Al crouched on the ground with a serious expression, his chubby little hands glowing bright blue. A mana wyrm as long as an adult's arm hovered in his palm.
The creature in his hand had densely packed, serrated teeth. It seemed bound in midair, growling quietly, as though threatening him or begging for mercy.
Al muttered under his breath, the blue light in his hands growing ever brighter. The mana wyrm visibly swelled until, with a pop, it turned into a translucent orb and fell to the ground, spilling an arcane aura into the air.
He paid it no mind. A little notebook flew out of his clothes on its own, followed by the scratching of a fountain pen.
Experiment 103 failed. Subject No. 3's mana-draining threshold can be confirmed to fall between 30 and 60...
The high elf child sat on the ground, his young face shining with wisdom beyond his years, while a fountain pen hovered in the air and wrote on its own. The children chasing butterflies in the distance stood in stark contrast to Al, creating a faint sense of incongruity.
[Monster Compendium: Mana Wyrm activated] [Your Arcane Torrent's effect has increased by 10%] [Your teaching materials +1] [Your brain development has increased by 1%] [You have comprehended Energy-Draining Core Circuit] {Basic version}
"The Monster Compendium entry is activated. Looks like mana wyrms have no research value left."
Al stared at the screen before him, somewhat lost in thought.
Al had been a biology professor at a Project 985 university. Already seventy years old, he had retired three times, only to be rehired by the university president each time-a testament to his professional expertise.
He had few hobbies. Apart from studying living organisms, his favorite pastime was playing World of Warcraft for a hundred million little moments whenever he had nothing to do.
Although his attending physician had repeatedly warned him against staying up late, he could not restrain his elderly, internet-addicted heart. In the end, he died suddenly over his keyboard, and so a traveler through time arrived in Azeroth.
Having just acquired his system, Al had been rather lost, until his occupational habits kicked in and he eagerly dissected a mana spring lynx caught by a hunter.
[You have gained a deeper understanding of mana spring lynxes] [You have gained a deeper understanding of mana spring lynxes]
The crisp, mechanical system notifications flooded his mind, finally snapping him out of it. Perhaps guessing something, Al felt as though he had returned to his days of scientific research in his previous life, growing ever more fervent about the unfamiliar species of this unfamiliar world.
[Monster Compendium: Mana Spring Lynx activated] [Your teaching materials +1] [Your agility +5% {Does not stack}] [Your brain development has increased by 1%]
That's it! This is the right way to experience Azeroth!
Al struck his palm with his tiny fist, his face alight with excitement.
In his previous life, he had loved Warcraft's lore. The game's villains and heroes were all full of personal charisma, which had deeply captivated him. Yet his love had been purely theoretical. Once he actually transmigrated to Azeroth, all Al had left was fear and bewilderment, from the imminent First and Second Wars against the Orcs to the even more terrifying War of the Shifting Sands and Cataclysm farther in the future.
This world was filled with unimaginable crises, one after another, while all the big shots behind the scenes displayed their powers. How was one insignificant transmigrator supposed to survive?
Only the system's appearance had given Al a glimmer of hope.
If I keep researching like this, might I someday qualify to become a player on the board?
He rubbed his chin and sank into thought, until a pair of rough hands clamped around his fleshy little cheeks, squeezing his lips into a comical shape.
"Wemme go..." Al kicked his two short little legs, struggling hard as he made muffled, incoherent sounds.
The culprit behind him laughed heartily and rubbed the elf child's tender little face even harder. Only when Al was panting did he reluctantly let go.
"My dear grandson, is today's research subject mana wyrms?"
The gray-haired elf beamed at the child before him, unable to hide the affection on his face.
Belovar Saronar, president of the Silvermoon Council and Grand Archmage of Quel'Thalas, had fought alongside the current Sun King, Anasterian, during the Troll Wars.
In terms of Al's previous life, he was equivalent to Quel'Thalas's minister of defense and a cabinet member, with his own family power base as well. In ancient times, he would have been a powerful provincial governor, without question.
Hearing the old man before him call him "grandson" over and over always felt like being insulted. But Belovar was old enough not just to be his grandfather, but even his ancestor. Given this body's identity, Al could only grit his teeth and accept it.
"Are you studying mana wyrms, Al?"
