Chapter 48 - 47: New Magic (3)

Chapter 48: Chapter 47: New Magic (3)

Gaode was entranced. The workshop was dead silent, save for the occasional RUSTLE of pages turning.

"Magic School.

"The effects of magic are ever-changing. Based on these effects and the way Mages manipulate Mana, the vast array of magic is divided into different categories, known as Magic Schools.

"A Magic School is an artificial classification. It merely serves as a supplementary description of magic and does not carry any inherent rules itself.

"There are a total of eight Magic Schools.

"Defense School: The essence of Defense Magic is protection, though some also have offensive uses.

"Defense Magic can create barriers, neutralize harmful effects, damage intruders, or banish creatures to other areas.

"Curse Magic School: Curse Magic involves teleporting creatures or objects from one place to another. Some summon creatures or objects to the Caster’s side, some teleport the Caster to another location, and certain curses can even conjure objects or effects out of thin air.

"Prophetic School: Prophetic Magic reveals information.

"This can take the form of lost secrets, glimpses of the future, the locations of hidden treasures, the truth behind illusions, or visions of distant people or regions... The breadth of this information is too vast to summarize.

"Enchantment School: Enchantment Magic can affect the minds of others, altering or controlling their behavior.

"These spells might make enemies view the Caster as a friend, force creatures into specific actions, or even manipulate them like puppets.

"Shaping Magic School: Shaping Magic molds Magic Power into a desired effect.

"Some Shaping Magic calls forth blasts of lightning or fire, while others focus on Guiding Energy for Healing wounds... In short, among all the schools, Shaping Magic possesses the most destructive power.

"Illusionist School: The Illusion Series magic can deceive the senses and even the minds of others.

"They can make people see things that are not there, or fail to see things that are.

"They can also cause auditory hallucinations or implant false memories of events that never happened. Some illusions are visible to anyone, while the most insidious types are directly embedded into a creature’s thoughts.

"Necromancy School: Necromancy manipulates the energy of life and death.

"Necromancy can grant creatures extra Life Force or siphon Life Energy from others. This can create Undead Creatures, or even achieve a twisted form of Resurrection.

"Note: The act of using Necromancy to create Undead Creatures (such as Manipulating Corpses) has been strictly prohibited!"

Gaode noticed that this annotation had been heavily circled in ink by Mage Seda.

"Transformation School: Transformation Series magic alters the properties of creatures, objects, or environments.

"They can turn enemies into harmless creatures, bolster the strength of allies, animate objects to obey the Mage’s commands, or enhance a creature’s innate Healing abilities to rapidly mend their wounds...

"..."

"Although magic is divided into the Eight Great Magical Schools, Mages themselves are not restricted by them.

"Under normal circumstances, a Mage should master magic from all Eight Great Schools. Few specialize in only one school—such behavior is unwise, and could even be deemed foolish..."

Closing the Mage Apprentice Manual, Gaode let out a long breath, feeling he had benefited immensely. His understanding of magic had truly been too shallow, lacking any real systematic foundation. This introductory book, the Mage Apprentice Manual, was worth its weight in gold to him right now.

"A mature Mage, one who has mastered magic from the Eight Great Schools, can indeed be considered omnipotent to some degree," Gaode sighed in amazement. He finally understood why the beginning of the book made such a boastful claim as "Magic is omnipotent."

The fields that magic encompassed were simply too comprehensive. Before this, his perception of magic had leaned more toward it just being a powerful force. Looking at it now, it was—but not entirely. Power was only one aspect of magic.

This also answered one of Gaode’s lingering questions: in such a mystical world, why was magic the only Extraordinary Power? It was because anything other Extraordinary Powers could achieve, magic could do as well. But what magic could do, other Extraordinary Powers could not necessarily replicate.

"Two Transformation Series spells, two Curse Magic spells, and one Defense Magic spell..." Gaode reviewed the magical reserves in his Magic Library, feeling more than ever that it was too impoverished. He hadn’t even gathered spells from half of the Eight Great Magical Schools.

"Fortunately, I can expand my Magic Library right now." Gaode picked up the five much thinner booklets sitting beneath the Mage Apprentice Manual. Indeed, these booklets were the Magic Formulas left behind by Mage Seda!

Filled with excitement and anticipation, Gaode eagerly flipped through the five Magic Formulas left by Mage Seda:

[Tracking Mark](Transformation Series, 0th Ring):

By touching any exposed part of a creature’s body, and provided the creature does not resist, leave behind an indelible mark.

As long as the mark exists, you will be able to sense the creature’s whereabouts through Tracking, provided the distance does not exceed fifty miles. Otherwise, the effect will fail.

The mark can be scraped off with a sharp blade. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

The mark will disappear upon the Caster’s death.

[Flash Technique](Shaping Series, 0th Ring):

Create an explosive flash that dazzles creatures within ten meters.

Blind creatures or those already dazzled will not be affected by the Flash Technique.

[Touch of Fatigue](Necromancy, 0th Ring):

Upon touching a target, you can inflict fatigue upon them.

You must succeed in a touch Magic Attack against the target.

The target will immediately fall into a state of fatigue for the duration of the spell.

This state is different from ordinary fatigue; the effect will vanish once the spell’s duration ends.

This magic has no effect on creatures that are already fatigued.

Under normal circumstances, the duration of this spell is six seconds, but it is affected by the target’s own physique and Spiritual Power.

[Detect Magic](Prophet, 0th Ring):

You can detect the Spiritual Light of magic and Magic Items within twenty meters: determine the presence of Magic Spirit Light, and use Detection to ascertain the quantity and Strength of the Magic Spirit Light.

Once the source of a Magic Spirit Light is destroyed (if the source is a Magic Item) or dissipates (if the source is magic), it will leave behind a lingering Spiritual Light. If you use Detect Magic to observe and focus on these locations, the magic will highlight a dim Spiritual Light in that spot.

The duration of this dim lingering Spiritual Light depends on the power of its source.

The amount of information you can obtain depends on how long you spend Casting the spell.

The range of Detect Magic is twenty meters, and you must ensure the object remains in your line of sight.

[Flaming Arrow](Shaping Series, 0th Ring):

You hurl a blast of fire at a creature or object within 120 feet (40 meters), executing a Ranged Magic attack against the target. If it hits, the target takes fire damage.

Combustible objects hit by this magic will be ignited.

...