Chapter 224: The Restricted Use of the Soul Curse (4k)
Dark’s knowledge about the Mana Dropper primarily came from the Mana Dropper User Guide.
Using the Mana Dropper not only allowed him to draw out certain emotions, but also extract memories directly from the brain.
However, using the Mana Dropper was extremely dangerous. Even with high-level mana manipulation skills and extensive knowledge, one could not guarantee complete safety.
This was why Dark had always been hesitant to delve deeply into it, resorting instead to the “蜻蜓点水法” or light touch method to draw out “Capital Sins” externally.
Inserting a tube into someone’s head was truly terrifying; even from a physiological perspective, it was hard to accept!
Moreover, extracting from deep within the brain was only done once a month at most. It might not even be as convenient as extracting from the outside.
Therefore, given the opportunity to enhance himself this time, he leaned towards doing so externally rather than inserting the Mana Dropper into the brain.
Not by utilizing advanced techniques for inserting the Mana Dropper into the brain.
But by adopting a method that complements the “蜻蜓点水法” to thin the “brain barrier.”
In simple terms, he aimed to temporarily reduce the brain’s capacity to handle emotional changes, making it easier for emotions to overflow!
However, the depth of this technique wasn’t necessarily lower than the one that extracts emotions deeply from the brain.
…
As he thought this, during his wish-making, he couldn’t help but consider this aspect.
The power generated by this prayer would be absorbed by the Holy Grail and would receive corresponding feedback.
…
After carefully studying the wish list, Dark actually mastered some techniques.
To increase the probability of fulfilling a wish, the best approach was not to pin it down too rigidly.
Instead of saying “I want to improve tenfold,” it should be “I want to improve somewhat.”
Doing so greatly increased the chances of the wish being realized.
This time…
He did just that.
…
About two to three minutes later.
The Holy Grail finally reacted!
It was as if stars were dripping into the cup, causing the “liquid” inside to suddenly ripple like a starry night, emitting dark ripples outward in circles.
With his eyes tightly closed, Dark suddenly “saw” that scene.
The falling stars turned into memories flowing into his mind, as if he had naturally known them all along, and now was merely recalling them.
He indeed received a response!
…
“How was it?” asked Principal Altair softly.
Dark opened his eyes, excitement in his eyes: “It feels great!”
Principal Altair smiled: “It seems you succeeded?”
Dark nodded slightly: “To some extent.”
Principal Altair then raised her wand again: “Then let’s leave here.”
She pointed her wand at the Holy Grail, and the starry night-like ripples rapidly contracted. The liquid in the cup gradually receded, leaving only a thin layer behind.
The Holy Grail still emitted its unique aura, but the previous allure was gone.
They left the secret room.
Principal Altair locked the door, pulled out the key, and the door leading to the secret room disappeared instantly, the walls returning to their original state.
Only then did the principal speak again: “To succeed on the first try is quite lucky.”
Dark: “My luck is usually good when it matters.”
Principal Altair: “Don’t mind sharing your wish with me?”
Dark: “Of course not.”
This was actually a necessary procedure after making a wish.
Ever since Principal Altair took out the wish list, Dark already knew this.
After each year’s Holy Grail wish session, students would report their wishes to facilitate data collection by the school.
So his wish, on the surface, had nothing to do with demon bloodline.
Emotions and memories were the themes he had been studying.
“You’re actually using the Mana Dropper?”
Principal Altair was still surprised, showing clear intentions to dissuade him.
Dark briefly explained that he was only using the “蜻蜓点水法” lightly.
Principal Altair breathed a sigh of relief but still said: “Even if you’re only drawing from the outside, danger can’t be completely eliminated. Personally, I suggest waiting until third year. No, perhaps fourth year before attempting this.”
However, she immediately praised: “But your wish was very clever, choosing to approach from the side rather than diving deep into the brain. It’s a safer choice. If I’m not mistaken, you must have learned a debuff-type mental magic from the Holy Grail.”
Dark admired: “Yes, I originally just wanted to master some related techniques of the Mana Dropper.”
