[!] Rewards granted: All stats +5; inheritance of Flame’s Terminus Formula: Meltdown; increased proficiency in all Traits and magic.
[!] Terminus Formula inheritance is determined in consideration of the user’s abilities.
***
Aion stared blankly at the window floating before his eyes.
“…….”
Pure amazement.
Magic from a Terminus….
Aion clenched his fist, his expression tense.
His body was still hot, and he thought he could still smell the ashes that had burned beneath his nose.
He was exhausted to the point that he could barely move, yet for some reason, he felt as though he could leap about on the bed at any moment.
Ding—!
***
[!] There is information the user has not yet reviewed.
***
More notices appeared in succession.
***
[!] Mana Manipulation Lv.2 → Lv.3 ▲
[!] Art of Heavenly Movement Lv.2 → Lv.3 ▲
[!] Trait: Pain Endurance unlocked.
[!] Trait: At the End of Despair unlocked.
[!] Flame’s Terminus Formula: Meltdown inherited.
“…That is quite a lot.”
Aion’s eyelids lowered and rose once, slowly.
He decided to examine his newly acquired Traits first.
Ding—!
***
『Pain Endurance (Lv.1)』
Classification: Trait
Effect: Increases resistance to physical injury and pain.
***
【Flame: You endured while screaming your head off and unlocked an interesting Trait. Hey, Arcana. This is something he awakened on his own, right?】
【Arcana: Correct. I do not believe further explanation is necessary.】
Ding—!
***
『At the End of Despair (Lv.1)』
Classification: Trait
Effect: Maintains concentration in extreme situations.
Effect: Slightly increases mana regeneration speed in extreme situations.
***
【Earth: It looks quite decent, does it not? This boy does not seem likely to have many moments when his body is unharmed.】
“…What is that supposed to mean?”
【Earth: Exactly what it sounds like! If you keep throwing your body around like that, you will depart this world before us old folk do.】
“…Thank you for your concern, old woman.”
【Earth: You had better understand!】
Now, the last one.
It was time to find out what a Terminus Formula was.
【Flame: Well… do not get your hopes up too much.】
Aion attuned himself to Yggdrasil and brought up the description of the Terminus Formula.
Ding—!
The same cheerful notification sound as always.
Then—
Fwoooosh—!
What followed was markedly different from before.
…What is with these flames?
The illusion containing the description of the Terminus Formula burst into flame, forming letters as it burned.
The words that appeared were different this time.
Even the border was entirely different.
◆◆◆━━━━━━━━━━◆◆◆
『Flame: Meltdown』
Classification: Terminus Formula
Effect: Compresses flames to their limit at the extremities of the body, then explosively releases them beyond the critical point at the moment of impact. Uncontrolled heat melts the surroundings along with the shockwave.
◆◆◆━━━━━━━━━━◆◆◆
“This is… a Terminus’s magic?”
The realm of the Terminuses.
For now, Aion could only use basic telekinesis and the Art of Heavenly Movement. Yet he had suddenly inherited one of their Terminus Formulas?
He could only stand there in bewilderment.
【Flame: …Hmph. I told you not to expect too much, did I? It is not such an impressive spell.】
【Earth: Why would you crush his expectations before he has even tried it?】
【Life: Exactly. It is magic from a Terminus, after all.】
【Flame: I am telling you, you will understand once you see it. There is a reason I say this.】
Whatever Flame said, it did not truly reach Aion’s ears.
Now I even have a Terminus Formula….
As though testing it, Aion slowly curled his hand into a fist.
“……For now.”
He looked at the hand into which he was gathering mana.
【Flame: Wait. You are not thinking of using that magic here, are you?】
“…Can’t I?”
【Flame: At least wait until you are discharged. Though I do not know whether that rotten body of yours can even use my magic.】
“…All right.”
Aion gave Flame a brief reply.
Well, even so….
The reward he had received at this crossroads of fate was far more than merely good.
***
Two days later, Aion left the infirmary.
“Haaah….”
