The Archmage Bond
In the vice dean's office.
"Tell me in detail about your time in the Magical Beasts Mountain Range." Delante sat in his chair and gestured for Haoyue to sit.
Haoyue gave him a brief account.
Naturally, he left out the details of Tiger-Stripe Transformation and Wang Xun's true strength. He only said that he had encountered the severely injured level 8 mutated velociraptor in the Magical Beasts Mountain Range and subdued him after a fight, managing it only because he was lucky.
After listening, Delante nodded thoughtfully.
"You've had good luck," he said. "But a level 8 mutated magical beast isn't something you can subdue on luck alone. I suspect there's more to your strength than meets the eye."
Haoyue's heart tightened, but his expression remained unchanged. "You have a keen eye, Dean."
"Never mind, I won't pry." Delante waved a hand. "Everyone has their secrets. I just want to say that you haven't wasted your talent. You're a credit to the Ernst Institute."
"I understand."
"Go on. Your roommates have been waiting for you for quite a while."
Haoyue stood, bowed to the dean, and turned to leave.
Dormitory 1689.
The familiar room, the familiar beds.
Six months had passed, but little had changed in the room except for a few extra odds and ends.
Luo'en sat in a chair, gazing curiously at Haoyue. "Brother Haoyue, can that dragon really not be ridden?"
"No." Haoyue refused outright.
"Just once?"
"No."
"Half a ride?"
"Luo'en, are you asking for a beating?"
Luo'en grinned and finally gave up.
Kaluo moved closer and lowered his voice. "Brother Haoyue, just how strong are you really?"
Haoyue glanced at him but didn't answer directly. "Let's just say a level 6 warrior can't beat me."
Kaluo sucked in a breath.
He was a level 5 warrior, and even someone a level above him couldn't win? Didn't that mean Haoyue was at least a level 6 warrior, or even...
He didn't dare ask any more.
As the night wore on, everyone went to bed.
Haoyue lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Six months.
Six months of grueling cultivation had finally paid off.
A level 6 warrior, a level 6 mage, level 6 spiritual power, and level 8 combat strength with Tiger-Stripe Transformation...
That strength already put him among the very best of his age.
But he wasn't satisfied. It still wasn't enough.
He brought up the system panel to check his current status-
[Hextech System] Host: Haoyue Bolei Age: 15 Warrior level: level 6 warrior (beginner) Mage level: level 6 mage (beginner) Spiritual power: level 6 Battle qi: level 6 Health: equivalent to a level 9 warrior Activated Hexes: [Dragonheart] (prismatic · passive) Ocean Dragon Soul: energy regeneration +5%/second, health regeneration +5%, water affinity +500% Purgatory Dragon Soul: magic damage +50%, fire affinity +500%, 30% chance to trigger 50% additional damage Mountain Dragon Soul: defense +50%, earth affinity +500%, shield equal to 20% of maximum health [From Mind to Matter] (silver · passive) Health equal to 50% of total energy
Haoyue's gaze settled on the last line.
In another year, Linley Baruch would enter the Ernst Institute.
With that young man's arrival, the Yulan Continent was about to undergo great changes.
Before then, he had to grow stronger.
"Ding-"
A clear notification sounded in his mind.
Haoyue froze.
The Hextech System?
It had been a long time since he had heard that sound.
The last time was years ago, when he broke through to become a level 3 warrior in the hills behind the institute.
"Host has met the conditions to unlock a Hex..."
"The next Hex will be selected in 24 hours."
Haoyue perked up.
A new Hex?
The following evening.
In the dormitory, Luo'en and Kaluo were already fast asleep. Lei'en sat cross-legged on his bed, cultivating with steady breaths.
Haoyue leaned against the head of his bed and closed his eyes.
"Time's up."
"Generating Hex options..."
Three golden cards appeared in his mind.
The first card depicted a suit of armor, giving off a faint glow.
[Astral Body] Gain 1,000 health, but deal 15% less damage.
The second card depicted a hammer, frozen in the middle of a downward strike.
[Slow and Steady] Attack speed fixed at one attack per second, attack power doubled.
The third card depicted a mass of flowing light, like water spilling from a spring.
[Overflow] Energy consumption doubled, but damage, shields, and healing increased based on maximum energy. Current damage increase: 10% of maximum energy.
All three options had their advantages and drawbacks.
Haoyue began to analyze them carefully.
The first offered 1,000 health.
It sounded tempting. But his health was already considerable, and From Mind to Matter worked on a percentage basis. As his energy grew in the future, his health would naturally grow with it. A fixed bonus of 1,000 didn't mean much to him.
Besides, it reduced his damage.
His offense was already his weak point. Wouldn't reducing his damage only make matters worse?
Ruled out.
The second fixed his attack speed and doubled his attack power.
It sounded wonderful, but there were major problems when it came to putting it into practice.
