Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Insight, The Right Path, [Spirt's Mithril Transformation]
At the Blueberry Inn, Ronan sat alone in a small training room, a steaming cup of mint tea beside him.
"Domain resonance..."
He pondered the points Benigo had discussed with him today, particularly the content related to extraordinary domains.
"Heart, soul, magic, domain..."
Ronan mused over these words repeatedly, opening his character panel.
He examined the spells in which he had unlocked domain power.
**[Skills:**
- Energy Missile - Particle Stream (Master 132/1600)
- Charged Weapon - Power of Dispelling (Master 141/1600)
- Ice Ball - Desolate Freeze (Master 27/1600)**
Benigo was clearly unaware that Ronan actually wielded three extraordinary domain powers, not just two. Beyond [Power of Dispelling] and [Desolate Freeze], there was also [Particle Stream].
Ronan's gaze shifted among these master-level skills, each having developed an extraordinary domain.
After surpassing the 100-point mark at the master level, increasing proficiency became exceedingly difficult and slow.
Previously, Ronan hadn't considered this an issue. But Benigo's insights today made him realize the difficulty might be tied to his method of blindly practicing, solely relying on panel insights to advance, without actively contemplating or understanding the core concepts.
Benigo had said that extraordinary domain power was not only a tool but a manifestation of the wizard's heart and soul.
It touched upon deep-rooted elements Ronan had overlooked.
"Benigo's domain centers on an unstoppable, indomitable spirit.
"So what are the cores of these three extraordinary domains I have?"
Ronan picked up a carving knife used for rune inscription, lightly etching into the worktable surface as if it were paper.
"[Particle Stream], the core is the immense, overwhelming force, like an unstoppable flood sweeping everything away."
Ronan carved the word "flood" into the table, contemplating, "Energy particles surge like a flood... What does a real flood look like?"
He closed his eyes, trying to recall scenes of floods from his two lives.
The first image was of a river overflowing during a past life trip, though the specific scene was blurry. Yet, the overwhelming, earth-shaking force capable of wiping out everything left a deep impression.
It was his first experience of nature's grandeur, where human power seemed insignificant.
In a way, energy particles were also natural forces. No matter how powerful a wizard, they were nothing compared to the vast earth and sky.
Even feats like moving mountains and filling seas relied on leveraging nature's power...
Gradually, Ronan felt he was grasping something.
The river breach and particle stream overlapped in his mind, finding common points, converging more and more.
"Whoosh—"
When Ronan emerged from his reverie, his mind lingered in that subtle insight, feeling a new understanding of [Particle Stream].
He glanced at his character panel...
Ronan nearly jumped from his seat.
**[Energy Missile - Particle Stream (Master 137/1600)]**
"In just that time, without casting, merely imagining, I gained 5 proficiency points?"
Ronan was astonished, "Benigo really knows his stuff; it actually works!"
The panel's data confirmed it all.
Ronan felt like he'd opened a new world—no, he was finally on the right path.
He eagerly continued analyzing the core truths of the remaining skills. [Power of Dispelling]'s domain was simple: disintegration.
Disintegrating energy particles' "formation," disrupting their original order.
However, visualizing "disintegration" was challenging. Ronan racked his brain but couldn't conjure a fitting image or memory.
"The concept of disintegration is abstract. Understanding it may require observing spell processes in detail."
In simple terms, he needed targets to experience the changes brought by [Power of Dispelling].
This wasn't feasible for now, so Ronan moved to the third domain, [Desolate Freeze].
The core of [Desolate Freeze] was easiest to grasp. The "Domain of Despair," derived from [Permafrost] runes, had long epitomized it.
Ronan had ample experiences of "despair."
From minor woes like forgetting a pen for an exam, lacking toilet paper, losing a train ticket, to major crises like being manipulated by Anglet, hunted by Laura, pushed to death's brink...
Ronan, eyes closed, sat at the table, recalling scenes of "despair." Gradually, his aura shifted.
Threads of oppressive, lifeless, bleak despair emanated from him.
This aura thickened, spilling from the training room, filling the entire space.
As it infused the room, the air seemed to stagnate, sunlight dulled, robbed of warmth.
Flowers in a vase began to wilt...
Finally, Ronan opened his eyes.
"To bring greater despair to others, I must first embrace it myself."
Ronan murmured, then rubbed his forehead and temples, trying to shake off the oppressive desire to die.
"That's enough for today. Any more, and I might lose my mind..."
Ronan felt as though a stone weighed on his heart, an inexplicable discomfort.
He checked his panel, seeing [Ice Ball - Desolate Freeze] had gained 20 mastery points!
That would take nearly half a month of casting practice.
Ronan drained his now-cold mint tea, grimacing as its bitterness matched his mood.
He stepped outside, opened a window, and took a while to shake off the oppressive despair.