Belovar returned to the subject. The elderly man seemed immensely curious about everything his grandson said and did.
"This old man's research into mana wyrms has already produced some preliminary results. Want to hear them?" Al perked up at the mention of his area of expertise.
"You little rascal, calling yourself 'this old man' at your age. That old fellow Barton must have been a bad influence on you."
Belovar sounded both annoyed and amused.
"Go on, then. Let's hear what brilliant insights my dear grandson has."
"Then listen carefully. This is the fruit of 103 experiments." Al settled comfortably into a cross-legged position and began speaking at length, just as he had when giving lectures in his previous life.
"According to my research, mana wyrms exist somewhere between elementals and physical entities, possessing their own arcane cores. These wyrms differ from other organisms in that they only need a little..."
Clap, clap, clap...
Belovar applauded with a smile, unable to conceal the pride on his face.
"Mana wyrms have two characteristics: levitation and mana draining. Next, I will explain to you how to inscribe these two rune matrices."
Belovar: ???
This kid's serious? This is clearly beyond the syllabus!
Al ignored the strange expression on Belovar's face and activated Hand of Mana. A twig on the ground stood upright and began drawing in the sand. Before long, it had formed a matrix circuit.
Al pointed at the runes on the ground and explained:
"This is a Levitation Matrix, but because of the mana wyrm's elemental nature, its load-bearing capacity is extremely limited. It can only levitate physical objects weighing no more than 5 kg, given that I haven't used magical ink.
"But that discrepancy won't exceed 1-3 kg, so it isn't particularly significant. Give me some time, though, and perhaps there might be room for improvement."
Belovar could no longer maintain his composure on his exceptionally well-preserved face. His mouth hung open as he stared blankly at the runic pattern on the ground.
His little grandson had been unusual from birth, displaying strange traits from the moment he could walk.
He scoffed at everything other children liked. Instead, he always enjoyed tinkering with peculiar creatures, from water striders in the Whispering Pond to lynxes on Sunstrider Isle.
At first, Belovar had thought his grandson was a compassionate child who liked small animals. Unfortunately, while he truly did like small animals, his approach was rather unnerving: he only liked dead ones.
Over time, Belovar had realized his grandson did not have some strange fetish and simply enjoyed studying living organisms, so he had let him do as he pleased.
He even caught powerful magical beasts for Al to study now and then, but he truly had never imagined that his grandson had already reached this level.
"Al... did you work all of this out on your own?"
"What's wrong? Are there any omissions?"
"No, I'm just... just too surprised. I've never heard any of the knowledge you've explained to me.
"This knowledge encompasses magical biology, evocation, and transmutation. Did you truly research all of this by yourself?" Belovar asked incredulously.
"Of course, though I did draw on the introductory enchanting and introductory magical inscription books in your mage tower."
Belovar sighed, somewhat gratified.
"At your age, this truly is an astonishing achievement. Would you like me to compile your academic findings into a paper and publish it in the Silvermoon Magic Newspaper?"
"This is only one small step on my journey through the halls of true knowledge. If you could, thank you, Grandpa."
Al rubbed his nose, a little embarrassed. For a scholar, having others cite one's work was the greatest praise.
[You have earned the achievement-Soul Mentor's First Lesson] [You have successfully taught Belovar] [Your Mana Wyrm teaching material has been consumed] [The system will randomly draw a random skill or 10% of a random primary attribute from the target]
Ignoring his grandfather's astonished gaze, Al looked ecstatically at the translucent virtual screen before him.
*So that's what the materials are for. They get consumed whenever I teach someone. As long as I can teach someone, I can draw 10% of a random primary attribute or a skill from them?
Then, if I teach Sargeras the four ways of writing the character "hui" the next time I see him, would I gain the power of a god? Forget it, forget it, that's unrealistic. Let's try the draw first.
Al could not spare much thought for anything else and selected the draw.
[Congratulations! You have obtained 10% of Belovar's strength]
Al: Can't handle it, huh? Can't handle it?
Going from ecstasy to the verge of a breakdown, Al endured pain no one his age should have to bear. Giving strength to a mage lord-even a designer would call that a pro move.
Feeling the surging exhilaration deep within his body, Al let it go and forced himself to take comfort. Whatever. When I run out of mana, I can still whack people with my staff, can't I?