Chapter 121

The training grounds, so vast that the name “Private Training Grounds” doesn’t do it justice.

I stood alone in the center of the wide training grounds, placing my hand gently on my chest.

A Magic Power Orb, smaller than a grain of rice, formed inside my bl**d vessels.

The Magic Power Orb flowed through my bloodstream and exploded directly inside my heart.

Crunch.

The sound of my heart being crushed.

A dull sensation, as if a blunt object had struck my chest, spread pain throughout my body.

My vision flickered black, and all strength left my body.

But it was only for a moment.

Whoooosh!

The Holy Mark glowed, and my shattered heart regenerated to its original form.

Haa.

My exhaled breath mixed with ash.

“Bloom.”

With a low incantation, my entire body was engulfed in faint flames.

Ash-colored smoke poured out from my pores, enveloping the surroundings.

Ignition.

A technique that uses my “d*ath” to stimulate the Primordial Flame, granting immense power temporarily.

“Haa.”

I exhaled a breath mixed with ash and gripped my sword.

Whooosh!

The Ash Fire wrapped around the blade.

Though only a few seconds had passed since I ignited the Ash Fire, I could feel the Magic Power within the Holy Mark rapidly depleting.

I swung my sword fiercely through the air.

Ash Fire Sword 1st Form.

Ash Severance.

The Ash Fire-wrapped sword viciously split the air.

Grrrr!

The shockwave from the swing alone shook the entire training grounds.

“Next…”

I extended my grip on the sword and created a Magic Power Orb in the air.

No, more accurately, a blade made of Magic Power.

Whooosh!

The Ash Fire wrapped around the Magic Power blade.

Ash Fire Sword 2nd Form.

Blazing Blade.

The Ash Fire-wrapped Magic Power blade viciously swept through the surroundings.

Tap.

With a light flick of my finger, the Magic Power blade floating in the training grounds scattered into the air.

‘And finally.’

Though it’s a technique I recently learned and not yet fully mastered.

Whooosh!

The Ash Fire that had been wrapping around the blade condensed at the tip.

The condensed Ash Fire absorbed the scattered ash around it, gradually growing in size.

The Ash Fire at the tip of the sword burned fiercely, as if it would consume everything around it.

Ash Fire Sword 3rd Form.

Flame Spear.

Just as the concentrated Ash Fire was about to be unleashed.

Beeeeep!

[Warning.]

[Shock mitigation barrier malfunction detected.]

With a loud alarm, the interior of the training grounds flashed red.

‘I haven’t even fired it yet.’

I frowned and dispersed the Ash Fire concentrated at the tip of the sword.

“Huu.”

I exhaled slowly and sheathed my sword.

Checking the Magic Power within the Holy Mark, it was almost depleted.

‘This technique really consumes a lot of Magic Power.’

Both Ash Severance and Blazing Blade are techniques that consume a significant amount of Magic Power, but the newly learned ‘Flame Spear’ consumes even more.

Sssss!

With the sound of flesh burning, the depleted Magic Power rapidly replenished.

‘While in the Ignition state, Magic Power continuously recovers, so it’s somewhat usable, but it’s hard to use normally.’

I frowned as I looked down at my body, still faintly enveloped in flames.

‘It’s not enough.’

I recalled the memory of encountering the Grand Archbishop of Madness a few days ago.

The suffocating pressure just from looking at him.

Though I hadn’t actually fought him, it was clear that even in my current Ignition state, he would be a formidable opponent.

“To fight that brat…”

I closed my eyes and delved further into my memories.

During the Sealing Festival.

When I fought Ashtaroth, the Grand Archbishop of Dreaming.

-“Don’t you know what’s right?! Huh?! Does this even make sense?!!”

The flames that violently wrapped around my body.

The infinite Magic Power that surged endlessly.

For the first time, I could freely use all the techniques that had been restrained by the shackles of “Magic Power,” and with a single gesture, the surroundings turned into a sea of flames.

‘I still need the Fire God state.’

Recalling the memory of the Primordial Flame burning through my body, creating infinite Magic Power, a thrilling shiver ran down my spine.

If I could freely wield that power, I could easily crush the Grand Archbishop of Madness.

“The problem is, I don’t know how to achieve that state.”

I frowned and sighed.

I’ve tried various methods to enter the Fire God state, but nothing has worked.

‘At least, simply dying a lot didn’t trigger it.’

It’s been confirmed through numerous tests that the Primordial Flame responds to my “d*ath.”

But even if I create Magic Power Orbs and keep exploding my heart, the Primordial Flame doesn’t engulf my body like it did back then.

“So, there must be another condition besides d*ath…”

I opened my eyes slightly and continued my thoughts.

When I recalled the situation at the time, there was only one plausible hypothesis.

“…It was an extreme situation.”

The tension that felt like my heart would burst.

