Episode 57. Midterm Evaluation (2)

“Well then.”

Returning to my dorm room, I sat cross-legged on the bed.

Normally, I would be at the Training Grounds, sweating and swinging my sword, but lately, I didn’t need to go there to practice the ‘new technique’ I’ve been focusing on.

“Huu.”

I slowly exhaled and closed my eyes.

My vision darkened.

In the pitch-black darkness, a massive flame erupted.

The Primordial Flame.

A flame said to have burned the Tree of Creation in the distant past, raging as if it would devour the entire world.

A manifestation forged from my heart.

I walked through the realm of my mind, staring at the fiercely burning flames.

‘Bloom.’

I reached out toward the raging flames and commanded.

The Primordial Flame, unmoving.

This much was usual.

‘Now comes the important part.’

After the battle with Ashtaroth.

Every night, I sacrificed sleep to continue researching how to control the Primordial Flame.

Through repeated research, I discovered two characteristics.

‘First, the Primordial Flame reacts to my ‘death’ roughly every 5-6 hours.’

This was something I had somewhat known while training my magic power.

The truly important part was the second characteristic.

‘During the 5 minutes when the Primordial Flame reacts, if I command it with strong will, I can move the flame as I wish.’

To use a fishing analogy, it’s like using my ‘death’ as bait to stimulate the Primordial Flame, then using ‘will’ as a fishing rod to pull it up.

‘Well, it’s not as simple as it sounds.’

Tsk, I clicked my tongue and focused again.

“Huu.”

I slowly exhaled the breath filling my lungs and created a Magic Power Orb inside my body.

A Magic Power Orb smaller than a grain of rice.

The orb flowed through my meridians and condensed inside my heart.

And then.

Crack!

The condensed orb exploded, and my heart burst.

For an ordinary person, this would be a fatal wound, but…

Uuuung!

The Blessing of Resurrection activated, instantly beginning to repair my shattered heart.

Before my heart was fully restored.

The moment the Primordial Flame reacted to my ‘death.’

‘Now!’

I reached out toward the raging flames and commanded with intense will.

“Bloom.”

The Primordial Flame, which had been unmoving, slowly stirred.

A small Fire Seed burning on my palm.

I brought the precariously flickering seed to my left chest.

Whoosh!

The small seed, no larger than a candle flame, began to grow as it burned my heart.

‘It worked!’

Soon, the flames began to envelop my entire body.

I opened my eyes and rose from the bed.

“Haa.”

Gray ash mixed with my exhaled breath.

Sssss!

The sound of flesh burning echoed, and gray ash rose like smoke from every pore.

It wasn’t like the infinite magic power I experienced in the Fire God state during my battle with Ashtaroth, but…

‘My magic power is recovering.’

I could feel my half-empty Holy Mark gradually filling with magic power.

“Yes!”

I clenched my fist and let out a cheer.

Gray ash trickled like sand between my clenched fingers.

‘Finally, you’re moving, you bastard!’

The sensation of the Primordial Flame, which had always arrogantly ignored my commands, now moving according to my will, gave me an indescribable thrill.

“Well… compared to the Fire God state, it’s still lacking.”

I clicked my tongue as I looked down at my body, where gray ash was rising.

Unlike when my entire body was engulfed in flames and gray ash swirled like a storm around me, the ash rising from my body now was faint, like smoke from a dying fire.

‘But still, it moved.’

Compared to when it didn’t even budge at my command, this was a significant improvement.

“First, I’ve confirmed the automatic magic recovery effect.”

Next, what I needed to check was…

Ssss.

I slowly channeled magic power into my drawn sword.

Like lighting a fire on an oiled blade, flames erupted along the sword.

Of course, it wasn’t the massive flame that seemed to devour the world like in the ‘Fire God’ state, but the flames flickering along the blade still exuded a fierce pressure.

‘The Primordial Flame’s power has merged with my magic.’

It felt like the Primordial Flame had melted into my magic.

Without needing to control the Primordial Flame separately, its power naturally mixed in as I moved my magic as usual.

‘Since we’re indoors, I can’t fully gauge its power.’

But considering my battle with Ashtaroth, magic infused with the Primordial Flame was a powerful artifact in itself.

“Good… so the final effects are automatic magic recovery and the Primordial Flame’s power merging with my magic. Just these two?”

There was no increase in total magic capacity like in the ‘Fire God’ state.

But with just these two effects—recovery and enhancement—there was more than enough reason to master this technique.

“For now, think of it as a downgraded version of the Fire God state.”

Even as a downgraded version, its power was strong enough to rival most mythical artifacts.

