Kael worked incessantly on the "Fire Bullet" technique that Pyros had shown him. One day during training, a wild idea came to his mind: why not gather all the bullets into a single point? At that moment, he could create a total of 4 bullets. He arranged the bullets in a circular form in the air, then began to compress them by focusing them all on a single spot. As he transferred his mana into the bullets, the color of the fire intensified, and the energy in his palm reached a point where it could no longer be held. With great fervor, Kael launched this concentrated destruction at the mithril dummy.
The moment the bullet left his hand, it flew with a deafening explosion that broke the sound barrier. The second it struck the mithril dummy, a massive explosion occurred that shook the entire training grounds. Hearing the sound, Varkas rushed to the field in a panic.
— "Kael! Is everything alright? I can't see you through the smoke!" Varkas shouted anxiously.
Kael replied, coughing from within the dust cloud: — "Ah, I'm sorry, Varkas! I was working on a new magic technique, I'm really sorry."
When the smoke cleared, Varkas's jaw dropped. The mithril dummy was shattered into pieces, and the stone wall structure behind it had completely collapsed. He stood frozen at the sight of a 14-year-old boy performing such destructive magic. — "Ah, it's okay, Kael... But please be more careful. Don't hurt yourself or your surroundings while practicing magic," Varkas said, trying to hide his shock.
Though Kael said, "Of course, sorry again," a pitch-black "magic burn" had formed in his palm because he had compressed the spell too much. However, he didn't care. Throughout the following weeks, he continued to work on increasing the number of bullets and perfecting his control.
Weeks later, Kael was able to move the bullets as if they were puppets. Pyros created moving fire targets in the air for him. Kael hit all of Pyros's targets with flawless precision within seconds.
Pyros whistled in surprise: — "Wow! I didn't expect you to produce 6 bullets in such a short time. Moreover, your control is perfect. You've really grasped this well."
Kael smiled modestly: — "It's all thanks to your teachings, Master Pyros."
— "Ha ha, of course, it's hard without a good teacher, but your talent shouldn't be underestimated either. Looking at your current mana capacity, reaching the 4th circle is only a matter of time. If you enter the academy with 4 circles, they will put you straight into the 'Genius Class'."
Kael asked curiously: — "Master Pyros, what kind of place is the academy exactly?"
— "The Eastern Kingdom Academy is the heart of magic, Kael. All the great researchers and master mages graduated from there. There are no class distinctions; whether you are a noble or a commoner, the only deciding factor is power. Of course, the spoiled children of some noble families can cause trouble. When you go there, keep your distance from them; don't even get into an argument."
Pyros continued: — "The academy lasts a total of 3 years. Every year there is a class advancement exam. There is also an entrance exam, of course; both written and physical. You are a talented kid, I don't think you'll have any trouble. In fact, someone with your strength should hold back a little during the physical exam, because most of the 1st-year students there aren't even at the 3rd circle yet."
Then he lowered his voice and added: — "And yes... keep your dark magic hidden there just as you do here. If you reveal it once, it will spread among the students and go all the way to the kingdom."
Kael nodded seriously: — "Y-yes master, I will definitely not take off the ring."
Although Pyros knew he shouldn't, he succumbed to his great researcher's curiosity and asked: — "Well... shall we take a look at that magic of yours?"
Kael was surprised: — "My fire magic, master? You already know about it."
— "No, your dark magic... I'm curious to see how much of it you can control."
The expression on Kael's face changed instantly, and he stepped back in worry: — "Master, are you sure? I'm afraid of it spiraling out of control. I don't want to hurt you."
Pyros laughed: — "Ha ha! Young man, how sweet of you to worry about me. I am a 6th-circle mage; I can protect myself."
Kael remembered the test sphere scene from when he first arrived and how the sphere had cracked. Sighing, he said, "Alright..."
Pyros made his preparations, saying, "Now I will place a limiting enchantment on you so your body doesn't wear out. If it feels like your consciousness is fading, we'll seal the magic and put the ring back on."
Kael took a deep breath and removed the ring from his finger. At that moment, the bird calls in the manor gardens ceased, and a bone-chilling silence took over. The dark mana that had been suppressed inside Kael for months spread out like a massive shockwave the moment the seal was lifted. Pyros planted his feet firmly on the ground to maintain his balance against the intense and ominous mana radiating from Kael.
— "Alright... how are things looking?" Pyros asked, the previous ease in his voice beginning to vanish.
Kael said in a trembling voice while looking at his hands, "Yes... I think I'm okay." He tried not to panic as he saw the black mana emanating from his body like smoke.
Pyros said, "Now, let's try those bullets again."
Kael extended his hand toward the mithril dummy. But the second he tried to gather the dark mana in his hand, his consciousness began to darken and his world started to spin. The moment Pyros noticed the uncontrollable dark mass in Kael's hand—one that seemed to swallow even the light—he immediately activated the sealing magic. However, the glowing seal symbols on Kael's body shattered like glass under the pressure of the dark mana.
Pyros's eyes widened in horror: — "What? How?!"
Kael heard Pyros's voice as if it were coming from far away, but he could no longer command his body. The dark magic in his hand had gone out of control; a mass of destruction had accumulated in his palm so great that he felt in his entire being that if it were released, it would erase not only the mithril dummy but a whole section of the manor from the map.
In that moment, Pyros realized he had made the mistake of his life. He was fighting a war within his own mind: "What have I done... This isn't just a child before me, it's the awakening of an ancient disaster. What does being a 6th-circle mage even matter? This density, this pure hatred... it tore through my seals like they were paper. If this mass is released, the manor will be leveled. I have to stop him, but my mana veins are paralyzed under this weight!"
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