NOVEL NEXT Chapter 45: TV Buddies
The unchained form of Libra made him feel light. He finally moved and glanced at Thane, still looking over the channels of the TV. When he was released, he realized that something else, a weight that had bound him, also vanished!
"...What if I attack you?" Libra didn't know why he was asking this.
"I'm pretty sure the TV will protect me. You are my angel assistant, after all." Thane answered unbothered.
"Now, let's watch some TV. I always wanted a binge-watch buddy. But my Mom was strict and always said that the devil uses TV to tempt us. I wonder what she would think now I'm watching TV with one..."
Libra blinked, his eyes dimming and brightening in confusion. He watched the Conqueror, who did as he pleased. But for some odd reason, he could no longer bear to plot against Thane!
"Is it... because I plan to use this brat?" Libra thought in its soul. He was unsure how to act. No being had ever offered a sense of kindness or good towards it.
"Oh, can you change forms? That pillar thing isn't exactly in a good position to watch TV."
Libra glanced back at Thane. Still lost in confusion, he nevertheless complied.
His form shrank. The pillar of wings dissolved into the smaller wisp again, drifting beside Thane like a floating cloud.
As he drew closer, Thane could see Libra's chosen appearance.
He was like a floating skull and moved closer to Thane.
"Can you watch from that angle?"
"Yes. Pay no worry to me... But... are you alright with watching this with me?"
"Back in the real world, I was always too busy. Ministry, work, responsibilities… I barely had time to hang out with friends. We'd plan movie nights, but I'd cancel. I told myself I'd rest later, watch later, laugh later. But later never came." He chuckled dryly.
Libra sat in silence. He had marveled at such beings. Such righteous beings on earth. He marveled because he could never understand them.
"You never... watched TV with your friends?"
"Strict mom." Thane chuckled.
"Well, I probably could have, but then I died. So much for later."
Libra hovered silently, the smoke of his form curling in uneasy sympathy.
"Hmmm... Oh! I can summon him!"
WARP!
A Groundling landed next to Thane.
"Libra, meet Esau. Esau, meet Libra."
The moment Esau saw Libra, he was petrified, but Libra paid no mind to the dumbstruck Groundling and turned to the screen that appeared.
"Now... "
Thane said brightly, navigating through the glowing channels.
"Let's find something worth binging!" Thane opened the notification that he had not read. But he already had an idea what it was.
[Milestone Achieved!]
[All stats have surpassed 40.]
[Unlocking new Content Tier: Prestige Channels Package 2.]
[Please select a new channel to unlock:]
• Mastery Magic Channel – Learn elemental spells, ancient chants, and what to do when your fireball explodes in your face.
• True Crime: Fantasy Edition – Investigate demon cults, political betrayals, and the serial killer known as the Bard Butcher.
"If I can't learn magic from you, I'll learn it from the TV! Abra Kadabra! Or... a Christian version, I guess? Abba Kadabra? I don't know... Anyway…"
He tapped the screen.
"Mastery Magic Channel, let's go!"
[Mastery Magic Channel selected! You may now view the selected channel!]
New options unfolded, dazzling with endless shows.
[Due to powers absorbed from Libra, time has slowed up to five times while Celestial TV is on!]
[Time Remaining: 10h:00m]
[Total viewing time: 50h:00m]
"Nice! Fifty hours of binge time!" Thane rubbed his hands together.
"...So that's where all my Mist went. It turned it into a time-enhancing spell!" Libra was shocked and partially disturbed,
"Yup! This thing usually plays shows twice the speed. But your Mist was sacrificed into Binge Hours for me! Great trade!"
"I... I..." Libra wanted to say so many things, but couldn't find the words. Those Mist were part of his soul!
"Now, let's see what's on! I'm sure there are shows on necromancy!"
"Conqueror… necromancy is still derived from the Fallen. I can sense this TV to be made by an Arc Angel, so he might not let you study it openly—"
But then he froze.
Scrolling past the channel list, Thane spotted one with a glowing HOT! Tag:
Bone, God, and Harmony- "Discover the power of the Holy Necromancer!" Episode 1: The Good Necromancer
"You were saying?" Thane chuckled.
Libra's smoky form stiffened.
"The angels... actually made a necromancy channel?!"
Thane shrugged.
"Well, tempting as it is, that'll be for later. Right now… I need foundational knowledge!" He scrolled to the magic shows.
The Mastery Magic Channel's home screen bloomed into a colorful catalog of programs. Thane saw shows about specific elements and finally reached the Recommended section.