Principal Altair: “Learning mental magic is among the most difficult, even among many types of magic. Without a vast knowledge system as a foundation, it’s hard to make progress. You must have some basic knowledge of mental magic?”
Dark: “Professor Kazel taught me the Technique of the Shadow God.”
Principal Altair: “No wonder. This was a prerequisite for your wish to be granted.”
…
Mental Magic — “Soul Curse”!
A mental magic almost identical to the effect of “Soul Water”!
Using the Soul Curse on someone can cause them to lose consciousness in a short time, while their soul and body become more detached, making thoughts float and easier to be extracted from the brain.
Because learning the Soul Curse was too difficult, “Soul Water” was created later.
Humans injected with Soul Water became the perfect breeding ground for demons.
During the era when demons still existed, Soul Water was the most commonly used potion for their parasitic experiments.
Although many considered this a very evil magic, magic itself has no inherent good or evil.
Professors at Saint Maryan Academy saw this clearly.
…
The “Soul Curse” Dark mastered through the Holy Grail was only at the introductory level.
But anything is hard at the beginning. If he could find further learning methods, he had a chance to master and excel in it.
…
Before he knew it, it was almost curfew time.
Dark and Principal Altair discussed emotion research for a while, gaining much insight.
Immediately afterward, he politely excused himself, carrying the reward of 10,000 credits, and left the principal’s office.
For a first-year student, 10,000 credits was a huge sum!
Converted to Sacred Coins, it was exactly 160,000 Sacred Coins.
But in reality, it wasn’t much.
Dark didn’t dare think too much about it, hoping to use these 10,000 credits to successfully refine the “Fusion” card.
…
Time jumped to January, and the temperature at Saint Maryan dropped another level.
Walking alone in the cold castle, it felt like it could freeze at any moment.
Dark cupped his hands, blowing warm air, thinking maybe he should install a heater in his dorm.
He wondered if the Mana Golems were doing their homework seriously?
Basic education wasn’t something that could be achieved overnight.
Dark didn’t place much hope in the Mana Golems, so any success was a pleasant surprise.
With the start of the new semester, the recruitment window for the Dueling Club reopened.
Given his current strength, passing the review was easy, but participating in formal duels required at least forty Mana Cards.
If he didn’t have enough cards, he could only participate in the Novice Tournament.
Generally, first and second-year students were assigned to this group.
Thinking about it made him excited.
…
After greeting the Feathered Serpent guarding the tower door, Dark entered the public lounge of the Tower of Noble Academy.
The afterglow of the opening ceremony hadn’t faded yet, and there were still ten or so people lingering.
Most were either reading or playing chess, creating a quiet atmosphere.
The Tower of Noble Academy was much quieter than the Knight Academy and not as quiet as the Mana Academy. Such an atmosphere was rare.
Normally, Dark might sit in such a public lounge for a while.
But tonight was different.
He had many things to do!
…
“Click!”
At the moment the lock opened, Dark clearly sensed the significant activity in the dorm.
When he pushed the door open, he saw the Mana Golems sitting neatly in a row, diligently writing their homework except for the Trash Slime.
But he could tell at a glance that they were just putting on a show…
“Learned to put on a show?”
Dark nearly laughed.
Immediately followed by a torrent of criticism.
The two Mana Golems that did the least homework were taken aside for reflection, and after scolding them, he retrieved his experimental equipment and started the extraction experiment for “Capital Sins”.
There wasn’t much time tonight, so he could only conduct this experiment.
“Arrogance 105, Wrath 89, Greed 103, Bliss 106.”
“Let’s start with Greed… No, let’s begin with the Soul Curse experiment!”
“Imp Beast.”
“Present!”
…
The full incantation for the Soul Curse was very long, taking at least five minutes to recite at a normal pace.
But using a simplified incantation could shorten it to a minute or so.
The introductory-level Soul Curse used the simplified incantation, which was currently inferior to the effects of Soul Water. But if the effects were too strong, it would trouble Dark.
