I raised my hand forward, feeling the energy stir within me. The next spell was completely different from the first. While the Solar Light Arc was destructive and explosive, this one was subtle, precise.
I took a deep breath and began the incantation. "Shining Hand! Hands of light, seize my enemies and crush them!"
My right hand, extended toward the stone target, began to glow with an intense light. The golden radiance spread, enveloping my fingers like a celestial mantle. The sensation was warm, pulsating—it was obvious that spiritual energy was flowing through me.
Then, the energy condensed and expanded.
Suddenly, a massive ethereal hand, composed entirely of golden light, appeared in the air, mirroring the shape of my own hand. The spell was completed in an instant, and with a satisfied smile, I released the accumulated energy.
"Fwoosh!"
The hand of light vanished and instantly reappeared over the stone target, descending like a predator hunting its prey. With relentless precision, it grasped the augite mannequin’s throat, clenching with crushing force.
The impact was powerful, making the structure tremble slightly. Due to the stone’s resistance, it did not break, but I could feel it—if it were a living being, its throat would have been mercilessly crushed. If the hand had grabbed its head, it might have burst like a ripe fruit.
The virtual lab screen flickered, and the results were immediately projected before my eyes:
["Spell Evaluation"]
["Damage Caused"]
["Physical Damage: 3 points"]
["Light Damage: 8 points"]
["Characteristics"]
["Attack Range: 10 meters"]
["Area of Effect: 2 meters"]
["Hand of Auris: Rank 0 magic."]
["Casting Time: 3 seconds."]
["Consumption: 1 spiritual force."]
My gaze scanned the information as I analyzed every detail. Comparing this spell with the Solar Light Arc was inevitable.
"Although the Solar Light Arc’s shooting power is greater, it can be dodged if the enemy is fast or has magical resistance. Moreover, it requires a continuous connection with my spiritual force to maintain its trajectory. On the other hand, the Hand of Auris may be slightly weaker, but it is incredibly stealthy and perfect for capturing or finishing off an unsuspecting enemy!"
A satisfied smile appeared on my face. "These two spells weren’t chosen at random. I selected them with extreme care. Besides aligning perfectly with my elemental affinity for light, they don’t require materials to be cast, making them extremely practical!"
My eyes suddenly gleamed with an idea. "Virtual lab, is it possible to optimize these two spells?"
A familiar sound echoed in my mind.
["Beep!"]
["Calculating necessary energy..."]
["Consumption for optimization: 19 spiritual force points."]
["Do you wish to proceed with this upgrade?"]
My expression immediately twisted in displeasure. "Absolutely not! I don’t want my spiritual force to drain so quickly! Why does this require so much?"
["Optimizing Solar Light Arc requires 9 spiritual force points."]
["Requires advanced information: Comprehensive Collection of Multicolored Solar Light Spells, Missile Theory..."]
["Optimizing Hand of Auris requires 10 spiritual force points."]
["Requires advanced information: Detailed Studies on Evocation, Brilliant Energy Analysis."]
I sighed heavily, massaging my temples.
"Alright, seems like there’s no hope for now!"
I closed the holographic interface screen with an impatient gesture. The basic consumption of each spell was already 1 spiritual force point, and currently, I had only 4 points. That meant I could only use them four times before completely running out of energy.
"Virtual lab, bring up my current stats and display them clearly!"
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The response came immediately.
[STATUS]
["Name: Tyler Rustel"]
["Gender: Male"]
["Age: 16 years"]
["Level: 2 Acolyte."]
["Race: Human"]
[ATTRIBUTES]
["Strength: 2.20"]
["Agility: 2.40"]
["Vitality: 2.70"]
["Spiritual Energy: 4.0"]
[SKILLS]
[1. Blood Axe Technique]
[2. Transdisciplinary Arcane Engineering]
[MAGICAL ABILITIES]
[1. Solar Light Arc]
[2. Hand of Auris]
A three-dimensional image of myself appeared in the air, with each attribute highlighted next to the projection. Seeing everything visually organized like this made analyzing my capabilities much easier.
I crossed my arms and studied the numbers carefully.
"It’s much clearer this way! However, I can only cast two more times before completely running out of energy."
The light dizziness I felt was a cruel reminder of my limitation. I might be talented and intelligent, but in the end, spiritual energy was a finite resource.
I rubbed my temples, feeling the faint throbbing pain at the side of my head.
"With this spiritual energy restriction, learning more spells isn’t viable at the moment..." I murmured to myself.
If I wanted to improve my chances in combat without relying solely on my spiritual energy, there was only one solution: expand my arsenal of devices!