As he took a deep breath, clear air filled his lungs.
The place he headed while savoring the fresh air was Arcane Hall.
Exion possessed every facility needed to raise mages, and Arcane Hall was one of them.
Even from afar, the building stood out.
While Exion’s main buildings boasted white stone and gilded ornamentation, this place was unusually dark.
So this is Arcane Hall….
As he approached the walls, he noticed countless rough, irregular marks.
Repairs seemed to be carried out frequently; laborers and mages were always present nearby.
Creeeak—
When he pushed open the door, a spacious interior greeted him.
“Hm?”
Someone noticed Aion’s presence.
When he turned his head, three people were standing together.
Aion first checked their years by their brooches.
Two second-years and one third-year.
Then he took in their appearances.
Composed expressions that were neither excessive nor stiff.
And beneath them, a quiet confidence.
…They certainly have a different presence.
Their atmosphere was completely unlike that of the first-years.
Even standing still, their exceptional nature could be felt against his skin.
Among them, a male second-year approached first.
“Here to use the facilities? The caretaker stepped out for a moment, so I can show you around instead.”
His voice was calm.
“I’m Marcel Brion. Just call me Marcel.”
“Yes, Senior Marcel.”
“Senior? …Hm, that has a nice ring to it.”
The female second-year beside him looked Aion up and down.
“I’m Iris Bellen. Be careful not to get pushed around too much by that idiot Marcel.”
“Hey! What is wrong with me?!”
“…….”
Aion gave a slight bow in return for her greeting, and the male third-year approached.
“Leonhardt Kael. Call me Leon.”
Leon offered Aion a handshake. Marcel leaned over and whispered,“For your information, Senior Leon is rather famous at Exion. It would be good for you to know that.”
“What a useful thing to teach him, Marcel. I told you, did I not? You can take what he says with a grain of salt.”
Aion more or less ignored the two second-years and shook Leon’s hand.
“I am first-year Aion Iskar.”
“Right, Aion.”
At that moment, Iris’s eyes glinted briefly.
“Uh… wait… Aion?”
The corner of her lips lifted slightly.
“You.”
“……?”
“You are that freshman from the rumors, aren’t you?”
…Rumors?
“Rumors? What rumors are you talking about?”
When Marcel asked, Iris answered,“The dormitory fire. I heard several students could have died if things had gone wrong, but one student from the North saved them rather boldly. …And what do you use those ears for? Have you not even heard the rumors?”
“I have heard them now, from you. But wait, he is that person?”
Whoosh—whoosh—
Marcel’s gaze moved between Iris and Aion.
…So that is how the story spread?
Aion paused for a moment.
It did not seem like something he needed to hide, so he confirmed it.
“Unless there are two people named Aion Iskar, that would be me.”
Iris tilted her head.
“You are… more ordinary than I expected?”
“Hey! Why would you say that?”
“No, it is just that… I expected you to feel a bit more extraordinary. Sorry, that was merely my personal impression.”
There was a trace of disappointment in her tone. She was not openly mocking him, but neither was it a particularly favorable reaction.
“Are people from the North always this quiet?”
Iris immediately stopped Marcel.
“Hey, that is a discriminatory thing to say.”
“What about everything you have been saying?”
“That is… just… um….”
With an awkward smile, she changed the subject.
“Anyway, Aion. Come this way. The procedure is simple if you want to use it. You have your student brooch, right?”
Aion lightly removed the brooch from his uniform collar and held it out.
Iris took it and placed it against an internal device with practiced movements.
Click.
Hummm—
A rune flashed once.
After checking it, Iris returned the brooch to Aion.
“The measurement rooms… hm, this seems to be your first time here? Then naturally, it will be the beginner-level room.”
Aion took a breath before speaking.
“The intermediate measurement room, please.”
Iris’s eyes widened.
“Sure, the begin—what, what did you say?”
Marcel, standing beside her, laughed softly.
“…Haha, well. I suppose freshmen cannot help it. To think there is another fool like me. Aion, higher-ranked rooms are not better here. Did you get confused, like I did?”