When casting a spell, a mage could adjust the range of the magic.
For example, they could remove some effects and increase others.
The Soul Curse causes unconsciousness.
The Soul Curse Dark mastered through the Holy Grail came with a control method to strip the unconscious effect, and it wouldn’t cause the caster to experience disorientation.
Moreover, the overall effect duration was extremely short, lasting less than three minutes.
In other words, without needing an Andersen potion, one could return to normal after three minutes.
Such a level of Soul Curse would certainly fail in a standard magical evaluation system.
But that was precisely what he needed—a failing Soul Curse!
…
The Imp Beast cried as it was summoned over, preferring to face the wall for reflection.
Without hands, it could only stand on one foot while using the other to write, which was quite challenging.
Every time it saw the Wrestler Eagle with claws, it felt envious, jealous, and resentful.
So it had a reason to slack off on homework—but this reason wouldn’t fly with Dark!
“Will helping with the experiment earn me a little red flower reward?” the Imp Beast, reluctant, asked糯糯.
Dark revealed a big smile: “Of course.”
…
“Soul Curse!”
“Aah!”
The Imp Beast let out a miserable scream, but nothing happened.
All the Mana Golems watched curiously, giving it a taste of the spotlight.
Dark then took out the long-lost “Joy Card.”
As the Imp Beast was enveloped in the light of the Joy Card, its painful expression vanished instantly, replaced by a smile, satisfied.
“It does seem more effective than using the Joy Card alone.”
Dark tried conversing with the Imp Beast in this state.
He found its thoughts were still clear, neither unconscious nor disoriented.
As long as it was controlled properly, it wouldn’t affect the experiment.
“Seems feasible!”
Originally, this was just an insurance experiment.
The Soul Curse granted by the Holy Grail met all his needs.
Dark put away the Joy Card and waited quietly for three minutes.
Three minutes later, the embarrassed Imp Beast “cried” and ran back to its bed, curling up in a cute little blanket, only half its foot showing.
Just as Dark was about to begin the “Capital Sins” extraction experiment, it scampered back, desperately hinting for the little red flower.
Dark gave it one, then took it back.
Reward for helping with the experiment, punishment for slacking off!
“Perhaps this is carrot and stick, combining both kindness and authority.”
Dark couldn’t help but laugh.
Imp Beast: “Ah ah ah!”
…
After verifying the safety of the Soul Curse, Dark began the formal experiment.
The subject was not “Greed,” but “Wrath”!
His goal was to see if he could make a “Capital Sin” with a score under 100 overflow from the brain, and then use the “蜻蜓点水法” to extract it.
Before that, he needed to use the Technique of the Shadow God to concentrate his mind.
The Technique of the Shadow God and the Soul Curse seemed contradictory, but they weren’t.
The Technique of the Shadow God focused internally, while the Soul Curse loosened external barriers.
Guided properly, one could lead the mind out of the brain.
Dark picked up the Mana Dropper, sterilized it, then dried it.
After a while, he suddenly narrowed his eyes, his mental energy sharply converging, entering the state of the Technique of the Shadow God.
“Soul Curse!”
The first time casting a spell on himself, Dark felt a bit nervous.
But the results were as expected.
He could sense some of his thoughts drifting outward.
This was extremely dangerous.
If not careful, what drifted out could be memories instead of emotions!
Fortunately, his Soul Curse was a true degraded version, still under control.
Afterward, Dark immediately followed the instructions in the Mana Dropper User Guide to call out “Wrath.”
But after a moment, he gradually opened his eyes.
It failed!
“Wrath” stopped just before reaching the barrier and couldn’t be enticed further.
Dark didn’t feel discouraged by this failure.
He carefully recalled his feelings, recorded them, and thought deeply.
After more than ten minutes.
He began the second experiment!
This time, he abandoned “Wrath” and targeted the most familiar “Arrogance.”
Release!
Release again!
With a clearer perception of “Arrogance.”
He could clearly sense that the part of “Arrogance” overflowing the brain had exceeded five points!
