"Found Izparut's Level 1 Advancement Report!"
The Advancement Hall recorded the entire promotion process of every class.All data from each test was archived.
Izparut's advancement had taken place only a few years ago—easy enough to retrieve.
And it wasn't some guarded secret.Not only did the Advancement Hall keep records, but various books and public archives among the populace had documented it as well.
"Mana Measurement… Mana Value."
"10,000."
"Elemental Affinity… All Elements 100%."
Everyone compared Izparut's former results to the spirited boy currently standing upon the advancement platform—Lu Cang.
They were identical.
As if stamped from the same mold.
But there was one difference.
This child…
He was only eight years old.
Izparut had completed his class awakening at fifteen—one year earlier than the average person.
From a Level 1 Mage to a Level 2 Mage,he had taken only a single week.
But this child before them…
He was seven years earlier than Iz.
And he had taken just three days to come for his Level 2 Mage advancement.
Comparing the two—
it almost seemed as though this child's aptitude was even more terrifying than Iz's.
However…
Lu Cang had also heard every word of their discussion.
Eh.
So Iz's mana had also broken through to 10,000 when he advanced?
Wouldn't that mean that back when he was a Level 1 Mage, he had already surpassed the mana limit and mastered Mana Void?
Wait…
Mana Void was something he created, wasn't it?
He advanced to Level 2 Mage only seven days after class change?
Wouldn't that mean that in just seven days, he created Mana Tide Enhancement from scratch—and then pushed it further into Mana Void?
So strong…
Iz's evaluation rose another notch in Lu Cang's mind.
"Don't rush…"
"We can't draw conclusions yet."
"There's still the final stage of testing. He may not surpass Iz."
"Spell mastery, right?"
"Exactly."
"He's only been a Mage for three days."
"The day before yesterday, he was drinking with us and passed out until morning. Where would he find the time to practice spells?"
"He'll probably show some flaws in spellcasting."
"To reach the level of instant-cast for even a single spell requires years of training."
"And to reach the legendary limit of a spell requires dedicating your entire life to refining just one."
"Iz's feat of pushing eight spells to the peak back then—no mage has ever replicated it."
"And even Iz took seven days."
In their eyes, three days was far too rushed.
No matter how you looked at it, it was too rushed.
And the kid had even wasted a whole night drinking with them…
Lu Cang's lips twitched.
I heard all that, you know. And whose fault was it that we drank the other night…?
"The final test will evaluate spell mastery."
"The candidate may choose any eight spells they have already learned and cast them."
"We will determine your degree of spell mastery through the testing formation."
As Kumironi read out the procedure,
the walls of the Advancement Hall gradually descended, revealing a wide open field beyond.
At the same time, complex magic formations illuminated across the ground.
Iz had once mentioned—
he had accepted a commission in Rane Town called [Optimization of the Advancement Hall Testing Formation].
It had been an A-Rank Adventurer Commission.
Not all adventurer commissions were about dungeon exploration.
The content depended entirely on the client's request.
Dungeon-related commissions were usually issued officially by the Adventurers' Association. If left unattended too long, monsters would spill out and endanger civilians.
Aside from that, there were commissions to harvest crops, to find lost cats, escort missions, and occasionally even food delivery requests…
Food delivery? Was an adventurer basically a courier?
Lu Cang felt the restless flow of mana in the surroundings.
A testing magic formation?
Of all the magic systems he'd encountered so far, none had mentioned magic formations at all.
In his mind, when you cast a spell and a complex arcane circle flashes into existence beneath your feet—that was what real magic should look like. That was cool.
"Now, please cast your spell at the magic dummy in the distance."
On the open field stood several humanoid dummies draped in clothing.
They weren't wooden stakes, but silver constructs made of special materials. Their silver surfaces shimmered faintly with iridescent light.
Just looking at them gave the impression they were extremely expensive. The kind you'd have to pay dearly for if you broke them.
If I break that, I'm definitely not compensating for it.
With that thought, Lu Cang raised his hand toward the dummy.
Whoosh—
Cold air gathered around him!
Seven shards of frost formed at his side—but they were not shaped like ice cones.
They were spindle-shaped.
「Ice Spindle (LV: 101)」
Rotating ice spindles.
Smaller than Ice Cone, but spinning at far greater speed.
The upper limit of spell proficiency was LV: 100.
That was the absolute cap of a skill. No matter how much one practiced, once that limit was reached, the skill itself would not grow stronger.
Whether martial techniques or spells—
at most, one could refine their control and maximize performance.
But the skill itself would not undergo qualitative change.
Yet the spell Lu Cang released with a casual lift of his hand—
Humm—
The formation ahead lit up in azure brilliance.
Almost simultaneously, the seven Ice Spindles struck the distant dummy!
Bang bang bang bang!
But this time, upon impact, the projectiles did not vanish.
The surface of the dummy frosted over with a thick layer of ice.
Then—
the Ice Spindles rebounded!
Like ricocheting bullets, they bounced and shot forth again!
Bang!
Bang bang bang bang!
The seven Ice Spindles repeatedly struck the dummy's body in continuous succession!
No longer the one-time attack of Ice Cone.
「Ice Cone Evolution Path — Control」
「Ice Spindle (LV: 101): Forms a persistent spindle construct that continues attacking until destroyed, retaining all additional properties of Ice Cone.」
The speed of the Ice Spindles was so fast the naked eye could barely track them.
In just a few breaths, the seven spindles crisscrossed and pierced through the dummy, delivering hundreds of strikes.
Bang!
With a crisp shattering sound, the Ice Spindles dissipated.
Lu Cang canceled the spell.
Not because he could no longer maintain it—
but because he chose to end it.
Kumironi looked toward the detection results.
"Spell Mastery."
His tone paused slightly.
The testing light did not form a number.
Instead—
a sheet of red radiance.
"Transcendence."
Transcendence?
What level was Transcendence?
Spell proficiency levels were divided from 1 to 100.
Though normally invisible, professional testing could measure them.
An advancement ceremony was precisely such an occasion.
Level 1 meant Level 1. Level 100 meant Level 100.
"Transcendence? What does that mean?"
Iz spoke.
"It means exceeding Level 100."
"This testing ritual is my improved version."
"Based on the original 1–100 level structure, I hypothesized the existence of another possibility."
"Transcendent Magic."
"When a spell is practiced to its absolute limit, breaking past its original cap and gaining the possibility of further evolution."
"And compared to the old ritual, the one I refined not only produces more precise results…"
"It can also detect a form of magic I theorized but had not yet been discovered—Transcendent Magic."
"And this child…"
"…has pushed the original limit of magic one step further."