“Let’s see… the name… yeah, ‘Ignition’ sounds good.”

Ignition, meaning to light a fire.

A fitting name, considering the sound of flesh burning and the gray smoke rising when using the technique.

‘Naming the technique is important too.’

Especially for a technique related to the mindscape.

‘If I use the Holy Mark Amplifier here…’

By increasing the ‘quantity’ of magic with the Holy Mark Amplifier and enhancing the ‘quality’ of the increased magic through Ignition, the effects would be even greater.

If that happens…

“I might even stand a chance against the Archbishop.”

Of course, both the Holy Mark Amplifier and the newly learned ‘Ignition’ have a 5-minute time limit.

But within that duration, I could wield immense power, enough to not lose against the Archbishop.

“Well… I won’t need to use either in this midterm evaluation.”

There’s no need to go all out just to hunt some Wolf Monsters.

‘Besides, I promised not to use the Holy Mark Amplifier in the exam.’

As for Ignition, I could use it, but I’m not that desperate for first place.

‘I still can’t fully control the Primordial Flame.’

Since the Primordial Flame itself has many unknown aspects, I need to be cautious in using it.

“Well then.”

Psssh.

As time passed, the gray smoke rising from my body stopped with a deflating sound.

And what remained was…

“…First, let’s clean up the room.”

Looking around the ash-covered room, I gathered cleaning tools.

* * *

The next day.

The Warrior Department Candidates finished arming themselves and moved to the exam site.

“The time limit is 8 hours! Your performance in this midterm evaluation will be determined by how many points you accumulate within that time!”

With Professor Lucas’ shout, the Candidates lined up according to their chosen areas.

The area I chose as my starting point was the mountainous terrain.

As the most standard terrain, the line here was nearly twice as long as the others.

“Alright, then 10 at a time, step up to the warp device.”

10 Candidates stepped onto the warp device.

“Once the warp device activates, you’ll be transported to random locations within your chosen area.”

Professor Lucas continued as he powered on the warp device.

“You might be unlucky and end up right in front of a monster, so stay sharp.”


“Yes!”


“Ah, and don’t forget to send a rescue request through the Hero Watch in an emergency. Don’t act recklessly and get yourself killed. Got it?”


“We’ll keep that in mind!”

With a resounding answer.

“Then, good luck.”

The warp device activated.

The Candidates disappeared in a blue light.

“Dale.”

Before stepping onto the warp device, Yuren, who had chosen the mountainous terrain like me, turned to me and spoke.

“…I won’t lose to you.”


“It won’t be easy.”

I chuckled and followed Yuren onto the warp device.

Uuuung!

A floating sensation, as if standing above the clouds, enveloped my body.

* * *

“Ugh… it’s been a while since I warped.”

I held my slightly dizzy head and looked around.

Dense foliage. Trees over 15 meters tall.

The scent of nature stimulating my nose.

“Ha.”

A low chuckle escaped my lips as I surveyed the surroundings.

“I didn’t expect to end up in the same place as my past life.”

The scenery felt familiar, and upon closer inspection, it was the same location I had been transported to during the midterm evaluation in my past life.

‘Whether it’s coincidence or fate, I don’t know.’

Returning here brought back vivid memories of my past life.

“Come to think of it, that day…”

A faint smile formed on my lips as I recalled memories from my past life.

The reason this place felt particularly familiar.

‘This is where I first experienced death.’

While trembling in fear, moving forward.

A monster leaped out of the bushes and bit my neck.

‘Back then, I thought my life was over.’

Not only did I awaken the ‘Blessing of Resurrection’ and come back to life, but I also traveled back in time to the past.

Thinking about it now, my life has been quite eventful.

“Well then, let’s get moving.”

I knew that the ‘One-Horned Beast’ was first discovered in the mountainous terrain, but I didn’t know the exact location.

At the time, I was too busy wondering why I was still alive even after my head was torn off.

Rustle, rustle.

As I pushed through the bushes, slowly moving forward.

“Grrroaar!”

A fierce roar echoed as a black figure leaped out from the bushes.

“Oops.”

I lightly twisted my body to dodge the monster’s attack, then stepped back to observe the monster that had emerged from the bushes.

A wolf-like appearance.

Vicious teeth dripping with saliva and claws sharp as blades.

Three blood-red, gleaming eyes.

“Huh?”

Seeing the monster that had leaped out, I couldn’t help but chuckle again.

No wonder.

“Hey, long time no see?”

The monster before me was the one that had given me my first taste of ‘death’ in my past life.

“How’ve you been?”

I burst into laughter and waved at the Wolf Monster.