Marcel explained why he said that.
“The higher-ranked measurement rooms can merely withstand stronger impacts. The beginner-level rooms were repaired more recently, so their facilities are actually better.”
Iris nodded.
“So, if this is your first time, you should use the beginner-level—”
“The intermediate measurement room, please.”
When Aion repeated himself, Iris pursed her lips.
“Haah… You are incredibly stubborn.”
“Is it because he is from the North?”
“Do you even know where the North is?”
“……Up? That is right, isn’t it?”
“…….”
She turned to look at the third-year, Leonhardt.
“What should we do, Senior?”
Leon, who had listened quietly until then, spoke.
“Let him in.”
His voice was low and weighty.
It was clear that he was their leader.
“I will take responsibility.”
“Huh? You will?”
“Why not?”
Leon shrugged.
“It is not as though the measurement room will wear out from being used.”
Iris continued with an uncomfortable expression.
“That is true, but Bruno is using the intermediate measurement room right now.”
“…Is that so?”
At her words, Leon raised one eyebrow slightly.
“Then it may be a little troublesome.”
Marcel quietly added,“With Bruno’s temperament, this guy will get dragged into trouble too. He is exactly the kind of person who would do that.”
“Hm….”
After thinking for a moment, Leon addressed Aion.
“By the rules….”
“……?”
“It is almost impossible for a freshman to use an intermediate measurement room. But since we happened to meet like this, we will let you in. However.”
He spoke in an utterly calm tone.
“We will not protect you if something happens inside. Is that all right with you?”
Protect him?
For a moment, that ominous word troubled Aion.
…Old man, is this really right?
【Flame: Do as you are told. The beginner-level room does not have nearly enough shock absorption.】
…All right.
Aion sighed briefly to himself.
“That is fine.”
“Good.”
Leon gestured toward the measurement rooms.
“Then go in.”
Iris took out an access pass and tossed it to Aion.
Tap—
“Room Eight.”
Room Eight was on the second floor.
Measurement rooms lined both sides of the second-floor corridor, each door marked to show whether it was occupied or empty.
As Aion walked down the corridor, one of the measurement-room doors ahead suddenly flew open, and a large shadow emerged.
The man who appeared was heavily muscled, with a deep scar running from his face down to his neck.
…Is he really a mage?
Though he wore the insignia of a second-year, his air was far too fierce for a student.
The instant he saw Aion, he opened his mouth.
“Huh?”
His voice was rough.
“What the hell is this? Why is some milk-scented brat on the second floor?”
Before Aion could answer, the man seized him by the collar.
Grab—!
“Look at this… a first-year? A newly enrolled punk who does not know his place, sniffing around here? Are you some pampered young master who grew up without a care in the world?”
Aion’s vision shook.
But his expression did not.
He quietly raised his hand.
—Tap!
He lightly touched the wrist of the man gripping his collar.
It was no more than the sound one would expect from a light touch.
Yet the scarred man’s grip went slack without resistance.
Slip—
“…What?”
The man’s eyes widened.
Aion spoke in a low voice.
“I came because I need to.”
“Acting awfully high and mighty, aren’t you?”
The senior leaned close. Suppressed anger could be felt in his rough breath.
“This is your first time here, right?”
“……?”
He growled,
“You think there are only one or two punks like you?”
Wagging a finger, he continued,“Punks who recite their family background, punks who pretend to be strong, punks who try to worm their way into connections.”
Then he looked Aion directly in the eye and asked,“Which one are you?”
Aion answered the man’s rudeness with complete calm.
“Fortunately, I do not seem to be any of those.”
Tap, tap—
Straightening his rumpled collar, Aion passed right by the man.
The man stood there blankly for a moment.
“…Ha. This little….”
The man muttered a curse beneath his breath behind him.
Aion pretended not to hear it.
Even if he had heard, he had no time to worry about it now.
