Noah stepped through the portal behind the Ancient One.
The world shifted.
In an instant, they were back in Kamar-Taj.
The place was just as he remembered—quiet, ancient, steeped in a kind of stillness that felt completely removed from the chaos of the outside world.
Noah glanced around, then spoke.
"I've been wondering—if I leave this universe, can your magic still work? The power you draw… it comes from other dimensions, right?"
The Ancient One walked ahead, her voice calm.
"The energy we use flows across the multiverse," she said. "Under normal circumstances, it isn't limited to a single universe."
She paused slightly.
"But what you're referring to isn't normal. The pathways connected to your chatroom don't overlap with our sources. In those worlds, this kind of magic won't function."
Noah nodded.
He'd expected that.
Still… it would've been convenient.
They stepped out into the courtyard.
Students trained nearby, practicing their techniques.
The moment Noah appeared, attention shifted.
He didn't need to do anything.
He stood out too much.
Like a spotlight in the dark.
Ignoring the stares, he followed the Ancient One into the library.
Inside, shelves stretched endlessly, filled with ancient tomes.
Arcane texts.
Forbidden knowledge.
Every book carried a weight to it.
Titles lined the shelves—
The Codex of the Vishanti, The Book of Cagliostro, Foundations of Mystic Theory…
A middle-aged Asian man quickly stood as they entered.
"Master," he said respectfully. "Do you have instructions?"
At the same time, he couldn't help glancing at Noah.
Everyone in Kamar-Taj knew him.
The one who had reshaped the world.
And the one whose internal energy technique had spread through their ranks—helping many counteract the side effects of magic.
"This is Noah Vale," the Ancient One said. "He'll be studying here for a while. Grant him full access."
The man blinked slightly.
"Full access… including your private collection?"
"Yes."
"…Understood."
He nodded immediately.
The Ancient One turned to Noah.
"You have eight hours," she said. "Study whatever you need. I'll return when you're done."
With a wave of her hand, a portal opened.
And she was gone.
The man stepped closer.
"Would you like a guide to the collection?"
"No," Noah said with a faint smile. "I read fast."
The man hesitated, then leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.
"Quick question… that energy method you shared—are you planning an updated version?"
Noah blinked.
"…Soon."
The man lit up.
"I'll be looking forward to it."
Noah didn't respond further.
Instead—
Energy surged through his body.
A deep violet aura spread outward, forming dozens of branching extensions—like extra arms made of pure force.
They reached out.
Books flew from the shelves.
One.
Ten.
Fifty.
Within seconds, an entire section had been emptied.
Noah didn't move.
He stood in place as the books hovered around him, flipping open one after another.
Pages turned at impossible speed.
Dozens of volumes at once.
His eyes scanned everything.
And his mind absorbed it.
At his current level of mental capacity, he didn't need time.
A single glance—
Was enough.
Two minutes later—
The entire first shelf had been memorized.
Perfectly.
The violet extensions moved again, returning each book to its exact place.
Then reached for the next.
And the next.
Shelf after shelf—
Knowledge poured into his mind.
He didn't stop.
Didn't slow down.
Didn't question.
Just absorbed.
Within two hours—
He had read everything.
Every book.
Every page.
Every detail.
Noah exhaled slowly and sat down in a quiet corner.
Memorizing was easy.
Understanding—
Was harder.
He closed his eyes.
And began sorting through everything.
Connecting concepts.
Filling gaps.
Building structure from raw information.
Time passed.
Hours.
More than seven.
By the time he opened his eyes again—
He understood.
Not perfectly.
But enough.
A ripple of light formed beside him.
The Ancient One stepped through a portal, as if arriving at the exact moment he finished.
Noah shook his head slightly.
"Seeing the future is a ridiculous advantage."
She didn't respond.
"I need a sling ring," he said.
Before the words fully settled—
She was already holding one out.
Noah took it, slipping it onto his finger.
The moment he did—
Something changed.
The world shifted.
Space itself felt… closer.
Like it was something he could touch.
Shape.
Pull apart.
He focused.
Raised his hand.
And drew a circle in the air.
Sparks flared—
A portal opened.
On the other side—
A vast lake stretched into the distance.
Alkali Lake.
Noah stepped closer, examining it briefly, then closed the portal with a flick of his hand.
He turned back to the Ancient One.
"Now we get to the real reason I came."
She nodded once.
"I know."
With a gesture, she pulled at reality itself.
The world fractured.
Like glass.
A mirrored dimension formed around them.
They stepped inside.
The library remained—
But everything felt… detached.
Isolated.
No consequences.
No limits.
Noah looked at her.
"Go ahead," he said calmly. "And make sure you bring me back after."
She didn't hesitate.
Space twisted.
Lines—thin, razor-sharp—formed around him.
One.
Ten.
A hundred.
Thousands.
They wrapped around his body, binding him completely.
Noah didn't resist.
Didn't move.
The lines tightened.
Then—
Collapsed inward.
His body was torn apart instantly, shredded by pure spatial force.
...
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