Mana Basics 101 – "How to breathe without setting your lungs on fire." Episode 1: Mana Flow
Fire Unleashed – Harness the Flame! Episode 1: Flame On!
Mana Core – Build your Spell, Master your Destiny! Episode 1: The Monsters To Consider
The Body of Magic – Learn the History of how it Began! Episode 1: Making Yourself Habitable for Mana.
Thane's eyes lingered on the glowing title: The Body of Magic. The diagrams of veins glowing across human forms, the way mana channeled through palms and feet.
"This looks interesting," Thane muttered.
"Body of Magic? Sounds like the starter kit to becoming a mage."
"That would be a good place to start, Conqueror," Libra urged.
"Oh? You think so?" Thane frowned.
"Mortals must prepare their flesh, carving vessels within themselves to make their bodies habitable for mana. When we angels possessed these bodies and abandoned our natural habitation, we had to recreate what we were in the heavenlies and imprint it into mortal flesh. I cannot divulge all the secrets, but this Celestial TV …seems to have it all figured out."
"I get it. But isn't it weird that I already have a pretty high mana pool? I mean, I haven't done any remodeling."
"You sure have. That is because of the Ambrosia Fruit. In this current era, the Mana Borne era, some would be born with little mana. That would be a blessing. But by consuming and cultivating magic cores, they embed power into their hands, their feet, their mind, and their very heart. Only then can they wield the elements. For mana is but the mist or the flow within one's blood. But when wielded, they become fire, water, earth, wind, and even the earth."
"So you're telling me they literally remodel their bodies into little mana gardens?"
"Gardens of different fruits. If your body is the ground, mana is but the water. You still need a seed to create magic. And what an advantage you have!" Libra's voice swelled.
"Your body…"
He paused, smoky skull-face twisting in amazement,
"…your body is Celestial Tier. Very powerful. Strong. The kind of body angels would admire. We would sacrifice everything if we had the chance to acquire your body."
Thane froze, staring at him.
"…Can you repeat that without sounding like a perverted, horny demon?"
Libra sputtered, eyes blinking wildly.
"That is not what I meant!"
"Good. Because, no offense, but I'm not into ghastly floating skulls. Just because you're into hulky Nephilim doesn't mean I'm rolling that way."
Thane pressed play before Libra could defend himself. The Celestial TV shimmered, colors swirling until the outline of an ancient man appeared, standing before a massive ruined temple.
He was tall, with hair like white fire, eyes glowing faintly with the shimmer of mana itself. His robes bore constellations stitched in threads that flickered like stars, and his staff pulsed with slow, living runes. His presence carried the weight of centuries, yet his expression was calm, confident.
"Aetarion Magus!" Libra exclaimed, his voice a hiss of recognition. Some dark hatred was also voiced out.
"You know him? Do you guys have some shared history?" Thane asked.
"I do. Roughly around four or... maybe five thousand years ago, I met him in combat. I could never forget it, because it was the first time I lost to mortals!"
"Whoa! This guy defeated you?! At your peak, no less?!" Thane was amazed.
The visuals on screen showed highlights of his spells.
The man commanded Fire and Ice. Two magics that shot up and created mountains of ice, and meteors of flame!
Thane could feel the power of the very immersive TV he had.
"Wow! That guy must definitely be at level 90!"
"Level 92 to be precise."
The man finally stood closer to the screen as the camera slowly panned towards his face.
"My name is Aetarion Magus," the man declared, his voice gravel and thunder.
"The name by which all who practice the art of magic are called magus... Yes, it is mine. Long before mortals named me the Father of the Spells, long before angels called me traitor, I was but a poor boy, born in Gemini's kingdom."
"Gemini?!" Thane was amazed.
"It really is the Twelve Zodiacs!"
"You didn't believe me?" Libra frowned.
"I'm sorry I doubted you, demon." Thane answered sarcastically.
"If you won't believe me, then believe your TV! Watch a show about the Old Eras! Back then, we each held a kingdom! We controlled a continent! And we conquered all the magical beasts of this world!" Libra explained.
BOOOOM!
A great battle between Aetherion and his former master was displayed, and behind Aetherion, several mages fought and used terrifying spells to push back a being who is unrecognizable except by their elements of fire and ice.
"That is Gemini. The Union of Two!"
The inspiring battle continued and caused Thane to marvel at the might of a real angel.
"So that's an angel's full power?"
"At that time, yes. But Conqueror Thane, I am sure, that the fallen angels of this world have grown far stronger. Perhaps the level cap has been broken..."
Thane's eyes grew serious as he watched the climactic battle.