【Earth: Bruno Calder… There he is. It is good to see he is still so lively.】
【Water: It would have been best not to catch that fellow’s attention. But I suppose it cannot be helped.】
Before the door to Room Eight—
Beep—
When Aion pressed the pass against it, the door slid open.
“…….”
The inside was more spacious than he expected.
It was covered in pure-white absorption panels, while circular runes meant to disperse vibrations were inscribed into the floor.
At the front was a mage target.
Above it, numbers made of smoke floated in the air.
『0』
When the target or panels were attacked with magic, it displayed the destructive force of that attack as a number.
【Flame: Meltdown is a spell I created during the very earliest period of my active years. It has countless flaws, but it still possesses respectable destructive power for a first-tier mage like you.】
【Earth: Does the phrase “respectable destructive power” even make sense for a first-tier mage?】
【Flame: You know what I mean.】
“Leon! Did you let him in?”
The man from before, Bruno, seemed to be picking a fight with Leon this time.
“Calm down, Bruno. And I am your senior.”
“What senior….”
Leon’s voice continued.
“If there is a problem, I will take responsibility. So be quiet and come out with me.”
“Right now…!”
Aion pushed the noise they made beyond his awareness.
【Flame: Begin.】
“Whew….”
He continued to focus.
Magic from a Terminus.
A Terminus Formula.
From what he had heard, it was magic that only those who had reached the end of reason could wield.
I wonder… what it will be like.
He had not come here to learn or train in magic.
He had come to confirm it.
To determine whether the voices rummaging through his mind were truly not lying, and whether beings beyond even archmages could really exist.
Whoooooosh—
Heat gathered along Aion’s arm.
It felt as though something were boiling at his fingertips.
Heat that had been restrained and compressed until it reached its critical point, now seeming ready to erupt.
That heat enveloped his fist.
The first flame magic Aion had ever used.
Fwoooosh…!
His fist ignited.
Terminus Formula…!
Aion crossed the distance to the target in an instant, then drove his fist forward with all his strength.
The heat gathered in his hand burst straight ahead with the strike.
Booooom—!
The target shattered beneath the blow.
Up to that point, it was something ordinary magic could accomplish as well.
But the shock from Aion’s blow extended all the way to the absorption panels.
And at that moment, the suppressed heat finally exploded.
Meltdown.
Kuuuuuum—!
Sizzleeeee—
Like embers catching, the impact began to spread outward.
The heat that started at one point spread in a chain, consuming the panels.
Then—
…KRAAAAAASH—!
A massive explosion rang out, leaving behind a mark as though a meteor had struck.
A crater had been gouged where the panels once stood. Molten material slowly ran down its edges, while thick black smoke rose from its surface along with glowing red embers.
The measurement room was instantly filled with a pungent smell.
“Urgh…!”
For a moment, Aion’s stomach turned and his vision went yellow.
The pain throughout his body returned.
“Huff… huff….”
It was real.
The Terminuses… truly existed.
Their magic was overwhelming—and terrifying.
Bang—!
The door burst open.
Marcel and Iris appeared.
They shouted with urgent expressions.
“It is dangerous!”
The two of them grabbed the staggering Aion and pulled him back.
“Senior!”
Iris turned and shouted behind her.
At once, Leonhardt Kael entered the measurement room.
“Leave it to me!”
Magic was already forming in his hand.
“Everyone, hold your breath!!”
Tsssss—
Hydro Gale.
Wooooooosh!
The air inside the measurement room changed in an instant.
A torrent of water under enormous pressure filled the room and rushed toward the molten wreckage.
Water sprayed up the walls, and damp, cold air pushed out into the corridor.
Sizzleeeeeee—
The red-hot debris cooled rapidly, and steam that burst forth all at once filled their vision.
…Then, from within it—
Whoosh—
A rough hand suddenly reached out.
Grab—!
That hand seized the staggering Aion by the collar.
The deep scar on his face.
It was Bruno Calder, the man who had grabbed Aion by the collar in the corridor.
“Bruno! What are you doing?!”
“Stay out of this.”
Holding Aion fast, Bruno asked,“You… what the hell are you?”