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And there are back in marvel
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The next day, after breakfast, Ash noticed that people were looking at him with astonishment. He had no idea whether it was because of his new set of rings and the amulet displayed openly over his shirt. After all, only the wearer could determine their quality; to everyone else, they looked the same.
Another possibility was that the news of his admission into the Master Healer class had already started to spread. Either way, he didn't care. Whenever someone stared at him for too long, Ash simply raised a hand and gave them the finger, forcing them to quickly look away.
The first lesson of the day was once again with Professor Trasque, this time in the training hall for Theory of Combat Magic. While everyone else traveled on foot, frequently checking their maps to make sure they were heading in the right direction, Ash simply flew straight to the destination, arriving several minutes early.
A few minutes later, Lith arrived. Ash was busy running simulations of his newly learned spells alongside Raphael within his mind, but he still noticed Lith's arrival. Lith gave him a slight nod before heading to a seat on the other side of the hall.
Ash returned the nod, closed his eyes once more, and resumed the simulations of his Tier 5 spells.
After learning the Tier 4 and Tier 5 spells he had purchased from the Academy, Ash realized just how wrong he had been about spell tiers.
Tier 1 to Tier 3 spells were merely the foundations of magic. Even Tier 3 spells were nothing more than two elemental principles working together in a relatively simple manner.
Tier 4, however, was a completely different story.
At that level, two spells and their elemental components were perfectly integrated into a single magical construct, creating effects far greater than the sum of their parts.
Tier 5 took things even further. It involved combining two elements while adding additional layers, effects, and interactions to the spell structure, drastically increasing both complexity and power.
The true problem began when attempting to introduce a third element.
The amount of calculations, control, and mana required increased exponentially. According to Raphael's analysis, constructing a stable three-element spell would require an absurd amount of mana and processing power, making such spells impractical for almost every mage alive.
That was precisely why officially recognized spells only existed up to Tier 5.
Because of this realization, Ash had shifted his priorities.
His next major objective was hunting cursed artifacts.
Doing so would not only grant him access to powerful magical items after destroying their sentient cores, but it would also allow him to inherit the knowledge and research left behind by the Forgemasters who had created them. More importantly, those artifacts often contained clues leading to hidden workshops, laboratories, and treasure vaults filled with valuable resources.
For Ash, it was the perfect opportunity.
A single cursed artifact could provide power, knowledge, resources, and valuable leads all at once.
It was a win-win situation for him.
After some time, everyone had arrived, including the professor.
"These rings are special. Once activated, they become a closed cage. Nothing can get in or out. I can also modify their internal structure as I see fit."
With a few flicks of his fingers, the pavement inside the nearest ring rose in different sections, first forming a narrow corridor, then a stairway, and finally an L-shaped path.
"You will enter these rings in pairs. I'll prepare different scenarios for you, and in each one there will be an assailant and a victim. The assailant may either use First Magic or a knife like this."
Trasque held up a blunt piece of metal that could barely pass for a wedge.
"The victim, meanwhile, may only use First Magic for self-defense. The scenario ends as soon as either participant lands a direct hit."
Noticing a little too much enthusiasm among some of the students, he decided to clarify things further.
"I know what you're thinking, but it's not as simple as it looks. This room is for training, not fighting. That means winning every scenario, whether as the victim or the assailant, won't necessarily earn you any points.
You are here to learn how to handle difficult situations. What truly matters is not the result, but what you learn from the experience."
He gestured toward the two largest rings.
"There are a lot of you, so we'll use two rings simultaneously. Don't worry, it won't take long.
This is a real-life simulation, not a bard's tale. Each attempt will last around five seconds, perhaps ten if you take things slowly. We have plenty of time."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"To follow the Headmaster's wishes, I divided you into pairs consisting of one commoner and one noble."
Trasque looked around the room before his gaze settled on Ash.
"Let's start with a few warm-up rounds to give you an idea of what to expect. Mister 'Most Wanted' here has just volunteered."
Several students chuckled.
"Now then, who else?"
Seeing that no one was willing to volunteer, Professor Trasque picked another student at random.
They were now Ash and Lith.
"Alright, who will act as the assailant and who will be the victim?" the professor asked.
Ash immediately took the metal wedge while Lith nodded in agreement.
"Good. Then begin. Remember, only First Magic is allowed."
Ash nodded and held the blunt wedge in a reverse grip before looking at Lith.
Lith also prepared his spells and stared back at Ash.
The moment the match started, Ash moved.
Almost instantly, a sheet of ice formed beneath his feet. However, instead of losing his balance, Ash used the slippery surface to his advantage, sliding across it at high speed straight toward Lith.
Lith's eyes widened.
He immediately cast another spell. A small fireball shot toward Ash, but Ash leaped over it effortlessly.
Lith wasn't done yet.
A powerful gust of wind surged upward, pushing the fireball back into the air and redirecting it toward Ash from behind.
Ash reacted instantly.
Using his own wind magic, he altered the fireball's trajectory, causing it to veer away before it could reach him.