A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 437 Limited Edition: [Qi Creation Technique]

Upon returning to the border area, the space seemed larger, especially since the "Golden Tree" had become much more lush and leafy.

Firstly, as the number of users increases, the pathways to corresponding spells gradually become thicker and more rigid;

Secondly, Rorschach persisted in uploading his spells, such as the "Mini Black Hole" he cast in the Air Elemental Plane. Uploading it wasn't just about creating a spell model; it also meant uploading the entire cluster of spells supporting it, generating multiple new nodes. Finally, this spell was at the eighth ring level. The increase in the ring limit is also proof of the "Golden Tree's robust growth."

Third, a very subtle factor is at play: the interception of the faith of the "Lord of Order" and the primitive beliefs of the "Devourer" tribe, the native inhabitants of the air elemental plane. These mystical surges are not the primary requirement for the development of the "Tree," but they can stimulate it, strictly speaking, like trace elements.

Correspondingly, the guardian "Century Egg Spirit" also grew larger, its faceless head rubbing against its master. Rorschach and Caroline, both in spirit form, felt a cool, slippery texture when they came into contact with the "Century Egg Spirit's" surface.

In the border region, granules of transmutation dust rose from the ground, forming gas clouds – a corner of the Tower Spirit's simulated air elemental plane. Rorschach and Caroline's view, of course, revolved around the tribe; in the miniature scene, several granules shimmered with golden light, presumably indicating that tribe members were praying.

Caroline began to unfurl the original text of the secret code, the metamorphic dust and sand transforming in coordination to construct its perfect model. At the same time, in the simulated scene, a blue glow lit up in the sky above the tribe, representing potential gas extraction points. These coordinates were randomly distributed, with the most points in the space directly above the tribe, meaning they had the highest probability of being extracted.

The spell is not yet finalized and there is room for fine-tuning. For example, there are many engineering issues—instantaneous extraction naturally activates a single point in the simulation diagram, but what about continuous extraction?

Is it a fixed communication location, or does it refresh at a certain time? But these are minor details and don't need to worry about them. It's just a matter of re-editing the "features".

"We can start the experiment once we return to the material plane." Caroline sighed, a sigh of relief that came with completion, but also carrying another meaning. She paused for a moment before speaking, "If this spell is completed, you'll extract the new gas, right?"

"right."

"It will be used on the Empire's airships."

"Yes."

"And the Empire's airships will drop bombs on Valois, causing casualties."

"Even if not, the two countries are currently at war, so casualties are inevitable. At the Tower of Stars, I proposed the idea of ​​transmitting information by electricity. Later, the National Guard used telegraph and radio technology, which helped them achieve results in the campaign in northern Valuana."

He obtained the specific details from Chancellor Otto.

"Our achievements, the magic of mages, everything we produce will be used for killing in this historical moment, but certainly not only on the battlefield. I will not hesitate because technology will bring death; on the contrary, it is an opportunity to promote progress and popularization, the foundation for its spread and benefit to the masses."

"When two sides fight, technology and magic will be put into the battlefield from laboratories and mage towers. They are not gifts from the gods, but the wisdom of people themselves. Therefore, they will not disappear or be taken back when the war ends, but will be distributed to more people."

Rorschach spoke these words without fanaticism or sorrow, simply stating his assertions in a straightforward manner. Such a phenomenon was unlikely to occur in an era when gods roamed the earth, and the process was slow before the rise of various trading companies and merchant classes. However, Rorschach knew it would happen, and firmly believed it would be accelerated by the great war.

Caroline scrutinized Rorschach; before her stood neither saint nor devil. "Perhaps you are right. May you cherish life—your own, your loved ones', and your fellow human beings'. No matter how great the cause, innocent people should not be forced to become stepping stones."

"I did not start a war. What I did, in all these respects, was to make the deaths of those who would otherwise have died more meaningful. At the same time, I did other things, trying to save some people."

"I know, I've seen it all. I'm sorry, I don't completely agree with your actions, but I shouldn't criticize you for it, Rorschach."

Thank you.

Regardless, Teacher Caroline helped me a lot, and even though there were some deviations in the concept, the new spell was completed smoothly. The most significant thing about completing [Aura Creation] is that it is a magic translated from the secret code into the "Spell Cloud" system, a "unique spell" that has never appeared in the traditional spellcasting system.

Currently, Rorschach's "Spell Cloud" can determine who can access it, meaning it is exclusive. He plans to use this as an opportunity to send his own people to establish gas supply stations while providing new gas to the Empire, which will also serve as outposts for expansion into other areas of the Empire.

If more "exclusive spells" appear in the future, the value of the spell cloud will gradually increase until one day the "golden tree" grows into a towering giant, and the new system will no longer be a substitute for the old system.

"Let's go back," Rorschach said, noticing Caroline's low spirits. He had a good suggestion: "How about we sneak back to the Tower of Stars?"

Caroline's strong reaction likely stemmed from her concern for her hometown. Seeing it with her own eyes, regardless of the specifics, at least dispelled unnecessary speculation. As for her next choice, Rorschach couldn't force the freedom of an adult mage, let alone his own teacher.

"The magic guild's teleportation system is not open to us."

"Isn't there a cross-border route? I can discuss it with Master Kano and see if he can come up with a solution. If he's overwhelmed by the situation, fine, but if he agrees, I refuse to believe that a grand mage who studies spatial magic can't open a teleportation portal!"

"That makes sense." Caroline's eyes regained their sparkle.

At this moment, Cano was indeed overwhelmed with problems, but he was also very happy because his research over the years was gradually making progress.

The Republic's situation is improving, but things are getting worse in Valuwana, where guillotines are springing up like mushrooms after a spring rain, day after day.

In the past, executioners would wipe their blades after each execution, but now they don't have that leisure. Executions are carried out in batches, starting with the first one and finishing quickly. With a few clicks, the blades are covered with a mixture of blood and grime from different people.

Terror and the smell of rust permeated the heart of the republic. Fortunately, the students that Cano was most worried about had joined the army, temporarily escaping the vortex of public opinion and the guillotine. Cano was more concerned that they, like the National Assembly representatives, would turn on each other and even kill one another than that they might die on the battlefield.

He didn't see anything honorable about this situation.

The magic guild has now fragmented into organizations limited by nationality, each going its own way, with each branch maintaining only limited communication, which has ironically allowed Kano to enjoy some peace and quiet.

Now he shut himself away to continue his research. The widespread establishment of transmutation dust extractors brought an unexpected bonus; those machines extracted transmutation dust day and night, creating weak areas of laminar flow.

The emergence of the weak point gave Cano's research team a glimmer of hope for entering the astral plane.

(End of this chapter)