Throne of Magical Arcana

Natasha’s lips twitched. She wisely ended the topic. Such missions whose brief introduction was already dizzying enough were best to be left for the arcanists to understand.

She eyed Lucien up and down and asked half curiously and half concernedly, “What else have you achieved except for the substantiation of the cognitive world to the ninth circle? I’m told by both Grandma Hathaway and my mother that when similar research results were made, the cognitive world would interact with the corresponding mechanisms in the real world and yield different magic models. Considering the great noises you caused just now, you must’ve invented a few new magics, right? Are they about time and space, mass and energy?

The changes of the cognitive world was a main sign that marked the advancement of high-level sorcerers. Half-substantiation corresponded to the senior-rank, substantiation corresponded to archmage, and half-solidification and influencing the real world with projections corresponded to legendary.

“I gained two prototypes of legendary spells, about how mass could be transformed into energy.” Lucien understood that they were the incomplete magic structure of fission and fusion. On the other hand, while his cognitive world about the structure of time and space had also changed, he lacked theories that could directly work on them. The best he could do was to optimize the spells such as Time Stop to make them simpler and easier to learn. In order to achieve the legendary spells that could really control time and space, he would have to wait until the general theory of relativity or quantum theory was released.

However, Lucien was the only one who could’ve obtained the structure of fission and fusion, the two legendary spells, because he was the one who proposed the model of the atomic nucleus and the decay. He was aware of the two phenomena and the chain reaction. If it were anybody else, even if they had deduced the energy-mass formula, they would’ve needed to learn the relevant knowledge first and made breakthroughs in corresponding research in order to have interaction.

Natasha was immediately attracted. “Legendary spells? No wonder… Lucien, what are you planning to name them?”

The invention of a legendary spell was always difficult. Seeing it with her own eyes gave her a feeling that she was witnessing history, particularly when the inventor was only in his twenties.

“Evans’ Little Boy? Lucien’s Big Ivan?” Replied Lucien casually.

According to the incomplete magic model, the fusion magic currently required top legendary in order to be constructed within the soul without hindering his usage. The more familiar he was with it and the deeper his knowledge was, the more powerful it would be and the fewer requirements there would be. However, even after he completely grasped it, it had to be released by a sorcerer that’s at least at the level-two legendary level through the remote projection spells, magic extension, magic delay and the cooperation of refined materials.

The fission magic, on the other hand, should be able to be constructed by a level-one legendary, after it was fully analyzed through relevant experiments and magics. If there were refined materials, it would be possible for a ninth circle to perform it, too. Thinking about that, Lucien couldn’t help but fantasize. “I wonder if the fusion magic will turn into helium flash or gamma-ray burst when it is beyond the demigod level. That will definitely be world-destroying…”

Hearing the two names, Natasha immediately grimaced at Lucien’s groin. “I don’t think the two names are very good. They seem to be implying the two different states of the same object. You may want to change them.”

Lucien was immediately embarrassed. It was indeed as expected of “gentleman” Natasha. He waved his hands and said, “The magic model is still incomplete. Let’s consider the names later after they are completed.”

“Okay. I’ll come and help you name one of the legendary magics. I’m very good at words!” Natasha decided to take over the interesting job, although she was kind enough to leave one of the names to Lucien. “Right, what kind of magic will they be like?”

Lucien briefly described them. As she listened, Natasha couldn’t help but turn around and look at the dark night outside. In shock, she remarked joyfully, “Perhaps, you will be given titles such as God of Sun, or Eternal Scorch.”

“I don’t that I can achieve it even if I advance into the level of the God of Truth…” Lucien replied frankly and continued to influence Natasha’s religious stance, trying to make her God really retreat to the spiritual domain. It was a long-term, arduous job that concerned his future happiness. Lucien did not intend to let go of it.

Natasha thought carefully for a moment. “The power of God’s Arrival was far from the ultimate view that you just described. However, it might have been because the power was reserved and controlled accurately. What a shame. Your ‘Little Boy’ is still incomplete, and we do not have magic materials of sufficient purity and quality. Otherwise, we could establish a magic trap that is a curse on the surface and a nuclear bomb below. Then, chances are that we could kill the Demigod-lich one more time with the cooperation of the Congus Ring.

