Sovereign of the Ashes

Chapter 170: Dismantling for Research

When Sein reached his dormitory, he found that his cousin, Selina, had not returned yet.

After a lengthy lab session, Sein emerged feeling hungry and found that Selina had not only returned but had also thoughtfully prepared dinner.

In celebration of his return after a month away, Selina decided to cook a special meal for him.

In the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring Academy, there were several commercial areas where initiates could purchase various ingredients and daily necessities.

Selina had chosen a magic fish for dinner. This scarlet fish, adorned with dark blue lines along its spine, was a delicacy.

Being surrounded by the sea, the divine tower had access to a wide array of marine magic beasts and magic creatures.

This particular fish, about half a meter long and equivalent to an intermediate-level magic beast, was a prized ingredient even within the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring Academy.

With the energy crystals Sein had given her, Selina had no trouble acquiring one that had been gutted and prepared.

Its presence on the dining table inadvertently reminded Sein of Leena.

Although Sein had shared intimate moments with several members of the opposite sex, Leena undoubtedly still held a special place in his heart.

Selina, keenly observant and having shared a roof with Sein for more than half a year, noticed a subtle shift in his demeanor.

In the dim light, her figure briefly seemed to overlap with Leena from his memory, causing him to approach her as if in a trance.

It was only when he found himself standing close to Selina at the dining table that he snapped back to reality, shaking off his reverie.

“Is something the matter, Sein?” Selina asked, a hint of shyness in her voice.

Sein's unexpected advance had taken her by surprise, yet she had not resisted, and was now standing there with a flushed face.

“It’s nothing. Let’s eat,” Sein said, diverting his attention from her and trying to maintain a normal demeanor despite pitching a little tent in his pants.

Sein was puzzled by his reaction today. Despite his years of sexual abstinence, the sight of Selina or other female initiates in revealing attire at the academy had never quite affected him like this.

Aside from the current scene evoking memories of Leena, Sein wondered if his recent encounter with Scarlet had reawakened the dormant emotions and desires within him.

The hearty dinner proceeded without further incident.

After eating his fill, Sein returned to his laboratory.

Selina watched him leave, unaware of the thoughts running through his mind.

***

Theoretical expansion of the spell model to integrate six Solar Eyes as elemental nodes is indeed feasible.

If so, the next phase of the Solar Eye magic spell could manifest thirty-six eyes simultaneously. Such a development may amplify the power several fold, potentially even multiplying it by tens of times!

However, the complexity of energy stability and the sheer volume of data calculations are beyond my current capabilities.

It’s impractical to spend years testing for a result.

Even if it succeeds, there are other constraints, but if it fails...

Sein pondered in front of his experiment table.

Sein was typically rational in his approach, a trait common among mages, though there were always outliers with more eccentric methods.

At present, his desire to enhance the Solar Eye magic spell and create a unique, powerful spell was tempered by an awareness of his limitations.

The calculations requirements and complexity were simply too great for him at this stage.

Even if his theoretical groundwork was solid, his current mana capacity likely would not support the simultaneous manifestation of thirty-six Solar Eyes.

He might only be able to explore this concept further upon promoting to a Rank One mage, with enhanced focus and mana, and the ability to tap into nature’s elemental energy.

Sein acknowledged his current limitations with a deep sigh.

Rather than feeling disheartened, he felt more driven to reach higher levels of mastery.

For now, he set aside the idea of enhancing the Solar Eye magic spell.

After organizing his thoughts and emotions, Sein commenced his next experiment.

His systematic approach in studies and research was the hallmark of a dedicated mage, a principle instilled in him by his late mentor, Master Morsidor.

Sein’s next experiment was an alchemy research involving the verdant badge placed at the center of his experiment table.

Years of preparation had led to this moment, where he finally began his in-depth study of the badge.

Issued by the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, this badge not only represented the status of an initiate but also carried various practical functionalities.

Sein speculated that such finely crafted badges were likely the work of a renowned and full-fledged alchemist.

To make significant progress in alchemy, one needed not only relentless practice and mentorship from a renowned master, but also the opportunity to dismantle and study rare magic artifacts.

Sein, however, was reluctant to dismantle the relics left by Master Morsidor. Additionally, magic artifacts of Rank One and above were beyond his current level of expertise and understanding.

Thus, he resorted to dismantling the badge before him to satisfy his curiosity and thirst for knowledge.

He even contemplated the possibility of replacing it at the divine tower’s central office if he ended up destroying it during his experiment.

Time seemed to fly whenever he was occupied with his magical research.

Before Sein realized, two months had elapsed.

This period of intensive study led to a deeper understanding of the Verdant Spring Badge’s intricate features, introducing him to alchemical techniques he had never encountered.

These discoveries rekindled his passion for alchemy, previously at a standstill, and opened up new avenues for exploration.

While he was dismantling the Verdant Spring Badge, Sein unearthed several hidden functionalities.

Some were quite peculiar, such as the ability to shield the badge from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring’s detection or to locate its other wearers within a certain radius using his crystal ball.

The cost of uncovering these features and acquiring new knowledge was not just two months of Sein’s dedicated effort but also the loss and replacement of three new badges at the central office of the divine tower.

This included two of Selina’s badges, which Sein had also used in his experiments.

Fortunately, these identification badges could be replaced, though at the expense of magicoins and energy crystals.