"If that makes me a scumbag, so be it..."
In this Wizarding World, which obeyed the iron law of "equivalent exchange," emotion was the cheapest variable, while truth was the eternal constant.
It was better than leaving them both miserable in the future. Still, it was a shame to lose the brief, extraordinary friendship he and Jiniya had only just recovered.
Dago casually opened his system panel. After half a month with the Moon Soulstone's help, the progress in his strength field had reached [Second-Ring Formal Wizard: 200%].
Within his mind, three full, crystalline soul force crystals radiated a hazy golden glow, more dazzling and beautiful than the finest gemstones in the world.
They revolved slowly around the soul body in his mental space, drawing in the surrounding fragments of mental power to form a miniature gravitational field.
Dago's mental power now surpassed that of an ordinary Third-Ring Wizard in both quality and quantity. After all, it had undergone purification twice.
Perhaps that was precisely why he still lacked the soul force needed to advance from the Second Circle to the Third Circle. He was still a little short.
It was like laying the foundation for a tower: the grander the structure, the more exacting the demands on its foundation's load-bearing capacity.
His soul was not yet strong enough to support the even greater framework of truth that was about to take shape.
"I wonder if I can find anything else at the market that increases soul force."
The chances were slim, but Dago could only pin his hopes on that for now, because the "energy" within the Moon Soulstone Michael had given him was already exhausted.
"Bzz, bzz-"
Dago suddenly heard a faint commotion outside.
It was not merely sound. The free-floating elements in the air were also in