For now, she referred to the magics with the names Lucien randomly came up with.

“Things will never go as smoothly as we imagine. Also, although my cognitive world has turned substantial, my spiritual power is still in the seventh circle, and I am still a half-seventh-circle sorcerer who hasn’t constructed the seventh-circle magic yet. My spiritual power from the ninth circle is not so close. Even though it is significantly improved because of the influence of the two demigods, I estimate that my spiritual power will reach the eighth circle at best a week later. It will take years before I advance into the ninth circle.

Lucien evaluated his status objectively without any frustration. He said with a smile, “Our original purpose was to put on ‘Congus Ring’ to increase our chances of survival. Since the purpose has been fulfilled, there’s nothing to regret.”

Although it was possible that Congus’ head would explode if the paper was directly ‘thrown’ to him, Lucien believed that Congus must’ve learnt the lesson that he should not read or pick up Lucien’s stuff carelessly after suffering two setbacks.

While talking, Lucian put on the black, iron ring that had vintage stripes.

The moment it touched his flesh, it started to absorb Lucien’s spiritual power crazily. As his spiritual power quickly faded away, his cognitive world began to slightly shake, but the substantiation space and projection rapidly increased his spiritual power and slowed the flow.

After a few seconds, the crazy absorption slowed down. The black surface of the ring lost the previous dimness and emitted cold, weird metal colors.

Lucian moved his body and exclaimed in surprise, “Magic resistance, healthy, physical defense and the other qualities that ‘Congus Ring’ improve can coexist with the effects of other magic items, provided that they do not surpass its upper limits. This is truly a ‘divine item’!”

In such a way, even if Lucien did not transform, he would have the magic resistance of the eighth circle and the body quality of a level-five knight.

“Also, it nullifies and weakens a lot of magics.” Natasha observed ‘Congus Ring’ in amazement.

Lucien shook his head with a smile. “Nullification does not always work and can be avoided. For example, the hostile spells may target the environment instead of me and then hurt me by the changes in the environment. Also, after I put on the ring, I cannot cast magic defense below the ninth circle on myself. However, the spells prepared in advance will not be affected. So, it will depend on the actual circumstance whether or not to wear the ring.”

“All in all, you can perform the legendary magic now. We will not be as helpless as before when we are faced with Demigod-lich again. Where are we going next?” Although it was only midnight, and there was still one day left before Demigod-lich arrived, Natasha knew very well that the better prepared they were, the more hopeful they would be.

Rubbing the ring, Lucien said, “One legendary magic will be enough to drain the power of the ring itself, as well as my own spiritual power. Therefore, we have to find the best opportunity. Now, let’s go to the Death Valley to ‘find’ Ell.”

“Didn’t you already put on the ring? There’s no need to catch Ell again, is there?” Natasha was somewhat confused.

Lucien smiled. “Something is wrong with Ell. We have to investigate it in case of any accident. Also, it is exactly because I have put on the ring that we need to catch Ell. Demigod-lich couldn’t have seen it coming that I could substantialize my cognitive world or put on the ring so quickly. Then, if he sees us together with Ell, who do you think he will be wary of?”

Because Alterna and mysteries existences from the World of Souls were attached to him, Lucien was bold enough to make plans about trapping a legendary sorcerer. Otherwise, it was possible that Demigod-lich already sensed the danger the moment he settled his plan, like the Lord of the Undead.

“How cunning of you.” Natasha observed.

“Alright, let’s go.” Lucien retreated to his alchemy table and his paper. He was about to start walking, when he thought of something else. “Natasha, you mentioned that I caused rather great noises?”

Natasha nodded affirmatively. “When you wrote the paper, there was a feeble feeling of time-and-space change around. By the time you were almost done, a new sun rose in the dark night outside, scorching and terrifying. The monsters and beasts were so scared that they are still crying at present. Although it lasted only one or two seconds, I’m certain that it was not an illusion.”