The desperation that felt like my throat was being choked.

The overwhelming hostility and the pain that felt like every cell in my body was being crushed.

‘Certainly, it’s not a feeling you can get by repeatedly dying alone in a room.’

Just like the sensation of massaging your own shoulder versus someone else doing it, the same “d*ath” feels different depending on who caused it.

“In other words… to recreate a similar situation, I need to experience a proper ‘d*ath’…”

The problem is, I’ve become so strong recently that I rarely face d*ath.

Of course, if I really wanted to d*e, I could ask someone to k*ll me, but that’s no different from committing s*icide.

“Huu.”

Ultimately, it means I have to push myself into an extreme situation, like carrying oil on my back and jumping into flames.

‘That’s easier said than done.’

If extreme situations were so easy to create, they wouldn’t be called “extreme.”

And what constitutes an “extreme” situation varies from person to person.

For some, encountering a stray dog on the street might be an extreme situation.

For others, being slightly bitten by an insect might be extreme.

And for some, seeing their mom open the door and enter their room while they’re comforting themselves late at night might be extreme.

‘I think I’d consider the last one extreme too.’

Unfortunately, I don’t have a mom who bursts into my room at night.

Anyway.

With my immortal body, it’s hard to feel an extreme situation unless it’s a real crisis.

“There is… a way, though.”

As I slowly recalled my past life, I frowned.

There is a way to push my current self into an “extreme” situation, but it’s a gamble with significant risks.

‘But do I have any other options now?’

I sighed deeply and stepped out of the training grounds.

Just like you need chips to gamble.

There’s one thing I need to execute the plan that just came to mind.

*

“…You want an outing permit?”

Inside Professor Lucas’s office.

Professor Lucas, who looked exhausted from grading final evaluations, frowned.

“Don’t you know that candidates are prohibited from leaving during the final evaluation period?”

“That’s why I’m asking you to do something about it.”

To leave the school during the final evaluation period, you need an outing permit from your supervising professor.

“Anyway, Professor Elisha has already finished evaluating our party, right?”

“Rules are rules. I can’t give you an outing permit during the final evaluation period.”

Professor Lucas shook his head firmly.

“Professor Bianca would like…”

“Hey, I said no.”

“Tch.”

At Professor Lucas’s stubborn attitude, I clicked my tongue and sighed.

There’s always the option of sneaking out, but…

‘If I get caught, it’s straight to disciplinary action.’

I worked hard to get first place in the final evaluations; I don’t want to ruin it with disciplinary action.

‘Maybe I should just go later.’

After all, even if I go, there’s no guarantee I’ll find a clue to the Fire God state.

I was about to give up, thinking there’s no need to force it, when…

Click.

The door to the office opened, and a slender beauty in a black suit entered.

“Interesting conversation.”

Having overheard our discussion, Professor Elisha’s eyes sparkled as she strode over to us.

“…What brings you here?”

Professor Lucas frowned and turned to Professor Elisha.

She smirked and tapped the stack of final evaluation papers on Professor Lucas’s desk.

“I finished all my work, and I heard my cute junior has been staying up all night grading exams, so I came to help.”

“Oh! Then could you grade the B class…”

“I changed my mind.”

“Huh?”

Professor Lucas looked dumbfounded.

Professor Elisha glanced at me and continued.

“I heard Candidate Dale requested an outing permit.”

“Ah… yes. But according to school rules, all candidates are prohibited from leaving the school during the final evaluation period.”

“Hmm. Really? That’s strange…”

Professor Elisha stroked her chin and smirked.

“As far as I know, a certain candidate went out during the final evaluation period to buy a gift for a female candidate he liked.”

“…!”

Professor Lucas stiffened.

“Let’s see. That candidate’s name was definitely…”

“Se, Senior!”

Thud!

Professor Lucas urgently slammed the table and stood up.

Professor Elisha smirked and looked at him.

“Can you give him the permit?”

“Ugh…”

Professor Lucas swallowed hard and nodded.

He opened a drawer, scribbled an outing permit, and tossed it to me.

“Lucas, you’re such a good junior who listens to your senior.”

Professor Elisha smiled contentedly and turned to me.

“Is this enough, Candidate Dale?”

“Thank you.”

Caught off guard by Professor Elisha’s unexpected help, I picked up the permit with a dazed expression.

With this, I can execute my plan without worry, I thought.

“But… giving special treatment only to Candidate Dale might cause controversy among other candidates.”

She crossed her arms and stroked her chin as she continued.

“Hmm. I have a good idea.”

“…A good idea?”

“If you go out under the pretext of assisting a professor with external duties, there won’t be any controversy.”

Professor Elisha looked slightly excited.

“In that sense, Candidate Dale.”

Professor Elisha tugged lightly on my tie and licked her lips.

“How about coming with me?”