My eyes gleamed with newfound determination. "If I had a magic artifact crafted by a mage, my strength would increase significantly."
I left the Magic Practice Room, but my resolve was stronger than ever. Testing my spells was essential, but now it was time to get back to real work.
I exited the stone corridor of the tower and made my way down the spiral stairs to the ground floor. The path to my lab wasn’t silent, as some acolytes were coming and going. There was also the muffled sound of the tower’s mechanisms echoing in the distance. When I reached the door to my lab, I turned the key in the lock and pushed it open. The familiar scent of burnt oil, grease, and heated metal flooded my senses.
My machines were still hissing, some still cooling down from previous work. In the center of the lab, secured in a reinforced wall mount, was my unfinished armor—my second skin outside the tower.
I approached and observed the metallic structure glistening under the amber glow of the lamps. The transdisciplinary engineering details I had applied were meticulous, brutal, and efficient. But something still bothered me.
The right leg was not ready yet.
I sighed and cracked my fingers, preparing for another intense work session.
Walking over to my workbench, I ran my hand over the scattered tools. I grabbed a reinforced wrench, a precision welder, and a set of vile iron rivets.
I turned my gaze to the left leg, already connected to the armor. It was a masterpiece. The special alloy material was lightweight yet strong enough to withstand absurd impacts. But the most crucial detail was embedded in the knee and ankle—pulse shock absorbers.
This meant that, with minimal impulse, I could leap several meters into the air and land without taking any impact. An essential feature for mobile combat, chases, and strategic retreats.
Now, it was time to create the other leg.
I picked up the structural base of the right leg and placed it on the workbench. The cold metal reflected the flickering flames of the forge. With precise care, I began fitting the internal gears, adjusting the movement pistons and the shock absorption system.
Each piece was connected with surgical precision. I used a micro-blowtorch to seal the joints and a torque wrench to adjust the rotation axes.
The hydraulic system was the trickiest part. The flow needed to be perfect, so I lubricated the joints with high-density synthetic oil before connecting the pressure valves. This leg needed to be not just functional but also fast and resilient.
After an hour of intense work, it was ready.
I lifted it into the air, feeling its perfectly balanced weight. It was strong, lightweight, and deadly.
The final step was attaching the leg to the armor.
I walked over to the metallic structure on the mount and unlocked the hip connectors. With firm precision, I positioned the right leg and pushed until I heard the mechanical "click" of the locking mechanism. With one last adjustment of the rivets and a test on the rotation system, the armor was finally complete.
I took a step back and observed my work.
My second skin was whole.
My eyes turned to the armor’s reactor—the last essential piece. It was securely fastened to the chest of the structure, but it still needed calibration. That would be easy.
Shaking my head, I pushed the thought aside. What really mattered now was increasing the destructive potential of the fully assembled armor.
An idea began to take shape.
If I were to face intelligent monsters, beings capable of casting spells, I needed something that would prevent them from even completing their incantations.
A Machine Gun.
A relentless rain of bullets would be enough to kill any enemy before they could react—at least in theory. After all, acolytes and mages needed time to channel their spells. A shot to the forehead would solve the problem before they even realized they were in danger.
My mind was already working on the details. It needed to be mounted on the left arm of the armor, keeping the right free for melee combat. Moreover, it couldn’t be an ordinary machine gun. The bullets needed to be powerful enough to pierce even tank armor.
"Virtual lab, design a Machine Gun with support for heavy-caliber rounds, capable of penetrating tank armor."
["Beep!"]
The virtual lab responded instantly.
["Receiving command. Calculating parameters..."]
Before my eyes, a 3D holographic projection began to take shape, spinning smoothly in the air. The weapon appeared, floating before me, its details perfectly visible.
[PROJECT DESCRIPTION]
["Name: MG-Tyrant 001"]
["Caliber: 20mm armor-piercing"]
["Capacity: 60 rounds per drum magazine"]
["Feeding System: Rotary drum loading, automatic thermal cooling"]
["Weight: 18kg"]
["Material: Reinforced steel alloy with titanium"]
["Placement: Mounted on the left forearm"]
["Recoil: Stabilized by hydraulic piston dampers"]
["Rate of Fire: 600 rounds per minute"]
["Penetration: Capable of piercing light and medium tank armor"]
I smiled. It was perfect.
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1596 Words
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Power Stones Campaign!
- 100 Power Stones = 2 chapters
- 500 Power Stones = 5 chapters
- 1000 Power Stones = 8 chapters
- 3000 Power Stones = 10 chapters
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