“How did it happen?” Asked Lucien in surprise. Didn’t such a phenomenon indicate the half-solidification of the cognitive world, which was starting to affect the real world? But he was still far away from legendary.

Interpreting his understanding to her, Lucien looked at Natasha in confusion, hoping that she could shed her insight.

Natasha looked at Lucien helplessly. “I’m terrible at such things. Well, perhaps it’s because this world is unique. After all, even the spiritual power and the willpower are suppressed.”

“Perhaps…” Lucien considered the possibility but did not think it through. In the meantime, he noticed the brilliance of Asin’s godhood on Natasha’s left arm. His lips cramped, but he decided not to remind her and simply wait for it to die away.

Natasha, on the other hand, noticed Lucien’s eyes. She turned her head and looked at her left arm. “Is this God’s Glory?”

“You can see it?” Lucien was even more surprised.

Natasha blinked her eyes, having no clue why Lucien was so surprised. She said innocently, “I can see it all the time, and so can other people. What’s wrong?”

“That can’t be right. In the main material world, people without special methods or items cannot see God’s Glory.” Lucien believed that Natasha was not lying to him. Then, Ell provided the laurel box at the beginning only because Francis, Jacob and the rest of them could not touch God’s Glory, not because they could not see it?

“Perhaps, it’s because this world is idiosyncratic.” Natasha proposed the same reason. She was really not good at such things.

Lucien paced back and forth. “The idiosyncrasies of this world… God’s Glory, according to my hypothesis, is the amalgamation of special electromagnetic waves. Then, how can they be seen by untrained people?”

Suddenly, Lucien had an epiphany. “Perhaps it’s because the magnetic field of the body and soul of the intelligent creatures of this world are slightly different from that of the main material world. It makes their power of faith stronger and easier to disperse. Also, because the fake gods in this place do not have specific doctrines and rituals, the special electromagnetic waves that is ‘power of faith’ mostly leak and spread out in the air, causing severe electromagnetic contamination that suppresses the spiritual power which is also likely to be an electromagnetic wave. Does it mean that the release of willpower is also based on electromagnetic waves?”

“By the same logic, because the special electromagnetic waves of different ‘frequencies’ are all over the place, godhood will ‘interact’ with part of them, resulting in the brilliance. That’s why it can be seen by ordinary people. When my cognitive world changed, it reverberated with certain electromagnetic waves in the outside worlds and caused the anomalies.”

“However, what about the projection and interaction of the real world, and what about the new magic models? Perhaps, my previous guesses are just part of the truth but not the whole of it.”

Looking at Lucien’s meditative look and hearing his murmur, Natasha comforted him with a smile, “It must be the mysteries of the highest level and cannot be figured out all of a sudden. Let’s take our time. We can find intelligent creatures and study the differences of their magnetic field later.”

“Yes, Demigod-lich is what matters most right now.” Lucien stopped thinking and hinted at Natasha to leave for the Death Valley together with him.

At this moment, Natasha laughed like a fox. “I thought of something. Asin, that ‘God of Love and Beauty’, seemed to have been a male centaur in the past, as proved by his dead body. However, after he melted part of godhood, he turned into a beautiful lady.”

While talking, she rubbed ‘God’s Glory’ on her left arm, although she could not feel anything.

“No random thoughts.” Lucien looked at her solemnly.

Natasha cackled and said, “Am I such an inconsiderate girl? The godhood conflicts with your cognitive world. How can I use it when it will harm you? Huh, I need to ask Grandma Hathaway to build an extraordinary item with the godhood. Do you think I should make an earring, a ring, or a belt, a tiara, a long skirt?”

“A longsword.” Replied Lucien emotionlessly.

Natasha asked in surprise, “Why?”

“A longsword forged with the godhood of a senior-rank fake god can only be wielded by a radiant knight or a talented ordinary knight. Therefore, nobody will take it away by mistake.” Lucien continued emotionlessly.

Natasha chuckled and said, “that works too. How do you think it should be named?”

Lucien thought for a moment and suddenly said in amusement. “It will be the Sword of Contract and Victory. When the young man draws the longsword, his fate is changed.”

Then, ignoring Natasha’s confusion, Lucien walked out of the cave.