"I've found the right path."
Returning to normal, Ronan picked up the dead flowers from the vase, his eyes glinting with excitement.
"Understanding the core truths of domains, combined with panel insights, means my master-level skills will soon soar in proficiency."
"Domain resonance... something to look forward to."
Ronan didn't know if "domain resonance" corresponded to a level above "master."
But regardless, it once seemed distant.
Now, the speed and method of proficiency growth gave him hope.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
A knock sounded, followed by Alida's voice outside the door.
"Master Ronan, your dinner."
"Come in."
The door opened, and Alida entered with a serving cart.
Upon entering, Alida's expression changed slightly. After setting the table, she cautiously asked, "Would you like the room cleaned again?"
She seemed affected by the lingering aura.
Without understanding, people might mistake the aura for the smell of decay.
Ronan shook his head, sending Alida away.
He ate dinner alone, inspecting the Demon Tungsten Benigo gave him and the storage pouches taken from Travis' wizards.
Under [Animate Metal], Demon Tungsten flowed like oil over Ronan's arm.
Though initial fusion, Ronan felt the dark energy's erosion.
For now, the erosion was within his tolerance. His life force orb continually repaired any damage.
Ronan shaped Demon Tungsten into a knife and fork.
Without using magic or force, it sliced through his silverware like butter.
In sharpness and hardness, Demon Tungsten met Ronan's melee weapon standards.
"With [Spirt's Mithril Transformation], both aspects will enhance significantly."
The Silver Ring's core sigil, [Spirt's Mithril Transformation], added "rune mithril" enhancement to metal mediums.
It's like an extra enchantment, the Silver Ring's metal spell strength.
"Reaching mid-first-level, my soul power will soon allow a second sigil."
Ronan's progress was stuck at first-level 24%, just shy of mid-first-level.
"Hope Benigo isn't bluffing."
Ronan thought, opening the storage pouches of the four Ring wizards.
Though their mental power surpassed his, Ronan's "brute force" approach opened them smoothly.
The haul:
- 532 high-grade magic stones
- 11 first-level magical tools
- A heap of first-level potions and materials
- Several useless wizard books
- Personal items and miscellanea
- Three fist-sized metal pieces, for replenishing metal spell mediums.
Typically, metal wizards' casting depleted their metal mediums.
Demon Tungsten was no exception.
But Ronan intended to use it solely for melee, so depletion would be less.
Benigo's large piece would last long.
He now forged a handy single-handed sword from Demon Tungsten, with plenty left.
With his newfound wealth, Ronan felt richer than ever.
Converting it all to magic stones could easily exceed 1,000 high-grade stones.
"My personal resources are secure. I just hope the Sacred Blood Tree isn't a bottomless pit."
Ronan thought, storing his haul, ending dinner, and starting his meditation.
In the following days, Ronan's life settled into a peaceful routine.
He received his core member robe and residency from the Ring, yet stayed at the Blueberry Inn.
The next day, Benigo sent ancient recipes for mental enhancement potions, along with materials needed to awaken the Sacred Blood Tree seed.
Ronan's shopping spree outside the Seventh Ring City spent nearly 200 high-grade stones, making him wonder if Benigo had tricked him.
Two days later, Benigo successfully brewed the potions, easing Ronan's mind.
A month passed.
In the vast forest.
Thick snow blanketed nearly a mile of land.
The chill obliterated all colors but blue and white, sealing vitality outside the white, despair permeating the space.
In this desolate scene, a tall figure hovered in mid-air.
His silver robe glimmered in the crystalline sunlight, its hem fluttering in the wind and snow.
The brown-haired youth was enshrouded by mystical auras, his eyes a sky-like azure.
He seemed sculpted from crystal ice, the true source of the cold and despair!
Below, countless large black wasp corpses littered the ground, with nearly ten calf-sized giant wasps before him.
Their wings broad and transparent, each flap creating ripples in the air, bodies a pale blue, streamlined, eyes glowing green, exuding a strange dignity.
As the ten beastly wasps buzzed, pale green wind blades formed, shooting towards the silver-robed youth with sharp whistling.
The youth's right hand, hidden in his robe, rose, summoning a thick ice shield, then a flowing black metal, forming an umbrella shape.
"Patter—patter—"
Wind blades struck the ice shield, piercing it in half a breath, then hitting the black metal shield, ringing like rain on ice.
"Domain of Despair... unleash!"
As the ringing continued, a tide of cold surged from the youth, deep blue currents like ice veins, auroras sweeping the battlefield.
Under the onslaught, the wasps froze mid-flight, encased in ice, only their eyes retaining faint glimmers.
The youth raised his hand, retracting the umbrella shield, his azure eyes flaring, unleashing terrifying mysterious auras, creating a vast flood-like domain!
"[Particle Stream]!"
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