Spell Testing

As the largest area in the entire Academy, most of the Test Area was closed off.

The closed sections were the paid areas of the Test Area, where both protective measures and testing facilities were comprehensive. The open sections allowed apprentices to conduct tests for free, but using targets required paying for them.

Richard arrived at the Test Area's venue rental hall, intending to choose a suitable site to test the power of Lesser Fireball.

The rental hall was built in Romanesque style, with enormous vaulted ceilings, heavy walls, and exterior buttresses and flying buttresses. Many counters stood inside the hall, each staffed by an apprentice.

To more accurately test the power of this original version of Fireball Technique, Richard selected a testing venue that cost one Magic Stone per hour and came with targets for testing both physical and elemental power.

After paying, the apprentice behind the counter handed him a Crystal Card.

"Please proceed to Zone 3, Type-4 Testing Room."

Following the paths within the Test Area, Richard quickly found his testing room. There was a slot on the door. Once Richard inserted the Crystal Card, the door opened automatically.

"Pretty modern."

The testing room was quite spacious, roughly the size of a basketball court.

The moment he entered, Richard saw two humanoid targets at the far end of the venue. Both had been made by wizards. The black target on the left could withstand up to fifty Energy Levels of elemental damage, while the white target on the other side could withstand fifty Energy Levels of physical damage.

There was also a white stone platform in the middle of the venue. Two Crystal Balls sat atop it, each corresponding to one of the targets.

As long as Richard attacked a target with a spell, the spell's power would automatically be transmitted into the Crystal Ball.

"That was convenient." Richard sighed. Although the Wizard World had taken another path because of magic power, human instincts were all the same: everyone tried to make things as convenient for themselves as possible.

Walking up to the stone platform, Richard willed it, and the magic power within him automatically gathered in his hand, forming a palm-sized red fireball. With a casual flick, the fireball smashed into the target like a meteor.

Boom!

[Elemental Damage: Fire]

[Damage Energy Level: 20]

Richard was fairly satisfied with the data in the Crystal Ball. This Lesser Fireball had consumed nearly a quarter of his magic power—fifty points of magic power—yet its power had reached twenty Energy Levels. Though it was far inferior to the wizard-modified Lesser Fireball in the Lesser Fireball Staff, it was already far more powerful than Magic Missile, which consumed the same amount of magic power.

"No wonder some wizards say cantrips are a waste of magic power. This spell's use of magic power is downright terrifying."

Next, Richard tested the power of the Lesser Fireball Staff.

Boom!

[Elemental Damage: Fire]

[Damage Energy Level: 49]

Looking at the Fireball Staff's power, Richard could not help but marvel. Knowledge was power. Though both were Lesser Fireball, the wizard-modified version had more than doubled its power.

"Let's try the Ice Cone Spell too."

Richard pointed a finger at the target, and an ice cone instantly shot forth, piercing the target.

[Elemental Damage: Ice]

[Damage Energy Level: 0.1]

[Warning: Do not test physical attacks on elemental targets]

Richard looked at the warning, a sure enough smile appearing on his face.

The Ice Cone Spell merely wore a layer of elemental skin. In truth, it relied on kinetic damage.

Richard switched targets and fired another ice cone.

[Damage Type: Piercing]

[Damage Energy Level: 5]

"Piercing Damage?" Richard's heart stirred. He turned and walked before the physical target, then slashed it with his Greatsword.

By the time he returned to the stone platform, the damage type in the Crystal Ball had changed to Slashing Damage.

"I never expected wizards to classify physical damage so finely. No wonder they were a civilization that conquered planes."

Not wanting to waste the opportunity, Richard next used the physical target to test the power of Wind Raven Slash in his normal state. It resulted in five Energy Levels of Slashing Damage. Then he activated his bloodline and tested again, obtaining a result of six Energy Levels.

"A one-Energy-Level boost. Not bad." Richard was fairly satisfied with the result. After all, the first stage of his bloodline formula focused on defense and lacked offensive power. With his bloodline activated, it did not enhance his own strength by much.

That would change somewhat in the second stage.

However, the materials required for the second stage did not exist within the Monster Beast Academy's sphere of influence. He could only spend a hefty sum to buy them from the Wizard Merchant Guild.

Still, Richard was in no rush to proceed with the second stage of Bloodline Alchemy. For one, he currently had no need to take missions. Spending all day within the Academy, he had little need to increase his strength. For another, he craved Gerald's knowledge even more now.

Gerald's knowledge was not limited to theory. Magic Armor design blueprints, Magic Potion formulas, and even higher-level meditation methods were all contained within his inheritance. Once learned, those things would become piles upon piles of Magic Stones.

When he left the testing room, the sun outside was bright and beautiful.

Richard shielded his eyes from the sun, thinking of getting another batch of materials to make more Focus Potions.

He had many uses for Magic Stones now, and Focus Potions had a huge market. The harder he worked, the more he would earn.

But just as he stepped outside, a burst of wingbeats came from overhead. Looking up, he saw an Owl fly before him. Richard examined it closely. It seemed to be the one Jacques used to deliver messages.

"Junior Brother, come to the Central Black Tower," the Owl suddenly said in a human voice.

So it really was.

"Understood, Senior Brother. I'll be right over." Richard spoke to the Owl.

After hearing this, the Owl flapped its wings and flew toward the Black Tower.

"Strange. Why would Jacques suddenly call me to the Black Tower?" Richard stroked his chin, slightly puzzled.

Arriving at the Central Black Tower 56th Floor, Richard knocked on the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Junior Brother, you finally made it." Jacques opened the door and welcomed Richard into the room.

Besides Jacques, there was another person in the room. He looked utterly ordinary, but the instant Richard entered, every hair on his body stood on end.

An extremely dangerous person!

Richard immediately gave the man that label.

"Eric, this is Richard, the apprentice newly accepted by my mentor," Jacques introduced him.

Eric rose to his feet and extended his right hand, a kindly smile on his face.

"Junior Brother Richard, you were quite hard to find."

Richard reached out and shook his hand. The instant their hands met, Richard immediately felt the surging Life Force within Eric.

That Life Force was hardly human. It was more like a Magic Beast wearing human skin.

"I'm not good at socializing. Sorry to have troubled you, Senior Brother."

"Not good at socializing? That won't do." Eric patted Richard on the shoulder like an older brother. "We're all wizards of the same Academy. When we reach the Plane Battlefield in the future, we'll be brothers fighting shoulder to shoulder."

"If you aren't good at socializing, you'll suffer greatly on the battlefield."

Richard's mind raced, and he vaguely guessed Eric's purpose—he was probably here to invite him to some sort of party or salon. So he nodded in agreement. "Senior Brother, you're right. But I've only just arrived at the Academy and don't know many friends. Even if I wanted to socialize, I wouldn't have any way to do so."

Hearing this, Eric glanced at Jacques beside him and smoothly pulled an exquisite invitation stamped with sealing wax from his sleeve.

"Isn't that easy? I'm holding an Apprentice Exchange Meeting tonight. How about honoring me with your presence, Junior Brother?"