“Simple? This is anything but simple, Master. I’d love to learn it,” Ludwig said, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he considered the endless possibilities of the [Explosive Mines] spell. The complexity of the spell fascinated him, and he was eager to master it.
He began by re-reading the book, absorbing every detail, memorizing the formulas for the spell’s creation, and understanding how to warp and control the magic. Unlike the first spell he had learned, [Bounds of Latvia], this one took him twice as long to grasp. But the reward was worth it.
[You have learned, {Explosive Mines}]
Creates an explosive fireball that can be detonated at will or after a set amount of time.
The spell’s damage is relative to the caster’s Wisdom.
The number of {Explosive Mines} the caster can create is relative to their Mana, Stamina, and Wisdom.
“Good, I think I got it,” Ludwig said, looking up at his teacher with a mixture of pride and anticipation.
“Show me,” Van Dijk said, his tone calm but expectant.
Ludwig hesitated. “Wouldn’t it cause problems? I mean, it’s explosive, and I don’t know how much damage it would cause.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Van Dijk replied, waving off Ludwig’s concern.
“Okay, Master,” Ludwig said, nodding. He pointed his finger forward and called out, “{Explosive Mines!}”
A small ball of condensed fire materialized in front of Ludwig’s finger, hovering ominously. The air around it shimmered with heat, and Ludwig could feel the energy radiating from it.
“What now?” Ludwig asked, his tone uncertain.
“What do you think?” Van Dijk said, raising an eyebrow. “If you try to blow it up that close to your hand, you’ll lose an arm. Push it away like a guided fireball. You can also control its speed and direction by spending more mana.”
Ludwig nodded, recalling the extensive instructions in the book. The spell’s control mechanisms had taken up more than two-thirds of the book’s length, while the creation process was relatively straightforward. It was a true scientist’s approach to spellcraft, and Ludwig appreciated the precision.
He focused, channeling his mana to guide the [Explosive Mine]. The fireball moved as he willed it, flying forward, spinning, and changing direction. But as he continued to manipulate it, he began to feel the strain.
“Seems that the longer I move it and control it, the harder it gets and the more mana it absorbs,” Ludwig said, his brow furrowing.
“It should be natural,” Van Dijk replied. “Now, push it toward me and blow it up.”
Ludwig hesitated but complied. He guided the fireball toward Van Dijk, who calmly raised his hand. As the [Explosive Mine] approached, Van Dijk encased it in a translucent mana orb, containing its energy.
Ludwig snapped his fingers, triggering the explosion. The fireball erupted, but the mana orb absorbed the blast effortlessly. To Ludwig, it seemed like the explosion had done nothing, but Van Dijk’s knowing smile told a different story.
The side of the orb facing Van Dijk was cracked, a testament to the spell’s power. With a casual motion, Van Dijk dissipated the orb, leaving no trace of the explosion.
“Good, good,” Van Dijk said, his tone approving.
“What should I do to add more magic to it?” Ludwig asked, his curiosity piqued.
“You mean the same way I did?” Van Dijk replied, his tone teasing.
“Yes,” Ludwig said, his eyes shining with excitement. “Not gonna lie, that looked awesome, especially the gravitational explosive mine.”
Van Dijk chuckled. “Ah, gravity is a rather tough subject, and it’s a tier-four spell at the minimum. You still don’t have the circuits to handle it, and definitely not enough Nephilium for it. So don’t bother. As for the other spells… let’s just say that your cup is already full. You need to adjust and learn the limits of your current self before you try to outgrow them. Slow and steady, Ludwig. You’re an undead—you have infinity itself to learn whatever you want.”
Ludwig nodded, taking his master’s words to heart. Van Dijk was right; there was no point in hurrying. He still had two more spells to learn, and he needed to master them before the tournament.
Ludwig returned to his desk and began studying the remaining spells. The hours passed quickly, and by the time morning arrived, he had learned all four spells. However, the process had humbled him. He realized that his initial confidence had been somewhat arrogant, and he needed to temper his expectations.
As the first light of dawn broke, Ludwig rushed out of the Black Tower, cursing his foolishness for thinking he could learn the spells in such a short time. He had managed to master them all, but the experience had taught him a valuable lesson in humility.
Little did Ludwig know, his master was incredibly impressed. Van Dijk had watched Ludwig’s progress throughout the night, amazed by the speed at which he had learned the spells. For most students, it would have taken weeks, if not months, to master even one of those books. Yet Ludwig had done it in half a night.
Van Dijk wasn’t one to cajole or hype up his students. To him, everyone was subpar, and he pushed them to better themselves to earn his recognition. But deep down, he felt that Ludwig wasn’t just a monster in body—he was a monster in mind. The boy’s genius had surpassed even Van Dijk’s, and that was saying something.
Ludwig reached the academy in record time, his undead stamina allowing him to sprint without tiring. As he approached the entrance, a guard recognized him and immediately led him inside.
Just as Ludwig walked into the academy, Hoyo was the first to greet him. “Oi, Ludwig!” he shouted, waving enthusiastically.
“Yo, man. What’s up?” Ludwig said, his eyes darting toward the arena.
“Today’s a big day, right?” Hoyo said, his tone excited.
“Yep, I guess,” Ludwig replied, his mind still focused on the tournament.
“I heard you spent the night at the Black Tower. Tell me they’re not doing some weird experiments on you there?” Hoyo asked, his tone half-joking, half-concerned.
“Huh? No, why are you asking?” Ludwig said, raising an eyebrow.
“I don’t know,” Hoyo said, shrugging. “The Black Tower is the dream of every student, to go there and study there. But everyone who goes there comes back with a couple of screws loose.”
Ludwig couldn’t blame him. So far, he only knew of three people in the Black Tower, and none of them were exactly sane. “I need to go,” Ludwig said, his tone urgent.
“Where to?” Hoyo asked, frowning.
“The arena. I’m late,” Ludwig said, already moving.
“The tournament is starting after an hour or so, and I already secured our spots,” Hoyo said, trying to stop him.
“Ah, I’m not watching,” Ludwig said, pausing to look back at Hoyo. “I’m participating.”
Hoyo’s jaw dropped, his eyes widening in shock. “Wait, what? You’re participating? Since when?”
Ludwig grinned, though his expression was a mix of excitement and nervousness. “Since last night. I’ll explain later. For now, I need to get to the arena.”
With that, Ludwig turned and sprinted toward the arena, leaving Hoyo staring after him in stunned silence. The tournament was about to begin. He wasn’t interested in joining yesterday, but now with more spells and abilities under his belt, he couldn’t help but feel slightly exited.
