Magic Web 0.1 Beta

The lengthy meditation experiment, lasting more than a dozen hours straight, made him nauseous.

For quite some time afterward, various Patterns and chaotic, twisted lines haunted his mind like nightmares.

Fortunately, he had finally obtained satisfactory results.

Rune Energy truly was interchangeable. Although most of the Patterns on the Glass Candle had little interest in his meager Rune Energy accumulated over four days, he ultimately managed to purchase a new Rune.

What did the new Rune do?

He desperately wanted to know at once, but he had just used up his Rune Energy, and the new Rune's special magical energy had not yet replenished itself. He could only wait patiently for it to grow.

During those two days of waiting, there was an unexpected surprise—the rate at which the new Rune and the Recovery Rune gained Rune Energy had not slowed.

In other words, if the Rune Energy gained by a single Rune each day was counted as one unit, then where he had previously gained one unit per day, he would now gain two. It had doubled outright.

He just did not know whether there was an upper limit to this growth rate.

Filled with both delight and concern, he finally activated the new Rune today after expending the silver magical energy it had accumulated over two days, along with roughly three units of Rune Energy.

"Hannah, how do you feel?"

Joffrey asked the dazed girl with concern.

Hannah blinked rapidly, the shock and excitement still clear on her face.

She had never imagined that her life would soar into the heavens like an eagle in just a few short days, as though blessed by the Gods.

First, she had been chosen to serve at the Crown Prince's side. Then she had received his favor. And now...

Uneasy, Hannah closed her eyes again and clearly sensed it once more. What a magnificent, mysterious existence it was.

"Hannah." Joffrey waved his right hand before her eyes. "Are you all right?"

Hannah finally came back to herself. "Your Highness, I am fine. I have simply never experienced anything like this before. It is truly incredible."

She looked at the Crown Prince apprehensively.

"Your Highness, Hannah is only a maid. Something this precious..."

Joffrey stroked the girl's head and smiled reassuringly. "Of everyone here, you are the one I trust and cherish most. Do not think so little of yourself."

"You only need to do one more thing."

"Do not be afraid." Joffrey held up the girl's smooth little hand. "Just a small cut. A very shallow one will do."

Using the new Rune, he successfully transplanted the Recovery Rune into Hannah's soul.

How effective would it be?

The sharp dagger flashed past, leaving a bright red line across the girl's palm.

Hannah bit her lip tightly and did not cry out.

A few breaths later, the wound in her palm swallowed the blood that had just seeped out, then vanished without a trace.

Joffrey felt no burden or expenditure whatsoever. Immediately afterward, he activated some indescribable command within his consciousness.

Hannah's eyes widened at once, and her cherry lips trembled slightly.

It was gone!

Joffrey pinched the girl's cheek. "I will restore it for you in a couple of days."

The result was perfect.

With the new Rune, he could grant others Runes he already possessed, establish a special connection with them, and even control or destroy the Runes he granted.

He thought of a name—Mirror Image.

The Mirror Image Rune.

It could create mirror images of Runes and grant them to others, while retaining absolute control. Just like an original body and its mirror image: one was real, while the other was merely a phantom dependent on the real thing for existence.

The first Rune he had obtained from the Glass Candle had actually been this.

He could feel fate favoring him.

Joffrey had already tested it before. The Recovery Rune itself could not be transferred into a human body or any other living creature.

It could be inferred that the vast majority of Runes could not be shared with others. They could only be used to cast magic or create magical items.

While this would ensure his monopoly, it was extremely detrimental to the future development of magic.

The Glass Candle's function had pointed him in the right direction. Starting from nothing, he would create his own Magic Web, build the truest "My World," and become the God of Magic!

But one person's energy was ultimately limited.

Knowledge needed to spread in order to exert its power to the fullest, and social transformation required a newly emerging class of interests to drive it successfully.

Now that he had the Mirror Image Rune, magic seemed to be spreading, yet not entirely spreading. It was practically perfect.

Joffrey thought of the Night King from the television series. When the Night King died, all the Others under his command turned to ash with him. It had much the same underlying principle as his Mirror Image Rune's ability.

Wonderful. Simply wonderful.

The dawn of the Magic Web had appeared.

The mirror images of various Runes could serve as the Magic Web's core products. The Mirror Image Rune was equivalent to a server, the system's operating costs would be borne by the users themselves, and the risk of being banned by the Magic Web or the real world would be enough to restrain them.

The framework had already taken shape.

He would call it the "Magic Network System 0.1 Beta."

MN 0.1 Beta for short.

Thinking of these terms that did not belong to this world, he suddenly recalled the terror of being ruled by countless software agreements in his previous life.

Being selfless as he was, he immediately decided to share that joy with the world.

"Hannah, bring me paper!"

A sheet of parchment lay flat on the table. He picked up a pen and wrote a conspicuous title at the top—"Magic Network System User Notice and Related Agreement."

Article One: Users must not disclose the private information of the Magic Web or related personnel by any means.

Article Two: Users must not harm, by any means, the interests protected by this agreement of the Magic Web or related personnel.

Article Three: Users must bear all costs of using the Magic Web themselves.

Article Four: After signing this agreement, users have the responsibility and obligation to actively safeguard all interests of the Magic Web.

Article Five: For the sustainable development of the Magic Web, which represents the collective interests of all users, users have the responsibility and obligation to actively cooperate with the Magic Web in collecting personal information and providing assistance in manpower, material resources, and other areas.

Article Six: In exchange for enjoying the Magic Web's services and conveniences, users must actively complete all paid or unpaid tasks assigned by the Magic Web.

Article Seven: For users who violate this agreement, the Magic Web has the right to take all necessary measures, including warnings, penalties, imprisonment, punitive tasks, temporary bans, and permanent bans.

Related personnel included, but were not limited to, Magic Web users, Magic Web service personnel, the Lord of the Weave, and designated individuals.

The interests protected by this agreement included, but were not limited to, life and health, property, personal liberty, privacy, mental health, image rights, and influence over public opinion.

Note: The Lord of the Weave retained final interpretation rights over the above clauses.

After writing everything down, Joffrey dusted off the parchment and admired it carefully. Every Chinese character radiated deep affection.

As long as the meaning was there, he could revise and polish it later.

He was very satisfied, though somewhat regretful.

Such methods were utterly out of place in this era.

Given the current environment, simply making people swear loyalty would not only be easier, but more effective as well.

But considering the world he envisioned, tens of millions of Magic Web users could not be controlled by a simple oath of loyalty. Only an entire rigorous system of rules would suffice.

After putting away the agreement, which might not see the light of day for a very long time, Joffrey finally relaxed completely.

His research had reached a temporary stopping point.

For the past several days, his thoughts had been so immersed in research that he could not pull himself free.

Now, the rune magic system had finally gotten on track.

Collecting Runes, developing the effects of Runes he already possessed, and accumulating Rune Energy—this virtuous cycle was enough to support his continued progress.

The future was bright.

No longer resisting his mental exhaustion, he collapsed onto the bed and quickly fell asleep...