I sat cross-legged on the tiled floor of my home. My hands resting on my knees. My eyes closed.
Medea sat behind me. Her slender, dainty hands pressed against my back.
We were about to awaken my magic circuits.
She had explained earlier that dormant circuits required an influx of mana to force them "open."
A simple procedure.
"You can begin, Medea," I said, my tone flat.
[Ultimate Analyst] prepared to analyze the activation process.
[Ultimate Detective] prepared to deduce the mechanics behind the awakening.
[Ultimate Neurologist] prepared to monitor the physiological changes in my nervous system.
"I am beginning now, Master." Medea spoke, channeling pure mana into my dormant pathways.
The world dissolved.
Pain... the likes of which would make a lesser being howl radiated through my nervous system.
My expression did not change.
Pain?
Boring.
My dormant circuits roared to life one at a time.
4... 5... 6... 8.
I remained still as the awakening accelerated with every second.
8... 10... 15... 20.
A metaphysical cry resounded from within me. Like a long-slumbering engine booming to life.
VROOOM!
20... 30... 40... 50.
An emerald green hue bled through my skin as the process intensified.
50... 60... 80... 100.
"Master... should I continue?" Medea asked, a hint of bewilderment in her voice. Even now, some circuits remained dormant.
"Continue," I commanded. A tremendous surge of mana rushed along my nerves, supernatural strength filling every inch of my being.
Medea pushed forward.
100... 105... 110... 120.
I stood up as all 120 magic circuits blazed to life.
Intricate green circuitry traced across my body. Like a complex power grid carved into my skin.
My vision blurred. My awareness slipped into a trance-like state.
[Ultimate Neurologist] snapped me back to awareness instantly.
This was the limitation Medea had described. Magi required mental triggers to toggle their circuits.
Inefficient.
I was not like other magi.
After all... I was loved by talent.
With [Ultimate Neurologist], I partitioned a section of my brain. Rerouting the neural pathways of my circuits to this new center.
Click.
The connection solidified.
I needed to only think and the circuits would obey.
No elaborate triggers. No self-hypnosis.
Click.
A mental switch flipped.
The circuits deactivated. The excess heat dissipated. The green electrical grid receding from my skin.
Just like that... I became a Magi.
Boring.
...
Meanwhile... Medea felt her parameters skyrocket as Od from 120 magic circuits poured into her servant body through their Master and Servant connection.
.
Medea's current status:
True Name - Medea
Alignment - Neutral Evil
Parameters:
Strength - E— D
Endurance - D— C
Agility - C
Mana - A+ — A++
Luck - B
NP - C— C+
Class Skills:
Item Construction - A
Territory Creation - A
Personal Skills:
High-Speed Divine Words - A
Argon Coin - N/A
Teachings of Circe - A
Witch of Colchis - A
Noble Phantasm:
Rule Breaker (Anti- Magecraft) - C— C+
...
..
.
Next day.
Homurahara Academy.
I sat at my assigned seat, expression bored. I knew everything the teacher was teaching, even things beyond what the teacher himself knew.
Coming to this school was a pure waste of time.
Yet, I had come anyway. Mostly to keep an eye on those children with connections to magi families. To check if any had summoned Servants.
The school bell rang a moment later. Physical education period.
I followed the swarm of students towards the playground.
So... why have you followed me to school?
I questioned inwardly, my face impassive.
I just wanted to make sure you're not in any danger at school, Master.
Medea's voice resounded in my mind through our shared connection.
She was following me in spirit form to protect me and conserve mana. Not that I needed it.
Suit yourself. But, you better work overtime to set up your workshop at home and find extra time to scout and lay traps all over Fuyuki.
I mused inwardly with an unconcerned shrug.
Understood, Master.
She replied in a heartbeat, her voice carrying a tinge of joy.
.
I reached the playground by the time my talk with Medea ended.
Other classes were also here. Even the targets I wanted to observe were present.
Rin Tohsaka. Shinji Matou. Shirou Emiya.
My [Ultimate Analyst] talent scanned them. Nothing was hidden from me, especially now that I possessed foundational knowledge on magecraft.
Rin Tohsaka.
Trains regularly. Most likely Bajiquan, judging by her posture and muscle composition.
Awakened magic circuits. Slight Od leaking from them.
Carries jewels.
A 92.78% chance of being a magus who uses jewel magic.
She had her right hand covered with a glove.
High chance that she has been chosen by the Grail to be another Master.
Though, whether she had summoned a Servant at present was uncertain.
.
Shinji Matou.
Arrogant. Second generation rich kid.
No foundation in martial arts. No Od leaking out of his magic circuits.
His talent in magecraft is at the very bottom.
Translated in one word...
Trash.
.
Shirou Emiya.
Negligible training in self defence and martial arts.
Very scant amounts of Od leaking out of his magic circuits.
His Magecraft talent is below average. Chances of him being a selected as a Master by the grail are really low.
.
Boring
I watched with an apathetic gaze as students from Shirou's class pushed him forward to do a high jump.
Apparently... he was better than professionals at high jumping.
I looked on with a blank expression as Shirou sheepishly walked up to a crossbar and, under the encouraging shouts of the students, finally attempted a high jump.
Screams resounded from the nearby girls, time slowing down for everyone as Shirou vaulted over the crossbar in slow motion.
!
Time resumed its natural flow the moment Shirou completed his jump.
Girls all around were cheering for an encore.
Even I had to blink my eyes twice to double-check. My impassive expression twitching for a full second.
What... was that?
Time... slowed down due to a high jump?
I could copy Shirou's high jump to a literal T with my Ultimate talents, but...
For the first time in my life, I felt something akin to what people must have felt when they looked at me.
I had to concede. In high jumps... Shirou Emiya was the strongest.
At most... even I could only tie with him for first place.
This world...
Was not as boring as I thought.
...
..
.
***
[Author's Thoughts]
Hahaha... Even the [Ultimate] talents couldn't handle the bullshit of Shirou's high jumps.
The original Holy Grail War would've ended in a day if Shirou had gathered all the Masters and Servants in a single place and performed high jumps right in front of them.
Everyone would directly get KO'd and become his friends instantly.
...
[Ultimate Neurologist]: Yasuke Matsuda's Talent. Yasuke had a broad knowledge and understanding of human psychology and the complexities of the human brain. It's also safe to assume that his medical knowledge also covers variety of other medical specialties as well, not just limited to neurology. Izuru's skills on this field would presumably be higher than Yasuke himself.
...
[300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter]
[5 chapters ahead on P@tr3on = [email protected]/Not_Aaryan]