, Merlin next had to face the dozen or so various types of fireball spell models constructed by old Aita. This was the matter that gave him the greatest headache.

Although fireball was merely a zero-level spell, old Aita had constructed thirteen different types of spell models based on his years of understanding.

Among them were the stable type, the explosive type, and others, each possessing its own unique characteristics.

Merlin read through old Aita's spell notes once more. From them, he discovered that some of the most basic spell models actually needed to be modified to a certain extent according to one's own needs.

The general framework of the fireball model remained the same, but if a spellcaster hoped that after casting fireball its power would be greater, and that the released fireball could detonate with a lethal impact, they only needed to make certain modifications to the fireball model to achieve it.

Meanwhile, other spellcasters hoped the spell model could be more stable, capable of supporting them as they later promoted to first-grade, second-grade, or even higher-grade spellcasters, thus requiring them to alter the fireball spell model slightly to make it incomparably stable.

Facing these spell models, Merlin found himself in a difficult position. Although old Aita had mentioned in the notes that a spell model personally modified by oneself to fit one's actual circumstances was ultimately the best one,

how could Merlin, a mere beginner, possess the ability to modify the spell models left behind by old Aita?

Despite old Aita having drawn only a dozen or so spell models in the spell notes, in reality, the derivations and calculations involved in them likely took a countless amount of old Aita's time. Merlin simply did not have that much time right now to slowly study these spell models.

If only I had the Matrix.

Merlin could not help but sigh. The Matrix was a quantum computer. As a supercomputer with outstanding computational power, basic matrix operations, function plotting, data algorithms, and so forth had basically reached their pinnacle. Furthermore, and more importantly, its core was intelligent. Many mathematical models, physical models, and the like could be constructed into the most perfect models according to the user's requirements.

If he had the Matrix, no matter how complex these spell models were, Merlin could effortlessly obtain the spell model that suited him best.

"Shall the Matrix be initialized?"

Merlin was slightly startled. He seemed to have just heard a very faint voice—the prompt tone for initializing the Matrix.

After a moment, however, there were no further changes of any kind. Merlin could only shake his head helplessly and mutter softly to himself, saying, "It seems these spell models are truly complex enough to make me hallucinate. How could I possibly still have the Matrix?"

Merlin simply wrote off the voice he had just heard as a hallucination brought on by excessive mental fatigue.

Just as Merlin continued pondering which type of spell model to choose, a crisp sound suddenly rang out once more within his mind:

"Shall the Matrix be initialized?"

This time the voice was extremely clear, echoing continuously within his mind. Merlin was slightly dazed, but he immediately became overjoyed, as if finding it hard to believe.

Could the Matrix have followed me here as well?

Although filled with doubt, Merlin nevertheless said in a deep voice, "Initialize the Matrix!"

The command issued, Merlin waited full of anticipation.