A fixed rate of one attack per second meant that no matter how he trained, the interval between attacks would never change.
That was fine against ordinary enemies. But what if he encountered a divine beast with absurd defenses?
Swinging once a second, when would he ever finish it off?
Besides, doubling his attack power sounded great, but his base attack power wasn't high to begin with. Doubling it would only take him from the level of a level 5 warrior to that of a level 6 warrior. He would still struggle against level 8 and level 9 enemies.
The risk was too great. It wasn't worth it.
Ruled out.
The third was Overflow.
Double energy consumption... That really was a headache. He cultivated three paths at once, so his energy consumption was already three times that of an ordinary person. If it doubled again, he really wouldn't be able to handle it.
But-
Haoyue suddenly thought of something.
What was Dragonheart's effect again?
Ocean Dragon Soul: energy regeneration +5% per second.
For example, if his total energy was 100, he could recover 5 points every second. That was 300 points a minute and 18,000 points an hour!
Even if his energy consumption doubled, that recovery rate would be more than enough.
And...
Haoyue's gaze fell on the third card.
Overflow increased damage, shields, and healing based on maximum energy. The current damage increase was 10% of maximum energy.
If his maximum energy was 1,000, then every attack would deal an extra 100 damage!
That was equivalent to a minor spell!
More importantly...
His gaze shifted to the upper-left corner of the card.
There was a tiny icon there.
A wizard's hat.
It was identical to the icon on From Mind to Matter!
Haoyue's heart suddenly began to race.
From playing Hextech ARAM in his previous life, he knew that in later versions, some Hexes had bond effects with one another. Activating a bond would trigger an additional effect.
From Mind to Matter increased health, while Overflow increased damage.
The two Hexes had the same icon. It was definitely no coincidence!
He didn't hesitate!
"I choose Overflow!"
Golden light bloomed in his mind.
"Congratulations, host, you have obtained the Hex-[Overflow]!"
"Bond conditions detected..."
"Bond activated-[From Mind to Matter] + [Overflow]!"
"Bond effect:
[Archmage] When using magic, incantations will no longer be required, and all magic will have no cooldown!"
Haoyue's eyes snapped open.
No cooldown!
No incantations!
What did that mean?
It meant he could cast spells instantly!
Without incantations, could it still be called magic? That was a spell machine gun!
Whether it was level 3, level 5, or level 7 Magic, he could cast it instantly whenever he wanted!
"Hahahaha..."
Haoyue couldn't help laughing aloud.
He laughed so hard that his whole body shook and tears welled up at the corners of his eyes.
He had hit the jackpot this time!
Bond activated, instant casts with no cooldown!
From today onward, he was a mobile turret with unlimited firepower!
Early the next morning.
Haoyue got up early, using cultivation in the hills behind the institute as an excuse.
His roommates were still asleep, so it was the perfect chance to test the power of his new ability.
In the hills, at the edge of a cliff.
Haoyue stood on a boulder and took a deep breath.
Activate Overflow!
A strange energy circulated through his body.
He could feel his magic being drawn by some kind of force, growing restless.
But at the same time, the energy inside him was being consumed at a frantic rate.
"Is this what doubled energy consumption feels like?"
Haoyue gauged the rate of consumption.
It really was fast.
But Ocean Dragon Soul's recovery rate was nothing to scoff at either. Consumption and recovery were almost equal, maintaining a delicate balance.
"Let's try it!"
Haoyue raised his hand and aimed at a large tree in the distance.
Water Element magic-Ice Soul Needle!
No incantation, no hand seals.
In an instant, a sharp spike of ice appeared out of thin air and whistled toward the tree!
"Pfft-"
The ice spike buried itself deep in the trunk, piercing straight through the tree, which was as thick as an adult's waist!
"This power..."
Haoyue's eyes lit up.
Under normal conditions, level 4 Water Element magic could leave a crater in a tree at most. But this strike had pierced straight through it!
Its power had increased by at least one level!
Again!
Fire Element magic-Flame Impact!
A flame appeared out of thin air, and the temperature soared as it set the tree ablaze!
Earth Element magic-Shattering Stone!
Several boulders coalesced in the air and fell, smashing hard into another tree!
"Boom-"
The boulders snapped the tree in half, sending splinters flying!
Haoyue burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha-too powerful!"
With the boost from Overflow, level 5 magic under normal conditions had already reached level 6 in power!
And what about level 6 magic?
His spiritual power was currently level 6, and he had yet to learn level 6 magic. But in a few more years, once his spiritual power reached level 7, he would be able to cast the even stronger Level 7 Magic.
By then, combined with Overflow and the bond effect...
Haoyue couldn't imagine it.
But one thing was certain-
His combat power would undergo a qualitative leap!
"A spell machine gun..."
Haoyue clenched his fist, his eyes burning.
He had made the right choice with this Hex after all!